Chemokines plasma levels in preterm newborns of preeclamptic mothers

Information on leukocyte activation in newborn infants of preeclamptic mothers is scarce. IL-8 and GRO-α are the main pro-inflammatory cytokines involved in leukocyte activation. The objective was to evaluate IL-8 and GRO-α plasma levels in preterm newborns infants of preeclamptic mothers. Newborns with gestational age <36 weeks and birth weight <2000 g were included and divided: non-preeclamptic (n = 64) and preeclamptic groups (n = 55). Exclusion criteria were major congenital malformations, inborn errors of metabolism or chromosomal anomalies, congenital infections, death in delivery room, and maternal chronic hypertension without preeclampsia. IL-8 and GRO-α were measured by enzyme immunoassay in the first 48 h. Groups were similar in birth weight, gestational age, Apgar scores at 5 min, sepsis, RDS, mechanical ventilation, TPN, NEC, intraventricular hemorrhage and death. The preeclamptic group had more neutropenia, SGA, cesarean section, and less rupture of membranes >18 h. IL-8 was higher in the non-preeclamptic [157.1 pg/mL (86.4–261.3) and 26.54 pg/mL (3.6–87.2) p < 0.001]. GRO-α levels were similar in both groups [229.5 pg/mL (116.6–321.3) and 185.5 pg/mL (63.9–306.7) p = 0.236]. After multiple regression analysis only absence of preeclampsia was associated with high IL-8 levels. Our data suggest that leukocyte activation may be impaired in infants of preeclamptic mothers.     

Hepcidin levels and their determinants in different types of myelodysplastic syndromes

Iron overload may represent an additional clinical problem in patients with Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS), with recent data suggesting prognostic implications. Beyond red blood cells transfusions, dysregulation of hepcidin, the key iron hormone, may play a role, but studies until now have been hampered by technical problems. Using a recently validated assay, we measured serum hepcidin in 113 patients with different MDS subtypes. Mean hepcidin levels were consistently heterogeneous across different MDS subtypes, with the lowest levels in refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts (RARS, 1.43 nM) and the highest in refractory anemia with excess blasts (RAEB, 11.3 nM) or in chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML, 10.04 nM) (P = 0.003 by ANOVA). MDS subtypes remained significant predictors of hepcidin in multivariate analyses adjusted for ferritin and transfusion history. Consistently with current knowledge on hepcidin action/regulation, RARS patients had the highest levels of toxic non-transferrin-bound-iron, while RAEB and CMML patients had substantial elevation of C-Reactive Protein as compared to other MDS subtypes, and showed lost of homeostatic regulation by iron. Growth differentiation factor 15 did not appear as a primary hepcidin regulator in this series. If confirmed, these results may help to calibrate future treatments with chelating agents and/or hepcidin modulators in MDS patients.     

Lead exposure among mothers and their newborns in Toronto.

Recent studies have suggested that a fetal blood lead level of 0.48 mumol/L (much lower than 1.21 mumol/L, which is the level previously believed to be toxic to the developing brain) may impair brain development permanently. We measured the maternal and umbilical cord blood levels of lead and free erythrocyte protoporphyrin (FEP) among 95 consecutive mother-infant pairs to determine whether neonates in Toronto are in the high-risk group. There was a significant correlation between the maternal and the cord blood lead levels (r = 0.59, p less than 0.0001). Most (99%) of the infants had cord blood lead levels below 0.34 mumol/L; in 11 cases the levels were below the detection limit of 0.01 mumol/L. The cord blood FEP levels were higher than the maternal levels. The US Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, currently finds acceptable a blood FEP level of 0.62 mumol/L among children up to 10 years of age; however, this is not applicable to newborns since their higher FEP levels apparently reflect immature heme synthesis and increased erythrocyte volume rather than lead poisoning. Our data suggest that living in Toronto does not impose increased teratogenic risk from intrauterine exposure to lead; however, residents in high-risk areas should be followed up.     

Negative relationships between erythrocyte Ca-pump activity and lead levels in mothers and newborns

Lead poisoning induces hematological, gastrointestinal and neurological dysfunctions. One of the potential mechanisms is the inhibition of calcium-pump (Ca-pump), a transport protein. We investigated the effects of an environmental low lead exposure on Ca-pump activity in 247 mothers and their newborns. Maternal and cord blood, and newborn and mother hair, were sampled at delivery. Geometric means for mother and cord blood lead (Pb-B), and for mother and newborn hair lead (Pb-H), were 6.3 and 4.8 microg/dl, and 1.7 and 1.1 microg/g. Means for mother and cord basal Ca-pump activities were 2,442 and 2,675 nM/mg/hr. Mother enzymatic activity was negatively related to her Pb-B and Pb-H and to the cord Pb-B and newborn Pb-H levels. Newborn enzymatic activity was negatively related to his Pb-H level only. Adjustment for gestational age, child's sex, mother's age at delivery, alcohol, coffee and tea consumption, and smoking habits during pregnancy did not modify these relationships. Our findings support the hypothesis that lead toxicity could be in part mediated by a reduction of Ca-pump activity. This effect could be observed at low environmental exposure, in mothers and newborns.     

Problems of air pollution prevention in key regions of China

<正>According to the World Health Organization,around two million people die prematurely from the effects of polluted air every single year.Air pollution is a huge problem especially for people living insmog-chokedcities.In China,these polluted cities accumulate at Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei,Yangtze River Delta,and Pearl River Delta regions,involving 19 provincial level jurisdictions and 117 cities.These places are called the key regions because of these three regions.These areas cover only 14%of the country’s land area,but account for nearly half(48%)of the country’s population,71%of the nation’s GDP,52%of the country’s     

Neurobiological impact of separating mothers from newborns in rodents

Numerous animal models of early stress are currently being developed because early stress results in long-term disruptions of neuronal functions and the development of long-term behavioral disorders. These models should allow to study the concept of vulnerability applied to psychiatric disorders. The fundamental importance of the bond between the mother and the offsprings, in all mammalian species, for the development of the new-born, point to the great interest of animal models of mother/pups separation. Long periods of deprivation tend to result in anxiety, depressive-like behaviors and drug addiction in adult rats. Neurobiological studies have shown that several neuronal systems, in particular neuropeptidergic systems in the limbic structures of the brain, are disrupted, possibly due to the effects of early stress on neurodevelopment. Models evaluating the impact of early environmental factors should help to improve the prevention and prediction of psychiatric disorders and to develop new therapeutic strategies.     

Physiological and biochemical responses of two tree species in urban areas to different air pollution levels

We investigated the physiological and biochemical differences in Pterocarpus indicus and Erythrina orientalis grown in four sites at different pollution levels in the Philippines: Makati, Pasig and Quezon (high pollution levels; HP) located in Metro Manila, and La Mesa Watershed (a non-polluted area; NP). Among these four areas, HP sites had higher net photosynthetic rates (P _N) than NP sites, except for Makati. Among HP sites, Makati and Quezon had the lowest P _N for P. indicus and E. orientalis, respectively. Chlorophyll (Chl) contents were significantly lower in HP than in NP sites. Trees in Makati had the lowest Chl contents among HP sites, and P. indicus had higher Chl contents than did E. orientalis. In addition, the chloroplasts in HP trees had small starch grains with numerous dark, large plastoglobuli. Furthermore, antioxidant enzymes, indicative of the defense mechanism, showed a significantly higher activity in HP than in NP trees.     

Oxidative stress in small-for-gestational age (SGA) term newborns and their mothers

This study used malondialdehyde (MDA) determination by HPLC and enzymatic assays for total serum peroxides and antioxidant capacity to evaluate oxidative stress in 47 healthy full-term small-for-gestational age (SGA) newborns vs 67 appropriate-for-gestational age (AGA) newborns. Blood samples were collected at delivery from umbilical cord artery and vein and from peripheral blood of the babies on the third day after birth. Blood samples of mothers were also collected and compared with blood of 29 normal non-pregnant women (NPW). Serum peroxide values were significantly higher in both groups of mothers than in NPW, decreasing towards the third day in AGA mothers, while persisting in SGA mothers. Antioxidant capacity of sera of both groups of mothers was lower than NPW. Both SGA mothers and babies had increased MDA at delivery, unlike AGA counterparts. MDA levels in umbilical vein were higher than in umbilical arteries, while immunohistochemistry revealed abundant presence of 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE)-protein adducts only in stroma of the SGA placenta. These results show that both mothers and babies are exposed to oxidative stress during and after delivery, which is more pronounced and persistent in the perinatal period of the SGA group, while lipid peroxidation in placenta could play a role in SGA pathophysiology.     

Distribution of Aeromonas species in waters with different levels of pollution

Strains of Aeromonas spp. (883) were isolated from 10 stations in the north-west of Spain. Biotyping of the strains gave: 55% Aeromonas caviae, 34% A. hydrophila, 6% A. sobria and 5% Aeromonas spp. Phenotypic characters that have been claimed to be related to virulence such as haemolysis and the Voges-Proskauer reaction were detected mostly in A. hydrophila and A. sobria. The distribution of the species was significantly related to levels of faecal pollution in waters. Aeromonas caviae predominated in sewage and waters with a high degree of faecal pollution. In less polluted waters, either fresh or marine, A. caviae and A. hydrophila were almost equally distributed. In waters with low or no faecal pollution, the proportion of A. sobria to other species increased considerably.     

Distribution of Aeromonas species in waters with different levels of pollution

Strains of Aeromonas spp. (883) were isolated from 10 stations in the north-west of Spain. Biotyping of the strains gave: 55% Aeromonas caviae , 34% A. hydrophila , 6% A. sobria and 5% Aeromonas spp. Phenotypic characters that have been claimed to be related to virulence such as haemolysis and the Voges-Proskauer reaction were detected mostly in A. hydrophila and A. sobria. The distribution of the species was significantly related to levels of faecal pollution in waters. Aeromonas caviae predominated in sewage and waters with a high degree of faecal pollution. In less polluted waters, either fresh or marine, A. caviae and A. hydrophila were almost equally distributed. In waters with low or no faecal pollution, the proportion of A. sobria to other species increased considerably.     

Analysis of allergens in ambient aerosols: Comparison of areas subjected to different levels of air pollution

Recent studies describe interactions of pollen surfaces with aerosol particles; pollen surfaces undergo morphological changes and the release of allergens and allergenic fragments from the pollen can be enhanced. Thus allergens from pollen can be found in particle size fractions much smaller than undamaged pollen (<5 μm). This may explain allergic reactions in parts of the lungs which cannot be reached by undamaged pollen. In Switzerland the birch tree (betula verrucosa) major allergen Bet v 1 and the grass (phleum pratense) pollen major allergen Phl p 5 are of particular relevance for inducing pollinosis. In this study aerosols of different aerodynamic diameters were sampled by Andersen-Impactors over 18 months. Sampling areas are subjected to different levels of air pollution (Zürich, Switzerland, urban; Payerne, Switzerland, rural; Davos, Switzerland, alpine). Samples were scanned by electron microscopy and submitted to specific allergen assays (ELISA) for birch pollen major allergen Bet v 1 and grass pollen major allergen Phl p 5 respectively. Particle and major allergen concentrations were highest in Zürich, followed by Payerne and, significantly lower, Davos. Scanning electron microscopy investigations showed interactions of aerosols with pollen surfaces in Zürich and Payerne. The presence of Bet v 1 in smaller aerosol fractions was demonstrated in Zürich and Payerne some weeks before and after birch pollen was counted. An erratum to this article is available at .     

Analysis of allergens in ambient aerosols: Comparison of areas subjected to different levels of air pollution

Recent studies describe interactions of pollen surfaces with aerosol particles; pollen surfaces undergo morphological changes and the release of allergens and allergenic fragments from the pollen can be enhanced. Thus allergens from pollen can be found in particle size fractions much smaller than undamaged pollen (<5m). This may explain allergic reactions in parts of the lungs which cannot be reached by undamaged pollen. In Switzerland the birch tree (betula verrucosa) major allergen Bet v 1 and the grass (phleum pratense) pollen major allergen Phl p 5 are of particular relevance for inducing pollinosis. In this study aerosols of different aerodynamic diameters were sampled by Andersen-Impactors over 18 months. Sampling areas are subjected to different levels of air pollution (Zürich, Switzerland, urban; Payerne, Switzerland, rural: Davos, Switzerland, alpine). Samples were scanned by electron microscopy and submitted to specific allergen assays (ELISA) for birch pollen major allergen Bet v 1 and grass pollen major allergen Phl p 5 respectively. Particle and major allergen concentrations were highest in Zürich, followed by Payerne and, significantly lower, Davos. Scanning electron microscopy investigations showed interactions of aerosols with pollen surfaces in Zürich and Payerne. The presence of Bet v 1 in smaller aerosol fractions was demonstrated in Zürich and Payerne some weeks before and after birch pollen was counted.     

Blood and placental concentrations of cadmium, lead, and mercury in mothers and their newborns

Placental transfer of cadmium, lead and mercury was studied under the conditions of environmental exposures of pregnant women to these heavy metals. Fifty pregnant women from industrial area and a similar control group from a semirural area were examined. Cadmium, lead and total mercury levels were determined in maternal erythrocytes and plasma, in placenta, and in erythrocytes and plasma of umbilical cord blood using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Except for the cadmium plasma concentration in the control area, levels of the three metals were higher in maternal than in cord blood. The mean plasma values (arithmetic mean) of cadmium, lead, and mercury in industrial area were 0.53, 6.37, and 0.37 micrograms.100 ml-1 in maternal blood and 0.30, 4.82, and 0.31 micrograms.100 ml-1 in cord blood. Highest values of the correlation coefficients were found between the cadmium and mercury concentrations in maternal and cord blood erythrocytes. No striking effect of the place of residence of pregnant women on the heavy metal concentrations in biological materials could be found.     

The relationship between birch pollen,air pollution and weather types and their effect on antihistamine purchase in two Swedish cities

Exposure to elevated air pollution levels can aggravate pollen allergy symptoms. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between airborne birch (Betula) pollen, urban air pollutants NO₂, O₃ and PM₁₀ and their effects on antihistamine demand in Gothenburg and Malmö, Sweden, 2006–2012. Further, the influence of large-scale weather pattern on pollen-/pollution-related risk, using Lamb weather types (LWTs), was analysed. Daily LWTs were obtained by comparing the atmospheric pressure over a 16-point grid system over southern Sweden (scale ~3000 km). They include two non-directional types, cyclonic (C) and anticyclonic (A) and eight directional types depending on the wind direction (N, NE, E…). Birch pollen levels were exceptionally high under LWTs E and SE in both cities. Furthermore, LWTs with dry and moderately calm meteorological character (A, NE, E, SE) were associated with strongly elevated air pollution (NO₂ and PM₁₀) in Gothenburg. For most weather situations in both cities, simultaneously high birch pollen together with high air pollution had larger over-the-counter (OTC) sales of antihistamines than situations with high birch pollen alone. LWTs NE, E, SE and S had the highest OTC sales in both cities. In Gothenburg, the city with a higher load of both birch pollen and air pollution, the higher OTC sales were especially obvious and indicate an increased effect on allergic symptoms from air pollution. Furthermore, Gothenburg LWTs A, NE, E and SE were associated with high pollen and air pollution levels and thus classified as high-risk weather types. In Malmö, corresponding high-risk LWTs were NE, E, SE and S. Furthermore, occurrence of high pollen and air pollutants as well as OTC sales correlated strongly with vapour pressure deficit and temperature in Gothenburg (much less so in Malmö). This provides evidence that the combination of meteorological properties associated with LWTs can explain high levels of birch pollen and air pollution. Our study shows that LWTs represent a useful tool for integrated daily air quality forecasting/warning.     

Iodine levels in different regions of the human brain

BackgroundIodine is a key component of the thyroid hormones thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), which are crucial for proper growth and development of the human body. In particular, a great body of literature has been published on the link between thyroid hormones and brain development and functioning. However, there is a lack of knowledge on the iodine levels in the human brain. The aim of this work was to determine the brain iodine levels and to contribute to the establishment of “reference” levels for iodine in the different anatomical and functional regions of normal (i.e., subjects without neurological or psychiatric diseases) human brain.MethodsThe iodine levels were determined in 14 brain regions of 52 dead subjects without evidence of neurological or psychiatric disease (n = 728 samples). Iodine was extracted from brain samples using a standard procedure and determined by inductively coupled plasma – mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).ResultsFour subjects presented abnormally high brain iodine levels (26.0 ± 14.2 μg/g) and were excluded from the overall data analysis. The average brain iodine levels for the remaining 48 subjects was 0.14 ± 0.13 μg/g dry weight. Iodine showed very heterogeneous distribution across the different brain regions, with the frontal cortex, caudate nucleus and putamen showing the highest levels. Interestingly, these brain regions are closely related to cognitive function. Iodine levels also showed a tendency to increase with age. The high levels observed in four subjects seemed to be related to previous exposure to iodine-based contrast agents widely used in radiology and computed tomography exams.ConclusionsThis paper provides important data on iodine levels at different brain regions in “normal” people, which can be used to interpret eventual imbalances in subjects with mental disorders and neurodegenerative diseases.