Abstract Background: The human epidermal growth factor receptor 2(HER2) proto-oncogene is overexpressed or amplified in approximately 15%-25% of invasive breast cancers. Approximately 35% of HER2-amplified breast cancers have coamplification of the topoisomerase II-alpha (TOP2A) gene encoding an enzyme that is a major target of anthracyclines. Hence, the determination of genetic alteration (amplification or deletion) of both genes is considered as an important predictive factor that determines the response of breast cancer patients to treatment. The aims of this study are to determinate TOP2A status gene amplification in a set of Iraqi patients with breast cancer that have had an equivocal (2+) and positive HER2/neu by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and to compare the results with estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) and HER2/neu status. Patients and methods: A cross-sectional prospective study done on 53 patients with invasive breast carcinoma. Twenty-six out of total 53 cases were positive HER2/neu (3+), the remaining 27 equivocal HER2-IHC (2+) cases reanalyzed using dual-color chromogenic in situ hybridization (ZytoVision) probe kit for further identification of HER2/neu gene amplification. Using chromogenic in situ hybridization (CISH), TOP2A gene status determination was done for all cases. Results: There is a direct significant correlation between TOP2A gene amplification and HER2/neu positivity, P < 0.05 in that 15 (39.4%) out of 38 positive HER2/neu cases were associated with topoisomerase gene amplification. Regarding relation of topoisomerase gene to hormone receptor status (ER and PR), there was a significant negative relationship between the gene and ER receptor status. The higher level of gene amplification was noticed in ER and PR negative cases in about 13 (43.3%) and 14 (48.2%) for ER and PR, respectively. Conclusion: TOP2A gene status has a significantly positive correlation with HER2/neu status while it has a significantly negative correlation with hormone receptor status.
The Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs), which are deployed in harsh environments, are extremely susceptible to localized battery exhaustion as well as intelligent inside routing threats, especially sinkhole and data falsification attacks. In this paper, we present ECHVM (Enhanced Cluster Head selection by Voting and an ECC-based Blockchain Mechanism), a novel, secure, and energy-efficient routing framework to achieve an optimal trade-off between network security and hardware resource efficiency. We present the ECHVM protocol that combines Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) with a lightweight, local distributed ledger to mitigate risks of centralized authority by tr
A phytoremediation experiment was carried out with kerosene as a model for total petroleum hydrocarbons. A constructed wetland of barley was exposed to kerosene pollutants at varying concentrations (1, 2, and 3% v/v) in a subsurface flow (SSF) system. After a period of 42 days of exposure, it was found that the average ability to eliminate kerosene ranged from 56.5% to 61.2%, with the highest removal obtained at a kerosene concentration of 1% v/v. The analysis of kerosene at varying initial concentrations allowed the kinetics of kerosene to be fitted with the Grau model, which was closer than that with the zero order, first order, or second order kinetic models. The experimental study showed that the barley plant designed in a subsu
... Show MoreThe Manganese doped zinc sulfide nanoparticles of the cubic zinc blende structure with the average crystallite size of about 3.56 nm were synthesized using a coprecipitation method using Thioglycolic Acid as an external capping agent for surface modification. The ZnS:Mn2+ nanoparticles of diameter 3.56 nm were manufactured through using inexpensive precursors in an efficient and eco-friendly way. X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy are used to examine the structure, morphology and chemical composition of the nanoparticles. The antimicrobial activity of (ZnS:Mn2+) nanocrystals was investigated by measuring the diameter of inhibition zone using well diffusion mechanism
... Show MoreBackground: The bond strength of root canal sealers to dentin was important for maintaining the integrity of the seal in root canal filling in both static and dynamic situations. In a static situation, it should eliminate any space that allowed the percolation of fluids between the filling and the wall while in a dynamic situation; it was needed to resist dislodgement of the filling during subsequent manipulation. Materials and Methods: Forty mandibular premolars were selected for this study. All canals were instrumented using ProTaper rotary instruments. Instrumentation was done with copious irrigation of 5.25% sodium hypochlorite. Roots were randomly divided into four groups according to the type of cleaning and method of root canal irrig
... Show MoreBackground: Enforcement of sustainable and green chemistry protocols has seen colossal surge in recent times, the development of an effective, eco-friendly, simple and novel methodologies towards the synthesis of valuable synthetic scaffolds and drug intermediates. Recent advances in technology have now a more efficient means of heating reactions that made microwave energy. Efforts to synthesize novel heterocyclic molecules of biological importance are in continuation. Microwave irradiation is well known to promote the synthesis of a variety of organic and inorganic compounds. The aim of current study was to conceivea mild base mediated preparation of novel Schiff base of 2-Acetylpheno with trimethoprim drug (H2TPBD) and its complexes w
... Show MoreAccurate pore and fracture pressure detection is a major step in successful drilling operations design. The overestimation of these parameters absolutely leads to serious problems throughout and after well drilling. This study is concerned with the characterization and analysis of the most significant diagenetic processes that degrade or improve the reservoir characteristics of the Mauddud Formation in the Badra oil field. The primary goal of this research is to estimate the pore pressure and fracture pressure using well logging data by Techlog 2015 software in order to assess the impact on the estimation of the mud weight window (MWW). The estimated values of formation pressures are then analyzed according to different diagenetic p
... Show MoreThe present study stresses two of the most significant aspects of linguistic approach: Pragmatics” and the “Speech Act Theory”, revealing its importance and the stages and levels of development through Hebrew language’s speech acts analysis including (political speech, the Holy Bible, Hebrew stories).
Chronologically, Pragmatics has always been the center of linguists’ interests due to its importance in linguistic decryptions, particularly, through “Speech Act Theory” that has been initiated and developed by the most prominent philosophers and linguistics.
The prese
... Show MoreThe current research aims to investigate the skills of the intended meaning beyond the context when reading poetry among fifth literary students. To achieve the aim of the research, the researcher has followed the descriptive approach and used two tools: an open questionnaire that includes an inquiry about the skills of the intended meaning beyond the poetic context, and a closed questionnaire that were examined by the juries, and modified accordingly. Besides, its validity and stability were examined by applying the study on an exploratory sample of (15) teachers to reach its final version and determine the time required to answer it. Then, the researcher applied it on the research sample of (9
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