Toxicology

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 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.

Snake bites affect thousands of people in Australia each year, with few deaths due to timely medical care and quality first aid. This research investigates and compares two first aid methods—the Pressure Bandage Immobilisation (PBI) technique currently recommended in Australia and a simpler Pressure Pad (PP) technique used internationally. The study aims to determine if the PP method is as effective as PBI in slowing venom movement through the body, which is important for improving first aid guidance. Participants will receive an injection of mock venom in the hand or foot, followed by application of either no first aid, the PBI method, or the PP method. Each technique involves specific bandaging and splinting to immobilize the limb, with pressure carefully controlled around 60mmHg. The study will monitor the flow of the mock venom in each case using nuclear medicine imaging to track its movement through the lymphatic system. During the study, participants will undergo repeated scans to observe how quickly the mock venom reaches regional lymph nodes, with each person experiencing all possible combinations of injection site and first aid method in random order. The primary measure is the time taken for the venom to travel to lymph nodes, monitored over a period spanning a minimum of 12 weeks to a maximum of 18 months. This detailed data will help assess the effectiveness and safety of these first aid techniques to inform future recommendations.

This research focuses on understanding how antibiotics behave in the bodies of critically ill newborns, infants, and children aged from 1.8 kilograms up to 15 years who are admitted to pediatric intensive care. The study aims to evaluate if current dosing regimens achieve effective blood concentrations of antibiotics such as amoxicillin-clavulanate, piperacillin-tazobactam, vancomycin, teicoplanin, meropenem, ciprofloxacin, and amikacin. This information is important for guiding safe and effective antibiotic use in young patients under intensive care. Participants receive routine clinical care including treatment with one of the listed antibiotics administered through intermittent or continuous infusion. Blood, and in some cases urine, samples are collected from existing arterial or intravenous lines to monitor antibiotic levels. These procedures are performed during usual care without additional experimental treatments. During the study, patients will have their first-dose and steady-state blood concentrations of antibiotics measured and compared with targets for maximum antimicrobial activity. The study also collects urine samples for some antibiotics. Researchers aim to understand how well current antibiotic doses reach desired levels to guide future dosing strategies. Participation involves blood and urine sampling while receiving standard care, with safety monitored throughout the study period, which is expected to last approximately two years.

Researchers are evaluating the use of antibiotics as additional treatments alongside mechanical cleaning for patients with severe periodontitis, an inflammatory disease that damages tooth-supporting tissues and can lead to tooth loss. This trial focuses on how two antibiotic regimens—amoxicillin plus metronidazole and azithromycin—are absorbed and act in the body to optimize dosage and duration while minimizing risks of antibiotic resistance. The study is a randomized, single-blind clinical trial involving 45 patients over 44 months at the University of Geneva. Participants receive standard mechanical cleaning of their teeth in two appointments, followed by one of three antibiotic treatments: amoxicillin plus metronidazole taken three times daily for either 7 days or 3 days, or azithromycin taken once daily for 3 days. Clinical samples such as gingival fluid, saliva, blood, and plaque are collected at various points during and after treatment to measure antibiotic levels and effects on bacteria. The study also monitors safety and adverse events throughout. Throughout the approximately 8-month participation, patients undergo clinical and radiographic exams, sample collection, and follow-up visits at 3 and 6 months to assess bacterial presence and treatment success. Researchers track patient compliance and record any adverse effects. The primary outcome is measuring antibiotic concentrations in bodily fluids at specific days after dosing, while secondary outcomes include changes in bacteria levels, clinical improvements, and safety assessments.

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.