A MOLECULAR-BASED APPROACH TO INVESTIGATE BREAST CANCER 1 AND BREAST CANCER 2 STATUS IN OVARIAN CANCER AMONG IRAQI WOMEN

Objective: Cancer ovary is one of the fatal gynecologic malignancies worldwide. Since breast cancer (BRCA) genes are considered tumor suppressor genes and play important roles in cancer by repairing of chromosomal damage with the error repair of DNA breaks. Therefore, breast cancer 1 (BRCA1) and breast cancer 2 (BRCA2) gene mutations strongly enhance the development of ovarian cancer risk among women. Here, we report that both genes are an essential mediator of progress ovarian cancer, to determine the influence of BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations in the improvement of ovarian cancer.Methods: A total of 25 subjects were chosen for the genetic studies, and three groups were recruited: fifteen ovarian cancer patients group, five healthy controls, and five first-degree relatives to a known case of ovarian cancer patients.Results: A genetic analysis revealed that a strong correlation exists between both gene mutations' status in ovarian cancer, and BRCA gene mutations (185delAG, 5382insC, and 4153delA in BRCA1 and 6174delT in BRCA2) remained to establish to have a relatively high frequency among people in this study among ovarian cancer patients. Furthermore, seven patients with ovarian cancer carried all of the four investigated mutations, and five had three mutations.Conclusion: Otherwise, BRCA gene frequency showed low prevalence among first-degree relatives, and to a lesser extent among healthy controls, with only a few had all of the mutations combined. These data demonstrate for the first time a molecular link between BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations in ovarian cancer progression in Iraq

Influence of degree of polymerization on behavior of cellulose during homogenization and extrusion/spheronization

The study objective was to investigate the influence of the degree of polymerization (DP) of cellulose materials (microcrystalline cellulose [MCC] and powder cellulose [PC]) on the behavior of these materials during homogenization and extrusion/spheronization processes. Suspensions of the cellulose types with different DP values were homogenized using a high-pressure homogenizer. The particle size, agglomeration index, and apparent viscosity of these suspensions was determined at different times after pouring. Additionally, these different cellulose types were processed into pellets using the extrusion/spheronization, method, and the water content and power consumption as a function of the DP were determined. Cellulose types with a high DP value showed greater particle size after homogenization, than the types with a low DP value. In contrast, no relevant relationship between the apparent viscosity and DP could be observed. During the extrusion process, water content in the extrudate and pellet porosity were increased as the DP was increased for the extrudates produced at the same level of power consumption. MCC types with various DPs compared with PC provided a novel way of understanding the role of cellulose in the extrusion process. The DP showed a remarkable influence on the physicochemical properties of the cellulose materials and, consequently, on the behavior of these materials during the extrusion/spheronization process. It is postulated that the sponge model is more appropriate for the cellulose type with high DP (PC), whereas the gel model is more applicable to cellulose types with lower DP (MCC)

SARS-CoV-2 vaccination modelling for safe surgery to save lives: data from an international prospective cohort study

Background: Preoperative SARS-CoV-2 vaccination could support safer elective surgery. Vaccine numbers are limited so this study aimed to inform their prioritization by modelling. Methods: The primary outcome was the number needed to vaccinate (NNV) to prevent one COVID-19-related death in 1 year. NNVs were based on postoperative SARS-CoV-2 rates and mortality in an international cohort study (surgical patients), and community SARS-CoV-2 incidence and case fatality data (general population). NNV estimates were stratified by age (18-49, 50-69, 70 or more years) and type of surgery. Best- and worst-case scenarios were used to describe uncertainty. Results: NNVs were more favourable in surgical patients than the general population. The most favourable NNVs were in patients aged 70 years or more needing cancer surgery (351; best case 196, worst case 816) or non-cancer surgery (733; best case 407, worst case 1664). Both exceeded the NNV in the general population (1840; best case 1196, worst case 3066). NNVs for surgical patients remained favourable at a range of SARS-CoV-2 incidence rates in sensitivity analysis modelling. Globally, prioritizing preoperative vaccination of patients needing elective surgery ahead of the general population could prevent an additional 58 687 (best case 115 007, worst case 20 177) COVID-19-related deaths in 1 year. Conclusion: As global roll out of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination proceeds, patients needing elective surgery should be prioritized ahead of the general population