Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an autosomal recessive multisystem disease that results from mutation(s) of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene. More than 2100 mutations and polymorphisms have been reported in this gene so far. Incidence and genotyping of CF are under-identified in Iraq. This study aims to determine the types and frequencies of certain CFTR mutations among a sample of Iraqi CF patients. Two groups of patients were included: 31 clinically confirmed CF patients in addition to 47 clinically suspected patients of CF. All confirmed pa

Background: Infection with Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) leads to activation of T-helper cells (Th-1 and Th-2) which are involved in the synthesis and release of different cytokines which may lead to endothelial dysfunction. Objectives: To evaluate the endothelial function in patients with acute toxoplasmosis. Methods: This case-control study involved 31 patients with toxoplasmosis aged 19 - 47 years matched with 20 healthy subjects. Anti-T. gondii antibody (IgG, IgM, IgA) was determined by direct antigen-antibody reaction. Interleukin-6(IL-6), endothelin-1 (ET-1) and human malondialdehyde (MDA) serum levels were measured. Results: IgM, IgG and IgA levels were high in the infected patients compared with controls (P < 0.01). Furthermore, IL-

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are produced as a result of biochemical processes that are not in balance with the body's antioxidant defense mechanism. This metabolic dysfunction is referred to the oxidative stress (OS).  Metabolic dysfunction-associated diseases are affected by changes in the redox balance. It is now widely recognized that oxidative stress significantly affects diabetes mellitus (DM), particularly type 2 diabetes. The biochemical changes associated with  DM could  disturb the oxidative milieu, leading to several microvascular complications in diabetic patients. Thus, DM is a perfect disease to explore the harmful consequences of oxidative stress and how to treat it. Oxidative stress triggered by hyperglycemia is

Objective: Zerumbone (ZER) is a well-known natural compound that has been reported to have anti-cancer effect. Thus, this study investigated the ZER potential to inhibit Thymidine Phosphorylase (TP) and the ability to trigger Reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated cytotoxicity in non-small cell lung cancer, NCI-H460, cell line. Material and Method: The antiangiogenic activity for ZER was evaluated by using the thymidine phosphorylase inhibitory test. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was determined via DCFDA dye by using flow cytometry. Result and Discussion: ZER was found to be potent TP inhibitory with the IC50 value of 50.3± 0.31 μg/ml or 230±1.42 µM. NCI-H460 cells upon treatment with ZER produced sign

Vitamin K-dependent protein (VKDP) contributes to the development of lung cancer. The purpose of this research was to better understanding of the role of blood matrix Gla protein (MGP), VKDPs, Malondialdehyde (MDA), Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and Vitamin K (Vit K) in Iraqi patients with lung cancer before and after the first cycle of chemotherapy. Blood samples were collected from Al amal National Hospital for cancer treatment from October 2021 to May 2022, and a total of 80 samples were collected, divided into two groups (40 patient before taking a chemotherapy and 40 patients after taking chemotherapy), ranging in age from 20 to 45 years old. The results showed that although there were highly statistically significant differences in MD

The application of physiological oxygen (physoxia) concentrations is becoming increasingly commonplace within a mammalian stem cell culture. Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) attract widespread interest for clinical application due to their unique immunomodulatory, multi-lineage potential, and regenerative capacities. Descriptions of the impact of physoxia on global DNA methylation patterns in hMSCs and the activity of enzymatic machinery responsible for its regulation remain limited. Human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-hMSCs, passage 1) isolated in reduced oxygen conditions displayed an upregulation of SOX2 in reduced oxygen conditions vs. air oxygen (21% O2, AO), while no change was noted for either OCT-4 or NA

In the course of generating a library of open-chain epothilones, we discovered a new class of small molecule anticancer agents that has no effect on tubulin but instead kills selected cancer cell lines by harnessing reactive oxygen species in an iron-dependent manner.

Abstract: E2F6 is a member of the E2F family of transcription factors involved in regulation of a wide variety of genes through both activation and repression. E2F6 has been reported as overexpressed in breast cancers but whether or not this is important for tumor development is unclear. We first checked E2F6 expression in tumor cDNAs and the protein level in a range of breast cancer cell lines. RNA interference-mediated depletion was then used to assess the importance of E2F6 expression in cell lines with regard to cell cycle profile using fluorescence-activated cell sorting and a cell survival assay using (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT). The overexpression of E2F6 was confirmed in breast tumor cDNA samp

The oxidative stress is result of unbalancing between oxidants and antioxidants in the body. Hypertension (HT) is a measure of average systolic blood pressure which created by the heart contracting, greater ?140 mmHg or an average diastolic blood pressure, which is the heart fills, of ?equal to 90 mmHg. The study is conducted on 28 female patients with HT from Ibn Al-nafese hospital in addition to 28 female control. The markers measured are albumin, malondialdehyde (MDA) and 8-Hydroxy deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG). Also electrophoresis study on extracted DNA with Fenton reaction was done. Results of this study show there are high significant decrease (p?0.01) in albumin concentration of patient related to control, and there is a high significan