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This study aimed to determine whether cancer risk was elevated among patients exposed to radiation from diagnostic cardiac catheterization during childhood. The study cohort included 3915 children who underwent at least one cardiac catheterization at a major children's hospital in Toronto, Canada, between 1950 and 1965, were ≤18 years at the time of the procedure, and were residents of Ontario. Follow-up of the cohort was done by linkage to the Ontario Cancer Registry up to 1986. A total of seven cancer deaths were observed (0). compared with 5.7 expected (E) based on provincial cancer rates (mortality ratlo [O/E]=1.2; 90% confidence interval (CI) : 0.6–2.3). In the analysis of cancer incidence, 13 cancers were detected, compared with 17.3 expected (O/E=0.75; 90% CI : 0.4–1.2). These mortality and incidence ratios were not statistically significantly elevated. Detailed analyses were conducted according to age at exposure, age at diagnosis, sex, number of procedures, year of first catheterization, and latent period. Detected deviations in risk were confined to an early period of exposure, indicating that later practices of cardiac catheterization were not associated with increased risk. In general, there was no statistically significant excess risk of cancer among the cohort. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract Background The D-galacturonic acid derived from plant pectin can be converted into a variety of other chemicals which have potential use as chelators, clarifiers, preservatives and plastic precursors. Among these is the deoxy-keto acid derived from L-galactonic acid, keto-deoxy-L-galactonic acid or 3-deoxy-L-threo-hex-2-ulosonic acid. The keto-deoxy sugars have been found to be useful precursors for producing further derivatives. Keto-deoxy-L-galactonate is a natural intermediate in the fungal D-galacturonate metabolic pathway, and thus keto-deoxy-L-galactonate can be produced in a simple biological conversion. Results Keto-deoxy-L-galactonate (3-deoxy-L-threo-hex-2-ulosonate) accumulated in the culture supernatant when Trichoderma reesei Δlga1 and Aspergillus niger ΔgaaC were grown in the presence of D-galacturonate. Keto-deoxy-L-galactonate accumulated even if no metabolisable carbon source was present in the culture supernatant, but was enhanced when D-xylose was provided as a carbon and energy source. Up to 10.5 g keto-deoxy-L-galactonate l-1 was produced from 20 g D-galacturonate l-1 and A. niger ΔgaaC produced 15.0 g keto-deoxy-L-galactonate l-1 from 20 g polygalacturonate l-1, at yields of 0.4 to 1.0 g keto-deoxy-L-galactonate [g D-galacturonate consumed]-1. Keto-deoxy-L-galactonate accumulated to concentrations of 12 to 16 g l-1 intracellularly in both producing organisms. This intracellular concentration was sustained throughout production in A. niger ΔgaaC, but decreased in T. reesei. Conclusions Bioconversion of D-galacturonate to keto-deoxy-L-galactonate was achieved with both A. niger ΔgaaC and T. reesei Δlga1, although production (titre, volumetric and specific rates) was better with A. niger than T. reesei. A. niger was also able to produce keto-deoxy-L-galactonate directly from pectin or polygalacturonate demonstrating the feasibility of simultaneous hydrolysis and bioconversion. Although keto-deoxy-L-galactonate accumulated intracellularly, concentrations above ~12 g l-1 were exported to the culture supernatant. Lysis may have contributed to the release of keto-deoxy-L-galactonate from T. reesei mycelia.