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At least 757 records · Page 42Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Ethical aspects and dilemmas of fertility control of unwanted wildlife: an animal welfarist's perspective.

Proposals to manipulate the fertility of wild, free-living animals extend the domination humans already exercise over domesticated animals. Current lethal methods for population control include poisoning, trapping, hunting, dogging, shooting, explosives, fumigants, and deliberately introduced disease. Animal welfare interests are based on individual animal suffering, but those interests are often overshadowed by labelling of groups of animals as pests, resource species, national emblem or endangered species. Public concern for animal welfare and acceptance of new population control methods will be influenced by such labels. The animal welfare implications of new population control technology must be balanced against the existing inhumane lethal methods used. It will be difficult to resolve the dilemma of a mechanism for disseminating a fertility control agent that will cause some animal suffering (e.g. a genetically-manipulated myxoma virus for European rabbits), yet may reduce future rabbit populations and therefore the number suffering from lethal methods. An Animal Impact Statement is proposed as a tool to assist debate during development of fertility control methods and for decision making prior to their use. A comprehensive and objective Animal Impact Statement may introduce an ethic that moves the pendulum from attitudes that allow sentient animals to be destroyed by any and all available means, towards a more objective selection of the most effective and humane methods.

Animal Welfare↗
PubMed1994

Profiles of coronary blood flow velocity in patients with aortic stenosis and the effect of valve replacement: a transthoracic echocardiographic study.

OBJECTIVE: To report the first non-invasive assessment by transthoracic Doppler echocardiography of coronary blood flow in patients with aortic stenosis and of the effects of valve replacement. DESIGN: High frequency transthoracic Doppler echocardiography was used to examine resting phasic flow in the left anterior descending coronary artery before and after replacement of the aortic valve in awake, unsedated patients with pure aortic stenosis and normal coronary arteries. SETTING: A tertiary referral cardiothoracic centre. METHODS: Eleven patients with pure aortic stenosis and normal coronary arteries (six men, five women, mean (range) age 69 (50-82) years), were studied the day before and 1 week after replacement of the aortic valve. These patients were selected from a cohort of 15 due to ease of imaging of the left anterior descending coronary artery. Seven had a history of angina. Haemodynamics, peak transvalvar aortic gradient, left ventricular mass index, ventricular dimensions, and profiles of coronary flow velocity were measured. Profiles of coronary flow velocity were also measured in a control population of 10 normal subjects (five men, five women, mean (range) age 58 (34-66) years). RESULTS: The control population showed forward flow throughout systole, but reversed early systolic flow (mean velocity 20.6 (3.6) cm/s) was seen in six patients with aortic stenosis. Only three of these patients had a clinical history of angina. Peak and mean systolic and diastolic forward flow velocities were not significantly different in the control group and in patients with aortic stenosis. The time from the start of systole to the onset of forward systolic flow was significantly longer in patients with aortic stenosis than in the control population (185 (8.5) v 85 (10) ms, p < 0.01). The time from the onset of diastolic flow to peak diastolic velocity was also significantly longer in the aortic stenosis group (146 (16) v 74 (13) ms, p < 0.01). These abnormalities in profiles of coronary flow were reversed by replacement of the aortic valve. There was no correlation between changes in flow profiles in patients with aortic stenosis and preoperative clinical history, transvalvar gradient, left ventricular mass index, or ventricular dimensions. CONCLUSIONS: Coronary flow profiles in patients with aortic stenosis were characterised by reversed early systolic flow and delayed forward systolic flow and attainment of peak diastolic velocity. Reversal of these abnormalities by replacement of the aortic valve may reflect altered left ventricular and aortic haemodynamics and contribute to the relief of angina when left ventricular hypertrophy persists. Further studies may correlate abnormalities of coronary flow with preoperative clinical and haemodynamic state.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

[Effect of hereditary factors on tolerance for surgical treatment in patients with lung cancer].

Genetic polymorphism at 10 independent loci (ABO, RH, HP, GC, PI, TF, ACP1, PGM1, GLO1, and PTC) was studied in male patients with lung squamous cell carcinoma. These patients were divided into two groups, depending on their tolerance for surgical intervention and on the postoperative course: (1) patients with an uneventful postoperative period and (2) patients with postoperative complications. The genetic structure of the combined sample at the loci studied did not differ from that of the control group consisting of health people (population control). Genotypic differences might manifest at the postoperative stage rather than at the onset of the disease, and determine the presence of postoperative complications. However, comparative analysis of the two groups of patients revealed their polar divergence in respect to phenotype and gene frequencies at certain loci. Moreover, the genotypic structure of patients in both groups differed from that in the combined sample and in the population control. In the group with postoperative complications, higher frequencies of the alleles GC*1F, ACP1*A, and HP*2 were observed. By contrast, the group of patients with an uneventful postoperative period demonstrated prevalence of the alternative alleles of these loci: GC*2, ACP1*B, and HP*1. The greatest difference in the distribution of informative allele frequencies was observed between the group of patients with postoperative complications and the control group. This is evidence that these groups significantly differ in their genetic structure. Such divergence is largely determined by the polymorphic multifunctional systems of serum proteins.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Abnormal cervicovaginal cytology in women with lupus: a retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to review Pap smear reports in women with systemic lupus erythematosus and compare them to a large control population. METHODS: Pap smear results of 29 women with a diagnosis of lupus seen consecutively were compared to those of a control population of 747 women attending the gynecology clinic at the same medical center during the same year. Records of lupus patients were reviewed to obtain clinical data. Fisher's exact test and chi(2) analysis were used to determine statistical significance, as appropriate. RESULTS: Of 29 women with lupus, 1/29 had high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HGSIL) and 6/29 had low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LGSIL). The control population of 747 women had 9/747 with HGSIL and 63/747 with LGSIL. chi(2) and Fisher's exact tests showed that the lupus population had a statistically significant increase in Pap smear reports of dysplasia compared to the control group (P < 0.021 for HGSIL/LGSIL combined, P < 0.036 for LGSIL alone). Examination of serial Pap smear results revealed that 45% of the lupus patients had cervical dysplasia at some time. CONCLUSION: Women with lupus have an increased prevalence of cervical dysplasia. Serial observation revealed dysplastic cytologies in nearly half of the patients, suggesting that this may be a more common problem than previously reported. Serial prospective studies are needed to assess better the risk of premalignant cervical lesions in lupus.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Protein profiling of sickle cell versus control RBC core membrane skeletons by ICAT technology and tandem mass spectrometry.

A proteomic approach using a cleavable ICAT reagent and nano-LC ESI tandem mass spectrometry was used to perform protein profiling of core RBC membrane skeleton proteins between sickle cell patients (SS) and controls (AA), and determine the efficacy of this technology. The data was validated through Peptide/Protein Prophet and protein ratios were calculated through ASAPratio. Through an ANOVA test, it was determined that there is no significant difference in the mean ratios from control populations (AA1/AA2) and sickle cell versus control populations (AA/SS). The mean ratios were not significantly different from 1.0 in either comparison for the core skeleton proteins (alpha spectrin, beta spectrin, band 4.1 and actin). On the natural-log scale, the variation (standard deviation) of the method was determined to be 14.1% and the variation contributed by the samples was 13.8% which together give a total variation of 19.7% in the ratios.

Anemia, Sickle Cell↗
PubMed2006

DLL3 as a candidate gene for vertebral malformations.

Investigations have not identified a major locus for congenital vertebral malformations. Based on observations in mice, we hypothesized that mutations in DLL3, a member of the notch-signaling pathway, might contribute to human vertebral malformations. We sequenced the DLL3 gene in 50 patients with congenital vertebral malformations. A Caucasian male patient with VACTERL manifestations including a T5-T6 block vertebrae was heterozygous for a "G" to "A" missense mutation changing glycine to arginine at codon 269. This residue is conserved in mammals, including chimpanzee, mouse, dog, and rat. Additional testing in the patient did not show evidence of chromosome abnormalities. The patient's asymptomatic mother was also heterozygous for the missense mutation. Since this mutation was not observed in a control population and leads to an amino acid change, it may be clinically significant. The mutation was not found in a control population of 87 anonymous individuals. Several established mechanisms could explain the mutation in both the patient and his asymptomatic mother (susceptibility allele requiring additional environmental factors, somatic mosaicism, multigenic inheritance). Documenting the absence of the mutation in a larger control population or the presence of the mutation in additional affected patients, or documenting a functional difference in DLL3 would provide further evidence supporting its causal role.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Fibrinogen and markers of fibrinolysis and endothelial damage following resolution of critical limb ischaemia.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the effects of resolution of critical limb ischaemia on the elevated plasma fibrinogen, cross-linked fibrin degradation products (FDP), and von Willebrand factor antigen (vWF) levels, reported in peripheral arterial occlusive disease. DESIGN: A prospective study of patients undergoing surgery for chronic critical limb ischaemia. SETTING: Two vascular surgery units providing tertiary referral services for the West of Scotland. MATERIALS: Venous blood samples were assayed for plasma fibrinogen, FDP D-dimer, and vWF levels, prior to surgery, together with fibrinolytic and rheological parameters, in 82 patients. Sampling was repeated 4 months after resolution of critical limb ischaemia. OUTCOME MEASURES: Levels of these parameters following successful resolution of critical limb ischaemia were compared with pre-operative levels, and with an age-matched random population sample. MAIN RESULTS: Plasma fibrinogen and vWF levels were significantly lower (both p < 0.005, Wilcoxon matched pairs) following successful resolution of critical limb ischaemia in the 56 patients available for review, although levels remained higher than in population controls (p < 0.01, Mann-Whitney U-test). FDP levels were unchanged following surgery, remaining higher than in age-matched population controls (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Resolution of critical limb ischaemia fails to reduce plasma fibrinogen, fibrin turnover, and vWF levels to those seen in population controls. This implies that increased fibrinogen and fibrin turnover in peripheral arterial disease is not solely a consequence of tissue ischaemia, while the persisting prothrombotic state following resolution of critical limb ischaemia has potentially important implications for graft and patient survival.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

Association of tumor necrosis factor alpha gene promoter polymorphism with the presence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), a potent proinflammatory cytokine, may be involved in the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The production of TNF-alpha is elevated in the airways of these patients. A polymorphism at position -308 of the TNF-alpha gene promoter (TNF-alpha-308*1/2) is known to be associated with alteration of TNF-alpha secretion in vitro. In this study we examined the differences in TNF-alpha-308*1/2 allele frequency to investigate the association of this polymorphism with the presence of smoking-related COPD. TNF-alpha-308*1/2 allele frequency in 106 patients (73 men and 33 women) was compared with 110 asymptomatic smoker/ex-smoker control subjects matched for sex and age and population control subjects consisting of 129 blood donors. Genotype was analyzed by the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism technique on genomic DNA isolated from peripheral blood lymphocytes. TNF-alpha-308*1/2 allele frequencies were significantly different among the groups: 0.835/0.165 in patients with COPD, 0.918/0.082 in smoker/ex-smoker control subjects, and 0.922/0.078 in population control subjects. These results indicate that TNF-alpha-308*1/2 alleles are significantly associated with the presence of smoking-related COPD.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Childlessness, subfertility, and infertility in Tanzania.

This study examines the trends and variations in childlessness, subfertility, and infertility in Tanzania according to data from the 1973 National Demographic Survey and the 1991-92 Demographic and Health Survey. Between the surveys, the proportion of women older than 30 who were childless was found to have declined more than 60 percent, and the proportion with an open birth interval extending for longer than five years was reduced by 40 to 50 percent in each standard five-year age group from 20 to 39. Within Tanzania, both childlessness and infertility are higher among urban than rural residents, and a substantial range prevails across eight rural zones. Finally, evidence suggests that the decline in impaired fertility has been followed by an increase in the total fertility rate. The difficulties of implementing population policies that aim simultaneously to control population growth and to improve women's health are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Oral contraceptives and liver cancer. Results of the Multicentre International Liver Tumor Study (MILTS).

Many, but not all, previous epidemiological studies indicated a greater risk of hepatocellular cancer (HCC) in women who have used combined oral contraceptives for a long period of time, but no one has analyzed this risk based upon use of different formulations. It was decided to analyze specifically the risk of OC containing cyproterone acetate (CPA) after toxicological experiments in animals found hints for a potential genotoxicity. This report describes the risk associated with ever having used combined oral contraceptives (OC) among 317 cases of primary hepatocellular cancer (HCC) in women under age 65, compared with 1060 age-matched hospital and 719 population controls in a case-control study, which was conducted in six European countries. The adjusted odds ratio (unconditional logistic regression) for ever having used any OC was found to be 0.75 (0.54 to 1.03) when all cases were compared with all controls, and compared to hospital and population controls separately: 1.13 (0.86 to 1.48) and 0.78 (0.59 to 1.03), respectively. The adjusted odds ratios for OC containing all progestins of the CPA group were 0.89 (0.49 to 1.61); and 0.89 (0.37 to 2.18) for OC containing only CPA. There was no increase in risk for HCC with increasing duration of OC use among the different groups of OCs in the total group of cases with pooled controls. The risk estimates were not related to time since first or last use of any of the types of OCs considered. The most important risk factors for HCC were confirmed as a prior history of hepatitis B and C (adjusted odds ratio 3.1 (2.2; 4.3) and 37.9 (20.2; 70.9) for HBV and HCV, respectively). In the small subgroup of HCC cases without liver cirrhosis and with negative serology for HBV and HCV, there was evidence of an association with duration of OC use. No such trend was observed for the CPA group of OCs. Altogether, there is no evidence for an increased risk of HCC associated with CPA or CPA-like OCs. Oral contraceptives in the aggregate may enhance the risk of liver carcinomas not associated with HBV or HCV infection, but if so, this is an extremely rare adverse effect of their use.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Detection of the fragile X syndrome protein for the evaluation of FMR1 intermediate alleles.

Molecular screening programs in mentally retarded individuals have been performed in several populations worldwide. One finding has been an excess of FMR1 intermediate alleles in a population with learning difficulties. However, other published reports with similar characteristics did not corroborate those previous results. In order to contribute additional data from our population, we studied 563 patients affected with nonspecific mental retardation (MRX) that did not present a CGG expansion in the FMR1 gene and 208 individuals as a control population. Forty MRX patients presented alleles within the intermediate range. Among them, one case showed a pattern of expression of the FMR1 protein (FMRP) concordant with a fragile X syndrome case with an intermediate allele/full mutation mosaicism, although it was not detected by Southern blot analysis. Statistical analysis was performed again showing no statistically significant difference regarding the intermediate allele frequency in the MRX and control populations. This finding is in agreement with the hypothesis that the incidence of intermediate FMR1 alleles in MRX populations does not seem to be higher than in control populations, and it emphasizes the importance of FMRP detection as a diagnostic tool for fragile X syndrome.

Alleles↗
PubMed2002

Genetic polymorphisms of the apolipoprotein A-IV in a Greek population and their relation to plasma lipid and lipoprotein levels.

Apolipoprotein (apo) A-IV is a protein component of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins and high-density lipoproteins (HDL). In this study, two common genetic polymorphisms of the apoA-IV gene [codons 347(allele A and T) and 360 (allele 1 and 2)] were investigated in Greek patients with hyperlipidaemia and in healthy individuals matched for age, sex and smoking habits. In both study populations we evaluated the effect of these polymorphic sites on lipid and lipoprotein plasma levels and the body mass index (BMI). The frequencies of the 1/1 and 1/2 genotypes in codon 360 were 0.94 and 0.06 in hyperlipidemic patients and 0.92 and 0.08 in the control population, respectively. The frequencies of the A/A, A/T and T/T genotypes in codon 347 were 0.62, 0.34 and 0.04 in hyperlipidemic patients and 0.59, 0.33 and 0.08 in the control population, respectively. None of the above genotype frequency differences between the study populations reached statistical significance. The control population was not affected by any polymorphism of the apo A-IV gene. Hyperlipidaemic patients, carriers of the allele 2 (1/2 genotype), had significantly lower plasma triglyceride levels than carriers of the allele 1 (p = 0.03). Genetic variation in codon 347 had no influence on lipid and lipoprotein plasma levels. None of the polymorphisms at codons 360 and 347 affected the BMI. In conclusion, this study describes for the first time the genotype frequencies for polymorphic sites in codons 360 and 347 of the apo A-IV gene in a Greek population and suggests that the presence of the allele 2 is associated with lower plasma triglyceride levels in hyperlipidaemic patients.

Apolipoproteins A↗
PubMed2001

Lack of association of the common TaqIB polymorphism in the cholesteryl ester transfer protein gene with angiographically assessed coronary atherosclerosis.

The anti-atherogenic effect of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) genetic variants associated with lowered enzyme activity is controversial. Moreover, in a few studies, this effect has been evaluated in the presence of a certain risk factor constellation. We addressed this issue in a case-control study, where 415 subjects with angiographically documented coronary artery disease (CAD +), 397 subjects without CAD (in 215, CAD was excluded by coronarography (CAD-)), and 188 healthy population controls, were screened for the CETP TaqIB polymorphism. The prevalence of the low-activity TaqIB2 allele was 0.396 in CAD+, and 0.428 and 0.416 in CAD- and population controls, respectively (p = 0.40). Its presence was significantly associated with increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) in population controls (1.40 +/- 0.40 mmol/l in B1B1, 1.52 +/- 0.39 mmol/l in B1B2 and 1.58 + 0.46 mmol/l in B2B2; p < 0.03 for trend), but not in the other groups. The CETP TaqIB polymorphism accounted for < 1% of the HDL-C variance in the whole cohort (p = 0.048). After adjustment for other risk factors, the CETP TaqIB2 allele was found not to be associated with significant changes in CAD risk independently of an assumed either dominant (odds ratio (OR) 0.97; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.66-1.44; p = 0.89) or recessive effect (OR 0.68; 95% CI 0.42-1.12; p = 0.13). The CETP TaqIB polymorphism did not show a significant interaction with other risk factors in influencing CAD risk. Our findings do not support the hypothesis that a genetic variant resulting in lowered CETP activity is associated with reduced risk of coronary atherosclerosis.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Bacterial intestinal flora associated with enterotoxaemia in Belgian Blue calves.

The enterotoxaemia syndrome in Belgian Blue calves is characterised by a high case fatality rate, sudden death, lesions of haemorrhagic enteritis of the small intestine and, quite often an absence of other clinical signs but its cause has not been yet identified. As a first step in this identification, the aerobic and anaerobic intestinal flora of a population of 78 calves, originating from farms located in southern Belgium and that died in circumstances defined as "calf enterotoxaemia" (study population) and of 64 calves that died in other circumstances (control population) were studied qualitatively and quantitatively. The colonies were identified after subcultures with appropriate API sugar sets. Anaerobically Clostridium perfringens was isolated in higher numbers (mean values of 10(7)-10(7.5) colony forming units (CFU) versus 10(4)-10(5) CFU per ml of intestinal content) and from more animals (79 versus 19%) in the study population than in the control population, although individual results from both populations could overlap. Other clostridial species, i.e. mainly urease-negative C. sordellii and C. bifermentans, were isolated in high numbers (>10(6) CFU per ml of intestinal content) from a few animals in the study population only. All but one of the 705 C. perfringens isolates from both populations belonged to the A toxin type and none of the urease-negative C. sordellii was toxigenic. Gram-negative anaerobes were not isolated in high numbers from any of the samples. Aerobically beta-haemolytic E. coli were significantly more frequent among the study population, but were isolated from only 25% of the animals. Salmonella Typhimurium was isolated from only two animals in the study population. Less than 1% of the E. coli isolated were verotoxigenic and one-third were necrotoxigenic. At this stage only non-enterotoxigenic type A C. perfringens are thus statistically associated with the enterotoxaemia syndrome in Belgian Blue calves and fulfil the first of the Koch's postulates.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Pedunculated lipomas as a cause of intestinal obstruction in horses: 17 cases (1983-1990).

The medical records of 17 horses that were evaluated and treated because of colic caused by pedunculated lipomas between 1983 and 1990 were reviewed. The mean age of the horses was 16.6 +/- 3.9 years (range, 10 to 26 years), which was significantly greater than that of the population of horses evaluated because of colic (control population) during the same period. There were significantly more geldings (76.5%), compared with the control population. Nasogastric reflux ranged from 1 to 16 L in 8 horses and was not obtained in 9 horses. Abdominal palpation per rectum revealed small intestinal distention in 13 horses, displaced large colon in 7 horses, and large colon impaction in 2 horses. Peritoneal fluid was abnormal in 11 of 12 horses from which it was obtained successfully. One horse was euthanatized after unsuccessful medical treatment. Surgery was performed in 16 horses. Lipomas were blindly resected in 5 horses or exteriorized and resected in 6 horses. The method used to resect the lipoma was not recorded in 5 horses. The ileum and/or jejunum was strangulated in 15 horses, the small colon was strangulated in 1 horse, and the jejunum was obstructed in 1 horse. The length of intestine resected ranged from 0.15 to 7.2 m. Fourteen horses survived surgery, of which 11 were discharged from the hospital (short-term survival rate of 78.6%). Excluding 2 horses lost to follow-up evaluation, 6 of 12 horses that survived surgery were alive 2 to 56 months following surgery (long-term survival rate of 50%), and 9 of 15 horses died or were euthanatized (fatality rate of 60%).

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Computerized corneal topography in a paediatric population with Down syndrome.

PURPOSE: To characterize abnormal corneal topographic changes using corneal computerized videokeratography (CVK) in a paediatric population with Down syndrome, and in their parents. METHODS: Prospective, non-randomized clinical trial. Twenty-one children with Down syndrome (mean age 6.9 years) recruited from The Hospital for Sick Children, 18 of their parents, and a paediatric control group of 60 otherwise well children (mean age 9 years), underwent complete ocular examination and CVK using the EyeSys system. Corneal topographic maps were assessed subjectively, and three objective parameters analysed: central corneal power (CP), difference in central corneal power between the two eyes (DCP), and inferior-superior steepening asymmetry (I-S). RESULTS: Corneal curvature in children with Down syndrome was significantly steeper than in the paediatric control population (CP 46.66 vs 42.60 D, P <0.0001), but changes with age paralleled that of the control population. DCP and I-S values were also significantly different from the control population (P <0.0001). 39% of the parents of children with Down syndrome had at least one abnormal parameter. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that CVK is a useful tool in the ocular assessment of patients with Down syndrome. The findings suggest that this patient population have abnormalities of corneal shape even in the absence of clinical evidence of keratoconus. A greater than expected incidence of abnormal topographic changes was observed in the parents of these patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Population based, controlled study of behavioural problems and psychiatric disorders in low birthweight children at 11 years of age.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the risk of long term behavioural problems and psychiatric disorders associated with being born with low birth weight. DESIGN/STUDY GROUPS: A population based, controlled follow up study at 11 years of age of 130 low birthweight (LBW) children weighing less than 2000 g at birth who were without major handicaps, and a random sample of 131 normal birthweight (NBW) children born at term weighing over 3000 g. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Validated questionnaires addressing behaviour completed by mothers and teachers and child evaluation by child psychiatrist using a semistructured interview. RESULTS: Behavioural problems, as defined by abnormal scores on more than four of 32 measures, were found in 40% of LBW children compared with 7% of NBW children (odds ratio (OR) 8.2, 95% confidence interval (CI) 3 to 25, p = 0001). A psychiatric disorder was diagnosed in 27% of the LBW children compared with 9% of the NBW children (OR 3.1, 95% CI 1.5 to 6.5, p = 0.001). The LBW children were more often inattentive, had social problems, and low self esteem. None of the pre-, neo-, or peri-natal variables in the LBW group were statistically significant predictors of behavioural outcomes or the presence of psychiatric disorders. Behavioural problems and psychiatric disorders were as common in those with birth weight less than 1500 g as those with birth weight 1500-2000 g. CONCLUSION: An increased risk of behavioural problems and psychiatric disorders persists in LBW adolescents.

Child↗
PubMed1996

Unscheduled DNA synthesis in plant populations exposed to chronic irradiation.

The intensity of gamma-ray-induced unscheduled DNA synthesis (UDS) was measured in a number of natural populations of Vicia cracca which have been growing for some decades under conditions of chronic alpha- or beta-irradiation. It was shown that the level of UDS increased in more radioresistant beta-irradiated populations as compared to control populations and this increase was dose rate-dependent. In alpha-irradiated populations, the intensity of UDS was decreased, but only at the highest dose of gamma-radiation (500 Gy) and was not changed at the lower doses. The sensitivity of UDS to inhibitors of DNA and protein synthesis was studied in control and radioresistant populations. In control plants UDS was resistant to cycloheximide (Cyc) and aphidicolin (Aph), but totally inhibited by dideoxythymidine (ddT). In radioresistant population UDS was inhibited by both Aph and ddT as well as by Cyc. I assume that in controls, UDS is mediated by beta-like DNA polymerase; however, in a radioresistant population, both DNA polymerases alpha and beta take part in this process. In the radioresistant population UDS is partially inducible.

Aphidicolin↗