Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) is a myeloproliferative neoplasm arises from Bcr-Abl gene translocation (called Ph chromosome) in hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). This genetic abnormality results in constitutive activation of tyrosine kinase and subsequent uncontrol growth and multiplication of granulocytes. The cornerstone in treatment of CML are tyrosine kinase inhibitors, of which imatinib is the most effectively used. JAK2V617F mutation is an acquired single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) occurs in JAK2 gene and is associated with many hematological malignancy other than CML. It was thought that the two genetic abnormalities (Bcr-Abl and JAK2V617F) occur mutually; however, growing body of evidences suggested the reverse. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of JAK2V617 mutation associated with serum levels of alkaline phophatase (ALK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in Ph+ CML Iraqi patients treated with imatinib. A total of 43 Ph+ CML patients (24 males and 18 females, age range 16-80 years) who attend Iraqi National Center of Hematology for Research and Treatment/Baghdad were enrolled in this study. Each patient has been received at least six month therapy with imatinib. A consent form involving age, gender, height, weight, smoking status, residency and first family relative history of leukemia was obtained from each patient. Besides, blood samples were collected, from which the granulocytes were separated and then DNA was extracted using a ready kit. Two assays were used for detection of JAK2V617F mutation; real time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) using specific primers and probe, and allele specific PCR (AS-PCR) using specific primers. Total white blood corpuscles (WBC) as well as serum levels of ALP and LDH were measured. qPCR assay revealed 5 patients out of 43 (11.62%) were heterozygous for the muatant allele of JAK2V617F mutation (genotype GT). The concentration of this allele ranged from 0.01% to 0.12%. None of blood sample gave positive result for AS-PCR assay. From the all risk factors, only gender had significant association with the incidence of JAK2V617F mutation (p= 0.034, OR= 0.5, 95%CI= 0.364-0.687). Average total WBC count, and serum levels of ALP and LDH were higher in JAK2V617F-positive patients (9042±1512.55, 146.05±8.028 IU/L and 204±10.85 IU/L respectively) than that of JAK2V617F-negative patients (6039±1772.239, 64.45±40.15 IU/L and 178.33±13.693 IU/L respectively) with significant differences. These results indicate that JAK2V617F mutation can occur simultaneously with Ph chromosome in CML patients, and qPCR is a highly sensitive method for the detection of this mutation. Furthermore, serum activity of APL can be used as an indicator for the presence of JAK2V617F mutation in CML patients.
Toxoplasmosis is a widespread infection usually caused by Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) parasite. It occurs in humans and other warm blooded animals, causing severe problems. It was found that there is an alteration in the trace elements concentrations levels associated with some human diseases. This study aimed to investigate the changes in the concentrations of some trace elements (Mg, Fe , Zn, and Cu) in the sera of 60 immunocompetent patients with chronic toxoplasmosis and 82 healthy individuals as a control group. Measuring the serum level of seropositivity rate of anti-T. gondii antibodies was done by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) Kit, while the concentrations of trace elements were measured by absorption spectrophotometry
... Show MoreThe diagnosis of acute appendicitis (AA) sometimes is illusive and the accompanying clinical and laboratory manifestations cannot be used for definitive diagnosis. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic value of neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in detection of AA. Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study that included a total of 80 adult patients with AA and 62 age- and gender-matched patients with abdominal pain due to causes other than AA. Three milliliter of peripheral blood were collected from each participant. The NLR was calculated by dividing the absolute neutrophil count by the absolute lymphocyte count. Receiver operating characteristic curve was used to assess the diagnostic value of NLR in detection
... Show MoreAbstract
The effect of physical and mental health on the feelings of personal welfare are known as health-related quality of life. Infection with hepatitis B virus is a major global health problem. Health-related quality of life was emerged as an important consideration in the care of patients with chronic hepatitis B infection. The aim of the current study was to measure health-related quality of life among a sample of chronic hepatitis B patients in AL-Najaf city/Iraq. The current study was cross-sectional study carried out on (104) already diagnosed chronic viral hepatitis B patients who attended the Gastroenterology and Hepatology Center/Al-Sader Medical City/Najaf during November 2018 to May
... Show MoreHepatitis B infection is a prominent infectious disease caused by hepatitis B virus (HBV), which infect liver and is considered as the main cause of liver cirrhosis, fibrosis and liver cancer worldwide. A pro-inflammatory cytokine Interleukin32 is believed to have a role in chronic HBV infections. Since its role in CHB infections is remain unclear, this study was done to detect IL-32 gene expression in CHB patients in order to identify its exact role. A total number of 110 blood samples were collected from Gastroenterology and Hepatology Teaching Hospital in Baghdad Medical City from CHB patients for both males and females with different age groups according to the research ethics form then sent to Central Public Health Laboratory (CPHL),
... Show MoreBackground: Patients with chronic kidney
disease have different grades of sensorineural
deafness .
Objective: To study the incidence of
sensorineural hearing loss and possible contributing
factors in patients with chronic kidney disease.
Methods: A total of 100 patients with chronic
kidney disease were studied. All of them were
males. 92 of them were on regular haemodialysis
programme. Only 8 patients were on conservative
management the age range of the study patients was
18-40 year patients were divided into three groups
according to age. All patients were assessed
clinically and were evaluated by audiometry , and
analysis was made on bone conduction threshold
.The mean follow up period was 2