Evaluation of cell and DNA damage induced by panoramic radiography.

BACKGROUND: X-rays are potential mutagenic agents that can cause both the gene mutations and chromosomal aberrations. AIMS: In this study, the micronucleus (MN) test and the comet assay methods are implemented in order to observe the damage that can occur in the cell nucleus and in the structure of DNA of the patients who underwent a panoramic examination. METHODS AND MATERIALS: In our study, buccal mucosa swabs were obtained just before the radiography and 2 weeks after the radiography from 30 volunteer patients who had to take radiographs due to dental diagnosis. Changes in the nuclei of 1,000 cells of each swab sample had been counted under a light microscope and recorded. Besides, 100 cells of each other swab samples were analyzed by the comet assay. Comet assay parameters namely tail length and percentage of DNA in tail, which indicate the level of DNA damage were analyzed and compared in both groups. Statistical analysis was performed by using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (Version 21). RESULTS: In our study, the results of percentage of DNA in tail and tail length before and after X-ray exposure were statistically significant (P < 0.001). Likewise, increase in the MN frequency observed in buccal mucosa cells after X-ray exposure was found significant (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: As a result, panoramic radiographs taken during dental diagnosis and treatment cause cytotoxicity and DNA damage in oral mucosal cells. Panoramic radiographs should be applied only when necessary, using an accurate radiographic technique and radioprotection criteria.

Induction of apoptosis by Centaurea nerimaniae extract in HeLa and MDA-MB-231 cells by a caspase-3 pathway.

We investigated the cytotoxic and apoptotic effects of a methanol extract of Centaurea nerimaniae, a plant endemic in Turkey, on HeLa and MDA-MB-231 cells. Eight concentrations of C. nerimaniae extract were applied to cells, and cytotoxic effects were measured using the xCELLigence system. The TUNEL assay was used to assess apoptotic cell death and immunohistochemistry was used to determine active caspase-3 using the effective cytotoxic doses of the extract. Doses of 1.42 mg/ml C. nerimaniae inhibited the growth of HeLa cells and 3.67 mg/ml C. nerimaniae inhibited the growth of MDA-MB-231 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The apoptotic indexes for HeLa and MDA-MB-231 cells were increased significantly compared to control groups. Immunohistochemistry showed that the number of caspase-3 immunostained cells increased in the extract treatment groups for both HeLa and MDA-MB-231 cells. In the MDA-MB-231 cell line, caspase-3 immunostaining was observed in nuclei and/or cytoplasm in the extract treated group. Caspase-3 activation was greater in HeLa cells than in MDA-MB-231 cells. We found that the extract of C. nerimaniae had a strong antiproliferative effect and induced apoptosis via caspase-3; MDA-MB-231 cancer cells were more resistant than HeLa cells.

Changes in NAD/ADP-ribose metabolism in rectal cancer.

The extent of ADP-ribosylation in rectal cancer was compared to that of the corresponding normal rectal tissue. Twenty rectal tissue fragments were collected during surgery from patients diagnosed as having rectal cancer on the basis of pathology results. The levels of ADP-ribosylation in rectum cancer tissue samples (95.9 +/- 22.1 nmol/ml) was significantly higher than in normal tissues (11.4 +/- 4 nmol/ml). The level of NAD+ glycohydrolase and ADP-ribosyl cyclase activities in rectal cancer and normal tissue samples were measured. Cancer tissues had significantly higher NAD+ glycohydrolase and ADP-ribosyl cyclase activities than the control tissues (43.3 +/- 9.1 vs 29.2 +/- 5.2 and 6.2 +/- 1.6 vs 1.6 +/- 0.4 nmol mg(-1) min(-1)). Approximately 75% of the NAD+ concentration was consumed as substrate in rectal cancer, with changes in NAD+/ADP-ribose metabolism being observed. When [14C]-ADP-ribosylated tissue samples were subjected to SDS-PAGE, autoradiographic analysis revealed that several proteins were ADP-ribosylated in rectum tissue. Notably, the radiolabeling of a 113-kDa protein was remarkably greater than that in control tissues. Poly(ADP)-ribosylation of the 113-kDa protein in rectum cancer tissues might be enhanced with its proliferative activity, and poly(ADP)-ribosylation of the same protein in rectum cancer patients might be an indicator of tumor diagnosis.

Changes in NAD/ADP-ribose metabolism in rectal cancer

The extent of ADP-ribosylation in rectal cancer was compared to that of the corresponding normal rectal tissue. Twenty rectal tissue fragments were collected during surgery from patients diagnosed as having rectal cancer on the basis of pathology results. The levels of ADP-ribosylation in rectum cancer tissue samples (95.9 ± 22.1 nmol/ml) was significantly higher than in normal tissues (11.4 ± 4 nmol/ml). The level of NAD+ glycohydrolase and ADP-ribosyl cyclase activities in rectal cancer and normal tissue samples were measured. Cancer tissues had significantly higher NAD+ glycohydrolase and ADP-ribosyl cyclase activities than the control tissues (43.3 ± 9.1 vs 29.2 ± 5.2 and 6.2 ± 1.6 vs 1.6 ± 0.4 nmol mg-1 min-1). Approximately 75 percent of the NAD+ concentration was consumed as substrate in rectal cancer, with changes in NAD+/ADP-ribose metabolism being observed. When [14C]-ADP-ribosylated tissue samples were subjected to SDS-PAGE, autoradiographic analysis revealed that several proteins were ADP-ribosylated in rectum tissue. Notably, the radiolabeling of a 113-kDa protein was remarkably greater than that in control tissues. Poly(ADP)-ribosylation of the 113-kDa protein in rectum cancer tissues might be enhanced with its proliferative activity, and poly(ADP)-ribosylation of the same protein in rectum cancer patients might be an indicator of tumor diagnosis.

Spinal cord compression due to Brucella granuloma.

Central Nervous System (CNS) involvement during the course of Brucella infection is a rare clinical condition. In this article, a patient with a progressive paraparesis syndrome with spasticity, who was treated by medical methods and surgical intervention is analysed. This patient suffered from spinal cord compression in the thoracal region caused by a Brucella granuloma. The patient had no evidence of systemic Brucella infection.