Background: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most prevalent malignant neoplasm of the oral cavity and constitutes a major health problem in developing. In the last 30 years, the 5-year survival rate of patients with oral SCC has not improved despite advance in diagnostic techniques. To improve early diagnosis for this deadly disease, new biological markers are needed. HOX genes encode homeodomain-containing transcription factors involved in the regulation of cellular proliferation and differentiation during embryogenesis. HOX gene expression has been described in several adult tissues, where they performed important roles in maintaining homeostasis. Few studies have suggested that HOXA1 plays a role in tumorigenesis. Besides being overexpressed in several tumors, HOXA1 influences numerous cellular processes including proliferation, apoptosis and epithelialmesenchymal transition (EMT), and HOXA1 overexpression is sufficient for malignant transformation ofnontumorigenic epithelial cells. Ki-67 is a specific marker of proliferation and the expression of which is strictly associated with cell proliferation and is widely used in pathology as a proliferation marker to measure the growth fraction of cells in human tumors.The aims of this study were to evaluate the immunohistochemical expression of HOXA1 & Ki-67 in OSCC & to correlate the expression of the studied markers with the clinicopathological findings and with each other Materials and Methods: Thirty formalin-fixed, paraffin- embedded tissue blocks of oral squamous cell carcinoma were included in this study. H&E stain was done for each block for reassessment of histological examination. An immunohistochimical stain was performed using anti HOXA1 and anti Ki-67 poly clonal antibodies. Results:The expression of HOXA1 and Ki-67were positive in all oral squamous cell carcinoma cases & in all layers (100%), while the expression was restricted to the basal and supra basal layer in normal oral mucosa. Statistically non-significant correlation observed between each marker with clinico-pathological parameters. While a statistically significant association was found between the expressions of two markers, (p-value= 0.027). Conclusion: The statistically significant association observed between expressions of HOXA1 with the specific marker of proliferation Ki-67. This suggested important role in oral SCC development and progression.
Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is the foremost cause of end-stage renal disease. Early detection of DN can spare diabetic patients of severe complications. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic value of red cell distribution width (RDW) and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in the detection of DN in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This cross-sectional study included a total of 130 patients with T2DM, already diagnosed with T2DM. The albumin creatinine ratio (ACR) in urine samples was calculated for each patient, according to which patients were divided into two groups: with evidence of DN when ACR ? 30 mg/g, and those with no evidence of DN when ACR < 30 mg/g. According to multivariate analysis, each of disease duration (OR
... Show MoreIntroduction: The stringent response is a bacterial adaptation mechanism triggered by stress conditions, including nutrient limitation. This response helps bacteria survive under harsh conditions, such as those encountered during infection. A key feature of the stringent response is the synthesis of the alarmone (p)ppGpp, which influences various bacterial phenotypes. In several bacterial species, stringent response activation significantly affects biofilm formation and maintenance. Methods: Clinical specimens were collected from multiple hospitals in Baghdad, Iraq. Staphylococcus aureus was identified using conventional biochemical tests. The PCR technique was applied to detect mecA, icaA, and icaD genes, while the Vitek 2 compac
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