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DETECTION OF EPSTEIN-BARR VIRUS (EBV) IN WOMEN WITH BREAST CANCER IN IRAQ USING IN-SITU HYBRIDIZATION AND IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL TECHNIQUES

Background: The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has recently been identified in human breast cancer globally, potentially contributing to the initiation and progression of this malignancy, as well as gastric cancer, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and bladder cancer. It has been newly associated with breast cancer. Globally, breast cancer affects more women than any other type of cancer. In Iraq, the prevalence of breast cancer is comparable. Aims: The study examined Iraqi women diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) and invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) to detect Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigen-1 (EBNA-1) and encoded RNA (EBER). Methods: A total of 50 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues from invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) (92%) and invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) (8%) biopsy samples constituted the case group, while 30 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues from non-cancerous breast tissue served as the control group. The presence of Epstein-Barr virus protein (EBER) in breast tissue was assessed using immunohistochemistry (IHC) and chromogenic in situ hybridization (CISH) methods. Results: EBER RNA signals were found in 31 (62%). EBER RNA signals were seen in 3 (10%) control group participants. Significant differences (P<0.04) were seen in EBV EBER RNA positive signals among study groups. Immunohistochemistry showed nuclear brown staining in 34 (68%) breast cancer patients. Control group: 3 (10%). Discussion: The research identified a statistically significant correlation between EBV positivity and breast cancer among Iraqi women, especially concerning invasive ductal carcinoma. The results corroborate previous reports of elevated EBV levels in malignant breast tissues relative to controls. Although detection approaches such as CISH and IHC provide complementary insights, additional studies are needed. Conclusions: The study concludes that EBNA-1 and EBV EBER RNA were overexpressed in our population group.
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THE REVOLUTION IN AMERICAN PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY: PETROLEUM-BASED DYES AND THE CHRONIC DISEASE EPIDEMIC

Background: The American food regulatory landscape has historically been influenced by industry interests, resulting in the widespread use of petroleum-derived synthetic food dyes banned in European countries. Chronic disease rates in American children have increased from 3% in the 1960s to approximately 60% currently, with annual healthcare costs reaching $1 trillion. The appointment of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services marks a paradigmatic shift toward transparency and industry accountability in food safety regulation. Aim: This forum analysis examines Kennedy Jr.'s revolutionary approach to food safety regulation, particularly his confrontational stance against petroleum-based food additives exemplified by his statement, "if they want to eat petroleum, they should add it themselves at home" and evaluates the broader implications for American public health policy and global regulatory standards. Methods: Critical analysis of Kennedy Jr.'s public policy statements, examination of epidemiological data trends, and evaluation of proposed regulatory frameworks through content analysis of official speeches and policy declarations from the Department of Health and Human Services. Results: Kennedy Jr.'s administration targets the systematic elimination of synthetic food dyes through industry partnerships, scientific transparency initiatives, and restoration of rigorous research standards. His confrontational rhetorical approach, compared to Mike Tyson's boxing style, has generated unprecedented industry cooperation with food companies "calling almost daily" seeking compliance guidance. The strategy combines voluntary industry agreements with open-source information databases and enhanced FOIA access. Discussion: This confrontational rhetoric represents unprecedented directness in health policy communication, challenging decades of established regulatory practices. The approach prioritizes scientific transparency over diplomatic language, generating both media attention and voluntary industry engagement that traditional regulatory pressure failed to achieve. Conclusions: Kennedy Jr.'s revolutionary stance may establish new global standards for food additive oversight, prioritizing public health over commercial interests through evidence-based policymaking and industry accountability measures. This paradigm shift from reactive to preventive regulatory models could influence international food safety governance and restore American leadership in global health policy.
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TREATMENTS FOR ACUTE LYMPHOBLASTIC LEUKEMIA: A COMPARISON BETWEEN TISAGENLECLEUCEL AND CLOFARABINE

Background: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a heterogeneous hematological malignancy predominantly affecting individuals under 20 years of age. Traditional chemotherapy, such as clofarabine, has shown efficacy; however, novel immunotherapeutic strategies like tisagenlecleucel (Kymriah®) have significantly altered the treatment paradigm. Aim: This study aimed to perform a comparative analysis of tisagenlecleucel, a CAR-T cell therapy, and clofarabine, a second-generation purine nucleoside analog, evaluating their mechanisms of action, therapeutic benefits, limitations, and clinical applicability across diverse patient populations. Methods: A systematic comparative evaluation was conducted, encompassing pharmacological characteristics, mechanisms of action, treatment protocols, efficacy, safety profiles, and clinical indications of both agents. The analysis considered pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic data and included patient demographic variables. Results: Tisagenlecleucel demonstrated high efficacy in refractory B-cell ALL, with durable responses and a blood half-life of 128 days, but with notable immune-related adverse effects such as cytokine release syndrome. Clofarabine, effective across a broader patient population, acts via multiple antitumor mechanisms but carries significant toxicity risks, including infection and sepsis. Discussion: The therapies present distinct clinical profiles: tisagenlecleucel offers targeted immunotherapy with high specificity but requires specialized infrastructure and management of immune toxicities. Clofarabine is more widely accessible and applicable, but is associated with conventional chemotherapy-related side effects. Treatment accessibility and cost differ markedly between the two. Conclusions: Therapy selection should be personalized based on patient-specific factors and institutional resources. Tisagenlecleucel is ideal for pediatric and young adult patients with relapsed/refractory B-cell ALL in CAR-T-capable centers, while clofarabine remains a viable option for broader ALL populations, particularly when genetic therapies are not feasible. Further research is needed to optimize therapeutic strategies and improve access to advanced treatments.
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General information

SOUTHERN JOURNAL OF SCIENCES

    General information about this journal
  • Title: SOUTHERN JOURNAL OF SCIENCES
  • Short Title: South. J. Sci.
  • ISSN: 2764-5959 (Online); ISSN: 2764-5967 (Print)
  • Universal Decimal Classification (UDC): 001
  • Review Process: Double-Blind Peer-Review
  • Accessibility: Platinum Open Access, NO-APCs.
  • Digital preservation: Portico
  • Frequency of Publication: biannual [2 issues per year]. Journal publication schedule
  • DOI: 10.48141/2764-5959
  • Website: https://www.sjofsciences.com/
  • Country: BRAZIL
  • Publisher: Araucária - Scientific Association.
  • Language of Publication: ENGLISH / PORTUGUESE*
  • *Year that the Journal started accepting manuscripts in Portuguese: 2020
  • First issue year: 1993
  • Free full text: Yes
  • Indexed in: Index Copernicus; Latindex, and I2OR.
  • Formerly known as the Southern Brazilian Journal of Chemistry (1993 to 2021).
  • Former ISSN: 2674-6891 (Online); Former ISSN: 0104-5431 (Print).
  • Website last update: 06/07/2025.

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EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF THE INFLUENCE OF TEMPERATURE ON PASTEURIZATION OF PÊRA RIO IN NATURA ORANGE JUICE

Background: Heat treatment is one of the most used methods to preserve food, such as orange juices, which are an excellent source of ascorbic acid. To avoid vitamin C degradation and reduce loss, fast heating is recommended. However, little is known about heat transfer during juice pasteurization. Aim: Therefore, this work aimed to determine the vitamin C content and the convective heat transfer coefficient in the pasteurization of orange juice. Methods: To perform the experiment, in the juice container, two regions were analyzed: the central region and near the wall. For the time-temperature control, thermometers were installed in the two regions mentioned. Every 120 seconds, the temperature was measured. The vitamin C content in the juice was evaluated before and after pasteurization using the iodometric method. The convective coefficient was evaluated using the method of dimensionless numbers and the experimental method. Results and Discussion: In pasteurization, the solution was heated to 80 °C, where heating lasted 3000 seconds and cooling for 2520 seconds. The graph showing the relationship of the convective heat transfer coefficient and temperature follows the same trend of the literature. The convective coefficient is higher in the region near the wall. As time passes and temperature decreases, the central region tends to equilibrium, and the coefficient becomes more constant. The vitamin C content remained constant before and after pasteurization. The values of the dimensionless numbers used in the calculations are in the same order of magnitude as the literature. Conclusions: The pasteurization did not cause ascorbic acid degradation since the heating step was fast in the heat treatment. The graphic showed that there is a dependence of the dimensionless of temperature with the dimensionless Biot and Fourier. It was noted that studying the thermal behavior in the cooling of orange juice is extremely important to ensure its quality.
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E-SELECTIN AS A BIOMARKER IN FEMALE PATIENTS WITH Β-THALASSEMIA IN AL- NAJAF PROVENCE, IRAQ

E-selectin, as identified (CD62E), is expressed on endothelial cells after stimulation with inflammation cytokines. β-Thalassemia diseases (βT) and early diagnosis are of utmost significance in the entire world population. This study was performed in the Thalassemia Center of the Al-Zahraa Educational Hospital in Al-Najaf Province, Iraq, on sixty-nine with β-thalassemia (54 βT major and 15 βT Intermedia) aged 8-40 years who transfused blood. Compared to 20 healthy volunteers as a control group. In both βT patients and healthy groups were assessed serum E-selectin levels. It was investigated the relationship with RBC, Hb, PCV, WBC, PLT, BMI, splenic status, iron, and ferritin levels. The results revealed a significant (P<0.05) decreased values of HB, RBC, P.C.V, and BMI. In contrast, values of WBC, PLT, Iron, and Ferritin were significantly increased in βT patients as compared to the healthy control groups. A significant (P<0.05) increase in serum E- Selectin level in βT patients (20.55±0.47) ng/ml to compare with the healthy group (9.16±0.50) ng/ml. Furthermore, it was a significant decrease in groups of βT major (19.87±0.42) ng/ml more than in βT intermedia (23±1.42) ng/ml. E-Selectin revealed a significant increase (P<0.05) in progress age and associated with splenectomies and underweight groups compared to splenectomies and the normal weight groups, respectively. Also, E-Selectin levels significantly positively correlated with WBC, PLT value, iron, and Ferritin levels. However, it was no significant with RBC, PCV, Hb. As a conclusion from this study, E- Selectin is an important biomarker in β-thalassemia patients can be identified as the complications associated with iron overload, inflammatory process, and endothelial dysfunction in βT disease. 
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GRAPHICAL METHOD FOR DETERMINATION OF MQ-SERIES GAS SENSOR CIRCUIT PARAMETERS FOR A STAND-ALONE GAS ALARM SYSTEM

Background: MQ-series gas sensors belong to the metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) family of sensors that can sense the presence of many gases. These sensors find their application in gas alarm systems as key components. While necessary sensor circuit output voltage value for alarm point in a stand-alone gas alarm system is desirable, but what exact combination of the sensor circuit parameters is required? Hitherto, the determination of these circuit parameters has not been given much attention in the research community. Aim: the purpose of this work is to explore a structured graphical approach of determination of MQ series gas sensor circuit parameters for a stand-alone gas alarm system that yields desired sensor circuit output voltage value for the alarm point; the main objective of the study was to develop mathematical model equations that relate the: (i) sensor resistance (RS) with the gas concentration (x) and the sensor resistance at standard calibration concentration of the sensor base gas in the clean air (Ro) and (ii) sensor circuit output voltage (VRL), load resistance (RL) and sensor resistance (RS). It is expected from the model equations developed that graphical correlations of the sensor circuits parameters will be generated. Using these graphs for a particular case of an MQ-4 gas sensor under the influence of LPG, the parameters that yield desired sensor circuit output voltage of 2V for 1000 ppm of LPG alarm point will be determined. Methods: Model equations were developed for the sensor dynamics, and based on these model equations, graphs for the determination of required sensor parameters were plotted for a case of MQ-4 gas sensor response to LPG. Results and Discussion: The results yielded optimal values for R_O,R_S and R_L of 20 kΩ, 30 kΩ and 20 kΩ respectively, for alarm settings of 1000 ppm and a desired sensor circuit output voltage of 2 V. Based on determined parameters, the calibration equation for determination of best concentration value for a given value of emulated LPG concentration was developed. Using the method proposed in this study makes the process of determining the MQ-series gas sensor circuit parameters less cumbersome as their value can easily be obtained from the resulting graphs. Conclusions: a structured graphical approach for determination of MQ-series gas sensor circuit parameters for alarm points in a stand-alone gas alarm system showed that using MQ-4 gas sensor and LPG as the target gas, and for a sensor circuit output voltage of 2 V for alarm point at 1000 ppm of LPG, the corresponding value of R_O, R_S and R_L obtained were 20 kΩ, 30 kΩ, and 20 kΩ respectively. Hence, a structured graphical approach is suitable for determining MQ series gas sensor circuit parameters for a stand-alone gas alarm system under the influence of its associated gases.
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SOUTHERN JOURNAL OF SCIENCES

The SOUTHERN JOURNAL OF SCIENCES publishes articles in Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Biology, Pharmacy, Medicine, Engineering, Industrial Science, Agriculture, and related interdisciplinary areas and is intended to fill a gap in terms of scientific information worldwide. All manuscripts can be published either in English or Portuguese, with tile, abstracts, and keywords in English. At present, there are NO PUBLICATION FEES. Editors will cover web hosting, open access, DOI number, and other service costs.

We have set high standards for the articles to be published by ensuring strong but fair refereeing by at least two reviewers. We hope that this Journal will provide a forum for disseminating high-quality research in chemistry and related areas and are open to any questions and suggestions. Starting in 2020, the SOUTHERN JOURNAL OF SCIENCES will have two issues per year (June and December).

Thank you very much for choosing the SOUTHERN JOURNAL OF SCIENCES to publish your paper!
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