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Nervous system effects in rats on subacute exposure by lead-containing nanoparticles via the airways

Context and objective: Lead (Pb) is a heavy metal harmful for human health and environment. From leaded gasoline (still used in certain countries), and in Pb processing and reprocessing industries, airborne particles are emitted which can be inhaled. In such exposure, the size of particles entering the airways is crucial. The nervous system is a primary target for Pb, and consequences like occupational neuropathy and delayed mental development of children are well-known. The aim of this work was to investigate the neurotoxicity of Pb nanoparticles (NPs) applied into the airways of rats. Methods: Nano-sized lead oxide particles (mean diameter ca. 20 nm) were suspended in distilled water and instilled into the trachea of adult male Wistar rats (in doses equivalent to 2 and 4 mg/kg Pb), 5 times a week for 3 and 6 weeks. At the end, open field motility was tested, then central and peripheral nervous activity was recorded in urethane anesthesia. Results and conclusion: The treated rats’ body weight gain was significantly lower than that of the controls from the 3rd week onwards, and the weight of their lungs was significantly increased. Horizontal motility increased while vertical motility decreased. Spontaneous cortical activity was shifted to higher frequencies. The somatosensory cortical evoked potential showed increased latency and decreased frequency-following ability, and similar alterations were seen in the tail nerve. Significant Pb deposition was measured in blood, brain, lung and liver samples of the treated rats. The experiments performed seem to constitute an adequate model of the human effects of inhaled Pb NPs.

Smoking behaviour and attitudes of Hungarian Roma and non-Roma population towards tobacco control policies

ObjectivesTo assess the smoking status and support for tobacco control policies among the Roma minority compared with the non-Roma population in Hungary.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was delivered among Roma minority and local non-Roma population; 83 Roma and 126 non-Roma people were interviewed. Chi-square tests and logistic regression were applied to compare Roma and non-Roma populations.ResultsThe prevalence of smoking was significantly higher and the support for tobacco control measures was significantly lower in the Roma population. This effect of ethnicity on attitudes toward tobacco control was explained somewhat, but not completely, by the Roma group’s higher rate of smoking and lower level of education.ConclusionsTobacco control policies are a proven strategy for denormalizing smoking and discouraging initiation. This strategy has important potential for Roma communities because of their high rates of tobacco use. However, this study shows that the Roma are resistant the efforts to limit smoking. Changing these attitudes will require targeted public health interventions that take into account not only the lower educational levels of the Roma, but also their cultural beliefs regarding tobacco.

Preconceptional and prenatal predictors of folic acid intake in Hungarian pregnant women

OBJECTIVE The purpose of the study was to determine demographic, obstetric and pregnancy care related factors of folic acid intake during preconceptional and prenatal period of pregnancy. STUDY DESIGN A questionnaire-based retrospective study was delivered at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Pregnancy Care Centre. The frequency of folic acid intake was measured before and during pregnancy in 349 pregnant women. RESULTS Factors influencing preconceptional folic acid consumption were planning of pregnancy, previous infertility therapy, multivitamin intake before pregnancy, and folic acid intake during pregnancy. Probability of taking folic acid during pregnancy increased with age, and decreased with gestational age. Earlier detection of pregnancy corresponded to a higher chance of folic acid intake. Prenatal folic acid intake significantly related to the earlier intake of folic acid, and prenatal multivitamin medication. CONCLUSION It is important to target women who are less likely to take periconceptional folic acid as well as to increase awareness of women of childbearing age in general through an intensive campaign and improved education.

The Determinants of Self-Rated Health among Ethnic Minorities in Hungary

Background . The health status of a population is largely determined by the mutually interrelated factors of social and financial conditions, and by lifestyle, including health-related behaviour. The aim of the study was to investigate the factors influencing self-rated health among different ethnic minorities living in closed communities in the South-East Hungarian region. Methods . The cross-sectional survey was based on interviewer-administered questionnaires on socio-demographic variables, lifestyle and health status. In the study 100–120 persons were recruited from Serbian, Croatian, Romanian, German minorities and the Hungarian population. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used. Results . In the univariate analyses, poor self-rated health correlated with all the factors examined except marital status. In the multivariate logistic regression model, poor health was found to be significantly associated with age, educational level, ethnicity, body mass index and chronic diseases. Poor self-rated health was observed in the Croatians and in the Hungarian control group. Conclusion . In South-East Hungary, demographic parameters, especially being a member of a minority, and objective health status are highly important determinants of self-rated health. Several of the parameters studied in our survey indicated no effect or no special differences within the population of the region as concerns of self-rated health; certain other factors, however, proved to be special features for the studied ethnic minority, justifying the launching of target group-oriented health intervention programmes.

Consequences of subacute intratracheal exposure of rats to cadmium oxide nanoparticles: Electrophysiological and toxicological effects

Cadmium (Cd) is a metal used in various industrial applications, thereby causing exposure to Cd-containing fumes. The submicron-sized particles in the fumes represent an extra risk due to their high mobility within the organism and high surface area. Toxicity of Cd on the liver, kidney and bones is well known, but there are less data on its neurotoxicity. Here, male Wistar rats were treated for 3 and 6 weeks by intratracheal instillation of cadmium oxide nanosuspension. The body weight gain in treated rats was significantly decreased, and in the rats treated with high dose (0.4 mg/kg Cd daily), there was a significant increase in the weight of lungs and thymus. In this group, the spectrum of spontaneous cortical electrical activity was shifted to higher frequencies, the latency of sensory-evoked potentials was lengthened, and the frequency following ability of the somatosensory evoked potential was impaired—even without detectable Cd deposition in the brain. The data support the role of the nano-sized Cd in the causation of nervous system damage and show the possibility of modeling human neurotoxic damage in rats.

Green tea and vitamin C ameliorate some neuro-functional and biochemical signs of arsenic toxicity in rats

Background/objectives: Nervous system damage is one of the consequences of oral exposure to waterborne inorganic arsenic. In this work, the role of oxidative status in the neurotoxicity of arsenic and the possible role of two foodborne antioxidants in ameliorating arsenic-related oxidative stress were investigated. Methods: Male Wistar rats were given 10 mg/kg b.w. of trivalent inorganic arsenic (in the form of NaAsO2), 5 day/week for 6 weeks by gavage, combined with vitamin C solution (1 g/l) or green tea infusion (2.5 g in 500 ml boiled water) as antioxidants given in the drinking fluid. Results: Body weight gain was reduced by arsenic from the second week and the antioxidants had no effect on that. Cortical evoked potentials had increased latency, tail nerve conduction velocity was reduced, and this latter effect was counteracted by the antioxidants. The effect of green tea was stronger than that of vitamin C, and green tea also diminished lipid peroxidation induced by As. There was fair correlation between brain As levels, electrophysiological changes, and lipid peroxidation, suggesting a causal relationship. Discussion: Natural antioxidants might be useful in the protection of the central nervous system against the toxicity of oral As.

Rutin, a flavonoid phytochemical, ameliorates certain behavioral and electrophysiological alterations and general toxicity of oral arsenic in rats

Arsenic affects large populations and attacks, among others, the nervous system. Waterborne or occupational exposure causes electrophysiological alterations and motor disturbances in humans, and analogous effects were found in animals. Certain phytochemicals may be protective against As-caused damages. In the present study it was investigated whether the flavonoid rutin, applied via the drinking water (2 g/L), ameliorates the effects of arsenic given by gavage (10 mg/kg b.w., in form of NaAsO2) on open field motility, evoked cortical and peripheral electrophysiological activity, and body weight gain in adult male Wistar rats. Body weight gain was significantly reduced from the 4th week of the 6 weeks arsenic treatment and this effect was largely abolished by rutin in the combination treatment group. Rats treated by arsenic alone showed decreased open field motility; latency of the cortical evoked potentials increased and peripheral nerve conduction velocity decreased. These functional alterations were also counteracted by co-administration of rutin, and both the antioxidant and the chelating activity of rutin might have contributed to the ameliorative effect. These results are apparently novel and support the potential role of natural agents in preserving human health in a contaminated environment.

Correlations between prescription of anti-hypertensive medication and mortality due to stroke

BackgroundOne of the most important risk factors for stroke is hypertension. A number of studies have attempted to identify the most effective anti-hypertensive therapeutic group for stroke prevention. Using an epidemiologic approach we aimed to find correlations based on Hungarian data on stroke-mortality and on prescription routine of anti-hypertensive therapeutics in three different counties, showing significant difference in stroke mortality.MethodsWe have used the official yearly reports on stroke-mortality for the period 2003-2008. Based on the significant differences in the change in mortality due to stroke three counties were selected: Baranya, Bekes and Hajdu-Bihar. The usage of antihypertensive therapeutic groups was analyzed. The correlation of stroke mortality difference and different antihypertensive treatment habits was analyzed by using normality test, time series analyses, correlation coefficient, paired samples test, one sample test and chi-square test.ResultsFor the year 2003 stroke-mortality standardized with the county population number was highest in county Bekes, followed by county Baranya and county Hajdu-Bihar. For each year stroke mortality has shown significant (p < 0.0001) difference between the three counties and the ranking/order of the counties has been preserved over time. During the period of our study, an increase in the number of days of treatment was observed for most of the anti-hypertensive drugs listed. We have observed that the increased use of high-ceiling diuretics resulted in a mortality advantage, and the reduction in use of calcium channel blockers with direct cardiac effect had negative consequences.ConclusionsThe authors acknowledge that by limiting the study to three counties the findings cannot be generalized to the whole Hungarian population. Two trends can still be identified:i) increased number of days of treatment (and therefore the probable use) of high-ceiling diuretics is associated with reduction in mortality due to stroke and its immediate complications; ii) reduction in the use of non-dihidropiridin CCBs does not seem justified, as their use appears to be advantageous in stroke prevention. Authors put emphasis on the importance of the adherence of the patients to the preventive therapies. Health care professionals could provide an important added value to the life long preventive therapies by improving the compliance of their patients, giving personalized care and advice.

Applicability of the brief version of the World Health Organization’s quality of life questionnaire in Hungary

Bevezetes:Az eletminőseg, mint szubjektiv megitelesen alapulo kozerzeti-parameter alkalmas egy nepesseg, illetve kulonboző betegcsoportok egeszsegi allapotanak jellemzesere, valamint egyes terapias vagy prevencios beavatkozasok hatasanak megitelesere. Celkitűzes: Az eletminőseg meresere alkalmas tobbfele modszer kozul az Egeszsegugyi Vilagszervezet altal kifejlesztett kerdőiv roviditett valtozata hazai alkalmazhatosaganak es megbizhatosaganak vizsgalata. Modszerek: Kerdőives adatgyűjtesen alapulo keresztmetszeti vizsgalat tortent Csongrad megyeben az 1000, illetve 2000 fő alatti nepessegszamu kozsegekben, valamint kontroll telepuleskent egy kisvarosban, osszesen 814 fő koreben. Az eletminőseg kerdőiv megbizhatosaga es ervenyessege az egyes targykorokon beluli Cronbach-fele alfa, ANOVA es Kruskal-Wallis-proba, valamint a Spearman rho korrelacios egyutthato alapjan kerult ertekelesre. Eredmenyek: Az eletminőseg negy dimenziojanak/targykorenek – fizikai, pszichologiai, tarsas kapcsolatok, kornyezet – atlagertekei gyakorlatilag nem kulonboztek egymastol. Az egyes targykorokre, illetve az osszes kerdesre vonatkozo belső konzisztenciavizsgalat Cronbach-fele alfa-ertekei minden esetben meghaladtak a minimalisan elvarhato 0,7-es erteket. Az eletminőseg egyes targykoreire szamitott atlagok az eletkor előrehaladtaval csokkentek. Az egeszsegesek valamennyi targykort szignifikansan jobbnak iteltek, mint a betegek. A korrelacios vizsgalatok szerint az eletminőseg valamennyi dimenzioja szoros pozitiv osszefuggest mutatott az altalanos eletminőseggel, az egeszseggel valo elegedettseggel, es az egeszseg onertekelesevel, valamint mas, a szocialis vagy az egeszsegugyi helyzetet erintő kerdesekre adott valaszokkal. Kovetkeztetes: A kerdőiv hazai viszonyokra adaptalt valtozata alkalmasnak bizonyult a kulonboző demografiai, szocialis helyzetű es egeszsegi allapotu egyenek eletminősegenek megitelesere, a betegek es egeszsegesek elkulonitesere. A kerdőiv egyszerűen, gyorsan kitolthető, konnyen ertekelhető, es lehetőve teszi a magyar nepesseg koreben az eletminőseg mereset, valamint annak nemzetkozi adatokkal valo osszeveteset. Introduction: Quality of life, as a subjective parameter of the general condition, is suitable for characterization of the health status of populations or patient groups, and for studying the effects of therapic or preventive interventions. Aims: To test the applicability and reliability in Hungary of the abbreviated form of the quality of life questionnaire developed by WHO, one of several ways to measure the quality of life. Methods: Questionnaire-based cross-sectional investigation was performed among altogether 814 persons, in small settlements of population under 1000 and 2000, and in a small town for control, in Csongrad county, Hungary. The reliability and validity of the quality of life questionnaire was tested, within each group of questions, by means of Cronbach’s alpha, ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis tests, and by Spearman’s rho correlation coefficient. Results: The mean values of the four domains of quality of life – physical, psychological, social and environmental – showed no noteworthy differences. The Cronbach’s alpha figures of the internal consistency test on separate groups of questions and on all questions were in all cases above the expected minimum of 0.7. The means calculated for each domain of quality of life were decreasing with increasing age. Healthy people estimated each aspect of quality of life as significantly better, compared to the sick. Correlation tests showed that all dimensions of the quality of life were in close positive correlation with the general quality of life, with the level of satisfaction with the own health, with the self-assessed health, and with the responses given on other questions related to the social or health situation of the questioned. Conclusion: The variation of the questionnaire, adapted to Hungarian conditions, proved to be suitable for testing the quality of life of persons with various demographical, social and health conditions, and for distinction between the healthy and the sick. The sheet, which can be filled in quickly and easily, enables the measurement of quality of life in the Hungarian population, and the comparison of that with international data.Applicability of the brief version of the World Health Organizations quality of life questionnaire in Hungary. Introduction: Quality of life, as a subjective parameter of the general condition, is suitable for characterization of the health status of populations or patient groups, and for studying the effects of therapic or preventive interventions. Aims: To test the applicability and reliability in Hungary of the abbreviated form of the quality of life questionnaire developed by WHO, one of several ways to measure the quality of life. Methods: Questionnaire-based cross-sectional investigation was performed among altogether 814 persons, in small settlements of population under 1000 and 2000, and in a small town for control, in Csongrad county, Hungary. The reliability and validity of the quality of life questionnaire was tested, within each group of questions, by means of Cronbachs alpha, ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis tests, and by Spearmans rho correla- tion coefficient. Results: The mean values of the four domains of quality of life - physical, psychological, social and envi- ronmental - showed no noteworthy differences. The Cronbachs alpha figures of the internal consistency test on separate groups of questions and on all questions were in all cases above the expected minimum of 0.7. The means calculated for each domain of quality of life were decreasing with increasing age. Healthy people estimated each aspect of quality of life as significantly better, compared to the sick. Correlation tests showed that all dimensions of the quality of life were in close positive correlation with the general quality of life, with the level of satisfaction with the own health, with the self-assessed health, and with the responses given on other questions related to the social or health situation of the questioned. Conclusion: The variation of the questionnaire, adapted to Hungarian conditions, proved to be suitable for testing the quality of life of persons with various demographical, social and health conditions, and for distinction between the healthy and the sick. The sheet, which can be filled in quickly and easily, enables the measurement of quality of life in the Hungarian population, and the comparison of that with international data.

Nervous system effects of dissolved and nanoparticulate cadmium in rats in subacute exposure

Cadmium, a toxic heavy metal with various applications in technology, can affect people both by environmental (foodborne) and occupational (inhalation) exposure and can cause nervous system damage. To model this, rats were subacutely treated either with CdCl2 solution per os (3.0 mg kg−1 b.w.) or nanoparticulate CdO2 (particle size ca 65 nm) by intratracheal instillation (0.04 mg kg−1 b.w.) alone or in sequential combination. Nervous system effects were observed at different levels of function (open field behavior, cortical electrical activity, nerve action potential) and some general toxicological indicators were also measured. Three weeks of oral plus one week of intratracheal exposure caused significant reduction of body weight gain and open field motility. Lengthening of latency of sensory evoked potentials, observed in all treated rats, was also the most significant in the group receiving oral plus intratracheal treatment. Conduction velocity of the tail nerve was likewise decreased in all treated groups. Several of the effects pointed to a potentiating interaction between the two forms of Cd. Modeling environmental and occupational Cd exposure by oral and intratracheal application in rats was feasible, with results suggesting serious negative health effects in humans suffering such a combined exposure.