background: mannitol is present in the ethyol ® (the trade name of amifostine) as an excipient. the mechanism of radioprotection of amifostine is radical scavenging. since mannitol is another known radical scavenger, we studied the probable additive or synergistic effect of mannitol on the effect of amifostine. material and methods: mice were irradiated with co-60 γ -ray in the presence 400mg/k...

Unrepaired or misrepaired radiation damage in mammalian chromosomes can result in micronucleus formation at the first cell division. This represents loss of genomic information which may cause cell death. To improve our understanding of the mechanism of radiation-induced micronucleus formation, we characterized micronucleus ultrastructure and identified the origin of micronucleus DNA. Immunoflu...

Diabetes Mellitus type 2 (DM2) is associated with increased cancer risk. Instability of the genetic material plays a key role in the aetiology of human cancer. This study aimed to analyse genomic instability with the micronucleus cytome assay in exfoliated buccal cells depending on glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels and medication in 146 female DM2 patients. The occurrence of micronuclei was s...

The ICF syndrome is a rare disorder where patients show undercondensation of the heterochromatic blocks of chromosomes 1, 9, and 16 along with variable immunodeficiency. The undercondensation of the heterochromatic block appears to be restricted to a portion of PHA stimulated T cells. Patients with this syndrome also show an increase in micronuclei formation. We have used dual colour FISH to in...

According to WHO over 1 billion people are associated with tobacco smoking and it accounts for approximately 4 – 5 million deaths a year worldwide which is estimated to increase to 10 million by 2030. Tobacco is a known causative agent in numerous cancers one of the major being oral cancer. Buccal mucosal cells are easily accessible and their response to the carcinogenic substances in cigarette...

The cytokinesis block micronucleus assay was applied to murine cell line C6, derived from fetal liver, after an optimal protocol had been designed. Micronucleus frequencies were assayed after exposure to three concentrations of colcemid or diepoxybutane. Two-colour primed in situ DNA synthesis (PRINS) was applied to simultaneously label telomeric and centromeric (minor satellite DNA) sequences....

Contamination of groundwater by arsenic, a paradoxical human carcinogen, has become a cause of global public health concern. In West Bengal, India, the groundwater in 9 of 18 districts is heavily contaminated with arsenic. Various adverse health effects including cancer have been reported from these districts and are associated with prolonged arsenic exposure. A cross-sectional biomarker study ...

Benzene is an established human leukemogen. Workers occupationally exposed to benzene exhibit increased frequencies of both structural and numerical chromosomal aberrations in their peripheral blood lymphocytes. The metabolite(s) responsible for these chromosomal aberrations has not yet been identified. Using a modified micronucleus assay, we have examined the ability of the metabolites of benz...

The concept of genetic susceptibility and interactions between genetic and environmental factors of risk is a new trend in molecular epidemiology studies of cancers. Micronuclei are biomarkers of chromosome damage due to genetic instability or exposure to environmental mutagens or carcinogens. The micronucleus assay in combination with fluorescent in situ hybridization discriminates between mic...