Nonmalignant respiratory disease mortality in male Colorado Plateau uranium miners, 1960-2016.

Background: To evaluate trends of nonmalignant respiratory disease (NMRD) mortality among US underground uranium miners on the Colorado Plateau, and to estimate the exposure-response association between cumulative radon progeny exposure and NMRD subtype mortality.

Methods: Standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) and excess relative rates per 100 working level months (excess relative rate [ERR]/100 WLM) were estimated in a cohort of 4021 male underground uranium miners who were followed from 1960 through 2016.

Results: We observed elevated SMRs for all NMRD subtypes.

Risk Factors for COVID-19 in a Retired FDNY WTC-Exposed Cohort.

We evaluated the incidence and risk factors for COVID-19 in a prospectively followed cohort of Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) World Trade Center (WTC)-exposed workers, thus reducing the potential for selection bias, a limitation in published studies of hospitalized individuals. Participants were retired FDNY WTC-exposed rescue/recovery workers with ≥1 medical visit between 1 March 2020 and 1 August 2021. The cumulative incidence was calculated using self-reported COVID-19 diagnoses.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Mediates the Association between Traumatic World Trade Center Dust Cloud Exposure and Ongoing Systemic Inflammation in Community Members.

Exposure to World Trade Center (WTC) dust/fumes and traumas on 11 September 2001 has been reported as a risk factor for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental/physical health symptoms in WTC-affected populations. Increased systemic inflammation and oxidative stress from the exposure and subsequent illnesses have been proposed as contributors to the underlying biological processes. Many blood-based biomarkers of systemic inflammation, including C-reactive protein (CRP), are useful for non-invasive diagnostic and monitoring of disease process, and also potential targets for therapeutic interventions.

Molecular Clustering Analysis of Blood Biomarkers in World Trade Center Exposed Community Members with Persistent Lower Respiratory Symptoms.

The destruction of the World Trade Center (WTC) on September 11, 2001 (9/11) released large amounts of toxic dusts and fumes into the air that exposed many community members who lived and/or worked in the local area. Many community members, defined as WTC survivors by the federal government, developed lower respiratory symptoms (LRS). We previously reported the persistence of these symptoms in patients with normal spirometry despite treatment with inhaled corticosteroids and/or long-acting bronchodilators.

Change in Asthma Is Associated with Change in PTSD in World Trade Center Health Registrants, 2011 to 2016.

The WTC Health Registry (WTCHR) is a closed, longitudinal cohort of rescue/recovery workers and survivors exposed to the 11 September 2001 disaster. WTCHR enrollees diagnosed with asthma after 11 September 2001 continued to experience poor control despite treatment. Asthma is associated with mental problems, although their bidirectional movement has not been studied.

Characteristics of Women with Lung Adenocarcinoma in the World Trade Center Environmental Health Center.

The destruction of the World Trade Center towers on 11 September 2001 exposed local residents, workers, and individuals in the area (Survivors) to dust and fumes that included known and suspected carcinogens. Given the potential for inhalation of toxic substances and the long latency after exposure, the incidence of lung cancer is expected to increase in WTC-exposed individuals. We describe the characteristics of women WTC Survivors with lung adenocarcinoma who were enrolled in the WTC Environmental Health Center (WTC EHC) between May 2002 and July 2021.

Self-Efficacy and Mental Health Help-Seeking Behavior of World Trade Center Health Registry Enrollees, 2015-2016.

The September 11th World Trade Center (WTC) disaster resulted in an elevated prevalence of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) among those directly exposed, yet lower than expected rates of mental health treatment seeking and high levels of reported perceived unmet mental healthcare need were observed in this population in the years following. Self-efficacy, an individual's self-perception of their ability to succeed in specific situations or accomplish a task or goal, may in part explain this discrepancy; however, little is known about its interplay with the help-seeking behaviors of disaster-exposed populations. We used WTC Health Registry data ( = 11,851) to describe the relationship between self-efficacy and three outcomes related to help-seeking behavior: (1) seeking mental health treatment, (2) perceived unmet mental health care needs, and (3) satisfaction with mental health treatment.

The Impact of World Trade Center Related Medical Conditions on the Severity of COVID-19 Disease and Its Long-Term Sequelae.

The individuals who served our country in the aftermath of the attacks on the World Trade Center (WTC) following the attacks of 11 September 2001 have, since then, been diagnosed with a number of conditions as a result of their exposures. In the present study, we sought to determine whether these conditions were risk factors for increased COVID-19 disease severity within a cohort of N = 1280 WTC responders with complete information on health outcomes prior to and following COVID-19 infection. We collected data on responders diagnosed with COVID-19, or had evidence of receiving positive SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction or antigen testing, or were asymptomatic but had IgG positive antibody testing.

Guidelines for cadaver dissection in education and research of clinical medicine (The Japan Surgical Society and The Japanese Association of Anatomists).

This article translates the guidelines for cadaver surgical training (CST) published in 2012 by Japan Surgical Society (JSS) and Japanese Association of Anatomists from Japanese to English. These guidelines are based on Japanese laws and enable the usage of donated cadavers for CST and clinical research. The following are the conditions to implement the activities outlined in the guidelines.

Guidelines for cadaver dissection in education and research of clinical medicine (The Japan Surgical Society and The Japanese Association of Anatomists).

This article translates the guidelines for cadaver surgical training (CST) published in 2012 by Japan Surgical Society (JSS) and Japanese Association of Anatomists from Japanese to English. These guidelines are based on Japanese laws and enable the usage of donated cadavers for CST and clinical research. The following are the conditions to implement the activities outlined in the guidelines.

Rationalization of the Laboratory Diagnosis for Good Management of Malaria: Lessons from Transitional Methods.

Introduction: Malaria is an endemic disease in sub-Saharan Africa. In clinical practice, the main concern is the overdiagnosis of malaria leading to inappropriate drug prescription without laboratory confirmation.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate clinical examination reliability compared with translational laboratory methods of malaria diagnosis.

Usage of cadavers in surgical training and research in Japan over the past decade.

The "Guidelines for Cadaver Dissection in Education and Research of Clinical Medicine" drafted by the Japan Surgical Society (JSS) and the Japanese Association of Anatomists in 2012 helped dispel legal concerns over cadaver surgical training (CST) and the usage of donated human bodies for research and development (R&D) in the country. Subsequently, in the fiscal year 2018, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare increased the funding for CST, prompting its wider implementation. This study analyzed data obtained in 2012-2021 through the reporting system of the JSS-CST Promotion Committee to map the usage of cadavers for clinical purposes, specifically education and R&D, in Japan.

Cognitive Function among World Trade Center-Exposed Community Members with Mental Health Symptoms.

The World Trade Center Environmental Health Center (WTC EHC), is a federally designated clinical center of excellence for surveillance and treatment of WTC disaster exposed community members (WTC Survivors). Cognitive impairment (CI) has been extensively described in WTC responders and a concern for progressive impairment in all WTC disaster exposed groups has been raised. Cognitive status, however, has not been systematically characterized in the WTC Survivor population.

Cancer risk among World Trade Center rescue and recovery workers: A review.

Twenty years after the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks, the association between exposures present at the World Trade Center (WTC) site and the risk of several specific types of cancer has been reported among rescue and recovery workers. The authors' objective was to conduct an updated review of these data. Most studies have found elevated rates of both prostate and thyroid cancers compared with rates in the general population, and some have reported statistically significant differences for the rates of all cancers as well.

Reduced cerebellar cortical thickness in World Trade Center responders with cognitive impairment.

Prior research has demonstrated high levels of cognitive and physical functional impairments in World Trade Center (WTC) responders. A follow-up neuroimaging study identified changes to white matter connectivity within the cerebellum in responders with cognitive impairment (CI). In the first study to examine cerebellar cortical thickness in WTC responders with CI, we fielded a structural magnetic resonance imaging protocol.

The Bidirectional Relationship between Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms and Social Support in a 9/11-Exposed Cohort: A Longitudinal Cross-Lagged Analysis.

Research on the longitudinal relationship between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and social support among survivors of large-scale trauma is limited. This study assessed bidirectional relationships between PTSD and perceived social support in a large sample of the 9/11-exposed cohort over a 14-year follow-up. We used data from 23,165 World Trade Center Health Registry (WTCHR) enrollees who were exposed to the 9/11 attacks and participated in the first four WTCHR surveys (Wave 1 (2003−2004) to Wave 4 (2015−2016)).

Temporal Aspects of the Association between Exposure to the World Trade Center Disaster and Risk of Cutaneous Melanoma.

Rescue/recovery workers who responded to the World Trade Center (WTC) attacks were exposed to known/suspected carcinogens. Studies have identified a trend toward an elevated risk of cutaneous melanoma in this population; however, few found significant increases. Furthermore, temporal aspects of the association have not been investigated.

To thine own self be true: interoceptive accuracy and interpersonal problems.

Background: Borderline Personality Disorder involves strong interpersonal disruptions, often associated with early maltreatment. However, the individual capacities which alter BPD-related interpersonal problems are unclear. Here, we examine two contributors to interpersonal functioning: interoceptive accuracy and parasympathetic activity.

Change in 9/11-related post-traumatic stress symptoms following cancer diagnosis.

Objective: Cancer can be a life-threatening stressor that may evoke pre-existing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We assessed change in 9/11-related PTSD symptoms following cancer diagnosis in a 9/11-exposed cohort, the World Trade Center Health Registry.

Methods: We examined enrollees who had a first-time post-9/11 invasive cancer diagnosis and at least one pre- and two post-diagnosis 9/11-related PTSD assessments from enrolment through 2015.

Autoimmune conditions in the World Trade Center general responder cohort: A nested case-control and standardized incidence ratio analysis.

Background: The World Trade Center (WTC) general responder cohort (GRC) was exposed to environmental toxins possibly associated with increased risk of developing autoimmune conditions.

Objectives: Two study designs were used to assess incidence and risks of autoimmune conditions in the GRC.

Methods: Three clinically trained professionals established the status of possible GRC cases of autoimmune disorders adhering to diagnostic criteria, supplemented, as needed, by specialists' review of consenting responders' medical records.