Endothelin-I (ET-I) is one of the potent vasoconstrictors secreted from endothelial cells when needed. Many studies revealed the elevation of serum ET-I with human diabetes and microangiopathies. Since insulin resistance is a case of mixed diabetic and pre-diabetic cases, many risk factors beyond obesity and inflammation are proposed. The current study aims to demonstrate the association between serum ET-I and asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Sera of 73 subjects were enrolled currently (control= 35 subjects, and 38 with T2DM for more than 7 years), aged (40-60) years old, with distinct body mass index (BMI) ≤ 25 for control volunteers and (BMI) ≥ 25 for obesity and diabetes

  This study is a trail to know if the genes controlling some of heavy metals resistance ( lead, zinc, cadmium, cromium) in two types of pathogenic bacteria  E. coli  as gram negative bacteria and S. aureus as gram positive bacteria, present on the β-lactamase plasmid.     Ten isolates of each bacterial types which produced β-lactamase enzyme, were cultivated in the presence of acridine orange. The growing in the presence of acridine orange resulted in loss of the β-lactamase genes in S. aureus and E. coli, and loss of the heavy metals resistance in S. aureus, while the resistance of E. coli against heavy metals still without any change.   The results indicate that the genes for heavy

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) represents one kind of advanced arthritis formed via inflammatory stimuli long-term in the spin‘s joints. Interleukin (IL)-29 (interferon- lambda1(IFN- λ1)), interleukin (IL)-28A (interferon- lambda 2 (IFN- λ2)) and interleukin (IL)-28B (interferon- lambda 3(IFN-λ3)) are three interferon lambda (IFN- λs) molecules that have recently been identified as new members of the IFN family. IL-28B expression in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is not well understood. 150 male healthy controls ((HC) and 160 males with AS as patients group participated in this study. Serum level and gene polymorphism were assessed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Sanger sequencing for IL-28B, respectively. The results showed

During 2011, 1900 clinical specimens and 240 hospital environment specimens were collected from four hospitals in Baghdad. 128 isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii were obtained from clinical and environmental specimens in a percentage of 6.05% and 5.42%, respectively. The highest percentage of isolation, 83.62% was of sputum specimens and lower percentage of burns specimens 5.22%. The lowest incidence was of age range (71-80) years old group whereas the highest incidence was of age range (31-40) years old group. Also we found that the incidence was higher in males (66.96%) than that of females (33.04%) and the frequency of positive A. baumannii isolates was higher in intensive care units (ICUs). Results revealed eleven different resistot

The aim of this study is to evaluating the antibacterial activity of Laurus nobilis leaves extract on E. coli isolates. Maceration and Soxhlet apparatus were used to prepare aqueous and methanolic extracts; total phenolic content and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) were conducted to determine the active compounds in the extracts. The results showed that both Laurus nobilis methanolic and aqueous extracts have a noticeable effect on scavenging free radicals. Free radical scavenging activity. The total phenolic contents were 28.60 ±0.12 and 16.58 ±0.11mg/g in 50 mg/ml, in methanolic and aqueous extracts respectively. The antibacterial activity of Laurus nobilis leaves extracts showed that the methanolic extract was more effective than

Background: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is the most common disease associated with pregnant women due to several anatomical and hormonal changes in pregnant women lead to ureteral dilatation and urinary infection, many of microorganisms such as fungi, viruses, and bacteria have numerous virulence factors that enhance their ability to colonize in pregnant women. Some bacteria have resistance toward many antimicrobial agents for treatment has led to therapeutic difficulties worldwide, in order that many investigators try to test fungal extract to reduce bacterial infection.

Objectives: To assess the effectiveness of extract of Calvatia craniiformis on different types of bacteria which wa

There is a great risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and vascular thrombosis in patients with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). These patients exhibit numerous abnormalities in coagulation, fibrinolytic, inhibitory protein abnormalities in multiple levels. The study aimed to assess hypercoagulable changes by measuring the levels of antithrombin, plasma fibrinogen and FXII activity in patients with ESRD, and to find their correlation with Hemoglobin (Hb) level, WBC count, reticulocyte percentage and platelet count. This study was conducted at Al-Hayat center, Al Karama Teaching Hospital on 50 ESRD patients aged < 60 years of both genders. In addition, 20 apparently healthy individuals were included as a control group. The mean Hb level, total

Background: Coeliac disease is a chronic, immunologically determined form of enteropathy affecting the small intestine in genetically predisposed children and adults. It is precipitated by the ingestion of gluten-containing foods. It is also referred to as celiac sprue, gluten-sensitive enteropathy, or nontropical sprue. CD69 is a lymphoid activation antigen whose rapid expression makes it suitable for the detection of T-ce

In individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), the cannabinoid receptor 1 (CNR1) gene polymorphism has been linked to diabetic nephropathy (DN). Different renal disorders, including DN, have been found to alter cannabinoid (CB) receptor expression and activation. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the relationship between CNR1 rs1776966256 and rs1243008337 genetic variants and the risk of developing DN in Iraqi patients with T2DM. The study included 100 patients with T2DM, divided into two groups: 50 with DN and 50 without DN. Genotyping of CNR1 rs1776966256 and rs1243008337 polymorphisms was conducted using PCR in DN patients and control samples. The distribution of rs1776966256 and rs1243008337 genotypes and alleles bet

    Streptococcus pluranimalium was first isolated in 1999. Recently, several case reports have been published that have revealed that S. pluranimalium can infect humans as well. The pathogenicity and pathophysiology of this pathogen is poorly studied and its characteristics are not well known. In this study, S. pluranimalium was first isolated and then identified from infants and children who suffered from upper respiratory infections. 90 samples were collected from nasopharyngeal cavity. Among them, 83 Streptococcus spp. isolates were identified. 3 out of which were biochemically and molecularly identified as S. pluranimalium. 16S rRNA sequencing based identification revealed that all iso