Recently, Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) was considered as one of the autoimmune diseases that the genetic and environmental factors contributed in the disease etiological profile. According to the environmental factors, infectious agents have been concluded to have a role in the etiology and pathogenesis of SLE. Chlamydia pneumoniae and Mycoplasma pneumoniae are among these infectious agents that have been suggested to be involved in the etiology of SLE. Accordingly, the current study was designed to assess the anti-C. pneumoniae and anti-M. pneumoniae IgG antibody status by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in the sera of 64 Iraqi SLE females' patients and 32 Iraqi healthy females as controls. The patients' group were distributed into two equal subgroups (32 cases in each group); arthritis and nephritis. The findings revealed that 25% of the total SLE patient’s sera were positive for anti-C. pneumoniae IgG antibody, while such antibody was not detected in controls. The difference was significant (p = 9.8 x 10-4) and associated with OR of 22.1. With respect to M. pneumoniae, 67.7% of SLE patient’s sera were positive for anti-M. pneumoniae IgG antibody while none of control’s sera was positive. The difference was significant (p = 4.0 x 10-9) and the associated OR was 141.1. For both pathogens, a similar profile was observed in arthritis and nephritis SLE patients. These findings may suggest that C. pneumoniae and M. pneumoniae are two pathogens involved in etiology and pathogenesis of SLE.
Background: Occupational exposure to hazardous drugs occurs in all aspects of anticancer drug handling. Proper recommendations and guidelines should be applied to control and reduce exposure. Objective: To assess pharmacists' knowledge and practice regarding the safe handling of anticancer drugs. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at seven major hospitals in Baghdad City, Iraq, from December 2023 to February 2024. A pre-designed questionnaire was given to pharmacists who handled anticancer drugs in chemotherapy units. The questionnaire comprises sociodemographic data, knowledge of the safe handling of cytotoxic drugs and thoughts about exposure and risk, practices for safely handling cytotoxic drugs, and challenges for s
... Show MoreInvestment drives the wheel of the development of different developed and developing countries. Sudan is a model for a developing country facing a lot of difficulties in the field of both local and foreign investment. The present study was focused on the problem of poor diversification and efficiency of both local and foreign investment in Sudan. Also, it clarified the important role of administrative supervision to strengthen the efficiency of investment, taking the experience of the Sudan as a model. The researchers used the well-known descriptive and analytical tools (questionnaire, interview, observation) to complete this study. A well designed questionnaire was used. It included all questions that could cover all aspects of
... Show MoreDiabetes mellitus type 2 (T2DM) formerly called non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) or adult-onset diabetes is a common disease. Rheumatoid factor is a well-established test used in the diagnosis and follows the prognosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Rheumatoid factor is sometimes found in serum of patients with other diseases including diabetes mellitus (DM), due to the presence of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF- α which play an important role in chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The aim of the study is to investigate the associations between type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in scope of rheumatoid factor (RF), hyperglycemia a
... Show MoreThe research aims to measure the sustainability of the Iraqi economy for the period 1990-2018 as well as to show the impact of fluctuations in the level of GDP on financial sustainability, where financial sustainability is the necessary and sufficient condition for achieving economic and financial balance in the country, as financial sustainability reflects the movement of the state budget and its relationship to GDP through the indicators of deficit, fiscal surplus and public debt internal and external, as well as reflecting the art of managing public debt, and the more managed public debt is achieved, the more the management of public debt is achieved financial sustainability. for the state in the sense that there is a reciprocal
... Show MoreThe research aims to verify the presence of correlation between the financial cycle and the economic cycle in the Iraqi economy. During the research period, the Iraqi economy witnessed a crisis cycle due to the permanent deviations in the state budget and the occurrence of sustainable deficits during the period of the economic blockade with the coincidence of an inflationary economic cycle due to the cheap money policy and the occurrence of Negative supply shocks due to the blockade and the madly high general level of prices, in addition to the weak financial planning of the state budget during the post-economic blockade and the entry of the economy into a stagnant economic cycle due to security and political instability, low levels of priv
... Show MoreIn view of the large profits made by the sex trade on the one hand, and the minor penalties imposed on the traffickers (brokers) compared with the severe penalties imposed on the drug trade and illegal weapons, on the other hand, this trade has become popular and spread in most countries of the world, and the cornerstones of this trade and A safe haven for them is hotels, especially luxury ones with international brands where their guests are rich and some may look for sex for money. Given the great physical and psychological damage to the victims, this research highlights the civil liability of hotels towards these victims in US and Iraqi law.In order not to limit the
... Show MoreBackground: Psoriasis is a common inflammatory condition worldwide, with an average prevalence ranging from 2% to 3%. However, the incidence of psoriasis varies among different ethnic groups and regions. Elevated leptin levels have been associated with increased cellular proliferation, including T-cells. Additionally, high leptin levels may stimulate the synthesis of proinflammatory cytokines such as ILـ6 and TNFـα. Objectives: To evaluate the effect of Apremilast on Leptin in obese psoriatic patients. Subjects and Methods: Thirty patients with psoriasis were included in This prospective cohort study to measure the levels of serum Leptin by using the ELISA technique, before and after receiving Apremilast. Result: The present work
... Show MoreHelicobacter pylori (HP) is the etiopathogenic agent of gastric and duodenal disorders ranging from gastritis to malignancy. It is also associated with many extraintestinal diseases, including cardiovascular disease and its associated risk factors. To evaluate the link between HP infection and some cardiovascular risk factors by studying the effects of HP infection on body mass index, blood pressure, and serum lipid profile among patients having gastritis with and without HP infection. A crosssectional study included 1214 patients who had gastritis diagnosed by gastroscopy examination. Those patients were in the age range of 30-65 years and they were divided according to their gender into 725 females and 489 males depending on the 1
... Show MoreBackground: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an emerging zoonotic disease caused by the new respiratory virus SARS-CoV2. It has a tropism in the lung tissues where excess target receptors exist. Periostin plays a role in subepithelial fibrosis associated with bronchial asthma. Since the Coronavirus's target is the human respiratory system, Periostin has been recently described as a valuable new biomarker in the diagnosis and evaluation of disease in patients with COVID-19 lung involvement. Objectives: To assess the level of Periostin in the serum of COVID-19 patients and to correlate its role in disease severity and prognosis. Subjects and Methods: Periostin serum levels were measured for 63 patients attending three main COVID
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