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- Ahmed, Sultan, et al.
(författare)
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Arsenic-Associated Oxidative stress, Inflammation, and Immune Disruption in Human Placenta and Cord Blood
- 2011
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Ingår i: Journal of Environmental Health Perspectives. - : Environmental Health Perspectives. - 0091-6765 .- 1552-9924. ; 119:2, s. 258-264
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Arsenic (As) exposure during pregnancy induces oxidative stress and increases the risk of fetal loss and low birth weight. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to elucidate the effects of As exposure on immune markers in the placenta and cord blood, and the involvement of oxidative stress. METHODS: Pregnant women were enrolled around gestational week (GW) 8 in our longitudinal, population-based, mother-child cohort in Matlab, an area in rural Bangladesh with large variations in As concentrations in well water. Women (n=130) delivering at local clinics were included in the present study. We collected maternal urine twice during pregnancy (GW8 and 30) for measurements of As, and placenta and cord blood at delivery for assessment of immune and inflammatory markers. Placental markers were measured by immunohistochemistry and cord blood cytokines by multiplex cytokine assay. RESULTS: In multivariable adjusted models, maternal urinary As (U-As) exposure both at GW8 and 30 was significantly positively associated with placental markers of 8-oxoguanine (8-oxoG) and IL-1β, U-As at GW8 with TNF- α and IFN-γ, U-As at GW30 with leptin , and U-As at GW8 was inversely associated with CD3-T cells in the placenta. Cord blood cytokines (IL-1β, IL-8, IFN-γ, TNF-α) showed a U-shaped association with U-As at GW30. Placental 8-oxoG was significantly positively associated with placental pro-inflammatory cytokines. Multivariable adjusted analyses suggested that enhanced placental cytokine expression (TNF-α and IFN-γ) was primarily influenced by oxidative stress, while leptin expression appeared to be mostly mediated by As, and IL-1β appeared to be influenced by both oxidative stress and As. CONCLUSION: As exposure during pregnancy appeared to enhance placental inflammatory responses (in part by increasing oxidative stress), reduce placental T cells, and alter cord blood cytokines. These findings suggest that effects of As on immune function may contribute to impaired fetal and infant health.
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- Akesson, A, et al.
(författare)
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Cadmium-induced effects on bone in a population-based study of women
- 2006
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Ingår i: Environmental Health Perspectives. - : Environmental Health Perspectives. - 1552-9924 .- 0091-6765. ; 114:6, s. 830-834
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- High cadmium exposure is known to cause bone damage, but the association between low-level cadmium exposure and osteoporosis remains to be clarified. Using a population-based women's health survey in southern Sweden [Women's Health in the Lund Area (WHILA)] with no known historical cadmium contamination, we investigated cadmium-related effects on bone in 820 women (53-64 years of age). We measured cadmium in blood and urine and lead in blood, an array of markers of bone metabolism, and forearm bone mineral density (BMD). Associations were evaluated in multiple linear regression analysis including information on the possible confounders or effect modifiers: weight, menopausal status, use of hormone replacement therapy, age at menarche, alcohol consumption, smoking history, and physical activity. Median urinary cadmium was 0.52 mu g/L adjusted to density (0.67 mu g/g creatinine). After multivariate adjustment, BMD, parathyroid hormone, and urinary deoxypyridinoline (U-DPD) were adversely associated with concentrations of urinary cadmium (p < 0.05) in all subjects. These associations persisted in the group of never-smokers, which had the lowest cadmium exposure (mainly dietary). For U-DPD, there was a significant interaction between cadmium and menopause (p = 0.022). Our results suggest negative effects of low-level cadmium exposure on bone, possibly exerted via increased bone resorption, which seemed to be intensified after menopause. Based on the prevalence of osteoporosis and the low level of exposure, the observed effects, although slight, should be considered as early signals of potentially more adverse health effects.
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- Akesson, AA, et al.
(författare)
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Tubular and glomerular kidney effects in Swedish women with low environmental cadmium exposure
- 2005
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Ingår i: Environmental Health Perspectives. - : Environmental Health Perspectives. - 1552-9924 .- 0091-6765. ; 113:11, s. 1627-1631
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Cadmium is a well-known nephrotoxic agent in food and tobacco, but the exposure level that is critical for kidney effects in the general population is not defined. Within a population-based women's health survey in southern Sweden (Women's Health in the Lund Area, WHILA), we investigated cadmium exposure in relation to tubular and glomerular function, from 1999 through early 2000 in 820 women (71% participation rate) 53-64 years of age. Multiple linear regression showed cadmium in blood (median, 0.38 mu g/L) and urine (0.52 mu g/L; density adjusted = 0.67 mu g/g creatinine) to be significantly associated with effects on renal tubules (as indicated by increased levels of human complex-forming protein and N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase in urine), after adjusting for age, body mass index, blood lead, diabetes, hypertension, and regular use of nephrotoxic drugs. The associations remained significant even at the low exposure in women who had never smoked. We also found associations with markers of glomerular effects: glomerular filtration rate and creatinine clearance. Significant effects were seen already at a mean urinary cadmium level of 0.6 mu g/L (0.8 mu g/g creatinine). Cadmium potentiated diabetes-induced effects on kidney. In conclusion, tubular renal effects occurred at lower cadmium levels than previously demonstrated, and more important, glomerular effects were also observed. Although the effects were small, they may represent early signs of adverse effects, affecting large segments of the population. Subjects with diabetes seem to be at increased risk.
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- Akre, Olof, et al.
(författare)
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Maternal and gestational risk factors for hypospadias
- 2008
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Ingår i: Journal of Environmental Health Perspectives. - : Environmental Health Perspectives. - 0091-6765 .- 1552-9924. ; 116:8, s. 1071-1076
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: An increase in the prevalence of hypospadias has been reported, but the environmental causes remain virtually unknown. OBJECTIVES: Our goal was to assess the association between risk of hypospadias and indicators of placental function and endogenous hormone levels, exposure to exogenous hormones, maternal diet during pregnancy, and other environmental factors. METHODS: We conducted a case-control study in Sweden and Denmark from 2000 through 2005 using self-administered questionnaires completed by mothers of hypospadias cases and matched controls. The response rate was 88% and 81% among mothers of cases and controls, respectively. The analyses included 292 cases and 427 controls. RESULTS: A diet during pregnancy lacking both fish and meat was associated with a more than 4-fold increased risk of hypospadias [odds ratio (OR) 4.6, 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.6-13.3]. Boys born to obese [body mass index (BMI) > ;= 30] women had a more than 2-fold increased risk of hypospadias (OR = 2.6, 95% CI, 1.2-5.7) compared with boys born to mothers with a normal weight (BMI = 20-24). Maternal hypertension during pregnancy and absence of maternal nausea increased a boy's risk of hypospadias 2.0-fold (95% CI, 1.1-3.7) and 1.8-fold (95% CI, 1.2-2.8), respectively. Nausea in late pregnancy also appeared to be positively associated with hypospadias risk (OR = 7.6, 95% CI, 1.1-53). CONCLUSIONS: A pregnancy diet lacking meat and fish appears to increase the risk of hypospadias in the offspring. Other risk associations were compatible with a role for placental insufficiency in the etiology of hypospadias.
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- Albin, Maria, et al.
(författare)
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Asbestos and cancer: An overview of current trends in Europe
- 1999
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Ingår i: Environmental Health Perspectives. - 1552-9924. ; 107:Suppl. 2, s. 289-298
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This review assesses the contribution of occupational asbestos exposure to the occurrence of mesothelioma and lung cancer in Europe. Available information on national asbestos consumption, proportions of the population exposed, and exposure levels is summarized. Population-based studies from various European regions on occupational asbestos exposure, mesothelioma, and lung cancer are reviewed. Asbestos consumption in 1994 ranged, per capita, between 0. 004 kg in northern Europe and 2.4 kg in the former Soviet Union. Population surveys from northern Europe indicate that 15 to 30% of the male (and a few percent of the female) population has ever had occupational exposure to asbestos, mainly in construction (75% in Finland) or in shipyards. Studies on mesothelioma combining occupational history with biologic exposure indices indicate occupational asbestos exposure in 62 to 85% of the cases. Population attributable risks for lung cancer among males range between 2 and 50% for definite asbestos exposure. After exclusion of the most extreme values because of methodologic aspects, most of the remaining estimates are within the range of 10 to 20%. Estimates of women are lower. Extrapolation of the results to national figures would decrease the estimates. Norwegian estimates indicate that one-third of expected asbestos-related lung cancers might be avoided if former asbestos workers quit smoking. The combination of a current high asbestos consumption per capita, high exposure levels, and high underlying lung cancer rates in Central Europe and the former Soviet Union suggests that the lung cancers will arise from the smoking-asbestos interaction should be a major concern.
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