Background: Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) is an inflammatory, systemic rheumatic condition that mostly affects the axial skeleton. Tenascin-C (TN-C) is a hexameric glycoprotein of considerable size, upregulated in many inflammatory conditions, while Interleukin-17 (IL-17) a cytokine that plays an important role in SpA symptoms. Objective: to investigate the upregulation between the serum levels of TN-C and IL-17 in Iraqi axSpA patients and the disease characteristics. Patients and Methods: Seventy-four axSpA patients and 28 matched controls were studied. Fifty-four patients received a tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi) and 20 did not. Serum TN-C and IL-17 concentrations were determined using the ELISA technique. The Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) was assessed. For statistical tests, Chi Square, Mann Whitney, Independent Samples T, and Pearson's correlation tests are used. Results: Patients mean age was 35.6±0.9 years, 65 males and 9 females, and disease duration was 5.18±0.6 years. 47.4% were smokers, 47% had inflammatory low back pain, and HLA-B27 was present in 91%. BASDAI mean was 6.1±0.4 in non-TNFi and 2.6±0.3 in those on TNFi. The serum TN-C concentration was significantly increased in patients, especially those on non-TNFi (79±9.6 pg/mL) compared to those on TNFi (69.1±3.2 pg/mL) and control (53±3.9 pg/mL) (p=0.003). Serum IL-17 was significantly elevated in those receiving TNFi (877.9±257 pg/mL) compared to non-TNFi (487.2±234 pg/mL) and control (182.4±36.6 pg/mL) (p=0.033). The TN-C significantly correlated with erythrocyte sedimentation rate (r=0.27, p=0.02) and with hemoglobin (Hb) concentration (r=0.26, p=0.02). TN-C and IL-17 were non-significantly related (r=0.14, p=0.2). Conclusions: axSpA Patients demonstrated high levels of serum TN-C, particularly in those not receiving TNFi, and high IL-17 levels in those receiving TNFi, suggesting that there is an association with tissue injury from the disease and stimulation of immunological and resident tissue cells. Patients who had not received TNFi showed significantly higher disease activity than others.
Background: Hyperthyroidism occurs due to over production of thyroid hormones, one types of hyperthyroidism was Graves, disease. Hyperthyroidism is characterized by high level of serum thyroxin, triiodothyronine and low level of thyroid stimulated hormones. Material and Methods: fifty two hyperthyroid patients, thirty patients under treatment with carbimazole and other twenty two patients under treatment with radioactive iodine, and sixty healthy control group. The average salivary flow rate was calculated as ml/5mint.The concentration of calcium, potassium, and total protein were determined in the salivary supernatant sample. This is done through different biochemical tests. Determination of salivary IgA is done by ELIZA. Results: The most
... Show MoreBackground: The study of human leukocytes (HLA) alleles, and haplotype frequencies within populations provide an important source of information for anthropological investigation, organ and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation as well as disease association, certain diseases showed association with specific alleles specially those of known or suspected hereditary origin or immunological basis, whether simple renal cyst is congenital or acquired is still unclear and need to be investigated.Objectives: To study the genetic aspect of simple renal cysts by detecting the gene frequency and the haplotype of HLA class I of patients with simple renal cysts, and to find the presence of these cysts in other family members.Method: Thirty patient
... Show MoreBackground: EOS (encoded by the IKZF4 gene) is a member of the zinc finger transcription factor IKaros family, and plays a critical role in Treg suppressor functions, and maintaining Treg stability. IL-6 is a soluble mediator with a pleiotropic effect on inflammation, immune response, and hematopoiesis. Aim: To estimate serum IL-6 level and EOS gene expression in Iraqi patients with psoriasis. Method: Twenty-two patients with psoriasis (8 females, 14 males) with age ranged 18-72 years, were recruited from Baghdad Teaching Hospital, Dermatology Clinic, Baghdad, and 24 healthy donors. The serum levels of IL-6 by ELISA and the gene expression of IKZF4 (EOS gene) by RT-qPCR technique. Results: The results showed a non-significant diffe
... Show MoreTo determine the relationship between chronic hepatitis B virus and autoimmune celiac disease, seventy five patients with chronic hepatitis B virus of ages (8-70) years have been investigated and compared with 50 healthy individuals. All the studied groups were carried out to measure antiGliadin antibodies IgA and IgG by ELISA test and anti-reticulin antibodies IgA and IgG by IFAT. There were significant elevation (P<0.05) in the concentration of AGA IgA and IgG antibodies compared to control group. The prevalence of AGA antibodies IgA and IgG was 8% and 9.33% respectively. There were a highly significant differences (P<0.01) between studies groups. The prevalence of antireticulin antibodies ARA IgA and IgG was 6.67% and 4.0% respectively i
... Show MoreBackground: Chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) is the result of an initial episode of acute otitis media and is characterized by a persistent discharge from the middle ear through a tympanic perforation for at least 2 weeks duration. It is an important cause of preventable hearing loss, particularly in the developing world.Objective: To get an overview on the bacterial ear infection profile in general and to assess the antibiotic resistance of Pseudomonal infection (PS) particularly since it is usually the commonest infection to cause otitis media and the most difficult to treat due to the problem of multi drug resistance..Methods: A cross sectional study was done which included 405 patients of CSOM patients, 196 (48%) case were mal
... Show Moreخلفية البحث: مرض السكري هو عامل خطر لأمراض القلب والأوعية الدموية وتصلب الشرايين وسبب مهم للوفاة. يرتبط خلل الدهون في الدم بشكل شائع بمرض السكري من النوع الثاني ويعتبر مؤشر تصلب الشرايين في البلازما علامة قوية للتنبؤ بخطر الإصابة بتصلب الشرايين وأمراض القلب التاجية. الهدف من البحث: دراسة ارتباط المؤشرات الدهنية لتصلب الشرايين لدى المرضى العراقيين المصابين بالسكري من النوع الثاني ولديهم أمراض قلبية وعائ
... Show MoreThe aggregation capacity of human reb blood cells lies between that of the non- aggregated arythrocyte and the remarkably full sedimentation. As the ability to aggregate is atributed to many factors such as the availability of macromolecules and plasma lipids, the role of plasm lipid profile on RBC aggregation and sedimentation changes in normal and diabetic patients is studied.Also serum lipid profile measurement (Total cholesterol, Triglyceride, HDL, LDL, VLDL) in normal and diabetic subjects were made. The principle of measurement includes detecting the transmitted laser light through a suspension of 10% diluted red blood cells in plasma. In all diabetics, the raulux formation and sedimentation rate is enhanced.
Low serum total adiponectin is associated with a high incidence of type 2 diabetes or coronary artery disease in the general population. Paradoxically, serum total adiponectin is elevated in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), such as overt diabetic nephropathy. The current study aimed to investigate whether or not anemia to be dependently associated with serum level of total adiponectin in non-albuminuric male patients with type 2 diabetes . The study included 42 type 2 diabetic male patients. Anemia was deï¬ned as hemoglobin (Hb) below 14.0g/dL. All the patients were without microalbuminuria, to exclude diabetic nephropathy. The diabetic patients were divided into 2 groups according to the hemoglobin level in ad
... Show MoreThe research includes a clinical study of Preptin with other parameters. The normal value of preptin in hypothyroidism (2638.4±280.0) in female while (2960.4±256.6) in male, in hyperthyroidism (589.0±90.1) in male, while in female (993.2±103.9), diabetes (2465.6±282.4) in female, in male (2085.5±282.8), in diabetes & hypothyroidism (3314.3±177.3) in male,(3179.4±265.7) in female, but control group in female (427.8±60.4), in male (384.7±62.4) at age (20-45) years they were divided into five groups: group one (G1) consisted of 30 hypothyroidism. The two group (G2) consisted of 30 patients with hyperthyroidism. And three group (G3) consisted of 30 healthy group, four group (G4) consisted of 30 patient with diabetes, and five group (G
... Show MoreBackground: syndrome X or metabolic syndrome is a collection of multiple diseases mainly visceral obesity , hypertriglyceridemia , decrease HDL level, hypertension and elevated fasting blood glucose that lead to accelerated atherosclerosis through multiple mechanisms, one of the most important is increase inflammation of the vessels manifested by elevated high sensitivity C reactive protein (hs-CRP).Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of elevatedhs CRP in people with metabolic syndrome and atherosclerosis complication (IHD, Cerebrovascular disease, peripheral vascular disease) and metabolic syndrome without these complication.Patients and methods:;This is a cross sectional study carried out in Diabetic referral c
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