BACKGROUND/AIM Cytogenetic biomarkers such as micronuclei (MN) are used for the evaluation of exposure to carcinogens and genotoxic effects in oral epithelial cells. Tobacco is one of the strongest carcinogens responsible for the development of cancer in oral mucosa. The aim of this study was to compare the genotoxic effect of waterpipe smoking with that of cigarette smoking. METHODS This case-control study was performed on 30 waterpipe smokers, 30 cigarette smokers, and 30 nonsmokers. Buccal exfoliated cells were prepared using cytobrushes and stained with the Papanicolaou technique. The cytologic slides were examined under a light microscope for counting the number of MN and the number of cells with MN per 1,000 epithelial cells. RESULTS The mean number ± standard deviation (SD) of MN in waterpipe smokers, cigarette smokers, and nonsmokers was 7.55 ± 5.530, 4.95 ± 5.633, and 2.00 ± 2.406, respectively. The mean number ± SD of cells with MN in waterpipe smokers, cigarette smokers, and nonsmokers was 6.20 ± 4.830, 3.50 ± 3.832, and 1.45 ± 1.701, respectively. Numbers of cells with MN differed significantly between waterpipe smokers and cigarette smokers (p = 0.04) and between waterpipe smokers and nonsmokers (p < 0.001). Numbers of MN differed significantly between waterpipe smokers and nonsmokers (p < 0.001). Numbers of MN did not differ significantly between waterpipe smokers and cigarette smokers (p = 0.10). Numbers of MN and of cells with MN did not differ significantly between cigarette smokers and nonsmokers (p = 0.06 and p = 0.052, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Waterpipe smoking is associated with a significantly higher frequency of MN, and it seems that waterpipe smoking has a greater genotoxic effect than cigarette smoking.

中文翻译：

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吸烟者和吸烟者对颊部脱落细胞的遗传毒性比较。

背景/目的细胞遗传学生物标志物，例如微核（MN），用于评估口腔上皮细胞中致癌物的暴露和遗传毒性作用。烟草是导致口腔粘膜癌变的最强致癌物之一。这项研究的目的是比较抽水烟与抽烟的遗传毒性作用。方法对30名水烟吸烟者，30名香烟吸烟者和30名非吸烟者进行了病例对照研究。用细胞刷制备颊脱落细胞，并用巴氏染色法染色。在光学显微镜下检查细胞学载玻片，以计算每1000个上皮细胞中的MN数和具有MN的细胞数。结果水烟烟民，香烟烟民，非吸烟者分别为7.55±5.530、4.95±5.633和2.00±2.406。在水烟吸烟者，吸烟者和非吸烟者中，MN的平均细胞数为±SD，分别为6.20±4.830、3.50±3.832和1.45±1.701。水烟吸烟者和香烟吸烟者之间（p = 0.04）以及水烟吸烟者和不吸烟者之间MN的细胞数量差异显着（p <0.001）。水烟吸烟者和不吸烟者之间的MN数量差异显着（p <0.001）。水烟吸烟者和香烟吸烟者之间的MN数目没有显着差异（p = 0.10）。吸烟者和不吸烟者之间的MN和带有MN的细胞数量没有显着差异（分别为p = 0.06和p = 0.052）。结论抽水烟与MN的发生频率显着升高有关，