Synthesis, properties and antibacterial activity of Ca doped Zn2SnO4 nanoparticles by microwave assisted method

A major problem in world health care is the development of antibiotic resistance in bacteria. In light of this, pure and calcium-doped zinc tin oxide (ZTO) nanoparticles, Zn2SnO4 (S1), Zn2Sn0.7Ca0.3O4 (S2), Zn2Sn0.5Ca0.5O4 (S3), and Zn2Sn0.3Ca0.7O4 (S4), were synthesized via simple and cost effective microwave assisted method. The doping effect on antibacterial activity was studied in detail. The XRD spectrum revealed that all the deposited samples exhibited a spinel cubic structure. A decrease in crystallite size, an increase in strain and dislocation density was observed with an increase in Ca concentration. FESEM images exhibited an irregular and non-homogeneous nature with crystalline morphology having a physical dimension of nm size. EDAX confirmed the purity of deposited samples. We used the agar well diffusion technique to study the antibacterial activity of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The doping of the ZTO matrix with Ca ions increased its antibacterial performance by 99% against Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteria, and its effectiveness was enhanced with increasing Ca ion concentration inside the Zn2SnO4 nanoparticles.

Morpho-physiological and biochemical responses of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) genotypes upon sucking insect-pest infestations

The effects of sucking insect-pests on the morpho-physiological and biochemical changes in the leaves of four cotton genotypes-Bio 100 BG-II and GCH-3 (highly tolerant); KDCHH-9810 BG-II and HS-6 (highly susceptible)-were examined. Compared to tolerant genotypes, susceptible genotypes showed a decrease in relative water content, specific leaf weight, leaf area, photosynthetic rate, and total chlorophyll content, with an increase in electrolyte leakage. Hydrogen peroxide and total soluble sugar content were higher in susceptible plants. In contrast, resistant plants had higher levels of total soluble protein, total phenolic content, gossypol content, tannin content, peroxidase activity, and polyphenol oxidase. The findings demonstrated that the Bio 100 BG-II and GCH-3 genotypes effectively offset the impact of sucking insect-pests by modifying the factors mentioned above. The KDCHH-9810 BG-II and HS-6 genotypes could not completely negate the effects of sucking insect-pests. Customized metabolites and total soluble protein are more efficient in protecting cotton plants from damage brought on by infestations of sucking insects and pests.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-022-01253-w.

Mapping of host-parasite-microbiome interactions reveals metabolic determinants of tropism and tolerance in Chagas disease

Chagas disease (CD) is a parasitic disease caused by Trypanosoma cruzi protozoa, presenting with cardiomyopathy, megaesophagus, and/or megacolon. To determine the mechanisms of gastrointestinal (GI) CD tissue tropism, we systematically characterized the spatial localization of infection-induced metabolic and microbiome alterations, in a mouse model of CD. Notably, the impact of the transition between acute and persistent infection differed between tissue sites, with sustained large-scale effects of infection in the esophagus and large intestine, providing a potential mechanism for the tropism of CD within the GI tract. Infection affected acylcarnitine metabolism; carnitine supplementation prevented acute-stage CD mortality without affecting parasite burden by mitigating infection-induced metabolic disturbances and reducing cardiac strain. Overall, results identified a previously-unknown mechanism of disease tolerance in CD, with potential for new therapeutic regimen development. More broadly, results highlight the potential of spatially resolved metabolomics to provide insight into disease pathogenesis and infectious disease drug development.

Identification of potential CRAC channel inhibitors: Pharmacophore mapping, 3D-QSAR modelling, and molecular docking approach

Upregulation of store-operated Ca²⁺ influx via ORAI1, an integral component of the CRAC channel, is responsible for abnormal cytokine release in active rheumatoid arthritis, and therefore ORAI1 has been proposed as an attractive molecular target. In this study, we attempted to predict the mechanical insights of ORAI1 inhibitors through pharmacophore modelling, 3D-QSAR, molecular docking and free energy analysis. Various hypotheses of pharmacophores were generated and from that, a pharmacophore hypothesis with two hydrogen bond acceptors, one hydrogen bond donor and two aromatic rings (AADRR) resulted in a statistically significant 3D-QSAR model (r² = 0.84 and q² = 0.74). We believe that the obtained statistical model is a reliable QSAR model for the diverse dataset of inhibitors against the IL-2 production assay. The visualization of contours in active and inactive compounds generated from the 3D-QSAR models and molecular docking studies revealed major interaction with GLN108, HIS113 and ASP114, and interestingly, these residues are located near the Ca²⁺ selectivity filter region. Free energy binding analysis revealed that Coulomb energy, van der Waals energy and non-polar solvation terms are more favourable for ligand binding. Thus, the present study provides the physical and chemical requirements for the development of novel ORAI1 inhibitors with improved biological activity.

3-Carboxy-2-(piperidin-1-ium-1-yl)propanoate

In the zwitterionic title compound, C9H15NO4, the piperidinium N atom is protonated and the OH group of one of the carboxylate groups is deprotonated. The piperidinium ring adopts a chair conformation. In the crystal, N—H...O and O—H...O hydrogen bonds generate anR33(15) ring motif and link the molecules into infinite chains propagating along [010]. The structure is further consolidated by weak C—H...O interactions to form a three-dimensional network.

Genome-based, mechanism-driven computational modeling of risks of ionizing radiation: The next frontier in genetic risk estimation?

Research activity in the field of estimation of genetic risks of ionizing radiation to human populations started in the late 1940s and now appears to be passing through a plateau phase. This paper provides a background to the concepts, findings and methods of risk estimation that guided the field through the period of its growth to the beginning of the 21st century. It draws attention to several key facts: (a) thus far, genetic risk estimates have been made indirectly using mutation data collected in mouse radiation studies; (b) important uncertainties and unsolved problems remain, one notable example being that we still do not know the sensitivity of human female germ cells to radiation-induced mutations; and (c) the concept that dominated the field thus far, namely, that radiation exposures to germ cells can result in single gene diseases in the descendants of those exposed has been replaced by the concept that radiation exposure can cause DNA deletions, often involving more than one gene. Genetic risk estimation now encompasses work devoted to studies on DNA deletions induced in human germ cells, their expected frequencies, and phenotypes and associated clinical consequences in the progeny. We argue that the time is ripe to embark on a human genome-based, mechanism-driven, computational modeling of genetic risks of ionizing radiation, and we present a provisional framework for catalyzing research in the field in the 21st century.

Reflections on the origins and evolution of genetic toxicology and the Environmental Mutagen Society

This article traces the development of the field of mutagenesis and its metamorphosis into the research area we now call genetic toxicology. In 1969, this transitional event led to the founding of the Environmental Mutagen Society (EMS). The charter of this new Society was to "encourage interest in and study of mutagens in the human environment, particularly as these may be of concern to public health." As the mutagenesis field unfolded and expanded, new wording appeared to better describe this evolving area of research. The term "genetic toxicology" was coined and became an important subspecialty of the broad area of toxicology. Genetic toxicology is now set for a thorough reappraisal of its methods, goals, and priorities to meet the challenges of the 21st Century. To better understand these challenges, we have revisited the primary goal that the EMS founders had in mind for the Society's main mission and objective, namely, the quantitative assessment of genetic (hereditary) risks to human populations exposed to environmental agents. We also have reflected upon some of the seminal events over the last 40 years that have influenced the advancement of the genetic toxicology discipline and the extent to which the Society's major goal and allied objectives have been achieved. Additionally, we have provided suggestions on how EMS can further advance the science of genetic toxicology in the postgenome era. Any oversight or failure to make proper acknowledgment of individuals, events, or the citation of relevant references in this article is unintentional.

Behavioural risk factors for non communicable diseases among adults in Kerala, India

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE

Cardiovascular and other chronic diseases are becoming the major causes of morbidity and mortality in most of the third world countries including India, especially in the southern Indian States, like Kerala, where most of the health indicators match closely with those of any developed country. Various behavioural risk factors (BRF) namely smoking, unhealthy diet, stress at home and work place, consumption of alcohol, sedentary life style, etc., are known to be risk factors for many such diseases. The present study was carried out to estimate the prevalence of various behavioural risk factors for chronic diseases, and to identify their biosocial correlates.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was done in which the data were collected from a sample of 6579 individuals of age 30 to 74 yr, randomly selected following a stratified multi-stage cluster sampling design covering Kerala State. The important factors investigated include various behavioural risk factors, presenting chronic diseases and family histories among close relatives. The data were analysed using both univariate and multivariate analyses.

RESULTS

The two major risk factors observed among males were smoking and alcohol consumption. About two fifths (40%) of them were current smokers as well as current users of alcohol (41%). The median age at initiation was 21 yr for both smoking habits and for alcohol consumption. Nearly a quarter of the target population were inactive (23% males and 22% females) based on work and leisure time activities. More than one-fifth of them (23%) reported stress. Obesity was found more among females (33%) than males (17%). Low socio-economic background was found to be a high predictor (high risk group) for habit of smoking, alcohol consumption, stress and unhealthy diet.

INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION

Substantially high levels of the various behavioural risk factors among adults in Kerala suggests an urgent need for adopting healthy life style modifications among the population in general. The increased risk observed among the younger generation for behavioural risk factors such as smoking and alcohol consumption calls for urgent corrective steps and measures for long-term monitoring of all major risk factors as well as the major chronic disease conditions.

New approaches to assessing the effects of mutagenic agents on the integrity of the human genome

Heritable genetic alterations, although individually rare, have a substantial collective health impact. Approximately 20% of these are new mutations of unknown cause. Assessment of the effect of exposures to DNA damaging agents, i.e. mutagenic chemicals and radiations, on the integrity of the human genome and on the occurrence of genetic disease remains a daunting challenge. Recent insights may explain why previous examination of human exposures to ionizing radiation, as in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, failed to reveal heritable genetic effects. New opportunities to assess the heritable genetic damaging effects of environmental mutagens are afforded by: (1) integration of knowledge on the molecular nature of genetic disorders and the molecular effects of mutagens; (2) the development of more practical assays for germline mutagenesis; (3) the likely use of population-based genetic screening in personalized medicine.

Estimation of the genetic risks of exposure to ionizing radiation in humans: current status and emerging perspectives

The 2001 report of the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) on ;Hereditary effects of radiation' incorporates two important concepts that have emerged from advances in radiation genetics and molecular biology: (a) most radiation-induced mutations are DNA deletions, often encompassing multiple genes; however, because of structural and functional constraints, only a proportion of induced deletions may be compatible with viability and hence recoverable in the progeny and (b) viability-compatible DNA deletions induced in human germ cells are more likely to cause multi-system developmental abnormalities rather than single-gene diseases. The work reported in this paper pursues these concepts further: it examines how mechanistic insights gained from studies of repair of radiation-induced DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) in mammalian somatic cells and from those on the origin of deletions in human genomic disorders can be extended to germ cells the aim being the development of a framework to predict regions of the human genome that may be susceptible to radiation-induced deletions. A critical analysis of the available information permits the hypothesis that in stem cell spermatogonia, most induced deletions may arise via the non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) mechanism of DSB repair whereas in irradiated oocytes, the main mechanism is likely to be non-allelic homologous recombination (NAHR) between misaligned region-specific segmental duplications that are present in the genome (NAHR is an error-prone form of homologous recombination repair). Should this hypothesis turn out to be valid, then it is possible to build on the structural and functional aspects of genomic knowledge to devise strategies to predict where in the genome deletions may be induced by radiation, their extent and their potential phenotypes.

Oil massage in neonates: an open randomized controlled study of coconut versus mineral oil

INTRODUCTION

Oil massage for newborns is reported to improve weight gain by better thermoregulation. A role for transcutaneous absorption has also been suggested.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

This study was undertaken to compare the effect of massage with coconut oil versus mineral oil and placebo (powder) on growth velocity and neuro-behavior in well term and preterm babies.

STUDY DESIGN

Open Randomized Controlled trial.

SETTING

The Premature unit and the postnatal wards of a major teaching hospital in a metropolitan city.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Intramural preterm appropriate for gestational age babies weighing between 1500 to 2000 grams and term births weighing more than 2500 grams fulfilling the inclusion criteria constituted the two gestation age categories studied. Babies in each group were randomized to receive massage with either coconut oil, mineral oil or with placebo. Oil massage was given by a trained person from day 2 of life till discharge, and thereafter by the mother until 31 days of age, four times a day. Babies were followed up daily till discharge and every week after discharge for anthropometry. Neuro-behavioral outcome was assessed by the Brazelton Score at baseline, day 7 and on day 31.

RESULTS

Coconut oil massage resulted in significantly greater weight gain velocity as compared to mineral oil and placebo in the preterm babies group; and in the term baby group, as compared to the placebo. Preterm infants receiving coconut oil massage also showed a greater length gain velocity compared to placebo group. No statistically significant difference was observed in the neurobehavioral assessment between all three subgroups in term babies as well as in preterm babies.

Ionizing radiation and genetic risks XIV. Potential research directions in the post-genome era based on knowledge of repair of radiation-induced DNA double-strand breaks in mammalian somatic cells and the origin of deletions associated with human genomic disorders

Recent estimates of genetic risks from exposure of human populations to ionizing radiation are those presented in the 2001 report of the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR). These estimates incorporate two important concepts, namely, the following: (1) most radiation-induced mutations are DNA deletions, often encompassing multiple genes, but only a small proportion of the induced deletions is compatible with offspring viability; and (2) the viability-compatible deletions induced in germ cells are more likely to manifest themselves as multi-system developmental anomalies rather than as single gene disorders. This paper: (a) pursues these concepts further in the light of knowledge of mechanisms of origin of deletions and other rearrangements from two fields of contemporary research: repair of radiation-induced DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) in mammalian somatic cells and human molecular genetics; and (b) extends them to deletions induced in the germ cell stages of importance for radiation risk estimation, namely, stem cell spermatogonia in males and oocytes in females. DSB repair studies in somatic cells have elucidated the roles of two mechanistically distinct pathways, namely, homologous recombination repair (HRR) that utilizes extensive sequence homology and non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) that requires little or no homology at the junctions. A third process, single-strand annealing (SSA), which utilizes short direct repeat sequences, is considered a variant of HRR. HRR is most efficient in late S and G2 phases of the cell cycle and is a high fidelity mechanism. NHEJ operates in all cell cycle phases, but is especially important in G1. In the context of radiation-induced DSBs, NHEJ is error-prone. SSA is also an error-prone mechanism and its role is presumably similar to that of HRR. Studies in human molecular genetics have demonstrated that the occurrence of large deletions, duplications or other rearrangements in certain regions of the genome is related to the presence of large segments of repetitive DNA called segmental duplications (also called duplicons or low copy repeats, LCRs) in such regions. The mechanism that is envisaged for the origin of deletions and other rearrangements involves misalignment of region-specific LCRs of homologous chromosomes in meiosis followed by unequal crossing-over (i.e., non-allelic homologous recombination, NAHR). We hypothesize that: (a) in spermatogonial stem cells, NHEJ is probably the principal mechanism underlying the origin of radiation-induced deletions, although SSA and NAHR may also be involved to some extent, especially at low doses; and (b) in irradiated oocytes, NAHR is likely to be the main mechanism for generating deletions. We suggest future research possibilities, including the development of models for identifying regions of the genome that are susceptible to radiation-induced deletions. Such efforts may have particular significance in the context of the estimation of genetic risks of radiation exposure of human females, a problem that is still with us.

Congenital rickets

Although rickets in premature newborns is known to occur, term babies presenting at birth is uncommon. We report a term baby born to a mother with osteomalacia, and presented at birth with signs of florid rickets which was confirmed biochemically. After 4 weeks of treatment, radiological signs of healing were seen.

Impact of cancer predisposition and radiosensitivity on the population risk of radiation-induced cancers

This paper provides a brief overview of the current evidence for cancer predisposition and for an increased sensitivity of individuals carrying such predisposing mutations to cancers induced by ionizing radiations. We also discuss the use of a Mendelian one-locus, two-allele autosomal dominant model for predicting the impact of cancer predisposition and increased radiosensitivity on the risk of radiation-induced cancers in the population and in relatives of affected individuals using breast cancer due to BRCA1 mutations as an example. The main conclusions are the following: (1) The relative risk ratio of the risks of radiation-induced cancer in a heterogeneous population which has subgroups of normal and cancer-predisposed individuals to the risks in a homogeneous population (i.e., one which does not have these subgroups) increases with increasing dose; however, the dose dependence of the RR decreases at higher doses because of the fact that at high doses, the radiation risk to a homogeneous population will already be high. (2) The attributable risk (the proportion of cancers attributable to increased cancer susceptibility and increased radiosensitivity) follows a similar pattern. (3) When the proportion of cancers due to the susceptible genotypes is small (< 10%), as is likely to be the case for breast cancers in non-Ashkenazi Jewish women, the increases in risk ratios and attributable risks are small, and become marked only when there are very large increases in cancer susceptibility (> 1000-fold) and radiosensitivity (> 100-fold) in the susceptible group. (4) When the proportion of cancers due to the susceptible genotypes is appreciable (> or = 10%), as may be the case for breast cancers in Ashkenazi Jewish women, there may be significant increases in the risk ratios and attributable risk for comparatively moderate increases in cancer susceptibility (> 10-fold) and radiosensitivity (> 100-fold) in the susceptible subpopulation. (5) The ratio of the risk of radiation-induced cancer in relatives to that in unrelated individuals in the population increases with the biological relatedness of the relative, being higher for close than for distant relatives; however, even when the mutant BRCA1 gene frequency and the proportion of breast cancers due to these mutations are high, as in Ashkenazi Jewish women, for values of predisposition strength and radiosensitivity differential < 10, the increase in breast cancer risks is only marginal, even for first-degree relatives.

Estimation of the hereditary risks of exposure to ionizing radiation: history, current status, and emerging perspectives

This paper provides a brief overview of the advances in the field of the estimation of the genetic risks of exposure of human populations to ionizing radiation from the early 1950's to the present and of the developments that are anticipated in the coming years. The latter are based on the view that the insights gained from human genetics, especially human molecular genetics, will be increasingly applied to address problems in risk estimation. Owing to the paucity of human data on radiation-induced mutations, mouse data on radiation-induced mutations are used to predict the risk of genetic diseases in humans using the doubling dose method. With this method, the risk per unit dose is expressed as a product of three quantities, i.e., P x 1/DD x MC where P is the baseline frequency of genetic diseases, 1/DD (the relative mutation risk per unit dose; DD refers to the doubling dose, i.e., the radiation dose required to produce as many mutations as those that occur spontaneously in a generation) and MC is the disease class-specific mutation component (a measure of the relative increase in disease frequency per unit relative increase in mutation rate). The five important changes that are now introduced in genetic risk estimation include (1) an upward revision of the baseline frequency of Mendelian diseases to 2.4% (from 1.25% used until the early 1990's); (2) a reversion to the conceptual basis for DD calculations used in the 1972 BEIR report of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, namely, the use of human data on spontaneous mutation rates and mouse data on induced mutation rates (instead of the use of mouse data for both these rates as has been the case from mid-1970's until the early 1990's); (3) the fuller development and use of the MC concept for predicting the responsiveness of Mendelian and multifactorial diseases to increases in mutation rate; (4) the introduction of a new disease-class-specific quantity called the "potential recoverability correction factor" or PRCF in the risk equation to bridge the gap between the rates of induced mutations in mice and the risk of inducible genetic diseases in humans; and (5) the introduction of the concept that multisystem developmental abnormalities are likely to be among the principal phenotypes of radiation induced genetic damage in humans. All these advances now permit, for the first time in 40 y, the estimation of risks for all classes of genetic diseases. For a population exposed to low-LET, chronic or low-dose irradiation, the risks predicted for the first generation progeny are the following (all estimates are per million live born progeny per gray of parental irradiation): autosomal dominant and x-linked diseases, approximately 750 to 1,500 cases; autosomal recessive, nearly zero; chronic multifactorial diseases, approximately 250 to 1,200 cases; and congenital abnormalities, approximately 2000 cases. The total risk per gray is of the order of approximately 3,000 to 4,700 cases, which represent approximately 0.4 to 0.6% of the baseline frequency of these diseases (738,000 per million) in the population. The advances anticipated in the coming years are likely to permit the estimation of genetic risks of radiation with greater precision than is now possible.

Differential responses of Chinese hamster mutagen sensitive cell lines to low and high concentrations of calicheamicin and neocarzinostatin

To shed light on the mechanism underlying the cellular response to the radiomimetic agents calicheamicin Y(1)(1) (CAL) and neocarzinostatin (NCS), several hamster cell mutants defective in different DNA repair pathways were used. Two X-ray sensitive Chinese hamster V79 mutant cell lines, XR-V9B and V-E5 were studied for their response to the induction of cell killing, micronuclei, and G2-chromosomal aberrations relative to that of parental wild-type cells. In addition, effects of CAL and NCS on bleomycin sensitive BL-V40 cells and on UV sensitive V-H1 cells were analyzed. In general, the radiosensitive cell lines showed the highest sensitivities to CAL and NCS, but also the other mutants demonstrated differences in their responses compared to wild-type cells. With respect to cell killing, expressed as D(10)-value, enhanced sensitivities of mutants with factors up to 4.4 were recorded. For the induction of micronuclei (MN) and chromosomal aberrations (CA) all cell lines, including the parental cells, show a steep increase in the frequencies at the lowest tested doses and a leveling off at higher concentrations. Probably toxic effects at the higher exposure levels are responsible for these biphasic dose effect curves. Enhanced sensitivities of the various mutants were primarily observed at the higher exposure levels. With respect to the induction of MN increased sensitivities up to a factor of 18.1 were observed for the radiosensitive mutants, whereas for CA the mutant cell lines showed a variation from resistance (0.3) of VH-1 cells up to a 3.8-fold higher sensitivity to the radiomimetic agents. However, at the lowest tested concentrations for both MN and CA, the differences between the sensitive mutants and wild-type clearly diminished, suggesting the existence of residual and/or alternative DNA repair pathways in these mutants.

Ionizing radiation and genetic risks. XIII. Summary and synthesis of papers VI to XII and estimates of genetic risks in the year 2000

This paper recapitulates the advances in the field of genetic risk estimation that have occurred during the past decade and using them as a basis, presents revised estimates of genetic risks of exposure to radiation. The advances include: (i) an upward revision of the estimates of incidence for Mendelian diseases (2.4% now versus 1.25% in 1993); (ii) the introduction of a conceptual change for calculating doubling doses; (iii) the elaboration of methods to estimate the mutation component (i.e. the relative increase in disease frequency per unit relative increase in mutation rate) and the use of the estimates obtained through these methods for assessing the impact of induced mutations on the incidence of Mendelian and chronic multifactorial diseases; (iv) the introduction of an additional factor called the "potential recoverability correction factor" in the risk equation to bridge the gap between radiation-induced mutations that have been recovered in mice and the risk of radiation-inducible genetic disease in human live births and (v) the introduction of the concept that the adverse effects of radiation-induced genetic damage are likely to be manifest predominantly as multi-system developmental abnormalities in the progeny. For all classes of genetic disease (except congenital abnormalities), the estimates of risk have been obtained using a doubling dose of 1 Gy. For a population exposed to low LET, chronic/ low dose irradiation, the current estimates for the first generation progeny are the following (all estimates per million live born progeny per Gy of parental irradiation): autosomal dominant and X-linked diseases, approximately 750-1500 cases; autosomal recessive, nearly zero and chronic multifactorial diseases, approximately 250-1200 cases. For congenital abnormalities, the estimate is approximately 2000 cases and is based on mouse data on developmental abnormalities. The total risk per Gy is of the order of approximately 3000-4700 cases which represent approximately 0.4-0.6% of the baseline frequency of these diseases (738,000 per million) in the population.

Ionizing radiation and genetic risks. XII. The concept of "potential recoverability correction factor" (PRCF) and its use for predicting the risk of radiation-inducible genetic disease in human live births

Genetic risks of radiation exposure of humans are generally expressed as expected increases in the frequencies of genetic diseases over those that occur naturally in the population as a result of spontaneous mutations. Since human data on radiation-induced germ cell mutations and genetic diseases remain scanty, the rates derived from the induced frequencies of mutations in mouse genes are used for this purpose. Such an extrapolation from mouse data to the risk of genetic diseases will be valid only if the average rates of inducible mutations in human genes of interest and the average rates of induced mutations in mice are similar. Advances in knowledge of human genetic diseases and in molecular studies of radiation-induced mutations in experimental systems now question the validity of the above extrapolation. In fact, they (i) support the view that only in a limited number of genes in the human genome, induced mutations may be compatible with viability and hence recoverable in live births and (ii) suggest that the average rate of induced mutations in human genes of interest from the disease point of view will be lower than that assumed from mouse results. Since, at present, there is no alternative to the use of mouse data on induced mutation rates, there is a need to bridge the gap between these and the risk of potentially inducible genetic diseases in human live births. In this paper, we advance the concept of what we refer to here as "the potential recoverability correction factor" (PRCF) to bridge the above gap in risk estimation and present a method to estimate PRCF. In developing the concept of PRCF, we first used the available information on radiation-induced mutations recovered in experimental studies to define some criteria for assessing potential recoverability of induced mutations and then applied these to human genes on a gene-by-gene basis. The analysis permitted us to estimate unweighted PRCFs (i.e. the fraction of genes among the total studied that might contribute to recoverable induced mutations) and weighted PRCFs (i.e. PRCFs weighted by the incidences of the respective diseases). The estimates are: 0.15 (weighted) to 0.30 (unweighted) for autosomal dominant and X-linked diseases and 0.02 (weighted) to 0.09 (unweighted) for chronic multifactorial diseases. The PRCF calculations are unnecessary for autosomal recessive diseases since the risks projected for the first few generations even without using PRCFs are already very small. For congenital abnormalities, PRCFs cannot be reliably estimated. With the incorporation of PRCF into the equation used for predicting risk, the risk per unit dose becomes the product of four quantities (risk per unit dose=Px(1/DD)xMCxPRCF) where P is the baseline frequency of the genetic disease, 1/DD is the relative mutation risk per unit dose, MC is the mutation component and PRCF is the disease-class-specific potential recoverability correction factor instead of the first three (as has been the case thus far). Since PRCF is a fraction, it is obvious that the estimate of risk obtained with the revised risk equation will be smaller than previously calculated values.

Ionizing radiation and genetic risks. XI. The doubling dose estimates from the mid-1950s to the present and the conceptual change to the use of human data on spontaneous mutation rates and mouse data on induced mutation rates for doubling dose calculations

This paper provides an overview of the concept of doubling dose, changes in the database employed for calculating it over the past 30 years and recent advances in this area. The doubling dose is estimated as a ratio of the average rates of spontaneous and induced mutations in a defined set of genes. The reciprocal of the doubling dose is the relative mutation risk per unit dose and is one of the quantities used in estimating genetic risks of radiation exposures. Most of the doubling dose estimates used thus far have been based on mouse data on spontaneous and induced rates of mutations. Initially restricted to mutations in defined genes (with particular focus on the seven genes at which induced recessive mutations were studied in different laboratories), the doubling dose concept was subsequently expanded to include other endpoints of genetic damage. At least during the past 20 years, the magnitude of the doubling dose has remained unchanged at approximately 1 Gy for chronic low LET radiation exposures. One of the assumptions underlying the use of the doubling dose based on mouse data for predicting genetic risks in humans, namely, that the spontaneous rates of mutations in mouse and human genes are similar, is incorrect; this is because of the fact that, unlike in the mouse, the mutation rate in humans differs between the two sexes (being higher in males than in females) and increases with paternal age. Further, an additional source of uncertainty in spontaneous mutation rate estimates in mice has been uncovered. This is related to the non-inclusion of mutations which arise as germinal mosaics and which result in clusters of identical mutations in the following generation. In view of these reasons, it is suggested that a prudent way forward is to revert to the use of human data on spontaneous mutation rates and mouse data on induced mutation rates for doubling dose calculations as was first done in the 1972 BEIR report of the US National Academy of Sciences. The advantages of this procedure are the following: (i) estimates of spontaneous mutation rates in humans, which are usually presented as sex-averaged rates, automatically include sex differences and paternal age-effects; (ii) since human geneticists count all mutations that arise anew irrespective of whether they are part of a cluster or not, had clusters occurred, they would have been included in mutation rate calculations and (iii) one stays close to the aim of risk estimation, namely, estimation of the risk of genetic diseases in humans. On the basis of detailed analyses of the pertinent data, it is now estimated that the average spontaneous mutation rate of human genes (n=135 genes) is: (2.95+/-0.64)x10(-6) per gene and the average induced mutation rate of mouse genes (n=34) is: (0.36+/-0.10)x10(-5) per gene per Gy for chronic low LET radiation. The resultant doubling dose is (0.82+/-0.29) Gy. The standard error of the doubling dose estimate incorporates sampling variability across loci for estimates of spontaneous and induced mutation rates as well as variability in induced mutation rates in individual mouse experiments on radiation-induced mutations. We suggest the use of a rounded doubling dose value of 1 Gy for estimating genetic risks of radiation. Although this value is the same as that used previously, its conceptual basis is different and the present estimate is based on more extensive data than has so far been the case.

Serum alpha-N-acetylgalactosaminidase is associated with diagnosis/prognosis of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix

Serum alpha-N-acetylgalactosaminidase (NaGalase) is responsible for the deglycosylation of vitamin D(3)-binding protein (Gc protein). The deglycosylated Gc protein cannot be converted into major macrophage-activating factor (MAF), leading to immunosuppression. NaGalase is universally detected in a variety of cancer patients, but not in healthy individuals (Cancer Res. 56 (1997) 2827-2831). However, the diagnostic/prognostic utility of NaGalase in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the uterine cervix is not known. To address this issue, the serum NaGalase was quantitatively determined in 210 patients with different stages of SCC of the uterine cervix. NaGalase levels were increased with the progression of the cancer. After radiotherapy, the increased levels returned toward or to normal levels in early stages (FIGO stage I-IIB) but not in advanced stages (FIGO stage III-IV). The present study revealed that the amount of NaGalase in the patient's bloodstream reflects the tumor burden and aggressiveness of the disease. We conclude that NaGalase is an independent predictor of diagnosis/prognosis in SCC of the uterine cervix, and therefore suggest that quantitative NaGalase alteration may reflect important differences in the immunological functions of these neoplasms.

Estimation of genetic risks of exposure to ionizing radiation: status in the year 2000

This paper provides an overview of the advances in the estimation of genetic risks of exposure of human populations to ionizing radiation with particular emphasis on the advances during the last decade. Among the latter are: (a) an upward revision of the estimates of the baseline frequencies of Mendelian diseases (from 1.25 to 2.4%); (b) the conceptual change to the use of a doubling dose based on human data on spontaneous mutation rates and mouse data on induced mutation rates (from the one based entirely on mouse data on spontaneous and induced mutation rates, which was the case thus far); (c) the fuller development of the concept of mutation component (MC) and its application to predict the responsiveness of Mendelian and chronic multifactorial diseases to induced mutations; (d) the concept that the major adverse effects of radiation exposure of human germ cells are likely to be manifest as multi-system developmental abnormalities and (e) the concept of potential recoverability correction factor (PRCF) to bridge the gap between induced mutations studied in mice and the risk of genetic disease in humans. For a population exposed to low LET, chronic/low dose-rate irradiation, the current estimates of risk for the first generation progeny are the following (all estimates per million live born progeny per Gy of parental irradiation): autosomal dominant and X-linked diseases, approximately 750 to 1,500 cases; autosomal recessive, nearly zero; chronic multifactorial diseases, approximately 250 to 1,200 cases and congenital abnormalities, approximately 2,000 cases. The total risk per Gy is of the order of approximately 3,000 to 4,700 cases which represent approximately 0.4 to 0.6% of the baseline frequency of these diseases. The main message is that at low doses of radiation of interest in risk estimation, the risk of adverse hereditary effects is small.

Enzyme-linked PNA lectin-binding assay of serum T-antigen in patients with SCC of the uterine cervix

The expression of Thomsen-Friendenreich antigen (T-Ag) is associated with enhanced metastatic potential, poor prognosis and decreased survival rate in a variety of malignancies, and their detection and quantification can be used in serologic diagnosis. T-antigen expressions were measured by the enzyme-linked lectin assay (ELLA) with peanut agglutinin (PNA) in the sera of patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the uterine cervix from 286 patients. This study has a sensitivity of 80%, specificity of 82% and a positive predictive value of 93%. Quantification of the T-antigen may provide useful biochemical indices for clinical assessment of the tumor spread and invasiveness of disease in SCC of the uterine cervix. Moreover, the ELLA assay is cheap, easy to perform and reproducible in the prognosis and diagnosis of SCC of the uterine cervix.

In vivo and in vitro radioprotective effects of the prostaglandin E1 analogue misoprostol in DNA repair-proficient and -deficient rodent cell systems

The radioprotective effect of a stable prostaglandin E(1) analogue, misoprostol, was studied in cells from mice with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) and in normal cells using X-ray-induced chromosomal aberrations and/or cell killing as the end points. The results clearly show misoprostol-induced radioprotective effects in spermatocytes of the first meiotic division when analyzed for X-ray-induced chromosomal aberrations. The protective effect was independent of Trp53 (formerly known as p53) status. Since spermatocytes are relatively easy to isolate, this appears to be a suitable in vivo model that will allow biochemical studies of the mechanisms involved in radioprotection mediated by misoprostol. Using transfected CHO-K1 cells that stably express a PGE(2) receptor (CPE cells), significant radioprotection mediated by misoprostol from both chromosome breakage and cell death could be demonstrated under in vitro conditions. In addition, evidence was obtained indicating that the degree of radioprotection was dependent on the cell cycle and that S-phase cells were less responsive to misoprostol-mediated radioprotection. These results suggest that CPE cells may be a suitable in vitro model for further studies on the cellular pathways involved in radioprotection by misoprostol in particular and prostaglandins in general.

Ionizing radiation and genetic risks. X. The potential "disease phenotypes" of radiation-induced genetic damage in humans: perspectives from human molecular biology and radiation genetics

Estimates of genetic risks of radiation exposure of humans are traditionally expressed as expected increases in the frequencies of genetic diseases (single-gene, chromosomal and multifactorial) over and above those of naturally-occurring ones in the population. An important assumption in expressing risks in this manner is that gonadal radiation exposures can cause an increase in the frequency of mutations and that this would result in an increase in the frequency of genetic diseases under study. However, despite compelling evidence for radiation-induced mutations in experimental systems, no increases in the frequencies of genetic diseases of concern or other adverse effects (i.e., those which are not formally classified as genetic diseases), have been found in human studies involving parents who have sustained radiation exposures. The known differences between spontaneous mutations that underlie naturally-occurring single-gene diseases and radiation-induced mutations studied in experimental systems now permit us to address and resolve these issues to some extent. The fact that spontaneous mutations (among which are point mutations and DNA deletions generally restricted to the gene) originate through a number of different mechanisms and that the latter are intimately related to the DNA organization of the genes, are now well-documented. Further, spontaneous mutations include those that cause diseases through loss of function as well as gain of function of genes. In contrast, most radiation-induced mutations studied in experimental systems (although identified through the phenotypes of the marker genes) are predominantly multigene deletions which cause loss of function; the recoverability of an induced deletion in a livebirth seems dependent on whether the gene and the genomic region in which it is located can tolerate heterozygosity for the deletion and yet be compatible with viability. In retrospect, the successful mutation test systems (such as the mouse specific locus test) used in radiation studies have involved genes which are non-essential for survival and are also located in genomic regions, likewise non-essential for survival. In contrast, most of the human genes at which induced mutations have been looked for, do not seem to have these attributes. The inference therefore is that the failure to find induced germline mutations in humans is not due to the resistance of human genes to induced mutations but due to the structural and functional constraints associated with their recoverability in livebirths. Since the risk of inducible genetic diseases in humans is estimated using rates of "recovered" mutations in mice, there is a need to introduce appropriate correction factors to bridge the gap between these rates and the rates at which mutations causing diseases are potentially recoverable in humans. Since the whole genome is the "target" for radiation-induced genetic damage, the failure to find increases in the frequencies of specific single-gene diseases of societal concern does not imply that there are no genetic risks of radiation exposures: the problem lies in delineating the phenotypes of recoverable genetic damage that are recognizable in livebirths. Data from studies of naturally-occurring microdeletion syndromes in humans and those from mouse radiation studies are instructive in this regard. They (i) support the view that growth retardation, mental retardation and multisystem developmental abnormalities are likely to be among the quantitatively more important adverse effects of radiation-induced genetic damage than mutations in a few selected genes and (ii) underscore the need to expand the focus in risk estimation from known genetic diseases (as has been the case thus far) to include these induced adverse developmental effects although most of these are not formally classified as "genetic diseases". (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED)

Ionizing radiation and genetic risks. VI. Chronic multifactorial diseases: a review of epidemiological and genetical aspects of coronary heart disease, essential hypertension and diabetes mellitus

This paper provides a broad overview of the epidemiological and genetical aspects of common multifactorial diseases in man with focus on three well-studied ones, namely, coronary heart disease (CHD), essential hypertension (EHYT) and diabetes mellitus (DM). In contrast to mendelian diseases, for which a mutant gene either in the heterozygous or homozygous condition is generally sufficient to cause disease, for most multifactorial diseases, the concepts of genetic susceptibility' and risk factors' are more appropriate. For these diseases, genetic susceptibility is heterogeneous. The well-studied diseases such as CHD permit one to conceptualize the complex relationships between genotype and phenotype for chronic multifactorial diseases in general, namely that allelic variations in genes, through their products interacting with environmental factors, contribute to the quantitative variability of biological risk factor traits and thus ultimately to disease outcome. Two types of such allelic variations can be distinguished, namely those in genes whose mutant alleles have (i) small to moderate effects on the risk factor trait, are common in the population (polymorphic alleles) and therefore contribute substantially to the variability of biological risk factor traits and (ii) profound effects, are rare in the population and therefore contribute far less to the variability of biological risk factor traits. For all the three diseases considered in this review, a positive family history is a strong risk factor. CHD is one of the major contributors to mortality in most industrialized countries. Evidence from epidemiological studies, clinical correlations, genetic hyperlipidaemias etc., indicate that lipids play a key role in the pathogenesis of CHD. The known lipid-related risk factors include: high levels of low density lipoprotein cholesterol, low levels of high density lipoprotein cholesterol, high apoB levels (the major protein fraction of the low density lipoprotein particles) and elevated levels of Lp(a) lipoprotein. Among the risk factors which are not related to lipids are: high levels of homocysteine, low activity of paraoxonase and possibly also elevated plasma fibrinogen levels. In addition to the above, hypertension, diabetes and obesity (which themselves have genetic determinants) are important risk factors for CHD. Among the environmental risk factors are: high dietary fat intake, smoking, stress, lack of exercise etc. About 60% of the variability of the plasma cholesterol is genetic in origin. While a few genes have been identified whose mutant alleles have large effects on this trait (e.g., LDLR, familial defective apoB-100), variability in cholesterol levels among individuals in most families is influenced by allelic variation in many genes (polymorphisms) as well as environmental exposures. A proportion of this variation can be accounted for by two alleles of the apoE locus that increase (&epsi;4) and decrease (&epsi;2) cholesterol levels, respectively. A polymorphism at the apoB gene (XbaI) also has similar effects, but is probably not mediated through lipids. High density lipoprotein cholesterol levels are genetically influenced and are related to apoA1 and hepatic lipase (LIPC) gene functions. Mutations in the apoA1 gene are rare and there are data which suggest a role of allelic variation at or linked LIPC gene in high density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. Polymorphism at the apoA1--C3 loci is often associated with hypertriglyceridemia. The apo(a) gene which codes for Lp(a) is highly polymorphic, each allele determining a specific number of multiple tandem repeats of a unique coding sequence known as Kringle 4. The size of the gene correlates with the size of the Lp(a) protein. The smaller the size of the Lp(a) protein, the higher are the Lp(a) levels. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED)

Mutations in the BRCA1 gene: implications of inter-population differences for predicting the risk of radiation-induced breast cancers

The effects of cancer predisposition and increased tumorigenic radiosensitivity of the predisposed genotypes on radiation cancer risks (in the general population and in sisters and first cousins of affected probands) are studied using an autosomal dominant model of cancer predisposition and radiosensitivity. The model assumes that the predisposing alleles, which confer enhanced tumorigenic radiosensitivity, are incompletely penetrant. In addition, the model also allows for sporadic cancers, unrelated to the predisposing locus. The predictions of the model are illustrated using current estimates of BRCA1 mutant gene frequencies; the estimates of the strength of predisposition and radiosensitivity differentials used are based on animal and human studies. It is shown that, unless both the strength of predisposition and radiosensitivity differential are large (say, > 100-fold in comparison with normal homozygotes), (i) the effect of risk heterogeneity on cancer risk is marginal; (ii) dose-dependent radiation effect remains virtually the same as in a homogeneous irradiated population that has no predisposed subgroups; (iii) for the same radiation dose, relatives of affected probands show an enhancement of cancer risks; and (iv) most extra cancers in relatives can be attributed to radiosensitivity differentials. This simple model can give an upper bound of the effect of risk heterogeneity on radiation-induced breast cancer risks even when the cumulative breast cancer risk is age-dependent. Further, our model predicts that the benefits of mammography outweigh the risks.

Ionizing radiation and genetic risks IX. Estimates of the frequencies of mendelian diseases and spontaneous mutation rates in human populations: a 1998 perspective

This paper is focused on baseline frequencies of mendelian diseases and the conceptual basis for calculating doubling doses both of which are relevant for the doubling dose method of estimating genetic risks of exposure of human populations to ionizing radiation. With this method, the risk per unit dose is obtained as a product of three quantities, namely, the baseline frequency of the disease class under consideration, the relative mutation risk (which is the reciprocal of the doubling dose, which in turn, is calculated as a ratio of spontaneous and induction rates of mutations) and mutation component, i.e., the responsiveness of the disease class to an increase in mutation rate. The estimates of baseline frequencies of mendelian diseases that are currently used in risk estimation date back to the late 1970s. Advances in human genetics during the past two decades now permit an upward revision of these estimates. The revised estimates are 150 per 10(4) livebirths for autosomal dominants (from the earlier estimate of 95 per 10(4)), 75 per 10(4) livebirths for autosomal recessives (from 25 per 10(4)) and to 15 per 10(4) livebirths for X-linked diseases (from 5 per 10(4)). The revised total frequency of mendelian diseases is thus 240 per 10(4) livebirths and is about twice the earlier figure of 125 per 10(4) livebirths. All these estimates, however, pertain primarily to Western European and Western European-derived populations. The fact that in several population isolates or ethnic groups, some of these diseases (especially the autosomal recessives) are more common as a result of founder effects and/or genetic drift is well known and many more recent examples have come to light. These data are reviewed and illustrated with data from studies of the Ashkenazi Jewish, Finnish, French Canadian, Afrikaner and some other populations to highlight the need for caution in extrapolating radiation risks between populations. The doubling dose of 1 Gy that has been used for the past 20 years for risk estimation is based on mouse data for both spontaneous and induction rates of mutations. In extrapolating the mouse-data-based doubling dose to humans, it is assumed that the spontaneous rates in mice and humans are similar. This assumption is incorrect because of the fact that in humans, for several well-studied mendelian diseases, the mutation rate differs between the two sexes and it increases with paternal age. In estimates of spontaneous mutation rates in humans (which represent averages over both sexes), however, paternal age effects are automatically incorporated. In the mouse, these effects are expected to be much less (if they exist at all), but the problem has not been specifically addressed. The complexities and uncertainties associated with assessing the potential impact of spontaneous mutations which arise as germinal mosaics (and which can result in clusters of mutations in the following generation) on mutation rate estimates (in the mouse) and on mutation rate estimates and disease frequencies (in humans) are discussed. In view of (i) the lack of comparability of spontaneous mutation rates in mice and humans and (ii) the fact that these estimates for human genes already include both paternal age effects and correction for clusters (if they had occurred), it is suggested that a prudent procedure now is to base doubling dose calculations on spontaneous mutation rates of human genes (and induction rates of mouse genes, in the absence of a better alternative). This concept, however, is not new and was used by the US National Academy's Committee on the Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation in its 1972 report.

Ionizing radiation and genetic risks. VIII. The concept of mutation component and its use in risk estimation for multifactorial diseases

Multifactorial diseases, which include the common congenital abnormalities (incidence: 6%) and chronic diseases with onset predominantly in adults (population prevalence: 65%), contribute substantially to human morbidity and mortality. Their transmission patterns do not conform to Mendelian expectations. The model most frequently used to explain their inheritance and to estimate risks to relatives is a Multifactorial Threshold Model (MTM) of disease liability. The MTM assumes that: (i) the disease is due to the joint action of a large number of genetic and environmental factors, each of which contributing a small amount of liability, (ii) the distribution of liability in the population is Gaussian and (iii) individuals whose liability exceeds a certain threshold value are affected by the disease. For most of these diseases, the number of genes involved or the environmental factors are not fully known. In the context of radiation exposures of the population, the question of the extent to which induced mutations will cause an increase in the frequencies of these diseases has remained unanswered. In this paper, we address this problem by using a modified version of MTM which incorporates mutation and selection as two additional parameters. The model assumes a finite number of gene loci and threshold of liability (hence, the designation, Finite-Locus Threshold Model or FLTM). The FLTM permits one to examine the relationship between broad-sense heritability of disease liability and mutation component (MC), the responsiveness of the disease to a change in mutation rate. Through the use of a computer program (in which mutation rate, selection, threshold, recombination rate and environmental variance are input parameters and MC and heritability of liability are output estimates), we studied the MC-heritability relationship for (i) a permanent increase in mutation rate (e.g., when the population sustains radiation exposure in every generation) and (ii) a one-time increase in mutation rate. Our investigation shows that, for a permanent increase in mutation rate of 15%, MC in the first few generations is of the order of 1-2%. This conclusion holds over a broad range of heritability values above about 30%. At equilibrium, however, MC reaches 100%. For a one-time increase in mutation rate, MC reaches its maximum value (of 1-2%) in the first generation, followed by a decline to zero in subsequent generations. These conclusions hold for so many combinations of parameter values (i.e., threshold, selection coefficient, number of loci, environmental variance, spontaneous mutation rate, increases in mutation rate, levels of 'interaction' between genes and recombination rates) that it can be considered to be relatively robust. We also investigated the biological validity of the FLTM in terms of the minimum number of loci, their mutation rates and selection coefficients needed to explain the incidence of multifactorial diseases using the theory of genetic loads. We argue that for common multifactorial diseases, selection coefficients are small in present-day human populations. Consequently, with mutation rates of the order known for Mendelian genes, the FLTM with a few loci and weak selection provides a good approximation for studying the responsiveness of multifactorial diseases to radiation exposures.

Ionizing radiation and genetic risks. VII. The concept of mutation component and its use in risk estimation for Mendelian diseases

The responsiveness of Mendelian diseases to an increase in the mutation rate is studied by using the concept of the mutation component (MC) of genetic diseases. Algebraic expressions to evaluate MC at any specific generation following either a one-time or a permanent increase in mutation rate are derived and are illustrated with numerical examples. For a one-time increase in mutation rate, the analysis shows that the first generation MC for autosomal dominant diseases is equal to the selection coefficient; this is also true for X-linked diseases (adjusted for the proportion of X-chromosomes in males). For autosomal recessive diseases the first generation MC is substantially smaller than that for autosomal dominants. In subsequent generations MC gradually decays to zero. Under conditions of a permanent increase in the mutation rate, the MC for autosomal dominant, X-linked and completely recessive autosomal disorders progressively increases to reach a value of one at the new equilibrium. For incompletely recessive autosomal disorders, however, the MC at equilibrium can be larger than one. The rates of approach to the new equilibrium are different for the different classes of diseases, dictated by selection and time (in generations) following radiation exposure. The effects of increases in mutation rate on MC are more pronounced for autosomal dominants, followed by X-linked and are far less for autosomal recessives. Even for autosomal dominants, the early generation effects of radiation exposures would not be appreciable unless the heterozygotes have a severely reduced fitness.

Cancer predisposition, radiosensitivity and the risk of radiation-induced cancers. IV. Prediction of risks in relatives of cancer-predisposed individuals

Individuals carrying cancer-predisposing germline mutations are known to be at a higher risk for cancers than those who do not carry them. This is also true of their biological relatives because they have a higher probability of being carriers of such mutant genes than unrelated individuals in the population. Further, there are now sufficient grounds for assuming that cancer-predisposed individuals may also be at a higher risk for cancers induced by ionizing radiation. In our earlier work, we examined the impact of this heterogeneity (with respect to cancer predisposition and radiosensitivity differentials) on risks of radiation-induced cancer at the population level. This paper is focused on the question of risks of radiation-induced cancer in relatives of cancer-predisposed individuals. Using an autosomal dominant model of cancer predisposition and radiosensitivity developed earlier and applying it to breast cancer risks associated with mutations in the BRCA1 gene, we show that: (1) The risk ratio (i.e. the ratio of risk of radiation-induced cancer in relatives to that in unrelated individuals) in the population increases with the degree of biological relatedness of the relative, being higher for close than for distant relatives; incomplete penetrance of the mutant gene "dilutes" this risk ratio. (2) The proportion of excess radiation-induced cancers in relatives (i.e. the attributable fraction) is higher than in unrelated individuals. (3) In relatives, the proportion of excess cancers due to radiosensitivity differentials alone depends on the strength of predisposition, the radiosensitivity differentials assumed, the radiation dose, the proportion of cancers due to predisposition, the mutant gene frequency and the penetrance of the mutant gene. This is in contrast to the situation for unrelated individuals, for whom the above-mentioned proportion is dependent on the first three but not on the last three of these factors. Further, even when the proportion of excess cancers is small, most of it is due to radiosensitivity differential alone both in unrelated individuals and in relatives. (4) For values of predisposition strength and radiosensitivity differential <10, even when the estimated frequency of a mutant BRCA1 gene is 0.0047 and the proportion of breast cancers due to these mutations is 38% (as is the case for Ashkenazi Jewish women under age 30), the increase in breast cancer risks is only marginal even for first-degree relatives. (5) These findings support the conclusion that increases in radiation risks to relatives (compared to those in unrelated individuals), to be detectable epidemiologically, will occur only when the mutant alleles are common and the strength of predisposition and radiosensitivity differentials are conjointly dramatic.