The Effect of Coupling Media on the Pulse Velocity of Concrete

Ultrasonic methods have been widely used in civil engineering for the non-destructive evaluation of the concrete structures. Measurements of the velocity of the ultrasonic wave in concrete can be used to assess the quality of the concrete. As the concrete is a heterogeneous multiphase material which is acoustically inhomogeneous, propagation of ultrasonic waves through it will be a complex process comparing to other solid materials. This thesis involved testing the hypothesis, suggested by previous studies using ‘non-contact’ apparatus, that a coupling effect might exist between the ultrasound wave and the constituent materials of concrete.The velocity of sound in concrete samples measured by the traditional ultrasonic pulse velocity testing apparatus (PUNDIT), different coupling media of varying acoustic impedance was placed between the transducers and concrete. The coupling effect was evaluated in terms of the couplant used, compressive strength, aggregate content and maximum size of coarse aggregate. Analysis of variances (ANOVA) was performed to determine if there are statistically significant differences between the measurements recorded using a conventional system and a coupled system. In accordance with the experimental results, coupling materials have an effect on the pulse velocity measured in a given concrete. The effect varies depending on the material used. The UPV measurements with solid coupling were higher than those from the liquid coupling at all strength levels. For concrete with a specific w/c, the pulse velocity increased as the aggregate content increased. The conventional and rubber tests showed more sensitivity to the changes in aggregate content than the liquids tests. When the aggregate content is constant, concretes with larger MAS generally yielded higher pulse velocities than those with smaller MAS. In the coupling tests, the UPV measurements were more affected by the couplant used than the change in MAS of the mix. While the rubber test showed significant differences between the measurements of the two MAS at each strength level, the propanol test recorded approximately similar values for both MAS at all compressive strength levels

Molecular analysis of clinical isolated Pseudomonas aeruginosa by ERIC PCR

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a significant mortality factor due to nosocomial infections in humans. P. aeruginosa has been known with severe infections, high incidence, and multiple drug resistance The present study aims to rapidly diagnose and biotype the isolates of P. aeruginosa isolated from human infections in intensive care units, Al-Sadder Medical City, Al-Hakeem General Hospital, and the burn center in Najaf city by ERIC-PCR. From 156 clinical sample   23 P. aeruginosa were isolated including burn 17/77 (22%), 2/21wound (9.5%), 3/43 urine (6.9%), 1/15 throat swab(6.6) between August 2021 to February 2022. After phenotypic confirmation, isolates were examined by PCR for molecular confirmation Enterobacterial Repetitive Intergenic Consensus (ERIC) PCR were done on 24 isolates. In ERIC-PCR Genetic analysis of P. aeruginosa isolates depending on ≥ 75% similarity revealed the presence of 8 different cluster as figure 2, four of them with single isolate other two clusters with two similar isolates while the two other clusters contained seven identical isolates profile each

Fluoroquinolones resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from different clinical samples

A total of 156 clinical specimens were collected from patients at Al-Sadder Medical City, Al-Furat al-Awsat Hospital, and the burn center between August 2021 and February 2022. According to medical service utilities, Burn center was the highest with total number of samples with 96 samples and the highest recovery rate 17 isolates followed by Alfurat Al-Awsat Hospital with 32 samples and 4 isolates and finally tame Al-Sadder Medical City with only 28 samples and 2 isolates.  The results of 23 isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa revealed that the most effective agent was ciprofloxacin with (60%) resistance which represents regression in the overall potential while Norfloxacin showed high resistance percentage (73%) (The least effective among them) followed by Ofaloxacin (69%) and levofloxacin with (65%).genetically, the result of aac(6´)-Ib-cr gene showed that 21/23 isolates gave positive result with percentage (91.3%)

Evaluation of Ki67 expression across distinct categories of breast cancer specimens: A Population-based study of matched surgical specimens, core needle biopsies and tissue microarrays

Introduction: Tumor cell proliferation in breast cancer is strongly prognostic and may also predict response to chemotherapy. However, there is no consensus on counting areas or cut-off values for patient stratification. Our aim was to assess the matched level of proliferation by Ki67 when using different tissue categories (whole sections, WS; core needle biopsies, CNB; tissue microarrays, TMA), and the corresponding prognostic value. Methods: We examined a retrospective, population-based series of breast cancer (n = 534) from the Norwegian Breast Cancer Screening Program. The percentage of Ki67 positive nuclei was evaluated by visual counting on WS (n = 534), CNB (n = 154) and TMA (n = 459). Results: The median percentage of Ki67 expression was 18% on WS (hot-spot areas), 13% on CNB, and 7% on TMA, and this difference was statistically significant in paired cases. Increased Ki67 expression by all evaluation methods was associated with aggressive tumor features (large tumor diameter, high histologic grade, ER negativity) and reduced patient survival. Conclusion: There is a significant difference in tumor cell proliferation by Ki67 across different sample categories. Ki67 is prognostic over a wide range of cut-off points and for different sample types, although Ki67 results derived from TMA sections are lower compared with those obtained using specimens from a clinical setting. Our findings indicate that specimen specific cut-off values should be applied for practical use

Microvascular proliferation is associated with aggressive tumour features and reduced survival in lung adenocarcinoma

Despite new treatment options in lung cancer, there is still a need for better biomarkers to assist in therapy decisions. Angiogenesis has been associated with tumour growth and dissemination, and the vascular proliferation index (VPI) is a valuable prognostic marker in other tumours. Nestin, a marker of immature endothelium, was previously applied in combination with Ki67 for proliferating endothelium as a novel marker (Nestin‐Ki67) of ongoing angiogenesis. Here, the prevalence and prognostic impact of vascular proliferation on lung cancer‐specific survival (LCSS) in lung adenocarcinomas was studied. Selected tumour slides from a cohort of 210 patients treated surgically for adenocarcinoma at Haukeland University Hospital (Norway) from 1993 to 2010 were stained for Nestin‐Ki67. VPI, the ratio between the density of proliferating vessels and the overall microvessel density were used, and the cut‐off value was set at 4.4% (upper quartile). High VPI was associated with the presence of blood vessel invasion (p = 0.007) and tumour necrosis (p = 0.007). Further, high VPI was significantly associated with reduced LCSS (p = 0.020). By multivariate analysis, VPI remained an independent prognostic factor for reduced LCSS (HR 1.7; 95% CI 1.04–2.68; p = 0.033) when adjusted for other prognostic clinico‐pathological features. In conclusion, microvessel proliferation assessed using the VPI was associated with aggressive tumour features such as blood vessel invasion and tumour necrosis and, independently, decreased LCSS. This marker should be further explored in separate cohorts, and in trials of anti‐angiogenesis therapy

Evaluation of Tumor Cell Proliferation by Ki-67 Expression and Mitotic Count in Lymph Node Metastases from Breast Cancer.

Few studies have addressed the risk of recurrence by assessing proliferation markers in lymph node metastasis from breast cancer. Here, we aimed to examine Ki-67 expression and mitotic count in lymph nodes in comparison with primary tumors. A cohort of node positive breast cancer (n = 168) was studied as a part of the prospective Norwegian Breast Cancer Screening Program (1996-2009). The percentage of Ki-67 positivity was counted per 500 tumor cells in hot-spot areas (x630). Mitotic count was conducted in the most cellular and mitotic active areas in 10 high power fields (x400). Our results showed that Ki-67 and mitotic count were significantly correlated between primary tumor and lymph nodes (Spearman`s correlation 0. 56 and 0.46, respectively) and were associated with most of the histologic features of the primary tumor. Univariate survival analysis (log-rank test) showed that high Ki-67 and mitotic count in the primary tumor and lymph node metastasis significantly predicted risk of recurrence. In multivariate analysis, mitotic count in the lymph node metastasis was an independent predictor of tumor recurrence. In conclusion, proliferation markers in lymph node metastases significantly predicted disease free survival in node positive breast cancer

Extra-nodal extension is a significant prognostic factor in lymph node positive breast cancer

Presence of lymph node (LN) metastasis is a strong prognostic factor in breast cancer, whereas the importance of extra-nodal extension and other nodal tumor features have not yet been fully recognized. Here, we examined microscopic features of lymph node metastases and their prognostic value in a population-based cohort of node positive breast cancer (n = 218), as part of the prospective Norwegian Breast Cancer Screening Program NBCSP (1996–2009). Sections were reviewed for the largest metastatic tumor diameter (TD-MET), nodal afferent and efferent vascular invasion (AVI and EVI), extra-nodal extension (ENE), number of ENE foci, as well as circumferential (CD-ENE) and perpendicular (PD-ENE) diameter of extra-nodal growth. Number of positive lymph nodes, EVI, and PD-ENE were significantly increased with larger primary tumor (PT) diameter. Univariate survival analysis showed that several features of nodal metastases were associated with disease-free (DFS) or breast cancer specific survival (BCSS). Multivariate analysis demonstrated an independent prognostic value of PD-ENE (with 3 mm as cut-off value) in predicting DFS and BCSS, along with number of positive nodes and histologic grade of the primary tumor (for DFS: P = 0.01, P = 0.02, P = 0.01, respectively; for BCSS: P = 0.02, P = 0.008, P = 0.02, respectively). To conclude, the extent of ENE by its perpendicular diameter was independently prognostic and should be considered in line with nodal tumor burden in treatment decisions of node positive breast cancer

Hypoxia induced responses are reflected in the stromal proteome of breast cancer

Abstract Cancers are often associated with hypoxia and metabolic reprogramming, resulting in enhanced tumor progression. Here, we aim to study breast cancer hypoxia responses, focusing on secreted proteins from low-grade (luminal-like) and high-grade (basal-like) cell lines before and after hypoxia. We examine the overlap between proteomics data from secretome analysis and laser microdissected human breast cancer stroma, and we identify a 33-protein stromal-based hypoxia profile (33P) capturing differences between luminal-like and basal-like tumors. The 33P signature is associated with metabolic differences and other adaptations following hypoxia. We observe that mRNA values for 33P predict patient survival independently of molecular subtypes and basic prognostic factors, also among low-grade luminal-like tumors. We find a significant prognostic interaction between 33P and radiation therapy

Frequency of cases in the Luminal/HER2- subgroup showing high proliferation when applying a Ki67 cutoff-point of 14% to different specimen categories.

<p>WS (<i>n</i> = 415), CNB (<i>n</i> = 125), TMA (<i>n</i> = 350).</p