Differences in cytogenetic sensitivity to ionizing radiation in newborns and adults.

Radiation exposure causes DNA breaks leading to structural chromosome aberrations that can be carcinogenic. Lifetime cancer risks are elevated in irradiated children compared to similarly exposed adults. To determine the extent to which age influences the frequency and types of chromosome damage in response to ionizing radiation, peripheral blood samples were collected from 20 adults (aged 22-78 years) and from the umbilical cords of 10 newborns and acutely exposed to 0 (control), 1, 2, 3 or 4 Gy of cobalt-60 gamma rays.

Accurate gene expression-based biodosimetry using a minimal set of human gene transcripts.

Purpose: Rapid and reliable methods for conducting biological dosimetry are a necessity in the event of a large-scale nuclear event. Conventional biodosimetry methods lack the speed, portability, ease of use, and low cost required for triaging numerous victims. Here we address this need by showing that polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on a small number of gene transcripts can provide accurate and rapid dosimetry.

Long-term exposure to depleted uranium in Gulf-War veterans does not induce chromosome aberrations in peripheral blood lymphocytes.

Depleted uranium (DU) is a high-density heavy metal that has been used in munitions since the 1991 Gulf War. DU is weakly radioactive and chemically toxic, and long-term exposure may cause adverse health effects. This study evaluates genotoxic effects of exposure to DU by measuring chromosome damage in peripheral blood lymphocytes with fluorescence in situ hybridization whole-chromosome painting.

Measures of genotoxicity in Gulf war I veterans exposed to depleted uranium.

Exposure to depleted uranium (DU), an alpha-emitting heavy metal, has prompted the inclusion of markers of genotoxicity in the long-term medical surveillance of a cohort of DU-exposed Gulf War veterans followed since 1994. Using urine U (uU) concentration as the measure of U body burden, the cohort has been stratified into low-u (<0.10 μg U/g creatinine) and high-u groups (≥ 0.