Background: Since the introduction of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) inhibitors including etanercept, their efficacy and safety in treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have been studied in many randomized controlled clinical trials. However, data regarding predictors of clinical response to anti-TNF therapy are still sparse.
Objective: To assess the predictors of response to etanercept in treatment of Iraqi patients with active RA.
Methods: An open label single group prospective study was conducted over 15 months on 190 Iraqi patients with RA. All the included patients were given etanercept at a dose of 50 mg by subcutaneous injection on
a weeklybases. Each patient was followed at regular intervals of bas

AbstractBackground:Psoriasis is an inflammatorydiseasewhichcan be associated with otherdiseases, which may have amajor impact onpatientslife. Psoriasis has also been reported tobe associated with metabolic disorders.Metabolic syndrome(MS)isa combination ofmedicaldisorders that, when occurring together,increasesthe risk of development ofcardiovasculardiseasesanddiabetes.It affectsone in five people in the United States andtheprevalence increases with age. Some studieshave showntheprevalencein the USA to be anestimated 25% of the population.Objective:To investigate the prevalence ofmetabolic syndrome in patients with psoriasis.Methods: We performed a hospital-based case-

Background: Multiple Sclerosis disease is a demyelination process which interferes with the neuronal signal transmission, thus leading to different cognitive and physical dysfunctions like optic neuritis, motor, sensory and coordination problems. Recently many researches have been directed toward studying the relation between some genes and multiple sclerosis. Among the important genes to be studied in multiple sclerosis is the forkhead box P3 gene expression.
Objectives: The aims of the present work were to study the expression of forkhead box P3 gene by real time polymerase chain reaction, and to perform chromosomal analysis on the multiple sclerosis patients peripheral blood lymphocytes.
Patients and methods: A case-control stud

To investigate the effects of losartan and enalapril on serum uric acid in hypertensive patients with metabolic syndrome, one hundred and twenty six newly diagnosed mild hypertensive patients, having markers of metabolic syndrome included  in the study. The patients were divided into two groups. Group 1 (60 patients) was given losartan (50 mg/ day) and group 2 (66 patients)  enalapril (20 mg/ day) for a duration of 2 months. A control group of seventy apparently healthy individuals were included. Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed according to diagnostic criteria of metabolic syndrome related to the American National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel III. Serum uric acid levels were measured bef

Background:recent data indicate the prevalence of cardiovascular disease in patientswith high cystatin-C level;it can be used as a good predictor for assessment of mortality in cardiovascular diseases regardless of the status of renal function.
Patients and methods: Onehundred twenty (120) patients with ischemic heart disease admitted to this study at Baghdad teaching hospital for the period from January 2011 to September2011,Those patients categorized into two groups (60) diabetic and (60) non diabetic in comparison to fifty healthy control.Fasting serum cystatin-C was measured in all patients and controls.
Results: The level of serum cystatin-C, in diabetic patients with ischemic heart disease was (2.05±0.55 μg/L). Its level in

Background: Different diagnostic definition and criteria have been recommended by different expert groups for the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome, however, it’s prevalence in the same population could differ depending on the definition used yielding different results. In Iraq, there is a lack of research comparing these different diagnostic definitions.

Objective: To find out the most suitable metabolic syndrome definition to be used for Iraqi people.

 Methods: 320 participants were recruited for this study, 53.4% men and 46.6% women, aged between 25-85 years, visiting Baghdad Teaching Hospital, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome according to different definition

Background: Different diagnostic definition and criteria have been recommended by different expert groups for the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome, however, it’s prevalence in the same population could differ depending on the definition used yielding different results. In Iraq, there is a lack of research comparing these different diagnostic definitions. Objective: To find out the most suitable metabolic syndrome definition to be used for Iraqi people.  Methods: 320 participants were recruited for this study, 53.4% men and 46.6% women, aged between 25-85 years, visiting Baghdad Teaching Hospital, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome according to different definitions were compared and the agreement was assessed by the Kappa st

In this work an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique has been used for detection of some inflammatory markers in serum of acute coronary syndrome (ACS)-Patients Admitted to the cardiac care unit (CCU) of Iraqi Centre For Heart Diseases and Ibn AlNafees Teaching Hospital. The present method includes quantitative measurement of interleukine-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP), as their increase during symptoms may be responsible for identifying the mechanism of myocardial damag, in addition to their best performance than other quantitative tests perhaps due to their association with atherosclerotic process that belongs to the endothelial dysfunction. Aim of this study is to estimate the prevalence and correlation of IL-6 w

Background: Osteoporosis is a frequent disease that is manifested by reduced in mineral density and raised in fracture risk. Recent studies have indicated that osteoporosis is caused by composite connections among local and systemic regulators of bone cell function.
Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between interleukin-2, interleukin-4, and some biochemical markers in Iraqi patients with osteoporosis.
Patients and Methods: Forty five osteoporotic patients were incorporated in this study (30 women and 15 men). Serum fasting glucose, lipid profile, alkaline phosphatase activity, calcium, magnesium, interleukin-2, and interleukin-4 were measured in osteoporotic patients and compared them with the

Background : The hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) is defined as the triad of liver disease, arterial deoxygenation, and pulmonary vascular dilatation. The reported prevalence of HPS in cirrhotic patients varies between 5% -17.5%.Objective : To estimate the prevalence of hepatopulmonary syndrome among patients with chronic liver disease and portal hypertension and to study the correlation between HPS and the severity of liver disease.Patients and methods : Thirty patients were studied for the presence of HPS using transthoracic contrast echocardiography for detection of pulmonary vasodilatation. Arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) was determined in erect and supine position using a pulse oximeter , (SaO2 ≤ 92 % in supine position and/or a d