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.
Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic and systemic autoimmune disease that is characterized by severe synovial inflammation, cartilage erosion, bone loss, and generalized vasculopathy. Although the immunologic mechanism of RA is still unclear, it is now thought to be a primarily Th17-driven disease. Along with other factors, IL-23 stimulates the expansion of Th17 cells from naive CD4+ T cells.
Objective: The objective of this study is to assess the circulating levels of interleukin (IL)-23 in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and determine the correlation between plasma/serum IL-23 levels and disease activity. So, we performed a systematic review with meta-analysis comparing
... Show MoreSystemic lupus Erythematosus is an autoimmune disease of unknown aetiology affecting multiple organ system. Reactive nitrogen and oxygen species are claimed to play a role in this disease. However, the potential of Nitrosative/Oxidative Stress to elicit an autoimmune, response remain till now largely unexplored in humans. This study was done to investigate the status and contribution of nitrosative/oxidative stress in Iraqi patients for systemic lupus erythematosus. Blood samples from 19 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and 19 age-and sex- matched apparently healthy controls were evaluated for serum levels of nitrosative/oxidative stress markers including nitric oxide, peroxynitrite and malondialdehyde. Nitric oxide levels were
... Show MoreFor the period from February 2014 till May 2014, one hundred and nine lactose fermenter clinical isolates from different samples (urine, stool, wound swab, blood, and sputum) were collected from Alyarmok, Alkadimiya, and Baghdad teaching hospitals at Baghdad governorate. Identification of all Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates were carried out depending on macroscopic, microscopic characterizations, conventional biochemical tests, and Api 20E system. Fifty-three (48.62%) isolates represented K. pneumoniae; however, 51.73% represented other bacteria. Susceptibility test was achieved to all fifty-three K. pneumoniae isolates using five antibiotic disks (Ceftazidime, Ceftriaxone, Cefotaxime, Imipenem, and Meropenem). Most of tested isolates (90
... Show MorePersistence of antibiotics in the aquatic environment has raised concerns regarding their potential influence on potable water quality and human health. This study analyzes the presence of antibiotics in potable water from two treatment plants in Baghdad City. The collected samples were separated using a solid-phase extraction method with hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) cartridge before being analyzed. The detected antibiotics in the raw and finished drinking water were analyzed and assessed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), with fluorometric detector and UV detector. The results confirmed that different antibiotics including fluoroquinolones and
Diabetes mellitus caused by insulin resistance is prompted by obesity. Neuropeptide Nesfatin-1 was identified in several organs, including the central nervous system and pancreatic islet cells. Nesfatin-1 peptide appears to be involved in hypothalamic circuits that energy homeostasis and control food intake. Adiponectin is a plasma collagen-like protein produced by adipocytes that have been linked to the development of insulin resistance (IR), diabetes mellitus type 2 (DMT2), and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Resistin was first identified as an adipose tissue–specific hormone that was linked to obesity and diabetes. The aim of this study was to estimate the relationship between human serum nesfatin-1, adiponect
... Show MoreThis study was conducted to investigate the presence of Staphylococcus aureus in the red and white meat available in local markets. They were selected ten samples of red and white meat randomly (Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Brazil) from different markets in Baghdad, and the results of reading the nutrition facts of media indication card showed that all models confirm to the Iraqi standard quality in terms of scanning all data of the media indication card, except for the birds of Bayader, where the date of expire & production date of the product was not mentioned. Also, the results of the study showed that there is no Staphylococcus aureus in local red and white meat as well as imported.
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a significant global health problem. Populations of different ethnicities show great heterogeneity in HBV genotype frequency distributions. A cross-sectional study was conducted during June–October 2018 to determine frequency of HBV genotypes among chronic HBV patients from Baghdad, Iraq. The method of detection was nested polymerase chain reaction system. Further, the study assessed the impact of HBV genotypes on serum level of liver-function tests: total serum bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase. Eighty chronic HBV patients were enrolled in the study. Six HBV genotypes were identified (A, B, C, D, E and F). The most frequently encountered genotypes
... Show MoreA nano-sensor for nitrotyrosine (NT) molecule was found by studying the interactions of NT molecule with new B24N24 nanocages. It was calculated using density functionals in this case. The predicted adsorption mechanisms included physical and chemical adsorption with the adsorption energy of −2.76 to −4.60 and −11.28 to −15.65 kcal mol−1, respectively. The findings show that an NT molecule greatly increases the electrical conductivity of a nanocage by creating electronic noise. Moreover, NT adsorption in the most stable complexes significantly affects the Fermi level and the work function. This means the B24N24 nanocage can detect NT as a Φ–type sensor. The recovery time was determined to be 0.3 s. The sensitivity of pure BN na
... Show MoreThe meniscus has a crucial function in human anatomy, and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (M.R.I.) plays an essential role in meniscus assessment. It is difficult to identify cartilage lesions using typical image processing approaches because the M.R.I. data is so diverse. An M.R.I. data sequence comprises numerous images, and the attributes area we are searching for may differ from each image in the series. Therefore, feature extraction gets more complicated, hence specifically, traditional image processing becomes very complex. In traditional image processing, a human tells a computer what should be there, but a deep learning (D.L.) algorithm extracts the features of what is already there automatically. The surface changes become valuable when
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