Objectives: To identify the frequency and types of microsatellite instability among a group of sporadic CRC patients and to correlate the findings with clinicopathological characteristics. Methods: During an 8-month period, all patients with sporadic CRC who attended to two teaching hospitals in Baghdad, Iraq were recruited to this cross-sectional study regardless of age, sex, ethnicity, or tumor characteristics. Demographic, clinical, and histopathological features were recorded. DNA was extracted from FFPE-blocks of the resected tumors and normal tissues. PCR amplification of five microsatellite mononucleotide repeat loci (BAT25, BAT26, NR-21, NR-24, and MONO-27) and 2 pentanucleotide repeat control markers (Penta C and Penta D) was performed to determine the MSI status. Capillary electrophoresis and Genetic Analyzer 3500 (Applied Biosystem, Japan) were used to separate and examine the products. Data were analyzed by Genescan software (Promega, USA). Instability of two or more loci is considered MSI-H. Result: In this study, ages of the 45 recruited patients ranged between 20-80 years, with a mean±SD of 55±12.3 years; of them, 31(68.9%) were ≥50 years; 25 (55.6%) were males. Rectal bleeding was the most frequent presenting feature [22 (48.9%)] patients; 23 (51.1%) of CRCs were located at recto-sigmoid region, 29 (64.4%) were T3 tumors, 34(75.5%) were non-mucinous adenocarcinoma, 39(86.7%) were moderately differentiated, 17 (37.8%) patients had stage III tumors; and 25 (55.5%) had lymphovascular invasion. MSI-H was seen in 5/45 (11.1%) patients; 3(60%) of them were ≥50 years, 4(80%) were males, 3(60%) were smokers, 2 (40%) presented with intestinal obstruction and altered bowel habits each; 4(80%) had T3 tumors, 3(60%) had mucinous adenocarcinomas [p=0.004], 2(40%) had stage II tumor and stage III each. Conclusion: The frequency of MSI-H among the recruited patients with CRC was 5/45 (11.1%) and it was significantly associated with mucinous adenocarcinoma subtype. NR-24 and NR-21 were the most prevalent instable markers.
Around fifty Escherichia coli isolates were isolated from sixty midstream urine specimens collected from patients visiting hospitals in Baghdad city. Approximately, 52% of all isolates were identified as extended spectrum beta lactamases (ESBL) producer. Results demonstrated that 92% of these isolates were sensitive to carbapenems. Only four β-lactamase coding genes were detected; blaTEM, blaPER, blaVIM and blaCTX-M-2. As a conclusion, this work revealed that local E. coli isolates harboured ESBL coding genes which may contribute in its pathogenicity.
Thyroid carcinoma incidence is increasing yearly and ranks second among the top ten cancers in Iraq, especially among women. The single nucleotide polymorphism (rs965513, A>C) near FOXE1 gene was found to be associated with papillary thyroid carcinoma risk in several Genome-wide association studies. Therefore, this is a case-control study aimed at identifying whether this variation is associated with the risk of papillary thyroid carcinoma in the Iraqi population. Association of rs965513 was investigated in one hundred and one papillary thyroid carcinoma Iraqi patients and one hundred and two controls using quantitative PCR-high resolution melting technique. The results of genotype and allele frequencies showe
... Show MoreColorectal cancer (CRC) Patients showed different expression patterns of miRNAs which are involved in carcinogenesis in comparison to healthy controls individuals, miRNAs are involved in tumor progression and development of metastases. We investigate the expression profile of microRNA 320 and to quantify the expression level abundance among colorectal cancer patients in comparison to the healthy control group. The A total number of 60 plasma samples was collected from CRC patients along with 40 plasma samples from healthy controls and subjected to relative quantification using qPCR assay with a specified set of primers designed using s
... Show MoreBreast cancer is the most repeatedly detected cancer category and the second reason cause of cancer-linked deaths among women worldwide. Tumor bio-indictor is a term utilized to describe possible indicators for carcinoma diagnosis, development and progression. The goal of this study is to evaluate part of some cytokines and biomarkers for both serum and saliva samples in breast cancer then estimate their potential value in the early diagnosis of breast cancer by doing more researches in saliva, and utilizing saliva instead of blood (serum and plasma) in sample collection from patients. Serum and salivary samples were taken from 72 patients with breast cancer and 45 healthy controls, in order to investigate the following
... Show MoreCytokines are polypeptides with several functions that are produced by a variety of bodily cells. They are clinically significant for illness diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) are the most important cytokines for cell division and proliferation. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is produced in excess in mesenchymal, epithelial, and especially in tumor cells. In this study the serum levels of IL-6, TNF-α and VEGF were detected for 41 colorectal cancer patients and 41 healthy control group at Nanakaly Hospital by comparing their serum concentrations for patients paining from colorectal carcinoma (CRC) with those of the control subjects. The result shows a s
... Show MorePregnancy and delivery are physiological conditions that are marked by abrupt alterations to hormones, immunological and molecular characters. The current study aimed to evaluate oxytocin (OT), prolactin (PRL), cortisol and insulin growth factor-2 (IGF-2) levels as physiological biomarkers; programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1), programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1),interleukin-6 (IL-6) as immunological biomarkers, and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs; rs53576 and rs2254298) of oxytocin receptor gene OXTR as molecular factors in samples of Iraqi women undergoing caesarean section (CS) and normal delivery (ND). Blood samples were collected from 96 pregnant women at term with ages ranging between 16-43 years. Regarding
... Show MoreDiabetic nephropathy is characterized by persistent microalbuminuria and metabolic changes that decline renal functions. Researchers have been prompted to explore new biomarkers such as KIM-1 and nephrin that may enhance the identification of disease. Objective: To Evaluate biomarker levels of kidney injury molculre-1 (KIM-1) concentration and nephrin as early and sensitive markers of nephropathy in type 2 diabetic patients. Method: One hundred T2DM patients were included in a cross-sectional study at the specialized center for endocrinology and diabetes, Baghdad. The first group includes 50 diabetic nephropathy (DN) patients, and the second group includes 50 T2DM patients without DN. Biochemical and clinical parameters were reported for pa
... Show MoreAmong more than 200 different human papilloma viral genotypes, the association of low oncogenic risk-HPV genotypes have been recognized with a variety of oral, oropharyngeal, nasopharyngeal benign tumors as well as non-neoplastic polyposis and papillomas and adenoid hypertrophy. This prospective case- control study aims to determine the rate of DNA detection of HPV genotype 6/11 in nasopharyngeal adeno- tonsillar tissues from a group of patients subjected to adenoctomy for adenoid hypertrophy . A total number of nasopharyngeal adeno-tonsillar tissue specimens from pediatric patients with adenoid hypertrophy were enrolled; 40 nasopharyngeal adeno-tonsillar tissues from patients with adenoid hypertrophy, and 20 normal nasal tissue specimen
... Show MoreCardiovascular disease (CVD) is a class of diseases that involve the blood vessels or heart. Chlamydia pneumoniae has been considered as the most reasonable; also, it is able to increase and persevere inside vascular cells and to make the chronic inflammation in atherosclerosis. In this study, blood samples were subjected for molecular detection of Chlamydia pneumoniae by using conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) depending on 16S rRNA. Seventy patients who suffer from cardiovascular diseases (angina, myocardial infarction and atherosclerosis) aged between 33-86
... Show MoreOne hundred specimens (urine and sputum) were collected in sterilized containers from patients attending two hospitals in Baghdad province including: Educational Al-Karama Hospital and Educational Al-Yarmouk Hospital, in which, thirty-eight K. pneumoniae isolate were obtained out of one hundred specimens, all of which are of urine origin. The results obtained in this study showed that Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates were highly resistant to Augmentine (94.7%), also Klebsiella isolates were resistant to Ceftriaxone (86.8%), Cefotaxime (81.5%), and Ceftazidime (65.7%). Very low level of resistance was found toward Imipenem and Meropenem (18.4% and 5.2%) respectively. Only four isolates (10.52 %) were positive for wzy gene; K19, K20, K21, an
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