Monitoring of cellular enzymes in the serum of electroplating workers at Coimbatore.

Chromium compounds are potent toxic and carcinogenic substances. With respect to toxicity, hepatic and renal toxicity have been reported both in workers and in animals exposed to chromium (VI). Chromium (VI) compounds induces DNA damage in vivo and in cultured cells as well as the cytotoxicity evaluated by the leakage of lactate dehydrogenase. The present study reports the cytotoxicity of chrome platers who are employed from 8 to 25 years in electroplating industries at Coimbatore, Tamilnadu. Blood samples were collected and estimated for glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine phosphokinase (CPK) and total protein in the serum. The study revealed that there is a significant elevation in the level of LDH, ALP, CPK and transaminases and a decrease in total protein in serum. The results of the study suggests that chromium (VI), a hepatotoxic chemical may perhaps damage the plasma membrane resulting in leakage of enzymes in to the serum of chromeplaters.

Insertion/deletion polymorphisms in tribal populations of southern India and their possible evolutionary implications.

India has the unique distinction of having perhaps the largest diversities, both biological and cultural. The Nilgiri Hills of southern India, a home for several tribal pockets representing different genetic isolates, provides a genetic wealth to understand human evolution. We have analyzed eight widely distributed polymorphic insertion/deletion loci (AluAPO, AluACE, AluDI, AluPLAT, AluPV92, AluFXIIIB, CD4 del and mtNUC) in 250 unrelated individuals from five tribal populations (Badaga, Irula, Kota, Kurumba, and Toda). All loci were highly polymorphic except the CD4 del locus, at which the deletion allele was fixed in Kotas and Kurumbas. The levels of average heterozygosities were found to be high in all the populations. In most populations, they were also higher than those predicted by the island model of population structure. The gene diversity (GST = 8.3%) was found to be higher than that in populations of most global regions with the exception of Africa. It is clear from the present study that drift effects could have accentuated the process of genetic differentiation of the tribal populations. The possibility of an early demographic expansion of modern humans within south India also cannot be ruled out.

Chromosomal aberration, micronucleus and Comet assays on peripheral blood lymphocytes of leprosy patients undergoing multidrug treatment. (Mutagenesis, 17, 309-312, 2002)

To evaluate the genetic damage in leprosy patients, we carried out the alkaline Comet assay and chromosomal aberration (CA) and micronucleus (MN) tests in peripheral blood lymphocytes of 50 leprosy patients receiving multidrug treatment (MDT) and 50 healthy individuals. The Comet assay showed statistically higher mean values for length to width ratios of DNA mass (P < 0.01) and for mean frequencies of tailed cells (P < 0.001) in cells of leprosy patients than in those of controls. Similarly, the mean frequencies of micronucleated cells (per 1000 cytochalasin B-induced binucleated cells) were significantly greater (P < 0.001) in leprosy patients (19.92 +/- 2.564) than in controls (1.6 +/- 0.231). A statistically significant 10-fold increase in the frequency of CAs (11.16 +/- 0.411) was observed in leprosy patients compared with controls (1.28 +/- 0.242). In multiple regression analyses, when patients and controls were considered together, disease factor alone significantly influenced the genotoxicity markers. In the control group, age and alcohol consumption significantly influenced MN and length to width ratios and CA frequency, respectively. However, in MDT-treated leprosy patients none of the other confounding factors (sex, age, smoking and alcohol drinking) significantly affected the extent of genetic damage.

Chromosomal aberration, micronucleus and Comet assays on peripheral blood lymphocytes of leprosy patients undergoing multidrug treatment.

To evaluate the genetic damage in leprosy patients, we carried out the alkaline Comet assay and chromosomal aberration (CA) and micronucleus (MN) tests in peripheral blood lymphocytes of 50 leprosy patients receiving multidrug treatment (MDT) and 50 healthy individuals. The Comet assay showed statistically higher mean values for length to width ratios of DNA mass (P < 0.01) and for mean frequencies of tailed cells (P < 0.001) in cells of leprosy patients than in those of controls. Similarly, the mean frequencies of micronucleated cells (per 1000 cytochalasin B-induced binucleated cells) were significantly greater (P < 0.001) in leprosy patients (19.92 +/- 2.564) than in controls (1.6 +/- 0.231). A statistically significant 10-fold increase in the frequency of CAs (11.16 +/- 0.411) was observed in leprosy patients compared with controls (1.28 +/- 0.242). In multiple regression analyses, when patients and controls were considered together, disease factor alone significantly influenced the genotoxicity markers. In the control group, age and alcohol consumption significantly influenced MN and length to width ratios and CA frequency, respectively. However, in MDT-treated leprosy patients none of the other confounding factors (sex, age, smoking and alcohol drinking) significantly affected the extent of genetic damage.

Chromosomal aberration, micronucleus and Comet assays on peripheral blood lymphocytes of leprosy patients undergoing multidrug treatment

To evaluate the genetic damage in leprosy patients, we carried out the alkaline Comet assay and chromosomal aberration (CA) and micronucleus (MN) tests in peripheral blood lymphocytes of 50 leprosy patients receiving multidrug treatment (MDT) and 50 healthy individuals. The Comet assay showed statistically higher mean values for length to width ratios of DNA mass (P < 0.01) and for mean frequencies of tailed cells (P < 0.001) in cells of leprosy patients than in those of controls. Similarly, the mean frequencies of micronucleated cells (per 1000 cytochalasin B-induced binucleated cells) were significantly greater (P < 0.001) in leprosy patients (19.92 +/- 2.564) than in controls (1.6 +/- 0.231). A statistically significant 10-fold increase in the frequency of CAs (11.16 +/- 0.411) was observed in leprosy patients compared with controls (1.28 +/- 0.242). In multiple regression analyses, when patients and controls were considered together, disease factor alone significantly influenced the genotoxicity markers. In the control group, age and alcohol consumption significantly influenced MN and length to width ratios and CA frequency, respectively. However, in MDT-treated leprosy patients none of the other confounding factors (sex, age, smoking and alcohol drinking) significantly affected the extent of genetic damage.

Induction of micronuclei in fish by polluted water and heavy metals.

Induction of micronuclei in five different species of fish from polluted sewage water and in fish exposed to heavy metals was investigated. The frequency of micronuclei was statistically significant in both the groups and among the five species tested, Lepidocephalus was found to be highly sensitive.