Background: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is inflammation of the sacroiliac joints and spine, associated with clinical symptoms such as pain and stiffness in the vertebral column, after which, in a considerable number of individuals, new bone growth occurs. Objective: The current research study attempted to find out whether the presence of SNPs in TNF receptor [TNFRSF1A (rs767455), TNFRSF1B (rs1061622)] encoding genes could influence patients' outcomes to etanercept in a specimen of Iraqi AS patients. Patients and methods: Sixty patients with established AS receiving only etanercept were selected to be enrolled in this research with a mean age of 40.75 ± 8.67 years, 51 patients of them were males and only 9 patients were females. Patients were classed as "responders" if just obtained a BASDAI 50 clinical response and as "non-responders" if they can't achieve a BASDAI 50 clinical elaboration after at least 6 months treatment. After PCR products amplification of purified blood DNA, TNF receptor (TNFRSF1A and TNFRSF1B) genes SNPs were established by Sanger sequencing. Results: The analysis of this study expressed that there was a significant incidence of TT genotype of rs1061622 (P = 0.022) in responder group, whereas the TG genotype of the same SNP was considerably present in the group that did not respond (P = 0.002). Finally, a non-significant difference existed in alleles and genotypes frequency between responder and non-responder groups of rs767455 SNP in TNFRSF1A gene. Conclusions: The wild TT genotype of rs1061622 predicts etanercept responsiveness in ankylosing spondylitis patients. The TG genotype of the same SNP increases the probability of non-responding
Background: Sex variations in coronary artery disease (CAD) are well documented. However, sex differences in coronary artery calcium (CAC) and its role in the detection of coronary artery stenosis remain controversial. Objective: To assess the impact of sex variation on coronary artery calcification and its efficacy in predicting coronary artery stenosis. Methods: This is a cross-sectional observational study including 230 consecutive patients with suspected CAD (120 men and 110 women) referred for coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA). The study analyzed sex-based differences in the sensitivity and specificity of coronary artery calcification (CAC) for detecting moderate to severe stenosis across various coronary arteries
... Show MoreThe Growth Differentiation Factor -15 (GDF-15) is a member of the transforming growth factor β superfamily. İt represents an example of the stress response cytokines. It's mostly found in cardiac myocytes, adipocytes, macrophages, endothelial cells, and vascular endothelial cells, whether they're generated normally or not. GDF-15 levels have increased and are associated with cardiovascular risk. Aim of the study: To investigate the correlation between angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) with the level of plasma GDF-15 in a group of hypertensive patients. Materials and methods: A case-control study involved 90 individuals, 60 hypertensive patients (36 on ACE inhibitors and 24 on ARBs)
... Show MoreThis study aimed to identify the political factors influencing the performance of specialized journalists in Iraqi electronic newspapers. The significance of the study stems from the role of communication in newspapers that have established themselves in reality due to their wide dissemination, multiple uses, expanding freedom base, and the current diversity in perspectives. These newspapers highlight and publish societal issues of concern. The importance of these newspapers is associated with their creators who face various factors affecting their value and performance, whether positively or negatively. In light of this, the political factor was identified as the primary driver for other influencing factors. The
... Show MoreThis study included collecting of 150 specimens of the Iraqi Bird Bulbule Pycnonotus lecuotis mesoptamiae (Pycnotidae , Passeriformes), from the 1st of November 2004 to 30th of October 2005 in the city of Baghdad and its suburbs, in concern of identifying the internal parasite of the digestive tract of these birds and studying the diseases resulted from the infection. The study showed that the bird Bulbule is Parasitized by Four types of Cestodes ,two of them are recorded in this kind of bird in Iraq for the first time ,Paradicranotinae anormalis and Haploparaxis sp. , and the other two are Raillietina tetragona and Allohymenolepsis sp. ,and by two types of Pin Worm(Trematode) that are identified for the first time in the Bird Bulb
... Show MoreThe research involves examining the influence of partial solar eclipse on the strength of neutral hydrogen from the Sun. Baghdad University Radio Telescope (BURT) was used to monitor the partial solar eclipse on the 25th of October, 2022. Radio observations from the Sun were recorded from 11:30 AM to 03:36 PM. This means that the HI emission from the Sun was recorded before, during and after the event. It was noticed, that at the moment of maximum eclipse, ~ 46% of the Sun’s disk was covered by the Moon. For the purpose of this research, the solar radio wave intensity was monitored and the solar flux density was determined at different times, i.e. before, during and after the partial solar eclipse. The obtained results showed that
... Show MoreThe inflammatory reactions cause nasal polyposes (NPs), which contained the paranasal sinuses and the nasal mucous membrane. They consist of recurrent multiple masses originating in the paranasal sinuses then spread from the middle meatus to the nasals cavity, which leads to the nasal blockage that causes the restriction of airflow to the olfactory area. This study aims at clarifying the role of IL-12RB2 polymorphism by using PCR technology in nasal mucosal stem cells in nasal polyps of Iraqi patients and use it as a biomarker. Fifty-eight cases of this study are referred to as nasal surgery, which selected from Dept.of Otolaryngology, Baghdad City, Iraq from May 2013 to January 2014. They were grouped into Control group (022 samples
... Show MoreThe waste sorting and recycling plant in the district of al- Mahmudiya (Yusufiya) is the only laboratory in Baghdad governorate. It is the only one in Iraq that collects and recycles waste. After sorting, we have packages of raw materials (aluminum cans, glass bottles, plastic bottles, Nylon bags) as well as natural fertilizers (food residues and others) and a sanitary landfill with specifications that meet international standards; However, the absence of a structure for the management of the plant (manager, assistant manager, accountant, etc.) in addition to the non-supply of waste on a daily and continuous basis and the lack of cooperation of the Municipality of Baghdad with the management of the plant led to delay in the work
... Show MoreThe research aims to know the impact of the innovative matrix strategy and the problem tree strategy in teaching mathematics to intermediate grade female students on mathematical proficiency. To achieve the research objectives, an experimental approach and a quasi-experimental design were used for two equivalent experimental groups. The first is studied according to the innovative matrix strategy, the second group is studied according to the problem tree strategy. The research sample consisted of (32) female students of the first intermediate grade, who were intentionally chosen after ensuring their equivalence, taking into several factors, most notably (chronological age, previous achievement, and intelligence test). The research tools con
... Show MoreAbstract
The common types of movement disorders are ; dystonia which is a syndrome of repetitive muscle contractions. While , Huntington disease is autosomal dominant progressive neurodegenerative disorder, which is characterized by involuntary movements (“chorea”).
Tetrabenazine therapy has been shown to effectively control this movements compared with placebo.
Design the proper dosing approach for patients treated with tetrabenazine with genotype polymorphisms and their hepatic effect on patients.
A prospective case controlled study was carried on 50 patients whom divided into 2 groups :first group involved 25 patients who had cho
... Show MoreThe external shocks are one of the phenomena that the Iraqi economy is exposed to over a period of time. It is referred to as changes and events that come from outside the economic system and extends to many economic variables. However, foreign direct investment may be severely affected due to the extreme sensitivity to changes and local and international developments. This type of trauma and its characteristics to help manage and cope with external shocks, and in order to avoid the standard problems experienced by some models of simple linear regression, multi-linear regression models were used with variables Scientific and other dummy variables .
The study foun
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