Al Salihi

The basidiomycete fungi Hypholoma fasciculare and H. sublateritium are both prolific producers of sesquiterpenes and triterpenes, some of which have relevant pharmaceutical properties. Although H. sublateritium has been transformed in the past, the low reported efficiencies highlighted the need for establishing an effective simple transformation system for these valuable species. We have optimized Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation through testing various parameters in these two Hypholoma species, showing that a mixture of homogenized mycelia and Agrobacterium (strain LBA4404) co-cultivated for 84h at 25°C is optimal for efficient transformation in these basidiomycetes...

Epstein-Barr virus mucocutaneous ulcer (EBVMCU) is a rare form of EBV lymphoproliferative disorder. The disease was recently described in 2010 for the first time in a case series and it was recently identified by the WHO classification of haematological malignancies as a separate category among the EBV lymphoproliferative disorders. We present a case of EBVMCU of the colon presenting as an ulcerating inflammatory mass in a female in her mid-60s who presented initially with abdominal pain and diarrhoea. The patient had extensive workup for her disease and due to progression of her symptoms, she was taken for an exploratory laparotomy...

Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLD) are emergent complications of organ transplantation occurring in 2% to 10% of transplanted patients. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infections are considered the most important factors for the development of these heterogeneous disorders. Primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) is a lymphoproliferative disorder predominantly described in patients with advanced AIDS and it is almost universally associated with human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8). In rare case, PEL also occurs in HHV8-negative patient, in the setting of hepatitis B and C virus infection...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Bleeding during endoscopic sinus surgery and open surgeries can easily obstruct the surgeons' field of view and increase morbidity and risk of intraoperative complications. Intraoperative bleeding could potentially be addressed by a hemostatic agent that safely disperses itself through the escaping blood. We tested the safety and efficacy of a self-propelling formulation of thrombin and tranexamic acid (SPTT) in stopping bleeding in a paranasal sinus injury and in an open surgical carotid injury sheep model...

BACKGROUND: Donor organs are often procured by junior staff in stressful, unfamiliar environments where a single adverse event can be catastrophic. A formalized checklist focused on preprocedural processes related to thoracic donor organ procurement could improve detection and prevention of near miss events. METHODS: A checklist was developed centered on patient identifiers, organ compatibility and quality, and team readiness. It went through five cycles of feedback and revision using a panel of expert procurement surgeons...

A morphoproteomic analysis was performed to identify the proteins and corresponding molecular pathways activated for a case of non-HIV Kaposi's sarcoma. This analysis provides insight into the biology of the tumor and identifies etiopathogenetic correlates of HHV-8-Associated Kaposi's sarcoma that are useful in formulating therapeutic alternatives.

BACKGROUND/AIM: It has been reported from in vivo exposed experimental animals that paternal lead exposure reduces birth rate; however, there is limited evidence to suggest a decrease in the proportion of male births. This study investigated the role of paternal exposure to lower lead acetate doses on early embryonic development (implantation) and the sex ratio of their offspring. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In total 180 Swiss Webster mice were used (60 male and 120 female)...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

OBJECTIVE: Olfactory dysfunction is a common finding in head trauma due to injury to the olfactory nerve. We previously reported that anti-inflammatory treatment with steroids improves recovery outcome in olfactory nerve injury models. Clinically, however, steroid administration is not recommended in the acute phase of head injury cases because of concerns regarding its side effects. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) is known to play a key role in inflammatory response to injury. The present study examines if the inhibition of TNF-α can facilitate functional recovery in the olfactory system following injury...

PURPOSE: To perform a two-cohort, phase I safety and immunogenicity study of IMA950 in addition to standard chemoradiotherapy and adjuvant temozolomide in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma. IMA950 is a novel glioblastoma-specific therapeutic vaccine containing 11 tumor-associated peptides (TUMAP), identified on human leukocyte antigen (HLA) surface receptors in primary human glioblastoma tissue. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Patients were HLA-A*02-positive and had undergone tumor resection...

BACKGROUND: Coronary artery aneurysm is defined as a localized area of dilatation exceeding the diameter of the adjacent normal arterial segment by 50%. Giant aneurysms are those aneurysms that measure greater than 2cm in diameter. There have been many pathologic diseases, including atherosclerosis, that have been implicated in the development of coronary artery aneurysms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We report a case of a 61-year-old African American male with multiple comorbidities including hypertension, congestive heart failure, abdominal aortic aneurysm, and bilateral iliac aneurysms, who was admitted to our hospital with exacerbation of congestive heart failure...

Series of coumarin and 5,6-benzomcomarin substituted pyrimidine derivatives 11-15 and 22-25 were synthesized, aiming to develop new imaging fluorescent agents. Analogously, treatment of 4-chloropyrimidine analog 16 with coumarin 3-carbohyrazide 5 under MWI condition followed by boiling with NH4OAc in HOAc furnished coumarin-1,2,4-triazolo-pyrimidine analog 18. The fluorescence property was investigated spectrophotometrically in MeOH with Rhodamine 6G as standard dye. All the compounds showed emission in the region between 331 and 495 nm...

Control of colorectal cancer needs to be tailored to its etiology. Tumor promotion mechanisms in colitis-associated colon cancer differ somewhat from the mechanisms involved in hereditary and sporadic colorectal cancer. Unlike sporadic or inherited tumors, some experimental models show that colitis-associated colon tumors do not require cyclooxygenase (COX) expression for progression, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) which prevent sporadic or inherited colon cancer do not prevent colitis-associated colon cancer...

OBJECTIVES: Denosumab, a human monoclonal antibody (mAb) that neutralizes receptor activator for nuclear factor κB ligand (RANKL), is associated with osteonecrosis of the jaw. However, the effect of denosumab on oral wounds is unclear. The aim was to determine the effect of anti-RANKL mAb on oral wounds and bone marrow. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The direct effect of the mAb on fibroblasts, macrophages, and osteoclasts were assessed in vitro. In vivo, mouse anti-RANKL mAb was administered to mice for 9 weeks prior to palatal bone denudation surgery...

Aims and method To compare the cost and quality of a memory-clinic-based service (MCS) with a traditional community mental health team (CMHT) service. Using a retrospective case-note review, we studied two groups, each with 33 participants. Consecutive referrals for diagnostic 'memory' assessments over 4 months were evaluated. Participants were evaluated for up to 6 months. Results The MCS was less costly than the CMHT service but the difference was not statistically significant (mean cost for MCS was £742, mean cost for CMHT service was £807)...

This study intends to report the first emergence of lumpy skin disease (LSD) in Iraq, in addition to describing its related clinical signs. In August 2013, 21 cases of four outbreaks developed clinical signs suggestive of LSD in the Nineveh (Mosul) and Baghdad Governorates, which were considered as the first infected foci of LSD in Iraq. The disease was diagnosed tentatively, on the basis of clinical signs and epidemiological features, and it was confirmed as positive by the polymerase chain reaction and histopathological features...

BACKGROUND: Central obesity and hyperinsulinaemia of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are associated with chronic sympathetic over activity. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the autonomic functions and to indicate the superiority, if any, for those functions in the diagnosis of sympathetic over activity in PCOS women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-four PCOS patients and 40 women served as the control group were studied. The two groups were subdivided according to the body mass index (BMI) into two obese and non-obese groups...

BACKGROUND: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a complex, heterogeneous disorder of uncertain etiology with strong genetic background. Insulin resistance is present in the majority of PCOS cases with linkage and association between single nucleotide polymorphisms of insulin receptor (INSR) gene and PCOS. OBJECTIVE: To examine whether the exon 17 of INSR gene contributes to genetic susceptibility to PCOS in Iraqi women and its effects on glucose tolerance test and lipid profile...

Protein kinase ALK3/BMPR1A mediates bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signalling through phosphorylation and activation of SMADs 1/5/8. SMAD6, a transcriptional target of BMP, negatively regulates the BMP pathway by recruiting E3 ubiquitin ligases and targeting ALK3 for ubiquitin-mediated degradation. Here, we identify a deubiquitylating enzyme USP15 as an interactor of SMAD6 and ALK3. We show that USP15 enhances BMP-induced phosphorylation of SMAD1 by interacting with and deubiquitylating ALK3. RNAi-mediated depletion of USP15 increases ALK3 K48-linked polyubiquitylation, and reduces both BMP-induced SMAD1 phosphorylation and transcription of BMP target genes...