Genetic effects in children exposed in prenatal period to ionizing radiation after the chornobyl nuclear power plant accident

Aim: To study the genetic effects in children exposed to radiation in utero as a result of the Chornobyl nuclear power plant accident accounting the total radiation doses and equivalent radiation doses to the red bone marrow. Materials and Methods: Incidence of minor developmental anomalies was studied in children exposed to radiation in utero (study group) and in the control group (1144 subjects surveyed in total). Cytogenetic tests using the method of differential G-banding of chromosomes were conducted in 60 children of both study and control groups (10–12-year-olds) and repeatedly in 39 adolescents (15–17-year-olds). Results: A direct correlation was found between the number of minor developmental anomalies and fetal dose of radiation, and a reverse one with fetal gestational age at the time of radiation exposure. Incidence of chromosomal damage in somatic cells of 10–12-year-old children exposed prenatally was associated with radiation dose to the red bone marrow. The repeated testing has revealed that an increased level of chromosomal aberrations was preserved in a third of adolescents. Conclusion: The persons exposed to ionizing radiation at prenatal period should be attributed to the group of carcinogenic risk due to persisting increased levels of chromosome damage. This article is a part of a Special Issue entitled “The Chornobyl Nuclear Accident: Thirty Years After”

GENETIC EFFECTS IN CHILDREN EXPOSED IN PRENATAL PERIOD TO IONIZING RADIATION AFTER THE CHORNOBYL NUCLEAR POWER PLANT ACCIDENT

Aim: To study the genetic effects in children exposed to radiation in utero as a result of the Chornobyl nuclear power plant accident accounting the total radiation doses and equivalent radiation doses to the red bone marrow. Materials and Methods: Incidence of minor developmental anomalies was studied in children exposed to radiation in utero (study group) and in the control group (1144 subjects surveyed in total). Cytogenetic tests using the method of differential G-banding of chromosomes were conducted in 60 children of both study and control groups (10–12-year-olds) and repeatedly in 39 adolescents (15–17-year-olds). Results: A direct correlation was found between the number of minor developmental anomalies and fetal dose of radiation, and a reverse one with fetal gestational age at the time of radiation exposure. Incidence of chromosomal damage in somatic cells of 10–12-year-old children exposed prenatally was associated with radiation dose to the red bone marrow. The repeated testing has revealed that an increased level of chromosomal aberrations was preserved in a third of adolescents. Conclusion: The persons exposed to ionizing radiation at prenatal period should be attributed to the group of carcinogenic risk due to persisting increased levels of chromosome damage. This article is a part of a Special Issue entitled “The Chornobyl Nuclear Accident: Thirty Years After”

Clinical and Anamnestic Features of Pathology of Gastrointestinal Tract in Children with Syndrome of Heart Connective Tissue Dysplasia, Born to Parents Irradiated In Childhood due to the Chernobyl Accident

The children born to parents irradiation-exposed in childhood due to the Chernobyl accident were found to have mainly the upper gastrointestinal pathology, namely chronic gastroduodenitis, usually concomitant, and several areas of the alimentary canal being involved into the pathological process. The children with the syndrome of heart connective tissue dysplasia have earlier manifestation of the upper gastrointestinal diseases (from pre-school age) and with age systemic damage of various organs and systems is noted, as evidenced by such indicators as a number of clinical entities per child (among the children of the I group — 6.8; II group — 4.9). The analysis of biomedical risk factors and index of burdened familial history on gastrointestinal pathology in I–II degree relatives did not demonstrate a significant difference between the groups. The clinical manifestations of chronic upper gastroduodenal diseases in children with the syndrome of heart connective tissue dysplasia typically have more frequent exacerbations due to the psycho-emotional and physical exhaustion. These children more often have moderate periodic pain; higher occurence of gastric dyspepsia symptoms, intestinal motor dysfunction and concomitant nervous system disorders (80.0 %) and chronic foci of infection (62.2 %)