Environmental Risks
![MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Dr Herman Anne Service de Dermatologie Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc Avenue Hippocrate, 10 1200 Bruxelle MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, several cases of acro-located lesions (on foot or hands) suggestive of chilblains have been reported and were possibly related to COVID-19. We wanted to determine if chilblains, observed in many patients recently referred to our department, are indicative of COVID-19. MedicalResearch.com: Would you briefly explain what is meant by chilblains? Response: Chilblains are frequent cold induced inflammatory lesions. Chilblains are typically seen in winter and occur after repeated exposure to cold temperatures. Clinical presentation includes erythema and swelling on toes and/or digits followed by red-purple macules or patches. However, given the large number of patients affected, and the exceptionally high outdoor temperatures for the spring season over the past month and at the time of case-observation, cold-exposure seemed unlikely. These lesions were, therefore, suspected to be associated with COVID-19. However, to date, no study has proven a pathological link between these lesions and COVID-19. MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings? Response: In our series of 31 patients who recently developed chilblains, negative nasopharyngeal swabs and the absence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 blood immunoglobulin (Ig)M and IgG antibodies in all patients included in your study suggested that these patients had not been infected with COVID-19. These lesions appeared not to be directly related to COVID-19. MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report? Response: One hypothesis points to an indirect consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic due to imposed community containment and lockdown measures. Indeed, all patients in this study had either been working from home or were home-schooled since the beginning of containment measures in Belgium (March 11, 2020) or were temporarily unemployed. As a result of containment measures, the majority (64.5%) of patients reported a decrease in their physical activity and significantly more time spent in sedentary positions in front of screens. Most of the patients declared that they remained barefoot or in socks most of the day. All these lifestyle changes can be considered as risk factors for developing chilblains. Therefore, it seems plausible that containment, through its collateral effects, may induce chilblains. Interestingly also, the mean BMI of the patients included was relatively low, suggesting that thin people may be more at risk of developing chilblains. MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this work? Response: During the current pandemic, several reports have suggested a possible link between cutaneous manifestations including aural lesions such as chilblains, and COVID-19, however, only few patients were tested for SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR and no serologic tests were performed. Therefore, reliable testings (RT-PCR and serologic testing) are essential to confirm a potential association with COVID-19. Citation: Herman A, Peeters C, Verroken A, et al. Evaluation of Chilblains as a Manifestation of the COVID-19 Pandemic. JAMA Dermatol. Published online June 25, 2020. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2020.2368 https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamadermatology/fullarticle/2767774 [subscribe] Last Modified: [last-modified] The information on MedicalResearch.com is provided for educational purposes only, and is in no way intended to diagnose, cure, or treat any medical or other condition. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health and ask your doctor any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. In addition to all other limitations and disclaimers in this agreement, service provider and its third party providers disclaim any liability or loss in connection with the content provided on this website.](https://medicalresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/chilblain-example-dermnet-nz.jpg)
26 Jun COVID-19 and Chilblains – What’s the Connection?
Posted at 14:05h
in Author Interviews, COVID -19 Coronavirus, Dermatology, Environmental Risks, JAMA
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Dr Herman Anne MD
Service de Dermatologie
Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
[caption id="attachment_54718" align="alignleft" width="200"] Example of ChilblainsDermnet NZ[/caption]Response: In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, several cases of acro-located lesions (on foot or hands) suggestive of chilblains have been reported and were possibly related to COVID-19. We wanted to determine if chilblains, observed in many patients recently referred to our department, are indicative of COVID-19. MedicalResearch.com: Would you briefly explain what is meant by chilblains? Response: Chilblains are frequent cold induced inflammatory lesions. Chilblains are typically seen in winter and occur after repeated exposure to cold temperatures. Clinical presentation includes erythema and swelling on toes and/or digits followed by red-purple macules or patches. However, given the large number of patients affected, and the exceptionally high outdoor temperatures for the spring season over the past month and at the time of case-observation, cold-exposure seemed unlikely. These lesions were, therefore, suspected to be associated with COVID-19. However, to date, no study has proven a pathological link between these lesions and COVID-19.
11 Jun Research Suggests Higher Temperature and Humidity Will Make Coronavirus Transmission More Difficult
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_54484" align="alignleft" width="160"] Dr. Sajadi[/caption]
Mohammad Sajadi, MD
Associate Professor
Institute of Human Virology
Global Virus Network Center of Excellence
University of Maryland School of Medicine
Baltimore, MD 21201
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: Because of geographical proximity and significant travel connections, epidemiological modeling of the epicenter predicted that regions in Southeast Asia, and specifically Bangkok would follow Wuhan, and China in the COVID-19 epidemic. When we saw this did not happen, we suspected that SARS-CoV-2 might be acting like a seasonal respiratory virus.
05 Jun “Forever Chemicals” Linked To Earlier Onset of Menopause
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_54464" align="alignleft" width="118"]
Ning Ding[/caption]
Ning Ding MPH, PhD candidate
[caption id="attachment_54465" align="alignleft" width="141"] Dr. Sung Kyun Park[/caption]
Sung Kyun Park Sc.D, MPH
Associate Professor
Department of Epidemiology
University of Michigan School of Public Health
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as ‘forever chemicals’, are a family of synthetic chemicals used in a wide variety of nonstick and waterproof products and firefighting foams. The main issue is that PFAS are everywhere. It has been estimated that 110 million Americans, 1 out of three, may consume drinking water contaminated with PFAS. PFAS are very persistent and once PFAS enter the body, they don't break down and build up in the body over time.
18 Mar Mesothelioma and Repeated Cosmetic Talc Exposure
Posted at 00:50h
in Author Interviews, Cancer Research, Environmental Risks, Lung Cancer, Occupational Health
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
[caption id="attachment_53559" align="alignleft" width="200"] Dr. Emory[/caption]
Theresa S. Emory MD
Department of Pathology, Peninsula Pathology Associates
Newport News, VA
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?
Response: Cosmetic talc products can contain asbestos, which is the primary cause of malignant mesothelioma. We investigated 75 individuals with malignant mesothelioma, whose only known exposure to asbestos was repeated exposures to cosmetic talcum powder. 83% of the individuals were female and several occurred in barbers/cosmetologists. 16% occurred in individuals younger than 45 years old, and on average the subjects were 11 years younger than predicted, based on SEER data. The asbestos fibers in tissue samples that were examined in 11 cases were identical (anthophyllite and tremolite) to those identified in cosmetic talc.
20 Feb Cleaning Products May Raise Risk of Wheezing and Asthma in Young Children
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Jaclyn Parks, B.Sc. Health Sciences M.Sc. Health Sciences Candidate | Faculty of Health Sciences Simon Fraser University Burnaby, B.C MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: Childhood asthma is a major public health concern, and many researchers are interested in determining environmental and modifiable exposures in early life so that we can recommend preventative measures. The findings of our study add to the understanding of which exposures in early life may be important to the development of childhood asthma and allergies and allows us to identify specific areas of intervention for parents and other stakeholders involved in protecting children’s health.
19 Feb Which States Have Most Ultraviolet-Related Melanomas?
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_46733" align="alignleft" width="120"] Dr. Islami[/caption]
Farhad Islami, MD PhD
Scientific Director, Surveillance Research
American Cancer Society, Inc
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: Many cases of cutaneous melanoma (melanoma) in the United States have been attributed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, but there was little information on the state-by-state burden of melanoma due to UV exposure. We estimated numbers, proportions and age-standardized incidence rates of malignant melanomas attributable to UV radiation in each US state by calculating the difference between observed melanomas during 2011–2015 and expected cases based on rates in a population with theoretically minimum UV exposure.
As there is no population completely unexposed to UV radiation, the reference rates we used were historical melanoma incidence rates in Connecticut during 1942–1954, when the melanoma burden was low. For most adults, melanomas diagnosed in that period likely reflected UV exposure accumulated in the 1930s or earlier, when exposure was minimized by clothing style and limited recreational exposure.
We estimated that 338,701 melanoma cases (91.0% of total, 372,335) in the United States during 2011–2015 were attributable to UV exposure; 94.3% of all these UV-attributable cases (or 319,412 cases) occurred in non-Hispanic whites. UV-attributable melanoma incidence rates and cases were higher among males than females, but attributable rates and cases in ages <45 years were higher among females.
12 Feb PFAS Chemicals Found in Drinking Water Linked to Tooth Decay in Children
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_53134" align="alignleft" width="200"]
Dr. Wiener and Christopher Waters, Research Labs Director, WVU School of Dentistry[/caption]
R. Constance Wiener, DMD, PhD
Associate Professor
West Virginia University School of Dentistry
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are chemical groups that have had a wide variety of uses due to their ability to their ability to repel water and stains. They might be found in food packaging, water-repellant clothing and carpeting, paints, fire-fighting foam, and water, for example. Although many are no longer manufactured in the United States, PFAS persist in the environment as they do not readily break down. Adverse health effects have been speculated especially for low birthweight babies, immunological effects, certain cancers and thyroid hormone disruption.1 With these considerations, we hypothesized that there may be an association of PFAS with tooth development and subsequent dental caries (cavities).
22 Jan All Major Sunscreen Ingredients Absorbed Through The Skin
Comments from the FDA on this JAMA Dermatology study: Effect of Sunscreen Application on Plasma Concentration of Sunscreen Active Ingredients: A Randomized Clinical Trial
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: A prior pilot study published in JAMA in May 2019 demonstrated the systemic absorption of 4 sunscreen active ingredients; additional studies are needed to determine the systemic absorption of additional active ingredients, and how quickly absorption occurs. This study assessed the systemic absorption of the 6 active ingredients (avobenzone, oxybenzone, octocrylene, homosalate, octisalate and octinoxate) in 4 sunscreen products under single and maximal-use conditions.
20 Dec Could Decreasing Dementia Rates Be Due To Lower Lead Levels in Today’s Adults?
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_52554" align="alignleft" width="200"] Dr. Fuller-Thomson[/caption]
Professor Esme Fuller-Thomson, PhD
Director of the Institute for Life Course & Aging,
Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work
Cross-appointed to the Faculty of Medicine
University of Toronto Canada
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: Several studies from the US, Canada, and Europe suggest a promising downward trend in the incidence and prevalence of dementia. Important risk factors for dementia, such as mid-life obesity and mid-life diabetes, have been increasing rapidly, so the decline in dementia incidence is particularly perplexing.
04 Nov Childhood Nitrogen Dioxide Exposure Associated With Elevated Risk of Schizophrenia
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:Henriette Thisted Horsdal PhD
Senior Researcher
Department of Economics and Business Economics
AARHUS University
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: Recent studies have suggested that exposure to nitrogen dioxide during childhood is associated with elevated risk of subsequently developing schizophrenia. We know that schizophrenia has a genetic component, and that individuals with higher genetic loading for schizophrenia tend to live in more densely urban areas. It is not known whether the increased risk associated with exposure to nitrogen dioxide during childhood is owing to a greater genetic liability among those exposed to highest nitrogen dioxide levels.
Exposure to nitrogen dioxide during childhood and genetic liability (as measured by a polygenic risk score) for schizophrenia were independently associated with increased schizophrenia risk.
24 Oct Nurses Exposed to Chemical Disinfectants May Have Greater Risk of COPD
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_51943" align="alignleft" width="100"] Dr. Dumas[/caption]
Orianne Dumas, PhD
INSERM Aging and Chronic Diseases,
Epidemiological and Public Health Approaches,Villejuif,
University de Versailles St-Quentin-en-Yvelines,
Montigny le Bretonneux
France
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: Exposure to cleaning products and disinfectants is common at work and at home and remains more frequent among women. Exposure levels are particularly high in the health care industry. The respiratory health risks associated with exposure to cleaning products and disinfectants are increasingly recognized. Although investigators have primarily focused on asthma, the irritant properties of many chemicals contained in disinfectants support the study of a broader range of respiratory effects, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
24 Oct Flavored Tobacco Restriction Policy Linked to Reduced Youth Use of Tobacco Products
Posted at 19:49h
in Author Interviews, Environmental Risks, Pediatrics, Smoking, Tobacco, Tobacco Research
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Melody Kingsley, MPH
Epidemiologist, Massachusetts Department of Public Health
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: The majority of youth who use tobacco use flavored products, which are available in thousands of distinct flavors with youth appeal.[i] In response, communities in states across the country, including Massachusetts, have passed flavored tobacco restriction policies which restrict sales of flavored tobacco; the Food and Drug Administration has proposed increased restrictions on the sale of flavored tobacco nationwide as well. To date, a few studies have found that flavored tobacco restriction policies reduce sales and availability of flavored tobacco, but to our knowledge, no prior evidence exists on the short-term impact of FTRPs on youth tobacco use. Timely evaluation of these policies is important to ensure that FTRPs are an effective strategy for curbing youth tobacco use.
24 Oct Exposure to Common Chemicals in First Trimester Linked to Lower IQ in Children, Especially Boys
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Eva Tanner, PhD, MPH, Postdoctoral Researcher Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Carl-Gustaf Bornehag, PhD Professor at Karlstad University MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: Most prior research on health risks from chemical exposure study one chemical at a time. However, we are exposed to a multitude of chemicals every day in the air we breathe, food and water we consume, and things we touch. This is supported by global biomonitoring data showing that humans in general have a high number of chemicals identified in their bodies, i.e., in blood, urine, breast milk, saliva, etc. Unfortunately, we don’t know how such single chemicals act in complicated mixtures and impact our health, or the health of future generations. We conducted this study to help understand how prenatal exposure to mixtures of proven or suspected endocrine disrupting chemicals - found in common consumer products - during the earliest part of life may impact a child’s brain development and cognition in school age.
11 Oct Crystal Meth: Is Wipe Sampling Adequate to Determine if Occupants Have Been Breaking Bad?
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_51821" align="alignleft" width="200"] Crystal MethWikipedia image[/caption] Dr Jackie Wright (Fellow ACTRA) Adjunct – Flinders UniversityDirector Environmental Risk Sciences (enRiskS) MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: The contamination of homes with methamphetamine can occur from illegal manufacture or smoking (ice). The methamphetamine residues that are left behind can result in methamphetamine exposures to future occupants of the home, resulting in the potential for adverse health effects. To assess the level of contamination that remains in these homes, the method used is to collect a surface wipe sample. This is a wipe of specified area of a surface (such as walls, floors, kitchen cabinets, or window frames etc) which is then analysed to determine how much methamphetamine residue remain on that surface. The guidelines for determining if a property is safe for occupation is based on surface wipe sampling. This study has further evaluated the level of methamphetamine that is present in a home that was formerly suspected to have been used for the manufacture of methamphetamine. To supplement surface wipe sampling which was undertaken over time, the level of methamphetamine that is within the building/house materials/items themselves was tested, as a bulk analysis, to determine how much methamphetamine is present in these materials, if the methamphetamine has penetrated through and into materials such as the gyprock walls, and if the methamphetamine that is present in materials present when the manufacture occurred have transferred to the homeowners possessions that were brought into the home well after manufacture occurred.
10 Oct Australia’s SunSmart Program Program Linked to Decrease in Melanomas
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_51801" align="alignleft" width="173"]
Dr. Dobbinson[/caption]
Suzanne Dobbinson, PhD
Senior Research Fellow
Centre for Behavioural Research in Cancer
Behavioural Science Division
Australia
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: Skin cancer prevention programs, such as the SunSmart program in Victoria, have been implemented in Australia over 30 years with the aim of reducing the population’s exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UV), the main cause of skin cancer. A recent reduction in melanoma rates among younger Australians has led to this paper which examines the extent of behaviour change in Melbourne, Australia, and the potential contribution of prevention programs to the decline in melanoma rates.
Previous population-based studies assessing the impact of these programs have focused on measuring the change in the prevalence of individual sun protection behaviours, and thus have largely overlooked the use of sun avoidance and composite sun protection behaviours. The focus on tracking individual behaviours may have underestimated the behaviour change associated with these programs.
We analysed data from a series of cross-sectional surveys conducted in Melbourne during summer months between 1987 and 2017. These data include the summer before the SunSmart program commenced (1987-88) and across summers in three subsequent decades.
07 Oct Indoor Tanning More Available in Neighborhoods with More Gay Men
Posted at 16:23h
in Author Interviews, Dermatology, Environmental Risks, General Medicine, JAMA, Melanoma, Stanford
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
[caption id="attachment_18136" align="alignleft" width="150"] Dr. Linos[/caption]
Eleni Linos MD MPH DrPH
Professor of Dermatology and Epidemiology
Stanford University
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?
Response: We know that tanning beds are harmful: people who use tanning beds are more likely to get skin cancer. Sexual minority men are much more likely to use tanning beds and also more likely to get skin cancer. In a separate study we discovered that one reason sexual minority men use tanning beds is if it is convenient: e.g. if close to home, cheap, and easy. (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/bjd.17684). Recent research showed that tobacco retailers cluster in LGB neighborhoods: https://sph.unc.edu/sph-news/more-tobacco-retailers-in-lgbt-neighborhoods-may-explain-smoking-disparities/. This made us wonder if tanning salons also cluster in neighborhoods with more gay men.
26 Sep High Pesticide Exposure Associated With Increased CAD and Stroke Risk
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Zara Berg, Ph.D Fort Peck Community College Poplar, Montana MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: This study is part of the cohort that consist of the Honolulu Heart Program (HHP) and what later became the Honolulu-Asia Aging study. HHP study cardiovascular research starting in the 1960’s, which is equivalent to the Framingham Study. This study was used to establish the epidemiology parameters for cardiovascular diseases and is one of the longest longitudinal (34 years of follow-up) study on cardiovascular diseases and other diseases that effect the elderly. The participants were all Japanese that fought in WWII which is a sample size of 8,006 participants. In additional, there is multiple studies based on this cohort for the last fifty plus years, ranging from occupational exposure, cancer, neurological diseases, and cardiovascular diseases.
19 Sep Needle-free injection of exosomes enable skin repair after UVB damage
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_51404" align="alignleft" width="164"] Dr. Ke Cheng[/caption]
Dr. Ke Cheng, PhD
Professor, Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, NCSU
Professor, UNC/NCSU joint Department of Biomedical Engineering
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are exosomes?
Response: People are developing lots cosmetic products to keep a healthy and young appearance, like antioxidants, growth factors, peptides and more recently, stem cell products. Also, people are seeking more effective solutions for better absorption, like lotion, mask, laser and fillers. What is used for the treatment and how to deliver it are vitally important to the final effect and lasting time.
Exosomes are nano-sized small vehicles containing proteins, nucleic acids, and they are messengers for cell communication and regulation. Here we use skin cell-secreted exosomes to fight skin aging.
17 Sep Vaping: Banned Food Additive Found in Mint- and Menthol-Flavored E-Cigarettes
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_51288" align="alignleft" width="200"]
Dr. Jabba[/caption]
Sairam Jabba, Ph.D
Senior Research Associate
Department of Anesthesiology
Duke University
Durham, NC 27710
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: Pulegone is a potential carcinogen contained in several mint oils. Due to its carcinogenic properties, FDA banned pulegone last year as a food additive. Previous chemical analytical studies from CDC have demonstrated that several mint/menthol-flavored e-cigarette liquids and snuff tobacco products contain pulegone in significant amounts. FDA currently does not regulate pulegone in e-cigarettes and snuff products and the health risk associated with it for the users is not well understood.
14 Sep People are Pooping Microplastics
Posted at 12:02h
in Annals Internal Medicine, Author Interviews, Environmental Risks, Gastrointestinal Disease
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
[caption id="attachment_51309" align="alignleft" width="133"] Dr. Schwabl[/caption]
Philipp Schwabl, MD
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology
Department of Internal Medicine III
Medical University of Vienna
Vienna, Austria
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: There is a lot of research published about microplastics being present in the ocean and subsequently also being found in the gut of sea animals, however there were no investigations if also humans involunterily ingest microplastics. This gave us rationale to perform a pilot study.
28 Aug Everyone’s Skin Can Be Weakened By the Sun
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_51073" align="alignleft" width="249"] Dr. German[/caption]
Guy German PhD
Associate Professor
Director of Graduate Studies
Department of Biomedical Engineering
Binghamton University
Binghamton, NY 13902
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: Photoageing from the sun is widely known to occur. The most obvious result of it is early onset of wrinkles. However we are trying to understand if solar light can degrade the mechanical integrity of human skin. Moreover, while solar ultraviolet (UV) light is considered to have the most damaging effect on the skin, the UV range that is most harmful remains a topic of significant debate.
This research studies how different UV ranges and dosages impacts the mechanical integrity of the outermost layer of skin, called the stratum corneum. This tissue layer sits above the layers of melanin in skin, the pigment responsible for tanning. When stratum corneum ruptures, it stops working as a barrier to the outside world and can increase the risk of infections.
22 Aug Multi-Country Analysis Confirms Increased Mortality Risk from Air Pollution
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Cong Liu, PhD Department of Environmental Health School of Public Health Fudan University Shanghai 200032, China MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: Numerous time-series studies have examined the short-term associations between particulate air pollution (PM10 and PM2.5) exposures and daily mortality. However, most evidence has been obtained from studies in single cities, regions, or countries. There are challenges in comparing these results and in synthesizing effect estimates because of different modeling approaches and potential publication bias. Furthermore, there has never been a global representative concentration-response function for risk assessment and policy making. We and our co-authors established the Multi-City Multi-Country (MCC) Collaborative Research Network to perform a global assessment of the effects of weather or climate on mortality. This network allowed us to examine and compare the associations of PM concentrations with daily mortality at the global, regional, and country level with the use of a standardized analytic framework.
21 Aug Air Pollution from Traffic Linked to Age-Related Macular Degeneration
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: Professor Suh-Hang Hank Ju, PhD Kaohsiung Medical University Taiwan MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? Response: Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and carbon monoxide (CO) are 2 major traffic pollutants, which have been shown to increase a risk for respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. We previously showed that chronic exposure of NO2 is also associated with dementia. age-related macula degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of blindness. Given the increase of traffic pollutants in many urbanized cities, we investigated whether these two traffic pollutants are associated with the development of age-related macula degeneration in Taiwan.
13 Aug Ozone and Traffic Pollution May Be Important Contributors to Lung Disease
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_50697" align="alignleft" width="150"] Prof. Kaufman[/caption]
Joel Kaufman, MD, MPH, Professor
Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, Medicine, and Epidemiology
University of Washington
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?
Response: Increasingly, it is recognized that chronic lung diseases like emphysema occur in nonsmokers and rates of these diseases are continuing to increase. We really need to understand what’s causing chronic lung disease. Air pollutants are known to make disease worse in people with prior lung disease, but little is known about whether long-term exposure to air pollutants can cause chronic lung disease.
We found that higher residential concentrations of air pollutants—especially ozone and traffic-related air pollutants—are associated with changes in the lung—emphysema-like changes in the lung. The associations were strong and suggest that air pollution may be an important contributor to chronic lung disease.
26 Jul Children With Greater Exposure to Bisphenols More Likely To Be Obese
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_50440" align="alignleft" width="200"]
Dr. Jacobson[/caption]
Melanie Jacobson, PhD, MPH
NYU School of Medicine
New York, N.Y.
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?
Response: Our study was about exposure to bisphenols, which are synthetic chemicals found in aluminum can linings, plastics, thermal paper receipts and other consumer products, and their association with obesity among a nationally representative sample of US children and adolescents.
We found that children who had greater levels of these chemicals in their urine were more likely to be obese compared with children with lower levels.
26 Jul Petting Cats or Dogs Reduces Stress Hormones in College Students
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_50421" align="alignleft" width="198"]
Dr. Pendry[/caption]
Patricia Pendry Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Human Development
Graduate Faculty in Prevention Science
Washington State University CAHNRS
Pullman, WA 99164
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: Over the last decade, university students have reported increasingly high levels of academic stress, depressive symptomology, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. This is a serious problem as students who report these symptoms tend to have lower GPAs and are more likely to drop out of college. Since academic stress is considered an inevitable part of college life, it is important that we identify effective academic stress management programs. One stress management approach that has been enthusiastically received by University administrators and students is the use of campus-based Animal Visitation Programs (AVPs). Established in nearly 1,000 U.S. college campuses to date, most AVPs provide the general student population the opportunity to engage in 5-30 minutes of petting of animals in small-group settings. While students much enjoy these types of programs, relatively little sound scientific evidence is known about the efficacy of such programs to actually reduce stress.
We thus embarked on a study that experimentally teased out the effects of hands-on interaction from the effects of waiting in line while watching others engage in hands-on interactions, sitting quietly without social media or other stimuli, or watching pictures of the same animals on students’ level of salivary cortisol, a stress hormone that has been linked to various physical and mental health outcomes.
02 Jul Don’t Swallow Pool Water! Diarrhea-Causing Crypto Lurks in Summer Swimming Pools
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_50076" align="alignleft" width="200"]
Dr. Gharpure[/caption]
Radhika Gharpure MPH DVM
Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer
CDC
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this report? Would you tell us about cryptosporidiosis infections? Where is is found? How is it transmitted?
Response: The data from our most recent report looked at outbreaks caused by Cryptosporidium (Crypto) in the United States during 2009 – 2017. Outbreaks have increased an average of 13% each year. Crypto, a parasite, is spread through the poop of infected humans or animals. People can get sick after they swallow the parasite in contaminated water or food or after contact with infected people or animals.
Crypto is the leading cause of disease outbreaks in the United States linked to water, specifically outbreaks linked to pools or water playgrounds.
02 Jul Decorative Alcohol Bottles May Contain Toxic Levels of Lead and Cadmium
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:Dr Andrew Turner, PhD
Associate Professor (Reader) in Environmental Sciences
School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?
Response: This study was part of a wider study to look at potentially toxic metals in everyday household and consumer products.
The main findings here are that many enameled bottles, mainly used to store alcoholic beverages, contain very high levels of cadmium and lead in the décor.
20 Jun World Trade Center 9/11 Dust: Altered Gene Expression Links Exposure to Prostate Cancer Risk
MedicalResearch.com Interview with: [caption id="attachment_49841" align="alignleft" width="130"]
Dr. Taioli[/caption]
Emanuela Taioli, MD, PhD,
Director of the Institute for Translational Epidemiology
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Asociate director for Population Science
Tisch Cancer Institute
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?
Response: An excess incidence of prostate cancer has been identified among World Trade Center responders. We wanted to study if this excess was associated with exposure to WTC dust
The results suggest that respiratory exposure to WTC dust can induce inflammatory and immune responses in prostate tissue. Chronic inflammation could facilitate prostate cancer development
Taken together, our results suggest that World Trade Center prostate cancer cases have a distinct gene expression pattern that may be the result of exposure to specific carcinogens during the WTC attacks. WTC dust-exposed rat prostate displayed unique changes in gene expression and immune cell infiltrates after acute dust exposure, suggesting that the effect of exposure may be measured locally in target organs such as prostate. In addition, some of the genes overexpressed in rat normal prostates as a consequence of exposure are also overexpressed in human prostate cancer tissues, suggesting a link between exposure, local immune dysregulation, and prostate cancer development