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Mesothelioma: A Killer
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Treatment guides issued for asbestos-related disease
The American Thoracic Society published a guide for physicians who are treating nonmalignant diseases related to exposure to asbestos. The guide is in the second issue of the September American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
Asbestos still poses a hazard for 1.3 million workers in the U. S. construction industry and for workers who maintain buildings and equipment that may contain asbestos, according to the thoracic society.
The conditions covered in the guide include asbestosis; pleural plaques and more diffuse forms of pleural thickening; benign or nonmalignant pleural effusions; and airway obstruction.
Asbestosis, one of the primary diagnoses, is associated with exposure to asbestos fibers for 10 to 20 years although short, intense exposures of several months to a year can also cause the problem.The most common respiratory symptom associated with asbestosis is dyspnea on exertion. A cough is frequently present.
A chest x-ray is one useful tool to aid in diagnosis, and high-resolution computed tomography can provide a more sensitive analysis. The diagnosing physician should also perform a pulmonary function test and sometimes a bronchoalveolar lavage procedure to collect specimens from smaller airways.
Continuing 9/11 health risks studied
Nearly half of the more than 1,000 screened rescue and recovery workers and volunteers who responded to the World Trade Center attacks have new and persistent respiratory problems, and more than half have continuing psychological symptoms, according to preliminary data from a medical screening program funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and administered by the Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City.
"These findings suggest that specialized medical monitoring programs for rescue and recovery workers that identify potential problems and make appropriate referrals for treatment should be part of all emergency preparedness plans," said John Howard, MD, MPH, director of the CDC's National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. "Early provision of respiratory and other protective equipment is also crucial for preventing physical and mental health effects," he said.
The findings were published in the CDC's Sept. 9 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Study finds less underage drinking at campuses with AMA program
Universities implementing "A Matter of Degree," the AMA's program to reduce underage drinking on college campuses, experienced higher rates of class attendance and lower levels of negative incidents associated with alcohol consumption, according to a paper published this month in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
Researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health compared five universities implementing the greatest number of recommended interventions such as keg registration, alcohol-free programming and substance-free residence halls with five that implemented very few interventions and 32 that did not participate at all.
At schools utilizing the most interventions, alcohol use decreased. Decreases were also noted in assaults, unwanted sexual advances, and sleep or study interruptions caused by drunk students. However, alcohol use increased at nonparticipating schools.
"The schools that have done the important work of instituting broad changes on and off campus to reduce drinking are being rewarded with a safer environment for students and the communities in which they live," said Richard A. Yoast, PhD, director of the AMA's Office of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse.
At-home sleep apnea test may be effective
Sending patients home with a test for sleep apnea could be an effective alternative to the night in a sleep lab usually recommended for diagnosing the disorder, according to a study presented at the American Academy of Otolaryngology -- Head and Neck Surgery annual meeting in New York last month.
Researchers evaluated 59 patients spending a night in a sleep lab with both the SNAP portable home sleep test and the usual polysomnography. The tests correlated fairly closely. Researchers suggest that this testing modality could increase access by lowering cost, decreasing inconvenience and reducing wait times for a sleep lab bed. It would particularly increase access to those who do not live near a testing facility.
Awareness of sleep apnea has increased lately, and 9% to 24% of the population is believed to have it. The disorder is blamed for a twofold increase in traffic accidents as well as an increased risk for hypertension, heart problems and stroke.
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Lawyers in asbestos case agreed to destroy evidence By Barrie Clement Labour Editor 27 September 2004 A leading London law firm agreed a deal to destroy documents which could be used by workers to claim compensation for asbestos-related diseases, The Independent has learnt.
Law firm agreed to shred vital data Kevin Maguire Monday September 27, 2004 The Guardian A respected London legal firm signed a private deal to destroy documents in what it publicly hailed as a £7.5m "landmark" asbestos compensation settlement for South African workers, according to a confidential agreement obtained by the Guardian.
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