ABSTRACT : Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is one of the most common inflammatory neurodegenerative diseases linked with dementia, it is characterized by the deposition of amyloid beta-peptide (Ab) in the brain. The present study aims to innovate a biochemical relationship between AD and interleukin 38 (IL-38) as an anti-inflammatory cytokine, expose novel mechanisms and concepts regarding other biochemical parameters studied previously or recently in AD patients and also examine the biochemical action of memantine (10 mg daily) on AD patients. Sixty (60) diagnosed AD patients participated in the present study and classified into four (4) groups: G3 were composed of (15) newly diagnosed males (52-78) years / without treatment, G4 composed of (15) newly diagnosed females (64-90) years/ without treatment, G5 composed of (15) males (60-85) years / under treatment with memantine and G6 composed of (15) females (65-73) years also under treatment with memantine. Patients were compared with healthy subjects as two control groups: G1 composed of (15) males /(52-80) years and G2 composed of (15) females / (64-82) years. Blood samples were collected from the patients and control subjects from November 20th, 2019 to February 26th, 2020. The biochemical parameters determined in the sera of all groups are Interleukin 38, ornithine, and TSH. Results of the present study have revealed that IL-38 level was highly significantly increased in G3 and G4 compared with G1 and G2 respectively while it was highly significant increased in G5 compared with G3 and non significantly increased in G6 compared with G4, the difference between (G5 and G1) and between (G6 and G2) was highly significant while the difference between G4 and G3 was nonsignificant. Ornithine level was highly significantly increased in G3 and G4 compared with G1 and G2 respectively, while it was non significantly decreased in G5 and G6 compared with G3 and G4, respectively. The difference between (G5 and G1) and between (G6 and G2) was highly significant while it was non-significant between G4 and G3. TSH level was highly significant decreased in G3 compared with G1, while it was non significantly decreased in G4 compared with G2. However, it was highly significantly increased in G5 and G6 compared with G3 and G4, respectively, the difference between (G5 and G1) and between (G4 and G3) was nonsignificant while, it was highly significant between (G6 and G2). The present study is the first to report that IL-38 is a novel biochemical marker for AD and also the first elucidating the biochemical action of memantine on IL-38 (by highlighting the anti-inflammatory responses) and ornithine based on the reversible biochemical relationship between arginine, ornithine and glutamate.
Age, hypertension, and diabetes can cause significant alterations in arterial structure and function, including changes in lumen diameter (LD), intimal-medial thickness (IMT), flow velocities, and arterial compliance. These are also considered risk markers of atherosclerosis and cerebrovascular disease. A difference between right and left carotid artery blood flow and IMT has been reported by some researchers, and a difference in the incidence of nonlacunar stroke has been reported between the right and left brain hemispheres. The aim of this study was to determine whether there are differences between the right and left common carotid arteries and internal carotid arteries in patient
In Iraq, because of the dramatic turnovers facing the country for three decades, pharmacists continue to experience significant professional challenges in both the public and private sectors. The present study aimed to explore the professional challenges and obstacles facing Iraqi pharmacists working in public hospitals. This qualitative study included face-to-face semi-structured interviews with open-ended questions with hospital pharmacists. The participants were selected purposefully (with ≥ 3 years of experience) to work at governmental hospitals in Karbala province between December 2022 and April 2023. The audio-recording interviews were scripted. Thematic analyses were used to generate themes and subthemes from the interview
... Show MoreBackground Type two diabetes (T2DM) is characterized by insufficient insulin production and secretion. Additionally, the body develops insulin resistance which affects 90–95% of diabetics. Complex cytokines, receptors, genetic pathways, and the immune system are involved in T2DM. Interleukin-18 (IL-18) is one of the inflammatory cytokines associated with Type 2 diabetes. Environmental and genetic variables, including genetic polymorphisms, can increase T2DM risk and its consequences. Single nucleotide gene polymorphisms (SNPs) are important risk factors for diabetes that can be used to find the disease early and treat it better. Objective This study aimed to determine the levels of IL-18 in the serum of Iraqi patients with Type 2 diabetes
... Show MoreAnkylosing spondylitis is a complex debilitating disease because its pathogenesis is not clear. This study aims at detecting some pathogenesis factors that lead to induce the disease. Chlamydia pneumoniae is one of these pathogenesis factors which acts as a triggering factor for the disease. The study groups included forty Iraqi Ankylosing spondylitis patients and forty healthy persons as a control group. Immunological and molecular examinations were done to detect Chlamydia. pneumoniae in AS group. The immunological results were performed by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) to detect anti-IgG and anti-IgM antibodies of C. pneumoniae revealed that five of forty AS patients' samples (12.5%) were positive for anti-IgG and IgM C. pneu
... Show MoreWater quality planning relies on Biochemical Oxygen Demand BOD. BOD testing takes five days. The Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) is increasingly used for water resource forecasting. This work designed a PSO technique for estimating everyday BOD at Al-Rustumiya wastewater treatment facility inlet. Al-Rustumiya wastewater treatment plant provided 702 plant-scale data sets during 2012-2022. The PSO model uses the daily data of the water quality parameters, including chemical oxygen demand (COD), chloride (Cl-), suspended solid (SS), total dissolved solids (TDS), and pH, to determine how each variable affects the daily incoming BOD. PSO and multiple linear regression (MLR) findings are compared, and their perfor
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