scholarly journals Environment and infant immunity

1999 ◽  
Vol 58 (3) ◽  
pp. 729-732 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bengt Björkstén
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
Human Milk ◽  
Life Style ◽  
Western Europe ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Allergic Diseases ◽  
House Dust Mites ◽  
Industrialized Countries ◽  
The Difference ◽  
The Impact

Pregnancy is associated with a skewing towards T-helper (Th)2-like cell populations. During the first years of life, the neonatal immune responses towards allergens deviate towards a balanced Th1 and Th2-like immunity. The difference between atopic and nonatopic individuals may be how readily the immune deviation takes place. The high prevalence of allergies in industrialized countries is in contrast with the low prevalence of allergies in Eastern Europe, with a life style similar to that prevailing in Western Europe 40 years ago. The discussion on the impact of environmental changes on the incidence of asthma and other allergies has been limited mostly to the possible effects of a deteriorating air quality, poorly ventilated houses and an increased exposure to certain allergens, notably house dust mites. None of these factors can more than marginally explain the observed regional differences in the prevalence of allergic diseases. The concept of ‘life style’ should therefore be expanded considerably. The mother is a significant ‘environmental factor’ in early infancy. Human milk contains components that enhance the maturation of the immune system of the newborn infant. However, there are considerable individual variations in the composition of human milk. Recent studies indicate an imbalance in the gut flora of allergic, compared with non allergic infants, and in Swedish children compared with Estonian children. As the microbial flora drives the maturation of the immune system, changes in its composition may play a role for the higher prevalence of allergy. The future search for significant environmental factors should be directed towards other areas that have not yet been explored. The intestinal microflora is one of these factors that deserve a closer analysis.

scholarly journals Avalanche activity and socio-environmental changes leave strong footprints in forested landscapes: a case study in the Vosges medium-high mountain range

2018 ◽  
Vol 59 (77) ◽  
pp. 111-133 ◽  
Author(s):  
Florie Giacona ◽  
Nicolas Eckert ◽  
Robin Mainieri ◽  
Brice Martin ◽  
Christophe Corona ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Western Europe ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Local Context ◽  
High Mountain ◽  
Mountain Range ◽  
Vosges Mountains ◽  
Forested Landscapes ◽  
Cyclic Changes ◽  
A Site ◽  
The Impact

AbstractThe medium-high mountain ranges of Western Europe are undergoing rapid socio-environmental changes. The aim of this study is to show that their landscape can be strongly shaped by the actions of avalanche activity, humans and climate. The study area is the Rothenbachkopf-Rainkopf complex, a site representative of avalanche-prone areas of the Vosges Mountains (France). A geo-historical approach documents regular avalanche activity over more than 200 years on 13 paths. A diachronic analysis of historical maps and photographs demonstrates substantial afforestation (from 60 to 80% of the total surface since 1832). LIDAR data and field surveys highlight the existence of a longitudinal and transversal structure of trees. Hence, the avalanche, human and climate activity footprints are retained by the landscape, which rapidly adapts to these changing drivers. Specifically, the pattern of tree species and heights results from a near equilibrium with regular avalanche activity sometimes disturbed by major avalanches that induce quasi-cyclic changes in the landscape mosaic. The afforestation trend is attributable to profound changes in silvo-pastoral practices, supplemented by the impact of climate change. The wider relevance of the results in relation to the local context is discussed, as well as outlooks that can refine our understanding of this complex system.

scholarly journals Interaction of early diet and the development of the immune system

2002 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 263-292 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angel Gil ◽  
Ricardo Rueda
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
Human Milk ◽  
Immune Function ◽  
Early Life ◽  
Functional Foods ◽  
Allergic Diseases ◽  
Present Review ◽  
Clinical Effects ◽  
Intestinal Immunity ◽  
Area Of Interest

AbstractThe present review focuses on the specific effects of nutrients on the development of the immune system in early life. There is a big gap regarding the specific mechanisms that regulate immunity at the intestinal level and their impact in the systemic immune function. For this reason, during the last few years there has been great interest in ascertaining the mechanisms that regulate the intestinal immune function, as well as to understand how specific nutrients interact with the gut-associated lymphoid tissue. We have reviewed this topic with special emphasis on how human milk, and its components, influence the early development of intestinal immunity in breast-fed infants compared with formula-fed infants. Interactions between nutrients and intestinal microbiota have also been reviewed. Some micronutrients such as nucleotides and gangliosides, which are present in human milk and also in most foods, are able to influence immune functionality at very low concentrations. The specific action of these micronutrients on some parameters of immunity, as well as their potential mechanisms of action, have been considered in detail. However, there are limited data on how other specific nutrients, namely protein and non-protein N-containing compounds, lipids, carbohydrates, and others, such as minerals, vitamins, fibre, non-nutritional dietary compounds (flavonoids, carotenoids, phyto-oestrogens, etc), influence immunity. In the present review we have provided data regarding the potential effects of these compounds on the immune response in early life. The increasing use of functional foods by the public to improve their general health and prevent the incidence of chronic diseases has become a major area of interest within the nutrition community. Of the many functional foods available, probiotics have been most studied in infancy and childhood, particularly with regard to the prevention of allergic diseases. Infant formulae and fermented milks containing large quantities of probiotics are produced and consumed by Europeans and in other industrialized countries. In the present review we cover the clinical effects of probiotics in preventing disease during early life, as well as the potential mechanisms of interaction between probiotics and the gastrointestinal tract.

scholarly journals The Immune System in Human Milk: A Historic Perspective

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Armond S. Goldman ◽  
Sadhana Chheda
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
Human Milk ◽  
21St Century ◽  
Commensal Bacteria ◽  
Human Infant ◽  
Industrialized Countries ◽  
The Past ◽  
Anti Inflammatory ◽  
Paul Ehrlich

<b><i>Background:</i></b> Human milk contains a remarkable array of immunological agents that evolved over millions of years to protect the recipient human infant. Furthermore, much of the protection persists long after weaning. However, the scientists who first discovered some components of this immune system have rarely been acknowledged. <b><i>Summary:</i></b> The scientists who made many fundamental immunological discoveries concerning the immune system in human milk include Alfred François Donné, Paul Ehrlich, Lars Å. Hanson, and Jules Bordet. Based upon their discoveries, a wealth of antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulating agents, and living, activated leukocytes in human milk were later revealed during the last half of the 20th and the first part of the 21st century. Moreover, it was found that human milk enhances the colonization of commensal bacteria that aid to protect the human infant. <b><i>Key Message:</i></b> Their discoveries helped to revitalize breastfeeding in industrialized countries during the past several decades.

Spiritual Values, Religious Practices, and Democratic Attitudes

2008 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 216-236 ◽  
Author(s):  
Myunghee Kim
Keyword(s):  
Western Europe ◽  
Religious Commitment ◽  
Religious Practices ◽  
Industrialized Countries ◽  
Spiritual Values ◽  
Democratic Attitudes ◽  
European Values ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Democratic Principles ◽  
The Impact

AbstractUsing data from the 1999–2001 World Values and European Values Surveys, this article examines the impact of spiritual values and religious practices on democratic attitudes in twenty countries throughout Western Europe, North America, South America, Asia, and Africa. I assume that a reciprocal interaction between national conditions and individual orientations shapes support for democracy. Religious commitment as theological orthodoxy and attendance at religious services does not strengthen democratic views. Instead, explicitly political and cultural variables explain approval for democratic principles, particularly among industrialized countries. Individuals who express a low fear of threatening groups also back democratic institutions, regardless of a nation's industrialization. Among religious affiliations, Protestants in developing countries advocate democratic values. So do Muslims in industrialized countries. Nonmembers of religious institutions, however, are less likely to uphold democratic attitudes.

scholarly journals Application of the Hess-Brezowsky classification to the identification of weather patterns causing heavy winter rainfall in Brittany (France)

2009 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 1161-1173 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. Planchon ◽  
H. Quénol ◽  
N. Dupont ◽  
S. Corgne
Keyword(s):  
Western Europe ◽  
Cold Season ◽  
Circulation Type ◽  
Winter Rainfall ◽  
Weather Patterns ◽  
Circulation Types ◽  
Time Period ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Air Circulation ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. An accurate knowledge of the weather patterns causing winter rainfall over the Scorff watershed in western Brittany (W. France) was developed prior to studies of the impact of the climate factor on land use management, and of the hydrological reponses to rain-producing weather patterns. These two studies are carried out in the context of the climate change. The identification of rainy air-circulation types was realized using the objective computational version of the 29-type Hess and Brezowsky Grosswetterlagen system of classifying European synoptic regimes, for the cold season (November-March) of the 1958–2005 period at the reference weather station of Lorient, and 13 other stations located in western and southern Brittany, including a more detailed study for the wet 2000–2001 cold season for three reference stations of the Scorff watershed (Lorient, Plouay and Plouray). The precipitation proportion (including the days with rainfall ≥20 mm) was calculated by major air-circulation type (GWT: see Appendix A) and by individual air-circulation subtype (GWL: see Appendix A) for the studied time-period. The most frequently occurrence of rainy days associated with westerly and southerly GWL confirmed well-known observations in western Europe and so justify the use of the Hess-Brezowsky classification in other areas outside Central Europe. The southern or south-western exposure of the watershed with a hilly inland area enhanced the heavy rainfall generated by the SW and S circulation types, and increased the difference between the rainfall amounts of coastal and inland stations during the wettest days.

scholarly journals Breeze effects at a large artificial lake: summer case study

2018 ◽  
Vol 22 (10) ◽  
pp. 5191-5210 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maksim Iakunin ◽  
Rui Salgado ◽  
Miguel Potes
Keyword(s):  
Western Europe ◽  
Atmospheric Model ◽  
Lake Breeze ◽  
Artificial Lake ◽  
Natural Lakes ◽  
Alqueva Reservoir ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Surrounding Areas ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. Natural lakes and big artificial reservoirs can affect the weather regime of surrounding areas but, usually, consideration of all aspects of this impact and their quantification is a difficult task. The Alqueva reservoir, the largest artificial lake in western Europe, located on the south-east of Portugal, was filled in 2004. It is a large natural laboratory that allows the study of changes in surface and in landscape and how they affect the weather in the region. This paper is focused on a 3-day case study, 22–24 July 2014, during which an intensive observation campaign was carried out. In order to quantify the breeze effects induced by the Alqueva reservoir, two simulations with the mesoscale atmospheric model Meso-NH coupled to the FLake freshwater lake model has been performed. The difference between the two simulations lies in the presence or absence of the reservoir on the model surface. Comparing the two simulation datasets, with and without the reservoir, net results of the lake impact were obtained. Magnitude of the impact on air temperature, relative humidity, and other atmospheric variables are shown. The clear effect of a lake breeze (5–7 m s−1) can be observed during daytime on distances up to 6 km away from the shores and up to 300 m above the surface. The lake breeze system starts to form at 09:00 UTC and dissipates at 18:00–19:00 UTC with the arrival of a larger-scale Atlantic breeze. The descending branch of the lake breeze circulation brings dry air from higher atmospheric layers (2–2.5 km) and redistributes it over the lake. It is also shown that despite its significant intensity the effect is limited to a couple of kilometres away from the lake borders.

scholarly journals Do Human Milk Oligosaccharides Protect Against Infant Atopic Disorders and Food Allergy?

Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 3212
Author(s):  
Soo Min Han ◽  
Aristea Binia ◽  
Keith M. Godfrey ◽  
Sarah El-Heis ◽  
Wayne S. Cutfield
Keyword(s):  
Food Allergy ◽  
Immune System ◽  
Human Milk ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Current Data ◽  
Lactation Period ◽  
Human Milk Oligosaccharides ◽  
Milk Oligosaccharides ◽  
Microbiome Composition ◽  
The Impact

Atopic disorders (AD), often coexistent with food allergy (FA), start developing in early life and have lifelong health consequences. Breastfeeding is thought to be protective against AD and FA, but the data are controversial, and mechanisms are not well understood. Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) are complex carbohydrates that are abundant in human milk. These are thought to contribute to the development of the infant immune system by (i) promoting healthy microbiome, (ii) inhibiting pathogen binding to gut mucosa and (iii) modulating the immune system. Differences in microbiome composition between allergic and healthy infants have been observed, regardless of breastfeeding history. To date, limited studies have examined the preventive effects of HMOs on AD and FA in infants and current data relies on observation studies as trials of varying HMO intake through randomising individuals to breastfeeding are unethical. There is evidence for beneficial effects of breastfeeding on lowering the risks of FA, eczema and asthma but there are inconsistencies amongst studies in the duration of breastfeeding, diagnostic criteria for AD and the age at which the outcome was assessed. Furthermore, current analytical methods primarily used today only allow detection of 16–20 major HMOs while more than 100 types have been identified. More large-scale longitudinal studies are required to investigate the role of HMO composition and the impact of changes over the lactation period in preventing AD and FA later in life.

scholarly journals Ten-year monitoring of sensitization to house dust mites

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Yu. Petrova ◽  
S. V. Khlgatian ◽  
V. M. Berzhets ◽  
O. Yu. Emelyanova
Keyword(s):  
House Dust ◽  
Allergic Diseases ◽  
Moscow Region ◽  
House Dust Mites ◽  
Dust Mites ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
General Picture ◽  
Statistical Studies ◽  
Ige Mediated ◽  
The Impact

Statistical studies of patients' sensitization to allergens make it possible to form a general picture of sensitization for the whole country, help doctors to develop competent tactics for examining patients in the regions and can be used for the development of new formulations of allergy vaccines.Objective. To study the sensitization to inhalation allergens Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Der. p.) and Dermatophagoides farinaе (Der. f.) in Moscow and the Moscow region in 2010–2019 and to identify the structure, features and dynamic changes in sensitization to Der. p. and Der. f. based on the analysis of the allergosensitivity profile of patients with IgE-mediated allergic diseases (IgEA).Materials and methods. Blood serum samples of Moscow and the Moscow region residents with IgEA (n = 2849) were examined by RIDA AllergyScreen method in 2010–2019.Results. According to the results of the study spanning the last ten years, about 18–21% of patients with IgEA in Moscow and the Moscow region have sensitization to Der. p. and/or Der. f. There was a statistically significant decrease in sensitization to Der. p. from 2017 to 2019. House dust mites of the type Der. f. more often cause a higher level of sensitization compared to Der. p.Discussion. The data obtained indicate the change in the sensitization of patients to Pyroglyphidae, namely Der. p. against the background of changes in the housing acarocomplex of Moscow and the Moscow region. Features of protein molecules of these species of dust mites may contribute to their varying degrees of the impact on immunological reactivity in the population studied.Conclusions. The decrease in the prevalence of Der. p. is mos

scholarly journals Effects of environmental change on wildlife health

2009 ◽  
Vol 364 (1534) ◽  
pp. 3429-3438 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karina Acevedo-Whitehouse ◽  
Amanda L. J. Duffus
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
Environmental Change ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Reproductive Parameters ◽  
Wildlife Health ◽  
Changing Environment ◽  
Health Maintenance ◽  
Living Organisms ◽  
The Impact

Environmental change has negatively affected most biological systems on our planet and is becoming of increasing concern for the well-being and survival of many species. At an organism level, effects encompass not only endocrine disruptions, sex-ratio changes and decreased reproductive parameters, but also include teratogenic and genotoxic effects, immunosuppression and other immune-system impairments that can lead directly to disease or increase the risk of acquiring disease. Living organisms will strive to maintain health by recognizing and resolving abnormal situations, such as the presence of invading microorganisms or harmful peptides, abnormal cell replication and deleterious mutations. However, fast-paced environmental changes may pose additional pressure on immunocompetence and health maintenance, which may seriously impact population viability and persistence. Here, we outline the importance of a functional immune system for survival and examine the effects that exposure to a rapidly changing environment might exert on immunocompetence. We then address the various levels at which anthropogenic environmental change might affect wildlife health and identify potential deficits in reproductive parameters that might arise owing to new immune challenges in the context of a rapidly changing environment. Throughout the paper, a series of examples and case studies are used to illustrate the impact of environmental change on wildlife health.

Evaluation of the impact of public investment programs on social and economic performance of territories

2019 ◽  
pp. 109-123
Author(s):  
I. E. Limonov ◽  
M. V. Nesena
Keyword(s):  
Bayesian Modeling ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Public Investment ◽  
Difference In Differences ◽  
The Public ◽  
Export Activity ◽  
Regional Investment ◽  
The Difference ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Development Institution

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of public investment programs on the socio-economic development of territories. As a case, the federal target programs for the development of regions and investment programs of the financial development institution — Vnesheconombank, designed to solve the problems of regional development are considered. The impact of the public interventions were evaluated by the “difference in differences” method using Bayesian modeling. The results of the evaluation suggest the positive impact of federal target programs on the total factor productivity of regions and on innovation; and that regional investment programs of Vnesheconombank are improving the export activity. All of the investments considered are likely to have contributed to the reduction of unemployment, but their implementation has been accompanied by an increase in social inequality.

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