Micronucleus induction by low doses of X-rays in Vicia faba root tips

Studies on the micronucleus test in Vicia faba root tips (VM test) were carried out in order to estimate the effects at low doses of X-rays (1, 2, 4, 8 and 12 R). The control value of micronucleus frequency is about 0.44/1000 cells. The dose where the micronucleus frequency is twice that of the control was estimated at 1.384 R. There was a linear kinetic dose response for the low-dose range studied here

Indirect mitotic nondisjunction in Vicia faba and Chinese hamster cells

The hypothesis of indirect mitotic nondisjunction was tested in plant and mammalian cells. This hypothesis states that micronuclei derived from lagging chromosomes or chromatids are able to perform DNA synthesis and undergo mitotic condensation synchronously with main nuclei. Hence, as chromosomes, they can be moved to spindle poles together with the chromosomes of the main nuclei during mitosis. In that way chromosomes "lost" as micronuclei can be reincorporated in the main nuclei. In order to test this, both Vicia faba meristematic cells and cells of a Chinese hamster line (Cl-1) were treated with low doses of colchicine. Mitotic anomalies, micronuclei and cells with a polyploid or aneuploid karyotype were scored at different fixation times. A detailed analysis was performed on single chromosome misdistributions, as well as on micronuclei and cells with aneuploid karyotypes derived from single chromosome misdistributions. Indirect mitotic nondisjunction was shown to play a primary role in the origin of aneuploid karyotypes in Vicia faba, but not in Cl-1 cells

Modulating effects of humic acids on genotoxicity induced by water disinfectants in Cyprinus carpio

The use of chlorinated disinfectants during drinking-water production has been shown to generate halogenated compounds as a result of interactions of humic acids with chlorine. Such chlorinated by-products have been shown to induce genotoxic effects and consumption of chlorinated drinking-water has been correlated with increased risk for cancer induction in human populations. The aim of this work was to test the potential genotoxic effects on circulating erythrocytes of the fish Cyprinus carpio exposed in vivo to well-waters disinfected with sodium hypochlorite (NaClO), chlorine dioxide (ClO2) or peracetic acid (CH3COO2H, PAA), in the absence or presence of standard humic acids (HA). The effects were measured by use of the micronucleus (MN) and the single-cell gel electrophoresis (Comet) assays at different sampling times after a 3-day exposure period. The exposure to chlorine disinfectants without the addition of HA produced a clear toxic effect. Significant cytogenetic damage (i.e. MN induction) was detected in fish populations exposed to both NaClO and ClO2 with humic acids. In the Comet assay, a significant decrease of DNA migration was observed in erythrocytes of specimens after exposure to NaClO-disinfected water without HA. No effects were observed in any other experimental condition. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Comet assay and micronucleus test in circulating erythrocytes of Cyprinus carpio specimens exposed in situ to lake waters treated with disinfectants for potabilization

The detection of a possible genotoxic effect of surface water treated with disinfectants for potabilization is the aim of the present work. The Comet assay and the micronucleus test were applied in circulating erythrocytes of Cyprinus carpio. Young specimens (20-30g) were exposed in experimental basins, built within the potabilization plant of Castiglione del Lago (Perugia, Italy). In this plant the water of the Trasimeno Lake is treated and disinfected for potabilization before it is distributed to the people in the net of drinkable water. A continuous flow of water at a constant rate was supplied to basins; the water was continuously treated at a constant concentration with one of the three tested disinfectants (sodium hypochlorite, peracetic acid and chloride dioxide), one control basin being supplied with untreated water. Three sampling campaigns were performed: October 2000, February 2001 and June 2001. Repeated blood samplings through intracardiac punctures allowed to follow the same fish populations after different exposure times: before introduction of the disinfectant, and 10 or 20 days afterwards. An additional blood sampling was performed 3h after addition of the disinfectant in other, simultaneously exposed, fish populations. Genotoxic damage was shown in fish exposed to water disinfected with sodium hypochlorite and chloride dioxide. The Comet assay showed an immediate response, i.e. DNA damage that was induced directly in circulating erythrocytes, whereas micronuclei reached their highest frequencies at later sampling times, when a genotoxic damage in stem cells of the cephalic kidney is expressed in circulating erythrocytes. The quality of the untreated surface water seems to be the most important parameter for the long-term DNA damage in circulating erythrocytes. © 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

TWSME of a NiTi strip in free bending conditions: experimental and theoretical approach

This paper deals with the two-way shape memory effect (TWSME) induced on a strip of a nearequiatomic NiTi alloy by means of the shape memory cycling training method. This procedure is based on the deformation in martensite state to reach the desired cold shape followed by cycling the temperature from above Af to below Mf. To this end, the sample was thermally treated to memorise a bent shape, thermomechanical trained as described and thermally cycled in unloaded conditions in order to study the stability of the induced TWSME. Heating to Af was reached by a hot air stream flow whereas cooling to Mf was achieved through natural convection. The evolution of the curvature with the increasing number of cycles was evaluated. The thermomechanical behaviour of the strip undergoing uniform bending was simulated using a one-dimensional phenomenological model based on stress and the temperature as external control variables. Both martensite and austenite volume fractions were chosen as internal parameters and kinetic laws were used in order to describe their evolution during phase transformations. The experimental findings are compared with the model simulation and a numerical prediction based on the approach proposed in [25]

TWSME of a NiTi strip in free bending conditions: experimental and theoretical approach

This paper deals with the two-way shape memory effect (TWSME) induced on a strip of a nearequiatomic NiTi alloy by means of the shape memory cycling training method. This procedure is based on the deformation in martensite state to reach the desired cold shape followed by cycling the temperature from above Af to below Mf. To this end, the sample was thermally treated to memorise a bent shape, thermomechanical trained as described and thermally cycled in unloaded conditions in order to study the stability of the induced TWSME. Heating to Af was reached by a hot air stream flow whereas cooling to Mf was achieved through natural convection. The evolution of the curvature with the increasing number of cycles was evaluated. The thermomechanical behaviour of the strip undergoing uniform bending was simulated using a one-dimensional phenomenological model based on stress and the temperature as external control variables. Both martensite and austenite volume fractions were chosen as internal parameters and kinetic laws were used in order to describe their evolution during phase transformations. The experimental findings are compared with the model simulation and a numerical prediction based on the approach proposed in [25]

Case Control Study on Dialysis Arthropathy: The Influence of Two Different Dialysis Membranes: Data from the EDTA Registry

In a retrospective case control study the prevalence of signs and symptoms of dialysis osteoarthropathy was analysed. Cases and controls had received over 9 years of maintenance haemodialysis uninterrupted by peritoneal dialysis or transplantation. The cases comprised 55 patients treated predominantly with polyacrylonitrile (AN69) dialysers. They were compared to a matched group dialysed exclusively with cellulosic membranes. Over 60% of all patients, cases and controls, showed one or more signs of disabling osteoarthropathy, with joint pains occurring more frequently in the older age groups. Twenty-seven of the 55 cases who had received less than 2 years of cellulosic membrane dialysis followed by 7-12 years of AN69 dialysis tended to have a lower prevalence of joint pains, carpal-tunnel syndrome and bone cysts. However, no statistically significant differences were obtained compared to the matched control group dialysed exclusively on cellulosic membranes (mostly cuprophane). The remaining 28 cases, who had been treated for more than 2 years with cellulosic membranes preceding the longer treatment period with polyacrylonitrile dialysers, showed a prevalence similar to that of their cellulosic controls. This study thus shows little, if any, influence of the two types of membranes on the prevalence of signs and symptoms of β2-microglobulin amyloidosi

Demography of Dialysis and Transplantation in Children in Europe, 1985: Report from the European Dialysis and Transplant Association Registry

At the end of 1985 there were 5482 patients known to the Registry who started renal replacement therapy (RRT) between the ages of 6 months and 15 years. Of these, approximately 25% had died, 30% were still aged less than 15 years, and the other 45% were older. The acceptance rate of new patients over the last 10 years has slowly but steadily increased; six new paediatric patients per million child population probably represents the likely needs of the near future. Hospital haemodialysis remained the main form of renal replacement therapy in new patients, while 3 years after start of RRT, transplantation became the most frequently used replacement therapy; CAPD appeared to be used mainly in children with a short waiting time for transplantation. Out of the 384 grafts reported in 1985, only 16% were from living related donors; among 321 cadaver grafts, 24% were second and only 3% were third grafts. Glomerulonephritis and pyelonephritis accounted for 50% of all primary renal diseases. During the last 5 years, the proportion with glomerulonephritis seems to have decreased slightly. Hyperkalaemia and fluid overload have still to be considered the main causes of death. Only in 17% of all cases was the cause of death reported as unknown or undetermine