The Polymorphism (rs16969968) and its Association with Waterpipe Smoking Addiction among Jordanians.

Waterpipe smoking is a form of tobacco use that causes nicotine/tobacco dependence and has become a global health problem. In the current study, the association of rs16969968 SNP in the gene with waterpipe dependence was investigated. A total of 386 men and women who used a waterpipe to smoke tobacco were recruited and divided into less dependent and more dependent smokers based on their score on the Lebanon Waterpipe Dependence Scale (LWDS).

Harnessing Antibody-Dependent Cellular Cytotoxicity To Control HIV-1 Infection.

Passive administration of broadly neutralizing anti-human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) antibodies (bNAbs) has been recently suggested as a promising alternative therapeutic approach for HIV-1 infection. Although the success behind the studies that used this approach has been attributed to the potency and neutralization breadth of anti-HIV-1 antibodies, several lines of evidence support the idea that specific antibody-dependent effector functions, particularly antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), play a critical role in controlling HIV-1 infection. In this review, we showed that there is a direct association between the activation of ADCC and better clinical outcomes.

Molecular identification of chlamydial cause of abortion in small ruminants in Jordan.

Chlamydophila abortus (Ch. abortus) is the etiological agent of ovine enzootic abortion (OEA) and one of the most common infectious agents of abortion in small ruminants worldwide. RFLP-PCR analysis of the outer membrane protein gene (OMP2 gene) was used for diagnosis and characterization of chlamydial causes of abortion in small ruminants in Jordan.

Magnetic nanoparticles sensitize MCF-7 breast cancer cells to doxorubicin-induced apoptosis.

Background: Resistance of breast cancer cells to the available chemotherapeutics is a major obstacle to successful treatment. Recent studies have shown that magnetic nanoparticles might have significant application in different medical fields including cancer treatment. The goal of this study is to verify the ability of magnetic nanoparticles to sensitize cancer cells to the clinically available chemotherapy.

Expression of p21 and p27 in gallbladder cancer.

Objective: To investigate the expression of p21 and p27 factors in gallbladder cancer (GBC), and to correlate their expression with clinicopathological parameters: age, gender, stage, invasion, and grade.

Methods: Thirty-two surgically resected specimens were collected between 1994-2001 from different health centers in north Jordan. Tissues belong to 25 females and 7 males were examined immunohistochemically.