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BACKGROUND: Approximately 40,000 rescue and recovery workers were exposed to caustic dust and toxic pollutants following the 11 September 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center (WTC). These workers included [...]

In our article (Herbert et al. 2006), we described the establishment of the World Trade Center (WTC) Worker and Volunteer Medical Screening Program and presented results of screening examinations undertaken [...]

The article offers comments of people on the creation of an international epilepsy day to raise awareness about epilepsy, in response to a letter by doctor M.A. Aleem published in this journal. It mentions the European Epilepsy Day organized by the Commission on European Affairs of the International League Against Epilepsy since 2011, the project Global Campaign Against Epilepsy which aims to improve global awareness, and the support for the day from the tuberous sclerosis complex community.

Purpose: To retrospectively investigate the efficacy of interscalene nerve blockade in reducing postoperative pain and minimizing inpatient hospital admission after shoulder surgery in the pediatric population. Methodology: Thirty-four consecutive patients undergoing shoulder surgery under general anesthesia both with and without the addition of an interscalene nerve block were included in the study. After induction of general anesthesia, those patients receiving regional anesthesia had an interscalene nerve block placed using real-time ultrasonographic guidance with the deposition of 20-30 mL of local anesthetic solution into the interscalene groove. Postoperative pain scores, the use of supplemental analgesic medications, post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) length of stay, hospital course, and any acute or non-acute complications were recorded and evaluated. Results: There were no cardiac events, neuropathies, seizures, pneumothoraces, or other major complications. There was a statistically significant reduction in the pain scores in patients who received an interscalene nerve block versus those who did not. There was also a significant difference found in the need for postoperative inpatient hospital admission. Eleven of the 14 patients (79%) who received a combined general and regional anesthetic technique were discharged home on the day of surgery versus 9 of 20 patients (45%) who did not receive an interscalene block (p = 0.036). Postoperative opioid requirements were significantly reduced in patients receiving an interscalene block within the first six hours of inpatient hospital admission (p = 0.035). There was no difference in PACU length of stay or adverse effects (postoperative nausea and vomiting) between the groups. Conclusion: Interscalene nerve block offers a safe and effective method of providing superior postoperative analgesia and minimizing inpatient hospital admissions in pediatric patients undergoing shoulder surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few studies have explored mentorship's value in occupational safety and health (OSH) training that focuses on worker empowerment in blue-collar occupations. Through a university and union collaboration, we examined mentorship programs as a promising enhancement to ongoing OSH training to foster worker leadership development in organizations focused on worker empowerment. Union-based worker-trainers from 11 large manufacturing facilities across the United States and worker-trainers affiliated with 11 Latinx Worker Centers in the New York City area were interviewed. Rapid Evaluation and Assessment Methods informed study design. The themes that emerged, reflecting the value of mentorship in OSH training, were: characterizing the elements of mentoring, how mentorship can improve OSH training, and recommended practices for designing a program across two different work settings. We conceptualize the goals of mentorship within a broader social ecological framework, that is, to support OSH learning so workers will advocate for broader safety and health changes with credibility and a feeling of empowerment.