Madhusnata De

Comparative Study of Exfoliated Oral Mucosal Cell Micronuclei Frequency in Normal, Precancerous and Malignant Epithelium

Abstract Analysis of exfoliated buccal cell micronuclei (MN) is a sensitive method of monitoring genetic damage in the human population. In the present study 50 patients with precancerous or malignant oral epithelial lesions from the Departments of Facio-maxillary and ENT Surgery of RKMSP Hospital, Kolkata were compared with 50 age and sex matched healthy controls without any oral lesions.The MN frequency was increased in preoperative cancer cases and decreased in postoperative cases, while in pre cancerous cases it was higher than in the controls.

Interaction of different hemoglobinopathies in Eastern India with a view to establish genotype-phenotype correlation.

Analysis of the molecular basis of hemoglobinopathies provides an opportunity to define genotype–phenotype variations as well as establish the origin of mutation. The present study deals with a large cohort of 1,661 cases referred to the counseling unit and 889 individuals from random screening of the population of Tripura. Characterization of mutation in 291 cases (582 alleles) was performed by the PCR‐ARMS method using genomic DNA. The haplotype of 56 βE mutation‐bearing chromosomes were identified by the RFLP‐PCR method. Genotypes were constructed and correlated with hematological and clinical phenotypes. IVS‐1nt 5 (G→C) mutation was observed as the most frequent mutation, followed by codon 30 (G→C). Production of HbE was significantly (P < 0.001) higher in nontransfusion‐dependent Eβ‐thalassemia patients. βE mutation was observed only on four haplotypes linked to framework 2. Type 2 haplotype was observed mainly from chromosomes of Tripura origin, but none from South Bengal. Homozygous E individuals with 1//1 genotype were significantly (P < 0.01) more anemic compared to individuals with 2//2 genotype. This work creates a database of hemoglobinopathy mutations for the population of Eastern India which will facilitate prenatal diagnosis and counseling. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 12:454–459, 2000.

Clastogenic effects of inorganic arsenic salts on human chromosomes in vitro

Arsenic is well documented as a paradoxical human carcinogen. In West Bengal, several million people were found to be arsenic affected who were exposed to this metalloid principally through drinking water. The arsenic-contaminated drinking water contains both trivalent as well as pentavalent arsenic. In this study, the comparative in vitro cytogenetic effects of two inorganic salts of arsenic, trivalent sodium arsenite (NaAsO2) and pentavalent sodium arsenate (Na2HAsO4) in three different concentrations, were screened for damage to chromosome and cell division following exposure to human lymphocyte culture. The chromosome-breaking activities in cultured lymphocytes were significantly higher for the compounds with trivalent (NaAsO2) than with pentavalent arsenic (Na2HAsO4), as reflected by the higher chromosomal aberration percentage in the similar doses used. It suggests that sodium arsenite was considerably more clastogenic than sodium arsenate. Moreover, increases in chromosomal aberrations were proportional with the increased dose of exposure for both trivalent and pentavalent forms of arsenic.

Incidence of anemia and effect of nutritional supplementation on women in rural and tribal populations of eastern and North-eastern India

Abstract Screening of women of child bearing age among the tribal and rural population of different north eastern and eastern states of India was performed. More than 50% of women in some areas were found to have anemia. As part of the study nutritional supplementation was given to a proportion of the anemic population, comparing the effects of Spirulina, a compound containing vitamins and micronutrients and an iron-folic acid-B12 supplement. Follow-up of the cases was done over a period of one year and the impact of supplementation and a comparison of the two compounds made.

Toxic Effects of Betel Quid

Abstract Oral cancer is most common cancer in males and third most common in females, the main causative agent being use of chewing betel quid (BQ). Areca nut, Cathechu, Slaked lime are major components of Betel quid. Nitrosamines formed from alkaloids in betel nut during betel quid chewing may be implicated in the etiology of oral cancer. Reactive oxygen species are generated due to slaked lime which is also present in betel quid. Micronuclei (MN) have been proposed as a good biomarker to assess cytogenetic damage. Percentage of MN formation has been observed in pre cancerous lesions of the oral cavity of betel quid chewers. In this present study cases were screened from Department of E.N.T. & Oral and Maxillofacial surgery of Ramakrishna Mission Seva Pratishthan hospital, Kolkata and different areas of West Bengal. Some of them had more than one addiction and some have no addiction and complications. Hemogram reports are normal but mitotic index and micronuclei higher in oral cancer cases than normal.

Comparative S tudy of Risk Factors of Cardiac Diseases among Urban and Rural Population

Abstract Genetically Indians seems to have a great tendency to develop heart trouble. In addition, stressful lifestyles and unhealthy diets of urban population are the reasons for heart disease. The aim of the study is to analyze the impact of different factors like lifestyle, food habits, environmental pollution and lipid level on coronary artery disease. Total 168 cases having some cardiac symptoms were included in this study. Detailed histories of cases were taken by questionnaire. Serum lipid profiles were compared between urban and rural cases. Study showed that triglycerides level (p<0.001), total Cholesterol (p<0.05) and low density lipoprotein level (p<0.001) were significantly high in urban population than rural. Presence of hypertension (52.94%) and diabetes (49.41%) were higher in urban population. The results showed that stressful unhealthy lifestyle and uncontrolled fatty diet plays a major role in coronary artery disease.

Increase in DNA damage in lymphocytes and micronucleus frequency in buccal cells in silica-exposed workers.

The alkaline single cell gel electrophoresis (comet assay) was applied to study the genotoxic properties of silica in human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL). The study was designed to evaluate the DNA damage of lymphocytes and the end points like micronuclei from buccal smears in a group of 45 workers, occupationally exposed to silica, from small mines and stone quarries. The results were compared to 20 sex and age matched normal individuals. There was a statistically significant difference in the damage levels between the exposed group and the control groups. The types of damages (type I –type 1V) were used to measure the DNA damage. The numbers of micronuclei were higher in the silica-exposed population. The present study suggests that the silica exposure can induce lymphocyte DNA damage and produces significant variation of micronuclei in buccal smear.

Changes in Anti-Oxidant Enzyme Profile during Haematological Malignancy

Abstract Reactive oxygen species can initiate lipid peroxidation and DNA damage leading to mutagenesis, carcinogenesis and cell death, if the antioxidant system is impaired. The present work aimed to study the changes in the quantitative in vitro activities of the antioxidant enzymes – glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase in the whole blood of our study group. Our study group included both blood cancer patients and age, sex matched healthy controls. We found significant decreases in the activities of both glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase in patients as compared with healthy controls. Our previous work has indicated elevated arsenic concentration in the biosamples of patients. Thus, haematological malignancy is found to be associated with changes in the antioxidant defense system which is correlated with arsenic toxicity.

Association of genotoxic effects of arsenic with haematological malignancy in West Bengal

Arsenic is a naturally occurring metalloid that has been associated with increased incidence of human cancers in certain highly exposed populations. This present work aimed to study whether arsenic plays any role in the increased incidence of blood cancer among residents of West Bengal, India, which is one of the worst arsenic-affected areas of the world. Our study group included both blood cancer patients and age-, sex-matched healthy controls. We studied the arsenic concentration in the hair and nail samples of our study group. We found significantly higher arsenic concentration in the biological tissues of patients, which also correlated with their greater incidence of chromosomal aberrations. Thus, arsenic may act as a predisposing factor for blood cancer.

High Incidence of Haemoglobin-E in Tribal Populations of Tripura, North East India

Abstract A large cohort of 80 randomly selected individuals from 12 different tribal groups and a group of 196 tribal school children of Tripura, N.E. India was studied to analyse the incidence and origin of HbE mutation in these populations. βE allele frequency was highest among Mareks (0.5625). In three tribal groups mutant allele frequency was higher than the normal allele frequency of β -globin gene. Analysis of 30 β E mutation bearing chromosomes shows that this mutation is present only on four different haplotype back grounds, all linked to framework 2.(5’+++ β E – -3’) haplotype was most prevalent in the present study group, which indicates the origin of codon 26 (G’!A) as a single mutation in this region. Among the 104 randomly selected individuals of Debbarman tribals of mixed age group β E frequency was 0.4086, while in the 196 school children aged 12 to 14 years and belonging to same tribal group β E frequency was 0.4923. This apparent increase in β E frequency cannot be treated as clear-cut indication of selection of mutant allele.