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VOLUME 7 , ISSUE 4 ( October-December, 2016 ) > List of Articles

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Biomonitoring of Buccal Mucosa Cells in Chronic Smokers and Nonsmokers

Neeraj Taneja, Ruhi S Sarpal, Navdeep K Shergill, SV Ravindra

Citation Information : Taneja N, Sarpal RS, Shergill NK, Ravindra S. Biomonitoring of Buccal Mucosa Cells in Chronic Smokers and Nonsmokers. World J Dent 2016; 7 (4):189-194.

DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10015-1394

Published Online: 01-06-2012

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2016; The Author(s).


Abstract

Background

Despite the well-known presence of carcinogens in tobacco smoke, results in the scientific literature linking smoking habits to micronuclei frequency are rather controversial.

Aim

The study was conducted to compare and evaluate the frequency of micronuclei in chronic smokers and nonsmokers in relation to habit history, personal history, and other related factors like occupation, exposure to radiation, etc.

Materials and methods

A total of 50 randomly selected male subjects were included in the study. Case and control groups (smokers and nonsmokers respectively) comprised 25 subjects each (mean age in controls = 38.24 ± 2.7; mean age in smokers = 39.32 ± 3.8).

Results and conclusion

There was a significant relation between tobacco consumption and frequency of micronucleated cells (p = 0.05) and between radiation exposure and presence of micronuclei (p = 0.05) in controls and subjects. Within the smokers group, left cheek scrapings showed higher count (p = 0.05; significant) for the micronucleated cells as compared with right cheek scrapings.

Clinical significance

In this study, an attempt was made to estimate the cytogenetic damage in oral mucosa in people habituated to smoking beedi. Though tobacco plays an important role in micronuclei generation, other factors like ionizing radiation and personal habits also contribute to micronuclei frequency. Site of smear, sample size, nuclear specific stain usage are some of the contributing factors. In addition, cytogenetic alterations like karyolysis, pyknosis, etc., can be included in future studies to increase the specificity.

How to cite this article

Sarpal RS, Taneja N, Shergill NK, Ravindra SV. Biomonitoring of Buccal Mucosa Cells in Chronic Smokers and Nonsmokers. World J Dent 2016;7(4):189-194.


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