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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 37 records · Page 2
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2025

Risk of longer-term endocrine and metabolic conditions in the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Coast Guard cohort study – five years of follow-up

Abstract Introduction Long-term endocrine and metabolic health risks associated with oil spill cleanup exposures are largely unknown, despite the endocrine-disrupting potential of crude oil and oil dispersant constituents. We aimed to investigate risks of longer-term endocrine and metabolic conditions among U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) responders to the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill. Methods Our study population included all active duty DWH Oil Spill Coast Guard Cohort members ( N = 45,224). Self-reported spill exposures were ascertained from post-deployment surveys. Incident endocrine and metabolic outcomes were defined using International Classification of Diseases (9th Revision) diagnostic codes from military health encounter records up to 5.5 years post-DWH. Using Cox proportional hazards regression, we estimated adjusted hazard ratios (aHR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for various incident endocrine and metabolic diagnoses (2010–2015, and separately during 2010–2012 and 2013–2015). Results The mean baseline age was 30 years (~ 77% white, ~ 86% male). Compared to non-responders ( n = 39,260), spill responders ( n = 5,964) had elevated risks for simple and unspecified goiter (aHR = 2.09, 95% CI: 1.29–3.38) and disorders of lipid metabolism (aHR = 1.09, 95% CI: 1.00–1.18), including its subcategory other and unspecified hyperlipidemia (aHR = 1.10, 95% CI: 1.01–1.21). The dysmetabolic syndrome X risk was elevated only during 2010–2012 (aHR = 2.07, 95% CI: 1.22–3.51). Responders reporting ever ( n = 1,068) vs. never ( n = 2,424) crude oil inhalation exposure had elevated risks for disorders of lipid metabolism (aHR = 1.24, 95% CI: 1.00–1.53), including its subcategory pure hypercholesterolemia (aHR = 1.71, 95% CI: 1.08–2.72), the overweight, obesity and other hyperalimentation subcategory of unspecified obesity (aHR = 1.52, 95% CI: 1.09–2.13), and abnormal weight gain (aHR = 2.60, 95% CI: 1.04–6.55). Risk estimates for endocrine/metabolic conditions were generally stronger among responders reporting exposure to both crude oil and dispersants (vs. neither) than among responders reporting only oil exposure (vs. neither). Conclusion In this large cohort of active duty USCG responders to the DWH disaster, oil spill cleanup exposures were associated with elevated risks for longer-term endocrine and metabolic conditions.

Denic-Roberts, Hristina↗
NASA NTRS2017

Cardiovascular Disease Risk in NASA Astronauts Across the Lifespan: Historical Cohort Studies

Acute effects of spaceflight on the cardiovascular system have been studied extensively, but the combined chronic effects of spaceflight and aging are not well understood. Preparation for and participation in space flight activities are potentially associated with cardiovascular disease risk factors (e.g., altered dietary and exercise habits, physical and emotional stress, circadian shifts, radiation). Further, astronauts who travel into space multiple times may be at an increased risk across their lifespan. However, comparing the risk of cardiovascular disease in astronauts to other large cohorts is difficult. For example, comparisons between astronauts and large national cohorts, such as the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and the National Health Information Survey, are hampered by significant differences in health status between astronauts and the general population, and most of these national studies fail to provide longitudinal data on population health. To address those limitations, NASA's Longitudinal Study of Astronaut Health previously sought to compare the astronauts to a cohort of civil servants employed at the Johnson Space Center. However, differences between the astronauts and civil servants at the beginning of the study, as well as differential follow up, limited the ability to interpret the results. To resolve some of these limitations, two unique cohorts of healthy workers, U.S. Air Force aviators and Cooper Center Longitudinal Study participants, have been identified as potential comparison populations for the astronaut corps. The Air Force cohort was chosen due to similarities in health at selection, screening, and some occupational exposures that Air Force aviators endure, many of which mirror that of the astronaut corps. The Cooper Clinic cohort, a generally healthy prevention cohort, was chosen for the vast array of clinical cardiovascular measures collected in a longitudinal manner complementary to those collected on astronauts, for a large number of subjects since 1971. The purpose of this study is to understand the incidence of cardiovascular disease outcomes and risk factors in the astronaut corps and determine whether the rates of disease are different than these two cohorts. The research questions are: 1. Are there differences in the incidence of CVD outcomes (MI, revascularization, and stroke) between each cohort and the NASA Astronaut cohort? 2. Are there differences in the incidence of CVD risks (hypertension, hyperlipidemia, arrhythmias, and diabetes) between each cohort and the NASA Astronaut cohort? 3. Are there differences between each cohort and the NASA Astronaut cohort in how CVD risk factors (e.g., lipids, behaviors) change across time? Collectively, results from these studies will enhance our understanding of how cardiovascular disease outcomes and risk factors change across time in astronauts compared to other longitudinally-studied healthy cohorts and determine if there are interactions between or additive effects of the occupational health effects of spaceflight exposure and normal aging.

Charvat, Jacqueline M.↗
DOE OSTI2020

Accelerated epigenetic aging as a risk factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and decreased lung function in two prospective cohort studies

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a frequent diagnosis in older individuals and contributor to global morbidity and mortality. Given the link between lung disease and aging, we need to understand how molecular indicators of aging relate to lung function and disease. Using data from the population-based KORA (Cooperative Health Research in the Region of Augsburg) surveys, we associated baseline epigenetic (DNA methylation) age acceleration with incident COPD and lung function. Models were adjusted for age, sex, smoking, height, weight, and baseline lung disease as appropriate. Associations were replicated in the Normative Aging Study. Of 770 KORA participants, 131 developed incident COPD over 7 years. Baseline accelerated epigenetic aging was significantly associated with incident COPD. The change in age acceleration (follow-up – baseline) was more strongly associated with COPD than baseline aging alone. The association between the change in age acceleration between baseline and follow-up and incident COPD replicated in the Normative Aging Study. Associations with spirometric lung function parameters were weaker than those with COPD, but a meta-analysis of both cohorts provide suggestive evidence of associations. Accelerated epigenetic aging, both baseline measures and changes over time, may be a risk factor for COPD and reduced lung function.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2021

Preoperative Radiosurgery for Resected Brain Metastases: The PROPS-BM Multicenter Cohort Study

Preoperative radiosurgery (SRS) is a feasible alternative to postoperative SRS, with potential benefits in adverse radiation effect (ARE) and leptomeningeal disease (LMD) relapse. However, previous studies are limited by small patient numbers and single-institution designs. Our aim was to evaluate preoperative SRS outcomes and prognostic factors from a large multicenter cohort (Preoperative Radiosurgery for Brain Metastases [PROPS-BM]).

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗
DOE OSTI2026

Identification of drug repurposing candidates for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis using electronic health records: a retrospective cohort study

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease with a life expectancy of only 3–5 years and few approved treatments. To identify drug repurposing candidates for the treatment of ALS, we analysed the electronic health records (EHRs) of a large cohort of military veterans with ALS. We analysed the EHRs of individuals in the US Veterans Health Administration (VHA) database who were diagnosed with ALS between Jan 1, 2009 and Dec 31, 2019 to assess medication effects. Individuals without recorded prescriptions after the date of diagnosis were excluded. Two sets of criteria were applied to ascertain exposure. Exposure criteria A were met if the dispense date or the end date of the medication was within 12 months of ALS diagnosis and the end date was at least 6 months after the dispense date. Exposure criteria B were met if there were at least two dispenses within 6 months before diagnosis and 12 months after diagnosis. Propensity score-matched control groups were generated on the basis of confounders included in the EHR, with methodology of potential outcomes used to infer treatment effects. The primary outcome was death. A standard Cox proportional hazards analysis was done to assess association with survival. Survival was defined as the time from diagnosis date recorded in the EHR to death reported in the Department for Veterans Affairs Vital Status File. Follow-up survival time was censored on Dec 31, 2020, for those alive on this date. Downstream protein targets of drugs with clinically significant effects were analysed using the protein–protein interaction networks-based algorithm PathFX. The EHRs of 11 003 individuals with ALS in the VHA database were appropriate for analysis. 162 medications with treatment groups of 30 or more individuals were identified. Among these 162 medications, 27 were associated with statistically significant changes (≥0·1) in the hazard ratio (HR) for death. 18 of the medications were associated with a reduced HR for death (prolonged survival), and nine were associated with an increased HR for death (reduced survival). Drugs associated with reduced HR included HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (simvastatin, pravastatin, lovastatin, and atorvastatin), PDE5 inhibitors (vardenafil and sildenafil), and α-adrenergic antagonists (tamsulosin and terazosin). The medications associated with an increased HR were drugs used either in the management of clinical features of ALS associated with poor outcomes or in end-of-life care. PathFx analysis identified a complex of proteins interacting with several of the identified drugs. To our knowledge, this analysis is the largest EHR-based study for identifying drug repurposing candidates for ALS. We identified several drugs that warrant further assessment as therapeutic options in ALS, as well as a protein network complex that might serve as a therapeutic target for ALS.

Reimer, Richard J. [Stanford Univ., CA (United Sta↗
DOE OSTI2023

Reconstructed lung doses for the million person study cohort of 26,650 Tennessee Eastman corporation workers employed between 1942 and 1947

Abstract Tennessee Eastman Corporation workers were exposed to uranium dust resulting in high-linear energy transfer (LET) irradiation to lung tissue. In this work, radiation lung doses were reconstructed for 26 650 men and women working at the plant between 1942 and 1947. Site air monitoring data of uranium concentrations and payroll records were used to determine the daily inhaled activities and annualized lung doses. Variations in the activity median aerodynamic diameter of the uranium dust, the solubility of particulate matter in the lungs and the sex-specific breathing rate were investigated as part of a sensitivity analysis. Male and female mean lung doses of 18.9 and 32.7 mGy, respectively, from high-LET alpha irradiation, and there was general agreement with evaluations from previously published epidemiological studies. Annual lung dose estimates and sensitivity analysis for the 26 650 workers in the TEC cohort have been archived on the United States Department of Energy Comprehensive Epidemiologic Data Resource.

61 RADIATION PROTECTION AND DOSIMETRY↗
DOE OSTI2022

Association between long-term exposure to ambient air pollution and COVID-19 severity: a prospective cohort study

The tremendous global health burden related to COVID-19 means that identifying determinants of COVID-19 severity is important for prevention and intervention. We aimed to explore long-term exposure to ambient air pollution as a potential contributor to COVID-19 severity, given its known impact on the respiratory system. Methods: We used a cohort of all people with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, aged 20 years and older and not residing in a long-term care facility in Ontario, Canada, during 2020. We evaluated the association between long-term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ), nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) and ground-level ozone (O 3 ), and risk of COVID-19-related hospital admission, intensive care unit (ICU) admission and death. We ascertained individuals’ longterm exposures to each air pollutant based on their residence from 2015 to 2019. We used logistic regression and adjusted for confounders and selection bias using various individual and contextual covariates obtained through data linkage. Results: Among the 151105 people with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection in Ontario in 2020, we observed 8630 hospital admissions, 1912 ICU admissions and 2137 deaths related to COVID-19. For each interquartile range increase in exposure to PM 2.5 (1.70 µg/m 3 ), we estimated odds ratios of 1.06 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01–1.12), 1.09 (95% CI 0.98–1.21) and 1.00 (95% CI 0.90–1.11) for hospital admission, ICU admission and death, respectively. Estimates were smaller for NO 2 . We also estimated odds ratios of 1.15 (95% CI 1.06–1.23), 1.30 (95% CI 1.12–1.50) and 1.18 (95% CI 1.02–1.36) per interquartile range increase of 5.14 ppb in O 3 for hospital admission, ICU admission and death, respectively.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2021

Reduction in total and major cause-specific mortality from tobacco smoking cessation: a pooled analysis of 16 population-based cohort studies in Asia

Little is known about the time course of mortality reduction following smoking cessation in Asians who have smoking behaviours distinct from their Western counterparts. We evaluated the level of reduction in all-cause, cardiovascular disease (CVD) and lung cancer mortality by years since quitting smoking, in Asia. Using Cox regression, we analysed individual participant data (n = 709 151) from 16 prospective cohorts conducted in China, Japan, Korea/Singapore, and India/Bangladesh, separately by cohorts. Cohort-specific hazard ratios (HRs) were combined using a random-effects meta-analysis. During a mean follow-up of 12.0 years, 108 287 deaths were ascertained—35 658 from CVD and 7546 from lung cancer. Among Asian men, a dose-response relationship of risk reduction in deaths from all causes, CVD and lung cancer was observed with an increase in years after smoking cessation. Compared with never smokers, however, all-cause and CVD mortality among former smokers remained elevated 10–14 years after quitting [multivariable-adjusted HR (95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.25 (1.13–1.37) and 1.20 (1.02–1.41), respectively]. Lung cancer mortality stayed almost 2-fold higher than among never smokers 15–19 years after smoking cessation [1.97 (1.41–2.73)], particularly among former heavy smokers [2.62 (1.71–4.00)]. Women who quitted for ≥5 years retained a significantly elevated mortality from all causes, CVD and lung cancer. Overall patterns of the cessation-mortality associations were similar across countries. Our findings suggest that adverse effects of tobacco smoking persist for an extended time period, even for more than two decades, which is beyond the time windows defined in current clinical guidelines for risk assessment of lung cancer and CVD.

Public, Environmental & Occupational Health↗
DOE OSTI2021

Comparative Effectiveness Research in Localized Prostate Cancer: A 10-Year Follow-up Cohort Study

Long-term comparative effectiveness research on localized prostate cancer treatments is scarce, and evidence is lacking especially for brachytherapy. The aim of this study was to assess the long-term impact of the side effects of radical prostatectomy, brachytherapy, and external radiation therapy on patients with localized prostate cancer at 10 years, using propensity score analyses.

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗