Immune system parameters in children of Central and Eastern Europe: the CESAR study

OBJECTIVE: of this paper is to compare observed values of immune parameters obtained in the CESAR study (The Central Europe Study of Air Pollution and Respiratory Health, funded by EC PHARE program) with ranges derived from other large population-based studies. STUDY DESIGN: Data were collected in healthy school children aged 9-11 years, in 6 countries: Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania and the Slovak Republic with the same standard approach in 1996. Random samples of 85 children per country, from 19 communities were selected from children having completed the health questionnaire, in total 495 children were analyzed. Lymphocyte subsets were determined by two-colour flow cytometric immunophenotyping using the lysed whole blood method (Becton-Dickinson). For determination of immunoglobulin concentration in sera nephelometric method (Behring Nephelometer system) was used. RESULTS: Medians, (5th-95th percentiles) of the lymphocyte subsets absolute count (x 10(9)/l) were as follows: CD19+ B cells 0.36 (0.13-0.66), total CD3+ T cells 1.74 (0.98-2.90), CD3+CD4+ helper-inducer T cells 0.95 (0.47-1.78), CD3+CD8+ suppressor/cytotoxic T cells 0.71 (0.38-1.22), CD3-CD16+56+ NK cells 0.36 (0.14-0.78), and for CD3+CD4+/CD3+CD8+ ratio 1.4 (0.8-2.4). Medians, (5th-95th percentiles) of percentages of lymphocyte subpopulations (%) were as follows: CD19+ B 13 (7-22), CD3+ T 70 (59-80), CD3+CD4+ T 38 (27-48), CD3+CD8+ T 28 (20-39), CD3-CD16+56+ NK cells 14 (6-27). Medians, (2.5th-97.5th percentiles) of the total immunoglobulin [g/l] were 11.7 (7.4-18.2) for IgG, 1.2 (0.5-2.5) for IgM, and 1.5 (0.5-3.4) for IgA. Based on the aspects of the size of the CESAR immune biomarker study and on the use of the standardized protocols we recommend to use the reference ranges on lymphocyte subsets and immunoglobulin in Europe as provided by this study

The apheis project: Air pollution and health-A European information system

At a time when the Health Effects Institute, Centers for Disease Control, and Environmental Protection Agency are creating an Environmental Public Health Tracking Program on Air Pollution Effects in the USA, it seemed useful to share the experience acquired since 1999 by the Apheis project (Air Pollution and Health-A European Information System), which has tracked the effects of air pollution on health in 26 European cities and continues to do so as the new Aphekom project. In particular, this paper first describes the continuing impact of air pollution on health in Europe, how the Apheis project came to be and evolved, what its main objectives and achievements have been, and how the project benefited its participants. The paper then summarizes the main learnings of the Apheis project. © The Author(s) 2009