ABSTRACTBackground: dyslipidemia plays a crucial rule in the development of cardiovascular disease, which has become the leading cause of death in most developed countries as well as in developing countries (1). The effects of reducing low density lipoprotein – C (LDL-C) concentrations on the prevention of cardiovascular events and stroke have been well reported in many clinical trials.Objectives: Evidence supports the use of statins for lipid modifications in the primary prevention of coronary artery disease, morbidity and mortality. This study aims to determine the effectiveness of atorvastatin in treating dyslipidemia in Iraqi obese patients.Methods: 200 overweight and obese patients with hypercholesterolemia, according to NCEP ATP

Background: - Genetic Factors have a major role in the development of bladder cancer.
Objectives: - This study was carried out to shed a light on the possible association of HLA class II antigens and BC patients and to correlate this finding with the family
history.
Patients and Methodes :- Lymphocytotxicity assay had been used to assess HLAtyping of 65 BC patients and 50 healthy controls.
Results:- comparison between BC patients and healthy controls showed several antigens deviations in their frequencies. HLA-DR1, HLA-DQ1 and HLA-DQ3 antigens
were observed with increased frequencies in patients group with significant differences (P=0.000, 0.000 and 0.017 respectively). Moreover there was decrease

The nature and intensity of the association of myasthenia gravis (MG) with distinct human leukocyte antigen (HLA) haplotypes differ between ethnic populations, so this study determined the association of HLA class II antigens with myasthenia gravis (MG) in Iraq.The study included Iraqi patients diagnosed with MG and two control groups the first of 54 insulin dependent diabetes mellitus patients and the second of 237 subjects as a normal control group. The test used was microlymphocytotoxicity test.The work was done in the Teaching Laboratories/Medical City/Baghdad.Results: positive associations were observed (etiological risk factors) as follows: 1. HLA-DR locus showed one positively associated allele when compared to healthy control and th

Background: Hyperthyroidism refers to overactive of thyroid gland leading to excessive synthesis of thyroid hormones and accelerated metabolism in the peripheral tissue.
Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate a new member of the IL-1 super family of cytokines interleukin-33(IL-33) levels in serum .in order to evaluate its utility as clinical bio marker of autoimmune disease (i.e. hyperthyroidism)
Methods: The present study was conducted on 30 patients from the Iraqi female patients with hyperthyroidism attending Baghdad teaching hospital, in addition to 30 healthy controls. All subjects were (35-65) years old. Parameters measured in the sera of patients and healthy groups, were interleukin -33 (IL-33), Thyroxin (T4), Thyro

Background: Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD); its extragastrointestinal manifestations vary from one country to another. This study identifies the prevalence of the extragastrointestinal manifestations in a sample of Iraqi patients with ulcerative colitis and their relation to disease activity.
Patients and Methods: A descriptive study was conducted on 100 patients with established diagnosis of ulcerative colitis, who attended Baghdad Teaching hospital and Gastroenterology center in Baghdad during the period from May 2009 to January 2010. A direct interview and thorough clinical examination were done to determine the history of the disease, its severity and the presence or

Background:Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a progressive, chronic inflammatory illness with an unclear etiology that explicitly targets the vertebral column, peripheral joints, and extraarticular tissues. The purpose of this research was to investigate if the existence of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the promoter region of the tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) gene at positions -1031T/C (rs199964), -857C/T (rs1799724) and -806C/T (rs4248158) in a sample of Iraqi AS patients could influence the patients' outcomes with etanercept.

Methods:Sixty patients with established AS receiving only etanercept were selected to enroll in this study, with a mean age of 40.75±8.6

Vitiligo is an acquired idiopathic skin disorder characterized by depigmented macules due to loss of cutaneous melanocytes. A potential role of the immune dysfunction has been suggested in vitiligo, so to test this hypothesis, certain cytokines (IL-17A and TNF-?) and immunoglobulins (IgM, IgG, IgA and total IgE) were investigated in all participants. The study included: 60 patients with age range between (6-55) year; 30(11 males and 19 females) were untreated and 30(12 males and 18 females) were treated with Narrow Band Ultraviolet-B (NB-UVB) and 30 (14 males and 16 females) apparently healthy control. Serum was separated and cytokines (IL-17A and TNF-?) and total immunoglobulin E (IgE) were detected by using Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Ass

Background: Cholestatic Jaundice is a dilemma facing not only the primary care provider but also the specialist pediatricians in our country.
Subjects & methods: Analysis of 50 cases of cholestatic jaundice aged 3 weeks- 18 months were carried out over 18 months in the Gastroenterology & Hepatology unit in the Children Welfare Teaching Hospital, Medical City, and Baghdad. Clinical, biochemical, radiological and histopathological results were recorded.
Results: Fifty patients with Cholestatic Jaundice, 28 males &22 females, were evaluated. The main causes of Cholestatic Jaundice were Biliary Atresia in 22 cases (44%)(the mean age of presentation was 4.1 months ), and Neonatal Hepatitis Syndr

Baghdad: