Micronucleus test on gas station attendants

In the present study, the micronucleus test was applied in exfoliated cells of buccal mucosa to assess the mutagenicity risk associated with occupational exposure for gas station attendants. For each individual, 2000 exfoliated buccal cells were analyzed for micronucleus frequency. A highly significant difference was found between exposed and control groups. Likewise, a significant difference was found between these groups regarding the frequency of binucleated and broken egg cells. To determine whether smoking, alcohol habit, age, gender, or working time could exert any additional effect, we determined the frequency of micronuclei and binucleated and broken egg cells amongst exposed and control individuals. The results allowed us to conclude that the individuals studied belong to a risk group and should periodically undergo biological monitoring and appropriate care.

[Epidemiology of polydactylies: a case-control study in the population of Pelotas-RS] / Epidemiologia das polidactilias: um estudo de casos e controles na população de Pelotas-RS.

OBJECTIVE: To identify and compare cases of isolated polydactyly with healthy newborns regarding familial and maternal characteristics. METHODS: We conducted this hospital-based case-control study from 1990 to 1998. We collected data in interviews with mothers of cases and controls during the post-delivery period. Cases were defined as newborns presenting an extra or a bifid digit in hands and/or feet. Controls were the four healthy newborns that were born after the case, at the same hospital. Information was gathered on type of polydactyly, gender and birthweight, twin pregnancy, parental consanguinity, ethnicity. RESULTS: African ancestry and positive family history of congenital malformation, especially polydactyly, were significantly associated with the occurrence of this type of congenital anomaly (crude OR of 3.3; 10.0; and 55.0, respectively). CONCLUSION: Isolated polydactyly was one of the most frequent malformations found in the studied population. The findings associated with black African ancestry confirm the data presented in the literature. Studies conducted on this same population, with a larger population of patients with this type of malformation, could investigate this association better and justify the results presented here.