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The placenta is considered the first interface between mother and fetus, and a normal placenta is essential for pregnancy without complications. IUGR is considered the most common condition recognized in complicated pregnancy and accounts for 26% or more of stillbirth. The current study aims to explore the presence of IUGR and placental angiogenesis by investigating the expression of VEGF and eNOS in both placenta of IUGR of CMV-infected mother and placenta of normal mother in relation to awareness of CMV in Iraqi women.

Oxidative stress is a defense mechanism that occurs when there is an imbalance between the production of reactive metabolites and free radicals and the antioxidants’ ability to eliminate them. Reactive metabolites are free radicals referred to as oxidants or reactive oxygen species (ROS). Cells are harmed by this imbalance, which may influence the entire body. When the intra- and extracellular environmental circumstances in cells change, ROS is essential for stimulating the corresponding signaling pathways. All aspects of carcinogenesis, including prevention and treatment, are tightly associated with reactive species, particularly ROS. Numerous tumor suppressor genes and proto-oncogenes are deregulated by ROS, which also modify several cellular signaling pathways. However, most chemotherapy drugs and even radiation therapy dramatically raise the ROS concentrations in the tumor microenvironment. Antioxidants cause programmed cell death, which is used in cancer treatment; yet people receiving chemotherapy benefit from antioxidants. Nevertheless, the exact processes underlying this anticancer action remain unclear. Many studies carried out in laboratories and on animals revealed high concentrations of exogenic antioxidants, that inhibit the forms of free radical injury linked with the formation of cancer. There haven’t been many human clinical trials looking into the potential of dietary supplementation to reduce the risk of cancer development or death. Since there have been studies on the advantages and downsides of antioxidants in the treatment of cancer, several considerations need to be deemed before administering antioxidant supplements. In conclusion, little is known about the mechanism underlying antioxidant effect in cancer treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Many pathological insults are associated with elevation of blood pressure levels during pregnancy resulting in a difficult pregnancy and a poor outcome on both mother and baby. Objective: In this study, we examine the histological and immunohistochemical markers of the placentae in cases of hypertension in pregnancy and preeclampsia and compared them to a placenta of normal pregnancy among a random sample of Iraqi pregnant women. Materials and Methods: Ninety women divided into three groups, 30 in each, selected with straightforward pregnancies (Group A), mothers with pregnancy-induced hypertension (Group B), and preeclamptic mothers (Group C) were chosen from the indoor patients of the gynecology and obstetrics department of Al-Khansaa teaching hospital in Mosul for placental tissues examination. Histological examination was done by using hematoxylin and eosin stain (H & E), and immunohistochemistry was achieved by using immunohistochemical markers named: insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and basic fibroblast growth factor (b-FGF) markers, which are expressed in placental tissues. Results: Different changes were observed in the placentae affected when compared with normal one, such as syncytial knots formation, thickening of trophoblastic basement membrane, cytotrophoblastic cellular proliferation, fibrinoid necrosis, endothelial proliferation, calcified and hyalinised villous spots, villous edema, and atherosis of the uteroplacental arteries. Significant immunohistochemical changes were obtained when compared with normal placentae where elevation of both b-FGF and IGF-1 in preeclamptic placentae was observed when compared to hypertensive and control cases. Conclusion: Significant changes appeared in the placentae of hypertensive and preeclamptic mothers, both in histological and immunohistochemical examinations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Cancer stem cells (CSC) are a potential cause for recurrence, metastasis, and resistance of tumors to different therapeutic modalities like hormonal radiotherapy and chemotherapy. We investigated two CSC markers (NANOG and CD 133) in normal, hyperplastic endometrium and endometrial carcinoma. A total of 93 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue blocks were used for immunohistochemical expression of NANOG and CD133 markers. NANOG expression was detected in 88.37% of endometrial carcinoma cases compared to 15% of the normal proliferative endometrium and 60% of hyperplasia cases. In endometrial carcinoma, high NANOG expression was significantly correlated with high grade, deep myometrial invasion, lymph node metastasis, and high stage with p-values (0.009, 0.005, 0.014, and 0.003, respectively). CD133 was positive in 76.74% of endometrial carcinoma cases, and it showed a significant correlation with deep myometrial invasion, positive lymph node, positive lymphovascular invasion, and high stage (p-values 0.003, 0.001, 0.003, and 0.013, respectively). Normal endometrium showed less expression of CD133 (only 5%) than hyperplasia and endometrial carcinoma with a statistically highly significant difference (p less than 0.0001). Hyperplastic cases with atypia expressed higher CD133 than those without atypia (6 out of 12 versus 3 out of 18). However, this difference was not statistically significant (p-value 0.111). The cancer stem cell markers NANOG and CD 133 are expressed in a high percentage in endometrial carcinoma compared to normal and hyperplasia and their expression is positively correlated with the aggressive behavior of the tumor. High expression of these two markers in apparently normal tissue around the tumor and in hyperplastic conditions with atypia suggests the possibility to use NANOG and CD133 expression as a diagnostic marker distinguishing dysplasia from reactive atypia. Therefore, inhibition of these markers can be a promising method to stop the progression of early cancers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to explore the association of fetal growth parameters between single and multiple pregnancy. Three-dimensional ultrasonography was used for prospective assessment of standard fetal biometry in third-trimester pregnancies. The included growth parameters were biparietal diameter (BPD) and estimated fetal weight (EFW). Correlation tests were performed. There was a significant difference in gestational age, biparietal diameter and estimated fetal weight between singleton and multiple pregnancies. Although no significant difference was obtained in these parameters between twin and triplet pregnancies. Singletons' growth curves could be modified for multiple pregnancies regarding Iraqi populations specially in the third trimester of gestation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Dexamethasone is a highly potent glucocorticoid. Treatment with dexamethasone results in several metabolic perturbations on nearly all organs of the body including the liver. Objective This study had been carried out in order to investigate the effects of dexamethasone sodium phosphate as synthetic form of glucocorticoids on the rabbit liver as a model for human liver, by a light microscope, using two extreme of doses and two durations to show the dose and duration dependency. Methods Liver specimens were obtained from rabbits treated with dexamethasone sodium phosphate and from control groups 1 and 2, the specimens were fixed and processed to evaluate the histological and histochemical changes. Results Vacuolation and ballooning of hepatic cells were observed in the liver of the treated groups associated with degenerative changes of these cells, dilatation and congestion of central hepatic vein and sinusoidal capillaries were observed, positive periodic acid schiff's stain (PAS) reactions were noticed in the treated groups. All these changes were dose and duration related. Conclusion Morphological changes induced in the liver by dexamethasone sodium phosphate could be accepted as side effects of these drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The histological changes obtained from the effect of glucocorticoids on exocrine pancreas is well known but little is known about the morphometrical changes on the acinar cells and ducts which are associated with the histological findings. Objective To reveal these morphometrical changes which are associated with the histological changes occurred on the exocrine pancreas by the use of different doses and durations of dexamethasone. Methods Healthy female rabbits were used and divided to six groups. The first four groups regarded as the treated groups, they received different doses and different durations of dexamethasone sodium phosphate. The fifth and sixth group considered as the control group. The pancreas obtained from these animals were processed to make a paraffin blocks, the slides obtained were stained by H&E stain, and Masson's acid Fuchin Aniline blue Trichrome stain (MT). Diameter of serous acini and intercalated ducts were measured, height of acinar cells and intercalated duct cells and counting of serous acini number in a unit area were estimated. Results Histologically, by H&E, degenerative changes of serous acinar cells were evident which were dose and duration related. By MT stain there was decrease in collagen fibers in the interlobular spaces. Morphometrically, the diameter of serous acini, height of acinar cell and glandular density were decreased when the dose and duration of treatment were increased. Conclusion There was increase in exhausted acinar cells as compared to metabolically active cells when the dose and duration of dexamethasone sodium phosphate treatment were increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]