The existence of an Arctic stratospheric jet stream in winter, hitherto largely inferred from mea... more The existence of an Arctic stratospheric jet stream in winter, hitherto largely inferred from mean geostrophic wind sections, is considered on the basis of actual winds for the Canadian Arctic area during the winter of 1955-1956. Temperatures at the 100-millibar level at a number ...
Randomized trials of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have demonstrated the activity o... more Randomized trials of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have demonstrated the activity of docetaxel in second-line and erlotinib in the third-line setting after failure of platinum-based chemotherapy. The role of epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFRTKI) as second-line treatment prior to docetaxel is currently the subject of ongoing trials. Here we explore the outcomes of these agents' uses in clinical practice. A retrospective review of the NSCLC database at Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto, Canada was undertaken. Patients who have previously received docetaxel after failure of platinum-based chemotherapy were identified and a chart review was undertaken to further identify those who also received an EGFRTKI to assess their clinical benefits. Primary outcome assessed was response rate and secondary outcomes were time to progression (TTP) and overall survival (OS). Seventy-four patients received docetaxel for advanced NSCLC from 2001 to 2006, 52 (70%) as second line and 22 (30%) as third line. Twenty-two and 31 of these patients received second- and third-line EGFRTKI, respectively. In the second-line setting, the overall response rate was 10% in the EGFRTKI group and 9% in the docetaxel-treated patients. In the third-line setting, this was 20% and 5%, respectively (p-value 0.29). In both the second- and third-line setting, TTP and OS were not significantly different between the two groups. For patients with advanced NSCLC who progressed following first-line platinum-based chemotherapy, the use of an EGFRTKI in second line appears to be equivalent to docetaxel chemotherapy, and docetaxel has activity third line, post EGFRTKI therapy.
We evaluated the performance of a modified Center of Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-... more We evaluated the performance of a modified Center of Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D-m), which captured symptoms in the past month, in comparison to the Diagnostic Interview Schedule (DIS) in identification of major depressive disorder (MDD) in World Trade Center (WTC)-exposed retired Fire Department, City of New York (FDNY) firefighters.From 12/2005 to 7/2007, FDNY enrolled retired firefighters in its Medical Monitoring and Treatment Program. All participants completed the CES-D-m and the DIS on the same day. Sensitivity, specificity, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, and Youden's index were used to assess properties of the CES-D-m. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were also used.7% of 1915 retired male firefighters were diagnosed with MDD using the DIS. Using the most common CES-D cutoff score of 16, the prevalence of elevated risk was 36%, which declined to 23% using a cutoff score of 22, as determined by Youden's index. At 22, CES-D-m sensitivity was 0.84, specificity was 0.82, and the area under the ROC curve was 0.89 relative to DIS MDD diagnosis.Participants were more likely than non-participants to live in the New York City area.This is the first study of WTC rescue/recovery workers to assess the performance of a one-month version of the CES-D. The CES-D-m performed well in identifying those at elevated risk. Since diagnostic follow-up is time consuming and costly, it is important to correctly distinguish those at elevated risk using a screening tool that has been validated in the population under study.
Purpose To examine health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and World Trade Center (WTC) cough synd... more Purpose To examine health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and World Trade Center (WTC) cough syndrome conditions in male firefighters who retired due to a 9/11-related pulmonary disability. Methods From 3/1/2008 to 1/31/2009, we contacted 275 disability-retired firefighters and compared their HRQoL and current aerodigestive conditions to those from WTC-exposed non-disabled retired and active firefighters. Relationships between HRQoL and explanatory variable(s) were examined using multivariable linear regression models. Results Mean physical component summary (PCS) scores were lowest in disabled retirees compared with non-disabled retirees and actives: 36.4 (9.6), 49.4 (8.7), and 53.1 (5.1), respectively (P P Conclusion WTC cough syndrome conditions predict lower HRQoL scores even 8 years after exposure, independent of retirement status. These data suggest that monitoring physical conditions of individuals with occupational exposures might help identify those at risk for impaired HRQoL.
Purpose World Trade Center (WTC)-exposed rescue/recovery workers continue to have high rates of g... more Purpose World Trade Center (WTC)-exposed rescue/recovery workers continue to have high rates of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), chronic rhinosinusitis, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. This study examines the relationship between these WTC-related conditions and being at high risk for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Materials and methods The Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) performs periodic health evaluations on FDNY members every 12 to 18 months. Evaluations consist of physician examinations and self-administered health questionnaires, which, since 2005, have incorporated questions about sleep problems that were adapted from the Berlin Questionnaire. The study population consisted of 11,701 male firefighters and emergency medical service personnel. Incidence analyses were limited to a cohort (n = 4,576) who did not meet the criterion for being at high risk for OSA at baseline (between September 12, 2005 and September 8, 2006) and had at least one follow-up assessment, on average, 1.4 (±0.5) years later. Results The baseline prevalence of high risk for OSA was 36.5%. By follow-up, 16.9% of those not at high risk initially became at high risk for OSA. In multivariable logistic regression models predicting incident high risk for OSA, independent predictors included: earlier time of arrival at the WTC site, GERD, chronic rhinosinusitis, PTSD symptoms, self-assessed fair/poor health, low body mass index (BMI 2), and, as expected, BMI > 30 kg/m2 and weight gain of ≥10 lb (4.5 kg). Conclusions We found significant associations between being at high risk for OSA and common WTC-related conditions, although the responsible causative mechanisms remain unknown. Since the etiology of OSA is likely multifactorial, improvement may require successful treatment of both OSA and its comorbid conditions.
The existence of an Arctic stratospheric jet stream in winter, hitherto largely inferred from mea... more The existence of an Arctic stratospheric jet stream in winter, hitherto largely inferred from mean geostrophic wind sections, is considered on the basis of actual winds for the Canadian Arctic area during the winter of 1955-1956. Temperatures at the 100-millibar level at a number ...
Randomized trials of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have demonstrated the activity o... more Randomized trials of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have demonstrated the activity of docetaxel in second-line and erlotinib in the third-line setting after failure of platinum-based chemotherapy. The role of epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFRTKI) as second-line treatment prior to docetaxel is currently the subject of ongoing trials. Here we explore the outcomes of these agents' uses in clinical practice. A retrospective review of the NSCLC database at Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto, Canada was undertaken. Patients who have previously received docetaxel after failure of platinum-based chemotherapy were identified and a chart review was undertaken to further identify those who also received an EGFRTKI to assess their clinical benefits. Primary outcome assessed was response rate and secondary outcomes were time to progression (TTP) and overall survival (OS). Seventy-four patients received docetaxel for advanced NSCLC from 2001 to 2006, 52 (70%) as second line and 22 (30%) as third line. Twenty-two and 31 of these patients received second- and third-line EGFRTKI, respectively. In the second-line setting, the overall response rate was 10% in the EGFRTKI group and 9% in the docetaxel-treated patients. In the third-line setting, this was 20% and 5%, respectively (p-value 0.29). In both the second- and third-line setting, TTP and OS were not significantly different between the two groups. For patients with advanced NSCLC who progressed following first-line platinum-based chemotherapy, the use of an EGFRTKI in second line appears to be equivalent to docetaxel chemotherapy, and docetaxel has activity third line, post EGFRTKI therapy.
We evaluated the performance of a modified Center of Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-... more We evaluated the performance of a modified Center of Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D-m), which captured symptoms in the past month, in comparison to the Diagnostic Interview Schedule (DIS) in identification of major depressive disorder (MDD) in World Trade Center (WTC)-exposed retired Fire Department, City of New York (FDNY) firefighters.From 12/2005 to 7/2007, FDNY enrolled retired firefighters in its Medical Monitoring and Treatment Program. All participants completed the CES-D-m and the DIS on the same day. Sensitivity, specificity, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, and Youden's index were used to assess properties of the CES-D-m. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were also used.7% of 1915 retired male firefighters were diagnosed with MDD using the DIS. Using the most common CES-D cutoff score of 16, the prevalence of elevated risk was 36%, which declined to 23% using a cutoff score of 22, as determined by Youden's index. At 22, CES-D-m sensitivity was 0.84, specificity was 0.82, and the area under the ROC curve was 0.89 relative to DIS MDD diagnosis.Participants were more likely than non-participants to live in the New York City area.This is the first study of WTC rescue/recovery workers to assess the performance of a one-month version of the CES-D. The CES-D-m performed well in identifying those at elevated risk. Since diagnostic follow-up is time consuming and costly, it is important to correctly distinguish those at elevated risk using a screening tool that has been validated in the population under study.
Purpose To examine health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and World Trade Center (WTC) cough synd... more Purpose To examine health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and World Trade Center (WTC) cough syndrome conditions in male firefighters who retired due to a 9/11-related pulmonary disability. Methods From 3/1/2008 to 1/31/2009, we contacted 275 disability-retired firefighters and compared their HRQoL and current aerodigestive conditions to those from WTC-exposed non-disabled retired and active firefighters. Relationships between HRQoL and explanatory variable(s) were examined using multivariable linear regression models. Results Mean physical component summary (PCS) scores were lowest in disabled retirees compared with non-disabled retirees and actives: 36.4 (9.6), 49.4 (8.7), and 53.1 (5.1), respectively (P P Conclusion WTC cough syndrome conditions predict lower HRQoL scores even 8 years after exposure, independent of retirement status. These data suggest that monitoring physical conditions of individuals with occupational exposures might help identify those at risk for impaired HRQoL.
Purpose World Trade Center (WTC)-exposed rescue/recovery workers continue to have high rates of g... more Purpose World Trade Center (WTC)-exposed rescue/recovery workers continue to have high rates of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), chronic rhinosinusitis, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. This study examines the relationship between these WTC-related conditions and being at high risk for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Materials and methods The Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) performs periodic health evaluations on FDNY members every 12 to 18 months. Evaluations consist of physician examinations and self-administered health questionnaires, which, since 2005, have incorporated questions about sleep problems that were adapted from the Berlin Questionnaire. The study population consisted of 11,701 male firefighters and emergency medical service personnel. Incidence analyses were limited to a cohort (n = 4,576) who did not meet the criterion for being at high risk for OSA at baseline (between September 12, 2005 and September 8, 2006) and had at least one follow-up assessment, on average, 1.4 (±0.5) years later. Results The baseline prevalence of high risk for OSA was 36.5%. By follow-up, 16.9% of those not at high risk initially became at high risk for OSA. In multivariable logistic regression models predicting incident high risk for OSA, independent predictors included: earlier time of arrival at the WTC site, GERD, chronic rhinosinusitis, PTSD symptoms, self-assessed fair/poor health, low body mass index (BMI 2), and, as expected, BMI > 30 kg/m2 and weight gain of ≥10 lb (4.5 kg). Conclusions We found significant associations between being at high risk for OSA and common WTC-related conditions, although the responsible causative mechanisms remain unknown. Since the etiology of OSA is likely multifactorial, improvement may require successful treatment of both OSA and its comorbid conditions.
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