Background: The excess mortality associated with
rheumatoid arthritis is largely due to
cardiovascular disease. Rheumatoid arthritis is of
primary importance in atherogenesis. The intimamedia thickness of extracranial carotid arteries is a
measurable index of the presence of
atherosclerosis.
Objective: To assess carotid intima-media
thickness in rheumatoid arthritis by Doppler
ultrasound.
Methods: Fifty two Iraqi patients with rheumatoid
arthritis were studied and compared with another
fifty two, healthy individuals matched for age and
sex as a control group. Full history was taken and
complete clinical examination was done for all
individuals in both groups. Rheumatoid arthritis
diagnosis was

       The present study conducted on 30 female patients with osteoarthritis OA a attending Baghdad teaching hospital, in addition to 30 healthy females, all subjects were (35-65) year's old .Parameters were measured in the sera of patients group and healthy groups were interleukin -8 (IL-8) and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP).The results revealed a higher significant in all parameters of patients sera compared to healthy groups. Conclusion was obtained that IL-8 and hs- CRP were a markers or player inflammatory disease like osteoarthritis nodal  

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is widespread and involved in the pathogenesis of the majority of stomach and duodenal diseases. Reduced stomach acidity facilitates the initial infection. Electrolytes (sodium, potassium, and chloride) are essential for the production of stomach acid. This study aimed to observe any changes in the levels of serum electrolytes (Na, K, and Cl) and serum vitamin C levels in a sample of Iraqi patients infected with H. Pylori. We studied 30 infected patients with H. Pylori and 30 matched healthy controls. The results revealed that the serum sodium, potassium, and chloride levels were significantly decreased (p = 0.002, 0.003 and 0.0001, respectivel

Background: β-thalassemia major is a genetic disorder characterized by reduced rate of β-globin chain production. Clinically, β-thalassemia major is a severe, transfusion-dependant disorder; repeated blood transfusion will lead eventually to chronic liver disease.
Patients and Methods: One hundred patients ; 56 males and 44 females who were known cases with β-thalassemia major on regular blood transfusion, aged between 6 months and 18 years, were studied in a private pathology laboratory, between January 2002-January 2006.Blood was drawn to estimate serum glutamic pyruvate transaminase (SGPT) and serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) levels.
Results: Sixty-six patients (66%) had elevated S

Background: Pregnancy is a stressful state of increased inflammatory activity, and pregnancy – associated hormone changes can influence periodontal tissues, these inflammatory activity lead to production of inflammatory mediators. Interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β) is a potent pro-inflammatory cytokines that is consistently associated with periodontal diseases. This study was designed to determine the periodontal health status and detect the serum level of IL-1β in the healthy pregnant women at first, second and third trimester and compare it with healthy non pregnant women, and determine its correlation with different clinical periodontal parameters. M

Human resistin is an adipokine, with a possible link to coronary heart disease.A few studies were done about resistin in acute phase of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) especially in Iraqi patients. Accordingly we design a study to investigate the association between resistin concentration and acute phase of STEMI in Iraqi patients.

The present study was carried out at Al-Yarmouk Teaching Hospital from December 2011 until June 2012. Serum resistin levels were measured in 50 patients with acute STEMI (mean age: 58.16 ± 11.73 years) at the first 12 hours of admission and 34 normal controls (mean age: 53.98 ± 15.46 years) matched for age, sex and other risk factors.

 Resistin level in patients wi

Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) is a chronic rheumatic inflammatory disease affecting mainly the spine and sacroiliac joints. Since the copper-to-zinc ratio (Cu/Zn) indicates an inflammatory response, the change in ratio is expected to correlate with axSpA. This study compared levels of Cu/Zn in the serum of axSpA patients. Serum samples were obtained from 53 patients with axSpA divided according to biological treatment into cohorts A and B, and 28 healthy control as cohort C. Serum levels of Cu and Zn were determined first by a fully automated chemistry analyzer TC-Matrix Plus, then the ratio was obtained. The elevated serum Cu concentration means of cohort B (189.32 ± 13.808 µg/dL) compared to cohort A (168.85 ± 7.244 µg/dL) a

Background: Asthma is an allergic hypersensitivity disease in which many mediators play a role in its pathogenecity. One of these etiological agents is the mediators such as Interleukin-5 (IL-5).

The  aim of this study to demonstrate the association between IL-5 and obesity in asthma development. 
Materials & Methods: One hundred and four sera samples for asthma cases have been studied in comparison with 41 non-asthmatic bronchitis as a patient controls beside 30 apparently healthy controls. Cytokine has been estimated using ELISA method in correlation with Body Mass Index (BMI).
Results: This study revealed a significant correlation between IL-5 concentration and BMI (P<0.05), part

     Approximately 15% of all couples all over the world suffer from difficulty conceiving their first child. The word "infertility" is used to describe this problem.

When a couple had  regular, unprotected sexual intercourse for a year or longer, it indicates that they have been unsuccessful in their efforts to conceive.

      The current investigation aims to find out if there is a relationship between PROTAMIN-1(PRM-1) and INTERLEUKINE-12 (IL-12) gene expressions and their effect on the development of infertility. The current investigation comprised 100 teratozoospermia patients and 100 healthy fertile controls who had their semen examined. Samples were given by Al-Nahrain University's Biotech