Gender differences in DNA damage/repair after laser-generated ultrafast electron beam irradiation
The laser-generated electron acceleration is a developing technology, which can make a revolution in radiation therapy of tumors. The possibility of creating directed ultra-short pulses of enormous capacity (up to kGy/s) allows the precise dose-control induction of local effects on solid tumors with minimal exposure of normal tissues. The obvious advantage of laser-generated electron accelerators is also the significantly smaller size and cost than that of conventional radiotherapy machines.1 There are only a few publications on the biological effects of ultra-short pulsed electron beam radiation.2–5 However, before translating the usage of lasergenerated accelerators into clinical practice, the radiobiological effectiveness of such ultra-short electron bunches should be approved.
Gender bias in individual radiosensitivity and the association with genetic polymorphic variations.
PURPOSE
To assess the extent of variation in radiosensitivity between individuals, gender-related dissimilarity and impact on the association with single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs).


MATERIALS AND METHODS
Survival curves of 152 fibroblast cell strains derived from both gender were generated. Individual radiosensitivity was characterized by the surviving fraction at 2Gy (SF2). SNPs in 10 radiation responsive genes were genotyped by direct sequencing.


RESULTS
The wide variation in SF2 (0.12-0.50; mean=0.33) was significantly associated with 3 SNPs: TP53 G72C (P=0.007), XRCC1 G399A (P=0.002) and ATM G1853A (P=0.01). Females and males differed significantly in radiosensitivity (P=0.004) that impacted genetic association where only XRCC1 remained significant in both gender (P<0.05). Meanwhile, discordant association was observed for TP53 that was significant in females (P=0.012) and ATM that was significant in males (P=0.0006). When gender-specific SF2-mean (0.31 and 0.35 for females and males; respectively) was considered, further discordance was observed where XRCC1 turned out not to be associated with radiosensitivity in males (P>0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Although the variation in individual radiosensitivity was associated with certain SNPs, gender bias for both endpoints was evident. Therefore, assessing the risk of radiation exposure in females and males should be considered separately in order to achieve the ultimate goal of personalized radiation medicine.
Bodies of Evidence: Burial, Memory and the Recovery of Missing Persons in Cyprus
List of Figures and Maps Acknowledgements Chapter 1. Heirs of Antigone: Disappearances and Political Memory Chapter 2. Suppressed Experiences Chapter 3. Testimonies of Fragmentation, Recollections of Unity Chapter 4. The Missing as a Set of Representations Chapter 5. The Martyrdom of the Missing Chapter 6. L'image Juste, or Juste une Image? Chapter 7. Painting Absences, Describing Losses Chapter 8. Antigone's Doubt, Creon's Dilemma Chapter 9. Power, Complicity, and Public Secrecy Bibliography Appendices Index