Chemical Exposure

Researchers are exploring how changes in pupil size and reactivity relate to the start of neurological side effects in patients after receiving CAR-T cell therapy for certain types of lymphoma. The study aims to assess if changes in the Neurological Pupil index NPi after treatment with Axi-cel CD19 CAR-T cell therapy are linked to the onset of immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity within 10 days. They also want to see if differences in NPi between eyes relate to the severity of symptoms and brain imaging or EEG findings, and to check the safety and feasibility of using a pupillometer device during treatment. Participants will be observed using the NeurOptics NPi-300 Pupillometer, a handheld, non-invasive device placed near the cheek to scan each eye without touching it. Scanning both eyes takes less than 5 minutes each time. The study is observational and involves no drug or treatment intervention. The pupillometer readings will be collected before and after CAR-T cell therapy to assess pupil changes. During the study, participants will undergo pupil assessments with the pupillometer and have clinical evaluations including symptom scoring and possible brain imaging or EEG. Researchers will monitor the occurrence and severity of neurological side effects and record any adverse events using standardized criteria. The study expects to follow participants for about one year to collect safety data and measure outcomes related to neurotoxicity after CAR-T cell therapy.

Healthcare professionals often face severe stress, which can lead to sick leave and affect their well-being. This research aims to evaluate whether a five-week internet-based compassion course can help reduce stress of conscience and work-related stress, while improving professional quality of life and self-compassion. The study compares this compassion course with a general internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy CBT stress management course and a waitlist group. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups a therapist-guided internet compassion course, a therapist-guided general internet CBT stress management course, or a waitlist for 10 weeks followed by the general CBT course. Both courses are structured self-help programs lasting five weeks, including weekly reports and therapist feedback delivered online. The compassion course focuses on compassion-focused therapy methods, while the CBT course uses traditional CBT techniques. Throughout the study, participants will complete assessments at baseline, 5, 10, and 15 weeks, and again at 6 months. These assessments measure changes in stress of conscience, professional quality of life, work-related stress, and self-compassion. Data are collected through self-assessment forms, and the study tracks progress over time to understand the effects of the courses. The total participation time spans up to 6 months to monitor longer-term outcomes and maintenance of benefits.

Researchers are studying the effects of local treatment on health and daily life in people with early-stage breast cancer in China. The focus is on those with stage I to III invasive breast cancer receiving surgery and other therapies before or after surgery. The study aims to understand both short- and long-term physical, emotional, and social effects of treatment, including tiredness, sleep problems, emotional distress, pain, and changes in heart or lung function, to improve recovery and quality of life. Participants will receive local therapy with curative intent, which may include surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, endocrine therapy, or targeted therapy given before or after surgery. This observational study involves no experimental treatment. At the start, participants undergo clinical assessments, including heart and lung tests, lab work, and collection of blood and tissue samples. They also complete questionnaires about symptoms and well-being at multiple time points over five years. During the study, participants will complete surveys about their physical symptoms, emotional health, and quality of life at baseline, one week, one month, three months, six months, one year, and then annually up to five years. Researchers will monitor treatment-related toxicities and quality of life changes through these patient-reported outcomes. The study uses electronic data collection with quality checks to ensure accurate and consistent information for analysis and future research.

Residents of Martin and Letcher Counties in Appalachian Kentucky face a serious health risk from exposure to disinfection by-products DBPs in their drinking water. These DBPs, including trihalomethanes, haloacetic acids, and chlorate, have been linked to health problems such as bladder cancer and cardiovascular birth defects. The research aims to better understand and reduce exposure to these harmful compounds through a community-focused approach involving multiple stakeholders and methods. The study involves two main programs a Citizen Scientist Training Program and a Stakeholder Consultation Core Program. The training program lasts three years and includes in-home sampling and education on DBPs. The consultation core runs for five years, with participants attending quarterly meetings and discussions to share insights and experiences about DBP exposure and mitigation. These programs work together to engage the community in addressing the water contamination issue. Participants will be assessed on changes in their environmental health knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and social network connections over a five-year period. Assessments occur at the start and throughout the study to track progress. The study also involves regular participation in meetings, training sessions, and in-home sampling activities. Overall, the study seeks to empower local residents with knowledge and tools to reduce their exposure to harmful drinking water contaminants over several years.

This research focuses on the community of Martinsville, Indiana, where groundwater is contaminated with volatile organic compounds, mainly tetrachloroethylene PCE and trichloroethylene TCE. These chemicals have also been found in indoor air in some buildings, raising concerns about their impact on residents health. The study aims to better understand the effects of low-level exposure to these compounds and to support the community in deciding on actions to reduce risks. Participants will receive an educational campaign designed to encourage involvement in environmental testing, particularly indoor air testing. The study involves measuring contamination levels in residents and their homes, assessing community concerns, studying effects on visual and neurocognitive functions, and comparing cancer rates locally to wider areas. The campaign and study results will help design targeted efforts to lower exposure. During the study, researchers will track changes in residents concerns about contamination, awareness of chemical exposure, and willingness to have their homes tested over several years. Assessments will include surveys and environmental testing to monitor exposure and health impacts. The study is led by Purdue University and will run through May 2028, involving adults living in Martinsville.

Researchers are conducting a pilot study to evaluate if inhaled sedatives can reduce delirium, a state of extreme confusion, in children on mechanical ventilators compared to the usual intravenous IV sedatives. This study aims to assess the feasibility of the study plan, including recruitment, participant completion, and healthcare team acceptance. The trial focuses on pediatric patients who require sedation for mechanical ventilation and is designed as a randomized controlled trial. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either inhaled sedation with Isoflurane delivered through an inhalation device or standard IV sedation provided by hospital care. Dosages for both sedatives will be adjusted by the healthcare team to best support the participants treatment needs. Participants will be monitored daily for up to 28 days during their ventilation period. Throughout the study, participants will undergo assessments of memory, thinking, and behavior 9 to 12 months after treatment. Researchers will also track recruitment rates, adherence to the study protocol, participant dropout rates over three years, safety and adverse events for up to 13 months, and healthcare team satisfaction in the first three days. The study is expected to complete by December 2026.

Researchers are studying how exposure to ultrafine particulate matter PM0.1 and noise pollution affects the risk of cardiovascular diseases and metabolic disorders in adults aged 45 to 64 living in Kaunas City. The study combines an observational survey of about 1,000 residents with a clinical trial involving 180 participants who show early signs of metabolic syndrome. The goal is to see if these environmental factors increase health risks and whether lifestyle changes can help reduce them. In the clinical trial, participants are randomly assigned to one of three groups a control group maintaining their usual habits, a group encouraged to take daily 30-minute brisk walks in green spaces, and a group following a Mediterranean diet with dietary counseling. The interventions last for 7 days, during which physical activity is tracked with wristband sensors, and dietary intake is supervised. Participants visit the clinic twice, on Day 1 and Day 8, for health measurements and blood sample collection. Participants complete health and lifestyle questionnaires, wear wristband sensors to monitor activity, heart rate, and sleep, and undergo clinical assessments including blood pressure, waist circumference, body composition, and blood tests for metabolic and inflammatory markers. Researchers analyze these data to understand the impact of environmental exposure and lifestyle changes on cardiovascular and metabolic health. The studys findings aim to guide public health strategies to reduce disease risks related to pollution and lifestyle.

The aPPPle pilot study aims to explore how people involved with apple crops, including operators applying plant protection products PPPs, workers doing manual tasks, and nearby residents, might be exposed to certain pesticides and fungicides. It focuses on acetamiprid, dithianon, and dodine, substances used in apple orchards, especially since these applications happen at higher altitudes where exposure risk may be greater. This observational study helps prepare for a larger future study by testing feasibility and collecting initial data. Participants are grouped as operators applying PPPs to apple crops, manual workers like pruners or harvesters in the orchards, residents living adjacent to the orchards, and controls living between 10 and 150 kilometers away from any apple orchards. The study observes exposure during work or application periods, collecting urine samples up to 48 hours after exposure and blood samples to analyze effect biomarkers. Controls provide samples at a single time point for comparison. During the study, researchers measure concentrations of the substances and their metabolites in various samples from participants, including urine collected soon after exposure and blood plasma over a week. They assess physiological changes through biomarkers in blood and metabolome analysis. Participants must understand the study, consent in writing, and have health insurance. The study runs from March 2025 to December 2025, focusing on collecting accurate exposure and health effect data.

Researchers are conducting a study to support the Ramapough Nation of northern New Jersey by advancing traditional farming practices and strategies that promote sustainable food systems. The study aims to address local food insecurity, nutritional deficiencies, prevent disease, and promote health. It also assesses environmental contamination levels, individual toxicant burdens, micronutrient status, and health conditions among Ramapough Tribal members aged 18 to 80 years. The intervention involves providing the tribe with nutrition-rich foods and recipes for healthy cooking, building on an 11-year Tribal-academic partnership. This includes working with the Ramapough-leased Munsee Three Sisters Medicinal farm, which grows produce on clean soil to support healthy plant production and restore soil health. The approach incorporates community-based citizen science to test soil, plants, and surface water in areas where residents live, recreate, and attend church. Participants will complete in-person or online surveys about demographics, health, food intake, nutrition, food security, and psychosocial stressors. Core body measurements such as height, weight, body mass index, body circumference, and blood pressure will be taken at enrollment. Researchers will collect urine and blood samples to measure individual contaminant burdens and micronutrient levels. The study will measure the proportion of individuals with heavy metals in home water and biospecimens, micronutrient deficiencies, and health disorders over an average of two years to inform health promotion and community action.

Extreme heat events pose a serious health risk in Canada, particularly highlighted by the 2021 heat wave that caused over 600 deaths. Most heat-related fatalities occur indoors and are preventable. This trial evaluates whether sending tailored digital health messages from primary care providers to their patients can encourage protective behaviors against heat-related illnesses. The study also aims to enhance collaboration between primary care and public health to improve community resilience and reduce health disparities related to extreme heat. The study is a cluster randomized controlled trial involving primary care practices in Eastern Ontario. Patients in the intervention group will receive personalized digital messages encouraging heat safety behaviors, such as creating heat safety plans and forming social support groups, along with alerts during heat advisories. The control group will receive digital messages unrelated to heat waves. Messages are sent via email or text, in English or French. The trial will follow participants for up to two years to assess behavioral changes and heat-related health impacts. Participants will be adults registered with participating primary care providers who have had recent visits and can receive digital messages. Data collection includes patient surveys, electronic medical records, and health administrative data to measure behavior changes and healthcare use during heat events. Researchers will assess awareness, preparedness, and health outcomes related to heat exposure. The study also monitors engagement with messages and aims to develop scalable heat adaptation strategies for vulnerable populations.