Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 7, 2026
Visualization of Bacterial Resistance using Fluorescent Antibiotic Probes
Published on: March 2, 2020
Cytogenetic analysis of children under long-term antibacterial therapy with nitroheterocyclic compound furagin
G Slapsyte1, A Jankauskiene, J Mierauskiene
1Department of Botany and Genetics, Vilnius University, 21 Ciurlionis St., 2009, Vilnius, Lithuania. grazina.slapsyt@gf.vu.lt
Insights
Pediatric urinary tract infection patients exposed to X-rays showed increased chromosome aberrations. Furagin treatment led to a time-independent rise in sister chromatid exchanges, with longer treatment correlating with more chromatid exchanges.
Area of Science:
- Medical Genetics
- Toxicology
- Pediatric Medicine
Background:
- Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common in children.
- Diagnostic imaging like voiding cystourethrography involves radiation exposure.
- Antibacterial agents, such as furagin, are used to treat UTIs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the cytogenetic effects of X-ray exposure and furagin treatment in pediatric UTI patients.
- To assess chromosome aberrations (CAs) and sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) in relation to diagnostic procedures and medication duration.
Main Methods:
- Cytogenetic analysis of blood samples from 95 pediatric patients with UTIs.
- Evaluation of chromosome aberrations (CAs) and sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs).
- Comparison of exposed and unexposed children, and analysis based on furagin treatment duration.
Main Results:
- Increased CA frequencies (especially acentric fragments) were observed post-X-ray exposure, decreasing over time.
- A time-independent increase in SCE frequency was found in children treated with furagin.
- Chromatid exchange frequency significantly increased with the duration of furagin treatment.
Conclusions:
- Diagnostic X-rays during voiding cystourethrography induce transient chromosome aberrations in children.
- Long-term furagin treatment may lead to cumulative cytogenetic changes, specifically increased chromatid exchanges.
Abstract:
Cytogenetic analysis of chromosome aberrations (CAs) and sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) was performed in 109 blood samples from 95 pediatric patients with urinary tract infections (UTIs). Children were exposed to diagnostic levels of X-rays during voiding cystourethrography and subsequently treated for one to 12 months with low doses of furagin - N-(5-nitro-2-furyl)-allylidene-1-aminohydantoin. Furagin is 2-substituted 5-nitrofuran, chemically and structurally similar to well-known antibacterial compound nitrofurantoin. Increased frequencies of CAs were found in children undergoing voiding cystourethrography as compared with the unexposed, acentric fragments being the most frequent alteration (2.03 versus 0.88 per 100 cells, P=0.006). However, a significant decrease in the frequency of acentric fragments was determined with the time elapsed since X-ray examination was performed. A time-independent increase in SCE frequency was found in lymphocytes of children treated with furagin. Total CA frequency did not differ significantly between groups of children with various duration of furagin treatment. However, frequency of chromatid exchanges (triradials and quadriradials) increased significantly with duration of treatment.
