Radiation chemistry of solid-state carbohydrates using EMR

We review our research of the past decade towards identification of radiation-induced radicals in solid state sugars and sugar phosphates. Detailed models of the radical structures are obtained by combining EPR and ENDOR experiments with DFT calculations of g and proton HF tensors, with agreement in their anisotropy serving as most important criterion. Symmetry-related and Schonland ambiguities, which may hamper such identification, are reviewed. Thermally induced transformations of initial radiation damage into more stable radicals can also be monitored in the EPR (and ENDOR) experiments and in principle provide information on stable radical formation mechanisms. Thermal annealing experi-ments reveal, however, that radical recombination and/or diamagnetic radiation damage is also quite important. Analysis strategies are illustrated with research on sucrose. Results on dipotassium glucose-1-phosphate and trehalose dihydrate, fructose and sorbose are also briefly discussed. Our study demonstrates that radiation damage is strongly regio-selective and that certain general principles govern the stable radical formation

Cigarette smoking in women after BRCA1/2 genetic test disclosure: a 5-year follow-up study of the GENEPSO PS cohort

International audiencePURPOSE:This study aimed to measure patients' smoking patterns for 5 years after BRCA1/2 test result disclosure.METHODS:A national cohort consisting of 621 French cancer-free women from families with BRCA1/2 mutations (mean age (SD): 40.5 years (11.5 years)) were included from December 1999 to January 2006, before disclosure of genetic test results, and followed for 5 years. They completed self-administered questionnaires about their cigarette smoking behaviors before receiving their test results (baseline) and 6, 12, 24, and 60 months after disclosure. Multivariate statistical analyses of the changes in participants' smoking behaviors were performed using a zero-inflated Poisson mixed model.RESULTS:Baseline smoking was found to depend on age, educational level, marital status, alcohol consumption, body mass index, and cancer risk perception. The zero-inflated part of the model showed the occurrence of no significant changes in the percentage of smokers during the 5 years after disclosure of the BRCA1/2 test results; however, daily smoking among BRCA1/2 carriers decreased significantly compared with that of noncarriers (adjusted hazard ratio = 0.83; (95% confidence interval: 0.69-0.99); P = 0.04) after adjusting for baseline smoking behavior.CONCLUSION:It would be worth investigating the possibility of counseling women during the genetic testing process about the multiple risk factors involved in cancer, such as genetic and lifestyle factors