Biological activity resulting from exposure to aquatic environmental genotoxic pollutants in northern Egypt

We estimated pollution in Lake Edku and the Mediterranean Sea, El-Maadiya Region, with 3 aromatic amines (1-naphthylamine, 2-naphthylamine and benzidine) in the muscle tissue of fish. There were marked seasonal variations in the aromatic amine levels. We also determined oxidative stress (blood glutathione, and catalase activity) and genotoxic effects (chromosomal aberrations and urinary metabolites) in fishermen from each area. The fishermen suffered from oxidative stress and had high levels of the urinary metabolite sulfanilamide [mean (microg/mg creatinine): Lake Edku 20.7, Mediterranean 14.5, controls 5.3]. Frequencies for total chromosomal aberrations were significantly raised in the peripheral blood lymphocytes of fishermen in both areas [frequency (per 100 metaphases): Mediterranean 67, Lake Edku 45, controls 14].

Chromosome damage in passive smoker females

Current epidemiological data associates passive smoking with health hazards which not only affects the passive smoker but also affects the offsprings of passive smoker females. To determine the effect of cigarette smoke on the chromosomes of passive smoker females who were still in the childbearing age, the micronucleus (MN) frequency in 20 passive smoker females (spouse smoker) who had been exposed to cigarette smoke for at least 5 years was compared to the MN frequency in 20 control subjects (females with non-smoking spouse) all in the age group 31-39 years. The MN frequency among passive smoker female group ranged from 16-27 MN/500 cytokinesis blocked (CB) binucleated cell, with a mean of 21.1 +/- 3.7, while the MN frequency among the control group ranged from 3-11 MN/500 CB binucleated cell, with a mean of 8 +/- 1.7. The difference is statistically significant (t = 14.2, p < 0.01). Applying the correlation coefficient test between age and MN frequency, a weak positive though non significant correlation was found between age and MN frequency in the passive smoker female group (R = 0.11, p = 0.630) while an intermediate positive but still non significant correlation was found between age and MN frequency in the control (R = 0.26, p = 0.27). There was a positive correlation between the duration of exposure to cigarette smoke and the MN frequency, but this was statistically non significant (R = 0.33, p = 0.125). The results emphasize that mothers especially in the childbearing age should not be exposed to cigarette smoke to avoid its deleterious effects on their health thus preventing any harmful effect the smoke can have on their offsprings.

Chromosome anomalies in normal androgenized infertile males

Chromosome anomalies are known to play a role in human infertility. Chromosome analysis of 103 normal androgenized infertile azoospermic (97.1%) or oligospermic (2.9%) males revealed that the frequency of chromosomal abnormalities was 8.7%. Two patients (1.94%) had a 46,XX chromosome complement, one patient (0.97%) had a 45,X karyotype, two patients (1.94%) had a 45,XY,t(13;14)(p11;q11) karyotype, one patient (0.97%) had a 46,XY,inv(9)(p12;q13) chromosome constitution, two patients (1.94%) had a 46,XY,del(Y)(q12) karyotype, and one patient (0.97%) had a 45X/46,X+marker the nature of which was not clarified.

Duplication 3q(q21----qter) without limb anomalies

We report on a 2.5-month-old boy with hypertelorism, hypertrichosis, anteverted nostrils, malformed ears, thin lips, downturned corners of the mouth, micrognathia, short neck, cryptorchidism, and bilateral simian creases without limb anomalies. Cytogenetic studies showed a duplication 3q----qter 46,XY,der(6),t(3;6)(q21;p25)pat. The absence of limb anomalies is noteworthy; all 12 previously reported patients with the same duplication had limb anomalies. The uniqueness of this report provokes speculations regarding limb morphogenesis in embryos with chromosome anomalies. The concepts of chronogenetics, heterochrony, and developmental field defects appear relevant to yet another set of patients with chromosome anomalies.