Subject(s)
Asthma/complications , Leukotriene Antagonists/adverse effects , Vasculitis/diagnosis , Vasculitis/etiology , Adult , Aspergillosis, Allergic Bronchopulmonary/diagnosis , Bronchiectasis/complications , Bronchiectasis/diagnostic imaging , Diagnosis, Differential , Female , Humans , Leukotriene Antagonists/therapeutic use , Tomography, X-Ray Computed , Vasculitis/pathologyABSTRACT
A pilot study was initiated to examine cord blood from approximately 300 newborns of various ethnic groups from two New York City hospitals for lead (Pb), erythrocyte protoporphyrin (EP), ferritin (FRT), and hemoglobin (Hb) levels during 1979 and 1980. Results showed an overall mean Pb level of 8 +/- 4 micrograms/dl, EP level of 61 +/- 26 micrograms/dl [geometric mean (GM) = 66.36], FRT level of 165 +/- 107 ng/ml (GM = 135.99), and a distribution frequency of Hb with nearly 69% between 13.5 and 16.9 g % (mean +/- standard deviation = 15 +/- 1), 20% below 13.4 g % (12 +/- 2 g %), and 11% at or above 17.0 g % (18 +/- 1 g %). Both EP and FRT showed a bimodal distribution. There was a negative correlation between blood EP and plasma FRT levels that was significant at the .03% level. The study also showed that a significant drop in mean cord blood Pb levels occurred compared with earlier studies. Follow up of newborns with mildly elevated Pb and EP levels should be made and screening of mothers for Pb levels during early pregnancy should constitute a part of prenatal care, particularly for those from urban areas with previously demonstrated environmental Pb hazard.
Subject(s)
Ferritins/blood , Fetal Blood/analysis , Lead/blood , Porphyrins/blood , Protoporphyrins/blood , Ethnicity , Humans , Infant, Newborn , New York City , Pilot ProjectsABSTRACT
An animal model for asymptomatic and overt lead toxicity is presented in which rabbit pups, 1 to 30 days of age, were fed a milk supplement containing Pb(NO3)2. Reduced body growth, increased mortality, hematologic abnormalities, kidney and liver histopathology, as well as encephalopathy, were observed in rabbits 2 to 30 days of age ingesting more than 2.8 mg of Pb/day. At the highest dose, brain lesions were widespread, involving the frontal and occipital cortex, striatum, hippocampus, and cerebellum. At moderate doses, the region most affected was the cerebellum. At the lowest dose no alteration in body, brain growth, mortality, or tissue histology was evident; however, basophilic stippling was observed. As a group, these asymptomatic rabbits generally exhibited higher activity than non-lead-fed littermates. The rabbit model presented here should provide many advantages in the study of lead toxicity on the developing nervous system, since (a) maximum brain development in the rabbit, like that in rhesus monkey and man, occurs perinatally, and (b) the effects of lead toxicity in the rabbit closely parallel those in man.
