Impact of chronic toxoplasmosis in pregnancy: association between maternal seropositivity for Toxoplasma gondii IgG antibodies and fetal growth restriction.

Insults caused by acute infections during the gestational period on fetal development are known; however, new evidence suggests that chronic infectious diseases can also impact the maternal immune status and lead to negative consequences for the neonate. This study investigated the association between the prevalence of specific antibodies in pregnant women and alterations in fetal development at birth. A follow-up study evaluated women during the gestational period and their respective newborns at delivery time. The pregnant women were tested for the presence of antibodies to infectious agents: Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), cytomegalovirus (CMV), syphilis, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B and C. Semi-structured questionnaires were administered to the pregnant women at the time of recruitment after obtaining informed consent. Detailed information about the newborns was extracted from medical records. The seroprevalence of chronic T. gondii infection, as determined by the presence of IgG antibodies against the protozoan, was found to be 56.2%, while the overall prevalence of CMV IgG antibodies was 96.3%. Non-primiparous pregnant women from socio-economic classes, less affluent groups, and skilled working-class individuals had higher chances of testing positive for specific T. gondii IgG antibodies. Newborns classified as small for gestational age represented 12.9% of the total. Those born to mothers seropositive for anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies were 9.4 times more likely to be born small for gestational age (p = 0.035). The results suggest that chronic T. gondii infection may contribute to higher rates of newborns with growth restriction. These findings add to a growing body of evidence regarding the impact of chronic infectious diseases on intrauterine fetal development.

Environmental neurodevelopment toxicity from the perspective of Bronfenbrenner's bioecological model: a case study of toxic metals.

A growing body of literature reports the need for an integrated approach to study the effects of the physical environment on the neurodevelopment of children. Assessment of the true neurotoxicity of pollutants cannot be performed separately from the ecological and multidimensional contexts in which they act. In this study, from the perspective of the Bronfenbrenner's bioecological model, a conceptual model was developed that encompasses the social and biological characteristics of children from the gestational period to childhood, considering exposure to toxic metals. First, we present the toxicity of the main metals and some concept notions that we used in our framework, such as social and structural determinants of health, allostatic load, embodiment, and epigenetic concepts. Then, the main aspects of the Bronfenbrenner's bioecological model, which allow integration of the gene-social relationship in addition to the physical environment, where these metals act, are explained. Finally, we present and discuss the conceptual framework showing how, in real life, biological and social factors may together influence the neurodevelopment of children. Although this model is based on a group of contaminants, it opens new horizons on how environmental sciences, such as neurotoxicology and environmental epidemiology, can articulate with the theoretical models from human sciences to provide a broader approach to study the effects on human neurodevelopment.

Environmental neurodevelopment toxicity from the perspective of Bronfenbrenner's bioecological model: a case study of toxic metals / Toxicidade neurodesenvolvimental ambiental sob a perspectiva do modelo bioecológico de Bronfenbrenner: um estudo de caso de metais tóxicos / Toxicidad en el neurodesarrollo ambiental desde la perspectiva del modelo bioecológico de Bronfenbrenner: un estudio de caso de metales tóxicos

A growing body of literature reports the need for an integrated approach to study the effects of the physical environment on the neurodevelopment of children. Assessment of the true neurotoxicity of pollutants cannot be performed separately from the ecological and multidimensional contexts in which they act. In this study, from the perspective of the Bronfenbrenner's bioecological model, a conceptual model was developed that encompasses the social and biological characteristics of children from the gestational period to childhood, considering exposure to toxic metals. First, we present the toxicity of the main metals and some concept notions that we used in our framework, such as social and structural determinants of health, allostatic load, embodiment, and epigenetic concepts. Then, the main aspects of the Bronfenbrenner's bioecological model, which allow integration of the gene-social relationship in addition to the physical environment, where these metals act, are explained. Finally, we present and discuss the conceptual framework showing how, in real life, biological and social factors may together influence the neurodevelopment of children. Although this model is based on a group of contaminants, it opens new horizons on how environmental sciences, such as neurotoxicology and environmental epidemiology, can articulate with the theoretical models from human sciences to provide a broader approach to study the effects on human neurodevelopment.

Uma crescente literatura relata a necessidade de uma abordagem integrada para estudar os efeitos do ambiente físico no neurodesenvolvimento de crianças. A avaliação da verdadeira neurotoxicidade dos poluentes não pode ser realizada separadamente dos contextos ecológicos e multidimensionais em que atuam. Neste estudo, sob a perspectiva do modelo bioecológico de Bronfenbrenner, um modelo conceitual foi desenvolvido para abranger as características sociais e biológicas das crianças desde o período gestacional até a infância, considerando a exposição a metais tóxicos. Primeiro, apresentamos a toxicidade dos principais metais e algumas noções conceituais que utilizamos em nossa abordagem, tais como determinantes sociais e estruturais da saúde, carga alostática, incorporação e conceitos epigenéticos. Em seguida, explicamos os principais aspectos do modelo bioecológico de Bronfenbrenner, que permitem a integração da relação gene-social, além do ambiente físico, onde esses metais atuam. Por fim, apresentamos e discutimos o quadro conceitual mostrando como, na realidade, fatores biológicos e sociais podem, em conjunto, influenciar o neurodesenvolvimento das crianças. Embora esse modelo seja baseado em um grupo de contaminantes, ele abre novos horizontes sobre como as ciências ambientais, como a neurotoxicologia e a epidemiologia ambiental, podem dialogar com os modelos teóricos das ciências humanas para ter uma abordagem mais ampla ao estudar os efeitos no neurodesenvolvimento humano.

Una creciente literatura informa la necesidad de un enfoque integrado para estudiar los efectos del entorno físico en el neurodesarrollo de los niños. La evaluación de la verdadera neurotoxicidad de los contaminantes no puede llevarse a cabo por separado de los contextos ecológicos y multidimensionales en los que actúan. En este estudio, desde la perspectiva del modelo bioecológico de Bronfenbrenner, se desarrolló un modelo conceptual para abarcar las características sociales y biológicas de los niños desde el período gestacional hasta la infancia, considerando la exposición a metales tóxicos. Primero, presentamos la toxicidad de los principales metales y algunas nociones conceptuales que utilizamos en nuestro enfoque, como los determinantes sociales y estructurales de la salud, la carga alostática, la incorporación y los conceptos epigenéticos. A continuación, explicamos los principales aspectos del modelo bioecológico de Bronfenbrenner, que permiten la integración de la relación gen-social, además del entorno físico, donde actúan estos metales. Finalmente, presentamos y discutimos el marco conceptual que muestra cómo, en realidad, los factores biológicos y sociales pueden, en conjunto, influir en el neurodesarrollo de los niños. Aunque este modelo se basa en un grupo de contaminantes, abre nuevos horizontes sobre cómo las ciencias ambientales, como la neurotoxicología y la epidemiología ambiental, pueden dialogar con los modelos teóricos de las ciencias humanas para adoptar un enfoque más amplio al estudiar los efectos sobre el neurodesarrollo humano.

Prevalence of serum markers of infection and naturally acquired immunity to hepatitis B virus in transfused children treated at a children's hospital in Salvador, Bahia: A cross-sectional study.

The artificially acquired humoral immunity against hepatitis B virus (HBV) apparently may decline over the years. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of naturally occurring serological markers of infection and active immunity to HBV in severely ill children and adolescents treated at the Martagão Gesteira Pediatric Hospital who received blood transfusions. The serum samples of 353 children who received poly-transfusions between August 2016 and March 2017 were tested for HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) markers, anti-HBc antibodies (IgG and IgM isotypes), and IgG anti-HBs. None of the children presented an outcome compatible with HBV infection. Three patients were seroreactive to markers of past infection, tested positive for anti-HBc IgG and negative for anti-HBc IgM, and were seropositive for anti-HBs, with antibody titers of >150.00 mIU/mL. Only 52.4% of the patients in the study were protected against HBV, with anti-HBs antibody titers of >10 mIU/mL. Children aged 5 years had lower titers of anti-HBs. The results indicated that the older children were more likely to be unprotected from HBV; this suggests the need to evaluate the vaccine response in children, especially those who received blood transfusions.

Toxoplasma gondii infection and behavioral outcomes in humans: a systematic review.

Studies suggest that the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii can disturb human behavior. This study aimed to systematically review the scientific literature on the possible associations between Toxoplasma gondii infection and neurobehavioral abnormalities in humans. We reviewed and summarized the studies published since 1990. The descriptors used were related to T. gondii infection and behavioral outcomes in humans; the main databases of the medical literature were accessed. The results of eight original articles published between 1994 and 2016 were evaluated and described. The most common serological method was the enzyme immunoassay. Most of the researchers used validated instruments for behavioral evaluation. Seven studies reported some association between the prevalence of anti-T. gondii antibodies and some altered behavioral aspects in adult humans; these studies focused on adult population in Europe and the USA. The most reported behavioral deviations are related to greater impulsivity and aggressiveness. There are very few studies on this subject, which present some limitations for inference and conclusions: most were cross-sectional studies, with a small sample size and in similar populations. Investigations with a larger sample size of different population groups should be performed to evaluate multiple factors.

Association between seroprevalence of IgG anti-Toxoplasma gondii and risk factors for infection among pregnant women in Climério de Oliveira Maternity, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.

Maternal Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infection can lead to spontaneous abortion, fetal malformation, and numerous sequelae in the newborn, including visual and hearing impairment. T. gondii serology was determined in pregnant women and their newborns who were referred to Climério de Oliveira Maternity, Federal University of Bahia, and the possible associations with the risk factors for maternal infection were investigated. This cross-sectional study was conducted from January to December 2014 and included 712 pregnant women, aged 15 to 49 years, and 235 newborns. Seroprevalence was determined by the detection of T. gondii-specific immunoglobulin (Ig) M (IgM) and IgG antibodies using enzyme-linked immunoassay. In addition, mothers completed a questionnaire that focused on socioeconomic aspects, and survey data were tabulated using the SPSS statistical software program (version 21.0 for Windows). The seroprevalence rate for specific IgG antibodies was 51% (362) among mothers and 93% (219) among neonates. All the mothers and their newborns were negative for specific-IgM antibodies. Higher age group and lower maternal education were the only risk factors statistically associated with the presence of specific IgG. In summary, high levels of specific IgG antibodies were observed in pregnant women. The knowledge of risk factors for toxoplasmosis can help in the orientation of newly pregnant women.