Redox Status, Dose and Antioxidant Intake in Healthcare Workers Occupationally Exposed to Ionizing Radiation.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between blood redox status, dose and antioxidant dietary intake of different hospital staff groups exposed to low doses of ionizing radiation (LDIR) (Interventional Radiology and Cardiology, Radiation Oncology, and Nuclear Medicine) and non-exposed. Personal dose equivalent (from last year and cumulative), plasma antioxidant markers (total antioxidant capacity, extracellular superoxide dismutase activity, and glutathione/oxidized glutathione ratio), oxidative stress markers (nitrites and nitrates, and lipid peroxidation) and dietary intake (antioxidant capacity using ORAC values) were collected and analyzed from 28 non-exposed healthcare workers and 42 healthcare workers exposed to LDIR. Hospital staff exposed to LDIR presented a redox imbalance in blood that seems to correlate with dose. Workers from the Nuclear Medicine Unit were the most affected group with the lowest value of plasma antioxidant response and the highest value of plasma thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, TBARS (indicator of lipid peroxidation) of all four groups. Cumulative personal dose equivalent positively correlated with nitrites and negatively correlated with total antioxidant capacity in blood. The diet of healthcare workers from Nuclear Medicine Unit had higher ORAC values than the diet of non-exposed. Therefore, occupational exposure to LDIR, especially for the Nuclear Medicine Unit, seems to produce an imbalanced redox status in blood that would correlate with cumulative personal dose equivalent.

Assessment of the dicentric chromosome assay as a biodosimetry tool for more personalized medicine in a case of a high risk neuroblastoma 131I-mIBG treatment.

PURPOSE: The aims of this study were to estimate the whole - body absorbed - dose with the Dicentric Chromosome Assay (DCA) (biodosimetry) for 131I - metaiodobenzylguanidine (131I - mIBG) therapy for high - risk neuroblastoma, and to obtain an initial correlation with the physical dosimetry calculated as described by the Medical Internal Radiation Dosimetry formalism (MIRD). Together both objectives will aid the optimization of personalized targeted radionuclide therapies. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A 12 year-old child with relapsed high-risk neuroblastoma was treated with 131I-mIBG: a first administration with activity <444 MBq/kg was used as a tracer in order to calculate the activity needed in a second administration to achieve a whole body prescribed dose of ∼4 Gy. Blood samples were obtained before and seven days after each administration to analyze the frequency of dicentrics. Moreover, consequent estimations of retained activity were done every few hours from equivalent dose rate measurements at a fixed position, two meters away from the patient, in order to apply the MIRD procedure. Blood samples were also drawn every 2- to -3 days to assess bone marrow toxicity. RESULTS: For a total activity of 22,867 MBq administered over two phases, both biological and physical dosimetries were performed. The former estimated a whole-body cumulated dose of 3.53 (2.58-4.41) Gy and the latter a total whole-body absorbed dose of 2.32 ± 0.48 Gy. The patient developed thrombocytopenia grade 3 after both infusions and neutropenia grade 3 and grade 4 (based on CTCAE 4.0) during respective phases. CONCLUSION: The results indicate a possible correlation between biodosimetry and standard physical dosimetry in 131I-mIBG treatment for high-risk neuroblastoma. A larger cohort and refinement of the DCA for internal irradiation are needed to define the role of biodosimetry in clinical situations.

Searching trans-resveratrol in fruits and vegetables: a preliminary screening.

Resveratrol is a phytoalexin with potent anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and anti-carcinogenic effects. The object of this work was to determine whether this promising compound was present in the typical fruits and vegetables used in the Mediterranean diet. Our results indicated the presence of trans-resveratrol in concentrations ranging from 0.2 µg/g in tomatoes and 3 lg/g. in strawberries.

RENEB - Running the European Network of biological dosimetry and physical retrospective dosimetry.

PURPOSE: A European network was initiated in 2012 by 23 partners from 16 European countries with the aim to significantly increase individualized dose reconstruction in case of large-scale radiological emergency scenarios. RESULTS: The network was built on three complementary pillars: (1) an operational basis with seven biological and physical dosimetric assays in ready-to-use mode, (2) a basis for education, training and quality assurance, and (3) a basis for further network development regarding new techniques and members. Techniques for individual dose estimation based on biological samples and/or inert personalized devices as mobile phones or smart phones were optimized to support rapid categorization of many potential victims according to the received dose to the blood or personal devices. Communication and cross-border collaboration were also standardized. To assure long-term sustainability of the network, cooperation with national and international emergency preparedness organizations was initiated and links to radiation protection and research platforms have been developed. A legal framework, based on a Memorandum of Understanding, was established and signed by 27 organizations by the end of 2015. CONCLUSIONS: RENEB is a European Network of biological and physical-retrospective dosimetry, with the capacity and capability to perform large-scale rapid individualized dose estimation. Specialized to handle large numbers of samples, RENEB is able to contribute to radiological emergency preparedness and wider large-scale research projects.

In vitro cellular radiosensitivity in relationship to late normal tissue reactions in breast cancer patients: a multi-endpoint case-control study.

PURPOSE: A minority of patients exhibits severe late normal tissue toxicity after radiotherapy (RT), possibly related to their inherent individual radiation sensitivity. This study aimed to evaluate four different candidate in vitro cellular radiosensitivity assays for prediction of late normal tissue reactions, in a retrospective matched case-control set-up of breast cancer patients. METHODS: The study population consists of breast cancer patients expressing severe radiation toxicity (12 cases) and no or minimal reactions (12 controls), with a follow-up for at least 3 years. Late adverse reactions were evaluated by comparing standardized photographs pre- and post-RT resulting in an overall cosmetic score and by clinical examination using the LENT-SOMA scale. Four cellular assays on peripheral blood lymphocytes reported to be associated with normal tissue reactions were performed after in vitro irradiation of patient blood samples to compare case and control radiation responses: radiation-induced CD8+ late apoptosis, residual DNA double-strand breaks, G0 and G2 micronucleus assay. RESULTS: A significant difference was observed for all cellular endpoints when matched cases and controls were compared both pairwise and grouped. However, it is important to point out that most case-control pairs showed a substantial overlap in standard deviations, which questions the predictive value of the individual assays. The apoptosis assay performed best, with less apoptosis seen in CD8+ lymphocytes of the cases (average: 14.45%) than in their matched controls (average: 30.64%) for 11 out of 12 patient pairs (p < .01). The number of residual DNA DSB was higher in cases (average: 9.92 foci/cell) compared to their matched control patients (average: 9.17 foci/cell) (p < .01). The average dose response curve of the G0 MN assay for cases lies above the average dose response curve of the controls. Finally, a pairwise comparison of the G2 MN results showed a higher MN yield for cases (average: 351 MN/1000BN) compared to controls (average: 219 MN/1000BN) in 9 out of 10 pairs (p < .01). CONCLUSION: This matched case-control study in breast cancer patients, using different endpoints for in vitro cellular radiosensitivity related to DNA repair and apoptosis, suggests that patients' intrinsic radiosensitivity is involved in the development of late normal tissue reactions after RT. Larger prospective studies are warranted to validate the retrospective findings and to use in vitro cellular assays in the future to predict late normal tissue radiosensitivity and discriminate individuals with marked RT responses.

Analysis of the Possible Persistent Genotoxic Damage in Workers Linked to the Ardystil Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: A combination of several factors including a change in the paint application system; a lack of proper hygiene; and inadequate safety measures caused a severe health impact in the workers of some textile painting factories. This outbreak, mainly characterized by respiratory disorders, caused the death of six people and it has been classified as Ardystil syndrome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-two workers involved in the outbreak and 48 healthy subjects not known to have exposed to the potentially mutagenic agents participated in the study. The program evaluated possible genotoxic damage through the sister chromatid exchange (SCE) cytogenetic biomarker assay. We determined the frequency of SCE, high-frequency cells (HFCs), and a ratio, which can be considered as a new parameter, allowing for the study of the SCE distribution pattern among the chromosomes. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference in the SCE frequency and in the mean number of HFCs between the control and the Ardystil-affected groups. However, smoking increased the incidence of all parameters studied in both the case and control groups. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that workers involved in the Ardystil syndrome did not suffer genotoxic damage as measured by SCE and HFCs when compared with the control group.

Sister chromatid exchange, (SCE), High-Frequency Cells (HFCs) and SCE distribution patterns in peripheral blood lymphocytes of Spanish adult smokers compared to non-smokers.

According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, smoking tobacco is a major cause of cancer in humans. It causes about half of all male cancer deaths and an ever increasing number of cancer deaths in females. The aim of this study was to establish whether cigarette smoking increases sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) in peripheral blood lymphocytes in two Spanish population groups; light and heavy smokers. The mean number of High-Frequency Cells (HFCs) was determined and, the SCE distribution pattern among the chromosomes was analysed represented by a ratio described below. A local sample of 101 adult smokers (n=48) and non-smokers (n=53), aged from 18 to 49 years, was studied using SCE levels in peripheral lymphocytes. Heavy smoking (≥ 10 cigarettes per day) increased significantly the SCE frequency and the HFC parameters. Neither age nor sex significantly influenced the frequencies in the groups studied.

Radioprotective activity and cytogenetic effect of resveratrol in human lymphocytes: an in vitro evaluation.

Trans-resveratrol is a natural occurring polyphenol, obtained from grapes and other berries. This compound has shown antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunostimulant or anti-carcinogenic properties. Our aim was to evaluate the radioprotective efficacy, in vitro, of trans-resveratrol against radiation-induced chromosomal damage and to study the genotoxicity and cytotoxicity of this polyphenol in cell cultures without irradiation. The study was carried out by the pre-treatment of human lymphocytes at concentrations from 0 to 219µM of trans-resveratrol. The results showed that all concentrations tested reduced radiation-induced chromosomal damage compared with cells with any treatment. Maximum damage protection was observed at the concentration of 2.19µM. Concerning genotoxic results, all tested trans-resveratrol concentrations increased the sister chromatid exchange (SCE) index compared with no trans-resveratrol treatment. Cytotoxic indexes (Mitotic and Proliferation Index) showed that the lowest concentrations could enhance the cell proliferation rates and the highest ones could negatively affect to human peripheral lymphocytes growth.

[Prospective study on the effect of the influence of holiday periods in the weight during a low-calory dietetic treatment]. / Estudio prospectivo del efecto del periodo vacacional sobre la influencia del peso durante el tratamiento dietoterapeútico hipocalórico.

INTRODUCTION: Overweight and obesity are both in Europe and in Spain, one of the major public health problems since they are associated with cardiovascular risk factors and the occurrence of other diseases. Nowadays, the prevalence of obesity SEEDO in Spanish society is about 25%. In addition to evaluating how our lifestyle habits influence in our weight, it would be interesting to assess how the festivity days, which in many cases are often extended beyond officially holidays, can influence the total annual weight gain. METHODS: A prospective and descriptive study was conducted in a total of 258 patients (95 men and 163 women) undergoing a treatment for weight reduction, at least during one month ago. We studied seven holiday periods. RESULTS: In all patients, there was a significant linear correlation (p < 0.05) difference between weight loss and vacational time studied with greater prevalence in the Christmas period. No statistically significant association was found between weight loss and age or sex.

Introducción: El sobrepeso y la obesidad constituyen, tanto en Europa como en España, uno de los mayores problemas de Salud Pública puesto que se asocian a factores de riesgo cardiovascular y a la aparición de otras patologías. Según la SEEDO la prevalencia de obesidad en la sociedad española está cerca del 25 %. Además del estudio de nuestro estilo de vida y hábitos incorporados a las costumbres cotidianas, resultaría interesante evaluar cómo influyen en la ganancia de peso total anual los excesos realizados durante muchas festividades, que en muchos casos se suelen prolongar más allá de los días oficialmente festivos. Material y métodos: Estudio prospectivo, de carácter descriptivo a un total de 258 pacientes (95 varones y 163 mujeres) correspondientes a personas con un tratamiento para la reducción del peso corporal, como mínimo, de un mes. Se estudiaron siete periodos festivos. Resultados: Considerando todos los pacientes, se observó una correlación lineal significativa (p.

A preliminary study of presence of resveratrol in skins and pulps of European and Japanese plum cultivars.

BACKGROUND: Resveratrol is a polyphenol with health properties being mainly present in the skins of several foods. However, any study has been carried out to analyze the presence of this stilbene in the plum fruit from the genus Prunus in European and Japanese cultivars. RESULTS: The analysis of resveratrol from the skin in different cultivars of plums from Spanish markets with liquid chromatography coupled to ultraviolet (LC-UV) detector with subsequent confirmation by LC-MS/MS has been demonstrated that contents of this compound in plums ranged from 0.1 to 6.2 µg/g. CONCLUSIONS: Values of resveratrol in European plum cultivars is higher than in Japanese cultivars.

In vitro cytogenetic and genotoxic effects of curcumin on human peripheral blood lymphocytes.

Curcumin has shown a wide range of properties such as anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic properties. Many of these effects, mainly the anti-carcinogenic effect, could be linked to its anti-oxidant effects. Nevertheless, some studies suggest that this natural compound possesses both pro- and anti-oxidative effects and that curcumin could be a genotoxic agent for some cell lines. We evaluated the genetic damage induced by curcumin to human lymphocytes exposed to increasing concentrations (0-50 µg/ml) of curcumin. Biomarkers such as chromosome aberrations (CAs) and sister chromatid exchange (SCE) were analyzed. In addition to the cytogenetic analysis, the effect of curcumin in the cell proliferation kinetics (CPK) by the proliferation index (PI) was also analyzed. The results indicated that high concentrations of curcumin induced CAs, mainly acentric fragments. SCEs rate was not statistically different from the control group in any curcumin treated cell group. The PI of cells treated with 2 and 5 µg/ml of curcumin were statistically significant from the control group and finally, the MI showed a tendency to increase in all the concentrations of curcumin tested. In conclusion, it can be assumed that the higher concentrations of curcumin evaluated have a cyto and genotoxic effect, in vitro, for human peripheral lymphocytes.