DNA Polymorphisms: DNA-Based Molecular Markers and Their Application in Medicine

DNA polymorphisms are the different DNA sequences among individuals, groups, or populations. Polymorphism at the DNA level includes a wide range of variations from single base pair change, many base pairs, and repeated sequences. Genomic variability can be present in many forms, including single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), variable number of tandem repeats (VNTRs, e.g., mini- and microsatellites), transposable elements (e.g., Alu repeats), structural alterations, and copy number variations. Different forms of DNA polymorphisms can be tracked using a variety of techniques; some of these techniques include restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) with Southern blots, polymerase chain reactions (PCRs), hybridization techniques using DNA microarray chips, and genome sequencing. During the last years, the recent advance of molecular technologies revealed new discoveries of DNA polymorphisms. DNA polymorphisms are endless, and more discoveries continue at a rapid rate. Mapping the human genome requires a set of genetic markers. DNA polymorphism serves as a genetic marker for its own location in the chromosome; thus, they are convenient for analysis and are often used as in molecular genetic studies

Detection of circulating tumor cells by nested RT-PCR targeting EGFR/CEA/CK20mRNAs in colorectal carcinoma patients

Background: EGFR is involved in the epidermal growth factors pathway that regulates cellular processes and is associated with the development of many types of cancer including colorectal cancer. Molecular methods with high sensitivity such as nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based assays have been used to search for tumor cell specific markers. This study aimed to detect the circulating EGFRmRNA expressing tumor cells and its diagnostic value in colorectal cancer compared with that of known markers of circulating cancer cells CEA and CK20.Subjects and methods: This study included 36 patients diagnosed as having colon cancer of different stages and 18 matched healthy controls. The staging was carried out according to the TNM classification.We used nested RT-PCR-based reverse transcription PCR assay for the detection of circulating cancer cells in the peripheral blood.Results: The blood samples from the colon cancer patients showed detection of EGFR in 15/36 patients (41.7%); CEAmRNA in 22/36 patients (61.1%) and CK20mRNA in 24/36 patients (66.7%). No evidence of EGFR mRNA expression in any of the samples used as controls. 3/18(16.7%) and 4/18 (22.2%) of healthy controls gave a positive result of CEA/CK20mRNAs. There was a statistically significant difference in the prevalence of EGFR/CEA and CK20mRNAs expression between the early disease group (stage I and II) and the advanced disease group (stage IIIand IV) (P < 0.01). Colon cancer patients with a high level of serum CEA exhibited detectable concentrations of EGFR and CEA and CK20mRNAs more often than those with a low serum CEA level, there is significant difference (P < 0.01).Conclusion: EGFR assay might represent a suitable marker for detection of circulating tumor cells in colon cancer patients. CEA and CK20mRNAs are significantly more frequently detected in colon cancer patients than in healthy controls supports the hypothesis that they are promising complementary markers for CRC diagnosis. The assessment of multiple molecular tumor markers improved the sensitivity in detecting circulating tumor cells but due to limited specificity; identification and validation of genes and proteins implicated in metastatic processes need to be furtherinvestigated

An Approach in Evaluating of Flexible Pavement In Permanent Deformation OF Paved AND Unpaved Roads Over Sand Dunes Subgrade Under Repeated Loads

Thickness of flexible pavement play very important factor in cost of construction of road ,in this study effect of change thickness of pavement on rutting of road is investigated . Two approaches are adopted; the first is the laboratory tests through simulation of three layers of paved road and two layers for unpaved road, using a steel box with dimensions of 600mm length 500mm width and 400mm depth. Sand dunes are used as a subgrade layer to investigate its behavior by using it as a part of flexible pavement structure under repeated load at relative density 55.7%. The effect of change in thickness of asphalt layer in permanent deformation is also investigated, through using three models at three different thicknesses, starting from zero (unpaved), 50mm and 100 mm. The second approach is the development of a three-dimensional finite element model for flexible pavements using ABAQUS (6.12-3) to simulate the laboratory test The results indicate that increase in the thickness of flexible pavement to 50mm from zero (unpaved), increases the number of passes about 971.42%, while the increase of thickness from 50mm to 100 mm, increases the number of passes by 517.33%. The results of ABAQUS program are very close to results of laboratory tests. Keywords: Sand Dunes subgrade, Thickness of Flexible Pavement, ABAQUS   Model

The Conceptual Construction of the Linguistic Expressions: A Study in the Mental Structure of Language

تقدم هذه الدراسة بعض الأسس العرفانية لآليات تشكل المفاهيم عبر تحليل البنية اللسانية في سيرورات التواصل المختلفة بين أفراد الجنس البشري. وتتراوح الأطروحات المختلفة التي سنقدمها بين فلسفة التصورات التي تحاول فهم هذه المسألة، والنتائج العلمية المُسجّلة في حقل اللسانيات العصبية المعاصرة، مع تقديم بعض النماذج الكلاسيكية المعروفة في مجال اللسانيات والدلالة، ولكن عبر هذا الفهم الجديد للمعجم الذهني والتراكيب، وتأثّر كلّ هذا الأمر بالإطار الثقافي العام، وبتفسير الواقع، كما سنوضح في خاتمة البحث.This Paper deals with some cognitive techniques of mental concepts, through linguistic analysis of human speech in different processes of Communication, among diverse communities of human beings. The study introduces a philosophical approach to the issue in question, in addition to the scientific results of contemporary neurolinguistics researches, giving some notes on selected classical topics of lexicon and semantics. The paper ends with a glimpse of the correlation between language, reality and culture, shaping an interdisciplinary paradigm of language analysis

Molecular detection of circulating thyroid specific transcripts (TSHR/Tg-mRNAs) in thyroid cancer patients: Their diagnostic significance

Thyroid cancer is the most prevalent endocrine malignancy. The preoperative diagnosis of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) that relies solely on fine-needle aspiration (FNAC) biopsy, sometimes possesses conflicting results. New molecular markers for thyroid cancer have been investigated with most of them based on the detection in thyroid nodules or tumor tissue specimens. Recently, it was possible to detect thyroid cancer cells in the circulation by measuring the mRNA of thyroid specific genes. Among these, thyroglobulin and more recently thyroid stimulating hormone receptor mRNAs, TSHR/Tg-mRNAs in peripheral blood might serve as cancer-specific markers. These have become promising new circulating markers for thyroid cancer. The purpose of this study is to assess TSHR/Tg-mRNAs as diagnostic molecular markers for thyroid cancer and if they can be used preoperatively in synergy with FNAC. This study was performed on 60 subjects; 20 healthy volunteers and 40 patients; including 16 patients with benign thyroid diseases, 24 patients with thyroid cancer; 18 patients with newly diagnosed (DTC) and 6 patients with recurrent thyroid cancer. Diagnosis of cancer was based on FNAC and histopathology of surgical specimens. All subjects had TSHR/Tg-mRNAs in peripheral blood measured by reverse transcriptase (RT)-PCR. Based on cytology/pathology; 18 patients had newly diagnosed DTC and 11 had benign thyroid disease. Preoperative FNAC was performed on 29 of 40 patients; FNAC was diagnostic in 11/18 of malignant lesions (61.1%), in 8/11 of benign lesions (72.7%), while 10/29 (34.5%) were indeterminate. TSHR/Tg-mRNAs correctly diagnosed DTC in 20/24 and 19/24 (sensitivity 83.3% and 79.1%) and benign disease in 14/16 and 13/16 (specificity 87.5% and 81.3%), respectively. With indeterminate FNA, TSHR/Tg-mRNAs correctly diagnosed DTC (follicular type) in 5/7 and benign disease in 2/3 (combined sensitivity 71.4%; specificity 66.7%). There was high concordance between RT-PCR results for TSHR-mRNA and Tg-mRNA. Of the controls 19/20 (95%) and 16/20 (80%) were negative for both TSHR- and Tg-mRNAs. With the use of a carefully selected primer pair and qualitative RT-PCR; our results indicate that TSHR/Tg-mRNAs in peripheral blood are both equally sensitive and specific markers for detection of thyroid cancer cells. Combining TSHR/Tg-mRNAs and FNAC and ultrasound enhances the preoperative detection of cancer in patients with thyroid nodules, reducing unnecessary surgeries and correctly classified most follicular cancers and could have spared surgery in patients with benign disease.Keywords: Differentiated thyroid Cancer; TSHR/Tg-mRNAs; Fine-needle aspiration cytology; Thyroid nodules; Indeterminate lesions; Molecular marke

Multiple molecular markers MAGE-1, MAGE-3 and AFP mRNAs expression nested PCR assay for sensitive and specific detection of circulating hepatoma cells: Enhanced detection of hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular Carcinoma is a multifactorial, multistep and complex process. Its prognosis is poor and early diagnosis and monitoring of metastasis of HCC is of utmost importance. Circulating alpha-fetoprotien mRNA has been proposed as a marker of HCC cells disseminatedinto the circulation but the specificity of this molecular marker and its correlation with the main HCC clinico-pathological parameters remain controversial. In recent years; several different multi-marker assays have been developed for the detection of hepatoma cells in the peripheral bloodof patients with HCC. In this study 58 patients and 15 matched healthy volunteers were included; the patients were divided into three groups; group A: patients with primary HCC (n =32), group B: patients withcirrhosis with no evidence of HCC (n= 12), group C: patients with metastatic cancer in liver (n= 14). Group D: 15 healthy volunteers age and sex matched. The staging of HCC was carried out according to the Tumor/Node/Metastasis (TNM) classification. Peripheral blood samples were obtained from all subjects; MAGE-1 and MAGE-3 and AFP mRNAs were detected by nested RT-PCR. The positive rates of MAGE-1, MAGE-3 and AFP mRNAs were 18/32 (56.3%), 15/32 (46.9%) and 19/32 (59.4%) respectively in the primary HCC patients. In the cirrhotic group only 4/12 (33.3%) patients were positive for AFP mRNA, whereas in the metastatic group 5/14 (35.7%) and 4/14 (28.6%) were positive to MAGE-1 and MAGE-3 mRNAs respectively. MAGE-1 and MAGE-3 mRNAs were correlated with TNM clinical stages; tumor number and tumor size (p&lt;0.05).Our results indicate that a multi-marker nested RT-PCR assay with cancer-specific markers such as MAGE-1 and MAGE-3 in combination with a hepatocyte-specific AFP marker may be a promising diagnostic tool for monitoring hepatocellular carcinoma patients. Nested PCR exhibits highersensitivity, stronger specificity and lower false-positive occurrence as compared to single RT

Association of high sensitive C reactive protein and dialysis adequacy with uremic pruritus in hemodialysis patients

Introduction: Uremic pruritus is one of the most common and complicated symptom affecting hemodialysis patients, it can be persistent, distressing and having a significant impact on the quality of life. We aimed to study the relationship between high sensitive C reactive protein and adequacy of dialysis with uremic pruritus in hemodialysis patients. Patients and Methods: In this Case control study one hundred prevalent hemodialysis patients were enrolled from hemodialysis units in Ain Shams University hospitals, fifty of them had pruritus and the other fifty patients had no pruritis, all of them underwent urea reduction ratio for dialysis adequacy assessment, pruritus assessment by using visual analog scale and high sensitive C reactive protein serum level. Results: Uremic pruritus has statistically significant negative correlation with urea reduction ratio and consequently with dialysis adequacy. However, uremic pruritus has statistically significant positive correlation with highly sensitive C reactive protein serum levels in hemodialysis patients. Conclusion: Inadequate hemodialysis and increased hsCRP serum level play an important role in aggravating intensity and severity of uremic pruritus

Color Doppler US and tri-phasic CT in differentiating benign from malignant portal vein thrombosis (PVT)

AbstractObjective: To evaluate the efficacy of color Doppler US and tri-phasic CT in discriminating benign from malignant PVT. Patients and methods: This study included 30 patients presented ultrasonically with PVT and referred for color Doppler US and Tri-phasic CT examination for discriminating the benign from malignant PVT. The color Doppler US and tri-phasic CT results were compared and correlated with available histopathological results in the patients who had FNAC. Results: Those 30 patients were classified according to US, Tri-phasic CT, lab., findings into two groups: G.(A) included 16 patients with malignant PVT and G.(B) included 14 patients with benign PVT. Intrathrombus pulsatile flow was depicted in 12 patients with malignant PVT (12/16) (75%), while non-depicted in 14 patients with benign PVT with 100% specificity. On tri-phasic CT, neovascularity and an early arterial enhancement of PVT were depicted in 14 cases with malignant PVT with 87.5% sensitivity and non-depicted in 14 benign cases with PVT with 100% specificity. Conclusion: Distinguishing benign from malignant PVT in patients with HCC is required to determine the management plan. The color Doppler study of PVT should be an essential step in evaluation of patients with HCC. The combination of Color Doppler US and tri-phasic CT is common and essential for more accurate evaluation and differentiation of benign from malignant PVT

Deconstruction Architecture as a Source for Youth Wear Design

Clothing is one of the most important needs for man as long as clothing is a language used by humans to deliver a message in addition to satisfying the needs in adapting to the environment. Deconstruction architecture is one of the entrances to enrich the field of fashion design, In this study, a descriptive presentation of deconstruction architecture, its concept, its pioneering, and role its characteristics, its relation to fashion design, demolition theory, "deconstruction", its concept and characteristics, its pioneer and its relation to the field of fashion design, and the preparation of an applied study of the use of deconstruction architecture and the concept of disassembly. In this context, 13 design groups for youth clothing (girls and boys) were prepared in the 20-30 year age group, inspired by the Zaha Hadid and Frank Gerry buildings, which reflect the theory of demolition and the construction of "deconstruction" and the application of the concept of deconstruction from a building (150) girls and young men related to different arts in the palaces of culture and public libraries from multiple governorates to measure their acceptance of the proposed designs. The results of this study indicate that girls in the age group prefer to wear clothes that have an aesthetic appearance and non-traditional fashion, which is one of the most important characteristics of deconstruction, while boys prefer to wear change- clothes while keeping simple and simple lines. The results also indicated that the design group "4" "9" achieved the highest acceptance (Female - Male) respectively, some designs that have received the highest acceptance have been implemented. The study recommended the need to deepen the study of deconstruction architecture and linking it to fashion design, especially as it is a source of inspiration rich and allows the creation of non-traditional costumes

Utjecaj dodatka sjemenki piskavice na laktacijske performance, hematološke i biokemijske parametre u krvi koza u uvjetima visokih ljetnih temperatura

High ambient temperature is considered as the major constraint on animal production in the tropics and sub-tropics regions. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary fenugreek seeds on lactational performance and blood biochemical, hematological and antioxidant parameters of dairy goats under stressful summer conditions. Forty-two dairy Baladi goats were randomly divided into three equal groups (14 animals in each group). The first (control) group was fed a basal diet without any additives. The second (FG1) and third (FG2) groups were fed the basal diet supplemented daily with 50 g and 100 g fenugreek seeds per animal, respectively. Compared to the control group, Baladi goats in FG1 and FG2 groups had a significantly increased daily milk yield at a rate of 8.2 and 34.2%, respectively (p<0.05). Furthermore, milk protein percentages were increased by daily supplementation with either 50 or 100 g fenugreek seeds (p<0.05), but fat percentage was only decreased in the FG2 group (p<0.01). Serum glucose (p<0.05), triglycerides (p<0.01), cholesterol (p<0.01) and triiodothyronine (p<0.01) were significantly reduced after supplementation of fenugreek seeds in the diet, either FG1 or FG2 groups. Compared to the control group, both fenugreek- supplemented groups had a significantly greater serum globulin and thryoxine level (p<0.01 and p<0.05, respectively). Additionally, both fenugreeks-supplemented groups had a significantly higher total antioxidant capacity (p<0.01) and catalase activity (p<0.01). The current results indicate that supplementation of dietary fenugreek seeds may improve the milk yield, physiological and hematological parameters, and antioxidant capacity of heat-stressed goats.Visoke ambijentalne temperature smatraju se najvećim naporom za životinje u poljoprivredi u tropskim i suptropskim područjima. Stoga je cilj ovog istraživanja bio odrediti utjecaj dodatka sjemenki piskavice u hranidbi mliječnih koza na laktacijske performanse, hematološke i biokemijske parametre pri stresnim ljetnim uvjetima. Četrdeset dvije mliječne koze pasmine Baladi nasumično su podijeljene u tri jednake skupine (14 jedinki u svakoj skupini). Prva (kontrolna) skupina hranjena je osnovnim režimom bez uporabe ikakvih dodataka. Druga (FG1) i treća (FG2) skupina hranjene su režimima koji su bili obogaćeni dodatkom 50 g odnosno 100 g sjemenki po jedinki. U usporedbi s kontrolnom skupinom, koze pasmine Baladi u grupama FG1 i FG2 imale su značajno veću sposobnost laktacije koja je iznosila 8,2 odnosno 34,2 % (p<0,05). Osim toga, dodatak 50 ili 100 g sjemenki piskavice (p<0,05) značajno je utjecao na povećanje udjela proteina u mlijeku, dok je udio mliječne masti bio niži u mlijeku koza skupine FG2 (p<0,01). Koncentracije glukoze (p<0,05), triglicerida (p<0,01), kolesterola (p<0,01) i trijodtironina (p<0,01) u krvnom serumu bile su znatno niže nakon dodatka sjemenki piskavice, bez obzira na količinu dodatka. U usporedbi s kontrolnom skupinom, obje skupine koza hranjenih dodatkom sjemenki piskavice imale su značajno više koncentracije globulina i tiroksina (p<0,01 i p<0,05) u krvnom serumu. Dodatno, obje skupine koza hranjenih dodatkom sjemenki piskavice imale su i značajno veći antioksidacijski kapacitet (p<0,01) i aktivnost katalaze (p<0,01). Dobiveni rezultati ukazuju kako dodatak sjemenki piskavice u hranidbi može poboljšati mliječnost, fiziološke i hematološke parametre te antioksidacijski kapacitet mliječnih koza izloženih toplinskom stresu