[Cytogenetic and other cariological parameters of exfoliative buccal cells in Vietnamese children from areas where dioxin-containing herbicides were applied].

In a cohort of 69 South Vietnam children, full cariological analysis of buccal epithelial cells was performed. In order to evaluate the significance of cariological changes, all the parameters under study were divided into three groups: cytogenetic indices, apoptotic indices, and indirect indices of proliferation; integral indexes in each group were determined and the relations between them were found while assessing the effects of environment pollution on public health. The number of cells with cytogenetic alterations (micronuclei and protrusions) was increased, the process of tissue proliferation was intensified, and the apoptotic process was decelerated in children li-ing in areas polluted with Agent Orange/dioxins, which evidenced that the complex of environmental factors these superecotoxicants were part of had a harmful effect on the population. The parameters studied did not depend on age and sex of the children; the number of congenital morphogenetic variants per one child significantly correlated with the sum of cells with cytogenetic alterations.

[The congenital morphogenetic variants and genetic polymorphism of the system of xenobiotic detoxication in children living in dioxin-contaminated regions of South Vietnam].

The presence of dioxins and dioxin-containing ecotoxicants (DCE) in human environment leads to multi-level homeostasis disbalance and, eventually, dioxin pathology (DP) develops. This was demonstrated for the adult population of South Vietnam (1), who had suffered from the use of military chlorphenoxiherbicides to which dioxins had been added. The subjects of this study were children who belonged to the second generation of the inhabitants of DCE-polluted South Vietnam areas. In this sample, the frequency of malformations depending on two factors, genes GSTMI, GSTT1, CYP1A1 genotypes, and DCE exposure, were estimated. The study demonstrates that an increased level of congenital morphogenetic variants per one child is associated with the presence of DCE in the environment, as well as the fact that this parameter is influenced by genotypes of xenobiotic detoxication genes.

[Dioxins and medical-genetic indices of health of residents of the town of Chapayevsk]. / Dioksiny i mediko-geneticheskie pokazateli zdorov'ia naseleniia goroda Chapaevska.

The paper presents the results of an integrated medical genetic survey carried out in the town of Chapayevsk. The survey included an estimation of the incidence of congenital malformations (CMF), congenital morphogenetic options (CMGO), evaluation of the frequency of chromosomal mutations of various types and micronuclei in human somatic cells. The incidence of CMF among newborn infants corresponds to that in Russia, but such forms of CMF as congenital hydrocephalus and agenesia and disgenesis of the kidney were more common in the town. The study ascertained that the average number of CMGO per child was on the increase. Cytogenetic findings unambiguously demonstrate that there was a spatial gradient within the town (from the plant to remote districts), higher rates of chromosomal aberrations. Further studies of the effects of dioxins on genetic health are required to assess the actual genetic risk due to its human contact.

[Children's health status in ecologically unfavorable regions]. / Sostoianie zdorovía detei, prozhivaiushchikh na ékologicheski neblagopoluchnykh territoriiakh.

Comparison of the official and research data on congenital developmental defects frequency (CDDF) in children of Novomoskovsk showed their disagreement. The average CDDF in these children is not more than the Middle European level. Physical development of children is insufficient for their biological age in 25% of cases. Many children suffer from respiratory diseases because of ambient air pollution. The majority of children (88-93%) are referred to 2-4 th health groups according to WHO classification.