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: Autoantibodies against liver membrane are the specific autoantibodies found in AIH. Cytochrome P450 1A2 has been identified as the
target autoantigen for these autoantibodies
The aim of the study : is to evaluate the prevalence and clinical relevance of LMA in AIH
Methods: The study was performed on 73 Iraqi patients with chronic active hepatitis (CAH) of unknown cause , attending the teaching hospital for gastroenterology and
liver disease in a period between November 2003 and July 2004. Anti-liver membrane antibodies were studied by IFA technique.
Results: LMA was detected in the sera of 28(57.14)and 3(37.5%) patients with type 1 and type 3 AIH respectively, but never in the sera of h

Background: Both bladder cancer and schistosomiasis are endemic in Egypt. The former has a unique epidemiological pattern, which has been linked to bladder infestation by Schistosoma. The last decades have witnessed a great reduction in the infection rate of schistosomiasis and a decline in the incidence and changes in the patterns of bladder cancer. Whether these changes are linked to each other or a co-incidence is a subject of investigations.

Method: Literature on epidemiological data of bladder cancer and Schistosoma in Egypt was searched for in Medline, Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar. Furthermore, a hand search for literature and reports released by the Egyptian government and involved agencies was perfo

A series of new aromatic polyesters have been synthesized by polycondensation of different aromatic diols (M1, M2 ,M3) with different dicarboxlic acids (4,4'azo di benzoic acid, malic acid and adipic acid) using dibutyltine dilaurate as catalyst . The preparation of thermally stable polyesters was successfully applied with good yields (60-85%). All polyesters (PE1-PE4) containing aliphatic methylene linkage, and azo group in the main chain. The resulted polymers are readily soluble in aprotic polar solvents , such as (pyridine , CHCl3 , CH2Cl2 , NaOH , H2SO4 , HNO3 , acetone , benzene , DMF , DMSO , THF) without need for heating. Thermal analysis of polyesters by Thermo Gravimetric Analysis (TGA) reveals that these aromatic polyesters po

Background: Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is one of the most common diagnoses in hospitalized patients. Increased plasma hemostatic markers were noted in acute myocardial infarction, indicating that the blood coagulation system is highly activated in those patients. Aims of the study: To study the level of intrinsic coagulation factors including (FVIII:C, FIX:C ,FXI:C ,FXII:C ) in patients with acute myocardial infarction. Type of the study: Cross –sectional study. Methods: Thirty patients (their age range is 48-68 years) were included in this study (9 female, 21 male) who were just admitted to the coronary care unit in AL-Yarmouk Teaching Hospital and diagnosed as having acute myocardial infarction patients, blood samples were tak

Background: Autoantibodies are frequently found in patients with chronic hepatitis C, which suggests that HCV elicit an immune response in the host. ). The relationship of type-2 AIH to
chronic hepatitis C (HCV) is an interesting and as yet unresolved problem. Importantly, antibodies to liver/kidney microsome type-1 (LKM1), the serologic marker of type 2-AIH, have been recognized in serum of some patients with chronic hepatitis C.
Methods: Anti-liver kidney microsome type 1 (LKM-1) autoantibodies were studied by indirect immuno florescence assay (IIF) and confirmed by immunoblot in the serum of 73 Iraqi patients with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) in comparison with 50 patients control (HCV infection) and 50&nb

Background: Recent research indicates that persistent inflammatory responses may contribute to the rise of diabetic nephropathy (DN) and diabetic cardiovascular disease (DCVD) in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients (DM2). Numerous molecules associated with inflammation and angiogenesis have been implicated in the development and progression of DN and DCVD, respectively. Methods: The subjects were separated into five groups: healthy controls (n= 25), type 2 diabetes mellitus patients (n= 30), type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with nephropathy DN (n= 30), and type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with cardiovascular disease DCVD (n= 30). The blood levels of irisin, IL-8, HbA1C, urea, and creatinine were determined. Results: In current study there w

A fracture is a damage to bone tissue that causes damage to the tissue surrounding the bone and may penetrate the skin. Subjects and methods: the present study included (80) fractured Iraqi patients (and 40) patients with DM2 and (40) without DM2 and compared them with (40) healthy control. Patients and control are matched in age. This study showed a significant increase in retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) and a considerable decrease in Vit .A GPT and GOT in fracture patients with and without DM2. In addition, there was a significant negative correlation between RBP4 with (GPT and GOT) in fracture patients with DM2 and a significant positive correlation between RBP4 with (GPT and GOT) in fracture patients without DM2.          

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) antagonists’ therapy are expensive and has a non-responsive rate between 30% to 40% in rheumatoid arthritis patients. Genetic variation plays a vital role in the responsiveness to this type of therapy.The aim of this study is to investigate if the presence of genetic polymorphism in the TNF-α gene promoter region at locations -376 G/A (rs1800750), -806 C/T (rs4248158), and -1031 T/C (rs1799964) affects rheumatoid arthritis patient's tendency to be a non-responder to etanercept.

Eighty RA patients on etanercept (ETN) for at least six months were recruited from the Rheumatology Unit at Baghdad Teaching Hospital. Based on The European League Against Rheumatism response (EULAR) criteria, patient

60 patients diagnosed as having urticaria were included in the study ; 30 patients were effected with acute urticaria and 30 patients were affected with chronic urticaria. In addition, 30 healthy adult volunteers were selected as control group .The patients and control groups sera were examined with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay ( ELISA) to detect total level IgE and radial immunodiffusion (RID) to detect levels of IgG , IgA and IgM . The total level of IgE in acute urticaria ( 1.45±0.13) IU/mL and chronic urticaria (2.12 ± 0.10) IU/mL patients were significantly higher than the control groups ( 0.85 ± 0.10)IU/mL (p<0.05). The level of IgG in acute urticaria ( 12.5± 0.42) g/L and chronic (13.16±0.40) g/L patients , IgA in acute (2.