Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a common, highly heritable inflammatory arthritis affecting primarily the spine and pelvis. This study was aimed to investigate the relationship between the rs27044 polymorphism in Endoplasmic reticulum aminopeptidase-1 (ERAP-1) with the susceptibility and severity of AS correlated with some biochemical markers such as hematological parameter (Erythrocytes sedimentation rate (ESR)) and immunological parameters (C-reactive protein (CRP), Human leukocyte antigen-B27 (HLA-B27), Interlukin-6 (IL-6) and Interlukin-23 (IL-23)), and oxidative stress parameters (Glutathione (GSH) and Malondialdehyde (MDA)) in a sample of Iraqi population. A total of 60 blood samples were collected from AS patients requited Rheumatology Consultation Clinic in Baghdad Teaching Hospital in Baghdad Governorate. Those patients are males and females with age ranged between 26- 32 years for early diagnosed patients (10 samples) and other medically treated patients with age ranged between 22-52 years (50 samples). The rest (30 blood samples) were collected from healthy controls with age ranged between 16-68 years. Results showed that there is a significant increase in Erythrocytes Sedimentation Rate (ESR) as a hematological parameter in newly diagnosed and medically treated patients. For the immunological parameters, results showed that C-reactive protein (CRP) was detected in all serum samples taken from newly diagnosed patients, and 80% positive were detected in medically treated patients in comparison with 100% negative results in healthy controls. On the other hand, Human leukocyte antigen-B27 (HLA-B27) was also detected in all serum samples taken from newly diagnosed patients and 76% positive were recorded in medically treated patients as compared with negatively resulted in healthy controls. For the Interleukins (IL-6 and IL-23), results showed that there is a significant increase in levels of both interleukins in serum samples of newly diagnosed patients compared with healthy controls and medically treated patients, in which any significant difference was recorded. Results of oxidative stress parameters showed that there is a significant decrease in Glutathione (GSH) levels in serum samples of newly diagnosed patients compared with its level in serum sample of controls and medically treated patients, in which significantly not different. Results also showed that there is a significant increase in Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in serum samples of newly diagnosed patients compared with its levels in healthy controls and medically treated patients, in which no significant difference in MDA levels in serum samples of both groups. Genetic polymorphism of ERAP-1 gene (rs27044 SNP) in exon15 within chromosome 5 was studied. The genomic DNA was extracted from blood samples for controls and AS patients at concentrations of extracted DNA was ranged between 100-200 ng/μl with purity of 1.8-2.0. Exon 15 was amplified by using specific primers results showed that a single band of 298 bp was obtained after electrophoresis on agarose gel (2%) represents the complete nucleotide sequence of exon 15. Results showed that the single nucleotide polymorphism (rs27044) was cSNP in all controls, while gSNP was found in 64% of polymorphic AS patients with a significant difference than non-polymorphic AS patients (36%).
Some aspects of population dynamics of both corbicula species inhabiting intertidal zone of
shatt al-Arab are described. These informations are explained in accordance with the possible
occurrence of competition between the two related species.
The outbreak of a current public health coronavirus 2019 disease is a causative agent of a serious acute respiratory syndrome and even death. COVID-19 has exposed to multi-suggested pharmaceutical agents to control this global disease. Baricitinib, a well-known antirheumatic agent, was one of them. This article reviews the likely pros and cons of baricitinib in attenuation of COVID-19 based on the mechanism of drug action as well as its pharmacokinetics. The inhibitory effect of baricitinib on receptor mediated endocytosis promoter, AKK1, and on JAK-STAT signaling pathway is benefacial in inhibition of both viral assembling and inflammation. Also, its pharmacokinetic has encouraged the physicians toward the drug
... Show MoreBackground: Birth weight is a powerful predictor of infant growth and survival. Evidence now shows that children born with low birth weight face an increased risk of chronic diseases and have many health problems including oral health. The aims of this study were to assess the salivary flow rate, viscosity, and salivary cortisol among low birth weight kindergarten children aged 5 years old in Hilla centre, in relation to dental caries and compares them with the normal birth weight children of the same age and gender. Materials and methods: The total sample involved 80 children (40 low birth weights and 40 normal birth weights) aged 5 years old. The diagnosis and recording of severity of dental caries was recorded through the application of
... Show MoreTwo field experiments were conducted at two different texture sites. The first site of the fields of AlMed-hateya Agriculture Division / Babil Governorate. The second site of the fields of Al-Nouriah Research Station / Ministry of Agriculture, the factors of the study in the two sites included several factors. The first factor includes two irrigation systems: sprinkler irrigation and surface irrigation. The second factor is the method of cultivation which includes the method of cultivation with basin and furrowing. The third factor is the type of the cultivated crop which includes a local variety (Fajr 3) and a hybrid variety (Drakma). The actual water consumption for the sprinkler irrigation system reached (587.13 and 637.62) mm season-1 f
... Show MoreCutaneous leishmaniasis is one of endemic diseases in Iraq. It is considered as widely health problem and is an uncontrolled disease. The aim of the study is to identify of Leishmania species that cause skin lesions among patients in Thi-Qar Province, South of Iraq, also to detect some virulence factors of L. tropica. This study includes three local locations, Al-Hussein Teaching, Suq Al-Shyokh General and Al-Shatrah General Hospitals in Province for the period from the beginning of December 2018 to the end of September 2019. The samples were collected from 80 patients suffering from cutaneous leishmaniasis, both genders, different ages, various residence places and single and multiple lesions. Nested-PCR technique was
... Show MorePresent study was conducted to evaluate the different levels of energy to protein ratios (EPR) using food waste and black soldier fly larvae meal (FWBSFL) on growth performance and nutrient digestibility of broilers. A total of 160 one-day old broiler chicks were divided randomly to four groups and each group had 8 replicates with 5 chicks per replicate. The control diet was formulated using conventional feed ingredients with EPR of 154 for the starter period and 167 for the finisher period. The other treatments were diets with normal, low, and high EPR (154,143, and 166 for the starter period; 167, 155, and 177 for the finisher period) using FWBSFL. Feed consumption and body weight gain as well as digestibility of crude protein, cr
... Show MoreLaser scanning has become a popular technique for the acquisition of digital models in the field of cultural heritage conservation and restoration nowadays. Many archaeological sites were lost, damaged, or faded, rather than being passed on to future generations due to many natural or human risks. It is still a challenge to accurately produce the digital and physical model of the missing regions or parts of our cultural heritage objects and restore damaged artefacts. The typical manual restoration can become a tedious and error-prone process; also can cause secondary damage to the relics. Therefore, in this paper, the automatic digital application process of 3D laser modelling of arte
Activation of farnesoid X receptor (FXR) markedly attenuates development of atherosclerosis in animal models. However, the underlying mechanism is not well elucidated. Here, we show that the FXR agonist, obeticholic acid (OCA), increases fecal cholesterol excretion and macrophage reverse cholesterol transport (RCT) dependent on activation of hepatic FXR. OCA does not increase biliary cholesterol secretion, but inhibits intestinal cholesterol absorption. OCA markedly inhibits hepatic cholesterol 7α‐hydroxylase (