Background: Several factors render chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) an interesting subject for study by researchers. These include marked progress in understanding the molecular biology of normal and neoplastic lymphocytes and recent advances in molecular genetics techniques. Among molecular markers, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), have been widely studied.Objective: The aim of the study is to evaluate the role of VEGF in the pathogenesis of CLL and its role in disease progression.
Patients, materials and methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was done on 60 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (45 males & 15 females) compared with 20 controls (anemic patients), all recruited at the Medical City Hospital/ Teaching Laboratories/ Baghdad from January 2004 to December 2007. The bone marrow biopsy of each was re-examined histologically. In situ hybridization was performed utilizing biotin labeled VEGF cDNA probes.
Results: The frequency of VEGF positivity was 95% (57 of 60 cases). A statistically significant inverse correlation was found between increasing VEGF scores and lower packed cell volume level and lower platelet count. A statistically significant association was found between advanced modified Rai stage and patients with high score. In addition, there was a statistically significant positive correlation between increasing scores of VEGF and advancing clinical stage.
Conclusions: The score of VEGF is high among patients with advanced clinical stage of the disease.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia --- VEGF --- in-situ hybridization

Background:N-RAS mutations are the most commonly detected molecular abnormalities in hematologic malignancies, especially in those of myeloid origin.Objective:Current study aimed to determine the frequency of N-RAS mutation and its correlation with P21N-RAS protein expression in patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) in Iraq.Methods:Peripheral blood, bone marrow aspirate and biopsy samples were taken from 58 newly diagnosed AML patients (57 de novo and 1 therapy related AML) and 30 individuals with reactive bone marrow conditions were selected as a control group. Samples screened for N-RAS gene mutations using nested PCR followed by mutation sensitive digestion analysis (MSDA), and immunohistochemical analysis of P21N-RAS protein expression by using anti N-RAS monoclonal antibody.Results:N-RAS mutations at the time of diagnosis were found in 10/58 (17.24%) and P21N-RAS expression found in 5/58 (8.62%) patients with AML. There was a significant difference (P = 0.001) in P21N-RAS expression between mutant and wild type N-RAS patients with AML. No N-RAS mutations or P21N-RAS expression detected in the control group individuals.Conclusion:It can be suggested that there is activation of RAS-signaling cascade in AML patients, this is may support their role in molecular pathogenesis of acute leukemia. Also, there was a significant difference between N-RAS gene status and P21N-RAS protein expression in patients with AML.Keyword:AML, N-RAS Mutation, MSDA, P21N-RAS expression, Digital analysis.

AML --- N-RAS Mutation --- MSDA --- P21N-RAS expression --- Digital analysis

Background: Multiple Sclerosis disease is a demyelination process which interferes with the neuronal signal transmission, thus leading to different cognitive and physical dysfunctions like optic neuritis, motor, sensory and coordination problems. Recently many researches have been directed toward studying the relation between some genes and multiple sclerosis. Among the important genes to be studied in multiple sclerosis is the forkhead box P3 gene expression.Objectives: The aims of the present work were to study the expression of forkhead box P3 gene by real time polymerase chain reaction, and to perform chromosomal analysis on the multiple sclerosis patients peripheral blood lymphocytes.Patients and methods: A case-control study was performed using real time polymerase chain reaction technique to measure the relative expression of forkhead box P3 gene in peripheral blood leukocytes of 25 newly diagnosed untreated multiple sclerosis patients and comparing them with that of 25 apparently healthy controls, in addition to performing chromosomal analysis on multiple sclerosis patients peripheral blood lymphocytes.Results: Significant down-regulation in forkhead box P3 gene was detected in multiple sclerosis patients in comparison to controls. Chromosomal analysis that was performed for multiple sclerosis patients revealed normal results.Conclusion: Multiple sclerosis is associated with significant change in forkhead box P3 gene expression that can be measured by real time polymerase chain reaction technique. Furthermore, multiple sclerosis is not associated with gross chromosomal abnormalities.Key words: Multiple sclerosis, Foxp3 gene, real time PCR, chromosomal abnormality.

Key words: Multiple sclerosis --- Foxp3 gene --- real time PCR --- chromosomal abnormality.