A recent observational study showed that extrathoracic disease has a high incidence in World Trade Center firefighters who developed sarcoidosis following the 9/11 attack in the United States. The study, “Clinical Course of Sarcoidosis in World Trade Center-Exposed Firefighters,” was published in the journal Chest. More.

Social media companies are making significant strides in weeding out content from extremists and bad actors from their sites, but without significant policy changes, “authoritarians and terrorists” will continue using the platforms to threaten the American public, said one national security expert. More.

New York Law School is offering free clinics for individuals who need assistance filing a claim with the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund, but do not wish to hire an attorney. Clinics are January 26 and 30 and are by appointment only. Pre-registration is required with limited space available. More.

More than 16 years later, 9/11 continues to take its toll. Retired FDNY Lt. Joseph Stach Jr. died of a 9/11-related illness on Sunday. He was 51. Stach developed pancreatic cancer after spending weeks digging and searching at the World Trade Center site. “Another really good guy who was affected by that tragedy all these years later. This is terrible,” said Rockland County Fire Coordinator Gordon Wren. More.

With a heavy heart we must report that Dr James Melius had died. Dr Melius was a founding member of 911 Health Watch and Citizens for the Extension of the James Zadroga Act, Chair of the World Trade Center Health Program Responders Steering Committee and Administrator of the New York State Laborer’s Health and Trust Fund among a number of other positions and committees.

Shortly before he died, a New York State trooper hoped to perform one last act of service for his community. Mike Anson knew he was dying, but he wasn’t thinking about himself. He was worried about every first responder from 9/11. His message? “Don’t be afraid to go get some help.” Mike was there right after the towers fell, helping and breathing in those toxic fumes. For 15 years, he seemed fine. But then, aggressive cancer hit him.

A memorial stands in honor of those who perished in 9/11 but some even right here in the Capital Region are still fighting for their lives. Asthma and cancer are just some of the conditions the CDC reports that 9/11 first responders are plagued with today after breathing in dust and fumes from the debris there. Kevin Terry was part of a group from the Capital Region that headed to the city to help. More.

Researchers identified a novel polygenic expression aggregate among World Trade Center responders with PTSD, but not in control responders without PTSD. The researchers conducted a transcriptome-wide RNA sequencing study of whole blood in 201 World Trade Center responders who never had PTSD, 81 who currently reported PTSD, and 42 who reported having it in the past. More.