BACKGROUND: Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a proangiogenic factor that exerts different effects over stem cell survival growth, apoptosis, and adhesion. Its impact on leukemogenesis has been established by many studies. AIM: This study aimed to determine the effect of plasma HGF activity on acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients at presentation and after remission. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional prospective study of 30 newly-diagnosed, adult, and AML patients. All patients received the 7+3 treatment protocol. Patients’ clinical data were taken at presentation, and patients were followed up for 6 months to evaluate the clinical status. Plasma HGF levels were estimated by ELISA based methods in the patients at two intervals first at diagnosis and the 2nd time after remission of disease. Plasma HGF levels were only measured once in twenty healthy control individuals. RESULTS: A statistically significant lowering in the median levels of HGF after remission induction therapy has been found when compared with those before treatment (p = 0.006) and in the group of patients who achieved complete remission in comparison with those before treatment (p = 0.005). Furthermore, a significant reduction was also demonstrated after treatment in patients presenting with extramedullary involvement (p = 0.003) and in the alive group (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Plasma HGF estimation can be a useful parameter in predicting treatment outcomes in patients with AML, and it can add potentially useful information to risk stratification parameters.
plaque forming assay was used enumerate the number of plaque forming cells of anti-HBc in eight patintes with chronic hepatitis and eight health
:Background: Many studies had stated that there are marked variations in the clinical presentation of depressive states between different cultures.Objectives: The main aim of the study is to identify the symptoms profile of patients with major depressive disorder living in Baghdad.Method: Ninety two patients with major depressive disorder consulting Ibn-Rushd psychiatric teaching hospital were studied thoroughly to identify the frequency of symptoms among them. The fifth edition of the Arabic version of the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I) was used to identify the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual – fourth edition (DSM-IV) symptoms. A list of other symptoms, which were found to present variably in depression acco
... Show MoreBackground: Diagnostic laparoscopy is the standard procedure performed as the final test in the infertility work up before progressing to infertility treatment, but it was found that laparoscopy may increase the risk of pelvic infection which is one of the causes of infertility either in men or women.
Objectives: To assess the cervix microbiologically in patients who were planned to have diagnostic laparoscopy as part of infertility investigations.
Patients and methods: A cross sectional study done at department of obstetrics & gynecology, Baghdad teaching hospital, Medical city, Baghdad, Iraq in 2013, over a period of 7 months, cervical swabs were taken from 30 women complaining of infertility, just before diagnostic laparosco
Background: disturbed physiological rhythm of blood pressure in preeclampsia is a common finding. The role of oxidative stress in pathogenesis of preeclampsia is well accepted. Melatonin is a powerful free radical scavenger so it's rapidly consumed by enhanced reactive oxygen species in preeclampsia causing non-dipping in blood pressure.
Objective: To evaluate the change in plasma melatonin levels in patients with preeclampsia and its relationship with blood pressure.
Patients and methods: In this prospective case control study a total of 40 primigravidae pregnant women were recruited during the period of 11 months between August 2015 and August 2016 in Baghdad teaching hospital, medical city, Iraq, divided into two groups:
Firs
Background: Insulin resistance is present in 50% or more of patients with primary hypothyroidism. Metformin can decrease TSH levels in these patients by a complex matter, this can be of great help in clinical practice.
Objective: This study was designed to evaluate the effect of metformin in reducing TSH levels in patients with primary hypothyroidism.
Methods: Hundred patients with primary hypothyroidism, 82 females, 18 males were included in this study, everyone was followed up for two months after adding metformin 850 mg twice daily in addition to thyroxin.
Results: 36 patients (36%) have a normal baseline TSH and no change after 2 months, 64 pa
... Show MoreBackground: Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a common rheumatologic syndrome with multiple manifestations and associated with many diseases, it characterized by chronic wide
spread muscular pain and tenderness. Resistin is an adipokine discovered in 2001 and considered as a link between obesity and type 2 diabetes by antagonizing and resisting the
action of insulin as it name encompass ;resistin (resist insulin) . It is secreted mainly from adipose tissue in mice and from white blood cells besides the adipose tissue in humans.
Research reviled that resistin has a role in some inflammatory diseases like Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA).
Objective: The objective of this study is to measure Resistin concentration and
Background: Dental calculus is mineralized dental plaque formed on teeth and dental prosthesis surfaces in the oral cavity. Urinary stone is a crystal aggregation formed in urinary system due to minerals saturation present in urine. The structure of dental calculus is similar to that of urinary stone. Objective: To assess oral hygiene and gingival status in patients with urinary stone. And compared with healthy subjects. Patients and Methods: Sixty participants, 25-40 years, were involved in this study who were divided into study and control group. The study group involved patients with urinary stone while the control group involved healthy subjects. Clinical parameters including plaque, calculus and gingival indices were recorded for al
... Show MoreBackground: Quality of life in brain tumor patients is an emerging issue and has prompted neurosurgeons to recon¬sider the need for cognitive assessment in the course of treatment. To date there has been a lack of comprehensive neuropsychological assessment performed preoperatively and in the acute postoperative period in our hospitals.Objectives: to establish the effects of tumors and their surgical treatment, from a neuropsychological perspective, on cognitive functioning in patients with cerebral Gliomas. Methods: This is a prospective study conducted in the Neurosurgical Hospital in Baghdad, Iraq, during the period from January 1999 to January 2001. Any patient admitted during the period of the study with clinical history, signs, sy
... Show MoreBackground: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the colon that often extends to involve the remainder of the large intestine in a continuous manner. Intestinal amoebiasis can present as a chronic, dysenteric syndrome of diarrhea, weight loss, and abdominal pain that can last for years and mimic ulcerative colitis.
Objective: Studying the prevalence of E..histolytica by using serological method ELISA for their detection, Investigate the possible role of E.histolytica as a cause of blood, diarrhea in non-ulcerative colitis group &Comparison between serological detection of E.histolytica and stool examination.
Patients and Methods: Retrospective and prospective study was conducted