[Prenatal diagnostics of Toxoplasma gondii invasion by quantitative method of PCR-TaqMann]. / Prenatalna diagnostyka zarazenia pierwotniakiem Toxoplasma gondii metoda ilosciowej polimerazowej reakcji lancuchowej PCR-TaqMann.

Routine serological diagnosis of toxoplasmosis provides high sensitivity, but not high specificity. The high sensivity combined with high specifity offered by PCR-TaqMann as well as the degree of infection led us to investigate the presence and levels of T. gondii DNA in amniotic fluid, maternal and neonatal blood in cases of pregnancy where infection with this agent was suspected. Samples of amniotic fluid and blood were taken from pregnant women. Postnatal blood samples were also taken from their infants. Presence and levels of toxoplasma DNA was investigated using PCR-TaqMann. PCR products were detected by electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gel. The PCR-TaqMann test is highly sensitive, specific and useful method allowing detection of the parasite genome and assessement of its level.

[Detection of Toxoplasma gondii DNA by PCR in mother's blood, amniotic fluid and child's blood in selected cases of pathological pregnancy]. / Wykrywanie DNA Toxoplasma gondii metoda polimerazowej reakcji lancuchowej (PCR) we krwi matki, plynie owodniowym i krwi noworodka w wybranych przypadkach patologii ciazy.

Prenatal screening of Toxoplasma gondii infection is controversial. The diagnosis is based on serological tests detecting IgM and IgG antibodies against T. gondii, but interpretation of these tests results is often confusing. It is commonly made retrospectively when serological screening indicates a possibility of recent infection. Most women have antibodies against T. gondii and serial testing is required only in monitoring of pregnancies where initial screening is negative. The introduction of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) assay for detection of Toxoplasma gondii DNA in selected cases of pathologic pregnancies has permitted a more accurate and faster diagnosis of congenital toxoplasmosis infections.

Measurement of cytogenetic endpoints in women environmentally exposed to air pollution.

The levels of sister chromatid exchanges (SCE), high-frequency cells (HFC) and chromosomal aberrations (CA) were studied in lymphocytes of Silesian women environmentally exposed to ambient air pollutants. Inhabitants of a less polluted but similarly urbanized area, in a rural region of Poland, served as controls. The study population was selected to minimize the major confounding factors influencing SCE and CA. These factors include age, gender, smoking status, and occupation. All donors were 35-46 years old non-smoking City Hall clerks. The levels of all three biomarkers were significantly higher in the exposed group than in controls as analyzed by the Mann-Whitney U-test. No correlation was found between levels of CA and SCE. Additional possible confounders, such as passive smoking, ex-smoking and X-ray chest examination did not influence the levels of biomarkers. This study builds upon our previous research in a male population but better controls for confounders. Thus, the results reveal genetic damage resulting from low-dose but chronic environmental exposure.

A molecular epidemiology study in women from Upper Silesia, Poland.

The present report is a follow-up to our previous molecular epidemiology studies on DNA damage in residents of the industrial region of Upper Silesia. The study was designed to focus on environmental exposure to airborne pollutants; other exposures or confounding factors (e.g. smoking status and age) were eliminated. A Silesian population consisting of 67 donors was compared to 72 inhabitants of a less polluted but similarly urbanized area, surrounded by a rural part of Poland. In both regions the donors were non-smoking females with similar age range, and occupation. Eight biomarkers including urinary mutagenicity and 1-hydroxypyrene, polycylic aromatic hydrocarbon PAH-DNA adducts in oral mucosa, sister chromatid exchanges (SCE), high frequency cells (HFC), chromosomal aberrations (CA), and sensitivity to bleomycin in lymphocytes as well as glutathione s-transferase (GSTM1)/cytochrome P4501A1 (CYP1A1) genotypes were evaluated in samples collected in summer and winter seasons. All the biomarkers of internal and biological doses of mutagens and their early biologic effects indicated statistically significant increases in the Silesian group when compared to the controls. Immunohistochemical quantitation of PAH-DNA adducts additionally revealed significant seasonal changes in the levels of adducts. No influence of susceptibility genotypes (GSTM1 and CYP1A1) on biomarker levels was observed.

Sister chromatid exchanges and high-frequency cells in men environmentally and occupationally exposed to ambient air pollutants: an intergroup comparison with respect to seasonal changes and smoking habit.

Sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) and high-frequency cells (HFC) were measured in peripheral blood lymphocytes from men environmentally and occupationally exposed to a mixture of ambient air pollutants. The environmentally exposed individuals were inhabitants of the industrial region of Upper Silesia; those occupationally exposed were Silesian cokery or steel plant workers, while the control group consisted of rural region residents. A total of 147 males were enrolled in the study. Blood samples were collected in winter (February) and summer (September) seasons. Three major areas were investigated during the study: exposure-based dose dependency, seasonal changes, and influence of smoking habits on the SCE frequencies. The latter is frequently reported as a confounding factor in SCE analyses. In both winter and summer samples, statistically significant increases of SCE were observed in the environmentally and occupationally exposed groups compared to the controls (p < 0.001). The difference between both exposed groups was also significant (p < 0.001). An intergroup comparison was based on ANOVA after adjustment for smoking status. In all three groups of interest, a seasonal variation was found with higher levels in winter. However, in a part of the study in which each donor served as his own control, statistical differences were only found within the exposed groups. Control region inhabitants did not have significantly higher frequencies of SCE in winter, compared to summer samples. The impact of two major confounders, age of the donor and smoking habit, was investigated by multiple regression analysis. Smoking was a major factor influencing the level of SCE. Nevertheless, the effect was seen in winter samples only, which suggests an additive response and adds new information to this known effect.

A cytogenetic study of men environmentally and occupationally exposed to airborne pollutants.

The level of sister-chromatid exchanges (SCE), high-frequency cells (HFC), chromosomal aberrations (CA) as well as the proliferation rate index (PRI) were measured in peripheral blood lymphocytes from three groups of volunteers. The environmentally exposed donors were residents from the vicinity of a coke factory; the occupationally exposed persons were cokery workers, while rural region inhabitants served as a control group. Compared with the control group, statistically significant increases of SCE and HFC, as well as decreased cell kinetics (PRI) were observed for both occupationally and environmentally exposed groups. The effect was especially pronounced when only smokers were taken into account. A statistically significant increase of CA was observed in the environmentally exposed group when CA including gaps (CA + G) were evaluated. The proportion of HFC was found to be the most sensitive method to detect genetic effects on the tested human population. This study demonstrates the usefulness of all 4 biomarkers (SCE, HFC, CA and PRI) in monitoring populations exposed to ambient pollution and clearly indicates effects from residential as well as occupational exposure to industrial air pollutants.