Irradiation as a hazard for mucociliary clearance.

Objectives: In this paper we study effects of irradiation to pulmonary tissue on a micro and ultrastructural level to get insights into the dynamics of morphological changes and associated post-radiative physiological conditions.

Methods: Animal and human pulmonary tissue with and without radiation damage was subject to light, transmission, scanning and polarization microscopy and morphometric evaluation.

Results: The present investigations on the influence of irradiation on experimental and human lung tissue demonstrate that complex changes are induced in the cells which are essential for mucociliary clearance.

Placenta - organ important for fetus and interesting for the rise of the Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Syndrome - interdisciplinary study.

Objective: This work is aiming at broadening knowledge about placenta and giving evidence that lead penetrates through transplacental barrier. We have intended to find further possible reasons of the rise of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and to suggest ways of preventing development of this syndrome.

Methods: For revealing presence of lead in placenta and umbilical cord blood we used histochemical methods, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, Energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) analysis of element composition and infrared spectroscopy.

Placenta and umbilical cord blood deserve attention.

Objectives: This work follows up with our already published results concerning consequences of lead on prenatal and postnatal development of child in connection with the rise of hyperkinetic syndrome (ADHD). This disease has in children increasing tendency all over the world.

Methods: In our work we used a set of histological and histochemical methods, method of scanning electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy and statistical evaluation.

Occurrence of lead in placenta--important information for prenatal and postnatal development of child.

This work points out consequences of lead on prenatal and postnatal development of child that have not been elaborated in such extent before. Our new method for proof of lead in placenta enabled us to show how lead is from mother's blood erythrocytes in the intervillous space released and received by the villous syncytiotrophoblast. This finding enriches relation between mother's erythrocytes, lead, calcium that is a lead carrier, and syncytiotrophoblast.

Is the trachea a marker of the type of environmental pollution?

Objectives/hypothesis: The differentiated character of changes in the mucous relief of the trachea as induced by air containing pollutants from the wastes of nickel-, mercury-, and cement-producing plants and by Candida albicans occurring in the waste disposal site of a large town are identified. The trachea was chosen because it is the entrance gate for the penetration of polluted air into the lungs. Changes on the trachea influence the character and extent of changes in lungs.