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Alterations of trace element concentrations adversely affect biological processes and could promote carcinogenesis. Trace element deficiency or excess is implicated in the development or progression of some cancers like colorectal cancer. The aim of the present study was to compare the serum copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) concentrations in patients with colorectal cancer from Iraqi male patient with those of healthy subjects. During the period of March 2015 until august 2015, a total of 25 patients with metastatic colon cancer and 20 healthy volunteers were enrolled from the Al-Kadhimia Teaching Hospital after the diagnosis using a histopathological examination for the malignant tumor; their age was between (38-60) years. Higher levels of Cu, Zn, and Cu /Zn ratio were seen in male patients with colorectal cancer compared to healthy subject's .In Conclusions: According to our findings there was a significant difference in trace elements between healthy subjects and colorectal cancer patients.

Adipocyte differentiation and function have become areas of intense focus in the field of energy metabolism; however, understanding the role of specific genes in the establishment and maintenance of fat cell function can be challenging and complex. In this review, we offer practical guidelines for the study of adipocyte development and function. We discuss improved cellular and genetic systems for the study of adipose biology and highlight recent insights gained from these new approaches.

Background: The role of fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in the diagnosis of malignant lesions is well documented. Conventionally obtained fine needle aspiration (FNA) smears frequently contain well preserved viable intact tissue fragments (microbiopsies). Aims: The present study was aimed at evaluating the microbiopsies and carrying out further cyto-histopathologic correlation in order to assess what additional information they could provide. Materials and Methods: A total of 116 FNA smears from clinically suspected malignant lesions were examined, of which 81 smears (70.0%) contained representative tissue fragments of the tumors. Histopathological details were available in 75 cases. Immunocytochemistry (ICC) was applied in selected smears as and when required. Results: Tumors in which microbiopsies aided in diagnosis chiefly included soft tissue malignancies (12 cases), typed into malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor, fibrosarcoma, spindle cell sarcoma and malignant melanoma; lung tumors (14 cases) classified as small cell carcinoma, large cell carcinoma, squamous carcinoma and adenocarcinoma; breast tumors (08 cases), typed into ductal, medullary and lobular carcinoma; and lymph node metastasis (19 cases) from primaries in lung, larynx and thyroid. The cyto-histopathologic concordance was raised from 81.2% in the absence of microbiopsies to 93.2% in their presence. Conclusions: FNA smears containing microbiopsies are of ample help in establishing firm diagnosis, tumor typing, and predicting possible primary sites in metastatic tumors which were not possible by cytology alone. Hence, this technique can be utilized to enhance the diagnostic accuracy of FNAC, if put into practice in evaluation of routine cytology smears, without increasing any financial burden on patients.

Background: Breast cancer is a highly heterogeneous disease globally. Trace elements such as copper and zinc have a role in many biochemical reactions as micro source, their metabolism is profoundly altered in neoplastic diseases especially breast cancer which is ranked as the first of female cancers Objective: The aim of the present study is to study the impact of body mass index and some trace elements in Iraqi women with breast cancer. Patients and methods: The group of the study consisted of 25 breast cancer patients; their age range was (25–65) years recruited from the Al-Kadhimia Teaching Hospital and 25 apparently healthy women age matched, over a period of 6 months from January 2015 until June 2015. After the diagnosis was made using a histopathological examination for the malignant tumor, blood was obtained from all patients and control, centrifuged and serum samples without blood hemolysis were separated and stored at – 20 until assayed. Results: There was a significant increase in body mass index in breast cancer women as compared to control group. Copper and zinc levels were significantly different between the patients and controls group with higher level of copper, zinc. Also copper/zinc ratio in patients was higher than in the control group. Conclusions: The excess copper and zinc in breast cancer women in comparison to healthy control highlights the role of these trace elements in the initiation or promotion of breast cancer. It is recommended to use trace elements and the copper/zinc ratio as biomarkers for breast cancer disease and its progression.

Background: Endometrial cancer is the most common gynecologic malignancy in the United States and the fourth most common cancer in women, comprising 6% of female cancers. Objectives: The aim of this study is to investigate the antioxidant vitamins, Coenzyme Q10 and oxidative stress in patients with endometrial cancer. Patients and methods: Fifty six endometrial cancer women patients with various clinical stages (stage 1A, stage1B, stage II, stage III, stage IV) mean aged 58.055 ± 10.561 years, and 30 healthy women volunteers mean aged 39.731 ± 13.504 years, were includes as control group. Results: The results in this study revealed a highly significant decreased (P

Primary infection by low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) predisposes for secondary infection by Escherichia coli in poultry, leading to significant economic losses. Future research in control of this ailment requires the establishment of a successful controlled challenge by avian influenza virus (AIV)/E. coli. Six groups of broilers (6 birds/group) were included for the standardisation of the controlled challenge by AIV/E. coli. Birds in groups 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 received an intra-tracheal challenge of 0.5 ml of two haemagglutinating units of H9N2 virus at 20 days of age. At the age of 23 days, birds in group 1 received an intra-thoracic (right air sac)-E. coli challenge equivalent to 1.6 × 109 colony-forming units (cfu)/0.5 ml/bird, while birds in groups 2, 3, 4 and 5 received E. coli by the same route and in the following respective decreasing order of viable cells: 1.6 × 106, 1.6 × 105, 1.6 × 104 and 1.6 × 103 cfu. Birds in control group 6 were deprived of H9N2 and E. coli challenge. Results showed significant early mortality in group 1 that was challenged with the highest number of E. coli, in comparison to groups 2-6 (p0.05). The frequencies of four signs at 2 days and at 5 days post E. coli challenge (conjunctivitis, diarrhoea, ocular exudates and rales) in the surviving birds of groups 2-5 were most often higher than those observed in control group 6 (p

In this work it has been attempted to study the kinetic of vanadium recovery from fly ash by leaching with NaOH solution from previous work of Mosa (1999). The selected data were chosen at particle size of scale between 125 to 200 μm, temperature 343 to 373 K, reaction (leaching) time up to 8 hours and at about fixed NaOH solution molarity (3 to 4 M).The results show that vanadium recovery increased with time and temperature and mostly decreased with particle size.A second order polynomial mathematical correlation was employed to describe vanadium recovery response. The correlation coefficient of the obtained correlation was 0.9990 and variance of 0.9981 with confidence levels of 95 %.Kinetic study shows that the chemical reaction is the controlling step which has the highest resistance among other steps. A chemical reaction order was found equals to -3 with activation energy of 1080 J/ mole and frequency factor of about 2.6884

Background: The bond strength of root canal sealers to dentin and gutta-percha seems to be an important property for maintaining the stability of root canal filling, which potentially influences both leakage and root strength. The objective of this, in vitro, study was to evaluate the shear bond strength of three different endodontic sealers (Gutta-Flow, AH Plus, Apexit Plus) to dentin, in the presence and absence of the smear layer and gutta percha. Material and Methods: After slicing off the occlusal 2mm of 60 extracted human maxillary premolar teeth, the exposed dentin served as the tested surfaces; the teeth were fixed with cold cure acrylic, and were divided into two groups according to the smear layer presence, group A without smear layer, when dentin surfaces were irrigated with EDTA 17% followed by distilled water then subdivided into 3 subgroups according to the type of sealer used; group B when dentin surfaces were washed with distilled water only, then subdivided into 3 subgroups. Thirty samples of gutta-percha were prepared and named as group C which was subdivided into 3 subgroups. Five mm long section of polyethylene tubes were placed on the dentin or gutta percha surfaces and filled with freshly mixed sealer. After one week, all the samples were tested for shear bond strength by the Instron Universal Testing Machine at a cross head speed of 0.5 mm/min. The data was calculated in MPa and was statistically analyzed Result: There was a highly significant difference in the shear bond strength (P < 0.05) in comparison among the tested groups, GuttaFlow showed non-significant difference in bond strength to dentin with and without smear layer, while AH Plus and Apexit Plus showed a high significant difference. Conclusions: AHPlus showed the highest shear bond strength in all the tested samples, while GuttaFlow was the least. Additionally, AH Plus and Apexit Plus shear bond strengths were affected by the smear layer removal, while GuttaFlow was not.

Neurothekeomas are rare benign neoplasms, typically occurring in young patients with a remarkable predilection for the female population. Patients usually present with a small nodule in different anatomical sites, commonly involving the face and the upper limb. We report a case of a three-year-old boy, who presented with a nontender nodule on the left thumb. Surgical biopsy and immunostaining confirmed the diagnosis as myxoid neurothekeoma. The rarity of this unusual skin tumor in a toddler prompted the following report.

During recent decades, the autoimmune disease neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), once broadly classified under the umbrella of multiple sclerosis (MS), has been extended to include autoimmune inflammatory conditions of the central nervous system (CNS), which are now diagnosable with serum serological tests. These antibody-mediated inflammatory diseases of the CNS share a clinical presentation to MS. A number of practical learning points emerge in this review, which is geared toward the pattern recognition of optic neuritis, transverse myelitis, brainstem/cerebellar and hemispheric tumefactive demyelinating lesion (TDL)-associated MS, aquaporin-4-antibody and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)-antibody NMOSD, overlap syndrome, and some yet-to-be-defined/classified demyelinating disease, all unspecifically labeled under MS syndrome. The goal of this review is to increase clinicians’ awareness of the clinical nuances of the autoimmune conditions for MS and NMSOD, and to highlight highly suggestive patterns of clinical, paraclinical or imaging presentations in order to improve differentiation. With overlay in clinical manifestations between MS and NMOSD, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain, orbits and spinal cord, serology, and most importantly, high index of suspicion based on pattern recognition, will help lead to the final diagnosis.

As an adipokine in circulation, adiponectin has been extensively studied for its beneficial metabolic effects. While many important functions have been attributed to adiponectin under high-fat diet conditions, little is known about its essential role under regular chow. Employing a mouse model with inducible, acute β-cell ablation, we uncovered an essential role of adiponectin under insulinopenic conditions to maintain minimal lipid homeostasis. When insulin levels are marginal, adiponectin is critical for insulin signaling, endocytosis, and lipid uptake in subcutaneous white adipose tissue. In the absence of both insulin and adiponectin, severe lipoatrophy and hyperlipidemia lead to lethality. In contrast, elevated adiponectin levels improve systemic lipid metabolism in the near absence of insulin. Moreover, adiponectin is sufficient to mitigate local lipotoxicity in pancreatic islets, and it promotes reconstitution of β-cell mass, eventually reinstating glycemic control. We uncovered an essential new role for adiponectin, with major implications for type 1 diabetes.

This study aimed to investigate the perceptions of primary and secondary students' parents in Jordan toward the distance learning process implemented in light of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. To achieve the study objectives, the researchers used the descriptive survey method to collect and analyze data and interpret the results. After developing the study instrument (questionnaire) and ensuring its validity and reliability, it was distributed to a selected sample, consisting of 470 parents, by random cluster method during the second semester of the 2019-2020 academic year. The study results show that primary and secondary students' parents were moderately satisfied with the distance learning process implemented in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, the results reveal statistically significant differences in the parents' perceptions attributed to the variables of the child's grade, in favor of grades 5-7; teacher's gender, in favor of female teachers; and school type, in favor of private schools.

The molecular origins of homochirality on Earth is not understood well, particularly how enantiomerically enriched molecules of astrobiological significance like sugars and amino acids might have been synthesized on icy grains in space preceding their delivery to Earth. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) identified in carbonaceous chondrites could have been processed in molecular clouds by circularly polarized light prior to the depletion of enantiomerically enriched helicenes onto carbonaceous grains resulting in chiral islands. However, the fundamental low temperature reaction mechanisms leading to racemic helicenes are still unknown. Here, by exploiting synchrotron based molecular beam photoionization mass spectrometry combined with electronic structure calculations, we provide compelling testimony on barrierless, low temperature pathways leading to racemates of [5] and [6]helicene. Astrochemical modeling advocates that gas-phase reactions in molecular clouds lead to racemates of helicenes suggesting a pathway for future astronomical observation and providing a fundamental understanding for the origin of homochirality on early Earth.

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is a rare tumor which usually presents during early or middle adult life, as erythematous indurated firm subcutaneous nodules. DFSP involving the breast is a rare phenomenon and even rarer in males. We describe a case of a male patient who presented with this tumor in his left breast.

While there has been significant progress in determining the transcriptional cascade involved in terminal adipocyte differentiation, less is known about early events leading to lineage commitment and cell fate choice. It has been recently discovered that zinc finger protein 423 (Zfp423) is an early actor in adipose determination. Here, we show that a close paralog of Zfp423, Zfp521, acts as a key regulator of adipose commitment and differentiation in vitro and in vivo. Zfp521 exerts its actions by binding to early B cell factor 1 (Ebf1), a transcription factor required for the generation of adipocyte progenitors, and inhibiting the expression of Zfp423. Overexpression of Zfp521 in cells greatly inhibits adipogenic potential, whereas RNAi-mediated knock-down or genetic ablation of Zfp521 enhances differentiation. In addition, Zfp521⁻/⁻ embryos exhibit increased mass of interscapular brown adipose tissue and subcutaneous white adipocytes, a cell autonomous effect. Finally, Ebf1 participates in a negative feedback loop to repress Zfp521 as differentiation proceeds. Because Zfp521 is known to promote bone development, our results suggest that it acts as a critical switch in the commitment decision between the adipogenic and osteogenic lineages.

Aeromonas salmonicida, a bacterial fish pathogen, possesses a functional Type Three Secretion System (TTSS), which is essential for its virulence. The genes for this system are mainly located in a single region of the large pAsa5 plasmid. Bacteria lose the TTSS region from this plasmid through rearrangements when grown in stressful growth conditions. The A. salmonicida genome is rich in insertion sequences (ISs), which are mobile DNA elements that can cause DNA rearrangements in other bacterial species. pAsa5 possesses numerous ISs. Three IS11s from the IS256 family encircle the rearranged regions. To confirm that these IS11s are involved in pAsa5 rearrangements, 26 strains derived from strain A449 and two Canadian isolates (01-B526 and 01-B516) with a pAsa5 rearrangement were tested using a PCR approach to determine whether the rearrangements were the result of an IS11-dependent process. Nine out of the 26 strains had a positive PCR result, suggesting that the rearrangement in these strains were IS-dependent. The PCR analysis showed that all the rearrangements in the A449-derived strains were IS11-dependent process while the rearrangements in 01-B526 and 01-B516 could only be partially coupled to the action of IS11. Unidentified elements that affect IS-dependent rearrangements may be present in 01-B526 and 01-B516. Our results suggested that pAsa5 rearrangements involve IS11. This is the first study showing that ISs are involved in plasmid instability in A. salmonicida.

Early diagnosis of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is essential because of its associated life threatening coagulopathy and unique response to all trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) therapy. The characteristic cell morphology supplemented by cytochemistry offers the most rapid means for diagnosis. Here we describe a rare case of acute promyelocytic leukemia-hypogranular variant that poses particular diagnostic challenge.

Umbilical metastasis is one of the main characteristic signs of extensive neoplastic disease and is universally referred to as Sister Mary Joseph’s nodule. It indicates neoplasm of inner organs mostly located in the gastrointestinal tract or the pelvis. However, in approximately 15-30% the primary tumor remains occult. In most cases, Sister Mary Joseph’s nodule appears as an early and sometimes the only symptom of the malignancy. Here we report a rare fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytologic diagnosis of umbilical metastasis of an ovarian carcinoma.

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Fullerenes (C60, C70) detected in planetary nebulae and carbonaceous chondrites have been implicated to play a key role in the astrochemical evolution of the interstellar medium. However, the formation mechanism of even their simplest molecular building block-the corannulene molecule (C20H10)-has remained elusive. Here we demonstrate via a combined molecular beams and ab initio investigation that corannulene can be synthesized in the gas phase through the reactions of 7-fluoranthenyl (C16H9˙) and benzo[ghi]fluoranthen-5-yl (C18H9˙) radicals with acetylene (C2H2) mimicking conditions in carbon-rich circumstellar envelopes. This reaction sequence reveals a reaction class in which a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) radical undergoes ring expansion while simultaneously forming an out-of-plane carbon backbone central to 3D nanostructures such as buckybowls and buckyballs. These fundamental reaction mechanisms are critical in facilitating an intimate understanding of the origin and evolution of the molecular universe and, in particular, of carbon in our galaxy.

The G protein-coupled receptor 84 (GPR84), a medium-chain fatty acid receptor, has garnered attention because of its potential involvement in a range of metabolic conditions. However, the precise mechanisms underlying this effect remain elusive. Our study has shed light on the pivotal role of GPR84, revealing its robust expression and functional significance within brown adipose tissue (BAT). Mice lacking GPR84 exhibited increased lipid accumulation in BAT, rendering them more susceptible to cold exposure and displaying reduced BAT activity compared with their WT counterparts. Our in vitro experiments with primary brown adipocytes from GPR84-KO mice revealed diminished expression of thermogenic genes and reduced [O.sub.2] consumption. Furthermore, the application of the GPR84 agonist 6-n-octylaminouracil (6-OAU) counteracted these effects, effectively reinstating the brown adipocyte activity. These compelling in vivo and in vitro findings converge to highlight mitochondrial dysfunction as the primary cause of BAT anomalies in GPR84-KO mice. The activation of GPR84 induced an increase in intracellular [Ca.sup.2+] levels, which intricately influenced mitochondrial respiration. By modulating mitochondrial [Ca.sup.2+] levels and respiration, GPR84 acts as a potent molecule involved in BAT activity. These findings suggest that GPR84 is a potential therapeutic target for invigorating BAT and ameliorating metabolic disorders., Introduction Adipose depots have attracted considerable interest because of their pivotal roles in orchestrating systematic energy homeostasis (1, 2). Within this intricate network, brown adipose tissue (BAT) has emerged as [...]

Mammals maintain thermoregulation in the face of cold environmental temperatures by activating bioenergetic mechanisms that increase heat production. Included in this response is both shivering (rapid contraction and relaxation of [...]

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune inflammatory demyelinating central nervous system disorder that is more common in women, with onset often during reproductive years. The female:male sex ratio of MS rose in several regions over the last century, suggesting a possible sex by environmental interaction increasing MS risk in women. Since many with MS are in their childbearing years, family planning, including contraceptive and disease-modifying therapy (DMT) counselling, are important aspects of MS care in women. While some DMTs are likely harmful to the developing fetus, others can be used shortly before or until pregnancy is confirmed. Overall, pregnancy decreases risk of MS relapses, whereas relapse risk may increase postpartum, although pregnancy does not appear to be harmful for long-term prognosis of MS. However, ovarian aging may contribute to disability progression in women with MS. Here, we review sex effects across the lifespan in women with MS, including the effect of sex on MS susceptibility, effects of pregnancy on MS disease activity, and management strategies around pregnancy, including risks associated with DMT use before and during pregnancy, and while breastfeeding. We also review reproductive aging and sexual dysfunction in women with MS.