Iraqi Journal of Cancer and Medical Genetics

Writing the abstract in a thesis, a dissertation and in a scientific paper is of a great importance to condense the contents in well readable and self expressible short text. The abstract should give a real, precise, accurate and satisfied picture for the entire scientific article. Two terms (abstract and summary) were used widely by Iraqi biological sciences postgraduate students as the first chapter in their theses and dissertations writing. These both terms usually are different in their context writing style and in their content. It is supposed that abstract should be used in the writing of scientific articles, thesis or dissertation instead of summary. This study hypothesized that those students have no knowledge and skill to differentiate between abstract and summary terms in their writing process. This study involved reading and analyzing of 124 thesis and dissertations from different biological disciplines and involved also interviewing 114 postgraduate students to uncover the accuracy of using those two terms and to have proper idea about their knowledge in abstract writing guidelines. The results revealed that most students didn’t differentiate between abstract and summary in their writing, no abstract was written correctly indicating that the students lacked the knowledge and skill of abstract writing guidelines. The students did write their abstract by blindly mimic the previous students writing style without any attempt to check the accuracy of writing process. Reconsideration for postgraduate students’ syllabus must be taken to establish rigid system for scientific writing based on international guidelines.

This study was correlated to evaluate polymorphisms in CTLA4 associated with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus in a Iraqi population. Blood samples were collected from 40 patient (4-25 years) from 1/6/2010- 1/2/2011, isolation of DNA were done and PCR was performed using primer for CTLA4 gene. The result shows that 31 patients have mutation in 49 position A/G polymorphism in exon 1 of CTLA4 by using BstEII enzyme. There is a highly significant correlation between diabetes and incidence of A/G 49 position in exon 1 of CTLA4 gene (X2 = 32.1, P>0.05), the conclusion is that there is enough evidence to support the claim that diabetes is related to A/G 49 transition mutation.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) has been recognized as the causative agent of chronic gastric inflammation, which can progress further to a variety of diseases such as peptic ulcer and adenocarcinoma. The major bacterial virulence markers of H. pylori, the cytotoxin-associated gene (CagA), may play a role in determining the clinical outcome of Helicobacter infections. Aim of this study to investigate the presence of H.pylori DNA within gastric epithelial cells in patients with H.pylori infection and to determine the prevalence of CagA among patients with cancerous and precancerous lesion. Methods: A total of 92 gastric biopsy samples, 25 H.pylori negative and 67 H.pylori positive patients. H.pylori DNA in gastric epithelial cells and CagA gene of H. pylori was assessed by using the in situ hybridization test. Results: In H. pylori positive group, the positive rates of H.pylori DNA in the gastric epithelial cells were progressively increased in chronic superficial gastritis, precancerous changes and gastric cancer groups(P>0.01); The detection of CagA positive H. pylori was significantly higher in patients with gastric cancer compared to those with chronic superficial gastritis and atrophic gastritis(P<0.01). Conclusion: The pathological progression from chronic superficial gastritis, precancerous changes to gastric cancer is associated with higher positive rates of H.pylori DNA presence in the gastric epithelial cells, and there was a significant increase in CagA-positive H.pylori among patients with gastric cancer.

This study evaluated the ability of crude alkaloids extracted from the leaves of Convolvulus Scammonia to distract the microtubule network of mice hepatocarcinoma cell line (H22), which is an invasive metastasis cell line. This assessment was carried out using the immunostaining technique. The extract was able to distract the microtubules of the cells under investigation after 60 min of exposure in a concentration as little as 20 μg/ml. when DAPI staining used, the cells apoptosis was not detected in this concentration and time. The apoptotic cell have been observed when the concentration of the alkaloid extract elevated up to 80 and 100 μg/ml during the mentioned exposure time. The cells were capable of recovering there native microtubules constriction after 12 hr of the alkaloid removal from the media. The extract concentration of 1mg/Kg/Bw efficiently inhibited H22 cell line tumor growth in vivo to 97.14% in mice after three weeks treatment compared to untreated control animals.

The cytotoxic effect of Esculetin to mouse myeloma and human acute myelogenous leukemia cells invitro was evaluated. Tumor cells exposed to Esculetin in culture showed an exponential cytotoxic responses. A decreased viabilities of both leukemic cells were noticed with 20, 40 and 80 μg / ml Esculetin. Besides, myeloma cells showed a progressive depletion of viability when exposed continuously for 1,2,3 and 4 days, whereas, pretreatment of myeloma cells with Esculetin for 1,2,4 and 24 h followed by removal of the chemical and culturing the cells for 3 days indicated that the time the cells much effected was 24 h post exposure. At this exposure time, exposure to 10 μg / ml decreased the able cell number to 24.66 × 10-4 cells / ml versus 62.66 × 10-4 cells / ml in the control. t – test = 5.16 , p = 0.007 95 % CI = 17.5 – 58.5. Like wise, a 20 μg / ml concentration of esculetin decreased viable cells number to 23.5 × 10-4 cells / ml versus 62.66 × 10-4 cells / ml of control. T-test 7.39, P = 0.002. 95 % CI = 24.5 – 53.8.
The efficiency of Esculetin in protecting mice implanted with syngeneic myeloma was studied . The results of invivo experiment demonstrated that the chemical could protect mice from lethal dose of the experimentally implanted tumor . The protection value reached 66.7 % in animals treated with 200 or 400 μg Esculetin for 10 consecutive days. For 200μg drug plus myeloma versus myeloma only, chi – square value was 3.086 p=0.08 and 95% CI = 0-2.4. However , at 400 μg drug plus myeloma versus myeloma only, the chi – square analysis showed a value of 4.17, P=0.04 95% CI = 0.02 – 1.3. Besides, the survival of the animals was increased. The therapeutic relevance and speculated mechanism of Escletin cytotoxic effects are discussed.
In conclusion, it seems that esculetin has antiproliferative effects to mouse myeloma and to human myelogenous leukemia cells.

Cytogenetic study was performed on a case of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The chromosomal analysis for bone marrow cells by using G- banding technique showed A novel dic (11;11)(q24;q24) in 5 metaphases (15%) of 32 total metaphases studied, which has not been described previously in this leukemia type. Different abnormalities involving chromosome 11q have been reported as well. Novel rearrangement of 11q may reflect the heterogeneity of the genetic change which possibly refers to the differences in environmental and genetic factors of the Iraqi patients in comparison with other patients in another countries, which may contributes in the pathogenesis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia .

Cytogenetic analysis using G- banding technique was performed on bone marrow cells from a 22-year-old female who was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. The chromosomal analysis showed a complex karyotype which included the Isochromosome 6(p) in 16 metaphases (16%) of 97 total metaphases studied. This finding suggests a strong selective pressure for loss of heterozygosity of genes located on 6q, and is in keeping with the hypothesis that one or more tumor suppressor genes might be located on the long arm of chromosome 6 . Moreover, trisomy (or tebasomy) for the short arm of chromosome 6, due to the isochromosome formation , indicating also a possible role for amplification of genes located on 6p in tumor progression in this case of acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Current study used the acridine orange test to investigate the effect of two techniques of human sperm preparation involved direct swim up technique and centrifugation swim up technique on the integrity of sperm chromatin structure, and also the supplementation of two concentrations of Human serum albumin (HSA) in the culture medium that has been used in the previously mentioned methods. Assay results demonstrated that, both techniques reduce the percentages of isolated or activated spermatozoa with fragmented DNA as compared with their percentages pre preparation, whither this decrement was significant or not (P=0.05). Also we found that using culture medium supplemented with concentrations of HSA enhanced the isolation of spermatozoa with intact DNA, and (10%)HSA was the better. Therefore, the present study concluded that neither direct swim up nor centrifugation swim up techniques with single centrifuge step (559g) for 8minutes can cause further DNA damage in the activated spermatozoa by both, also the involvement of HSA in sperm preparation media enhances sperm parameters and the isolation of spermatozoa with intact DNA in-vitro.

The present study was designed to compare between two methods (Immunohistochemistry and In Situ hybridization ) to investigate the relationshipe between tumor suppressor gene (P53) in some samples of some Iraqi patients with thyroid tissue cancer from different site (papillary, follicular and lymph node). A series of 30 patients with thyroid cancer who had undergone thyroidectomy. All these samples were collected during (2011-2012) . The histologic types included 21 well differentiated papillary, follicular and lymph node carcinomas,and nine poorly differentiated carcinomas.By using Immunohistochemistry, P53 was detected in eighteen out of thirty (60%) , whereas at In Situ hybridization , it was detected in fourteen out of thirty (46.6%), Moreover, the positive results of the tumor supprewwor gene (p53) was related in highly significant to each of age, gender, stage and histologic grade of tumor.It is conclude from that immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization for detection of p53 could be useful in the clinical evaluation of patients with thyroid carcinoma. And suggested that p53 mutations are involved in thyroid carcinogenesis and may play an important role in the malignant transformation of thyroid cancer.

Certain infections, such as urinary tract infection may have an increased incidence in bladder cancer owing to physiological changes. One mechanism of initiating innate host defenses against bacteria in UTI’s is the production of cytokines. In this study, we investigated prevalence urinary tract infection among bladder cancer patients and the factors associated with the acquisition, and the description of the isolated pathogens in bladder cancer patients. This descriptive study was carried out through the period from January to may 2012 , 40 bladder cancer patients were collected from Baghdad Medical City , Medical City Teaching Laboratories and private laboratories and 20 case controls. The study groups were 40 urine samples from bladder cancer patients; urine samples taken for tests, and cultures and 40 subjects as health control group from both sexes. The study showed that Staph. aureus was the most common microorganism isolated from UTI which represented (34 %). E.coli was found to be the second most common microorganism encountered in UTI (30.7%) Klebsiela spp. was found to be the third microorganism which represented (11.5%).Proteus spp. was fourth microorganism isolated which represented (15.3%) , while ( 7.6%) of microorganism was Pseudomonas, with p. value > 0.005 that mean no significant differences between the microorganisms that can cause infection in patient with other disease. The study also showed two groups, group (1) was patients with cancer bladder, In this group number of UTI was 65%(male &female) , while 35% of cancer bladder patients were without UTI with non significant differences. Finally, there is non-significant differences among groups of patients with Bladder cancer were divided into five groups, group one included (14) patients (35%) suffering from Bladder cancer only, group 2 included 10 patients (25%) suffering from bl. Cancer and D.M, group 3 included 7 patients (17.5%) suffering from bl. Cancer and hypertension, group 4 included 3 patients (7.5%) suffering from blood cancer and renal failure , group 5 included 6 patients (15.0) suffering from b. cancer and other diseases ( anemia, leukemia, CV and polycythemia).

The association of Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) with Hodgkins lymphoma (HL) seems to depend on many factors such as geographical area, histological subtype and age. The present study included (30) patients having HL (18 males and 12 females) with age ranged 25 – 53 years, where histopathological sections reviewed. A second group regarded as control group complained of non malignant disorders (25)patients with age ranged (20 -55) years was identified that VCA –lgG and EAlgG were significantly higher (p 0.05) in HL group compared with control group. EBV positive is more prevalent in mixed cellularity subtype (56.6%) of all cases examined. The significant association between EBV and HL that was found further strengthens the suggestion that all cases of HL should be assessed for EBV status by immunohistochemistry because its presence may have a significant impact on prognosis and response to therapy.

Knowledge of microbiology and its relation to tumor is in continuous progress.Many efforts directed to eradicate the tumor cell without hart the normal living body cells. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of Lactobacilli as a Probiotic in colon cancer treatment in rats. Colon cancer was induced in rats using Azoxymethane (AOM) at 15mg/Kg( animal body weight) by adding methyl group to guanine (O6- methyl guanine). The later showed by using methylation sensitive restriction enzymes such as HpaII (sensitive to presence of methyl group ), and MspI (resistant to methyl group) so the samples treated with former will give a clear band of methylated DNA in gel electrophoresis while MspI will give diffused band when the DNA is methylated. The post- treatment effect of Lb. acidophilus and its components was studied as well. The animals were injected with AOM at one week interval for two weeks, then fed Lb. acidophilus and its components for 6 weeks started a week after the last injection. It has been shown that Lb .acidophilus cells reduced the ACF by 88.8%(only 9 foci were found compared to 80 foci in control treatment) the animal administrated with glycoprotein samples reduced the development of foci by 87.57%. (only 10 foci were found compared to 80 foci in control treatment). the animal administrated with cytoplasm sample and crude growth medium there was 86.25% reduction (only 11 foci were found compared to 80 foci in control treatment). either in terms of DNA samples extracted from the colon of rats (aberrant crypt foci) injected carcinogens and treatment cells and bacteria components Lb .acidophilus which explained after amonth and a half from the date of the second injection carcinogens, which when incubation with restriction enzyme HpaII methylation sensitive DNA enzyme, appeared smear wtthin the gel electrophoresis which enhances the role of cells and bacteria components Lb. acidophilus in the modulate DNA methylation compared with DNA samples extracted from the colon of rats positive group injected carcinogens which explained after amonth and ahalf later than the second injection of carcinogens and that when incubation with restriction enzyme HpaII appeared in broad and radiant within gel electrophoresis which indicates the presence of methyl group in the DNA of this animals group.