Amplification of HER-2 Gene in Benign and Malignant Breast Lesions in a Sample of Iraqi Women

Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer worldwide. From several markers of this malignancy, HER-2 is considered to have a particular importance because it associates with the treatment and prognosis of the disease. Objective: To investigate the amplification of HER-2 gene in benign and malignant lesions of breast in a sample of Iraqi women. Patients and Methods: A total of 24 excisional breast biopsies were obtained from women with breast lesions. Biopsies were preserved in 10% formalin and undergone paraffin embedding according to the standard protocol. Four µm thick sections were prepared and placed on positively charged slide and stained with fluorescent in situ hybridization. The stained slides were examined with fluorescence microscope to detect HER-2 gene amplification. Results: Fourteen women were found to have benign lesions, while 10 were with malignant lesions. All benign lesions revealed two copies of the gene while seven of  malignant cases showed positive results for HER-2 amplification (i.e more than 5 copies of the gene). Conclusion: These results support the idea that amplification of HER-2 could be considered as an indicator for tissue transformation into malignant lesion

Seroepidemiology of Varicella and value of self-reported history of Varicella infection in Iranian medical students

Objectives: We conducted this study to assess the seroprevalence of Varicella zoster virus (VZV) antibodies in a group of Iranian medical sciences students that were at risk of Varicella and the value of self-reported history as a predictor of immunity. Material and Methods: 255 medical, nursing and obstetrics students who had not entered as a student or worked in a hospital from 3 different schools were enrolled in the study in 2012 (Qazvin province, Iran). Demographics and other information as well as the history of Varicella were obtained through a self-administered questionnaire. Blood samples were collected to determine the Varicella IgG levels via an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. A statistical analysis was performed by calculating prevalences and their 95% confidence intervals. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, Cohen's kappa and positive and negative likelihood ratios of recalled history were determined. p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The mean age of participants was 21.3±4.3 years. Seropositivity rate was 74.5%. The relationships between marital status, number of family members, and acquired VZV history with immunity against the virus were statistically significant. The overall rate of reported history was 57%. The positive and negative predictive values of self-reported history of Varicella were 91% and 47.3%, respectively. Conclusions: Immunization of students of Iranian medical sciences seems logical in the near future. Also, they should be tested for Varicella immunity regardless of the history of previous infection

Best practice for motor imagery: a systematic literature review on motor imagery training elements in five different disciplines

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The literature suggests a beneficial effect of motor imagery (MI) if combined with physical practice, but detailed descriptions of MI training session (MITS) elements and temporal parameters are lacking. The aim of this review was to identify the characteristics of a successful MITS and compare these for different disciplines, MI session types, task focus, age, gender and MI modification during intervention.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>An extended systematic literature search using 24 databases was performed for five disciplines: Education, Medicine, Music, Psychology and Sports. References that described an MI intervention that focused on motor skills, performance or strength improvement were included. Information describing 17 MITS elements was extracted based on the PETTLEP (physical, environment, timing, task, learning, emotion, perspective) approach. Seven elements describing the MITS temporal parameters were calculated: study duration, intervention duration, MITS duration, total MITS count, MITS per week, MI trials per MITS and total MI training time.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Both independent reviewers found 96% congruity, which was tested on a random sample of 20% of all references. After selection, 133 studies reporting 141 MI interventions were included. The locations of the MITS and position of the participants during MI were task-specific. Participants received acoustic detailed MI instructions, which were mostly standardised and live. During MI practice, participants kept their eyes closed. MI training was performed from an internal perspective with a kinaesthetic mode. Changes in MI content, duration and dosage were reported in 31 MI interventions. Familiarisation sessions before the start of the MI intervention were mentioned in 17 reports. MI interventions focused with decreasing relevance on motor-, cognitive- and strength-focused tasks. Average study intervention lasted 34 days, with participants practicing MI on average three times per week for 17 minutes, with 34 MI trials. Average total MI time was 178 minutes including 13 MITS. Reporting rate varied between 25.5% and 95.5%.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>MITS elements of successful interventions were individual, supervised and non-directed sessions, added after physical practice. Successful design characteristics were dominant in the Psychology literature, in interventions focusing on motor and strength-related tasks, in interventions with participants aged 20 to 29 years old, and in MI interventions including participants of both genders. Systematic searching of the MI literature was constrained by the lack of a defined MeSH term.</p

Wpływ stresu termicznego na uszkodzenie warstwy międzyfazowej kompozytu włóknistego z zastosowaniem algorytmu genetycznego

The aim of this paper is to develop an analytical model to evaluate the influence of thermal stress on damage to the fiber-matrix interface of a composite T300/914 from the properties of the fibre, as well as from the matrix and characteristics of the interfacial binding. The model developed by a genetic algorithm takes into account the temperature effects that result in the progressive degradation of the fibre-matrix. This work shows the influence of thermal stress beyond the critical threshold of damage to the interface, and that the matrix damage has an important influence on the damage to the interface compared to that of the fiber.Celem badań było opracowanie modelu analitycznego do oceny wpływu stresu termicznego na uszkodzenia warstwy międzyfazowej kompozytu T300/914 na podstawie właściwości włókien i matrycy oraz charakterystyki połączenia. Model opracowany przez algorytm genetyczny uwzględnia wpływ temperatury, który prowadzi do degradacji matrycy. Artykuł opisuje również wpływ stresu termicznego w warunkach krytycznych

Phytochemical, antioxidant and cytotoxic potential of punica granatum extracts on leukemia cell line

Pomegranate fruit is edible and has been used on leukemia cell lines and protecting DNA damage known antioxidant efficacy the aim of the current work is to explore the potential benefit of pomegranate (Punica granatum) extract as antioxidant and cytotoxic to leukemia cell line. Methanol was used to extract pomegranate fruit so that to test its antioxidant and cytotoxicity on two cell lines (Hepatic cell line WRL68 and Leukemia cell line HL60). This assay was classified as determining antioxidant effect using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2yl) 2,5diphenyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay on two cell lines (Hepatic cell line WRL68 and Leukemia cell line HL60) for different concentrations (25, 50, 100, 200 and 400 µg mL-1). These examine the efficacy of the phenol extract on HL60 cell apoptosis, morphology, viability of cells, total nuclear intensity, cell membrane potential, mitochondrial membrane potential, and cytochrome C release were evaluated by High Content Screening (HCS) assay. The current results revealed that the methanol extract of pomegranate fruit had the strongest antioxidant activity, which increased when concentrations were raised (28.27 and 61.57%). The results demonstrated that phenol can inhibit HL60 cell line from growing, with increased concentrations. The inhibition become stronger at 400 µg mL-1 of phenol extract