It was aimed to understand the interleukin-4 (IL-4) role in etio-pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Two approaches were adopted. In the first one, a quantitative expression of IL4 gene was assessed by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), and such findings were correlated with some demographic, clinical and laboratory parameters, which included gender, duration of disease, disease activity score (DAS-28), rheumatoid factors (RFs), C-reactive protein (CRP) and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (ACCP) antibodies. In the second approach, a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of IL4 gene (rs2243250) was inspected by DNA sequencing using specific primers. Fifty-one Iraqi RA patients (22 males and 29 females) were enrolled in the study. They were under therapy, which was a single weekly subcutaneous dose of 25 mg of etanercept (Enbrel) for a period of 3-5 years. The results of gene expression (2-??Ct) revealed an increased expression of IL4 mRNA (Mean ± SEM: 8.247 ± 2.442), especially female patients compared to male patients (11.545 ± 3.928 vs. 3.537 ± 1.530; p = 0.03). The expression was also subjected to variations that were related to clinical and laboratory findings. With respect to IL4 gene SNP, allele and genotype frequencies showed no significant differences between RA patients and controls. In addition, the SNP genotypes had no effect on IL4 gene expression. In conclusion, an up-regulation of IL4 gene expression was observed in RA patients, and it was more pronounced in female than male patients by approximately four folds, while no association between the IL4 SNP alleles or genotypes and RA was observed.
A case-control study was performed to examine age, gender, and ABO blood groups in 1014 Iraqi hospitalized cases with Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and 901 blood donors (control group). The infection was molecularly diagnosed by detecting coronavirus RNA in nasal swabs of patients.
Mean age was significantly elevated in cases compared to controls (48.2 ± 13.8
Exploring the antibacterial potential of neem oil (Azadirachta indica) in combination with gentamicin (GEN) against pathogenic molds, especially Pseudomonas aeruginosa, has drawn concern due to the quest for natural treatment options against incurable diseases. Prospective research directions include looking for natural cures for many of the currently incurable diseases available now. microbial identification system, were used to identify the isolates. The research utilized a range of methods, such as the diffusion agar well (AWD) assays, TEM (transmission electron microscopy) analysis, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assays, and real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) to analyze bacterial expression and the antibacterial action of neem oil (Azadira
... Show MoreAllosteric inhibition of EGFR tyrosine kinase (TK) is currently among the most attractive approaches for designing and developing anti-cancer drugs to avoid chemoresistance exhibited by clinically approved ATP-competitive inhibitors. The current work aimed to synthesize new biphenyl-containing derivatives that were predicted to act as EGFR TK allosteric site inhibitors based on molecular docking studies.
A new series of 4'-hydroxybiphenyl-4-carboxylic acid derivatives, including hydrazine-1-carbothioamide (S3-S6) and 1,2,4-triazole (S7-S10) derivatives, were synthesized and characterized using IR, 1HNMR, 13CNMR
Coupling reaction of 4-nitroaniline with 3-aminobenzoic acid provided the corresponding bidentate azo ligand. The prepared ligand was identified by Microelemental Analysis, 1H-NMR, FT-IR, and UV-Vis spectroscopic techniques. Treatment of the prepared ligand with Y(III) and La(III) metal ions in 1:3 M:L ratio in aqueous ethanol at optimum pH yielded a series of neutral complexes with the general formula of [M(L)3]. The prepared complexes were characterized by flame atomic absorption, Elemental Analysis (C, H, N), FT-IR, and UV-Vis spectroscopic methods, as well as conductivity measurements. The nature of the complexes formed were studied following the mole ratio and continuous variation methods; Beer's law obeyed over a concentration range o
... Show MoreA new imidazolidine 4-one derivative, of namly 2-[2-(4-Bromo-phenyl)-imidazo [1,2-a] pyridine-3-yl]-3-(4-nitro-phenyl)-imidazolidine-4-one (BPIPNP) was investigated as corrosion inhibitor for carbon steel in salty (3.5% NaCl) and acidic (0.5M HCl) solutions using potentiometric polarization measurements. The results revealed that the percentage inhibition efficiencies (%IE) in the salty solution (90.67%) are greater than that in the acidic solution (83.52%). Experimentally, the thermodynamic parameters obtained have supported a physical adsorption mechanism and which followed Langmuir adsorption isotherm. Density Functional Theory (DFT) of quantum mechanical method with B3LYP 6-311++G (2d, 2p) level was used to calculate geometrical stru
... Show MoreThis study is an attempt to investigate the conceptual metaphor of UP and DOWN commonly used in Iraqi community. Some of the metaphorical expressions in Iraqi colloquial Arabicarewidely used by Iraqi speakers in everyday language. Ithas been analyzed by following the cognitive theory of metaphor (Lakoff& Johnson,1980).The study indicates that the Iraqi speakerexperiences more of the metaphorical expressions of UP and DOWN to referto many of the abstract concepts that shape his/her impression of everyday life situations.
Background: Errors of horizontal condylar inclinations and Bennett angles had largely affected the articulation of teeth and the pathways of cusps. The aim of this study was to estimate and compare between the horizontal condylar (protrusive) angles and Bennett angles of full mouth rehabilitation patients using two different articulator systems. Materials and Methods: Protrusive angles and Bennett angles of 50 adult males and females Iraqi TMD-free full mouth rehabilitation patients were estimated by using two different articulator systems. Arbitrary hinge axis location followed by protrusive angles and Bennett angles, estimation was done by a semiadjustable articulator system. A fully adjustable articulator system was utilized to locate th
... Show MoreTransition metal complexes of Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), and Zn(II) with 2-(4-antipyrine azo)-4-nitroaniline derived from 4-aminoantipyrine and 4-nitroaniline were synthesized. Characterization of these compounds has been done on the basis of elemental analysis, electronic data, FT-IR, UV-Vis and 1HNMR, as well as magnetic susceptibility and conductivity measurements. The nature of the complexes formed were studied following the mole ratio and continuous variation methods, Beer's law obeyed over a concentration range (1×10-4 - 3×10-4 M). High molar absorbtivity of the complex solutions were observed. From the analytical data, the stoichiometry of the complexes has been found to be 1:2 (metal:ligand). On the basis of physicochemical data octa
... Show MoreA series of new Bis-1,4-Butane -1,3,4 – Oxadizole derivatives [III a-j] were synthesized from adipic acid dihydrazide and different aromatic acids in the presence of phosphours oxychloide. There compounds were characterized by their IR, microanalysis, and mass spectral data. In vitro antimicrobial were synthesized. In vitro antimicrobial activity of these compounds against (Gram negative) and (Gram positive) were reported, some of these compounds prepared derivatives exhibited antimicrobial activity
This study is designed to measure the level of interleukin (IL) 18 in polycystic ovary women and its association with obesity. In this study, blood samples from 50 women with PCOS and 30 healthy control women were collected from AL-Yarmouk Teaching, Baghdad Teaching hospitals During January 2018 - March 2018 for estimation of their serum level of IL18 by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique and evaluation serum levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), Testosterone, prolactin (PRL) and Estradiol (E2) by using Electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA). The results showed that there is a highly significant increase (P < 0.001) in serum level of IL18 in PCOS women than in healthy
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