Background: Despite extensive efforts towards its elimination, Hepatitis B virus (HBV) continues to be a major concern, posing risk of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in those infected. Therefore, there is a need for reliable biomarkers to accurately assess the infection. While liver enzymes remain the standard diagnostic tools, the anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor interleukin-37 (IL-37) has emerged as a potential biomarker. Aims: To assess the relationship between serum IL-37 and liver enzymes in HBV patients. Methods: Liver enzymes were measured by Fujifilm’s dry chemistry system (Fuji Dri-Chem), whereas Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) was utilized for determination of IL-37 levels. A total of 100 patients (37 females, 63 males; mean age: 42 years) from the Medical City in Baghdad, along with 50 age/sex-matched controls (23 females, 27 males; mean age: 38 years) were enrolled in this study. Results: The study has demonstrated highly significant variation in TSB, GOT, and ALP (P<0.01) between patients and controls. Additionally, Sex-based differences in TSB and GOT also showed a significant variation (P<0.01), and the diagnostic value was confirmed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Furthermore, a high significant divergence in IL-37 levels was observed between patients and controls [P<0.01, IQR: 32.4 vs. 61.4 Picogram/Milliliter (pg/mL), respectively], with ROC analysis supporting its clinical relevance (P<0.01). Also, significant variation was noted in levels of IL-37 in correlation with HBV serological markers, particularly in patients with negative HBsAg and anti-HBcAb (119.8 vs 63.16 pg/mL, respectively). Conclusions: IL-37, in combination with liver enzymes, may serve as a valuable biomarker panel for monitoring HBV infection.
In their cross-sectional study, Al-Rubaye et al studied the extent of vitamin D (VD) deficiency/ insufficiency, factors affecting its degree, and the adverse outcomes of the altered VD status among a group of mothers and their neonates from Baghdad, Iraq. They found that 96.6% of the mothers had VD deficiency/ insufficiency compared to 86.4% in their neonates. Maternal VD levels and neonatal weights were significantly correlated with neonatal VD levels. We believe that the study results need to be revised. This is based two points listed in this letter to editor
Background: Vitamin D deficiency/ insufficiency is common in different age groups in both genders especially among pregnant women and neonates where it is associated with several adverse outcomes including preeclampsia and preterm delivery. Objectives: To assess the extent of vitamin D deficiency/ insufficiency among mothers and their neonates and some factors related to it and identify some adverse outcomes of the deficiency/ insufficiency on neonates (preterm birth and low birth weight). Subject and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 88 Iraqi pregnant women and neonates admitted to “Al-Elwiya teaching hospital for maternity” in Baghdad- Al-Rusafah from 1st of June 2019 to 31st of August 2019. Dat
... Show MoreBackground: One of the drawbacks of vital teeth bleaching is color stability. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of tea and tomato sauce on the color stability of bleached enamel in association with the application of MI Paste Plus (CPP-ACPF). Materials and Methods: Sixty enamel samples were bleached with 10% carbamide peroxide for two weeks then divided into three groups (A, B and C) of 20 samples each. After bleaching, the samples of each group were subdivided into two subgroups (n=10). While subgroups A1, B1 and C1 were kept in distilled water, A2, B2, and C2 were treated with MI Paste Plus. Then, the samples were immersed in different solutions as follow: A1 and A2 in distilled water (control); B1 and B2 in black
... Show MoreBackground: There is a significant molecular response to imatinib given at standard doses in individuals with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) whose ABCB1 polymorphisms are present. Objective: To investigate the impact of the polymorphism in the ABCB1 gene rs1128503 on the effectiveness of nilotinib or imatinib therapy. Methods: From May 2022 until the end of January 2023, the current study was carried out in a single research institution, the National Center of Hematology, Baghdad Teaching Hospital at Medical City, Iraq. 76 people with chronic phase myeloid leukemia (CML-CP), who had previously received a diagnosis using the European Leukemia Net (ELN) criteria, enrolled in the trial. The PCR product was delivered to Macrogen Corpora
... Show MoreIn this paper, the maximum likelihood estimates for parameter ( ) of two parameter's Weibull are studied, as well as white estimators and (Bain & Antle) estimators, also Bayes estimator for scale parameter ( ), the simulation procedures are used to find the estimators and comparing between them using MSE. Also the application is done on the data for 20 patients suffering from a headache disease.
In this paper, we derived an estimators and parameters of Reliability and Hazard function of new mix distribution ( Rayleigh- Logarithmic) with two parameters and increasing failure rate using Bayes Method with Square Error Loss function and Jeffery and conditional probability random variable of observation. The main objective of this study is to find the efficiency of the derived of Bayesian estimator compared to the to the Maximum Likelihood of this function using Simulation technique by Monte Carlo method under different Rayleigh- Logarithmic parameter and sample sizes. The consequences have shown that Bayes estimator has been more efficient than the maximum likelihood estimator in all sample sizes with application