Background: Osteoarthritis is a chronic pathology of the joints causing disability and morbidity. Diacerein is a disease-modifying agent indicated for osteoarthritis management with enhanced performance and have much lower side effects profile than conventional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Oral administration of Diacerein is associated with a laxative effect, thus causing treatment discontinuation. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the activity of Diacerein novasome-based transdermal gel compared with standard oral treatment in the management of induced osteoarthritis in a rat model. Materials and methods: A single intra-articular injection of monosodium iodoacetate was administered to the left knee joint, resulting in the development of Osteoarthritis. Disease progression and the effect of both routes of Diacerein treatment were evaluated by morphological, biochemical, histological, and radiological studies. Results: Osteoarthritis was successfully induced in rats’ knee joints. Morphological studies revealed that both the Diacerein treatments significantly reduced joint swelling as compared to the untreated group. The serum TNF-α and IL-1β levels were significantly lower in both Diacerein treatment groups as compared to the untreated group throughout the course of the study. Histological and radiological findings confirmed that transdermal Diacerein treatment protects against cartilage degradation like oral treatment. Conclusion: Novasomal technology proved its efficacy as a carrier for the transdermal delivery of Diacerein. The in-vivo study on an animal model of osteoarthritis showed that Diacerein transdermal gels provided sufficient pharmacological activity for the attenuation of the disease. This finding could support its use as an alternative to the standard oral treatment to avoid side effects.
Cholesteryl ester transfer protein gene contains some single nucleotide polymorphisms, which have been associated with serum high-density lipoprotein concentration and other lipoproteins. This study is done for determining of cholesteryl ester transfer protein polymorphism and evaluate its effect on serum lipid profile concentrations in some hyperlipidemic patients compared with healthy subjects in Salah Al-din governorate-Iraq. Blood samples were taken from (90) patients suffering from hyperlipidemia, and (70) samples that were apparently healthy controls. Serum lipid concentrations were measured by enzymatic assays. The polymorphism was genotyped using polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis.&n
... Show MoreBackground Parkinson’s disease (PD) is currently the fastest-growing neurological disorder in the world. Patients with PD face numerous challenges in managing their chronic condition, particularly in countries with scarce healthcare infrastructure. Objective This qualitative study aimed to delve into neurologists’ perspectives on challenges and gaps in the Iraqi healthcare system that influence the management of PD, as well as strategies to mitigate these obstacles. Method Semi-structured interviews were conducted with neurologists from five different Iraqi provinces, working in both hospitals and private neurology clinics, between November 2024 and January 2025. A thematic analysis approach was employed to identify the main challenge
... Show MoreAbstract Inflammation of periodontal tissues is the consequence of interaction between periodontal pathogens and immune system. This is associated with increased expression of inflammatory cytokines, which may exert destructive effect to the periodontal tissues when released over long period. The aim of this study was to chronologically track the homeostasis of oral keratinocytes following removal of periodontal pathogens. This was done by investigating expression of selected inflammatory markers and integrity of epithelial monolayers in vitro. Rat oral keratinocytes were stimulated with heat-killed Fusobacterium nucleatum and Porphyromonas gingivalis over 7-days then bacteria were washed away and epithelial cells re-cultured for 3-
... Show MoreThe concept of intertextuality was one of the problems that occupied the attention of critics and critics in targeting the structure of textual intertextuality between texts and their overlap in the process of producing meaning. Until intertextuality became a stable term and it can be monitored in the structure of the theatrical text and determining the mechanisms of this intertextuality between texts through fields and classifications agreed upon by the most important critics who wrote and considered intertextuality. Perhaps our previous research (the approach of exposure in the epistemological hallway to intertextuality) was an attempt to interview a terminology, which the researcher intended to monitor, through the mechanisms of inter
... Show MoreBackground: Impression materials, impression trays, and poured stone cast have been said to be the main source of cross infection between patients and dentists. However, it was observed that disinfection of the impression is not performed systematically in routine dental practice. Disinfection of alginates either by immersion or spray technique was found to cause dimensional inaccuracies, although with proper disinfection of alginates there were small dimensional changes. A variety of fluoride releasing products designed for topical use is currently available. Following their use, varied amount of fluoride is systemically absorbed depending on the fluoride concentration and the manner of its use. The objective of this study was to evaluate
... Show MoreIt is widely accepted that early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) makes it possible for patients to gain access to appropriate health care services and would facilitate the development of new therapies. AD starts many years before its clinical manifestations and a biomarker that provides a measure of changes in the brain in this period would be useful for early diagnosis of AD. Given the rapid increase in the number of older people suffering from AD, there is a need for an accurate, low-cost and easy to use biomarkers that could be used to detect AD in its early stages. Potentially, the electroencephalogram (EEG) can play a vital role in this but at present, no reliable EEG biomarker exists for early diagnosis of AD. The gradual s
... Show MoreBackground:- Cholesterol is high in ascetic fluid due
to malignancy and other causes of exudates.
Objective:-To use cholesterol as a marker to
differentiate between exudative and transudative
ascetic fluid and to compare that with other routine
parameters.
Methods:-Twenty eight patients were included in this
study 17 females with mean age of 41.9 years, 11
males with mean age of 48.2 years. The patients were
divided in group I suspected transudate, and group II
suspected exudate according to history and clinical
examination.
Ascetic fluid samples were sent for total protein,
albumin, and cholesterol measurement blood samples
were sent for serum protein and albumin measurement.
Results:-In this