Disorders of serum proteomic profile in residents of area influenced by metallurgic industrial releases.

Proteomic analysis technology helped to study and assess protein profile of blood serum in residents of area influenced bymetallurgic industrial releases. Findings are that poor quality of ambient air in populated area concerning concentrations of vanadium, nickel, manganese (up to 24-44 RfCchr) and stable presence of these elements in drinkable water (up to 0,006 RfD) cause mainly aerogenous chronic exposure at 0,00025-0,0022 mg/(kg-day). The exposed individuals demonstrate higher (3,5-3,8 times vs. unexposed ones and reference level) serum level of vanadium (0,0023 to 0,003 mg/dma), nickel (0,06-0,11 mg/dm) and manganese (0,036-0,048. mg/dm³). The authors demonstrated changes in serum proteomic profile associated with serum levels of vanadium and nickel (share contribution of vanadium and nickel equalled 15-20%) and manifested as increase of relative volume of transtyretine, apolipoprotein A-I, lower relative volume of haptoglobin. Increased serum level of vanadium disorders transport of apoproteins incorporated into lipoproteins; increased serum level of nickel activates hemolysis of RBC, disorders speed of hemoglobin-haptoglobin complex formation and its subsequent utilization by hepatocytes. Revealed molecular and cellular disorders enable to forecast thyroid disorders, hematologic diseases, cholesterol metabolism disorders.

[Morbidity and content of microelements in the blood of school children residing near chromium enterprises].

For the first time there was investigated the content of certain microelements in the blood of children of school age residing in the city of Aktobe (Kazakhstan), where the global giants, mining andprocessing chrome ore productions are located. There were determined blood levels of chromium, nickel, lead in children. There was shown the difference in the blood content of microelements in children, depending on region of residence and their correlation with the core indices of health and disease.

Hematological and hepatic alterations in Brazilian population heavily exposed to organochlorine pesticides.

The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of hematological and hepatic alterations and possible association with serum levels of beta-hexachlorocyclohexane (beta-HCH), p,p'-DDE, and hexachlorobenzene (HCB) among residents in an area heavily contaminated with organochlorine (OC) pesticides. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 415 male and 432 female residents aged >14 years. Serum samples were collected and analyzed for OC pesticides concentrations and biochemical parameters. Frequencies of hematological and hepatic alterations were calculated for each gender. Association between beta-HCH, p,p'-DDE (1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl) ethylene), and HCB levels and presence of alterations was determined by logistic regression stratified by gender and controlling for confounders. Highest frequencies were observed for eosinophilia (23% men and 18% women), low hemoglobin (12% men and 15% women), and low erythrocyte count (12% men). High levels of bilirubin, glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (GPT) were observed, respectively, in 10, 11, and 12% of men and <10% of women. Gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) was elevated in 26 and 25% of males and females, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed associations between eosinophilia and beta-HCH in men (OR = 1.06, 95%CI = 1.01-1.12) and women (OR = 1.05, 96%CI = 0.99-1.11), p,p'-DDE in men (OR = 1.03, 95%CI = 0.99-1.06) and women (OR = 1.02, 95%CI = 0.99-1.06), and HCB in women (OR = 1.54, 95%IC = 0.85-4.45). Beta-HCH was found to be associated with increased risk of elevated bilirubin in females (OR = 1.18, 95%CI = 1.07-1.29) and males (OR = 4.21, 95%CI = 1.87-9.47 for fourth vs. first quintile). Thus, OC pesticides may exert adverse effects on hematopoietic tissue and liver in populations chronically exposed to high levels of these compounds.

Sublingual Immunotherapy for Allergic Fungal Sinusitis.

Allergic fungal sinusitis (AFS) is a condition that has an allergic basis caused by exposure to fungi in the sinonasal tract leading to chronic inflammation. Despite standard treatment modalities, which typically include surgery and medical management of allergies, patients still have a high rate of recurrence. Subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) has been used as adjuvant treatment for AFS. Evidence exists to support the use of sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) as a safe and efficacious method of treating allergies, but no studies have assessed the utility of SLIT in the management of allergic fungal sinusitis. A record review of cases of AFS that are currently or previously treated with sublingual immunotherapy from 2007 to 2011 was performed. Parameters of interest included serum IgE levels, changes in symptoms, Lund-McKay scores, decreased sensitization to fungal allergens associated with AFS, and serum IgE levels. Ten patients with diagnosed AFS were treated with SLIT. No adverse effects related to the use of SLIT therapy were identified. Decreases in subjective complaints, exam findings, Lund-McKay scores, and serum IgE levels were observed. Thus, sublingual immunotherapy appears to be a safe adjunct to the management of AFS that may improve patient outcomes.

Blood lead, cadmium and mercury among children from urban, industrial and rural areas of Fez Boulemane Region (Morocco): relevant factors and early renal effects.

OBJECTIVES: To describe blood lead (Pb-B), cadmium (Cd-B) and mercury (Hg-B) levels in children living in urban, industrial and rural areas in Fez city (north of Morocco) and to identify the determinants and some renal effects of exposure. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was conducted from June 2007 to January 2008 in 209 school children (113 girls, 96 boys), aged 6-12 years, from urban, industrial and rural areas in Fez city. Interview and questionnaires data were obtained. Blood and urinary samples were analyzed. RESULTS: The mean of blood lead levels (Pb-B) in our population was 55.53 µg/l (range: 7.5-231.1 µg/l). Children from the urban area had higher blood lead levels (BLLs) mean (82.36 µg/l) than children from industrial and rural areas (48.23 and 35.99 µg/l, respectively); with no significant difference between boys and girls. BLLs were associated with traffic intensity, passive smoking and infancy in the urban area. The mean of blood cadmium levels (BCLs) was 0.22 µg/l (range: 0.06-0.68 µg/l), with no difference between various areas. Rural boys had higher BCLs mean than rural girls, but no gender influence was noticed in the other areas. BCLs were associated with the number of cigarettes smoked at children's homes. The blood mercury levels (BMLs) mean was 0.49 µg/l (range: 0.01-5.31 µg/l). The BMLs mean was higher in urban and industrial areas than in the rural area with no gender-related difference. BMLs were associated with amalgam fillings and infancy in the urban area. About 8% of the children had BLLs ≥ 100 µg/l particularly in the urban area, microalbuminuria and a decrease in height were noticed in girls from the inner city of Fez and that can be related to high BLLs (89.45 µg/l). CONCLUSIONS: There is a need to control and regulate potential sources of contamination by these trace elements in children; particularly for lead.

[Application of immuno-biochemical indices for the identification of the chronic pathology of the upper respiratory tract].

A comprehensive survey of organized children aged 14-17 years residing in the industrial centers with moderate and high levels of air pollution was performed. On the base of the examination of otorhinolaryngologist in the each of cities there was selected the group of schoolchildren with chronic pathology of the upper respiratory tract at the stage of remission. In these groups there was performed the assessment of the informativeness of immuno-biochemical indices for the identification of pathology caused by the impact of man-made factors. The most informative (relative content of autoantibodies to ß2-glycoprotein-1, the average individual immunoreactivity, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, level of α1-antitrypsin) were used in the mathematical model, on the based of which it was possible to calculate the diagnostic coefficient, allowing to identify in the groups observed by ourselves, chronic pathology of upper respiratory tract, formed under the influence of ambient air pollution. The above approach can be used in the formation groups for health promotion of children exposed to the negative impact.

[Methodical ware for the hygienic risk assessment of vanadium exposure to the children's health].

In the article there is considered the complex of methodological approaches for the detection of vanadium in the air and biological substrates of the population for the practical use in the frameworks of public health monitoring in areas with localization of steel industry facilities. The developed complex of methods on the base of mass spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma (ICP-MS) allowed to perform the hygienic assessment of the quality of objects of the environment in the territory located in the zone of the impact of emissions of ferrovanadium production (the city of Tchusovoy of the Perm Krai). From the results of the study there was established the significant excess of the vanadium content in the ambient air of the studied area in relation to the control territory and to the reference concentration for chronic inhalation exposure (RfCxp) to 6.0 times. There was revealed a significant excess of vanadium content in the blood of children residing in the study area, with respect to the regional background levels (0.0001-0.00016 mg/dm3). Complex clinical laboratory and chemical-analytical studies of biosubstrates of the children population allowed to substantiate the marker of the inhalation exposure (the vanadium content in the blood) and its reference level (0.0023 dm3).

Cadmium, mercury and lead in the blood of urban women in Croatia, the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, China, Ecuador and Morocco.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to make an international comparison of blood levels of cadmium (B-Cd), lead (B-Pb) and mercury (B-Hg) of women in seven European, and three non-European cities, and to identify determinants. MATERIALS AND METHODS: About 50 women (age: 46-62) from each city were recruited (totally 480) in 2006-2009. Interview and questionnaire data were obtained. Blood samples were analysed in one laboratory to avoid interlaboratory variation. RESULTS: Between the European cities, the B-Pb and B-Cd results vary little (range of geometric means: 13.5-27.0 µg/l and 0.25-0.65 µg/l, respectively); the variation of B-Hg was larger (0.40-1.38 µg/l). Between the non-European cities the results for B-Pb, B-Cd and B-Hg were 19.2-68.0, 0.39-0.99 and 1.01-2.73 µg/l, respectively. Smoking was a statistically significant determinant for B-Cd, while fish and shellfish intakes contributed to B-Hg and B-Pb, amalgam fillings also contributed to B-Hg. CONCLUSIONS: The present results confirm the previous results from children; the exposure to lead and cadmium varies only little between different European cities suggesting that other factors than the living area are more important. The study also confirms the previous findings of higher cadmium and lead levels in some non-European cities. The geographical variation for mercury is significant.

Increased concentrations of certain persistent organic pollutants in subjects with self-reported electromagnetic hypersensitivity--a pilot study.

Electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS) is used for a variety of subjective symptoms related to exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF). The aim of this pilot study was to analyze the concentrations of certain persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in subjects with self-reported EHS. In total, 13 EHS subjects and 21 controls were included, all female. The concentration of several POPs was higher in EHS subjects than in controls. Lower concentrations were found for hexachlorobenzene and two types of chlordanes. The only significantly increased odds ratios (ORs) were found for polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) #47 yielding OR=11.7, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.45-94.7 and the chlordane metabolite MC6 with OR=11.2, 95% CI=1.18-106. The results were based on low numbers and must be interpreted with caution. This hypothesis generating study indicates the necessity of a larger investigation on this issue.

[Retarded fetal development in pregnant women residents of ecologically unfavorable territories].

The authors discuss problems of retarded fetal development with connection to influence of technogenous environmental load on pregnant woman. Evaluating heavy metals content of blood in pregnant women residents of ecologically unfavorable area demonstrated that women with intrauterine hypoxia and retarded fetal development had lead anc zincum concentrations exceeding maximal allowable levels.

Temporal trends of aeroallergen sensitization over twenty-five years.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about time trends of allergic respiratory disease in adults, in particular in older adults. Furthermore, few trend studies have used objective measurements of IgE sensitization against inhalant allergens. OBJECTIVES: To investigate time trends of aeroallergen sensitization in adults over a 25-year period. METHODS: The study includes a total of 7820 persons, aged 30, 40, 50, and 60 years, who participated in three repeated cross-sectional studies of the general population of Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1976-1977, 1982-1984, and 1999-2001, respectively. Respiratory allergy was assessed by determination of specific IgE aeroallergen sensitization in stored serum samples. RESULTS: Over this 25-year period, a marked and statistically significant increase in the prevalence of aeroallergen sensitization had occurred. This increase was seen in all age-groups challenging the notion that the allergy epidemic only affects generations born 1960 onwards. For example, in 40-year-olds the prevalence (with 95% confidence intervals) of aeroallergen sensitization was 14.9% (12.7-17.1), 19.7% (17.1-22.3), and 27.6% (25.1-30.1) in 1976-1977, 1982-1984, and 1999-2001, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our results support that the allergy epidemic has spread to older adults resulting in a continuing increase in the overall prevalence of aeroallergen sensitization and an increase in the mean age of allergic patients.

[Effect of monohydric aliphatic alcohols on children's health].

To form the evidence base of the "environmental determination" of disease is a topical line in human ecology and environmental hygiene. The widespread use of monohydric aliphatic alcohols in industry has determined the necessity of making an in-depth study of their toxic effects on man, by taking into account their actual concentrations forming in the blood. The results of the studies have led to the conclusion that the real risk of toxic exposure of an organism to monohydric alcohols forms when the blood concentrations of butyl alcohols, propyl alcohols, and methyl alcohol are over 0.03, 1.0-1.5, and 0.5 microg/kg/cm3, respectively. Toxic exposure involves immunosuppressive, oxidative, hematoxic, and sensitizing effects and impaired hepatic etherifying function. With the higher toxicity of the compounds, the damaging action of monohydric alcohols on the organism increases and the spectrum of abnormal clinical and laboratory parameters expands.

[Erythrophagocytosis in rats long receiving sodium nitrite and alpha-tocopherol].

The effect of tocopherol in a dose of 150 mg/kg on the activity of erythrophagocytosis was studied in vitro during long-term nitrite intoxication. With sodium nitrite intake, activation of the cellular mechanisms of erythrodieresis was observed in all periods of an experiment, which caused blood cell changes. Administration of tocopherol in the presence of nitrite intoxication was found to reduce the phagocytic activity of macrophages, which prevented the development of anemia.

[Polychlorinated biphenyl serum levels in two Italian population groups: sex pattern and correlation with age]. / Livelli serici di policlorobifenili in due gruppi di popolazione Italiana: distribuzione dei congeneri e correlazione con l'età.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the congener-specific concentrations and patterns of polychlorinated biphenyls in the Italian general population. DESIGN: Two population groups were selected and monitored for the determination of up to 60 congeners in human serum. A very detailed questionnaire was administered to each participant to collect information concerning demographic, lifestyle, and medical factors. Statistical analyses were performed to examine the relationships between PCB serum levels and age. SETTING: Northern and Central Italy. PARTICIPANTS: 162 subjects from Novafeltria, Central Italy and 164 subjects from Pavia, Northern Italy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Serum concentrations of both coplanar and non-coplanar PCB congeners. Relationship between PCB levels and age. RESULTS: The mean concentration of total PCBs was found to be 2.48 and 3.93 microg/l for Novafeltria and Pavia, respectively. As waited, the most abundant congeners were CB-153, CB-138, CB-180, and CB-170. Age resulted to be the most significant determinant of PCB levels. Slight differences in the congener profile were observed in the two population groups. CONCLUSIONS: As expected, a strong correlation between age and PCB levels has been observed. It is remarkable that the correlation increased with increasing chlorination in both the population groups. Associations with other variables, such as gender, food and alcohol consumption, and cigarette smoking, appeared to be inconsistent.

[Influence of 4-nitrophenol on some biochemical and morphological indices of rat blood].

Influence of different doses of 4-nitrophenol on some biochemical and morphological indices of rat blood was studied. Glucose and beta-lipoprotein concentration increased, but total protein concentration decreased in response to intraperitoneal injection of xenobiotic. As a result of xenobiotic action, the total amount of leukocytes and thrombocytes increased, while the amount of erythrocytes decreased. The morphological study of structural indices of blood formed elements has demonstrated, that intensity of the defensive response of blood formed elements was 4-nitrophenol dose-dependent.

Fibrinogen and CRP in Israeli families: genetic and environmental sources of concentrations and longitudinal changes.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the genetic and environmental determinants of plasma fibrinogen and C-reactive protein (CRP). METHODS AND RESULTS: A complex segregation analysis was undertaken in a sample of 142 kindreds residing in Kibbutz settlements in Israel. In addition, included in this analysis were family members who were examined 10 years earlier in the framework of this study. Analysis indicated a major locus in addition to polygenic effect that explained the sex- and age-adjusted levels and longitudinal changes in plasma fibrinogen. A non-transmitted environmental major factor with no polygenic effect explained the adjusted variation in levels and change of CRP. Both the particular genotypes determined by the major genetic factor associated with fibrinogen levels and the particular ousiotypes determined by the major environmental factor associated with CRP levels were sex- and age-dependent. In addition, our results demonstrated significant interactions between polygenotype and gender, age and environmental factors such as smoking and BMI on fibrinogen and CRP levels. CONCLUSIONS: Our models that consider interactions between genotypes and gender, age and environmental exposures have the potential to improve our understanding of the genetics of fibrinogen and CRP levels.