BACKGROUND Thousands of rescue and recovery workers descended on the World Trade Center (WTC) in the wake of the terrorist attack of September 11, 2001 (9/11). Recent studies show that respiratory illness and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are the hallmark health problems, but relationships between them are poorly understood. The current study examined this link and evaluated contributio...

leprosy is an ancient deforming disease caused by mycobacterium leprae, which is still poorly understood and often feared by the general public and even by some in the health care professions fortunately, the outlook for patients has dramatically improved over the last three decades with the introduction of multi-drug treatment and management strategies that have somewhat diminished the stigma ...

Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) causes chronic cough, sinusitis and bronchiectasis, and half of patients also show situs inversus. The genetic basis and visible and concealed chronic symptoms provide potential for stigmatization. We describe a structural equation model linking a questionnaire measure of stigmatization to sex, age, personality (Big Five), symptoms (St George's Respiratory Quest...

Background: Lophomonas blattarum is protozoan generally parasitizes in the intestinal tracts of some arthropods. It can infect adults and children with unspecific respiratory symptoms. We aimed to investigate the frequency of Lophomonas blattarum in children with respiratory symptoms in North East of Iran. Materials and Methods: One hundred fifty-six children with respiratory symptoms were inv...

BACKGROUND Nocturnal gastroesophageal reflux (nGER) is associated with respiratory symptoms and sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), but the pathogenesis is unclear. We aimed to investigate the association between nGER and respiratory symptoms, exacerbations of respiratory symptoms, SDB and airway inflammation. METHODS Participants in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey III in Icela...

BACKGROUND Little is known about the environmental and public health impact of unconventional natural gas extraction activities, including hydraulic fracturing, that occur near residential areas. OBJECTIVES Our aim was to assess the relationship between household proximity to natural gas wells and reported health symptoms. METHODS We conducted a hypothesis-generating health symptom survey o...

BACKGROUND Only a few studies have investigated non-malignant respiratory effects of glass microfibers and these have provided inconsistent results. Our objective was to assess the effects of exposure to glass microfibers on respiratory and skin symptoms, asthma and lung function. METHODS A cross-sectional study of 102 workers from a microfiber factory (response rate 100%) and 76 office worke...

OBJECTIVE To investigate the possible impact of long-term occupational exposure to hydrocarbons on respiratory health. METHODS Respiratory health was assessed by questionnaires, spirometry, and exhaled nitric oxide in 250 male workers from a company handling and distributing refined petroleum products (exposed) and 250 electricians (controls). Exposure to hydrocarbons was assessed by personal...