Early-life external exposome in children 2 to 5 years old in Colombia.

Exposome studies are advancing in high-income countries to understand how multiple environmental exposures impact health. However, there is a significant research gap in low- and middle-income and tropical countries. We aimed to describe the spatiotemporal variation of the external exposome, its correlation structure between and within exposure groups, and its dimensionality. A one-year follow-up cohort study of 506 children under 5 in two cities in Colombia was conducted to evaluate asthma, acute respiratory infections, and DNA damage. We examined 48 environmental exposures during pregnancy and 168 during childhood in eight exposure groups, including atmospheric pollutants, natural spaces, meteorology, built environment, traffic, indoor exposure, and socioeconomic capital. The exposome was estimated using geographic information systems, remote sensing, spatiotemporal modeling, and questionnaires. The median age of children at study entry was 3.7 years (interquartile range: 2.9-4.3). Air pollution and natural space exposure decreased from pregnancy to childhood, while socioeconomic capital increased. The highest median correlations within exposure groups were observed in meteorology (r = 0.85), traffic (r = 0.83), and atmospheric pollutants (r = 0.64). Important correlations between variables from different exposure groups were found, such as atmospheric pollutants and meteorology (r = 0.76), natural spaces (r = -0.34), and the built environment (r = 0.53). Twenty principal components explained 70%, and 57 explained 95% of the total variance in the childhood exposome. Our findings show that there is an important spatiotemporal variation in the exposome of children under 5. This is the first characterization of the external exposome in urban areas of Latin America and highlights its complexity, but also the need to better characterize and understand the exposome in order to optimize its analysis and applications in local interventions aimed at improving the health conditions and well-being of the child population and contributing to environmental health decision-making.

Characterization of the external exposome and its contribution to the clinical respiratory and early biological effects in children: The PROMESA cohort study protocol.

BACKGROUND: Air pollution contains a mixture of different pollutants from multiple sources. However, the interaction of these pollutants with other environmental exposures, as well as their harmful effects on children under five in tropical countries, is not well known. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to characterize the external exposome (ambient and indoor exposures) and its contribution to clinical respiratory and early biological effects in children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cohort study will be conducted on children under five (n = 500) with a one-year follow-up. Enrolled children will be followed monthly (phone call) and at months 6 and 12 (in person) post-enrolment with upper and lower Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI) examinations, asthma development, asthma control, and genotoxic damage. The asthma diagnosis will be pediatric pulmonologist-based and a standardized protocol will be used. Exposure, effect, and susceptibility biomarkers will be measured on buccal cells samples. For environmental exposures PM2.5 will be sampled, and questionnaires, geographic information, dispersion models and Land Use Regression models for PM2.5 and NO2 will be used. Different statistical methods that include Bayesian and machine learning techniques will be used for the ambient and indoor exposures-and outcomes. This study was approved by the ethics committee at Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana. EXPECTED STUDY OUTCOMES/FINDINGS: To estimate i) The toxic effect of particulate matter transcending the approach based on pollutant concentration levels; ii) The risk of developing an upper and lower ARI, based on different exposure windows; iii) A baseline of early biological damage in children under five, and describe its progression after a one-year follow-up; and iv) How physical and chemical PM2.5 characteristics influence toxicity and children's health.

Epoc, bronquiti crónica y síntomas respiratoris, asociados a la contaminaciónn por pm10 en la ciudad de medellín (Colombia) / Cop, chronic broonchitis and respirtory symptoms associated with ppm10 pollution in the city of medellin (Colombia) / Epoc, bronquite crônica e sintoms respiratórios, associados à contaminação por pm 10 na cidade de medellín (Colômbia)

Introducción: Existe una evidencia creciente de que la contaminación aérea en las ciudades tiene efectos de larga duración sobre la enfermedad respiratoria crónica en niños, pero hay pocos estudios con resultados no concluyentes en adultos. Nosotros examinamos las asociaciones entre la contaminación por PM10 y los síntomas respiratorios, la bronquitis crónica y el EPOC en la ciudad de Medellín (Colombia). Para saber si estos niveles se asocian a mayor prevalencia de enfermedades respiratorias crónicas en adultos. Objetivos: Evaluar la prevalencia de síntomas respiratorios, bronquitis crónica y EPOC en estas dos áreas. Comparar las prevalencias de estas patologías en las dos áreas. Comparar los riesgos relativos y determinar si su diferencia es estadísticamente representativa. Diseño: Se diseñó un estudio de corte transversal con un componente analítico. Métodos: La investigación se hizo en dos fases. En la primera (fase I) se evaluaron los aspectos ambientales y se seleccionaron las áreas de alta y baja contaminación de la ciudad por PM10. En la segunda (fase II) se diseñó una investigación epidemiológica de corte transversal con un componente analítico, se usó un cuestionario y se le realizo una espirometria antes y después de aplicar 200 ug de salbutamol inhalado, según el protocolo de la ATS/ERS. Las definiciones operativas que usamos son las siguientes: bronquitis crónica: tos y flema diariamente por tres meses durante dos años consecutivos. EPOC: VEF1/CVF < 70% post-broncodilatador. Síntomas respiratorios: tos, flema, sibilancias, disnea. El análisis se realizó usando un software SPSS. Resultados: Se incluyeron un total de 578 sujetos, 381 en el área de Guayabal y 197 sujetos en el área de Robledo. Después del análisis estadístico, se encontró que vivir por más de cinco (5) años en área con niveles de contaminación por PM10 de 75 ug/m3 en promedio, comparado con vivir por más de cinco (5) años en área con niveles de 45 ug/m3, está asociado con una mayor prevalencia de síntomas respiratorios de tos y flema, bronquitis crónica, obstrucción bronquial y EPOC. Conclusiones: Vivir en área contaminada por PM10, durante 5 años o más, está asociada a una mayor prevalencia de síntomas respiratorios, bronquitis crónica y EPOC. El riesgo relativo de desarrollar EPOC es significativamente mayor en el área de niveles altos de contaminación por PM10. Ésto indica que la contaminación aérea por PM10 tiene efectos de larga duración sobre la enfermedad respiratoria crónica en adultos. Estudios adicionales se requieren para confirmar estos hallazgos.

There is increasing evidence that air pollution in cities has long-term effects on chronic respiratory disease in children, yet there are scarce studies with non conclusive results in adults. We examined the associations between pollution resulting from PM10 and respiratory symptoms, chronic bronchitis and COPD in the city of Medellín (Colombia) in order to determine if these levels were associated with a higher prevalence of adult chronic respiratory diseases. The objectives of this study were: to assess the prevalence of respiratory symptoms, chronic bronchitis and COPD in these two areas, to compare the prevalence of these pathologies between the two areas, and make a comparison of the relative risks in order to determine if such difference is statistically significant. A cross-sectional study with an analytical component was designed. The research was performed in two stages. In the first stage (Phase I) the environmental issues were assessed and the areas of high and low pollution caused by PM10 were selected. In the second stage (Phase II) a cross-sectional epidemiological investigation with an analytical component was designed. A questionnaire was used and a spirometry was performed before and after administering inhaled salbutamol 200 mg, accordingly to ATS/ERS protocol. The used operative definitions were as follows: Chronic bronchitis: cough and phlegm for three months during two consecutive years. COPD: FEV/FVC < 70% post-bronchodilator. Respiratory symptoms: Cough phlegm, wheezing, dyspnea. The analysis was performed using a SPSS software. A total of 578 subjects (381 in the area of Guayabal and 197 subjects in the area of Robledo) were included. Following the statistical analysis, it was found that living for over five (5) years in an area with average pollution by PM10 levels of 75 mg/m3, in comparison with living for more than five (5) years in an area with levels of 45 mg/m3 is associated with a higher prevalence of respiratory symptoms namely cough and phlegm, chronic bronchitis, bronchial obstruction and COPD. It was concluded that living in an area polluted with PM10 during 5 years or more is associated with higher prevalence of respiratory symptoms, chronic bronchitis and COPD. The relative risk of developing COPD is significantly higher in the area with higher levels of pollution by PM10. This shows that air pollution resulting from PM10 has long-term effects on adult chronic respiratory disease. Additional studies are required to confirm these findings.

Existe uma evidência crescente de que a contaminação aérea nas cidades tem efeitos de longa duração sobre a doença respiratória crônica em crianças, mas há poucos estudos com resultados não concluintes em adultos. Nós examinamos as associações entre a contaminação por PM 10 e os sintomas respiratórios, a Bronquite crônica e o EPOC na cidade de Medellín (Colômbia). Para saber se estes níveis se associam a maior prevalência de Doenças Respiratórias crônicas em adultos. Os objetivos do apresente estudo são avaliar a prevalência de Sintomas Respiratórios, Bronquite Crônica e EPOC nestas duas áreas, comparar as prevalências destas patologias nas duas áreas e comparar os riscos relativos para determinar se a sua diferença é estatisticamente representativa. Desenhou-se um estudo de corte transversal com um componente analítico. A pesquisa se fez em duas fases. Na primeira (Fase I) se avaliaram os aspectos ambientais e se selecionaram as áreas de alta e baixa contaminação da cidade por PM10. Na segunda (Fase II) se desenhou uma pesquisa epidemiológica de corte transversal com um componente analítico. Usou-se um questionário e se lhe realizou uma espirometria antes e depois de aplicar 200 μg de salbutamol inalado, segundo o protocolo da ATS/ERS. As definições operativas que usamos são as seguintes: Bronquite crônica: tosse e fleg diariamente por três meses durante dois anos consecutivos. EPOC: VEF1/CVF < 70% pós broncodilatador. Sintomas respiratórios: tosse, flegma, sibilâncias, dispneia. A análise se realizou usando um software SPSS. Se incluiram um total de 578 sujeitos (381 na área de Guayabal e 197 sujeitos na área de Robledo. Depois da análise estatística se encontrou que morar por mais de cinco (5) anos em área com níveis de contaminação por PM 10 de 75 μg/m3 em média, comparado com morar por mais de cinco (5) anos em área com níveis de 45 μg/m3 está associado com uma maior prevalência de sintomas respiratórios de tosse e flegma, bronquite crônica, obstrução bronquial e EPOC. A conclusão à que se chegou foi que morar em uma área contaminada por PM 10 durante 5 anos ou mais, está associada a uma maior prevalência de Sintomas respiratórios, Bronquite Crônica e EPOC. O risco relativo de desenvolver EPOCO é significativamente maior na área de níveis altos de contaminação por PM10. Isto indica que a contaminação aérea por PM 10 tem efeitos de longa duração sobre a doença respiratória crônica em adultos. Estudos adicionais se requerem para confirmar estas descobertas.

Relationship between VOC and NOx emissions and chemical production of tropospheric ozone in the Aburrá Valley (Colombia).

Relationship between volatile organic compounds (VOC) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions and the chemical production of tropospheric ozone is studied through mathematical simulation. The study is applied to the Aburrá Valley, in the Colombian Andes, which is a practically unknown area from the point of view of ozone formation. The model used for this application is the European modelling of atmospheric constituents (EUMAC) zooming model (EZM) which consists of a mesoscale prognostic model (MEMO, mesoscale meteorological model) and a chemical reaction model (MUSE, multiscale for the atmospheric dispersion of reactive species), coupled to the chemical mechanism EMEP (European monitoring and evaluation program). The analysis is performed for a real episode that was characterized by high ozone production and that happened during the 23rd and 24th December, 1999 in Medellín (Colombia). From this real scenario, a sensitivity analysis has been carried out in order to assess the influence of VOC and NOx amounts on ozone production and to extract some conclusions for future ozone abatement policies in Andean regions. As far as ozone air quality is concerned, it is shown that in order to keep current levels the emphasis must be put to avoid increasing NOx emissions, or alternatively, to augment VOC emissions in order to have a high VOC/NOx ratio.

Anti-tumour activity of Digitalis purpurea L. subsp. heywoodii.

Recent research has shown the anticancer effects of digitalis compounds suggesting their possible use in medical oncology. Four extracts obtained from the leaves of Digitalis purpurea subsp. heywoodii have been assessed for cytotoxic activity against three human cancer cell lines, using the SRB assay. All of them showed high cytotoxicity, producing IC50 values in the 0.78 - 15 microg/mL range with the methanolic extract being the most active, in non toxic concentrations. Steroid glycosides (gitoxigenin derivatives) were detected in this methanolic extract. Gitoxigenin and gitoxin were evaluated in the SRB assay using the three human cancer cell lines, showing IC50 values in the 0.13 - 2.8 microM range, with the renal adenocarcinoma cancer cell line (TK-10) being the most sensitive one. Morphological apoptosis evaluation of the methanolic extract and both compounds on the TK-10 cell line showed that their cytotoxicity was mediated by an apoptotic effect. Finally, possible mechanisms involved in apoptosis induction by digitalis compounds are discussed.