Genotoxicity Studies Performed in the Ecuadorian Population

Abstract

Genotoxicity studies in Ecuador have been carried out during the past two decades. The focuses of the research were mainly the area of environmental issues, where the populations have been accidentally exposed to contaminants and the area of occupational exposure of individuals at the workplace. This paper includes studies carried out in the population of the Amazon region, a zone known for its rich biodiversity as well as for the ecological damage caused by oil spills and chemical sprayings whose consequences continue to be controversial. Additionally, we show the results of studies comprised of individuals occupationally exposed to toxic agents in two very different settings: flower plantation workers exposed to pesticide mixtures and X-ray exposure of hospital workers. The results from these studies confirm that genotoxicity studies can help evaluate current conditions and prevent further damage in the populations exposed to contaminants. As such, they are evidence of the need for biomonitoring employers at risk, stricter law enforcement regarding the use of pesticides, and increasingly conscientious oil extraction activities.

De Novo Duplication of Chromosome 9p in a Female Infant: Phenotype and Genotype Correlation

“…The proband and her parents had Giemsa trypsin banding (GTG) technique. 22 Chromosomal analysis of the proband showed that chromosome 14 had an extra segment attached, 46,XX,add (14) Fig. S2, available in the online version).…”

Multi‐institutional experience of genetic diagnosis in Ecuador: National registry of chromosome alterations and polymorphisms

“…Chromosome segregation during gametogenesis or mitosis during early fetal development, maternal age and environmental factors increase the risk of chromosomal abnormalities (Kim, Lee, Kim, Shim, & Cha, 2013;Mohammed, Shawky, Soliman, & Ahmed, 2011;Moorthie et al, 2017). Particularly, Ecuadorian population has adapted to live at high-altitude, besides being exposed to high UV radiation levels and other genotoxic agents (Paz-y-Miño, Cumbal, & Sánchez, 2012b;Paz-y-Miño, Guillen Sacoto, & Leone, 2016).…”

Measurement of DNA damage in bladder cancer patients by alkaline comet assay

“…As cigarette smoke contains numerous carcinogens including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), aromatic amines and N-nitroso compounds, as well as reactive oxygen species (ROS) which are responsible for the DNA damages like chemical change of bases, single-strand breaks (SSBs), double strand breaks (DSBs) and finally lead to genomic instability and drive the tumor phenotype [9][10][11][12][13][14]. Besides, BC is substantially increased by carcinogen exposed people especially due to xenobiotic metabolizing enzyme polymorphism for example tumor protein 53 (TP53), N-acetyl transferase 2 (NAT2), glutathione S-transferase P1 (GSTP1) and human 8-oxoguanine DNA glycosylase 1 (OGG1) polymorphism [5,[15][16][17]. Thus, it is important to detect the DNA damage in different geographic region population due to their distinctive combination of polymorphic traits which may alter genetic susceptibility as well as response to drugs, chemicals, and carcinogens.…”