Mutation research
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It has been postulated that exposure to nitrous oxide and halogenated anaesthetics is associated with various adverse health effects such as neurological and reproductive abnormalities or impairment of hepatic functions. In spite of the quite well known genotoxic effects of exposure to nitrous oxide in vivo, the mechanisms of these effects are still not clear. The aim of this study was to assess the frequency of micronuclei and to identify the type of chromosomal damage (clastogenic or aneugenic) in peripheral blood lymphocytes of operating-room nurses exposed to nitrous oxide. ⋯ The multiple regression analysis revealed a statistically significant relationship (p=0.0009) between MN frequency and exposure status, indicating that the level of exposure was the main factor affecting chromosomal damage. As assessed by FISH analysis, the overall frequencies of centromere-positive MN in the control and exposed groups were 43 and 49%, respectively. The increase observed in the exposed group may suggest a slight, statistically insignificant pro-aneugenic effect of exposure to nitrous oxide.
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Cigarette smoking is the predominant risk factor for bladder cancer (BC). Major carcinogens present in tobacco smoke include a number of aromatic and heterocyclic amines. Two distinct N-acetyl transferase (NAT) enzymes, NAT1 and NAT2, play important roles in the bio-activation and detoxification of these carcinogens. ⋯ Using never smokers with NAT2 rapid acetylator genotypes as a reference group, heavy smokers with NAT2 slow acetylator genotypes showed an over six-fold increase in BC risk. In a multiplicative interaction model, the interaction term was statistically significant (P=0.02). Our data suggest that having a NAT2 slow acetylator genotype is a significant risk factor for BC, particularly in smokers and older individuals.