Human beta-defenses (hBDs) are antimicrobial peptides involved in innate immune protection, and their association with the risk of respiratory allergy has been proposed. Therefore, this study sought to evaluate this association in allergic rhinitis (AR) and asthma (AS) of Iraqi patients. A case-control study was conducted to investigate serum levels of hBD1, hBD2, hBD3, and hBD4 in 52 AR and 60 AS patients and 61 healthy controls (HC). The hBDs were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. Results revealed that median levels of hBD1, hBD2, and hBD3 were significantly elevated in the serum of AR and AS patients compared with HC (p < 0.01). Levels of hBD4 were also elevated in AR and AS patients but the differences were not significant. The levels of hBDs showed no significant differences between AR and AS patients. Age, gender, symptoms, and disease duration of patients influenced some of these variations. Logistic regression analysis indicated that hBD3 was the most important marker associated with the risk of AR and AS, and the estimated Odds ratios were 25.31 (95% confidence interval: 2.97-215.78; p = 0.012) and 32.20 (95% confidence interval: 2.49-415.89; pc = 0.032), respectively. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that hBD3 occupied a very good area under the curve in AR and AS (0.83 and 0.84, respectively). In conclusion, the role of hBDs in the pathogenesis of AR and AS was indicated. In this context, hBD3 was the most important, and its association with the risk of developing AR and AS was suggested.
Diabetes mellitus type 2 (T2DM) is a chronic and progressive condition, which affects people all around the world. The risk of complications increases with age if the disease is not managed properly. Diabetic neuropathy is caused by excessive blood glucose and lipid levels, resulting in nerve damage. Apelin is a peptide hormone that is found in different human organs, including the central nervous system and adipose tissue. The aim of this study is to estimate Apelin levels in diabetes type 2 and Diabetic peripheral Neuropathy (DPN) Iraqi patients and show the extent of peripheral nerve damage. The current study included 120 participants: 40 patients with Diabetes Mellitus, 40 patients with Diabetic peripheral Neuropathy, and 40 healthy
... Show MoreGenetic and environmental factors are believed to have a key role in the development and pathogenesis of autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITD). This study aimed to investigate the association between two CTLA-4 gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) CT60/rs3087243 and CT61/rs11571319 with autoimmune thyroiditis in a sample of Iraqi patients. Seventy-five patients (67 females, 8 males) and eighty-eight subjects (79 females and 9 males) matched in age, gender, and ethnicity as a control group. Thyroid autoantibodies were present in females more than in males with a total positivity of anti-TPO of 92% and anti-TG positivity of
57.3 %. Thyroid evaluation tests including T3, T4, and TSH were abnormal only in patients not receiving L-th
Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) has a worldwide distribution and common infections. The presence of HCMV genome and antigens has been detected in many kinds of human cancers. The proto-oncogene Her2/neu is overexpressed in 25% to 30% of human breast cancers and frequently associated with tumor aggressiveness and worse prognosis. Examination was applied to detect different HCMV antigens and to demonstrate their correlation with Her2/neu overexpression in breast cancer. The present study includes samples from 70 women of 60 breast cancer patients and 10 normal breast tissues. Formalin-fixed paraffin embedded tissue blocks were obtained from each woman according to ethical approval. Human cytomegalovirus early antigen expression was detected in 5
... Show MoreDevelopment of improved methods for the synthesis of metal oxide nanoparticles are of high priority for the advancement of material science and technology. Herein, the biosynthesis of ZnO using hydrahelix of beta vulgaris and the seed of abrus precatorius as an aqueaus extracts adduced respectivily as stablizer and reductant reagent. The support are characterized by spectroscopic methods ( Ft-IR, Uv-vis ).The FTIR confirmed the presence of ZnO band. The Uv-visible showed absorption peak at corresponds to the ZnO nanostructures. X-ray diffraction, scaning electron microscopy (SEM), dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) techniques are taken to investigation the size, structure and composition of synthesised ZnO nanocrystals. The XRD pattern mat
... Show MoreThe mass attenuation coefficient for beta particles through pure Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and flax fibers- reinforced PVC composite were investigated as a function of the absorber thickness and the absorber to source distance. The beta particles mass attenuation coefficients were obtained using a NaI(Tl) energy selective scintillation counter with 90Sr/ 90Y beta source having an energy range from (0.546-2.275) MeV. Pure PVC polymer samples were prepared by compacting the PVC powder in a mould at high pressure (10bar) and temperature about 140°C for 30 minutes. A hot press system was used for this process. The experimentally obtained values of mass attenuation coefficients for 90Sr and 90Y were found to be 7.72 cm2.g-1and 0.842 cm2.g-1 r
... Show MoreThe present study evaluated the anti- Helicobacter pylori IgG, IgA and the role of virulence factor of H. pylori Vacuolating associated cytotoxin gene (Vac A) as a risk factors for CAD. The levels of serum IgG and IgA was done by indirect immunofluorescent (IIF) whereas Vac A measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Ibn Al-Bitar specialist center for cardiac surgery laboratory and Ministry of Health/ Baghdad/ Iraq, between May and October 2018. Seventy Iraqi patients with CAD were enrolled in this study, their ages ranged between 40-84 years ; and 20 individuals as a control group which was divided into 2 subgroups: 10 apparently healthy volunteers (negative control) and the other subgroup contained 10 with normal coronary art
... Show MoreThe current study was carried out to investigate the correlation of gene expressions of ADA1 and ADA2 genes with the development of autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) in a sample of Iraqi females. One hundred patients with AITD and 80 controls were included. Quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT–PCR) was utilized for investigation of ADA1 and ADA2 gene expression among patients and controls. The correlation of age and body mass index (BMI) with AITD occurrence comparing with controls was studied. Based on the results of this study, there is high expression level of ADA1 and ADA2 genes in patients compared with healthy controls; also, the gene expression fold (2-ΔΔCT) of ADA1 and ADA2 among AITD patients was recorded and a
... Show MoreThe third most ordinarily cancer type diagnosed in male and is Colorectal cancer (CRC) and it is widely spread in developed countries. Most of CRC arises from development of adenomatous polyps. The current study aimed to determine whether serum retinol binding protein 4 (RBP4) and Nesfatin-1 can be used as a novel biomarker for diagnosis of CRC. Nesfatin-1, RBP4 and Thyroid Hormones (T3, T4 and TSH) levels were measured in fifty sera of male patients suffering from CRC before chemotherapy initiation treatment as G1, G2 after first chemotherapy cycle dose and G3 after second chemotherapy cycle dose compared with twenty five male volunteers as a control G4. The results showed a significant increased in RBP 4 concentration in G3 and a signific
... Show MoreThe second most commonly diagnosed cancer is colorectal cancer (CRC) is in female. The levels of progranulin, obestatin and liver enzymes including ALT, AST and ALP were measured in forty five sera in female patients suffering from CRC before chemotherapy initiation treatment as G1, G2 after first chemotherapy cycle and G3 after second chemotherapy cycle compared with thirty female as a healthy control G4. Results showed a high significant increased in progranulin concentration and a high significant decrease in obestatin in G2 than other groups. The correlation between progranulin and ALP was a significant negative (-ve) relation while obestatin with AST gave a significant positive (+ve) correlation in G. The results also showed non signif
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