Investigation of the influence of calibration practices on cytogenetic laboratory performance for dose estimation

Purpose: In the frame of the QA program of RENEB, an inter-laboratory comparison (ILC) of calibration sources used in biological dosimetry was achieved to investigate the influence of calibration practices and protocols on the results of the dose estimation performance as a first step to harmonization and standardization of dosimetry and irradiation practices in the European biological dosimetry network. Materials and methods: Delivered doses by irradiation facilities used by RENEB partners were determined with EPR/alanine dosimetry system. Dosimeters were irradiated in the same conditions as blood samples. A short survey was also performed to collect the information needed for the data analysis and evaluate the diversity of practices. Results: For most of partners the deviation of delivered dose from the targeted dose remains below 10%. Deviations larger than 10% were observed for five facilities out of 21. Origins of the largest discrepancies were identified. Correction actions were evaluated as satisfactory. The re-evaluation of some ILC results for the fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and premature chromosome condensation (PCC) assays has been performed leading to an improvement of the overall performances. Conclusions: This work has shown the importance of dosimetry in radiobiology studies and the needs of harmonization, standardization in irradiation and dosimetry practices and educational training for biologists using ionizing radiation

Sister chromatid exchange, (SCE), High-Frequency Cells (HFCs) and SCE distribution patterns in peripheral blood lymphocytes of Spanish adult smokers compared to non-smokers

[EN] According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, smoking tobacco is a major cause of cancer in humans. It causes about half of all male cancer deaths and an ever increasing number of cancer deaths in females. The aim of this study was to establish whether cigarette smoking increases sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) in peripheral blood lymphocytes in two Spanish population groups; light and heavy smokers. The mean number of High-Frequency Cells (HFCs) was determined and, the SCE distribution pattern among the chromosomes was analysed represented by a ratio described below. A local sample of 101 adult smokers (n = 48) and non-smokers (n = 53), aged from 18 to 49 years, was studied using SCE levels in peripheral lymphocytes. Heavy smoking (>= 10 cigarettes per day) increased significantly the SCE frequency and the HFC parameters. Neither age nor sex significantly influenced the frequencies in the groups studied.Sebastia, N.; Hervas, D.; Almonacid, M.; Villaescusa, JI.; Soriano, JM.; Sahuquillo, V.; Esteban, V.... (2014). Sister chromatid exchange, (SCE), High-Frequency Cells (HFCs) and SCE distribution patterns in peripheral blood lymphocytes of Spanish adult smokers compared to non-smokers. Food and Chemical Toxicology. 66:107-112. doi:10.1016/j.fct.2014.01.011S1071126

Analysis of the Possible Persistent Genotoxic Damage in Workers Linked to the Ardystil Syndrome

[EN] Background: A combination of several factors including a change in the paint application system; a lack of proper hygiene; and inadequate safety measures caused a severe health impact in the workers of some textile painting factories. This outbreak, mainly characterized by respiratory disorders, caused the death of six people and it has been classified as Ardystil syndrome. Materials and Methods: Fifty-two workers involved in the outbreak and 48 healthy subjects not known to have exposed to the potentially mutagenic agents participated in the study. The program evaluated possible genotoxic damage through the sister chromatid exchange (SCE) cytogenetic biomarker assay. We determined the frequency of SCE, high-frequency cells (HFCs), and a ratio, which can be considered as a new parameter, allowing for the study of the SCE distribution pattern among the chromosomes. Results: There was no statistically significant difference in the SCE frequency and in the mean number of HFCs between the control and the Ardystil-affected groups. However, smoking increased the incidence of all parameters studied in both the case and control groups. Conclusions: This study shows that workers involved in the Ardystil syndrome did not suffer genotoxic damage as measured by SCE and HFCs when compared with the control group.This research was supported, in part, by Hospital Universitario Politecnico La Fe de Valencia and Conselleria de Sanidad de Valencia. The authors would like to dedicate this article to the memory of Dr. Miguel Almonacid Bujeda, a superb individual, with whom they had the good fortune to work with for a number of years.Montoro Pastor, A.; Sebastià, N.; Hervás, D.; Esteban, V.; Bonafont, J.; Barquinero, J.; Almonacid, M.... (2016). Analysis of the Possible Persistent Genotoxic Damage in Workers Linked to the Ardystil Syndrome. Genetic Testing and Molecular Biomarkers. 20(2):94-97. doi:10.1089/gtmb.2015.0177S949720

Redox status, dose and antioxidant intake in healthcare workers occupationally exposed to ionizing radiation

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between blood redox status, dose and antioxidant dietary intake of different hospital staff groups exposed to low doses of ionizing radiation (LDIR) (Interventional Radiology and Cardiology, Radiation Oncology, and Nuclear Medicine) and non-exposed. Personal dose equivalent (from last year and cumulative), plasma antioxidant markers (total antioxidant capacity, extracellular superoxide dismutase activity, and glutathione/oxidized glutathione ratio), oxidative stress markers (nitrites and nitrates, and lipid peroxidation) and dietary intake (antioxidant capacity using ORAC values) were collected and analyzed from 28 non-exposed healthcare workers and 42 healthcare workers exposed to LDIR. Hospital staff exposed to LDIR presented a redox imbalance in blood that seems to correlate with dose. Workers from the Nuclear Medicine Unit were the most affected group with the lowest value of plasma antioxidant response and the highest value of plasma thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, TBARS (indicator of lipid peroxidation) of all four groups. Cumulative personal dose equivalent positively correlated with nitrites and negatively correlated with total antioxidant capacity in blood. The diet of healthcare workers from Nuclear Medicine Unit had higher ORAC values than the diet of non-exposed. Therefore, occupational exposure to LDIR, especially for the Nuclear Medicine Unit, seems to produce an imbalanced redox status in blood that would correlate with cumulative personal dose equivalent