BACKGROUND: Diffuse astrocytomas constitute the largest group of primary malignant human intracranial tumours. They are classified by the World Health Organization (WHO) into three histological malignancy grades: diffuse astrocytomas (grade II), anaplastic astrocytomas (grade III) and glioblastoma (grade IV) based on histopathological features such as cellular atypia, mitotic activity, necrosis and microvascular proliferation. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a 170-kDa transmembrane tyrosine kinase receptor expressed in a variety of normal and malignant cells regulating critical cellular processes. When activated, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) triggers several signalling cascades leading to increased proliferation and angiogenesis and decreased apoptosis and hence associated with aggressive progression of the tumour. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) level is known to be a strong indicator associated with the aggressive behaviour of the tumour and acts as a prognostic factor for evaluating the survival rate. AIM: To evaluate the expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in different grades of astrocytoma. MATERIAL AND METHODS: formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded astrocytic tumours of 44 patients were collected from the archival material of pathology department of Ghazi Al Hariri Teaching Hospital during the period from June to December 2018. Hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections were used to characterise the tumours histologically based on cellularity, nuclear hyperchromasia, polymorphism, mitotic activity, vascular proliferation and necrosis with or without pseudopallisading of tumour cells. Diagnosis and grading of astrocytic tumours in this study were made according to WHO criteria (2016). Using a monoclonal antibody to the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and immunohistochemical analysis, the expression and distribution of epidermal growth factor receptor in astrocytic tumours were examined. RESULTS: The study included 1 case pilocytic astrocytoma (grade I), 20 cases diffuse astrocytoma (grade II), 5 cases anaplastic astrocytoma (grade III) and 18 cases of glioblastoma (grade IV). Expression of EGFR was found in 38.88% of the glioblastoma samples (grade IV). However, none of the astrocytomas of WHO grades I, II and III showed immunoreactivity for EGFR protein. Different patterns of immunoreactive cells and significant intratumor heterogeneity of EGFR expression were observed in glioblastomas. CONCLUSION: The immunohistochemical expression of Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) was restricted only to high-grade astrocytic tumours, namely glioblastoma, thus may use to predict glioblastoma.
The plant Papaver rhoeas ,which belongs to family Papaveraceae and known as common poppy is wildly grown in Iraq .It was used in traditional medicine in wide range of diseases including inflammation, diarrhea, sleep disorders, treatment of cough, analgesia, and also to reduce the withdrawal signs of opioid addiction.
The project provide the first comprehensive research done in Iraq to study the phytochemical and the methods of extraction and separation of alkaloids from Papaver rhoeas wildly grown in Iraq .The plant was harvested in April 2019 from Zurbatiya is an Iraqi town located at the northeast of Waist province in Iraq.The collected plant was washed thoroughly, dries under shade, and grounding in a mechani
... Show MoreThis study aimed to know the attitudes and practice of pharmacists regarding the management of minor ailments in Iraqi community pharmacies. A cross-sectional study for 320 community pharmacists was conducted during February 2020 using a newly developed and validated questionnaire. Only 4.4% of pharmacists prefer not to deal with minor ailment cases. Minority (15.6%) of participated pharmacists refer more than half of minor ailment cases they face to the physician. Regarding the assessment of minor ailments using WWHAM technique, what are the symptoms are the most commonly asked questions by pharmacists. Only 49.1% mentioned that they ask all WWHAM questions. On the other hand, most pharmacists (90%) educate their patients about the dosi
... Show MoreThe need to overcome the failure of orthodontic micro-implants which might reach to 30% has led to the development of different methods, one of which is nanoparticle deposition.
To evaluate the anti-microbial efficiency of TiO2 and ZnO nanoparticles (NP) when used as a coating for orthodontic micro-implants.
Thirty titanium alloy micro-implants were used in the presented study. They were divided into three
The steady 3-D raw water turbulent flow is numerically investigated. This flow is formed of solid silica sand (quartz) carried by water in stainless steel pipe. The flow in a straight pipe and flow in a pipe with a sudden contraction are analyzed using a two-way coupled Eulerian-Lagrangian approach. Erosion rate is estimated by Oka erosion model combined with the constant coefficient of restitution. The effect of solid particles mass flow rate, inlet velocity, particle diameter, internal pipe diameter, orientation, contraction coefficient, and wall pipe contraction angle on erosion rate are examined. The predicted erosion is distributed homogenously for straight pipe, while the step wall area of the contraction is the most eroded part. The
... Show MoreThis study examines postgraduate students’ awareness of pragmatic aspects, including Grice Maxims, Politeness, and Direct and Indirect forms of speech. According to Paul Grice’s theory of implicature, which is considered one of the most important contributions to pragmatics, this paper discusses how postgraduate students can meet the cooperative principle when communicating effectively. It also outlines how does politeness principles influence obeying or violating the maxims and how is the use of direct or indirect forms of utterances prompted by politeness. Sixteen master’s students of Linguistics and Literature were asked to take a multiple-choice test. The test will be represented along with the interpretation of each optio
... Show MoreThe research aims to show the possibility of adopting the market approach to measure the fair value of biological assets in Iraq, by applying to a sample of the company listed on the Iraq Stock Exchange, where the Middle East Fish Production and Marketing Company was selected from among 7 companies representing the agricultural sector in Iraq, and according to the availability of data and for five years, the financial statements were presented of the measurement and disclosure of biological assets at fair value according to the market approach, One of the most important conclusions reached by the researcher is the The possibility of measuring and disclosing biological assets at fair value according to the market approach in the Ira
... Show MoreAim: The study aimed to investigate the presence of the specific B1 gene T gondii in blood and milk samples from natural infected cattle and pregnant women (16-30 weeks) whose examination performed by the officers at the women's and children's Educational hospital in Al-Diwaniyah, Iraq. Materials and methods: A total of 150 serum samplings were collected analysed and scanned for Anti-T gondi antibodies (75 naturally-infected goats and 75 pregnant women with Toxoplasma). Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect of B1(399pb) gene in 26 goat's blood samples and 7 samples from pregnant women. Results: A quick-test anti-cassette gondii results showed 26 positive samples of goats in a percentage of 34,666 percent, while a higher percent
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