title: Comparative Study of Genotoxicity in Different Tobacco Related Habits using Micronucleus Assay in Exfoliated Buccal Epithelial Cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Oral cancer is one of the most debilitating diseases afflicting mankind. Consumption of tobacco in various forms constitutes one of the most important etiological factors in initiation of oral cancer. When the focus of today's research is to determine early genotoxic changes in human cells, micronucleus (MN) assay provides a simple, yet reliable indicator of genotoxic damage.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To identify and quantify micronuclei in the exfoliated cells of oral mucosa in individuals with different tobacco related habits and control group, to compare the genotoxicity of different tobacco related habits between each group and also with that of control group.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the present study buccal smears of 135 individuals with different tobacco related habits & buccal smears of 45 age and sex matched controls were obtained, stained using Giemsa stain and then observed under 100X magnification in order to identify and quantify micronuclei in the exfoliated cells of oral mucosa.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean Micronucleus (MN) count in individuals having smoking habit were 3.11 while the count was 0.50, 2.13, and 1.67 in normal control, smoking with beetle quid and smokeless tobacco habit respectively. MN count in smokers group was 2.6 times more compared to normal controls. MN count was more even in other groups when compared to normal control but to a lesser extent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  From our study we concluded that tobacco in any form is genotoxic especially smokers are of higher risk and micronucleus assay can be used as a simple yet reliable marker for genotoxic evaluation.
authors.affiliation: Senior Lecturer, Department of Oral Pathology & Microbiology, AME'S Dental College, Hospital and Research Institute , Raichur, Karnataka, India .
authors.forename: Pradeep
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mr
authors.affiliation: Reader, Department of Oral Pathology & Microbiology, AME'S Dental College, Hospital and Research Institute , Raichur, Karnataka, India .
authors.forename: Yadavalli
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Guruprasad
authors.affiliation: Professor and Head, Department of Oral Pathology & Microbiology, Yenepoya Dental College and Hospital , Mangalore, Karnataka, India .
authors.forename: Maji
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jose
authors.affiliation: Senior Lecturer, Department of Oral Pathology & Microbiology, Yenepoya Dental College and Hospital , Mangalore, Karnataka, India .
authors.forename: Kartikay
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Saxena
authors.affiliation: Senior Lecturer, Department of Oral Pathology & Microbiology, AME'S Dental College, Hospital and Research Institute , Raichur, Karnataka, India .
authors.forename: Deepa
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: K
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Oral Pathology & Microbiology, Yenepoya Dental College and Hospital , Mangalore, Karnataka, India .
authors.forename: Vishnudas
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Prabhu
keywords: Carcinoma; Genotoxicity; Micronucleus; Tobacco