"Mechanisms underlying neonatally induced behavioural disturbances from low dose exposure to perfluorated chemicals and polybrominated diphenyl ethers"
Per Eriksson (project leader)
Summary of results with list of publications from Materials Physics, Uppsala University.
Email: per.eriksson@ebc.uu.se
It must be started in time
In our environment, people are constantly exposed to new chemicals. Recently, there has been increased interest in the way chemicals can affect the development of the nervous system during the foetal stage and during the first year, since we are seeing increased diagnosis of developmental disturbances such as ADHD and autism, and also neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's.
In this project, the developmental neurotoxic effects of flame retardants such as polybrominated diphenyl ethers and perfluorated chemicals have been studied in mice that had been exposed during the neonatal period when the brain undergoes rapid growth and development.
In many mammals, the neonatal period is characterised by rapid growth and development of the brain. In humans, this development begins during the third trimester of pregnancy and continues during the first two years of life. In the project, a study has been made of how proteins that are important for normal brain development can be affected after exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ethers and perfluorated compounds during the brain developmental period.
"Effects of probiotics on the growth, blood fat levels and immunological development of healthy babies from the 4th to the 13th month"
Olle Hernell (project leader)
Summary of results with list of publications from Clinical Sciences, Umeå University
Email: olle.hernell@pediatri.umu.se
The gut flora and the immune defence system have a dynamic relationship. A gut flora rich in lactobacilli and bifidobacteria is typical for breast fed, but not for formula fed, babies. Probiotics, mainly lactic acid forming lactobacilli and bifidobacteria, are harmless health promoting bacteria which are introduced via foods or in some other form and are considered to stabilise the gut flora and the barrier function of the gut. There is however a lack of controlled clinical trials to confirm this action. The most evident effect is seen in viral gastric disease where the intake of certain lactobacillus strains can shorten diarrhoea in babies, but there are differences in the composition of the gut flora between healthy children and children with allergies.
The objective of this study was to clarify whether daily addition of the probiotic bacterium Lactobacillus F19 during the weaning period would contribute to retention of the favourable gut flora provided by breast feeding and reduce the risk of allergy. The conclusion is that supply of Lactobacillus in baby cereal during weaning reduces the incidence of eczema and promotes the balance of the immune defence system. One interesting question is whether these effects persist at school age and whether they embrace asthma and hay fever.
"Relationship between air pollution in Skåne and reproductive ill health"
Lars Rylander (project leader)
Summary of results with list of publications from Lund University
Email: lars.rylander@med.lu.se
There is increasing evidence that air pollution may have negative effects on reproductive outcome. There is general support for the relationship between exposure and low birth weight and growth retardation during the foetal stage. However, most of the epidemiologcal studies concerning air pollution and reproductive outcome have considerable methodological shortcomings. In Skåne there are unique conditions for the study of the relationship between air pollution levels and reproductive ill health, with both exposure and outcome data, and data relating to potential disturbing factors, of very good quality.
The study shows that women with the highest exposures had no increased risk of having low weight babies. On the other hand, they had a statistically significant reduced risk of having a premature baby. The results were presented by the postgraduate student in the project, Ebba Malmqvist, at an international conference at San Diego in March, and will constitute an important part of her thesis.
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