Airway Disease in Rescue/Recovery Workers: Recent Findings from the World Trade Center Collapse

Abstract

Purpose of Review

Our goal is to summarize the airway disease literature since September 11, 2001 (9/11), focusing on studies published since 2011 in World Trade Center-exposed rescue/recovery workers.

Recent Findings

Since 2011, studies have confirmed relationships between initial World Trade Center exposure intensity, severity of symptoms, airway disease diagnoses, and biomarkers of disease progression.

Summary

Studies continue to document ongoing morbidity in rescue/recovery workers over 10 years after 9/11. Future research should further identify correlates of symptom persistence and new airway disease diagnoses. The unique characteristics of the airway diseases in this population warrant ongoing monitoring and treatment.

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The Skin as a Route of Allergen Exposure: Part I. Immune Components and Mechanisms

Abstract

Purpose of Review

To highlight recent contributions in the literature that enhance our understanding of the cutaneous immune response to allergen.

Recent Findings

Defects in skin barrier function in infancy set the stage for the development of atopic dermatitis (AD) and allergy. Both genetic and environmental factors can contribute to damage of the stratum corneum (SC), with activation of specific protease enzymes under high pH conditions playing a key role. Immune cells and mediators in the dermis and epidermis impair SC repair mechanisms and support allergy development. In barrier-disrupted skin, type 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s), mast cells (MCs), and basophils have been shown to promote AD and pathogenic Th2 responses in murine models.

Summary

Skin barrier disruption favors induction of systemic Th2-associated inflammatory pathways. A better understanding of the ontogeny and regulation of these complex networks in infant skin is needed to guide future strategies for allergy treatment and prevention.

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Combination Treatment of Perioperative Rehabilitation and Psychoeducation Undergoing Thoracic Surgery

Postoperative pulmonary complications are a risk associated with thoracic surgery. However, there have been few reports on cases at high risk of postoperative complications. Cancer patients often have negative automatic thoughts about illness, and these negative automatic thoughts are associated with reduced health behavior and physical activity. This case series demonstrates the successful combination treatment of perioperative rehabilitation and psychoeducation for negative automatic thoughts in two cancer patients who underwent thoracic surgery. One patient underwent pneumonectomy with laryngeal recurrent nerve paralysis; the other patient, who had a history of recurrent hepatic encephalopathy and dialysis, underwent S6 segmentectomy. Both patients had negative automatic thoughts about cancer-related stress and postoperative pain. The physical therapists conducted a perioperative rehabilitation program in which the patients were educated to replace their maladaptive thoughts with more adaptive thoughts. After rehabilitation, the patients had improved adaptive thoughts, increased physical activity, and favorable recovery without pulmonary complications. This indicates that the combination treatment of perioperative rehabilitation and psychoeducation was useful in two thoracic cancer surgery patients. The psychoeducational approach should be expanded to perioperative rehabilitation of patients with cancer.

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A Case of Congenitally Corrected Transposition of Great Arteries: An Infrequent Happenstance

Congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (CCTGA) is rare form of congenital heart diseases. It may be present with or without associated anomalies. Patients with CCTGA are usually diagnosed at early stages of life due to associated anomalies, but they may even remain asymptomatic till later decades of their life. We report a case of a 42-year-old man who presented at neurosurgery department with dizziness, seizures, and loss of consciousness, in whom isolated CCTGA was discovered incidentally. Further investigation depicted right ventricular hypertrophy, mild valvular regurgitation, mildly dilated pulmonary artery, low heart rate with AV dissociation, and third-degree heart block. These indicated for implantation of permanent pacemaker into the patient. The implantation of VVI mode pacemaker was uneventful and the patient is being followed up in the past eight months in favorable condition.

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Title Page

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Cover 1

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Table of Contents

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