It was aimed to understand the interleukin-4 (IL-4) role in etio-pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Two approaches were adopted. In the first one, a quantitative expression of IL4 gene was assessed by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), and such findings were correlated with some demographic, clinical and laboratory parameters, which included gender, duration of disease, disease activity score (DAS-28), rheumatoid factors (RFs), C-reactive protein (CRP) and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (ACCP) antibodies. In the second approach, a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of IL4 gene (rs2243250) was inspected by DNA sequencing using specific primers. Fifty-one Iraqi RA patients (22 males and 29 fem

Background: EOS (encoded by the IKZF4 gene) is a member of the zinc finger transcription factor IKaros family, and plays a critical role in Treg suppressor functions, and maintaining Treg stability. IL-6 is a soluble mediator with a pleiotropic effect on inflammation, immune response, and hematopoiesis. Aim: To estimate serum IL-6 level and EOS gene expression in Iraqi patients with psoriasis. Method: Twenty-two patients with psoriasis (8 females, 14 males) with age ranged 18-72 years, were recruited from Baghdad Teaching Hospital, Dermatology Clinic, Baghdad, and 24 healthy donors. The serum levels of IL-6 by ELISA and the gene expression of IKZF4 (EOS gene) by RT-qPCR technique. Results: The results showed a non-significant diffe

Two isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were isolated from patients with Urinary Tract Infection (UTI). The aim of this study was to determine the antimicrobial effect of alcoholic leaves extract of Salvia officinalis on Multidrug resistant (MDR) P. aeruginosa. Using the well diffusion test, the alcoholic leaves extract at 100mg/ml and 200 mg /ml was shown to possess antimicrobial activity against the tested microorganism. The inhibition zones of S. officinalis at 200 mg/ml, and 100 mg/ml of the extract showed diameters of 23mm and 20mm, respectively. But the diameters of the inhibition zones caused by treatment with the antibiotics Ciprofloxacin, Ticarcillin + Clavulanic acid, and Cefotaxime w

This study included the isolation and diagnosis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from cases of burns samples. 100 samples were collected from resident patients at Al-Kindi Teaching Hospital, who suffer from different types of burns. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was isolated and diagnosed with 39% of the total samples. The cold and hot aqueous and alcoholic extract of flaxseeds oil was prepared and its inhibitory efficacy has been studied on the growth of isolated Pseudomonas aeruginosa. It is revealed that both extracts of flaxseeds oil had a high inhibitory effect on Pseudomonas aeruginosa growth. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of flaxseed oil on the studied bacteria was also estimated, which was 25 mg/ml. In conclusion, the efficacy of fla

Three isolates of  P. aeruginosa were isolated from burnt patients. The ability of these isolates for adhesion and formation of slime layer were tested, the result showed that all isolates were able to adherence on the smooth surface. The sensitivity of  P. aeruginosa isolates for antibiotics were tested , all isolates were sensitive  to Gentamycin, Piperacillin and Amikacin Ciprofloxacin, and  resist to Tetracyclin, Amoxicillin, Cephalexine , Ceftriaxone. Ciprofloxacin and Amikacin were found effective against P. aeruginosa isolates with MIC values of 3.8 μg/ ml for  Ciprofloxacin  and 0.244 μg/ ml for Amikacin The antibacterial effect of Different concentrations of Aloe

Eight isolates of P. aeruginosa were obtained out of 90 water samples. The isolated colonies were identified based on their morphology and biochemical characteristics, were confirmed as P. aeruginosa by the API 20E test system.
The percentages of P. aeruginosa recovery in this study were 8.8.% All isolates were able to produce greenish blue pigment (pyocyanin). Pyocyanin at all concentrations was significantly increased the percentage of fragmented DNA of peripheral blood lymphocyte cells compared to control , results showed that DNA fragmentation percentage was higher in concentration 50 μg/ml (70%,74.3%) at 24 hr,48hr respectively. In summary, results of recent study demonstrate that the pyocyanin, induces apoptosis of human periph

The present study aims to evaluate the synergistic activity of nicotinic acid (NIC) with the Imipenem (IMI) as an anti-biofilm for clinical isolated Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The values of minimum inhibitor concentration (MICs) for IMI and NIC (Separately) against P. aeruginosa were (16) ug/mL and (8) ug/ml respectively. Whereas, the concentration of NIC with IMI (as combined) for biofilm inhibition was  1 ug/ml for NIC and 4 ug/ml for IMI. The combining of NIC with IMI showed synergistic efficacy against formation of bacterial biofilm (at MIC levels). These     results provide a conclusion that NIC combined with IMI is can be considered as a successful prospective treatment against the biofilm pr