This study investigates the potential relationship between exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), specifically monohydroxylated metabolites (OH-PAHs), in urine, and the prevalence of respiratory diseases in 2-year-old children residing in two locations within the Czech Republic - České Budějovice (control location) and the historically contaminated mining district of Most. Despite current air quality and lifestyle similarities between the two cities, our research aims to uncover potential long-term health effects, building upon previous data indicating distinctive patterns in the Most population. A total of 248 urine samples were analysed for the presence of 11 OH-PAHs. Employing liquid-liquid extraction with ethyl acetate and clean-up through dispersive solid-phase extraction, instrumental analysis was conducted using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. The incidence of respiratory diseases was assessed through questionnaires administered by paediatricians. The concentrations of OH-PAHs were elevated in urine samples from 2-year-olds in Most compared to those from České Budějovice. The incidence of respiratory diseases showed statistically significant higher levels of OH-PAHs in children from Most, together with a higher incidence of influenza. This association underlines the impact of environmental PAH exposure on children's respiratory health. It suggests that elevated urinary OH-PAH levels indicate an increased risk of developing respiratory diseases in the affected population. Further studies are needed to clarify the possible long-term health effects and to contribute to sound public health strategies.
- MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- nemoci dýchací soustavy epidemiologie moč MeSH
- pilotní projekty MeSH
- polycyklické aromatické uhlovodíky * moč MeSH
- předškolní dítě MeSH
- vystavení vlivu životního prostředí škodlivé účinky analýza MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- předškolní dítě MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Česká republika MeSH
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: It has long been known that airborne polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) can negatively affect pregnancy and birth outcomes, such as birth weight, fetal development, and placental growth factors. However, similar studies yield divergent results. Our goal was to estimate the amount of monohydroxylated PAH (OH-PAH) metabolites in the urine of pregnant women/mothers and their newborns in relation to birth outcomes, such as placenta weight, Apgar 5', and the growth parameters of children up to the age of two. METHODS: Two cohorts of children born in 2013 and 2014 during the summer and winter seasons in the Czech Republic in the cities Karviná (N = 144) and České Budějovice (N = 198), which differ significantly in the level of air pollution, were studied. PAH exposure was assessed by the concentration of benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) in the air and the concentration of 11 OH-PAH metabolites in the urine of newborns and mothers. Growth parameters and birth outcomes were obtained from medical questionnaires after birth and from pediatric questionnaires during the following 24 months of the child's life. RESULTS: Concentrations of B[a]P were significantly higher in Karviná (p < 0.001). OH-PAH metabolites were significantly higher in the mothers' as well as in the newborns' urine in Karviná and during the winter season. Neonatal length was shorter in newborns in Karviná (p < 0.001), but this difference evened out during the next 3 to 24 months. Compared to České Budějovice, newborns in Karviná showed significantly lower weight gain between birth and three months after delivery. The OH-PAH metabolites in mothers' or newborns' urine did not affect birth weight. The presence of seven OH-PAH (top 25% of values of concentrations higher than the median) metabolites in the newborns' urine is associated with decreased length of newborn. Nine OH-PAH metabolites decreased placenta weight, which was the most significant, while seven OH-PAH metabolites decreased Apgar 5'. CONCLUSION: We have shown a possible connection between higher concentration of OH-PAH metabolites in newborns' urine and decreased length, head circumference, placenta weight, and Apgar 5', but not birth weight.
- MeSH
- dítě MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- matky MeSH
- novorozenec MeSH
- placenta MeSH
- polycyklické aromatické uhlovodíky * MeSH
- porodní hmotnost MeSH
- těhotenství MeSH
- zpožděný efekt prenatální expozice * epidemiologie MeSH
- Check Tag
- dítě MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- novorozenec MeSH
- těhotenství MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
The maternal diet during pregnancy affects neonatal health status. The objective of this study was to assess the nutritional quality of the maternal diet, and its contamination by persistent organic pollutants (POPs), in pregnant women living in two areas of the Czech Republic with different levels of air pollution, and subsequently to assess the relationship of these two factors with birth weight and neonatal oxidative stress. To determine the level of oxidative stress, 8-isoprostane concentrations in umbilical cord plasma were measured. The overall nutritional quality of the maternal diet was not optimal. Of the nutritional factors, protein intake proved to be the most significant showing a positive relationship with birth weight, and a negative relationship with the oxidative stress of newborns. Dietary contamination by persistent organic pollutants was low and showed no statistically significant relationship with birth weight. Only one of the 67 analyzed POPs, namely the insecticide dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), showed a statistically significant positive relationship with the level of neonatal oxidative stress.
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
BACKGROUND: The aim of our study was to compare the analgesic/sedative effects of various fundus-related procedural pain management strategies on the risk of retinopathy in premature infants. METHOD: This was a prospective comparative study involving a total of 94 neonates randomized to three groups meeting the criteria for at-risk neonates. Ophthalmologic screening was performed to evaluate the outcome of three procedural pain management strategies. The intensity of pain over time during and after the screening examination was evaluated. At the same time, we also looked at the occurrence of vegetative symptoms and their influence by the chosen medication. Pain response was observed in all 94 neonates enrolled in the study. In group A, no pain treatment was given. Group B had a local anesthetic oxybuprocaine hydrochloride 0.4% introduced into both eyes immediately prior to the examination. Group C received oral clonidine. The study was conducted as a pilot project and aimed to clarify the problem so that a project with a higher proband representation could take place in the future. Consequently, we performed quantitative analysis of complete pain and vegetative functions, followed by a qualitative analysis of their internal components. RESULTS: In our study, we identified the most considerable effects for all three groups, including NIPS (Neonatal Infant Pain Scale) responses immediately during and after the examination. The influence of vegetative functions is of a longer-term nature and increased values can be clearly demonstrated even six hours after the examination. CONCLUSION: The current results identify and quantify differences among all three methods of pain treatment on the level of single variables. Their internal structures, however, can be analysed only qualitatively because of the small size of the analysed sample.
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
BACKGROUND: To study the impact of oxidative damage associated with particulate matter< 2.5 μm (PM2.5) during prenatal period on the cognitive development in five years old children. METHODS: Two cohorts of children aged five years, born in the years 2013 and 2014, were studied for their cognitive development in the polluted district Karvina and the control district Ceske Budejovice. Exposure to PM2.5 in the ambient air was measured for each mother during the 3rd trimester of pregnancy. Oxidative damage was determined from the level of biomarkers at delivery in mothers ́ and newborns ́ urine as 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2 ́-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodG) and in plasma as 15-F2t-isoprostane levels (15-F2t-IsoP). The Bender Visual Motor Gestalt Test (BG test) and the Raven Colored Progressive Matrices (RCPM test) were used as psychological cognitive tests. RESULTS: Average concentrations of PM2.5 ± SD in the 3rd trimester of mothers ́ pregnancies were 37.7 ± 14.7 μg/m3 and 17.1 ± 4.8 μg/m3 in Karvina and Ceske Budejovice, respectively (p < 0.001). The maternal level of 15-F2t-IsoP in plasma at the time of delivery was significantly associated with the results of the RCPM test (p < 0.05) and the BG test (p < 0.05) in five years old children. CONCLUSIONS: Lipid peroxidation in maternal plasma at the time of delivery has an adverse effect on the results of psychological cognitive tests in five years old children.
- MeSH
- 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosin MeSH
- dítě MeSH
- kognice MeSH
- látky znečišťující vzduch * škodlivé účinky MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- novorozenec MeSH
- oxidační stres MeSH
- pevné částice škodlivé účinky MeSH
- předškolní dítě MeSH
- těhotenství MeSH
- vitaminy MeSH
- Check Tag
- dítě MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- novorozenec MeSH
- předškolní dítě MeSH
- těhotenství MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
It has been hypothesized that fetal prematurity or Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR) could be related to the presence of factor V of Leiden mutation. This mutation is associated with a higher incidence of pregnancy difficulties that can result in preterm birth. The frequency of Leiden mutation was investigated in the group of newborns with a low birth weight below 1500 g over a six-year period from 2015 to 2020. During this period, 339 newborns were tested, of which 42 newborns with V Leiden mutation (12.4%) were detected. The average of its occurrence frequency in the Czech population was determined as 5.0% based on published studies. In our research, the occurrence of the V Leiden mutation was found significantly higher in newborns under 1500 g. At the same time, we did not demonstrate an increased frequency of births at lower gestational weeks, lower birth weight, or an association with sex in newborns with a positive diagnosis of the Leiden V factor.
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
DNA methylation is the most studied epigenetic mechanism that regulates gene expression, and it can serve as a useful biomarker of prior environmental exposure and future health outcomes. This study focused on DNA methylation profiles in a human cohort, comprising 125 nonsmoking city policemen (sampled twice), living and working in three localities (Prague, Ostrava and Ceske Budejovice) of the Czech Republic, who spent the majority of their working time outdoors. The main characterization of the localities, differing by major sources of air pollution, was defined by the stationary air pollution monitoring of PM2.5, B[a]P and NO2. DNA methylation was analyzed by a genome-wide microarray method. No season-specific DNA methylation pattern was discovered; however, we identified 13,643 differentially methylated CpG loci (DML) for a comparison between the Prague and Ostrava groups. The most significant DML was cg10123377 (log2FC = -1.92, p = 8.30 × 10-4) and loci annotated to RPTOR (total 20 CpG loci). We also found two hypomethylated loci annotated to the DNA repair gene XRCC5. Groups of DML annotated to the same gene were linked to diabetes mellitus (KCNQ1), respiratory diseases (PTPRN2), the dopaminergic system of the brain and neurodegenerative diseases (NR4A2). The most significant possibly affected pathway was Axon guidance, with 86 potentially deregulated genes near DML. The cluster of gene sets that could be affected by DNA methylation in the Ostrava groups mainly includes the neuronal functions and biological processes of cell junctions and adhesion assembly. The study demonstrates that the differences in the type of air pollution between localities can affect a unique change in DNA methylation profiles across the human genome.
- MeSH
- celogenomová asociační studie MeSH
- dospělí MeSH
- látky znečišťující vzduch škodlivé účinky MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- metylace DNA účinky léků MeSH
- policie * MeSH
- vystavení vlivu životního prostředí škodlivé účinky MeSH
- znečištění ovzduší škodlivé účinky MeSH
- Check Tag
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Česká republika MeSH
Byla studována nemocnost 300 dětí od narození do 2 let v okresech Karviná (KI) a České Budějovice (CB), lišících se stupněm znečištění ovzduší. Podle očekávání byly více nemocné děti v okrese Karviná, nejčastější byly infekce horních cest dýchacích, onemocnělo 84 % dětí z KI a 75 % dětí z CB, s průměrnou frekvencí 126,8 diagnóz / 100 dětí / rok v KI oproti 98 diagnózám / 100 dětí / rok v CB. Onemocnění dolních cest dýchacích byla srovnatelná v obou okresech, za celé sledované období onemocnělo 29,7 % dětí v KI a 30,7 % dětí v CB, s frekvencí 26,85 dg / 100 dětí / rok v KI a 24,6 dg / 100 dětí / rok v CB. Vyšší nemocnost v Karviné byla také u virových onemocnění, nemocí gastrointestinálního traktu a kůže.
The morbidity of 300 children from birth to 2 years in the districts of Karviná (KI) and České Budějovice (CB), differing in the degree of air pollution, was studied. As expected, there were more sick children in the Karviná district, the most common being upper respiratory tract infections, with an average frequency of 126,8 dg / 100 children / year compared to 98 dg / 100 children / year in CB. 84% of children from KI and 75% of children from CB became ill. The proportion of children with lower respiratory tract disease was comparable – 29.7% in KI and 30.7% in CB, with a frequency of 26.85 dg / 100 children in KI and 24.6 dg / 100 children in CB. Higher morbidity in Karviná was also in viral diseases, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and skin. Key words: children aged 0–2 years, morbidity, air pollution, benzo(a)pyrene
- MeSH
- kojenec MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- morbidita * MeSH
- nemoci dýchací soustavy MeSH
- novorozenec MeSH
- výzkum MeSH
- znečištění ovzduší * MeSH
- znečištění životního prostředí MeSH
- Check Tag
- kojenec MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- novorozenec MeSH
- Publikační typ
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Česká republika MeSH
The aim of this work was to estimate the share of selected significant risk factors for respiratory cancer in the overall incidence of this disease and their comparison in two environmentally different burdened regions. A combination of a longitudinal cross-sectional population study with a US EPA health risk assessment methodology was used. The result of this procedure is the expression of lifelong carcinogenic risks and their contribution in the overall incidence of the disease. Compared to exposures to benzo[a]pyrene in the air and fibrogenic dust in the working air, several orders of magnitude higher share of the total incidence of respiratory cancer was found in radon exposures, for women 60% in the industrial area, respectively 100% in the non-industrial area, for men 24%, respectively 15%. The share of risks in workers exposed to fibrogenic dust was found to be 0.35% in the industrial area. For benzo[a]pyrene, the share of risks was below 1% and the share of other risk factors was in the monitored areas was up to 85%. The most significant share in the development of respiratory cancer in both monitored areas is represented by radon for women and other risk factors for men.
- MeSH
- hodnocení rizik MeSH
- inhalační expozice * statistika a číselné údaje MeSH
- karcinogeny MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- prach MeSH
- pracovní expozice * statistika a číselné údaje MeSH
- průmysl MeSH
- průřezové studie MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
The health impacts of suspended particulate matter (SPM) are significantly associated with size-the smaller the aerosol particles, the stronger the biological effect. Quantitative evaluation of fine and ultrafine particles (FP and UFP) is, therefore, an integral part of ongoing epidemiological studies. The mass concentrations of SPM fractions (especially PM2.5, PM1.0, PM0.25) were measured in an industrial area using cascade personal samplers and a gravimetric method, and their mass ratio was determined. The results of PM2.5, PM1.0 were also compared with the reference measurement at stationary stations. The mean ratios PM2.5/SPM, PM1.0/SPM, and PM1.0/PM2.5 were 0.76, 0.65, and 0.86, respectively. Surprisingly, a mass dominance of UFP with an aerodynamic diameter <0.25 μm (PM0.25) was found with mean ratios of 0.43, 0.57, 0.67 in SPM, PM2.5 and PM1.0. The method used showed satisfactory agreement in comparison with reference measurements. The respirable fraction may consist predominantly of UFP. Despite the measures currently being taken to improve air quality, the most biologically efficient UFP can escape and remain in the air. UFP are currently determined primarily as particle number as opposed to the mass concentration used for conventional fractions. This complicates their mutual comparison and determination of individual fraction ratios.
