title: [Observation on twins of cosmic radiation influence as a risk factor].
abstract: During flight, cosmic radiation is capable to penetrate the walls of airplanes and produce mutations in human chromosomes.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the correlations between cosmic radiation and the pathology of flying personnel.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two twin patients, one with 15 years work as a flight crew member, and the other with regular work on the ground. The patients were examined clinically, biochemically and with imaging methods. The genetic and environmental contribution to their pathology was noted. The patient, working in flight, received additional genetic tests to refute or to confirm the presence of chromosome alterations induced by the cosmic radiation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patient, member of the flight crew, presented hypercholesterolemia, more evident structure modifications of the mammary gland, but chromosome alterations were not present.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Having a first grade relative with dyslipidemia and uterine cancer, the structural or blood homeostasis modifications of the flight crew member can be either due to a high, genetically transmitted, susceptibility to the effects of the plane's microclimate and possibly to effects of lifestyle.
authors.affiliation: Institutul National de Medicină Aeronautică si Spaţial Bucureşti.
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vişănescu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000401:Aircraft; D001359:Aviation; D002877:Chromosomes, Human / Q000528:radiation effects; D003359:Cosmic Radiation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005820:Genetic Testing; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics; D009035:Mothers; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010375:Pedigree; D012307:Risk Factors; D014429:Twins, Dizygotic