Iraqi Journal of Cancer and Medical Genetics

Thesis or dissertation writing is an important and essential task for postgraduate students that must be performed correctly through following the standard guidelines for scientific writing. Any thesis/ dissertation or articles must involve writing a reference list in the last. References must be written correctly and honestly by following one of the well accepted international reference writing style. Many reference styles have been established worldwide and every style may meet the requirement of particular discipline. However, variation in using specific style within specific discipline is usually noticed in many academic institutes. In Iraq, postgraduate students in the field of biology are supposed to use Vancouver style for reference writing in their theses/dissertations. This study hypothesized that error in reference writing may be demonstrated in those theses/dissertations as previous studies showed deterioration in writing process as general. For a period of twelve years 124 fully performed theses/dissertations were analyzed carefully for that purpose. Moreover, interview with 114 postgraduate students in biology field was performed to discuss reference writing process. The results showed that almost all students had neither any idea about types of reference writing styles nor what style they had used in their reference writing. It seems that their style tended to meet the American psychological Association style mixed with Harvard style rather than the Vancouver style. Almost all theses or dissertation revealed different reference writing styles, and even in the same thesis or dissertation or in the same single reference more than one reference writing style was noticed. Many other different errors in reference writing were noticed in every thesis or dissertation. The interview with the students confirmed the results obtained from theses and dissertation analysis, indicating the deficiency in their ability to write reference correctly.
This article gives evidences that scientific writing practices and abilities of postgraduate students do not reflect expected quality criteria. Postgraduate students severely lacked the skill and knowledge in scientific writing especially in reference writing. It is highly recommended to introduce extensive courses in their curriculum concerning scientific writing in order to improve the writing process to be scientifically well accepted level by following the standard guidelines for writing.

Objective(s): The study objectives are to determine the effect of chemotherapy upon lifestyle for patients with pulmonary carcinoma and to identify the association between the effect of chemotherapy upon lifestyle for patients and their demographic characteristics including (age, gender, housing, marital status, educational level, occupation and income).
Methodology: Quantitative design (a descriptive study). The study was conducted at the Medical City/ Baghdad Teaching Hospital; Al-Kadhimiyia Teaching Hospital, and Radiation and Nuclear Medicine Hospital in Baghdad. Starting from 1st Dec. 2011 up to the 5th Feb. 2012. To achieve the objectives of the study, a non-probability (purposive) sample of (50) patients who were reviewed the hospitals above to receive chemotherapy to treat their disease and according to special criteria. Data were collected by self-reporting by patients with lung cancer. Instrument validity was determined through content validity, by a panel of experts. Reliability of the instrument was determined through the use of Pearson correlation coefficient for the test-retest approach, which was (0.80). Analysis of data was performed through the application of descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, and mean of score) and inferential statistics (Chi-square (x2) test).
Results: The results of the study indicated that most of patients with pulmonary carcinoma have side effects of chemotherapy related to the physical, psychological, personal and social, and spiritual and religious beliefs aspects. Through the increase significant of items related to side effects during assessment of these items and there is no significant association between the effect of chemotherapy upon lifestyle for patients and gender, housing, occupation and income. While there is significant relationship between the effect of chemotherapy upon lifestyle for patients and age, marital status, and educational level.
Conclusion: The researcher can conclude that most of patients with pulmonary carcinoma have side effects of chemotherapy related to the physical, psychological, personal and social, and spiritual and religious beliefs aspects.
Recommendations: The study recommend the need to Make quality information more available to assist patients in making informed decisions about change life style after treatment with chemotherapy.

This study was designed to evaluate the cytogenetic effects of the soluble beta glucan (ß-glucan) local and commercial extracts of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae on human circulating blood lymphocytes at the concentration (5, 50, 500, 1000) μg/ml .The results showed that the effect of beta glucan local extract, commercial extract on mitotic index were significant increased , and the best effect on mitotic and blast indexes at the highest concentration of the Local extract and Commercial .
The mitotic index of control group was represented (20.2) was lower than Local extract ( 22, 23.8 ,26.2) and (20, 21.6 , 28.8) for commercial extract at (50, 500 , 1000μg/ml) in concentration ,The value of both (Local and commercial extracts) at high concentration is lower than control group that treated with (PHA) which was represented (32.4). While the blast index of control group was (23.3) and the value of treated group exhibited low significant decrease in a concentration dependant manner (19.5, 16.6 and 15) for Local extract, (24, 19 and 17.4) for commercial extract at the concentrations (5,50,500,1000)μg/ml respectively. In commercial extract the blast index value (24, 24.1) was high at concentration (5 , 1000 )μg/ml than (50 , 500)μg/ml which were (19,17.4) respectively.

The apoptotic activity of methionine γ- lyase from Pseudomonas putida on cancer cell lines was indicated by measuring the concentration of cytochrome c in the supernatants of cell lines. The result revealed high concentration of cytochrome c in the supernatants of cancer cell lines (RD, AMGM and AMN3) respectively while the concentration of anti-apoptotic protein (Bcl-2) was very low.

Formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded blocks tissue for thirty one breast cancer patients were obtained from the archive of the Pathology laboratory of Al-Yarmouk Teaching Hospital from January 2011 to July 2012. In addition Formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded blocks tissue for ten fibroadenoma of breast were collected and used as control group. These blocks were subjected to cut as serial thin sections of (4μm) thickness and were sticked on positive charge slides to be used for in situ hybridization for the detection of matrix metalloproteinase -2 in breast cancer (MMP-2).
Overexpression of MMP-2 was detected in 90.3% (28 out of 31) of breast cancer samples (> 50% of the cells appearing as positive). The remaining 3 samples (9.7%) showed a weak- moderately expression (< 50% of the cells appearing as positive). The statistical analysis demonstrated a highly significant differences in MMP-2 expression among patients with breast cancer when compared with fibroadenoma of breast patients (control group). In conclusion, MMP-2 plays an important role in pathpgensis of breast cancer and supports the evidence of its role in evolution, progression and cell survival of breast cancer.

Background: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of extracellular matrix degrading proteinases are involved in tumor invasion, metastasis as well as in the early stages of carcinogenesis,the aim of this study was to explore whether changes in matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) are involved in the urinary bladder cancer.
Methods: Expression of MMP-9 was evaluated in the tumor of 30 urinary bladder cancer cases and 20 control group with in situ hybridization.
Results: Increased expression of MMP-9 was significantly higher in tumor compared with normal samples. Expression of MMP-9 did not found any significant association with tumor age, sex, grade and muscle invasion.
Conclusion: This study shows that MMP-9 may play an essential role in the determination of bladder cancer.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is one of the most common infections worldwide and is associated with gastric disorders. H. pylori is genetically unstable and this reflected on its virulence factors and type of diseases. Cytotoxin associated gene A (CagA) product is a major virulence factor is thought to be associated with gastric disease. It is injected into epithelial cells, undergoes phosphorylation by host cell kinases, and perturbs host signaling pathways. In the present study, we used multiplex PCR assay for rapid detection of H. pylori infection and for the determination of CagA genotypes directly from gastric biopsy specimens. Gastric biopsies were collected from 210 patients with dyspeptic symptoms. Genotypic analysis of H. pylori genes was found 91.17% for 16S rRNA, 87.25% for flagellin A, 89.21% for glmM (ureC) and cagA gene was detected in (39.21%) 40 biopsy specimens. Our study indicated that ureC (glmM) gene PCR is the most specific for the detection of H. pylori in gastric biopsy specimens compared with16S rRNA gene. There were significant differences (P ≤ 0.01) in cagA positive rate, among different diseases.

The main objective of this research to study carcinogenic effects of 17β-estradiol in mice by studying on haematological parameters (Hb, PCV, RBC, WBC and DWBC), mitotic index and histopathological changes of ovary, uterus and mammary gland. The following results which obtained from the current research:
The effects of 17β-estradiol for six months on blood picture had no-significant differences on the blood haemoglobin (Hb) (11.55 and 11.69 gm/dl), total number of red blood cells (RBC) counts in the peripheral blood. RBC counts were 7.48 and 6.98 × 106/mm3 for the two groups respectively. Basophiles percent (3.40 and 3.54%) also (8.68 and 8.09%) for Monocytes percent for the two experimental groups respectively. Significant decrease (P˂0.05) in PCV% were noticed between the control and treated group (37.40and 31.28 %) respectively, and Lymphocyte percent (49.00 and 46.03%). Also significant increases (P˂0.05) were observed in the WBC count between the control and the second group (7.05 and 9.43 109/l), and the Neutrophil percent (35.52 and 37.35%) respectively, also significant increases (P˂0.05) in the Eosinophil percent (3.40 and 4.99 %) respectively. The results of carcinogenic effects on cytogenic study showed a significant increase (P˂ 0.05) in mitotic index for mice treated with17β-estradiol in comparison to control group. While the histopathological changes, in ovary: In mice treated with 17β-estradiol revealed immature development of follicles that primordail and primary follicles can be detect while secondary follicle was noted without ova and no griffin follicle can be seen. The histopathological study of uterus: In mice treated with 17β-estradiol showed dilatation of endometrial glands with hyperplasia of epithelial cells lining uterus and there is compact hypercellular stroma. While the histopathological changes, in mammary gland: The mammary gland of treated mice with 17-β estradiol showed pleomorphic hyperchromatic malignant cells in addition somewhere arranged as glandular structure, but the gross appearance of mammary gland adenocarinoma gives enlargement with irregular shape.

Introduction: Chronic myelogenous leukemia)CML) is a pluripotential stem cell disease defined by the consistent presence of Philadelphia(Ph1) chromosome, in more than 95% of patients. In chronic phase of CML the Functional abnormalities of neutrophils are mild, this functional abnormality possibly because these neutrophils produced from abnormal stem cell. Nitro blue tetrazolium (NBT) dye reduction test a semiquantitative method that test the defects related to oxidative burst and superoxide generation.
The aims of the study: To evaluate the phagocytic function of neutrophils by NBT test in normal control and compare it to that of CML patients after imatinib mesylate therapy, to correlate between the absolute number of neutrophils and the percentage of NBT positive neutrophils in CML patients after imatinib mesylate and to find out if there is any correlation between the percentage of NBT positive neutrophils and the percentage of (Ph1) positive cells.
Patients, material and methods: Fifty CML patients were included in this study all of them were on imatinib mesylate therapy. Group 1: thirty six patients were not in complete cytogenetic remission .Group 2: fourteen patients were in complete cytogenetic remission .Control group: Thirty apparantly healthy, medication free volunteers matched for age and sex.
The Nitro blue tetrazolium dye reduction test was performed by slide method, blood film and complete blood count were also performed.
Results: The patient ages were ranged from 15 to 77 years with mean age of 45.3 ± 14.9, with male to female ratio of 1.43:1.The NBT percentages in control group were ranged from 3 to 9 with mean percentage of 5.8 ±1.6, in group 1 patients were ranged from 0 to4 with mean percentage of 1.28±1.2, while in group 2 were ranged from3 to 6 with mean percentage of 4.46±1.There was a significant difference between the control group and group 1 patient (p=0.000) while there was no significant deference between control group and group 2 patients (p=0.06).There was no significant correlation between the absolute neutrophils count and the percentage of NBT positive neutrophils in both groups of patients (1and 2) with p value of 0.23 and 0.1 respectively. In 26 patients the results of FIHS showed different percentage of cells positive for (ph1) chromosome ranged from 4 to 90 % with average of 48.3% and there was a significant inverse correlation between the percentage of NBT positive neutrophils and the percentage of cells containing (Ph1) chromosome at the 0.01 level (Pearson Correlation =-0.769).
In conclusion: the neutrophils function in CML patients after therapy varies according to (Ph1) chromosome conversion and complete cytogenetic remission is associated with normal neutrophils function while the presence of Ph1 chromosome positive cells associated with defective neutrophils phagocytic activity.

The cytotoxicity of different concentrations of purified methionine γ- lyase from Pseudomonas putida on cancer cell lines (RD, AMN3 and AMGM) at 96 hr was studied. The bacterial enzyme with concentration 1000μg/ml was revealed highly cytotoxicity against cancer cell lines in comparison with other concentrations whereas slight cytotoxicity was observed on normal cell (REF).

This study design ,study the importance of recurrence Urinary Tract infection caused by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) via detect LT and ST toxin genes in E.coli samples isolated from patients with UTI. A total of 60 urinary samples were collected from patients with UTI especially from children Infected in the Central Child Hospital and Al-Yarmouk Teaching Hospital in Baghdad for the period 27/12/2011 to 7/7/2012.isolation of E. coli was performed according to the standard laboratory methods, Agglutination test was done in the Central Health Laboratory and API 20E system was done in the Children Teaching Hospital. DNA was extracted from samples by High-Speed Plasmid Mini Kit DNA and pure yield plasmid miniprep system were used as a template for PCR reaction. Two sets of primers were used to simultaneously detect the genes encoding LT and ST by multiplex PCR assay. Out of 60 samples, 15/60 negative (25%),45/60 positive (75% ), and infection in males was 6/45 (13.3%) While in females 25/45(56%). The percentage of LT gene 9/45 (20%), while none of samples were carrying ST gene. The results indicate that ETEC strains , with a relatively conserved genetic pool, are capable of causing urinary tract infection. Due to the importance of these strains in public health, it is suggested that the conventional methods used for their detection less accurate than molecular method Because of the great similarity with cholera toxin.

Introduction: Beta thalassemia is one of the most common inherited single gene disorders result from absent or reduced β - chain production. Regular blood transfusions are required to correct anemia for normal growth and development, this cause secondary iron overload which is responsible for peroxidative damage. Iron overload causes high concentrations of serum ferritin which is a protein that plays a key role in iron metabolism by binding and storing excess iron within cells. In β-thalassemia major, liver damage accounts for the changes in lipid profile including total-cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and triglyceride (TGL). Trace elements including zinc (Zn), copper (Cu) and magnesium (Mg) play a vital role in the body to perform its functions properly and should present in the body in appropriate amounts and must be available for reacting with other elements to form critical molecules as well as to participate in various important chemical reactions.
The aims: to evaluate serum ferritin and trace elements (Copper, zinc and magnesium) and lipid profile in beta thalassemia major patients.
Patients, material and methods: Patients: sixty patients were diagnosed as beta thalassemia major, they were on blood transfusion program, and thirty healthy medication free volunteers matched for age and sex were studied as control .Blood samples were taken after an overnight fast (12-14-hours.) and serum was obtained for estimation of ferritin levels by ELISA and for TC and TG that were determined enzymatically. The HDL-C was measured after precipitation of other lipoproteins. Copper; zinc and magnesium were estimated by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer.
Results: A high ferritin level (747.55 ± 158.62 mg/l) was observed. The serum cholesterol and high density lipoprotein levels were found to be lower than normal control (94.4±7.48 and 40.83±4.64 mg/dl respectively), while serum triglyceride level was significantly higher than normal control (177.83±15.91). There was no correlation between serum ferittin and any of the studied lipids. Serum Copper and magnesium levels were significantly higher than normal control (152±6.4 mg/dl and 2.28±0.17 mg/dl respectively), while Serum zincs levels were significantly lower than normal (67.55±2.7 mg/dl)
In conclusion: assessment of serum ferittin, trace elements and lipid profile in patients with beta thalassemia major revealed different levels in different studies suggesting variation in the factors influencing their levels in each patients and could be useful in follow up patients with beta thalassemia major.

Due to the suffering of many Iraqis in recent years ,the problem of repeated abortions has markedly increased. The abortion has been studied in several researches according to bacterial, parasitic, Viro, hormonal causes, age of the mother, deformation sperm in men and genetic causes.
This study included 120 cases (60 pairs) of those who suffer miscarriages repeatedly, after they were diagnosed primarily for their need to examine genetic where they underwent tests other causes and results were negative. Samples were taken from peripheral blood and then conducted its analysis chromosomal G-band, according to the Yaseen,1998.
The results of chromosomal aberations ranged between inversion in chromosome16, duplication in chromosome 1, rearrangement in X chromosome and mosaism with trisomy 18. The duration of abortion were between 1st and 2nd minster. The rest cases maybe caused by gene aberations.

This study aimed to isolate and purify the casein from Iraqi camels′ milk and evaluating its activity against some types of cancer cells in vitro. The study included the isolation of casein in acidic medium (pH=4.6) and its purification in DEAE-Cellulose ion exchanger and Sephadex G-200 Gel filtration. To verify the purity of isolated casein, electrophoresis has been achieved on PAGE. To specify the immunological behavior for the partially purified casein, immunoblotting has been achieved by Western Blot. To recognize the cytotoxicity of casein, High Screening Content (HSC) against Human Lung Adenocarcinoma A549 has been achieved. To evaluate the inhibiting ability against four types of cancer cells (A549, MCF7, PC3, HePG2). The availability of cell has been determined by MTT test. The results showed that casein had three peaks on DEAE-Cellulose and Sephadex G-200 for each column. By the use of electrophoresis on PAGE, a band similar to standard casein appeared . Also , casein showed immunological behavior depending upon the concentration in western blot test. The results showed that casein had inhibiting ability against cancer cells the proportion was reversal between casein and cancer cells availability. Casein had different inhibition activity against cancer cells content. We conclude, partially purified casein from Iraqi camels′ milk had inhibiting activity against certain types of cancer cell in vitro.