Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the cause of the major world health issue, tuberculosis (TB). The cytokine, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) has been implicated in protection against TB in the early stages of the disease. TNF-α is an effective cytokine in the killing of intracellular M. tuberculosis. This study inducted to investigate whether there is any relationship between levels of TNF-α in sera of TB patients and their recovery, and is there any difference in the level of this cytokine in sera of female and male TB patients. This study included 29 patients with pulmonary TB (18 female and 11 male), their ages ranging from 37 to 59 years. All of them received first line TB therapy. They were consulted at Pasture Center during Septem

Background: The menopause is physiological changes in women that give rise to adaptive changes at both systemic and oral level. During menopause, ovarian function declines and the production of sex steroid hormones reduces significantly affecting the oral tissues and periodontal structures leading to chronic inflammation of the gingiva, increased risk of tooth loss. Aim of study: The present study was designed to estimate the oral hygiene status in relation to salivary estradiol level among pre and post-menopausal women. Materials and Methods: Ninety women aged 48-52 years old, the control group consisted of 45 pre-menopausal women and the study group consisted of 45 post-menopause were examined for gingival index, plaque index and calcu

Many diseases can produce cardiac overload, of these disease hypertension, valve disease congenital anomaly in addition to many other disease. One of the most common diseases causing left ventricle overload is hypertension. A long term hypertension can cause myocardium hypertrophy leading to changes in the cardiac contractility and reduced efficiency. The investigations were carried out using conventional echocardiography techniques in addition to the tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) from which many noninvasive measurements can be readily obtained. The study has involved the effect of hypertension on the myocardium stiffness index through the measurement of early diastolic filling (E) and the early velocity of lateral mitral annulus (E

Many diseases can produce cardiac overload, of these disease hypertension, valve disease congenital anomaly in addition to many other disease. One of the most common diseases causing left ventricle overload is hypertension. A long term hypertension can cause myocardium hypertrophy leading to changes in the cardiac contractility and reduced efficiency. The investigations were carried out using conventional echocardiography techniques in addition to the tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) from which many noninvasive measurements can be readily obtained. The study has involved the effect of hypertension on the myocardium stiffness index through the measurement of early diastolic filling (E) and the early velocity of lateral mitral annulus (E_a

Background : Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common cause of infertility in reproductive-age women , it is an important harbinger of metabolic disorders. It has been reported that hyperamylasemia can be used as marker of ovarian cancer patients . The current study was conducted to evaluate amylase activity and to estimate the correlation of this enzyme with insulin and insulin resistance in PCOS patients. Methods: This study was conducted on forty five patients with PCOS in comparison to twenty five women as control. Fasting blood sample was taken from each subject and analyzed for amylase activity , FSH,LH, Insulin , proteins, and blood sugar , meanwhile insulin resistance was determined by HOMA-IR index. Results: The result

Background: Nephrotic syndrome is an immune mediated disorder of the kidney associated with T cell dysfunction and secondary disturbance of B cell with changes in levels of immunoglobulin.
Objectives: The objectives of this study were to compare immunoglobulin levels in children with nephrotic syndrome in relapse and healthy children, and to assess relationship between the degree of albuminuria and the mean concentrations of immunoglobulin.
Methods: We studied 60 children with nephrotic syndrome during January 2008 to January 2011 in the Pediatric Nephrology consultation clinic, Children Welfare Teaching Hospital –Baghdad Medical Complex –Iraq. Urine protein and blood samples were collected from the 60

Background: Gestational hypertension represents a transient period of elevated blood pressure with  special effects on the maternal left ventricle that is different from the effects observed in chronic essential   hypertension; it affects a previously normal heart and lasts for a maximum of nine months associated with   volume and pressure overload on the maternal heart. Tei index (also called myocardial performance index)   was found to be a dependent combined index evaluating the systolic and diastolic function of the left   ventricle and represents a sensitive indicator for many types of heart diseases.
Objective: to evaluate the effects of gestational hypertension on the maternal myocar

Background: Autoantibodies to islet cell antigens are known predictors of type 1 diabetes and detected in latent autoimmune diabetes in adults.
Objectives: This study aimed to identify the metabolic and immunological disturbances in diabetic patients with positive and negative islet cell antibodies (ICAs)
Materials and methods: A total number of 235 known cases of diabetes mellitus type 1 (160) and type 2 diabetes (75) were admitted in the study. Serum ICA and immunoglobulins (IgA, IgM, IgG) as well lipid profile were measured.
Results: Positive ICAs was found in 40 out of 120 T1D (33.3%) and 28 out of 75 T2D (37.3%). All the patients were poorly controlled diabetes with the evidence of significant high

Certain bacterial and viral infectious agents may play a role in the activation of inflammation in atherosclerosis lesions. Epidemiological studies indicate that infectious agents may predispose patients to atherosclerosis as Infections have been associated with an increased risk of this disease. Moreover, a positive antibody status has been detected against some infectious organisms associated with atherosclerotic rupture. Infectious agents found in human atheroma, which may directly cause or accelerate atherosclerosis , include many pathogens but the present study focused on Helicobacter pylori, hepatitis B virus surface antigen and C. In order to evaluate the possible association between H. pylori, HBV, and HCV infections and the risk of

Thalassemia is a term that refers to a group of genetic disorders characterized by a defect in the synthesis of hemoglobin. It is sometimes called Mediterranean anemia. Many biochemical changes in the blood accompany this disease. In this research, some biochemical parameters were measured in thalassemic patients and compared with healthy control group. These parameters include serum Iron, ferritin, TIBC, hemoglobin, uric acid, albumin, calcium, transferrin, and transferrin saturation percentage.  The results of the research showed that there is a significant increase (P<0.05)  in serum iron and ferritin in thalassemic patients group in comparison with healthy control group. A significant decrease (P<0.05) in serum uric a