The B-type Raf kinase (BRAF) is a member of RAS\RAF\MEK\ERK pathway and this pathway can lead to increased cellular growth, invasion and metastasis. The mutated BRAF protein activates MAPK signaling pathway, results in abnormal cellular growth, apoptosis resistance, tumor progression and metastasis. Pan-BRAF is one of available BRAF monoclonal antibodies and shared by both the wild and mutant BRAF.BRAF status is mostly determined by DNA sequencing methods. In this investigation we assessed the monoclonal Pan BRAF specific antibody that can identify wild and mutant type proteins together in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded thyroid tumor tissues by Immunohistochemistry (IHC). Archival thyroid samples from 43 iraqi patients were immunohisto
... Show MoreBackground:
Introduction: Selenium is an essential trace element involved in different physiological functions of the human body. An inverse relationship between serum selenium levels and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia has been reported. cervical intraepithelial neoplasia is regarded as a potentially premalignant transformation of squamous cells of the cervix. Objectives: To evaluate the relationship between the serum level of selenium and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. Methods: A case-control study was conducted at Baghdad Teaching Hospital and Iraqi National Cancer Research Center in the University of Baghdad during the period from July 2021 to July 2022. A convenient sample of 100 women was enrolled in the current study and included
... Show MoreBackground: Neonatal screening for congenital hypothyroidism (CH) is an essential preventive public health program for early identification of disorders that can lead to potentially catastrophic health problems
Objectives: This is a pilot study conducted to determine the incidence of CH among infants born in two major maternity hospitals in Baghdad City and to build a model for nationwide screening program.
Methods: A prospective study on screening of all newborns was conducted in two major maternity hospitals in Baghdad, from 01.12.2001 - 31.12.2002. A total of 6949 neonates were screened for CH, cord blood samples were examined for serum TSH levels by immunoflourecent method (ELIZA) and reexamined for T4 using a cutoff&
... Show MoreBackground: Osteoporosis is an extra-articular complication of rheumatoid arthritis that results in increased risk of fractures and associated morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. Objective: To evaluate changes in bone mineral density in a sample of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients on biological (anti tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha) and non-biological agent disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). Patients and Methods: A cross sectional study enrolled 60 RA patients diagnosed by rheumatologist according to the 2010 American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism (2010 ACR/EULAR) classification criteria for RA. Thirty patient on biological agent (anti TNF alpha) and 30 patient on non-biological agent (D
... Show MoreInterleukin-6 (IL-6) is a proinflammatory cytokine implicated in the immunopathogenesis of tuberculosis (TB). TB is recognized worldwide as an important public health issue. To study the relationship between the age of patients with pulmonary TB and serum IL-6 levels, from the other hand, the severity of this disease with IL-6 levels. This study included 30 patients (16 female and 14 male) with pulmonary TB and 10 healthy persons (5 female and 5 male) as control group for comparison. An ELISA assay was used to quantify IL-6 in the sera. The results showed a significant increase of IL-6 levels with increase of age of patients, in (23-38) year old patients the IL-6 levels (median= 17.9 pg/ml, range 12.3-29.1), while in (50-70) year old patien
... Show MoreHuman cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is associated with higher risk of cardiovascular diseases in immunocompromised organ transplant patients; it has been linked with the elevated arterial blood pressure. This study aimed to find a relationship between CMV antibody titers and blood pressure elevation by using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to measure CMV IgG levels in the serum of 60 patients with high blood pressure, in comparison to 30 healthy persons with normal blood pressure as a control. All patients and control were 25-50 years old. The results showed that CMV antibody titers were higher in those who undergo blood pressure elevation. This finding supports the hypothesis that; the common CMV infection may leads to i
... Show MoreBackground: The human CD19 (Cluster Differentiation) antigen is a 95 kd transmembrane glycoprotein belonging to the immunoglobulin superfamily. CD19 gene located on the short arm of chromosome 16p11.2 (P: petit). CD19 is a member of the Ig immunoglobulin superfamily expressed on the surface of B lymphocytes, and may play a pivotal role in B-cell differentiation and activation. Research suggests that mutations in a gene CD19 leads to a lack of expression of CD19 membrane and result in an antibody deficiency syndrome.
Objective: The aim of this work is to study the mutations in Exon 2 CD19gene in leukemia patients in Baghdad/Iraq.
Patients and Methods: This cross sectional study was performed in the National
Background: Patients with chronic renal failure ( CRF) are at increased rick of cardiovascular diseases and 60 of cardiovascular mortality in CRF is attributed to sudden death.