title: Relationship between particulate matter exposure and atherogenic profile in "Ground Zero" workers as shown by dynamic contrast enhanced MR imaging.
abstract: In this pilot study, we hypothesize that dynamic contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) has the potential to evaluate differences in atherosclerosis profiles in patients subjected to high (initial dust cloud) and low (after 13 September 2001) particulate matter (PM) exposure. Exposure to PM may be associated with adverse health effects leading to increased morbidity. Law enforcement workers were exposed to high levels of particulate pollution after working at "Ground Zero" and may exhibit accelerated atherosclerosis. 31 subjects (28 male) with high (n = 19) or low (n = 12) exposure to PM underwent DCE-MRI. Demographics (age, gender, family history, hypertension, diabetes, BMI, and smoking status), biomarkers (lipid profiles, hs-CRP, BP) and ankle-brachial index (ABI) measures (left and right) were obtained from all subjects. Differences between the high and low exposures were compared using independent samples t test. Using linear forward stepwise regression with information criteria model, independent predictors of increased area under curve (AUC) from DCE-MRI were determined using all variables as input. Confidence interval of 95 % was used and variables with p > 0.1 were eliminated. p < 0.05 was considered significant. Subjects with high exposure (HE) had significantly higher DCE-MRI AUC uptake (increased neovascularization) compared to subjects with lower exposure (LE). (AUC: 2.65 ± 0.63 HE vs. 1.88 ± 0.69 LE, p = 0.016). Except for right leg ABI, none of the other parameters were significantly different between the two groups. Regression model indicated that only HE to PM, CRP > 3.0 and total cholesterol were independently associated with increased neovascularization (in decreasing order of importance, all p < 0.026). HE to PM may increase plaque neovascularization, and thereby potentially indicate worsening atherogenic profile of "Ground Zero" workers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Translational and Molecular Imaging Institute, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, One Gustave L. Levy Place, P O Box 1234, New York, NY 10029, USA. venkatesh.mani@mssm.edu
authors.forename: Venkatesh
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mani
authors.forename: Stephanie K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Simonette T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Sawit
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Calcagno
authors.forename: Cynara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Maceda
authors.forename: Sarayu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ramachandran
authors.forename: Zahi A
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Fayad
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Moline
authors.forename: Mary Ann
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: McLaughlin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019540:Area Under Curve; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D003287:Contrast Media; D060731:Emergency Responders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D009519:New York City; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D016272:Occupational Health; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D047851:September 11 Terrorist Attacks
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D052638:Particulate Matter