Environmental Exposure Disorder

Dentin hypersensitivity (DH) causes sharp, short pain from exposed dentin triggered by chemicals, temperature, or touch. It commonly affects older adults and varies widely in prevalence. This research evaluates the effectiveness of Casein phosphopeptide paste (CPP-ACP) alone or combined with a diode laser called Lasotronix in treating DH, as limited studies have explored this combination. The study involves four groups: one receiving CPP-ACP paste application only, one receiving diode laser therapy only, a third receiving both CPP-ACP and laser treatments, and a control group with no treatment. Lasotronix uses a 635nm wavelength laser designed for safe and effective bio-stimulation and photo-disinfection, while CPP-ACP paste aims to reduce pain by managing dentin sensitivity. Participants aged 25 to 65 with at least one sensitive, vital tooth without decay or defective restoration will be involved. They will undergo treatment and follow-up to assess dentin hypersensitivity over three months. Researchers will monitor pain levels and treatment effects, ensuring safety and adherence to the study protocol throughout the trial period.

Researchers are studying how eosinophils, a type of white blood cell, become activated and their role in immune reactions. Eosinophils often increase with allergies, asthma, parasitic infections, some autoimmune diseases, and rarely tumors, a condition called eosinophilia. While usually without symptoms, eosinophilia can sometimes cause swelling, itching, lung problems, heart disease, or nerve damage due to toxic substances released by these cells. Participants with eosinophil counts above 750/ml or abnormal eosinophil buildup in tissues or skin will have thorough medical exams, blood tests, and possibly additional tests based on age and symptoms. This observational study does not offer experimental treatments but monitors clinical responses and collects blood, bone marrow, tissue, and fluid samples for research. Follow-up includes yearly evaluations and may involve bone marrow biopsies, genetic testing, and leukapheresis for adults. Participants will be involved in detailed clinical evaluations at baseline and annually, with sample collections to study disease mechanisms and immune responses. The study aims to identify causes, biomarkers, and treatment effects on eosinophils. Safety monitoring includes standard care for those needing treatment, while research focuses on immune cell behavior, genetic factors, and long-term effects. Participation duration varies per individual, with ongoing assessments of disease activity and patient-reported outcomes.

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.

This research aims to understand how co-existing health conditions, medical history, and allergy tests affect the results of allergen provocation tests in children. The study includes children from birth up to 18 years old who are being investigated for allergies to foods or antibiotics. It is a prospective observational study conducted at the Hans Christian Andersen Children's Hospital. Participants undergo oral provocation tests where small, increasing amounts of allergens are given to assess allergic reactions. The allergens studied include antibiotics and a variety of common food allergens such as milk, egg, peanut, hazelnut, sesame, wheat, various nuts, soy, fish, shellfish, and poppy seed. Each child is assigned to a group based on the specific allergen they are being tested for. During the study, data on demographics, co-existing conditions, symptoms, skin prick tests, specific IgE levels, and details from the provocation tests are collected and entered into a database. Researchers will assess the relationship between allergy test results and provocation outcomes over a five-year period. Children will be monitored through these evaluations to better understand allergy responses and test effectiveness.

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 study's findings aim to guide public health strategies to reduce disease risks related to pollution and lifestyle.

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.

Researchers are studying how well the multi-modal large model GPT-4o can evaluate the safety of home environments for older adults living in Beijing communities. The study focuses on older adults aged 65 and above, examining different areas of their homes to identify potential safety concerns. A professional occupational therapist will also participate to compare the evaluations provided by GPT-4o with those of a human expert. Participants will have photos taken of seven specific areas in their homes, including pathways or entrances, hallways, stairs or steps, living rooms, kitchens, restrooms, and bedrooms. These photos will then be assessed using the "Home Environment Assessment" scale by both GPT-4o and a professional occupational therapist. The therapist who is not involved in the initial evaluation will analyze and compare the results and recommendations from both evaluations to identify any significant differences. Throughout the study, participants will be involved in providing access to their home environments for photography. Researchers will collect data through the photos and assessments, focusing on the safety and modification suggestions for the home setting. The main outcome measure is the Home Environment Assessment Scale, which will be completed on a single day. The study aims to provide insights into the accuracy and usefulness of GPT-4o in assessing home safety for the elderly, with monitoring continuing until the study's end in October 2025.

Cancer of the stomach and oesophagus ranks among the world's top five cancers, with poor survival rates due to late presentation and non-specific early symptoms. Researchers are evaluating a non-invasive breath test that detects volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by these cancers and associated bacteria. The study aims to improve this test's accuracy by investigating if consuming simple metabolic substrates can increase VOC production from tumors and their bacteria. The study involves two components: AROMA 1 and BIORESOURCE. AROMA 1 will recruit 648 patients divided into three groups: oesophageal cancer, gastric cancer, and control patients with upper gastrointestinal symptoms. Participants will provide breath samples before and after consuming a standard nutrient drink, with samples analyzed using advanced mass spectrometry techniques. BIORESOURCE will collect biosamples including breath, urine, saliva, blood, tissue, and gastric contents from 335 patients for in-depth analysis such as volatalomics, metabonomics, microbiome, transcriptomics, and cell culture studies. Participants will undergo breath sampling at baseline and shortly after the nutrient drink consumption. Biosamples collected in BIORESOURCE will support multi-omic analyses to study VOC production mechanisms. Researchers will measure the efficacy of the nutrient drink in stimulating VOCs in breath over 18 months, along with profiling metabolites and bacteria from various samples. The study includes safety monitoring and will last up to October 2025, with participants followed through treatment-naive stages and control evaluations.

Radiotherapy-Induced Oropharyngeal Mucositis (RIOM) is a common and distressing side effect experienced by patients with head and neck tumors during radiotherapy. This study aims to explore the use of exhaled breathomics—specifically analyzing volatile organic compounds (VOCs)—to diagnose and predict RIOM. The goal is to develop a non-invasive and early detection model that could help improve symptom management and personalize treatment for affected patients. The study involves collecting breath samples from patients with confirmed head and neck tumors who are undergoing radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy. These samples will be analyzed using breath detection technology to identify specific VOCs that may serve as biomarkers for RIOM. The research will focus on validating this diagnostic and predictive model throughout the treatment period. Participants will be monitored for different grades of oral mucositis caused by radiotherapy, with assessments lasting up to one year. The study will record the onset and duration of mucositis symptoms. Researchers will evaluate the breath samples alongside clinical observations to understand the relationship between VOCs and mucositis severity. This observational study does not involve treatment changes but focuses on detailed data collection and follow-up.