Search

The unprovoked invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation has resulted in the largest humanitarian crisis in Europe since World War II. As fighting intensifies throughout Ukraine, there is an increasing concern that the Russian Federation may consider the direct use of chemical or radiological weapons against military personnel and civilians in Ukraine. Despite prohibition of chemical weapons from the Chemical Weapons Convention of 1997, recent evidence has demonstrated that state actors will continue to use these agents as weapons of war and terror, despite publicly denying their use. We review chemical weapons produced and used by the Russian Federation (or its allies) to identify plausible risks in the Russian war in Ukraine. We also provide rapid assessment and treatment guidelines to recognize and manage these acute exposures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In this study, repeated measurements were made of levels of mold spores, bacteria, and dust-mite allergens over a 7-month period in the homes of asthmatics, and relationships with measures of asthma severity were evaluated. Methods: A sample of 57 asthmatic individuals, living in 44 homes in East Moline, Illinois, and nearby communities, participated in a panel study. The homes were visited up to nine times during the study to collect air and dust samples. Asthma severity indicators were derived from questionnaire data and from the daily health records from the panel study. Associations between indoor levels of mold spores, bacteria, and dust-mite allergens were tested with several asthma severity indicators. Results: There was evidence of associations between all asthma severity measures and levels of total and Gram-negative bacteria, but mold-spore abundance was associated only with emergency room (ER) visits for asthma. No significant associations were found with house-dust-mite allergen and any of the asthma severity indicators, but the levels of dust-mite allergen were low, with median concentrations of 0.18 µg/g dust Der f 1 and 0.19 µg/g dust Der p 1. Conclusions: Some evidence was found for associations of increased concentrations of Gram-negative bacteria and mold spores with asthma severity, particularly with ER visits. No association was found between house-dust-mite allergen and asthma severity indicators; however, the mite-allergen levels in the study homes were generally well below the proposed threshold level of 2 µg/g dust. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to measure allergens from Dermatophagoides farinae and D. pteronyssinus and to examine possible relationships of these mite allergens with flooding and other housing factors. A total of 313 dust samples were collected from the bedrooms of 57 asthmatics in 45 homes in the Quad Cities (Illinois, USA) and analyzed by ELISA for the presence of the D. farinae and D. pteronyssinus allergens. Twenty of these homes had some flooding in the last 12 months due to the Mississippi River floods of 1993 and/or other factors. The log-transformed least-squares means of allergens collected were 28 ng/m² for the D. farinae allergen and 26 ng/m² for the D. pteronyssinus allergen. D. farinae allergen levels were significantly higher in homes located in the valley, in homes during the summer months, in homes with furred or feathered pets, in homes which had not been flooded in the last year, and in homes where rugs had been steam-cleaned in the last 12 months. D. pteronyssinus allergen levels were significantly higher in homes located in the valley, in homes during April and July-September, in homes with furred or feathered pets, and in homes with no dehumidifier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To identify preventable factors contributing to inpatient theophylline toxicity.Design: Case series.Setting: Tertiary care public hospital.Patients: Forty consecutive adult inpatients (mean age, 56.5 years) with theophylline levels greater than 140 mumol/L (25.0 mg/L).Measurements and Main Results: A retrospective chart audit was done. Toxicity was produced in 27 of 40 patients by inpatient or emergency department theophylline administration. Management errors found included delay (greater than 10 hours) in taking action from time toxic blood levels were drawn (20 patients), inappropriately high dosing of patients with congestive heart failure (17 patients), failure to recognize obvious symptoms (16 patients), recurrent toxicity (11 patients), additional emergency department treatment of already toxic patients (7 patients), overlap of intravenous and oral therapy (6 patients), patient discharged with no physician awareness of toxicity or dosage change (5 patients).Conclusions: A set of recurring management errors was identified as contributing to inpatient theophylline toxicity. Effective preventive mechanisms could have prevented most toxicity and associated morbidity. Theophylline's overall risk-benefit ratio in the inpatient setting may be less than that measured in well-controlled studies of the drug's efficacy because of these management errors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air humidification is sometimes used to reduce dryness symptoms in temperate climates, but the biological mechanism behind this effect isnot well understood. We have investigated the effect of air humidification on physiological signs from the eyes and nose, other medical symptoms and on perceived air quality. An experimental study was performed in two units of a well-ventilated geriatric hospital in southernSweden. Blinded central steam air humidification in one of the unitsduring 6 weeks raised the relative air humidity to 43% RH (January-March 1997), while the other unit with 35% RH served as control. All staff (N = 32) working the day shift were invited to undergo a medicalinvestigation performed in the hospital units. It included measurement of tear film stability, acoustic rhinometry, nasal lavage and completing a medical questionnaire. The investigation was repeated at both units after 6 weeks and 26 subjects participated on both occasions (81%). The technical measurements were room temperature, relative airhumidity and the levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), moulds, bacteria, formaldehyde, and total as well as specific volatile organic compounds in the air. The mean room temperature (22.5 deg. C), and indoor concentrations of pollutants were similar in both units, before and after humidification. Air humidification decreased the sensation of air dryness and reduced the number of dermal symptoms. No effect on other symptoms, i.e. tear film stability (breakup time), nasal patency, or biomarkers in nasal lavage, was observed. In conclusion, increasing air humidity from 35 to 43% RH with central steam humidification was found to reduce dermal symptoms and perception of air dryness, but there was no evidence of an effect on tear film stability, nasal patency, or nasal mucosal inflammation or secretion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]