Elevated micronucleus frequencies in patients with pleural plaque secondary to environmental exposure to asbestos

We examined genotoxic damage and frequency of micronuclei in people living in the Bekilli and Suller districts of Denizli city who had been diagnosed with pleural plaques as a result of environmental exposure to asbestos. Peripheral blood samples were obtained from 30 volunteer patients 59-86 years old who did not smoke or consume alcohol and who were diagnosed with calcified pleural plaques. We also examined 30 healthy controls with similar features, who also lived in downtown Denizli. Micronucleus frequencies, nuclear division index, and mitotic index were determined. Micronucleus frequency, nuclear division index, and mitotic index were significantly higher in patients who had been exposed to asbestos than in the controls. We conclude that asbestos had a genotoxic effect, resulting in an increase in micronucleus frequency and other changes in patients diagnosed with pleural plaques secondary to asbestos exposure. © FUNPEC-RP

Detection of LOH of the RB1 gene in bladder cancers by PCR-RFLP

Objectives: Retinoblastoma (RB1) gene involves in retinoblastoma, osteosarcoma, bladder, prostate, lung, breast carcinomas, and soft tissue sarcomas. Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) is the most common mutation of the gene. Methods: Xba I polymorphism in intron 17 of the gene was used to detect LOH in 20 bladder cancer patients. A cystitis and an osteosarcoma were used as control. LOH was investigated in three different kinds of samples (blood, paraffin-embedded tissue and fresh tissue) belonging to the same patients, and 20 blood samples, 20 paraffin-embedded tissue samples and 16 fresh tissue samples were obtained from 20 cancer patients. Results: None of the 20 blood samples showed LOH. Eleven out of 20 paraffin-embedded bladder tissues were amplified, 3 of them homozygous and all 8 informative paraffin-embedded tissues showed LOH. Five out of 16 fresh tumor tissues obtained were amplified, in 1 the fresh tissue was normal, 1 fresh tissue showed LOH and 3 were not digested by Xba I. Conclusion: The results of the study have suggested that detection of LOH of the RB1 gene by PCR-RFLP can be a good adjunctive test for evaluation of the bladder cancer. Copyright © 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel

Rail Operations and Energy Management

A global important ecological and economical aspect is the reduction of energy consumption. This aim has to be fulfilled also in the transport sector. Although the rail transportation is a very ecological transport system itself, it is faced with request to save energy and costs, too. Measures have to be taken to stay competitive with developments in other transport sectors, like road traffic. Modern traffic management systems can help to decrease energy consumption. Rail operation needs command and control like any complex transport system, anyway. Thus, a modern rail operation and traffic management system can reflect the energy saving and other customer needs beside the common tasks of securing an unobstructed operation corresponding to timetables and handling disruptions