Caroline Linhart

ESReC Environmental Science & Research Consulting GmbH

Pesticide drift onto non-agricultural land is a common problem in intensively farmed regions, and national action plans have been established across Europe to prevent it. Here, we analyzed official data on pesticide residues in grass samples collected over six years to determine whether implemented measures to reduce pesticide drift were effective....

Background In a previous study, we found that 45% of public playgrounds near intensively managed agricultural areas were contaminated with mainly endocrine active pesticide residues in spring. Here, we investigated potential contamination over the course of a year. Methods Residue data were analyzed from 96 grass samples collected in spring, summe...

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.

Background Aluminium salts are the most common adjuvants in infant vaccines. The aluminium content of a vaccine is provided by the manufacturer and is indicated on the patient information leaflet. There is no independent verification, for example by the European Medicines Agency, of the aluminium content of infant vaccines. Methods We have measure...

Human exposure to aluminium is a burgeoning issue. The brain is a sink for systemically available aluminium and a putative target of neurotoxicity. An increasing number of studies continue to confirm the presence of aluminium in human brain tissue though primarily in relation to donors who have died of a neurodegenerative or neurodevelopmental diso...

Genetic predispositions associated with metabolism of the amyloid-β protein precursor underlie familial Alzheimer's disease; a form of dementia characterized by early disease onset and elevated levels of cortical amyloid-β. Human exposure to aluminum is linked to the etiology of Alzheimer's disease and recent research measured a high content of alu...

The desmid Oocardium stratum is restricted to short sections of active limestone-precipitating springs (LPS) and adjacent headstreams. We studied the succession of photoautotrophic biofilms on artificial substrate at three sites in an LPS stream in spring, summer and autumn. We exposed frosted glass slides between 3 and 12 weeks, and measured calci...

Background Pesticide levels are generally monitored within agricultural areas, but are commonly not assessed at public places. To assess possible contamination of non-target areas, 71 public playgrounds located next to intensively managed apple and wine orchards were selected in four valleys of South Tyrol (northern Italy). Further, the impact of e...

Background Sepsis is associated with a deflection of inflammatory and coagulative parameters, since some clotting factors are known to be involved in the host’s defense against infection and inflammation. These parameters could play a crucial role in the course of sepsis and be used as prognostic markers in critically ill children. Methods A total...

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a devastating and debilitating neurodegenerative disease of unknown cause. A consensus suggests the involvement of both genetic and environmental factors of which the latter may involve human exposure to aluminium. There are no data on the content and distribution of aluminium in human brain tissue in MS. The aluminium co...

Background: Progressive multiple sclerosis is a chronic autoimmune condition of unknown aetiology and few therapeutic options. Human exposure to aluminium has been linked with multiple sclerosis and affected individuals are known to excrete unusually high amounts of aluminium in their urine. Silicon-rich mineral waters facilitate the removal of al...

Background: Hallux valgus surgery is associated with significant early postoperative pain. The aim of this study was to investigate the use of continuous wound infiltration (CWI) with ropivacaine for pain management after hallux valgus surgery. Methods: In this prospective, randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled single-center trial, 50...

Purpose: To analyze the performance and flow characteristics of novel double-cutting, open-port, 23-, 25-, and 27-gauge ultrahigh-speed vitrectomy systems. Methods: In vitro fluidic measurements were performed to assess the volumetric aspiration profiles of several vitrectomy systems in basic salt solution and egg white. Results: Double-cuttin...

Background: Previous studies on breast cancer (BC), underarm cosmetic products (UCP) and aluminum salts have shown conflicting results. We conducted a 1:1 age-matched case-control study to investigate the risk for BC in relation to self-reported UCP application. Methods: Self-reported history of UCP use was compared between 209 female BC patient...

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder of the central nervous system. The use of biological fluids in AD diagnosis remains limited to the analysis of specific protein biomarkers in cerebrospinal fluid. However, metabolomic analysis has recently revealed several metabolites in plasma, especially phosphatidylcholines (PC...

The research base for rock climbing has expanded substantially in the past three decades as worldwide interest in the sport has grown. An important trigger for the increasing research attention has been the transition of the sport to a competitive as well as recreational activity and the potential inclusion of sport climbing in the Olympic schedule...

The calcifying Conjugatophyte Oocardium stratum occurs exclusively in spring-associated limestones (SAL) with active meteogene limestone deposition. The macroscopic colonies of Oocardium stratum form hemispherical, pinhead-like structures with a diameter of 0.5 to 2.0 mm. As its autecology is still poorly understood, we focused on the seasonal deve...

We analyse variations in cost or length of stay (LoS) for 66,587 patients from 10 European countries receiving a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) procedure. In five of these countries, variations in cost are analysed using log-linear models. In the other five countries, negative binomial regression models are used to explore variations in LoS. W...

Einleitung: Die Aktivierung des Notch Signalweges spielt eine Schlusselrolle in der Entwicklung des Immunsystems. Vor kurzem wurden verschiedene Funktionen von Notch bekannt, so z.B. kann es Antigen-prasentierende Zellfunktionen vermitteln; es ist des Weiteren an der Histaminfreisetzung aus basophilen Granulozyten sowie an der Regulation der Migrat...