Department of Radiobiology, National Center of Radiobiology and Radiation Protection, Sofia, Bulgaria , r.hristova@ncrrp.org
Abstract: (8 Views)
Background:The Chromosomal aberrations (CAs) are among the most crucial biological effects resulting from ionizing radiation. The aim of the current study is to investigate cytogenetic effects after both short- and long-term exposure of low irradiation doses (less than100 mSv). Materials and Methods: In this study, two groups were included: 1) eighteen patients (age 54 - 90 years) undergoing fluoroscopic X-ray guided vertebroplasty for a short time (0.63 - 2.07 min) and 2) eighteen workers (age 40 - 66 years) employed in Bulgarian Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) (19 - 42 working years). Blood samples were taken from all subjects followed by culturing in RPMI-1640 medium. After cells harvesting and standard samples processing, chromosomal aberrations frequency was analyzed in Giemsa stained metaphase spreads. For patients group, blood samples were collected before and after the medical procedure. Nine healthy volunteers (from NPP administrative staff) served as reference controls in workers group. Results: The mean frequency of total CAs after vertebroplasty (0.0213 ± 0.0016 per cell) is slightly but significantly increased compared to the baseline level before the medical procedure (0.0143 ± 0.0013; P = 0.013). However, variabilities at the individual level were found. In the workers group, the total CAs yield raised 4 times relative to controls (0.0113 ± 0.0017 vs. 0.0028 ± 0.0012; P = 0.001). At the same time, no correlation was found between aberrations frequency and accumulated dose in both patients and workers. Conclusion: Low doses exposure whether acute or chronic results in deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) damages and consequent CAs.