Methotrexate (MTX) is still one of the gold standard treatments for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It shows diverse outcomes in blood level and clinical response, this was demonstrated by its relation to the genetic polymorphism in the pharmacogenetic study. This study aimed to investigate the role of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene polymorphisms in relation to MTX efficacy and toxicity in Iraqi Kurdish RA patients. Sixty-four RA patients were involved in this study with an average age of 47.78 ±14.08 and female to male ratio of (8.1). Diagnosis and disease activity were confirmed. Blood analyses, including those of laboratory markers of disease activity, were done. The 28 joint disease activity score (DAS28-CRP) was calculated. MTHFR gene polymorphisms were analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction. The most frequent genotypes which were identified in RA patients were the CT genotype of the C677T single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) (51.6%) and the AC genotype of the A1298C SNP (48.4%). Patients with non-response to treatment had high frequencies of genotypes CT and TT (58.0% and 12.0%) of the C677T SNP respectively, as compared to those in the responder group; 28.6% and 0.0%); T-allele was associated with drug non-responding OR=4.17, P value=.0.009, meanwhile; genotypes AC and CC of the A1298C SNP were seen in (54.0% and 16.0%) in non-responder group. Patients with active RA had increased frequencies of CT and TT genotypes of the C677T SNP (60.0% and16.0%) respectively as compared to those who were in remission (26.6% and 0.0%); T-allele was associated with high disease activity; OR = 5.11. No association was found between C677T SNP and A1298C SNP, and MTX level status (P> 0.05). However, the variant alleles (T and C) were associated with the MTX toxic level (OR: 2.05, 95% CI [0.97 – 4.32]) and (OR: 1.99, 95% CI [0.96 – 4.18]) respectively. This study suggests that genetic polymorphisms of MTHFR SNP (C677T and A1298C) are associated with MTX efficacy but not toxicity in RA patients. This may assist the physicians in personalizing RA treatment in Iraqi patients.
Abstract
This work involves the manufacturing of MAX phase materials include V2AlC and Cr2AlC using powder metallurgy as a new class of materials which characterized by regular crystals in lattice. Corrosion behavior of these materials was investigated by Potentiostat to estimate corrosion resistance and compared with the most resistant material represented by SS 316L. The experiments were carried out in 0.01N of NaOH solution at four temperatures in the range of 30–60oC. Polarization resistance values which calculated by Stern-Geary equation indicated that the MAX phase materials more resistant than SS 316L. Also cyclic polarization tests confirme
... Show MoreObjectives: This study aims to determine the disease’s patterns and outcomes of admission among neonates hospitalized at the neonatal care unit in Erbil City, and using the findings as a baseline for neonate’s morbidity and mortality assessment in the future. Methodology: A retrospective study carried out at neonatal care unit of Raparin pediatric teaching hospital. An instrument for data collection developed by researcher included (age, gender, cause of admission, diagnosis and outcome upon discharge and causes of death). Content validity of the instrument was determined through the use of panel ex
Zooplanktons from the artificial lake of Madenat Al-Alaab at Baghdad city have been
studied, during the period from may 2009 to April 2010. In addition to some ecological
factors (Temperature, pH and Turbidity) which were ranged (10.2-28.4)°C (7.1-8.4) and (20-50) cm respectively.
The results of the present study revealed that there are 22 species of zooplankton
belonging to Cladocera, Copepoda and Rotifera. Some of the species recorded during all
months of the study period, while other have disappeared during some months. Numbers of
species recorded were varied during different groups .
The dominant species were (Cyclops vernalis, C. hyalinus, C. scutifer, Diaptomus
leptopus, Bosmina longirostris, Kerate
With occurrence of any financial crises, regardless at global or regional levels such as the great economic crises during 1929 – 1933 and the Asian financial crises at the end of twentieth century as well as the current global financial crises that started during second half 2008, we acknowledge that there are some critics loudly articulated accusing accountants and auditors for disparences, and they are numerical partner of financial manipulation as well as corrupted administrators with the company's administrators that they are difficulty. At this point, many suggestions and recommendation for upgrading the accounting system has been made.  
... Show MoreThe topic area of that’s paper dealing with regionalism hegemony upon ruling affairs and political life in Tunisia, this phenomena had historical origins, even before region of French occupation in 1881, after independence, the regionalism domination was practice and normal, the political system justified it's with many causes, like level of education, connection with Western civilization, enlighten intelligent, economic conditions in coast region and North of Tunisia compared with the South, also the role of President Bourqiba as founder of Modern Tunisia, he was from Monster (North of country) which was dominated as charismatic leader dedicate the regionalism domination through decades, yet after revolution in 2011, little changes ha
... Show MoreLeishmania are protozoan parasites belonging to the family Trypanosomatidae that cause high morbidity and mortality levels with a wide spectrum of clinical syndrome. This study aimed to investigate the effect of liposomal amphotericin B (AmBisome) drug on promastigote and axenic amastigote stages of Leishmania tropica. From the 20 isolates of cutaneous leishmaniasis collected from patients attended to the AL-Karama Teaching Hospital in Baghdad during the period from October 2013 until February 2014, only three isolates successfully transformed to motile promastigote stage in the culture media. The most active one is included in this study. Different concentrations of liposomal amphotericin B (AmBisome) and pentostam Sb (V) drugs were inv
... Show MoreTrichomoniasis is a parasitic disease caused by the protozoan Trichomonas vaginalis. It is the most common sexually transmitted protozoal infection. There is no estimated of infection intensity among reproductive-age females. Further studies of the infection intensity of trichomoniasis and other vaginal infection will highlight the importance of this pathogen as a public health problem. A total of 614 females from Baghdad city were screened for T. vaginalis from March 2015 to September 2015. Females aged 13–61 years old provided vaginal swab specimens. The vaginal fluids extracted from these swabs were checked for the presence of T. vaginalis and other vaginal infection using microscopic examination. Overall, 525 (85.5%) of 614 was scr
... Show MoreMost of us are tired of the circumstances that surround us because of their deficiency, deprivation, and sullenness, even though troubles and pains are the soil in which the seeds of strong personality sprout.
The content of the research is summed up in the fact that there is no need to frown, so let our face be free, and our word good and tolerant, so that we can be the most loving people of those who give them, and the Messenger of God (may God’s prayers and peace be upon him and his family) was known to be the heaviest concerns of people, but he was most smiling of people, by smiling, we buy lives, so we should get used to it, because that gives us hope and finds the world in our hands, an
... Show MoreTotal Quality Assurance Concept have appeared in Higher Education Institutions as a result of the continuous criticism for the lower quality of the outputs of these institutions and their inappropriacy to the needs of the job market. The faculty, i.e. teaching staff member, is one of the most important output for his/her responsibility to achieve the stated goals in higher education. This represents a problem that may influence the construction of society which has to limit his tasks, responsibilities, and competencies that should be found in a faculty, and evaluating his teaching profession in light of the prerequisites of the century to become an input to achieve quality assurance in Higher Education. Therefore, the present study aims
... Show MoreYamama Formation is an important sequence in southern Iraq. Petrographic analysis was used to determine and analyze the microfacies and pore types. The diagenetic processes and the impacts on the petrophysical properties of the rocks were also identified. The petrographic identification was based on data of 250 thin sections of cutting and core samples from four wells that were supplied by the Iraqi Oil Exploration Company (O.E.C). The present study focuses on the depositional environment and the microfacies analysis of Yamama Formation. The results revealed several types of microfacies, including peloidal wackestone-packstone, algal wackestone-packstone, bioclastic wackestone-packstone, fo
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