Ropinirole hydrochloride (RH) is an anti-Parkinson drug with relativity low oral bioavailability owing to its extensive hepatic first pass metabolism. Spray-dried mucoadhesive alginate microspheres of RH were developed and characterized followed by histopathological evaluation using nasal tissue isolated from sheep. Spherical microparticles having high product yield (around 70%) were obtained when the inlet temperature of spray drying was 140°C. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) studies revealed the compatibility of the drug with the polymer, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that drug-loaded microparticles were spherical, and the apparent surface roughness was inversely related to the ratio of polymer to drug. Furthermore, size of the spray-dried particles were in the range of 2.5-4.37 µm, depending on formulation. All formulations had high drug encapsulation efficiencies (101-106%). Drug loaded into the polymeric particles was in the amorphous state and drug molecules were molecularly dispersed in the polymeric matrix of the microparticles which were revealed by X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), respectively. The in vitro drug release was influenced by polymer concentration. Histopathological study demonstrated that RH-loaded sodium alginate microparticles was safe to nasal epithelium. In conclusion, spray drying of RH using sodium alginate polymer has produced microparticles of suitable characteristics for potential intranasal administration.

Background and objectives: Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death worldwide and B- catenin has a role in the development of colorectal cancer. The objective of this study was to investigate the B-catenin expression of colorectal carcinoma and assess its correlation with some clinicopathological parameters in Erbil, Kurdistan of Iraq. Methods: Retrospective study of 100 patients with colorectal cancer collected between January 2015 and January 2017. Clinicopathological parameters were investigated in relation to nuclear and cytoplasmic B-catenin expression. Results: In 100 specimens of colorectal carcinomas was found to be nuclear (21.6%) and cytoplasm (66.1%). B-catenin was expressed more frequently in patients? 50 years (67.9%), and more commonly in females (60.7%). Left side colon was more frequently affected (85.7%) than the right side (14.3%) with a signifi- cant correlation. Well to moderately differentiated tumors showed higher intensity (89.3%) than poorly differentiated cases (10.7%). Non-mucinous tumors (92.9%) stained more intensely than mucinous tumor (7.1%). 52% of tumor cells were grade I, 37% grade II and 11% grade III. The result of association for B-catenin combined nuclear and cyto- plasmic with intensity of nuclear staining was highly significant. Higher staining intensity is observed in patients with positive nodal status (60.7%) and stage III-IV (60.7%) than those of stage I-II (39.3%). Conlision: B-catenin was studied in 100 specimens of colorectal cancers, with nuclear staining observed in (21.6%) and cytoplasmic reactivity in (66.1%). Significance was found between intensity of immunoexpression and cellular localization of B-catenin, as well as with clinical parameters of increasing age, female gender, and left sided colonic tumors on another hand

Background and objectives: Gliomas are the most common type of primary brain tumors. They result from accumu-- lation of multiple genetic alterations. Isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 mutations are detected in gliomas. This study aimed to assess IDH1 immunoexpression in different types of gliomas and to correlate the results with patient’s age, gender, tumor site, tumor type and grade. Methods:During the period from January 2015 –January 2017, 97 cases of gliomas were collected from Rizgary Teaching Hospital and private laboratories in Erbil city. Typing and grading of tumors were done according to World Health Organization classification of brain tumors 2007.Immunohistochemical staining was done for IDH1 using monoclonal Antibody IDH1R132. Results: Out of 97 cases of gliomas; 16 were grade I, 27 were grade II, 10 were anaplastic gliomas grade III and 44 cases were glioblastomas; grade IV. Positive IDH1 immunoex- pression was observed in 36 (37.1%) cases of gliomas. The highest prevalence of IDH1 was found in the age group 30-44 years (52.8%), in supratentorial tumors (44.3%) and in grade II and III astrocytoma (72.2% and 75%).Highly significant correlation was found between Isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 expression and age of the patients, tumor type and grade while a significant correlation was found between Isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 expression and tumor site. Conclusions:Our study concluded that Isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 is 36 (37.1%) expressed in gliomas and it is sig- nificantly associated with patient’s age, tumor site, histological type and grade, thus it may act as a good diagnostic and prognostic marker for gliomas.