ABSTRACT:Y chromosome micro-deletion (YCM) is a set of genetic diseases caused by missing gene (s) in specific regions of the Y chromosome. Many individuals with YCM show no manifestations and lead normal life. On the other hand, YCM is known to exist in a significant number of infertile males. Forty adult patients suffering from severe oligospermia and azoospermia were involved in the present study. Seminal fluid analyses were performed, and a blood sample was obtained for hormonal analysis and DNA extraction. Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) profiles were measured and those who are azoospermic with normal FSH levels were subjected to testicular biopsy. The results revealed that 23 patients were azoospermic while 17 patients were severe oligospermic. It is also shown that ten azoospermic patients had normal serum gonadotrophin levels thus they were directed for testicular biopsy. Histopathological examination of testicular biopsy showed that four patients had obstructive azoospermia while the remaining six suffered from maturation arrest. DNA was extracted according to the standard proteinase K/phenol-chloroform method in the medical biotechnology laboratory/Scientific Research Center/University of Duhok. Multiplex PCR was performed for genes located in the azoospermia factor (AZF) regions (AZFa, AZFb, and AZFc) to detect any possible micro-deletions. Y chromosome micro-deletions were determined in 26 patients out of a total of forty patients. Microdeletions in the AZFc sub-region appeared in 16 out of 26 patients (61.5 %), and 10 (38.5 %) samples showed AZFb, however, AZFa micro-deletion was not detected in any of the patients. In conclusion, it has been found that Y chromosome micro-deletions in the AZF region can be a determining factor for male infertility and the consequential manifestations.

Background and objectives: The light-curing unit is considered an essential piece of equipment in every dental office. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs) by the light cure (LC) device on gingival tissues of albino rats histologically and by regarding the expression of P53 and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Materials and methods: Gingival tissues of the rats were exposed to LEDs for 30 s with an interval of 30 s for periods of 2 and 5 min and were examined after two and four weeks of light exposure. After the set time, histological sections were studied and the P53 and EGFR expressions were evaluated immunohistochemically and by molecular methods. Results: Mild hyperplasia and mild inflammatory response were detected in higher rates after two weeks of exposure when compared to 4 weeks postexposure. Whereas fibrosis was found at a higher rate after four weeks than that found after two weeks postexposure, parakeratosis was seen only in the group that was exposed for 5 min to LC and when biopsies were taken after 2 weeks. We found that the immunohistochemical expression of P53 was not changed. Similarly, the alteration of EGFR expression was statistically nonsignificant (p > 0.05) when compared to the control group. The data obtained from the qRT-PCR reaction was analyzed using the comparative CT (2−ΔΔCT) method. Statistically, there was no significant difference in the expression of EGER and P53 gene transcripts. Conclusions: LED causes no serious alteration in P53 and EGFR expression, and only trivial histopathological changes occurred, most of which recovered after a 4-week interval.

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Background: Gastric cancer is one of the commonest malignancies and one of the most common causes of cancer deaths worldwide. This study aims to investigate the survivalrelated factors in gastrectomy specimens. Method: This is a cross-sectional retrospective study that included 65 gastrectomy specimens in Duhok City-Iraq over a period of 6 years from January 2014-November 2019. The parameters sought included age, gender, histological type, grade, lymph node status, tumor size, resection margin status, and lymphovascular and perineural invasions. Patients were grouped for their ages with an interval of 10 years and pathological parameters were expressed in frequencies and percentages. Results: The male to female ratio was 1.1:1, and the most affected age group was between 60-69 years. The intestinal type adenocarcinoma represented 64.61% of cases, and the remainders were of the diffuse type. The resection margins were tumor-free in 78.5% of cases, and 80% had a lymphovascular invasion. Perineural invasion was seen in 35.38% of the included patients. Only 16.92% of patients were negative for lymph node involvement, and the nodal status was N0: 16.9%, N1:58.5%, N2: 18.5%, and N3:6.1%, and 66.15% of them fell in T3 category. The majority of patients had more than 4 adverse survival-related factors. Conclusion:The present study showed that most of gastric carcinoma patients had multiple bad prognostic factors a fact that mostly correlated to their late presentation and a finding that indicates the gloomy outcome for patients at least in the near foreseen future unless a screening program is rapidly initiated.

Background: With the advance in medical practices, gastric cancer remains one of the deadly diseases with poor prognosis. Appropriate diagnosis of the histological gastric cancer type may improve the treatment and the prognosis. The objective of this study is to apply immunohistochemical (IHC) markers for the diagnosis of undifferentiated gastric malignancies. Among 126 patients diagnosed as cases with malignant gastric tumors, from September 2008 to September 2013, 55 cases were assigned as undifferentiated tumors and were subjected to IHC evaluation by application of many IHC markers and special stains for further categorization; Results: After the application of different IHC markers and special stains, the 55 cases which were assigned as undifferentiated revealed to be carcinoma (37 cases), lymphoma (9 cases), gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) (7 cases) and leiomyosarcoma and neuroendocrine tumor one case for each. IHC findings had changed the primary diagnoses based on morphological data in 4 instances; two cases were thought to be signet ring carcinoma and proved by IHC to be lymphomas and other two cases were thought to be poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma and proved to be GIST. Therefore; IHC is a valuable tool for the diagnosis of undifferentiated malignant gastric tumors.