Biomedical subjects

M Wagnerová

Publications and source records attributed to M Wagnerová.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1991

An epidemiologic-immunological inquiry into the incidence of altered immunity in children of school age.

The authors examined 536 children 10 years of age to evaluate their immune status and the development of allergies and recurrent respiratory inflammations. Altered resistance was found in as many as 47% of children, pollen allergy and atopic eczema in at least 10.5%, habitual rhinitis in 15.2%, asthma in 3.5% and recurrent inflammatory infections in 13.1%. A higher rate of alterations was found where environmental conditions were deteriorated. Elevated IgE, changes in IgG, IgA and IgM as well as increased levels of acute phase proteins suggest a relationship between the degree of immune impairment and clinical manifestations. Our results imply there are large numbers of children with altered immunity and point to the fact that in common practice only 14% of them are attended to by the clinical immunologist and thus receive causal treatment. It is therefore concluded that, in line with the expansion of noxious factors which accompany our civilization, more attention should be given to the development of immunity in the young population.

Child↗

PubMed1990

Immunological profiles in workers occupationally exposed to inorganic mercury.

Forty-one male mercury-exposed workers were examined for the serum concentration levels of immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA, IgM), alpha-1-antitrypsin (A1AT), alpha-2-macroglobulin (A2M), ceruloplasmin (CPL) and orosomucoid (ORO). In the period preceding this investigation the mercury concentrations in workplace air ranged from 0.106 to 0.783 mg.m-3, the range of urinary mercury concentrations was from 0.029 to 0.545 mg.1(-1). All but two (IgG and A1AT) of the immune parameters tested were at the levels that were evidently higher than those found in a control group of 55 workers matched by age who lived in a relatively clean area. The percentage of individuals with no value out of the range of normal physiological limits was in the controls almost 80%, in the exposed 36.6% only. These findings confirm the literature data which show that an inhalation exposure to inorganic mercury may evidently have a stimulating effect on some serum proteins in humans.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMed1990

Immunoglobulins and some serum proteins in children with altered resistance coming from areas with variously polluted atmosphere.

In four areas with different types of atmospheric pollution 534 children of school age were examined for serum immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA, IgM and IgE), saliva IgA (sIgA), lysozymes (LYS) and acute phase reactants (alfa-l-antitrypsin - A1AT, alfa-2-macroglobulin -A2M, ceruloplasmin -CPL, transferrin - TRF). The children were divided into two groups: those with altered resistance (AR) comprising allergoses of all types and recurrent or persistent infections and those without the above health problems, i.e. healthy (H). There were more children with AR in areas with higher atmospheric pollution than in control areas. The frequency of AR was higher among boys than among girls. In the control area BN, a number of parameters in the AR group differed significantly from those in the H group. In areas with substantial atmospheric pollution these differences were generally less pronounced. Significant differences were found between the control and polluted areas in many indicators. In the area KO characterized by an intermediate degree of industrial pollution the means of the tested parameters were habitually elevated, whereas in the heavily polluted areas they were decreased. The most sensitive tests for evaluating differences between the areas were the levels of A1AT, LYS, and IgE, while the variations of sIgA, sLYS and CPL were less pronounced.

Air Pollution↗

PubMed1989

The immune profile of contact allergy patients.

Nonspecific parameters of antibody-related and cellular immune responses were studied in a group of 30 patients treated for manifest contact allergy to metals (chromium, cobalt, nickel) or non-metals (epoxy resin, rubber) confirmed in each of them by specific patch test positivity. In addition, every patient was tested for the pattern of skin reactivity to the Immunoskintest (USOL, Prague) antigens administered intradermally. The group of 20 metal allergy patients had decreased suppressor index values, enhanced formation of immediate active rosettes and an elevation of serum IgM and IgA immunoglobulins. The remaining 10 patients reacted by a reduced ability of neutrophils to exert phagocytic action on HEMA particles and a decrease in levels of alpha-2-macroglobulins in serum. This may help select a series of suitable immune parameters to be used as prediction tests in the secondary prevention of cases of occupational contact dermatitis.

Adult↗

PubMed1989

Lack of correlation between serum and salivary concentration levels of immunoglobulin A and lysozyme (muramidase).

The study was conducted in a group of 232 individuals comprising 114 males and 118 females 20 to 67 years old. As revealed by the linear regression analysis method, mean serum concentration levels of immunoglobulin A (IgA) and lysozyme (LYS) were unrelated to values found in the spontaneously secreted saliva specimens. Levels of serum IgA were clearly age-dependent, but no such correlation was recorded in the case of secretory IgA. These findings suggest that tests for salivary IgA can hardly be taken as an equivalent to IgA determinations in the human serum.

Adult↗

PubMed1988

Relationship of blood protein levels to outdoor air pollutant concentrations in a semicohort of school-age children living in urban areas differing by quality of air.

Variations in some humoral immune responses to polluted air were studied in two semicohorts of children, initial age 10 years, from two urban communities differing from each other by the degree of ambient air pollution. The material for analysis (blood, saliva) was collected every autumn and spring in 3 successive years, giving a total of 6 sets of specimens for each examinee. All blood specimens were examined for the serum level of immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA, IgM), lysozyme (LYS), total serum protein (TP) and the level of the acute reactants alpha 2 macroglobulin (A2M), alpha 1 antitrypsin (A1AT), transferrin (TRF) and ceruloplasmin (CPL). The saliva specimens were examined for the level of lysozyme (sLYS) and secretory IgA (sIgA). The mean protein concentrations for each of the 6 sampling series were correlated with the mean of 24-h emission concentrations measured in the last 3 months preceding the autumn or spring sampling series. In the community area characterized by a low-degree non-industrial pollution of air the correlations of immunoglobulins to SO2 and floating particles (FP) in air were as a rule inversed while the response from TP, LYS and acute reactants was direct. In the community contaminated by industrial pollutants, correlations between proteins and SO2 were markedly weaker, but there was a significant positive correlation between H2S and levels of IgA and A2M in blood and sIgA and sLYS in the saliva. A high degree of positive correlation was also observed between H2S and levels of IgM and LYS. Inverse correlations were only between levels of LYS and FP, SO2 and H2S. Significant correlations were also between contaminant concentrations and FP. The associations found between the contaminant concentrations in air and levels of blood and saliva proteins supports the hypothesis that quality of air may have considerable impacts on defense mechanisms. Seasonal variations in the quality of air may increase the rates of childhood morbidity for acute upper respiratory tract infections.

Acute-Phase Proteins↗

PubMed1988

Immunological profiles in workers of a power plant burning coal rich in arsenic content.

A group of 47 male adults working in a thermal power plant burning coal containing 900 to 1,500 g of arsenic per ton dry weight was examined on the blood serum immunoglobulins IgG, IgA and IgM content and levels of acute reactants alpha-1-antitrypsin (A1AT), alpha-2-macroglobulin (A2M), transferrin (TRF), orosomucoid (ORO) ceruloplasmin (CPL), and lysozyme (LYS). Investigations in the control group comprising 27 workers from another power plant in the same district where the coal content of arsenic was more than 10 times lower were analogous. The inter-group differences in means were evaluated by t-test, differences in the association of values by F-test, and the correlations with age and the length of exposure were assessed using the regression analysis method. The differences in mean IgG, IgA, IgM, LYS and A2M levels between the exposed and control groups of workers were insignificant or of borderline significance only. In contrast, differences in TRF, ORO and particularly CPL levels were statistically highly significant, in all instances P less than 0.001. In the control group, persons with abnormal values in at least two immunobiochemical tests used accounted for 3.7%, in the group of the exposed for 51% (P less than 0.002). All these findings, especially the rise in CPL concentration levels in the exposed group are discussed on the background of the rise in cancer mortality rates found previously in this group of power plant workers.

Acute-Phase Proteins↗

PubMed1988

Factors of humoral resistance in workers exposed to vinyl chloride with a view to smoking habits.

Serum samples were assayed in 110 workers (59 smokers and 51 non-smokers) at PVC manufacturing factory, the results being compared with those obtained in a group of age-matched healthy controls. Non-smokers had significantly higher levels of immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA, IgM), while in smokers there was an increase in IgM only. Lysozyme levels (LYS) were elevated in all exposed subjects, but there was a highly significant decrease in the total protein (TP) content. Alfa-2-macroglobulin (A2M) and orosomucoid (ORO) were also elevated in exposed workers. A significant increase was found in ceruloplasmin (CPL), with smokers having higher levels than non-smokers. No difference was detected between the examined groups in transferrin (TRF) and alfa-1-antitrypsin (A1AT). Exposure duration did not correlate with any of the assayed parameters. The positive correlation of IgA levels and inverse correlation of CPL with age in the control group could not be confirmed in the exposed subjects where a significant inverse correlation between age and AlAT levels, which was found to be positive in exposed non-smokers, proved to be inverse in the subgroup of smokers. The authors discuss possible explanations of the reported findings.

Acute-Phase Proteins↗

PubMed1988

Immunobiochemical profiles of workers differing in the degree of occupational exposure to vinyl chloride.

The immunobiochemical studies were conducted in a group of 98 production workers engaged in polyvinyl chloride manufacture from ethylene (group A workers) and in a group of 59 vinyl chloride workers from a chemical plant employing classic production technology from acetylene (group B workers). Both groups of workers were matched by age (group A workers: 37.7 +/- 8.66 years; group B workers: 34.9 +/- 11.2 years) and average exposure length (group A workers: 8.6 +/- 3.0 years; group B workers: 10.7 +/- 8.4 years). All workers were examined for the serum concentrations of immunoglobulins IgG, IgA and IgM and acute reactants lysozyme (LYS), transferrin (TRF), ceruloplasmin (CPL), alpha-l-antitrypsin (AlAT), alpha-2-macroglobulin (A2M) and orosomucoid (ORO). The statistical analysis included calculations of means, standard deviations and 95% confidence intervals. Differences in means were evaluated by t-test, differences in the distribution pattern of values by F-test. Abnormality of values was assessed by comparisons to normal values valid in Czechoslovakia. Group A worked in conditions meeting the MAC 10 mg VC.m-3 comparing with group B workers had elevated levels of IgG (P less than 0.005), IgA and IgM (P less than 0.001 both). Group B workers differed from group A workers by exhibiting significantly elevated levels of AlAT, and CPL. (P less than 0.001). The differences in the frequency of abnormal values between group A and group B worked in substantially less favourable hygienic conditions were significant for immunoglobulins elevated in group A and for ORO (P less than 0.01) and CPL (P less than 0.001) elevated in group B. The possible relationship of these immunobiochemical findings with the degree of vinyl chloride exposure are critically analyzed.

Adult↗

PubMed1987

Humoral defending mechanisms in children of smoking parents.

In autumn and spring a group of 132 ten-year-old school children (54.5% from families of smokers) were examined for blood content of immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA, (gM, in autumn including also IgE), lysozyme (LYS) and the so called acute reactants (alpha-1-antitrypsin = A1AT; alpha-2-macroglobulin = A2M; transferrin = TRF; ceruloplasmin = CPL); and for saliva sIgA and sLYS. Autumn examination detected significantly higher mean values of IgE in children from families of smokers, while other mean differences remained insignificant. Spring examination revealed significant differences in the means of IgA levels children from families of smokers (FS) had significantly lower levels of IgA while their saliva sIgA values were significantly higher. Mean spring CPL levels in FS were significantly higher. Analysis of distribution curves of autumn examination showed a significant shift of A1AT towards higher values in boys from FS. Girls from FS exhibited a shift of LYS towards lower values. Spring examination in boys FS evidenced a shift of CPL and sIgA values towards higher values; the curve of serum IgA levels split distinctly into two subgroups. In girls from FS the only change observed during the spring examination was a shift of A2M levels towards higher values with an indication of a split. To conclude, passive smoking in school children is responsible for a number of significant changes, the latter being more frequent and marked in spring when the children's organism is weakened by many other unfavourable circumstances. More significant changes were seen in boys.

Ceruloplasmin↗

PubMed1986

Human exposure to nickel and cobalt: biological monitoring and immunobiochemical response.

Thirty-eight production workers exposed to Ni and 35 exposed to Co were examined for the content of Ni and Co in hair, the serum concentration levels of immunoglobulins, IgG, IgA, IgM, and IgE, and serum proteins, alpha 2-macroglobulin (A2M), transferrin (TRF), alpha 1-antitrypsin (A1AT), ceruloplasmin (CPL), lysozyme (LYS), and alpha 1-glycoprotein (A1GP). Atomic absorption analysis of hair revealed that the respective geometric mean values of Ni and Co in Ni-exposed workers were 216.75 and 3.31 micrograms X g-1 and in Co-exposed workers 34.5 and 96.81 micrograms X g-1. These values were significantly higher than respective control values found in nonexposed individuals matched by age (Ni: 3.31 and Co: 0.38 micrograms X g-1). These findings suggest that hair analysis is a suitable method for the biological monitoring of exposure to these two metals. Tests for serum proteins revealed that nickel workers differed from controls by exhibiting significantly elevated IgG, IgA, and IgM levels; cobalt workers by a significant elevation of IgA level; and both exposed groups by a significant drop in the IgE level. A significant rise in the concentration (P less than 0.001-P less than 0.005) was also recorded in the case of A1AT, A2M, CPL, and LYS. The possible biomedical implications of these immunobiochemical findings are critically analyzed.

Adult↗

PubMed1986

Humoral factors of resistance in the cohort of workers exposed to vinylchloride in the span of six years, concerning the influence of smoking.

A cohort of 66 workers professionally exposed to vinylchloride (VC) in a plant producing polyvinylchloride was examined in years 1979 and 1985 by same methods. Significant changes of the levels of immunoglobulins (Ig), lysozyme and transferrin were not observed during the six years in the subgroup of smokers. Nevertheless a highly significant rise of alpha 2 macroglobulin (A2M) and ceruloplasmin (CPL) levels in this subgroup was stated. The levels of IgA and IgM significantly rose in the subgroup of ex-smokers, as well as highly significant increase of A2M was noted in this subgroup. The levels of IgG and A2M rose with highly significance in the subgroup of non-smokers; the CPL increase was only of weak significance. Many significant differences in means were assessed between subgroups of exposed workers and age matched control persons. No significant correlation between the levels of the tests and the time of exposure to VC was observed by regression analysis. In the discussion an opinion about possible premature aging of persons exposed to VC was brought forward.

Adult↗

PubMed1986

Seasonal variations in the level of immunoglobulins and serum proteins of children differing by exposure to air-borne lead.

A semicohort of children, initial age about 11.5 years, from an exposure area near a secondary lead smelting plant (E group children) was examined for some humoral immune response parameters in the blood and saliva and compared to a group of control children matched by age living in a relatively unpolluted rural area (Co group children). All examinations were performed every autumn and spring over a period of 2 successive years, and the data included in the final analysis were only from children who had completed at least 3 of the 4 examination series performed. To sum up, children from area E showed a clearcut elevation of mean blood lead (Pb) levels with marked seasonal fluctuations peaking in spring; Pb levels in the blood of Co group children had no such season-related fluctuation patterns and tended to slightly decline over the two years of observation. Delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratases (ALAD) levels in area E were of distinctly lower mean values than in area Co, but no correlation with mean blood Pb levels could be observed. Levels of IgG were more or less inversely correlative with Pb levels in both sexes, levels of IgM showed a distinct downward trend in E group children at all samplings. Total serum protein (SP) levels of children from area E showed a reverse correlation with plumbemia, secretory IgA (sIgA) concentrations showed a decrease in E group children of both sexes, but the values tended to converge with control values. Levels of alpha 1-antitrypsin (A 1-AT) showed marked season-related fluctuation patterns in Co children, the curves in E group children turned steeply upward from the third examination series on. Ceruloplasmin (CPL) levels in E group children had a clearcut upward trend at three subsequent blood samplings, the curves in Co group children continued to drop. Children from area E showed markedly higher frequency rates of abnormal values than did children from Co area.

Air Pollutants↗

PubMed1985

Serum lysozyme (muramidase) levels in healthy subjects aged 10-90 years.

Lysozyme (LYS) levels were tested in the serum of 1,399 subjects (670 males, 729 females). A curve was plotted from the mean values. In our series, both sexes attained their highest peak at about 10 years. Between 21 and 30 years the curves of the two sexes began to diverge and in the 31- to 40-year decade the male curve attained a second maximum. This inter-sex difference was highly significant (P less than 0.01). Between 41 and 50 years the LYS values of the two sexes began to come closer again and from the 51- to 60-year decade they ran parallel with each other without deviating. The significance of the two courses is discussed.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1985

The influence of countryside school environment on the levels of immunoglobulins and blood proteins in school children.

In the group of 26 schoolchildren (11 girls and 19 boys) coming from an area with strong air-pollution the venous blood and saliva were taken before and three weeks after the sojourn in the countryside school environment. The mean levels of IgG and IgA in serum significantly rose during the sojourn, but the IgM levels increased insignificantly only. The mean levels of alpha 1-antitrypsin and alpha 2 macroglobulin significantly decreased, whereas the levels of transferrin increased significantly. Subnormal values in individual tests were estimated at 38 percent of children before the sojourn, but at the end of the sojourn only 11.5 percent of children remained subnormal. The values over the upper limit of normal were, before the sojourn assessed, at 11.5 percent of children in some of the tests, whereas 53.8 percent were found after the sojourn. The results are discussed from the point of view of a stimulating influence on the resistance mechanisms during the sojourn in the unpolluted area.

Air Pollution↗

PubMed1984

Morbidity and immunological test in miners working in mines with low ionizing radiation level.

Total count of morbidity as well as prevalence of upper respiratory tract diseases (RTD) were followed in 210 miners working in shale mines with a low level of ionizing radiation regarding their smoking habits. After one and half year of observation were performed some tests of humoral immunity in the blood serum and saliva (immunoglobulins G, A, M and sIgA) as well as some tests of non-specific indices (alpha 2 macroglobulin -A 2M, transferrin -TRF, lysozyme -- LYS). The number of healthy non--smokers reached 41.3%, whereas the number of healthy smokers was only 26.5% (P less than 0.05). The greater was the number of diseases in single subjects, the greater was the difference between smokers and non-smokers (P less than 0.005). The difference between RTD morbidity of smokers and non-smokers was not significant in the subgroup of miners employed less than 10 years, but the length of employment it rose significantly (P less than 0.002) in disfavour of the smokers. The difference between smokers and non-smokers is emphasized by ageing. The mean levels of immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA, IgM) are significantly higher in healthy non-smokers in comparison with other miners; that is stressed also by distribution analysis. The distribution analysis. The distribution of A 2M values is also significantly different in the subgroup of healthy non-smokers compared with other miners. Highly significant differences were found between healthy non-smokers and other miners by discrimination analysis of coupled tests. The differences among the paired comperformed some tests of humoral immunity in the blood serum and saliva (immunoglobulins are apparently cooperative in the prevention of RTD. In contrast to that the level of A 2M are in reverse relationship to the levels of Ig; in the subgroup of healthy non-smokers low levels of A 2M are in connection with high levels of Ig of all three classes. The results are discussed from the point of view of the smoker's habits, the length of employment in mine's environment, the age of the miners and the supposed genetical factors.

Adult↗

PubMed1984

Seasonal changes in the relationship of blood calcium levels to immunoglobulins and some of the blood proteins in schoolchildren.

Blood and saliva were collected in the autumn and spring from a group of schoolchildren (39 girls, 35 boys) with a mean age of 11.4 years. Serum immunoglobulin IgG, IgA, IgM and IgE, alpha 1-antitrypsin (A 1-AT), alpha 2 macroglobulin (A 2M), transferrin (TRF), ceruloplasmin (CPL), lysozyme (LYS) and pertussis (PE) antibody levels were determined. Calcium (Ca2+) and total serum protein levels were also determined. Secretory IgA (sIgA) and secretory lysozyme (sLYS) levels were assessed in the saliva. A highly significant drop in Ca2+ levels was found in the spring in boys, while in girls there was only a greater scatter of the values. Mean IgG, IgA and IgM values fell significantly in the spring in both sexes, but IgE levels fell significantly only in boys. PE levels rose significantly in the spring in girls. Among the other proteins, all the values rose in boys, except for TRF, whose levels fell. In girls, LYS and TRF levels rose, but all the other values fell. The coefficients of correlation between Ca2+ and the tested proteins showed a significant relationship only for A 2M and PE in girls and only for the total protein level in boys; in boys, the determination coefficient for sIgA and IgM was over 10%. The results do not testify to the existence of a close relationship between blood Ca2+ levels and Ig and other blood protein levels.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1983

Indicators of humoral immunity in smokers and nonsmokers working underground.

A group of 215 underground shale miners (148 smokers and 67 nonsmokers) was examined for levels of immunoglobulins in sera (IgG, IgA, IgM) and saliva (sIgA), transferrin (TRF), alpha 2-macroglobulin (A 2M) and lysozyme levels in sera (LYS) and saliva (sLYS). The control group consisting of 95 healthy men was selected to match the age of the exposed miners. The mine environment was characterized by the presence of ionizing radiation, due to a geological configuration of the rock. The study revealed that the decline of IgG, IgA and sLYS levels in smokers was significantly deeper than in nonsmokers and controls. The levels of sIgA and serum LYS levels were increased both in smokers and nonsmokers. The change in the serum LYS and A 2M levels in miners did not depend on the smoking habits, except of A 2M levels in miners employed for more than 21 years. The differences were, as a rule, less pronounced in younger miners and tended to increase with the increasing length of work underground. The distribution analysis revealed some inter-miner differences in the susceptibility to these changes and the formation of smaller subgroups of miners with more or less subnormal test values, which supports the hypothesis on the heterogeneity of this population group. The tests showed that the statistical analysis of abnormal test values might play an important role in the assessment of the health risk in individuals. A simultaneous detection of subnormal values in some of pairs of tests may provide decisive data allowing a reliable differentiation between the afflicted miners and the healthy control subjects.

Adult↗