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Biomedical subjects

V Wagner

Publications and source records attributed to V Wagner.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
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

Efficacy of TAC topical anesthetic for repair of pediatric lacerations.

A prospective evaluation of 103 consecutive children who received TAC (tetracaine, epinephrine [adrenaline], cocaine) liquid topical anesthetic for the repair of their minor dermal lacerations was performed. A unique method of TAC application was used that consisted of applying the medication to the inner margins of the wound cavity and allowing it to stand for several minutes prior to the application of a TAC-saturated gauze pad to the wound surface. Of 670 sutures placed, 637 (95%) were done without eliciting pain. The TAC topical anesthetic was more than 95% effective in providing complete anesthesia for wounds located on the face and lip; it was equally efficacious in anesthetizing larger wounds (greater than or equal to 5 cm in length and/or greater than or equal to 5 mm in depth). No adverse reactions resulted from the application of TAC. A single wound healing complication occurred in 103 patients. TAC is a safe, effective method for anesthetizing minor lacerations of the skin in children. Its painless method of application relieves patient discomfort and maximizes patient compliance during the repair procedure, both of which enhance the accurate approximation of lacerated tissue.

Anesthetics, Local↗
PubMed1988

The effect of feeding human milk and adapted milk formulae on serum lipid and lipoprotein levels in young infants.

The effect of feeding with human milk and commercially available milk substitutes was studied in a group of 154 healthy infants during the first 3 months of life by assessment of body weight, body length, head circumference, skinfold thickness, serum lipid and lipoprotein concentrations. Human milk and the different milk formulae have the same energy content (kcal/100 ml) and total fat, total protein and total carbohydrate contents are comparable but they differ in respect of their fatty acid compositions. The various diets were chosen freely by the parents and the newborns were exclusively fed either human milk (n = 56), Multival 1 (n = 31), Humana 1 (n = 33), or Pre Aptamil (n = 34). No significant differences in body weight, body length or head circumference were observed between any of the different dietary groups. Fat storage, as assessed by measurements of skinfold thickness, was significantly less in breast-fed children compared to those on the formula diets. Breast-fed and Pre Aptamil-fed infants had the highest levels of total serum cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol and LDL. No differences were observed in the levels of total serum triglycerides, very low density lipoprotein (VLDL)- and high density lipoproteins (HDL)-cholesterol, VLDL and HDL. There were no strong correlations between the physical and the biochemical parameters. No indication of an increased risk of developing atherosclerosis was associated with any of the dietary treatments for the duration of this study. However, these investigations support the hypothesis that subtle early nutritional variation can influence mechanisms that regulate lipoprotein and cholesterol levels in later life.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1988

Half-strength TAC topical anesthetic. For selected dermal lacerations.

A prospective evaluation of 75 consecutive children with lacerations of the face, lip, and scalp who received TAC (tetracaine, epinephrine [adrenalin], cocaine) topical anesthetic for the repair of their wound was performed. The TAC preparation contained one-half the conventional concentration of cocaine (5.9%) and tetracaine (0.25%) previously used in other studies that have evaluated its anesthetic efficacy. A maximal dosage of 3 ml of TAC (containing 175 mg cocaine and 7.5 mg tetracaine) was applied to each laceration. The diluted TAC preparation provided complete anesthesia for approximately 95% of the more than 400 sutures placed. No adverse reactions were noted in any patient who received TAC, and in no instance did a complication of wound healing occur. The original formulation of TAC was arbitrarily composed, and the maximum concentration per dosage of the potentially toxic component medications of TAC that can be "safely" applied to dermal lacerations in children remains to be defined. Utilization of this diluted preparation will diminish the risk of potential systemic toxicity from the absorbed component medications of TAC without compromising anesthetic efficacy.

Administration, Cutaneous↗
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 levels of immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA, IgM) in the four seasons in uranium miners.

A cohort of 104 miners working for a long time in one uranium mine was examined on the blood serum immunoglobulins IgG, IgA, and IgM content. A significant circum-annual oscillations of the values of all three Ig were shown. The peaks of the IgG values were reached in summer, those of IgA in winter, and those of IgM in spring. The largest drops of the IgG values were reached in spring, those of IgA in summer, and those of IgM in autumn. The frequency distribution analysis suggested the possibility that a subpopulation separating itself from its remainder takes part in the seasonal swing towards the low level limits of the Ig.

Adult↗
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↗