[Genotoxicity of oxazepam--the micronucleus cytochalasin-B test]. / Genotoksicnost oxazepama--mikronukleus citohalazin-b test.

Oxazepam (OX) is one of the number benzodiazepines used therapeutically as a sedative-hypnotic and anti-anxiety agent. OX is also a common metabolite of many other benzodiazepines. Since they are among the most widely prescribed drug, the evaluation of their potential genotoxic activity should be considered very important. In the present study cytochalasin B-blocked binucleate human lymphocytes have been used to measure micronucleus induction after treatment with oxazepam. The frequency of micronuclei (MN) were analysed in 72 hours culture of peripheral blood human lymphocytes. OX was added to the cultures at the beginning of the cultivation period. The concentrations in cultures was 0.5; 5; 10; 25 and 50 mg/ml. It was found that all used oxazepam concentrations induced formation of micronuclei. MN frequencies were significantly increased (except for concentration 0.5 mg/ml OX) in relation to the control (cultures without OX). Number of binuclear lymphocytes with micronuclei, as well as number of micronuclei per a binuclear lymphocytes stand in correlation with the strength of tested concentrations--there was a dose-response. On the basis of our results we can conclude that long time administrated of OX may represent a potential hazard to human health.

[The DNA test in the diagnosis of Huntington disease]. / Primjena DNA testa u dijagnostici Huntingtonove bolesti.

Huntington's disease is the most prominent basal ganglion disease. Huntington's gene, IT15, in chromosome 4p16.3, has 67 axons with 10,366 bp coding space and unstable CAG sequence that codes glutamine on 5' terminal. The molecular-genetic analysis of disease determined expansion of nucleotide repeated CAG sequences. In large Bosnian family with Huntington's disease specific DNA diagnosis of IT15 gene mutation is performed, according the wishes of one female member with "high genetic risk", that voluntarily accessed to DNA test in order to make plans for her own family "without risk" of pathologic gene transmission. A mutation in IT15 gene (number of CAG tandem repeats 46, size of DNA fragment 165 bp and 245 bp) is detected in DNA of her clinically affected brother. But, results of PCR analysis of her DNA sample showed 23 CAG tandem repeats (fragment size 180 bp) that excluded presence of Huntington's disease. We accentuate importance of DNA test in persons with "genetic risk", that are not gene carriers. In that case there are able to create own future without fear of pathological gene transmission.