Daniel G. Achel

Effect of long-term 50 Hz magnetic field exposure on the micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes of mice

Abstract In recent years extremely low-frequency magnetic fields (ELF-EMF) have become widely used in human activities, leading to an increased chance of exposure to ELF-EMF. There are few reports on in vivo mammalian genotoxic effects using micronucleus (MN) assays, which generally have been used as a short-term screening system. We analyzed the possible genotoxic effect induced by long-term exposure (7, 14, 21, 28 d) of a 50 Hz ELM-MF to mice by measuring the increase in frequency of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocyte in their bone marrow (MNPCEs) and we compared it with that induced by 50 cGy of X-rays. Subsequently, we tried to reduce this chromosomal damage by administering four antioxidants substances with radioprotective capacities: dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), 6-n-propyl-2-thiouracil (PTU), grape-procyanidins (P) and citrus flavonoids extract (CE). The increase in micronucleated cells was higher in both physical treatments (Control < ELF-EMF (p < 0.01)  0.001)); however, the antioxidant substances only showed a genoprotective capacity against the damage induced by ionizing radiation (Ci > PTU = DMSO (p < 0.001) >P = CE (p < 0.001). The 50 Hz ELM-MF increased MNPCEs in mouse bone marrow, expressing a genotoxic capacity. Administration of antioxidant substances with radioprotective capacities known to act through the elimination of free radicals did not diminish the genotoxic effect induced by ELM-MF.

The potential of PAI-1 expression in needle biopsies as a predictive marker for prostate cancer

Abstract The relative abundance of urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 (PAI-1) in transurethral resections of the prostate (TURP) has been shown to correlate with disease state. The objective of this study was to assay for uPA and PAI-1 in prostate needle biopsies, and to test their potential as predictive markers for prostate cancer (PCa). uPA and PAI-1 levels were determined for 111 patients (55 PCa; 56 benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)), using the FEMTELLE enzyme-linked immunosorbent (ELISA) assay. The PAI-1 concentrations for PCa and BPH patients differed significantly (p = 0.0403) and a level of ≥ 4.5 ng/mg protein in men 60 years and older appears to be predictive of PCa, with a sensitivity of 63%. uPA plays a minor role as a potential marker in biopsy tissue, a feature noted in our recent TURP tissue studies, and elsewhere. The potential utility of the uPA/PAI-1 ratio as a predictor of prostate disease, as previously suggested for TURP tissue, is not apparent in needle biopsy tissue. PAI-1 concentration in prostate biopsies could be a candidate marker for distinguishing between PCa and BPH in older patients.

Towards establishing capacity for biological dosimetry at Ghana atomic energy commission

The aim of this study was not only to obtain basic technical prerequisites for the establishment of capacity of biological dosimetry at the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) but also to stimulate interest in biological dosimetry research in Ghana and Sub-Saharan Africa. Peripheral blood from four healthy donors was exposed to different doses (0–6 Gy) of gamma rays from a radiotherapy machine and lymphocytes were subsequently stimulated, cultured, and processed according to standard protocols for 48–50 h. Processed cells were analyzed for the frequencies of dicentric and centric ring chromosomes. Radiation dose delivered to the experimental model was verified using GafChromic® EBT films in parallel experiments. Basic technical prerequisites for the establishment of capacity of biological dosimetry in the GAEC have been realized and expertise in the dicentric chromosome assay consolidated. We successfully obtained preliminary cytogenetic data for a dose-response relationship of the irradiated blood lymphocytes. The data strongly indicate the existence of significant linear (α) and quadratic (β) components and are consistent with those published for the production of chromosome aberrations in comparable absorbed dose ranges.