Auerbach Associates (United States)

The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) gathered data between 1989 and 1997 to build an “objective database” to further understand the occupational exposures generated by the few asbestos-containing materials remaining at various steelmaking companies at this time. This paper analyzed the 520 samples from this campaign which occurred at five different steel manufacturers: Georgetown Steel Company, Inland Steel Company, Ling-Temco-Vought (LTV) Corporation, United States Steel Corporation, and Weirton Steel Corporation. This database is believed to have never previously been systematically organized. Samples were grouped based on sampling times to determine whether they should most appropriately be compared to the OSHA short-term excursion limit (EL) or the 8-hr time-weighted average (TWA) permissible exposure limit (PEL). Sampling times of 30 min or less were considered short-term samples, and samples of 180 min or greater were considered representative workday samples. Samples that did not fit into either category, with sampling times between 31 and 179 min, were considered task samples. Overall, the data indicated that the airborne concentrations were quite low in 1989 and they continued to be low through the study period which ended in 1997. Only seven out of 286 (approximately 2.5%) short-term or representative workday samples were in exceedance of the current OSHA OELs that were implemented in 1994 (short-term samples being compared to the 1 f/cc EL and representative workday samples being compared to the 0.1 f/cc 8-hr TWA PEL). Consistent with prior data, analysis of this dataset supports the view that materials containing asbestos were not used in many applications in the steel industry, and measured airborne concentrations of asbestos were almost always below the occupational exposure limits (OELs) in the post-OSHA era (1972–2000).

Abstract Crystalline silica is one of the most abundant minerals on Earth. More than 230 million individuals around the world, and more than 2 million workers in the United States, predominantly in construction and mining occupations, are exposed to silica every year. Inhalation of crystalline silica leads to the development of silicosis, a progressive pneumoconiosis characterized by chronic lung inflammation and fibrosis, for which no specific therapy is available. Silicosis is also associated with increased risk of tuberculosis, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), kidney disease, and autoimmune disease. These health risks remain elevated even after silica exposure has ceased. Although preventive measures have decreased the mortality attributable to silica exposure in the past decade, this occupational lung disease still kills about 100 people every year in the United States, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Between 1999 and 2013, silicosis was the underlying or contributing cause of death for about 2000 people, and 300 deaths occurred each year between 1991 and 1995, while it decreased to about 100 per year in 2012 and 2013. Data from NIOSH show that a large number of workers are at increased risk for silicosis because of exposure to silica levels that exceed current regulatory standards. Therefore, regulatory agencies have been forced to further reduce the permissible exposure levels (PEL) to 25 μg/m 3 (micrograms of silica per cubic meter of air) over an 8‐h shift, to improve prophylaxis. Despite these efforts, silicosis remains a global health threat.

Intravascular large B-cell lymphoma (IVLBCL) is a rare hematopathologic entity, posing both a clinical and histologic challenge for diagnosis. Numerous pitfalls can hinder making the diagnosis. To summarize recent developments in literature pertaining to IVLBCL and point out key pitfalls pathologists should be prepared to encounter. Literature review via PubMed search and hospital (Darnall Medical Library) resources. The 3 primary pitfalls of IVLBCL include masking of IVLBCL, mimicry by IVLBCL, and mimicry of IVLBCL. These scenarios illustrate the importance of histologic pattern recognition and subsequent usage of immunohistochemistry, especially in context of a clinical history that may be noncharacteristic.

The older adult population in the United States is experiencing unprecedented growth and is accompanied by a parallel increase in the health challenges of these individuals. Public health has, historically, not played a large role in older adult health, but given its contributions to longevity, it makes sense for public health to now prioritize the health of this population. With the goal of public health prioritization of healthy aging, Trust for America's Health, with support from The John A. Hartford Foundation, launched an initiative to demonstrate the crucial roles public health departments can play to improve the health of older adults. An Age-Friendly Public Health Systems (AFPHS) Learning and Action Network was created to provide local health departments in Florida with training and technical assistance through in-person and virtual activities, as well as access to events, opportunities, and resources to increase expertise and capacity to address healthy aging. AFPHS Network participants attended monthly learning activities to enhance their capacity around data analysis, health equity, partnerships and collaboration, social determinants of health, and other age-friendly initiatives. Network participants are being tracked on 13 key indicators to improve the health and well-being of older adults, including data collection and dissemination; ensuring emergency preparedness plans target older adults; and targeting older adult health needs in community health assessments. Trust for America's Health's AFPHS initiative demonstrates that state and local public health departments have crucial roles to play to improve the health and well-being of older adults through data collection and analysis, collaboration with aging sector stakeholders, and adapting policies and programs to become age-friendly.

Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Schneider Children’s Medical Center of Israel, Petach Tikva, Israel Dr. Weissbach has disclosed that he does not have any potential conflicts of interest.

Körperliche Aktivitäten im moderat-intensiven und hoch-intensiven Bereich sind entsprechend internationaler Aktivitätsempfehlungen für gesundheitliche Effekte relevant. COPD-Patienten zeigen ein geringes Ausmaß an entsprechenden körperlichen Aktivitäten (PA) (Demeyer et al., 2017).

For many neuromuscular diseases (NMDs), cardiac disease represents a major cause of morbidity and mortality. The management of cardiac disease in NMDs is made challenging by the broad clinical heterogeneity that exists among many NMDs and by limited knowledge about disease-specific cardiovascular pathogenesis and course-modifying interventions. The overlay of compromise in peripheral muscle function and other organ systems, such as the lungs, also makes the simple application of endorsed adult or pediatric heart failure guidelines to the NMD population problematic. In this statement, we provide background on several NMDs in which there is cardiac involvement, highlighting unique features of NMD-associated myocardial disease that require clinicians to tailor their approach to prevention and treatment of heart failure. Undoubtedly, further investigations are required to best inform future guidelines on NMD-specific cardiovascular health risks, treatments, and outcomes.