Application of -based test systems for the assessment of genotoxic effects of environmental radioactivity of undisturbed mountain soils (Aragats Massif, Armenia).

Plant test systems are a sensitive way to detect the genetic effects of various contaminants in environmental compartments: water, soil and sediments. Biotesting of the genotoxicity of soil samples with various activity concentrations of naturally occurring (Ra, Th, K) and artificial (Cs) radionuclides in soil, from the territory of the Aragats Massif (Armenia) was carried out with the application of the micronucleus (Trad-MСN) and stamen hair mutation (Trad-SHM) bioassays of (clone 02) model test-object in the soil - plant system. Undisturbed soil sampling was performed in the southern slopes of the Aragats Massif, from different altitudes (from 1000 to 3200 m above sea level).

Circular RNAs as key regulators in cancer hallmarks: New progress and therapeutic opportunities.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have emerged as critical regulators in cancer biology, contributing to various cancer hallmarks, including cell proliferation, apoptosis, metastasis, and drug resistance. Defined by their covalently closed loop structure, circRNAs possess unique characteristics like high stability, abundance, and tissue-specific expression. These non-coding RNAs function through mechanisms such as miRNA sponging, interactions with RNA-binding proteins (RBPs), and modulating transcription and splicing.

DNA Damage in Moderate and Severe COVID-19 Cases: Relation to Demographic, Clinical, and Laboratory Parameters.

The ability of the SARS-CoV-2 virus to cause DNA damage in infected humans requires its study as a potential indicator of COVID-19 progression. DNA damage was studied in leukocytes of 65 COVID-19 patients stratified by sex, age, and disease severity in relation to demographic, clinical, and laboratory parameters. In a combined group of COVID-19 patients, DNA damage was shown to be elevated compared to controls (12.

Changes in Telomere Length in Leukocytes and Leukemic Cells after Ultrashort Electron Beam Radiation.

Application of laser-generated electron beams in radiotherapy is a recent development. Accordingly, mechanisms of biological response to radiation damage need to be investigated. In this study, telomere length (TL) as endpoint of genetic damage was analyzed in human blood cells (leukocytes) and K562 leukemic cells irradiated with laser-generated ultrashort electron beam.

The Diagnostic, Prognostic, and Therapeutic Potential of Cell-Free DNA with a Special Focus on COVID-19 and Other Viral Infections.

Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) in human blood serum, urine, and other body fluids recently became a commonly used diagnostic marker associated with various pathologies. This is because cfDNA enables a much higher sensitivity than standard biochemical parameters. The presence of and/or increased level of cfDNA has been reported for various diseases, including viral infections, including COVID-19.

Incidence and Risk Factors of Acute Leukemias in Armenia: A Population-Based Study.

Objective: Leukemia represents a serious public health concern as the incidence is increasing worldwide. In this study we aimed to describe the epidemiological profile of acute lymphoblastic (ALL) and myeloid (AML) leukemia, identify disease clusters and find association with possible risk factors.

Methods: Data on leukemia cases were provided by the National Institute of Health of the Republic of Armenia for the period of 2012-2018.

Application of land snail Helix lucorum for evaluation of genotoxicity of soil pollution.

Application of native species as sentinels allows environmental scientists to determine real genotoxic impact of environmental pollutants. The present study aims at investigating the DNA damage in the land snail Helix lucorum as a biomarker of soil pollution. For this reason, the genotoxic impact of contaminated soil on H.

Assessment of the mutagenic potential of the water of an urban river by means of two Tradescantia-based test systems.

River pollution can be caused by anthropogenic or natural factors. When testing water quality for the presence of toxic substances, higher plants as bioindicators for the genotoxic effects of complex mixtures are effective and appropriate. Hence, in this work the Tradescantia (clone 02) stamen hair mutations (Trad-SHM) and Tradescantia micronuclei (Trad-MCN) were used to determine mutagenic and clastogenic potential of an urban river.

Colony-Forming Ability and Residual Foci of DNA Repair Proteins in Human Lung Fibroblasts Irradiated with Subpicosecond Beams of Accelerated Electrons.

We performed a comparative study of the colony-forming ability and the number of residual foci of DNA repair proteins in cultured human lung fibroblasts (MRC-5 cell line) after exposure to subpicosecond beams of accelerated electrons with an energy of 3.6 MeV and quasi-continuous radiation (accelerated electrons with an energy of 4 MeV and X-rays). The yield of damages causing reproductive cell death after pulsed subpicosecond radiation exposure was higher by ~1.

Low-Energy Laser-Driven Ultrashort Pulsed Electron Beam Irradiation-Induced Immune Response in Rats.

The development of new laser-driven electron linear accelerators, providing unique ultrashort pulsed electron beams (UPEBs) with low repetition rates, opens new opportunities for radiotherapy and new fronts for radiobiological research in general. Considering the growing interest in the application of UPEBs in radiation biology and medicine, the aim of this study was to reveal the changes in immune system in response to low-energy laser-driven UPEB whole-body irradiation in rodents. Forty male albino rats were exposed to laser-driven UPEB irradiation, after which different immunological parameters were studied on the 1st, 3rd, 7th, 14th, and 28th day after irradiation.

Low Repair Capacity of DNA Double-Strand Breaks Induced by Laser-Driven Ultrashort Electron Beams in Cancer Cells.

Laser-driven accelerators allow to generate ultrashort (from femto- to picoseconds) high peak dose-rate (up to tens of GGy/s) accelerated particle beams. However, the radiobiological effects of ultrashort pulsed irradiation are still poorly studied. The aim of this work was to compare the formation and elimination of γH2AX and 53BP1 foci (well known markers for DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs)) in Hela cells exposed to ultrashort pulsed electron beams generated by Advanced Research Electron Accelerator Laboratory (AREAL) accelerator (electron energy 3.

Doxorubicin-Induced Translocation of mtDNA into the Nuclear Genome of Human Lymphocytes Detected Using a Molecular-Cytogenetic Approach.

Translocation of mtDNA in the nuclear genome is an ongoing process that contributes to the development of pathological conditions in humans. However, the causal factors of this biological phenomenon in human cells are poorly studied. Here we analyzed mtDNA insertions in the nuclear genome of human lymphocytes after in vitro treatment with doxorubicin (DOX) using a fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) technique.

Morpho‑functional study of the hypothalamic proline‑rich polypeptide apoptotic activity against mouse Ehrlich ascites carcinoma.

A new type of bioactive polypeptides of the neurosecretory hypothalamus called proline‑rich peptides (PRPs), which are isolated from bovine neurosecretory granules of the neurohypophysis, are synthesized in the form of a common precursor protein (neurophysin vasopressin‑associated glycoprotein). Proline‑rich polypetide 1 (PRP‑1; also known as galarmin) is comprised of 15 amino acids residues, and has been suggested to possess anti‑neurodegenerative, immunoregulatory, hematopoietic, antimicrobial and antitumor properties. The cytostatic, antiproliferative effect of PRP‑1 was demonstrated in the human chondrosarcoma JJ012 and triple negative breast carcinoma MDA MB 231 cell lines.

Complex karyotype with cryptic gene rearrangement and deletion of and genes in childhood B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia: A case report.

B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) is a hematopoietic malignancy characterized by overproduction of immature B-lymphoblasts. B-ALL is the most common pediatric tumor and remains the leading cause of mortality in children and adolescents. Molecular and cytogenetic analyses of B-ALL revealed recurrent genetic and structural genomic alterations which are routinely applied for diagnosis, prognosis and choice of treatment regimen.

Laser-Driven Ultrashort Pulsed Electron Beam Radiation at Doses of 0.5 and 1.0 Gy Induces Apoptosis in Human Fibroblasts.

Rapidly evolving laser technologies have led to the development of laser-generated particle accelerators as an alternative to conventional facilities. However, the radiobiological characteristics need to be determined to enhance their applications in biology and medicine. In this study, the radiobiological effects of ultrashort pulsed electron beam (UPEB) and X-ray radiation in human lung fibroblasts (MRC-5 cell line) exposed to doses of 0.

DNA Copy Number Variations as Markers of Mutagenic Impact.

DNA copy number variation (CNV) occurs due to deletion or duplication of DNA segments resulting in a different number of copies of a specific DNA-stretch on homologous chromosomes. Implications of CNVs in evolution and development of different diseases have been demonstrated although contribution of environmental factors, such as mutagens, in the origin of CNVs, is poorly understood. In this review, we summarize current knowledge about mutagen-induced CNVs in human, animal and plant cells.

Genomic Organization of Repetitive DNA Elements and Extensive Karyotype Diversity of Silurid Catfishes (Teleostei: Siluriformes): A Comparative Cytogenetic Approach.

The catfish family Siluridae contains 107 described species distributed in Asia, but with some distributed in Europe. In this study, karyotypes and other chromosomal characteristics of 15 species from eight genera were examined using conventional and molecular cytogenetic protocols. Our results showed the diploid number (2) to be highly divergent among species, ranging from 2 = 40 to 92, with the modal frequency comprising 56 to 64 chromosomes.

Application of the comet assay, micronucleus test and global DNA methylation analysis in Darevskia lizards as a sentinel organism for genotoxic monitoring of soil pollution.

Widely distributed in Armenia bisexual and parthenogenetic species of Darevskia rock lizards have the potential to be considered as bioindicators of the effects of environmental pollutants. Juvenile and adult bisexual D. raddei and parthenogenetic D.

Chromosomal Evolution and Evolutionary Relationships of Species (Characiformes, Lebiasinidae).

We present the first cytogenetic data for and with the aim of (1) investigating evolutionary events within and their relationships with other Lebiasinidae genera and (2) checking the evolutionary relationships between Lebiasinidae and Ctenoluciidae. Both species have a diploid number 2n = 36 with similar karyotypes and microsatellite distribution patterns but present contrasting C-positive heterochromatin and CMA banding patterns. The remarkable interstitial series of C-positive heterochromatin occurring in is absent in .

Analysis of copy number variations induced by ultrashort electron beam radiation in human leukocytes in vitro.

Background: Environmental risk factors have been shown to alter DNA copy number variations (CNVs). Recently, CNVs have been described to arise after low-dose ionizing radiation in vitro and in vivo. Development of cost- and size-effective laser-driven electron accelerators (LDEAs), capable to deliver high energy beams in pico- or femtosecond durations requires examination of their biological effects.

Genistein inhibits African swine fever virus replication in vitro by disrupting viral DNA synthesis.

African swine fever virus (ASFV) is the causal agent of a highly-contagious and fatal disease of domestic pigs, leading to serious socio-economic consequences in affected countries. Once, neither an anti-viral drug nor an effective vaccines are available, studies on new anti-ASFV molecules are urgently need. Recently, it has been shown that ASFV type II topoisomerase (ASFV-topo II) is inhibited by several fluoroquinolones (bacterial DNA topoisomerase inhibitors), raising the idea that this viral enzyme can be a potential target for drug development against ASFV.

Clastogenecity evaluation of water of Lake Sevan (Armenia) using Tradescantia micronucleus assay.

The clastogenic effects of water samples in seven locations of Lake Sevan (Armenia) with the application of Trad-MCN (micronuclei) bioassay using Tradescantia (clone 02) were investigated. A significant increase in the frequency of micronuclei in tetrads of pollen microspores and tetrads with micronuclei exposed to the test samples compared to the control has been revealed. A multivariate analysis indicated linkage between the frequencies of occurrence of micronuclei in the cells and Ni and Co ions.

DNA damage and micronuclei in parthenogenetic and bisexual Darevskia rock lizards from the areas with different levels of soil pollution.

Natural species are widely used as indicator organisms to estimate of the impact of environmental pollution. Here we present the results of first study of a reliability of parthenogenetic Darevskia аrmeniaca and bisexual Darevskia raddei rock lizards as sentinels for monitoring of environmental genotoxicity. The comet assay and micronucleus test were applied to the lizards sampled in six areas in Armenia and Artsakh with different levels of soil contamination.

Two-photon microscopy imaging of oxidative stress in human living erythrocytes.

Red blood cells (RBCs) are known to be the most suitable cells to study oxidative stress, which is implicated in the etiopathology of many human diseases. The goal of the current study was to develop a new effective approach for assessing oxidative stress in human living RBCs using two-photon microscopy. To mimic oxidative stress in human living RBCs, an model was generated followed by two-photon microscopy imaging.

Dose-rate effect of ultrashort electron beam radiation on DNA damage and repair in vitro.

Laser-generated electron beams are distinguished from conventional accelerated particles by ultrashort beam pulses in the femtoseconds to picoseconds duration range, and their application may elucidate primary radiobiological effects. The aim of the present study was to determine the dose-rate effect of laser-generated ultrashort pulses of 4 MeV electron beam radiation on DNA damage and repair in human cells. The dose rate was increased via changing the pulse repetition frequency, without increasing the electron energy.