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Biomedical subjects

I Pfeifer

Publications and source records attributed to I Pfeifer.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

Relation between concentration of lead, zinc and lysozyme in placentas of women with intrauterine foetal growth retardation.

Intrauterine foetal growth retardation (IUGR) implies increased risk of morbidity and mortality of the newborn. Aetiology of intrauterine retardation is probably multifactorial and may include maternal infection, malnutrition, placental dysfunction, hypertension, toxaemia, smoking, professional and environmental exposure. The work concentrates on the lead, zinc and lysozyme levels in blood and placental tissues of 50 females in the IUGR group and 43 females from a control group. Statistically significant differences in zinc and lead levels between the compared group were found. The IUGR group had lower zinc and higher lead levels. A significant negative correlation of zinc and lead levels was observed. We found a statistically significant relationship between lead levels in placental tissues and the age of the pregnant women. Higher age is associated with higher lead levels in placental tissue, whereas zinc levels decrease. In placental tissues of pregnant females of the IUGR group higher lysozyme levels were found. On the basis of the discussed results the authors recommend zinc supplementation during the pregnancy.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

[Breast milk studies in the Bitterfeld district].

Human milk samples were tested for pesticide residues (particularly chlorinated hydrocarbons) in 1996 in continuation of the environmental medical tests conducted in 1990 and 1993 in Bitterfeld county. Although the overall human milk contamination due to chlorinated hydrocarbons was reduced, there were still higher concentrations of DDT and beta-HCH detected compared to the concentrations found in what was formerly West Germany. The objective of this follow-up testing of 106 human milk samples was to observe overall trends as well as the specific effects of sanitary and environmental protection measures after three years. Sample preparation included fat extraction and chromatographic column studies. The extracts were analyzed by means of two different gas chromatography systems based on electron-catching detectors. Overall, the contamination was reduced compared to the years of 1990 and 1993. Contaminant concentrations did not exceed the "tolerable concentration" while using a safety factor of 10. However, few beta-HCH (2% of the samples), HCB (22%), total DDT (20%), and more than half of total PCB samples exceeded the "tolerable concentrations" while using a safety factor of 100. A major decrease in the average contamination was noticed for total PCB (63% decrease for 0.3 mg/kg of milk fat), beta-HCH (77% decrease for 0.056 mg/kg of milk fat), and HCB (57% decrease for 0.091 mg/kg of milk fat). The concentration of the heptachlorepoxide was even reduced to 1%. Whereas the DDT and DDD concentrations were also reduced compared to 1993 (83% decrease for 0.033 mg/kg of milk fat, and 84% decrease of 0.005 mg/kg of milk fat), the DDE concentration increased (32% increase for 0.755 mg/kg of milk fat). This can be explained by the decomposition of enzymes from DDT to DDE and the extremely high accumulation tendency of this metabolite. The results show that the contamination of women over time was influenced by two contrary factors. On one hand, the internal exposure increases with age; on the other hand lactation eliminates contaminants from the body of the mother. Comparison to other states' data shows that the results match the overall picture of the residue situation in Germany. Results of the environmental-medical investigations from 1996 demonstrate a predominant decrease of contamination with chlorinated hydrocarbons within the human body. This tendency was possibly influenced by two developments. The global usage of persistent chlorinated hydrocarbons was critically observed and regulated more strictly in recent years, which decreased their concentration tremendously. The other reason for the reduction of contamination by chlorinated hydrocarbons in the county of Bitterfeld could be the improving environmental situation in this region.

Environmental Monitoring↗
PubMed1998

Accumulation of lead in tissues after its administration in drinking water to laboratory rats.

Lead administered to laboratory rats in drinking water (0.1-0.8%) as lead acetate solution tends to accumulate in collagen-rich tissues such as tendons and the skin. The amount of lead deposited (and also zinc present in the tissue without its supplementation) correlates with the blood supply to the tissue investigated. The highest deposits of lead were observed in placenta and chorionic membranes, though here only about 60% are collagen-bound. No differences in the drinking habits of the animals were observed and also at lower concentrations of lead in the drinking water no dose dependence was revealed. However, at 0.8% of lead in drinking water considerable accumulation of lead was observed in all tissues investigated.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

[Relation of metal and lysozyme levels in the placentas of women with intrauterine fetal growth retardation].

In a group of women who gave birth to a foetus with marked growth retardation and 27 women who were delivered of eutrophic neonates the lead, cadmium, zinc and lysozyme levels in placental tissue were assessed. The investigation revealed the following results: the lead level was in the investigated group significantly higher than in the control group (15.24 ng/g vs. 11.31 ng/g). Conversely the zinc levels were significantly higher in the control group (20.52 micrograms/g vs. 14.3 micrograms/g of placental tissue). The lead, cadmium and lysozyme values rise with the womens' age in the examined placentae, while the zinc levels decline. With the elevated zinc level the lead and cadmium content in the placentae of the exposed group declines. The lysozyme values increase along with the rise of all investigated elements with the exception of zinc, where the dynamics are reversed. The findings justify the recommendation of zinc supplementation during pregnancy.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Influences of the environmental pollution on the immune system: some recent views.

The authors discuss the contemporary progress in preventive immunology with special attention to unfavourable effects of environmental pollution. They followed-up these problems systematically for more than twenty years and in this paper they present some of their results. They stress the importance of the protective effect of balanced nutrition with an adequate supply of vitamins and trace elements. The unfavourable effect of pollution is documented by different health aspects of the population living in the heavily polluted region of Northern Bohemia.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

[The role of immunology in monitoring the effects of environmental pollution].

The paper gives a neat summary of experience acquired from two decades of immunological testing methods used for studying the effect of environmental contamination of the human organism. Immunological examination is part of a series of methods for a systematic follow-up of the state of health of the population. The paper underlines the complicated process leading to the resulting individual immune reactivity, which can be regarded as an outcome of multilateral interaction between the immune genetically conditioned potential and external environmental influences.

Environmental Health↗
PubMed1990

[The effect of chronic exposure to lead on lysosomal levels in amniotic fluid in an experimental model].

Groups of female rats were exposed for prolonged periods to different lead concentrations in drinking water; in one group was also added to the drinking water, in the amniotic fluid of exposed females greatly reduced lysozyme values were found, as compared with controls. Concurrent Zn administration considerably reduced the effect of lead. Long-term exposure to low concentrations of lead caused a greater drop of lysozyme levels in amniotic fluid than that found in previous experiments after short-term exposure to higher lead concentration.

Amniotic Fluid↗
PubMed1989

Immunity and effects of the environment--an attempt at generalization.

The authors address themselves to the issues of functional capacity of the immune system and various factors exerting positive and negative effects on it. An attempt is made at graphic representation describing differences in the immune capacity of healthy and deficient organisms in normal living conditions and under challenge, thus forming the basis for a putative generalization of the addressed relationships.

Environment↗
PubMed1984

[Use of the lymphocyte nucleolar test for group diagnostic studies in environmental hygiene].

In group diagnostic investigations of children in the CSR (Northern and Middle Bohemia) and in the F.R. Germany (Ruhr area, Hunsrück) the lymphocyte nucleolar test was used in 1043 peripheral blood smears. Groups of 600 children aged 9-11, boys and girls, were checked repeatedly at intervals of one year. The nucleoli were divided into 6 morphological groups corresponding to the three different functional stages and the nucleolar coefficient was determined. The differing results concerning the frequencies of active lymphocyte nucleoli and the values of the nucleolar coefficient in relation to environmental differences are described and discussed.

Air Pollution↗