maryam esmaily

Variations in mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNA-CN) of peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs), as a potential biomarker for gastric cancer (GC) screening has currently been subject to controversy. Herein, we have assessed its efficiency in GC screening, in parallel and in combination with serum pepsinogen (sPG) I/II ratio, as an established indicator of gastric atrophy.

The study population included GC (n = 53) and non-GC (n = 207) dyspeptic patients. The non-GC group was histologically categorized into CG (n = 104) and NM (n = 103) subgroups. The MtDNA-CN of PBLs was measured by quantitative real-time PCR. The sPG I and II levels and anti-H. pylori serum IgG were measured by ELISA.

The mtDNA-CN was found significantly higher in GC vs. non-GC (OR = 3.0; 95% CI = 1.4, 6.4) subjects. Conversely, GC patients had significantly lower sPG I/II ratio than the non-GC (OR = 3.2; CI = 1.4, 7.2) subjects. The combination of these two biomarkers yielded a dramatic amplification of the odds of GC risk in double-positive (high mtDNA-CN-low sPGI/II) subjects, in reference to double-negatives (low mtDNA-CN-high sPGI/II), when assessed against non-GC (OR = 27.1; CI = 5.0, 147.3), CG (OR = 13.1; CI = 2.4, 72.6), or NM (OR = 49.5; CI = 7.9, 311.6) groups.

The combination of these two biomarkers, namely mtDNA-CN in PBLs and serum PG I/II ratio, drastically enhanced the efficiency of GC risk assessment, which calls for further validations.

Egypt has always had an effective role on the economy of the pre-modern world due to its strategic geographical location. In the Islamic period, in addition to the passage of commercial caravans from this land as one of the main trade routes, the passage of Hajj caravans of North Africa also added to its economic importance. Conquering Cairo by Sultan Selim I in the year of 923 A.H/1517 A.D, mainly due to economic incentives, despite some damages to the Egypt’s economy, provided in with new opportunities, especially in the field of foreign trade. The propulsion and stimulus of the commercial economy in Egypt, in addition to Egyptian and Syrian merchants, were Maghrebian families immigrated to Egypt from areas such as Algeria, Tunisia, Tripoli, Andalusia and Morocco. These families have played a major role in the economic and commercial prosperity of Egypt in Ottoman period through various commercial and economic activities. In the present research, introducing the most important Maghrebian commercial families and their sucsess, the commercial role of these families and their effects on the economy of Ottoman Egypt have been described and explained.