Publication

Abstract : To determine the extent of cell damage in Pulmonary Tuberculosis patients with the help of comet assay. Study type: Prospective study. Place and duration of study: Tiruchengodu Govt. Hospital from September 2011 to April 2012. Patients and Method: Blood samples were collected from 40 subjects [Control (Go), newly diagnosed TB patients (G1), Three months treated TB patients (G2), Six months treated TB patients (G3). n=10 subjects in each group]. Peripheral blood samples were collected, embedded in agrose gel, lysed in high ionic strength solution with Triton X-100, and then electrophoresed at pH>13, Ethidium bromide stained were then subjected to analysis under Fluorescent microscope. Result: Subjects of newly diagnosed TB (G1) patients did not show any remarkable cell damage as compared to control (G0). Extent of cell damage in Three months treated TB patients (G2) and in Six months treated TB patients (G3) was extremely significant (p <0.0001). From quantitative comet metrics, comet length which shows extremely significant difference in males compared with females. P value is <0.0003. Discussion: Extent of cell damage was observed significantly high in Anti-tubercular drug treatment patients (ie) three months treated and six months treated TB patients. Due to their social habits also DNA damage was significantly increased in tuberculosis patients.