Relation between prognostic factors and MicroRNAs (miR-18a/miR-18b) in triple negative breast cancer

Breast cancer is the most common type of malignancy found in women. It is a very heterogenous disease and treatments vary accordingly. Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive subtype of breast cancer and is often found in younger women or women of African descent. It is recognized by its lack of expression of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) or the human epidermal growth receptor 2 (HER2). Due to the lack of these receptors, treatment options are very limited, and chemotherapy is often the only choice available for patients. However, several other ways to treat TNBC is under investigation and strong emphasis are placed to discover prognostic and predictive markers that can predict or aid in the treatment of this cancer. MicroRNAs are short non-coding RNA molecules that form around 19-22 nucleotides in length and are tasked to up/downregulate gene expression post-transcriptionally by either binding to the messenger RNA (mRNA) targets or by cleaving them. Functionally, they maintain balance in normal cells by regulating cellular growth, proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. In breast cancer, the expression of some of these microRNAs have been recognized to possess either oncogenic or tumor-suppressing properties. MicroRNA 18a and 18b especially, which are part of the miR-17-92 cluster, have been considered to be oncogenic, and their overexpression in tumor cells have shown to enhance cell proliferation, trigger angiogenesis, block differentiation, and promote metastasis and evasion of an apoptotic response. Due to their significant contribution to cancer growth, microRNAs in general are very valuable biomarkers to target as potential prognostic markers or novel therapeutic agents for TNBC. The aim of this study is to count the mitotic activity index (MAI), TILs and miR-18a/b in the tumor microenvironment of TNBC to investigate whether any correlation exists between them, and the other factors and characteristics related to TNBC and its prognosis. There are two main objectives to this thesis. Firstly, to statistically analyze MAI, TILs and other characteristics of TNBC in the Norwegian cohort (n= 271) at the University Hospital of Stavanger to find good prognostic markers for TNBC, and secondly, to measure the expression of microRNAs 18a and 18b using CISH. Statistical analyses will be done to determine whether either or both of these microRNAs are significant enough to be considered as prognostic markers for TNBC. From the larger cohort of TNBC cases of those that were alive and well, those with local reoccurrence and those dead of the disease with distant metastasis at the end of their follow-up status (n=195), the results showed that the lymph node status, when negative (p=0.000, HR=0.300, 95% CI=0.181–0.497) was the most significant factor for a good prognosis. The age at the time of diagnosis (p=0.001, HR=2.053, 95% CI=1.329–3.171) and the fibrotic focus (p=0.017, HR=1.670, 95% CI=1.092–2.55) were also significant factors that showed a trend towards greater survival and good prognosis when combined with the negative lymph node status. From the CISH group (n=42), miR-18a showed a significant correlation with the Nottingham grade (p=0.066) and tumor type (p=0.003). On the other hand, miR-18b showed correlation with MAI (p=0.056), TILs (p=0.028), lymph infiltration (p=0.001) and tumor type (p=0.004). No difference was observed between patients with or without distant metastasis in the CISH cohort when all cases were observed together. However, when only lymph node negative cases were isolated from the rest and selected, a trend was observed in patients who didn’t experience distant metastasis when they had higher numbers of positive miR-18b cells. In conclusion, the findings in this thesis suggest that the lymph node status is a good predictive prognostic marker for TNBC along with fibrotic focus. From the microRNAs, miR-18b seem to be a good prognostic marker in lymph node negative TNBC patients and should be further studied. The sample sizes used for this study were small, and these results should be interpreted with caution and further validation is recommended

Population Growth and its Spatial Dimension and its Impact on the Sustainable Standard of Residential land Uses. Najaf District Case Study for the Period 2020-2025

هناك تأثيراً للنمو السكاني على استعمالات الأرض الحضرية, ولابد من الاستعداد والتنبأ بالنتائج الممكنة او المحتملة, وما تسببه من مشاكل من جراء سوء التخطيط والإدارة  والتنفيذ, ناهيك عن التهاون في حساب التنبؤ باتجاه وحجم العلاقة بين النمو السكاني والنمو العمراني, وعلى وجه الخصوص التشبع والتنوع العمراني المحتمل بفعل وتأثير النمو السكاني, ولكي لا ننتظر حدوث المشكلة, علينا أن نبادر ونعترف أن هناك مشكلة محلية وإقليمية في موضوع الإسكان ونمو السكان, أي أن الرصيد السكني  لا يلبي الحاجة السكنية بسبب النمو السكاني المتزايد مما يخلق فجوة متزايدة بينهما, اعتمد البحث المنهج التحليلي الوصفي لبيانات تاريخية حقيقية لكل من سكان ومساحات الأحياء السكنية والحصة المعيارية المستدامة للاستعمال السكني لقضاء النجف, الذي قُسم إلى ستة نطاقات؛ وذلك ليسهل علينا دراستها وتحليل متغيراتها, والتنبؤ بالمعيار المستدام المتنامي للمناطق السكنية لخمس سنوات قادمة في منطقة الدراسة, ومن بين النتائج الأهم أن هناك سوء تدبير وتقدير للنمو السكاني الذي ولد تشبع عمراني في استعمالات الأرض الحضرية, وفي مقدمتها تفاوت التأثير للنمو السكاني على المعيار السكني المستدام, وهذا بطبيعة الحال أنتج نسبة معيارية مستدامة لائقة ومقبولة للاستعمال السكني, و نسبة معيارية غير مستدامة وغير لائقة وغير مقبولة للاستعمال السكني, وكلاهما يقعان بين الحدّ الأعلى والأدنى للمعيار وأحيانا خارج الحدّ الأعلى. وللحفاظ على استدامة المعيار المتنامي، لينسجم مع واقع استعمالات الأرض الحضرية بات لزاما تحريك او نقل المتنامي من السكان ضمن أو خارج النطاق (Zone)، وذلك لخلق انسجام مستدام بين السكان والإسكان في ظل معيار متنامي ومستدام.There is an impact of population growth on urban land uses, and it is necessary to prepare and predict the possible or potential results, and the problems it causes as a result of poor planning, management and implementation, not to mention the negligence in calculating the direction and size of the relationship between population growth and urban growth, in particular urban saturation and diversity. The potential effect of population growth, and in order not to wait for the problem to occur, we must take the initiative and recognize that there is a local and regional problem in the issue of housing and population growth, meaning that the housing stock does not meet the housing need due to the increasing population growth, which creates an increasing gap between them. The research adopted a descriptive analytical approach to real historical data for both residents and residential areas and the sustainable standard share of residential use for Najaf district. Which was divided into six zones to make it easier for us to study them, analyze their variables, and predict the growing sustainable standard of residential areas for the next five years in the study area. One of the most important results is that there is a mismanagement and wrong estimation of population growth that has generated urban saturation in urban land uses. Foremost among them is the varying impact of population growth on the sustainable housing standard, which, of course, has created a decent and acceptable sustainable standard ratio for residential use and another that is unsustainable, inappropriate and unacceptable for residential use, both of them are located between the upper and lower limits of the standard and sometimes out of  standards. In order to maintain the sustainability of the growing standard to conform the reality of urban land uses, it is necessary to move or relocate the developing population within or outside zone to create sustainable harmony between population and housing under a growing and sustainable standard.&nbsp

Analyzing Indian Socio-Political Thoughts, Hunger and Freedom in Bhabhani Bhattacharya’s Novel “So Many Hungers”

This paper focuses on the Indian cultural background having the themes like hunger, poverty, famine, war, politics, freedom, imperialism, economic exploitation, class consciousness in the Indo-Anglian English fiction writer Bhabani Bhattacharya’s novel So Many Hungers!, related to the socio-political and economic situations of Bengali’s society. The theme of the novel is mainly the existing pressing problems of India, especially the rural India before and after the Independence. Realism is one of the most remarkable features of Bhabani Bhattacharya’s fiction. His novel shows a passionate awareness of life in India, the social awakening and protest, the utter poverty of peasants, the Indian freedom struggle and its various dimensions, the tragedy of partition of the country, the social and political transitions, the mental as well as the physical agony of the poor peasants and labor class people of the Indian society, especially that of Bengal and other adjoining states. Bhattacharya believes that an artist should inevitably be concerned with truth and reality, his portrayal of the life and society is never a photographic one nor a journalistic record. One can very well find the reflection of Indian culture, tradition and struggle in it

What Dictates the Dividend-Payout Decision of Corporations? A Case Study of Firms Listed at Karachi Stock Excahnge

Dividend decision is one of the very crucial factors that have a bearing on the long-term value of a firm. According to the traditional approach, firms that pay larger dividends happen to have escalated share prices compared to those that pay lower or no dividends. There have been previous studies conducted to explore what factors make a firm pay or ignore paying dividends for a given year. However, no consensus has been achieved so far by the researchers as to what really determines a firm’s dividend payout decision. This study is an attempt to re-examine some of the very major considerations a firm takes into account while deciding about the declaration, or otherwise, of dividends. To serve the purpose, the required financial information was obtained from ‘Financial Statement Analysis’ of Non-financial companies published by the State Bank of Pakistan. Sixty one (61) firms were included in the sample having thorough six year financial data ranging from 2006 to 2011 which led to a total of 366 firm-year observations. Results of the study showed that out of the factors analyzed, Liquidity and Profitability had a significant association with the dividend payout policy of firms in the sample. Hence, it may be concluded that the two mentioned factors are the major determinants of a firm’s dividend policy

Knowledge Sharing Behavior Of Business Teachers Of Pakistani Universities: An Empirical Testing Of Theory Of Planned Behavior

This study aims to explain the knowledge sharing behavior of business teachers of Pakistani Universities using the theory of planned behavior. For this purpose, data was collected from 157 business teachers serving in the Pakistani Universities. Smart-PLS has been used to analyze the collected data. Factor analysis and Cronbach’s alpha confirmed the validity and reliability of the measurement scales. Similarly, Structural model were applied to find out the relationship among independent variables (attitude towards knowledge sharing, subjective norms of knowledge sharing, perceived behavioral control of knowledge sharing) and dependent variable (knowledge sharing intention and knowledge sharing behavior). The findings show positive and significant relationship among all the study variables

Frequency and Risk factors of Low Birth Weight in Rawalpindi, Pakistan

Background: Low birth weight is a key determinant of infant survival, health and development. There are many maternal and biological risk factors for it. The objective of this study is to determine frequency and associated risk factors of Low birth weight. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out in department of obstetrics and gynecology; al Razi hospital, Rawalpindi from June 2016 till June 2020. Total sample size was 20,681 which was the total births during these years in this hospital setting. A structured pre tested questionnaire was used for data collection. SPSS version 23 was used for data analysis. Frequencies and percentages were calculated. Chi square test was used to determine association between LBW and socio demographic variables Result: The overall frequency of LBW was found to be 8.9%. Female babies were more likely to have LBW as compared to male babies (p=0.000). LBW babies had poor APGAR scoring as compared to normal weight (p=0.000). The frequency of LBW was higher amongst the mother who were <20years of age and >30years. Maternal weight had a direct while parity had inverse relationship with LBW. Conclusion: Low birth weight babies have poor APGAR scoring and associated with maternal risk factors

Seroprevalence and Associated Factors of SARS CoV-2 Antibodies among employees of IMDC and its teaching hospital

Abstract: Background: Since the emergence of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, it has claimed many lives and global economic losses. Healthcare workers have been the most exposed group in this pandemic. This study aims to determine the prevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among the employees of Islamabad Medical and Dental College and its allied hospital Akbar Niazi Teaching Hospital. Methodology: All members of the staff and faculty of Islamabad Medical and Dental College and allied hospital Akbar Niazi Teaching Hospital were encouraged to get tested for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and 294 employees volunteered for the study from 23rd July to 30th July,2020 through Elecsys® Anti-SARS-CoV-2 (Immunoassay for the qualitative detection of IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in human serum and plasma). Results: Out of 284 volunteers, 87 (30.6%) were SARS-CoV-2 antibody positive, with the mean antibody level in seropositive individuals recorded as 24.4418 ± 25.3494. , housekeeping and sanitary workers were the most affected; 14 (48.3%) were antibody positive, while 15 (51.7%) were antibody negative. After housekeeping and sanitary staff, the second most affected workers were lab technicians (37.1% were positive compared to 62.9% negative). Fever, loss of taste or smell and breathing difficulty were the most significantly associated symptoms with COVID-19 antibody seroprevalence as suggested by the p values 0.003, 0.004 and 0.032 respectively. Out of the 13 PCR positive participants (in the preceding 3 months) 10 (76.9%) showed positive antibody in their serum and 3 (23.1%) had not developed antibodies. Conclusion: Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies was estimated to be high among the healthcare staff (30.6%), with the housekeeping and sanitary staff to be the most affected employees, probably due to the breach of personal protection. Fever, loss of taste or smell and breathing were strongly associated with seropositivity of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Key Words: SARS-CoV-2, antibody testing, Covid-19, healthcare worker