Many biological factors affect radiosensitivity. In this study, radiosensitivity among the different blood groups was investigated. Peripheral blood sample of 95 healthy people were divided into two parts. One part was irradiated with 2 Gy Co-60 gamma rays and the second one was considered as control. Then all the samples were studied by cytokinesis-blocked micronucleus assay (CBMN assay). Our ...

Exploring the associations between genetic polymorphisms of metabolic enzymes and susceptibility to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-induced chromosomal damage is of great significance for understanding PAH carcinogenesis. Cytochrome P450, glutathione S-transferase, microsomal epoxide hydrolase, NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase, and N-acetyltransferase are PAH-metabolizing enzymes. In this s...

A method is described for the inclusion of apoptotic and necrotic cells in the cell counts obtained in the cytokinesis-block micronucleus (CBMN) assay, which is conventionally used solely for the assessment of chromosome breakage, chromosome loss and frequency of dividing cells. The morphological criteria for the recognition and discrimination between necrotic, apoptotic and viable cells are de...

We have developed a method that can detect the DNA-damaging and cytotoxic effects of physiological levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and activated human neutrophils. This was achieved using WIL2-NS cells, a human B lymphoblastoid cell line, as target cells and the cytokinesis-block micronucleus (CBMN) assay. With this method, we observed a 4- and a 30-fold increase in the frequency of mic...

The risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) is related to lifestyle (e.g. diet, physical activity and smoking) as well as to genetic factors. This study aimed at evaluating the association between CVD risk factors and DNA damage levels in children and adolescents. Anthropometry, diet and serum CVD risk factors were evaluated by standard procedures. DNA damage levels were accessed by the...

A brief account of an improbable career in the field of genetic toxicology is given, extending from my early years in Malta through a life-changing decision to study in Australia (Down Under). I describe the circumstances that led to the discovery of the cytokinesis-block micronucleus (CBMN) assay and its evolution into a cytome assay of chromosome breakage and loss (micronuclei), asymmetrical ...

Patients receiving identical radiation treatments experience different effects, from undetectable to severe, on normal tissues. A crucial factor of radiotherapy related side effects is individual radiosensitivity. It is difficult to spare surrounding normal tissues delivering radiation to cancer cells during radiotherapy. Therefore, it may be useful to develop a simple routine cytogenetic assay...

The cytokinesis-block micronucleus (CBMN) assay can be used to quantify micronucleus (MN) formation, the outcome measured being MN frequency. MN frequency has been shown to be both an accurate measure of chromosomal instability/DNA damage and a risk factor for cancer. Similarly, the Agilent 4×44k human oligonucleotide microarray can be used to quantify gene expression changes. Despite the exist...