bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
WTC medical monitoring and treatment program: Comprehensive health care response in aftermath of disaster
Authors: Moline Jacqueline M. , Herbert Robin , Levin Stephen , Stein Diane , Luft Benjamin J. , Udasin Iris G. , Landrigan Philip J. 
Published: May 2008

AbstractThe attack on the World Trade Center (WTC) on September 11th, 2001 exposed thousands of individuals to an unprecedented mix of chemicals, combustion products and micronized building materials.Clinicians at the Mount Sinai Irving Selikoff Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, in partnership with affected stakeholder organizations, developed a medical screening program to evaluate the health status of workers and volunteers who spent time at the WTC site and thus sustained exposure in the aftermath of September 11th. Standardized questionnaires were adapted for use in this unique population and all clinicians underwent training to ensure comparability.The WTC Worker and Volunteer Medical Screening Program (MSP) received federal funding in April 2002 and examinations began in July 2002. The MSP and the follow up medical monitoring program has successfully recruited nearly 22,000 responders, and serves as a model for the rapid development of a medical screening program to assess the health of populations exposed to environmental hazards as a result of natural and man‐made disasters.The MSP constitutes a successful screening program for WTC responders. We discuss the challenges that confronted the program; the absence of a prior model for the rapid development of a program to evaluate results from mixed chemical exposures; little documentation of the size of the exposed population or of who might have been exposed; and uncertainty about both the nature and potential severity of immediate and long‐term health effects. Mt Sinai J Med 75:67–75, 2008 © 2008 Mount Sinai School of Medicine
Mental health of workers and volunteers responding to events of 9/11: Review of the literature
Authors: Bills Corey B. , Levy Nancy A. S. , Sharma Vansh , Charney Dennis S. , Herbert Robin , Moline Jacqueline , Katz Craig L. 
Published: May 2008

AbstractBackground: Disaster workers responding to the events of September 11th were exposed to traumatic events. No study has systematically investigated the diverse mental health status and needs of the heterogeneous population of disaster workers responding to the events of September 11th.Methods: Using PubMed and Medline and the search terms of “September 11, 2001” or “September 11” or “9/11”or “WTC” or “World Trade Center”, the authors reviewed all articles that examined the mental health outcomes of workers at one of the three September 11th crash sites or the Fresh Kills landfill in New York City.Results: In total, 25 articles met study inclusion criteria, often using different methodologies. The articles described varying degrees of mental health symptomatology, risk factors for adverse mental health outcomes, and utilization of mental health services.Conclusions: The mental health needs of workers exposed to the events of September 11th ranged from little to no care to pharmacotherapy. A range of risk factors, including exposures at the WTC site and occupational activities, impacted on these needs but the role of specific mental health interventions was less clear. These findings suggest the need for a future program for disaster workers consisting of an accessible mental health treatment service supported by comprehensive postdisaster surveillance and emphasis on pre‐disaster mental wellness. A number of areas for further consideration and study were identified, including the need for a more diverse exploration of involved responder populations as well as investigation of potential mental health outcomes beyond post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Mt Sinai J Med 75:115–127, 2008 © 2008 Mount Sinai School of Medicine
Standardization of spirometry in assessment of responders following man‐made disasters: World Trade Center worker and volunteer medical screening program
Authors: Enright Paul , Skloot Gwen , Herbert Robin 
Published: May 2008

AbstractBackground: Spirometry is the most commonly used pulmonary function test to screen individuals for suspected lung disease. It is also used for screening workers with exposures to agents associated with pulmonary diseases. Although the American Thoracic Society (ATS) provides guidelines for spirometers and spirometry techniques, many factors are not standardized, so that results from individual pulmonary function laboratories vary substantially. These differences can create substantial difficulties in using data pooled from multiple sites to understand health consequences of disasters that involve exposures to pulmonary toxins. This article describes the approach used to minimize these differences for a consortium of institutions who are providing medical monitoring examinations to World Trade Center (WTC) responders. The protocol improved upon the minimal ATS guidelines.Methods: Spirometric measurements were obtained before and after use of a bronchodilator. A fourth‐generation spirometer was chosen that exceeded ATS spirometer accuracy standards. The accuracy was verified at the beginning of each day of testing. Technologists who performed the spirometry tests were centrally trained and certified and received regular reports on their performance. Reference values and normal ranges were obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) data set. A standardized interpretation flowchart was followed to reduce misclassification rates for airway obstruction and restriction. Patients with spirometric abnormalities were referred for more extensive diagnostic testing.Results: More than 12,000 spirometry tests were performed during the first examination. The 20 spirometers used at the 6 participating institutions maintained accuracy within 3% for more than 4 years. Overall, more than 80% of the test sessions met ATS quality goals. Spirometry abnormality rates exceeded those obtained for adults who participated in the NHANES III survey.Conclusions: The program allowed standardization of the performance and interpretation of spirometry results across multiple institutions. This facilitated reliable and rapid diagnosis of lung disease in the large number of WTC responders screened. We recommend this approach for postdisaster pulmonary evaluations in other settings. Mt Sinai J Med 75:109–114, 2008 © 2008 Mount Sinai School of Medicine
Upper and lower respiratory diseases after occupational and environmental disasters
Authors: Prezant David J. , Levin Stephen , Kelly Kerry J. , Aldrich Thomas K. 
Published: May 2008

AbstractRespiratory consequences from occupational and environmental disasters are the result of inhalation exposures to chemicals, particulate matter (dusts and fibers) and/or the incomplete products of combusion that are often liberated during disasters such as fires, building collapses, explosions and volcanoes. Unfortunately, experience has shown that environmental controls and effective respiratory protection are often unavailable during the first days to week after a large‐scale disaster.The English literature was reviewed using the key words—disaster and any of the following: respiratory disease, pulmonary, asthma, bronchitis, sinusitis, pulmonary fibrosis, or sarcoidosis.Respiratory health consequences after aerosolized exposures to high‐concentrations of particulates and chemicals can be grouped into 4 major caterogies: 1) upper respiratory disease (chronic rhinosinusitis and reactive upper airways dysfunction syndrome), 2) lower respiratory diseases (reactive [lower] airways dysfunction syndrome, irritant‐induced asthma, and chronic obstructive airways diseases), 3) parenchymal or interstitial lung diseases (sarcoidosis, pulmonary fibrosis, and bronchiolitis obliterans, and 4) cancers of the lung and pleura.This review describes several respiratory consequences of occupational and environmental disasters and uses the World Trade Center disaster to illustrate in detail the consequences of chronic upper and lower respiratory inflammation. Mt Sinai J Med 75:89–100, 2008. © 2008 Mount Sinai School of Medicine
Impact of september 11 World Trade Center disaster on children and pregnant women
Authors: Landrigan Philip J. , Forman Joel , Galvez Maida , Newman Brooke , Engel Stephanie M. , Chemtob Claude 
Published: May 2008

AbstractBackground: Children are uniquely sensitive to toxic exposures in the environment. This sensitivity reflects children's disproportionately heavy exposures coupled with the biologic vulnerability that is a consequence of their passage through the complex transitions of early development.Methods and Results: To assess effects on children's health associated with the attacks on the World Trade Center (WTC) of September 11, 2001, research teams at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine and other academic health centers in New York City launched a series of clinical and epidemiologic studies. Mount Sinai investigators undertook a prospective analysis of pregnancy outcomes in 182 women who were pregnant on September 11, 2001, and who had been either inside or within 0.5 miles of the WTC at the time of the attacks; they found a doubling in incidence of intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) among infants born to exposed mothers as compared to infants born to unexposed women in northern Manhattan. A Columbia research team examined pregnancy outcomes in 329 women who lived, worked or gave birth in lower Manhattan in the 9 months after September 11; they found that these women gave birth to infants with significantly lower birth weight and shorter length than women living at greater distances from Ground Zero. NYU investigators documented increased numbers of new asthma cases and aggravations of preexisting asthma in children living in lower Manhattan. Mount Sinai mental health researchers documented a significant increase in mental health problems in children who directly witnessed the attacks and subsequent traumatic events; these problems were most severe in children with a past history of psychological trauma. The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene established a WTC Registry that has enrolled over 70,000 persons of all ages in lower Manhattan and will follow the health of these populations to document on a continuing basis the health consequences of September 11. Mt Sinai J Med 75:129–134, 2008. © 2008 Mount Sinai School of Medicine
Does memantine induce bradycardia? A study in the French PharmacoVigilance Database
Authors: Gallini Adeline , Sommet Agnès , Montastruc Jean‐Louis 
Published: May 2008

AbstractObjectiveTo review the cardiovascular adverse drug reactions (ADRs) with memantine reported to the French PharmacoVigilance Database.MethodsWe reviewed all the observations of cardiovascular ADRs with memantine reported to the French PharmacoVigilance Database up to May 2007. We recorded the characteristics of patients (age, sex and underlying disease) and of ADRs (nature, seriousness, delay in occurrence, evolution, imputability).ResultsAfter exclusion of 16 cases, the cardiac origin of which was not clearly assessed, 36 cardiac ADRs with memantine were recorded between its commercialisation in France (July 2003) and May 2007. These ADRs consisted of 18 reports of bradycardia and 18 reports of various cardiovascular ADRs (orthostatic hypotension with fall[6] electrocardiogram perturbations[4] fainting[2] malaise with arterial hypotension[2] arterial hypotension and acute renal failure[1] fatal heart failure[1] sudden death[2]). Among the 18 reports of bradycardia, 7 cases occurred with memantine as the sole suspected drug and all but one resolved after memantine's discontinuation.ConclusionCardiovascular properties of memantine seem to be complex and remain quite unclear. Despite its drawbacks and its descriptive design, our study suggests that memantine could determine some cardiac ADRs, especially bradycardia; the mechanism of which remains unexplained. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Ru(II) complexes and light: molecular tools for biomolecules
Authors: Herman Leslie , Ghosh Sumana , Defrancq Eric , Mesmaekera Andrée Kirsch‐De 
Published: May 2008

AbstractRuthenium(II) (Ru(II)) complexes are the focus of numerous research works with various applications mainly due to their attractive photophysical and photochemical properties. In biological research areas, in particular, they are developed as efficient photoprobes or photosensors of biological molecules. More interestingly specific Ru(II) complexes bearing π‐deficient ligands such as TAP = 1,4,5,8‐tetraazaphenanthrene, bpz = 2,2′‐bipyrazyl or HAT =  1,4,5,8,9,12‐hexaazatriphenylene exhibit interesting photoreactivity with biomolecules (DNA, polypeptides). The photoreactions are initiated by a photo‐electron transfer from the biomolecule to the excited metal complex. A back electron transfer (BET) succeeds this primary process. However in competition with this BET, a DNA photocleavage and/or formation of adducts of the complex with guanine units of DNA or with tryptophan (Trp) residues of polypeptides can take place. In this review we highlight the studies of these photo‐adducts carried out by our laboratories, and connected to some applications. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The use of XPS spectra for the study of reaction mechanisms: the atom inventory method
Authors: Humeres Eduardo , de Castro Karen Mendes , Moreira Regina de F. P. M. , Schreiner Wido H. , Aliev Abil E. , Canle Moisés , Santaballa J. Arturo , Fernández Isabel 
Published: May 2008

AbstractX‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) allows the analysis of the surface atomic composition of a solid and can be used for mechanistic studies of solid–gas and solid–liquid reactions. The change of atomic composition of a surface after a reaction can be calculated considering hypothetical mechanisms based on the known reactivity of the organic moieties bound to the solid surface. Atom inventory of the elements involved in the reactions was used to quantify the components of the XPS spectrum after the reaction and consequently the change of concentration in at%. The method was used to study the basic hydrolysis and photolysis of the intermediates bound to the carbon matrix after the reduction of SO2 on activated carbon. Consistent mechanisms were postulated for these reactions. Basic hydrolysis hydrolyzed the sultine intermediate, and the attack of hydroxide ion on the episulfide formed a sulfide anion, eliminating S2− in a consecutive step. Laser photolysis of modified activated carbon in t‐butanol showed the insertion of the organic moiety in the carbon matrix with expulsion of an SO2 radical anion that oxidized to ${\rm SO}_4^{2 - } $. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Some effects of the initiator on the cationic polymerization of alkenes
Authors: Plesch Peter H. , Austin James C. 
Published: May 2008

AbstractThe content of this article is indicated by what could be its full title: “An Explanation of the dependence of the rate of the cationic polymerizations of alkenes and of the DP of their products, on the reaction variables, especially the size of the anionic moiety of the initiator.” We continue here the discussion started in 1965 and show mathematically how the theory of dieidic polymerizations by unpaired and paired cations can explain why some of these polymerizations become faster with falling temperature, why the Arrhenius plot of the DP of the polymers obtained from most such systems shows a discontinuity or kink, and also how the temperature of minimum rate, TM, and that at which the kink occurs, TK, depend on the reaction variables, namely the concentrations of monomer, m, and of initiator, c, and the a, D, and T (interionic distance in the ion‐pair, dielectric constant of the reaction mixture and temperature). Our treatment explains why the most effective way of achieving the economically desirable aim, to make the longest polymers at the highest possible temperatures, is by maximizing the product a.D, so as to increase the TK, preferably by the use of polar solvents and initiators with large anions. The choice of such combinations by several investigators, but for other, vaguer, reasons, is given here a theoretical basis. Our argument is illustrated by Literature examples and is presented in the form of a new diagram (the Plesch‐Austin plot) which shows the TK as a function of a.D for several systems. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 4265–4284, 2008
Novel narrow‐band‐gap conjugated copolymers containing phenothiazine‐arylcyanovinyl units for organic photovoltaic cell applications
Authors: Li Kuang‐Chieh , Hsu Ying‐Chan , Lin Jiann‐T'suen , Yang Chang‐Chung , Wei Kung‐Hwa , Lin Hong‐Cheu 
Published: May 2008

AbstractA series of novel narrow‐band‐gap copolymers (P1‐P12) composed of alkyl‐substituted fluorene (FO) units and six analogous mono‐ and bis(2‐aryl‐2‐cyanovinyl)‐10‐hexylphenothiazine monomers (M1‐M6) were synthesized by a palladium‐catalyzed Suzuki coupling reaction with two different feed in ratios of FO to M1‐M6 (molar ratio = 3:1 and 1:1). The absorption spectra of polymers P1‐P12 exhibited broad peaks located in the UV and visible regions from 400 to 800 nm with optical band gaps at 1.55–2.10 eV, which fit near the wavelength of the maximum solar photon reflux. Electrochemical experiments displayed that the reversible p‐ and n‐doping processes of copolymers were partially reversible, and the proper HOMO/LUMO levels enabled a high photovoltaic open‐circuit voltage. As blended with [6,6]‐phenyl C61 butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) as an electron acceptor in bulk heterojunction photovoltaic devices, narrow‐band‐gap polymers P1‐P12 as electron donors showed significant photovoltaic performance which varied with the intramolecular donor‐acceptor interaction and their mixing ratios to PCBM. Under 100 mW/cm2 of AM 1.5 white‐light illumination, the device of copolymer P12 produced the highest preliminary result having an open‐circuit voltage of 0.64 V, a short‐circuit current of 2.70 mA/cm2, a fill factor of 0.29, and an energy conversion efficiency of 0.51%. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 4285–4304, 2008
A humidity blocker approach to overcoming the humidity interference with cationic photopolymerization
Authors: Chen Zhigang , Zhang Ying , Chisholm Bret. J. , Webster Dean C. 
Published: May 2008

AbstractA humidity blocker approach to overcoming the humidity interference with cationic photopolymerization is proposed and validated. Environmental humidity is one of the major interfering factors in cationic photopolymerization, and cationic photopolymerization is found to be inhibited by high humidity. When curing cycloaliphatic epoxide based cationic UV curable materials flexibilized by various reactive diluents under different humidity conditions, it was found that the more hydrophobic materials exhibited higher monomer conversion under higher humidity. To obtain cationic UV curable materials that are less influenced by humidity, a humidity blocker approach was proposed and monomer conversion of materials containing both hydroxy‐functional reactive diluents and epoxy‐siloxane were examined using real‐time FTIR. The hydroxy‐functional reactive diluents act as an internal hydroxyl source that enhances monomer conversion through chain transfer mechanism, and the hydrophobic epoxy‐siloxane acts as a humidity blocker, mitigating the inhibiting effects of humidity. Cationic UV curable materials with an optimized combination of these two components exhibited higher and more consistent monomer conversion under a range humidity conditions. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 4344–4351, 2008
Elevated IRT levels in African‐American infants: Implications for newborn screening in an ethnically diverse population
Authors: Giusti Robert ,   New York State Cystic Fibrosis Newborn Screening Consortium
Published: May 2008

AbstractDuring the first 4 years of newborn screening (NBS) for Cystic Fibrosis (CF) in New York there was a statistically significant, twofold greater relative risk of an Immunoreactive Trypsinogen (IRT) level greater than 95% in African‐American infants. The reason for this previously reported increase in IRT level in African‐American infants is unclear. The positive predictive value of a screen positive result in this population was only 0.3%. The bulk of screen‐positive African‐American infants were in the top 0.2% (IRT) group, with no CF mutations isolated. Repeat IRT testing at 2–3 weeks of age may represent a suitable approach to decrease the false‐positive rate in this population. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2008; 43:638–641. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
High viral frequency in children with gastroesophageal reflux‐related chronic respiratory disorders
Authors: Calabrese Fiorella , Rizzo Stefania , Giacometti Cinzia , Panizzolo Cristina , Turato Graziella , Snijders Deborah , Lunardi Francesca , Vadori Marta , Valente Marialuisa , Saetta Marina , Barbato Angelo 
Published: May 2008

AbstractIntroductionIn the pediatric population chronic respiratory disorders (CRDs) include many pathological entities in which gastroesophageal reflux (GER) may play a role in the induction or persistence of clinical symptoms. It is not well established whether infective agents may be present in lung aspiration. The aim of the work was to investigate whether different infective agents could be found in children with GER‐related CRDs.Materials and MethodsExtensive microbiological investigations including culture for bacterial agents, serology, direct fluorescent antigen and polymerase chain reaction analyses for different respiratory viruses were performed in 32 children (18 males, 14 females, mean age 5.0 ± 2.4 years). Fifteen children out of 32 considered as “aspirators” (lipid‐laden macrophage index—LLMI—≥86 and pathological pH‐assay) were compared to 17 “non‐aspirators” (LLMI < 86 and normal pH‐assay).ResultsAspirators were older (6.0 ± 1.9 vs. 4.2 ± 2.5 years, P = 0.006) and less frequently atopic (13% vs. 59%, P = 0.01) than non‐aspirators. A high frequency of viral infections (20/32, 62.5%) was found, with frequent occurrence of multiple infections (10/20, 50%). Aspirators showed more frequent viral infections than non‐aspirators (87% vs. 41%, P = 0.01). Rhinovirus and respiratory syncytial virus were the principal detected viruses in the aspirator group.ConclusionsViral infections could play a key role in the pathogenesis of GER‐related CRDs. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2008; 43:690–696. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Fibrin glue closure of persistent bronchopleural fistula following pneumonectomy for post‐tuberculosis bronchiectasis
Authors: Goussard P. , Gie R.P. , Kling S. , Kritzinger F.E. , van Wyk J. , Janson J. , Andronikou S. 
Published: May 2008

AbstractWe report a case of a persistent bronchopleural fistula following a pneumonectomy for post‐tuberculosis bronchiectasis. The patient had two unsuccessful surgical attempts at closing of the fistula. Further surgical attempts were technically were not possible. Bronchoscopic closure was achieved by injecting human fibrin glue into the fistula via a catheter. Closure of the broncho‐pleural fistula was confirmed by repeated ventilation scan over a period of 2 months. Endoscopic closure of small bronchopleural fistulae is an attractive option in children with significant underlying lung disease. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2008; 43:721–725. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.