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Nguyen A, Crespi CM, Vergara X, Kheifets L. Pesticides as a potential independent childhood leukemia risk factor and as a potential confounder for electromagnetic fields exposure. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 238:116899. [PMID: 37598846 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Revised: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Both pesticides and high magnetic fields are suspected to be childhood leukemia risk factors. Pesticides are utilized at commercial plant nurseries, which sometimes occupy the areas underneath high-voltage powerlines. OBJECTIVES To evaluate whether potential pesticide exposures (intended use, chemical class, active ingredient) utilized at plant nurseries act as an independent childhood leukemia risk factor or as a confounder for proximity to, or magnetic fields exposure from, high-voltage powerlines. METHODS We conducted a state-wide records-based case-control study for California with 5788 childhood leukemia cases and 5788 controls that examined specific pesticide use, magnetic field exposures and distances to both powerlines and plant nurseries. Exposure assessment incorporated geographic information systems, aerial satellite images, and other historical information. RESULTS Childhood leukemia risk was potentially elevated for several active pesticide ingredients: permethrin (odds ratio (OR) 1.49, 95% confidence interval (CI) (0.83-2.67), chlorpyrifos (OR 1.29, 95% CI 0.89-1.87), dimethoate (OR 1.79, 95% CI 0.85-3.76), mancozeb (OR 1.41, 95% CI 0.85-2.33), oxyfluorfen (OR 1.41, 95% CI 0.75-2.66), oryzalin (OR 1.60, 95% CI 0.97-2.63), and pendimethalin (OR 1.82, 95% CI 0.81-2.25). Rodenticide (OR 1.42, 95% CI 0.78-2.56) and molluscicide (OR 1.22, 95% CI 0.82-1.81) exposure also presented potentially elevated childhood leukemia risks. Childhood leukemia associations with calculated fields or powerline proximity did not materially change after adjusting for pesticide exposure. Childhood leukemia risks with powerline proximity remained similar when pesticide exposures were excluded. DISCUSSION Pesticide exposure may be an independent childhood leukemia risk factor. Childhood leukemia risks for powerline proximity and magnetic fields exposure were not explained by pesticide exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Nguyen
- Department of Epidemiology, University of California Los Angeles Fielding School of Public Health, 650 Charles E. Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA, 90095-1772, USA.
| | - C M Crespi
- Department of Biostatistics, University of California Los Angeles Fielding School of Public Health, 650 Charles E. Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA, 90095-1772, USA.
| | - X Vergara
- Department of Epidemiology, University of California Los Angeles Fielding School of Public Health, 650 Charles E. Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA, 90095-1772, USA.
| | - L Kheifets
- Department of Epidemiology, University of California Los Angeles Fielding School of Public Health, 650 Charles E. Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA, 90095-1772, USA.
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Guo P, Jin Z, Bellia G, Luo J, Inoue K, Pollitt KJG, Deziel NC, Liew Z. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and sleep health in U.S. adults, NHANES 2005-2014. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 237:117092. [PMID: 37683785 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Revised: 09/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are synthetic chemicals that induce oxidative inflammatory responses and disrupt the endocrine and central nervous systems, all of which can influence sleep. OBJECTIVE To investigate the association between PFAS exposure and sleep health measures in U.S. adults. METHODS We analyzed serum concentration data of four PFAS [perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA)] reported for 8913 adults in NHANES 2005-2014. Sleep outcomes, including trouble sleeping, having a diagnosis of sleep disorder, and recent daily sleep duration classified as insufficient or excessive sleep (<6 or >9 h/day) were examined. Weighted logistic regression was used to estimate the association between the sleep outcomes and each PFAS modeled continuously (log2) or in exposure tertiles. We applied quantile g-computation to estimate the effect of the four PFAS as a mixture on the sleep outcomes. We conducted a quantitative bias analysis to assess the potential influence of self-selection and uncontrolled confounding. RESULTS We observed some inverse associations between serum PFAS and trouble sleeping or sleep disorder, which were more consistent for PFOS (e.g., per log2-PFOS (ng/ml) and trouble sleeping OR = 0.93, 95%CI: 0.89, 0.98; sleep disorder OR = 0.89, 95%CI: 0.83, 0.95). Per quartile increase of the PFAS mixture was inversely associated with trouble sleeping and sleep disorder. No consistent associations were found for sleep duration across analyses. Our bias analysis suggests that the finding on sleep disorder could be explained by a moderate level of self-selection and negative confounding effects. CONCLUSIONS We found no evidence to suggest exposure to four legacy PFAS worsened self-reported sleep health among U.S. adults. While some inverse associations between specific PFAS and sleep disorder were observed, self-selection and uncontrolled confounding biases may play a role in these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengfei Guo
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, USA; Yale Center for Perinatal, Pediatric and Environmental Epidemiology, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, USA.
| | - Zhihao Jin
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, USA.
| | - Giselle Bellia
- Yale Center for Perinatal, Pediatric and Environmental Epidemiology, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, USA.
| | - Jiajun Luo
- Institute for Population and Precision Health, University of Chicago, USA.
| | - Kosuke Inoue
- Department of Social Epidemiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Japan.
| | - Krystal J Godri Pollitt
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, USA; Yale Center for Perinatal, Pediatric and Environmental Epidemiology, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, USA.
| | - Nicole C Deziel
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, USA; Yale Center for Perinatal, Pediatric and Environmental Epidemiology, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, USA.
| | - Zeyan Liew
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, USA; Yale Center for Perinatal, Pediatric and Environmental Epidemiology, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, USA.
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Giuffrè M, Shung DL. Harnessing the power of synthetic data in healthcare: innovation, application, and privacy. NPJ Digit Med 2023; 6:186. [PMID: 37813960 PMCID: PMC10562365 DOI: 10.1038/s41746-023-00927-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Data-driven decision-making in modern healthcare underpins innovation and predictive analytics in public health and clinical research. Synthetic data has shown promise in finance and economics to improve risk assessment, portfolio optimization, and algorithmic trading. However, higher stakes, potential liabilities, and healthcare practitioner distrust make clinical use of synthetic data difficult. This paper explores the potential benefits and limitations of synthetic data in the healthcare analytics context. We begin with real-world healthcare applications of synthetic data that informs government policy, enhance data privacy, and augment datasets for predictive analytics. We then preview future applications of synthetic data in the emergent field of digital twin technology. We explore the issues of data quality and data bias in synthetic data, which can limit applicability across different applications in the clinical context, and privacy concerns stemming from data misuse and risk of re-identification. Finally, we evaluate the role of regulatory agencies in promoting transparency and accountability and propose strategies for risk mitigation such as Differential Privacy (DP) and a dataset chain of custody to maintain data integrity, traceability, and accountability. Synthetic data can improve healthcare, but measures to protect patient well-being and maintain ethical standards are key to promote responsible use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mauro Giuffrè
- Department of Medicine (Digestive Diseases), Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Health Science, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy.
| | - Dennis L Shung
- Department of Medicine (Digestive Diseases), Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
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Synthetic data in health care: A narrative review. PLOS DIGITAL HEALTH 2023; 2:e0000082. [PMID: 36812604 PMCID: PMC9931305 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pdig.0000082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Data are central to research, public health, and in developing health information technology (IT) systems. Nevertheless, access to most data in health care is tightly controlled, which may limit innovation, development, and efficient implementation of new research, products, services, or systems. Using synthetic data is one of the many innovative ways that can allow organizations to share datasets with broader users. However, only a limited set of literature is available that explores its potentials and applications in health care. In this review paper, we examined existing literature to bridge the gap and highlight the utility of synthetic data in health care. We searched PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar to identify peer-reviewed articles, conference papers, reports, and thesis/dissertations articles related to the generation and use of synthetic datasets in health care. The review identified seven use cases of synthetic data in health care: a) simulation and prediction research, b) hypothesis, methods, and algorithm testing, c) epidemiology/public health research, d) health IT development, e) education and training, f) public release of datasets, and g) linking data. The review also identified readily and publicly accessible health care datasets, databases, and sandboxes containing synthetic data with varying degrees of utility for research, education, and software development. The review provided evidence that synthetic data are helpful in different aspects of health care and research. While the original real data remains the preferred choice, synthetic data hold possibilities in bridging data access gaps in research and evidence-based policymaking.
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Nguyen A, Crespi CM, Vergara X, Kheifets L. Commercial outdoor plant nurseries as a confounder for electromagnetic fields and childhood leukemia risk. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 212:113446. [PMID: 35550811 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.113446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2021] [Revised: 05/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Close residential proximity to powerlines and high magnetic fields exposure may be associated with elevated childhood leukemia risks as reported by prior studies and pooled analyses. Magnetic fields exposure from high-voltage powerlines is associated with proximity to these powerlines and consequently with any factor varying with distance. Areas underneath powerlines in California may be sites for commercial plant nurseries that can use pesticides, a potential childhood leukemia risk factor. OBJECTIVES Assess if potential pesticide exposure from commercial plant nurseries is a confounder or interacts with proximity or magnetic fields exposure from high-voltage powerlines to increase childhood leukemia risk. METHODS A comprehensive childhood leukemia record-based case-control study with 5788 cases and 5788 controls (born and diagnosed in California, 1986-2008) was conducted. Pesticide, powerline, and magnetic field exposure assessment utilized models that incorporated geographical information systems, aerial satellite images, site visits and other historical information. RESULTS The relationship for calculated fields with childhood leukemia (odds ratio (OR) 1.51, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.70-3.23) slightly attenuated when controlling for nursery proximity (OR 1.43, 95% CI 0.65-3.16) or restricting analysis to subjects living far (>300 m) from nurseries (OR 1.43, 95% CI 0.79-2.60). A similar association pattern was observed between distance to high-voltage powerlines and childhood leukemia. The association between nursery proximity and childhood leukemia was unchanged or only slightly attenuated when controlling for calculated fields or powerline distance; ORs remained above 2 when excluding subjects with high calculated fields or close powerline proximity (OR 2.16, 95% CI 0.82-5.67 and OR 2.15, 95% CI 0.82-5.64, respectively). The observed relationships were robust to different time periods, reference categories, and cut points. DISCUSSION Close residential proximity to nurseries is suggested as an independent childhood leukemia risk factor. Our results do not support plant nurseries as an explanation for observed childhood leukemia risks for powerline proximity and magnetic fields exposure, although small numbers of subjects concurrently exposed to high magnetic fields, close powerline proximity and plant nurseries limited our ability to fully assess potential confounding.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Nguyen
- Department of Epidemiology, University of California Los Angeles Fielding School of Public Health, 650 Charles E. Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1772, USA.
| | - C M Crespi
- Department of Biostatistics, University of California Los Angeles Fielding School of Public Health, 650 Charles E. Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1772, USA.
| | - X Vergara
- Department of Epidemiology, University of California Los Angeles Fielding School of Public Health, 650 Charles E. Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1772, USA.
| | - L Kheifets
- Department of Epidemiology, University of California Los Angeles Fielding School of Public Health, 650 Charles E. Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1772, USA.
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Magnetic Fields and Cancer: Epidemiology, Cellular Biology, and Theranostics. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23031339. [PMID: 35163262 PMCID: PMC8835851 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23031339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Revised: 01/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/22/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Humans are exposed to a complex mix of man-made electric and magnetic fields (MFs) at many different frequencies, at home and at work. Epidemiological studies indicate that there is a positive relationship between residential/domestic and occupational exposure to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields and some types of cancer, although some other studies indicate no relationship. In this review, after an introduction on the MF definition and a description of natural/anthropogenic sources, the epidemiology of residential/domestic and occupational exposure to MFs and cancer is reviewed, with reference to leukemia, brain, and breast cancer. The in vivo and in vitro effects of MFs on cancer are reviewed considering both human and animal cells, with particular reference to the involvement of reactive oxygen species (ROS). MF application on cancer diagnostic and therapy (theranostic) are also reviewed by describing the use of different magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) applications for the detection of several cancers. Finally, the use of magnetic nanoparticles is described in terms of treatment of cancer by nanomedical applications for the precise delivery of anticancer drugs, nanosurgery by magnetomechanic methods, and selective killing of cancer cells by magnetic hyperthermia. The supplementary tables provide quantitative data and methodologies in epidemiological and cell biology studies. Although scientists do not generally agree that there is a cause-effect relationship between exposure to MF and cancer, MFs might not be the direct cause of cancer but may contribute to produce ROS and generate oxidative stress, which could trigger or enhance the expression of oncogenes.
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García-Minguillán O, Maestú C. 30 Hz, Could It Be Part of a Window Frequency for Cellular Response? Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:3642. [PMID: 33807400 PMCID: PMC8036499 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22073642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2021] [Revised: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Many exogenous and endogenous risk factors have been proposed as precursors of brain tumors, including the exposure to non-ionizing electromagnetic fields. Nevertheless, there is still a debate among the scientific community about the hazard of the effects produced by non-ionizing radiation (NIR) because conflicting results have been found (number of articles reviewed >50). For that reason, to provide new evidence on the possible effects produced by exposure to NIR, we performed different studies with several combinations of extremely low frequencies, times, and field intensities in tumoral and non-tumoral cells. The results of our studies showed that cell viability was frequency dependent in glioblastoma cells. In fact, our results revealed that a frequency of 30 Hz-or even other frequencies close to 30 Hz-could constitute a window frequency determinant of the cellular response in tumoral and non-tumoral cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga García-Minguillán
- Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros de Telecomunicación, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Ceferino Maestú
- Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros de Telecomunicación, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
- CTB (CTB-UPM) Centro de Tecnología Biomédica, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28223 Pozuelo de Alarcón, Spain
- CIBER-BBN Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red, 28029 Madrid, Spain
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The role of dwelling type when estimating the effect of magnetic fields on childhood leukemia in the California Power Line Study (CAPS). Cancer Causes Control 2020; 31:559-567. [PMID: 32277327 DOI: 10.1007/s10552-020-01299-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2019] [Accepted: 04/02/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The type of dwelling where a child lives is an important factor when considering residential exposure to environmental agents. In this paper, we explore its role when estimating the potential effects of magnetic fields (MF) on leukemia using data from the California Power Line Study (CAPS). In this context, dwelling type could be a risk factor, a proxy for other risk factors, a cause of MF exposure, a confounder, an effect-measure modifier, or some combination. METHODS We obtained information on type of dwelling at birth on over 2,000 subjects. Using multivariable-adjusted logistic regression, we assessed whether dwelling type was a risk factor for childhood leukemia, which covariates and MF exposures were associated with dwelling type, and whether dwelling type was a potential confounder or an effect-measure modifier in the MF-leukemia relationship under the assumption of no-uncontrolled confounding. RESULTS A majority of children lived in single-family homes or duplexes (70%). Dwelling type was associated with race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status but not with childhood leukemia risk, after other adjustments, and did not alter the MF-leukemia relationship upon adjustment as a potential confounder. Stratification revealed potential effect-measure modification by dwelling type on the multiplicative scale. CONCLUSION Dwelling type does not appear to play a significant role in the MF-leukemia relationship in the CAPS dataset as a leukemia risk factor or confounder. Future research should explore the role of dwelling as an effect-measure modifier of the MF-leukemia association.
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Marshall MR. The benefit of early survival on PD versus HD—Why this is (still) very important. Perit Dial Int 2020; 40:405-418. [DOI: 10.1177/0896860819895177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
There are a number of misconceptions around the identified early survival benefit of peritoneal dialysis (PD) relative to hemodialysis (HD), including that such benefits “even out in the end” since the relative risk of death over time eventually encompasses 1.0 (or even an estimate that is unfavorable to PD); that the early benefit is, in fact, most likely due to unmeasured confounding; and such benefits are only due to the influence of central venous catheters and “crash starters” in the HD group. In fact, the early survival benefit results in a substantial gain of patient life years in PD cohorts relative to HD ones, even if it the benefit appears to “even out in the end,” is relatively insensitive to unmeasured confounding, and persists even when the effects of central venous catheters are accounted for. In this review, the calculations and arguments are made to support these tenets. Survival on dialysis is still one of the most important considerations for all stakeholders in the end-stage kidney disease community, including patients who rank it among their top priorities. Shared decision-making is a fundamental patient right and requires both balanced information and an iterative mechanism for a consensual decision based on shared understanding and purpose. A cornerstone of this process should be an explicit discussion of the early survival benefit of PD relative to HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark R Marshall
- Department of Renal Medicine, Counties Manukau District Health Board, Auckland, New Zealand
- School of Medicine, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- Medical Affairs, Baxter Healthcare (Asia) Pte Ltd, Singapore
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