HBV and HCV are the major causes of chronic liver diseases throughout the world, and constitute a major global health risk. There is accumulated evidence that the imbalance of proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokine production may play an important role in the pathogenesis of viral hepatic infections and may influence the clinical outcome and disease progression. This study was undertaken to analyze the circulating levels of Tumor Necrotic Factor (TNF-α) and Th2 cytokine IL-10 in patients infected with Hepatitis B and C virus. The study population consisted of 30 patients with chronic HBV, in addition to other 30 patients with chronic HCV infection were recruited on their first examination at the Al-Kindy General Hospital in Baghdad

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is one of the major etiological agents causing acute and chronic liver disease worldwide with significant morbidity and mortality. The high genetic variability of HBV is reflected by eight genotypes (A to H), each with a particular geographical prevalence.
Objectives: The study was conducted to find out HBV genotypes in chronic hepatitis B- (CHB) carriers in association with serological markers of HBV.
Methods: This work was carried on from March to, December 2012 in Duhok/Iraq and enrolled 134 HBsAg positive carrier cases. recruited to Central Public Health Lab. Specific primers PCR technique was used to detect HBV genotypes. The carrier cases were screened for markers of HBV infection by Enzyme

Certain bacterial and viral infectious agents may play a role in the activation of inflammation in atherosclerosis lesions. Epidemiological studies indicate that infectious agents may predispose patients to atherosclerosis as Infections have been associated with an increased risk of this disease. Moreover, a positive antibody status has been detected against some infectious organisms associated with atherosclerotic rupture. Infectious agents found in human atheroma, which may directly cause or accelerate atherosclerosis , include many pathogens but the present study focused on Helicobacter pylori, hepatitis B virus surface antigen and C. In order to evaluate the possible association between H. pylori, HBV, and HCV infections and the risk of

Background: About 10-15% of population HBV infection becomes chronic, and 85-90% are resolved. In Iraq, HBs-Ag assay by ELISA is only mandatory test for detection of HBV infection in blood donors. Anti- HBc and anti-HBs were not detectable in their sera.
Objective: To investigate the distribution of serological patterns for HBV who were HBsAg negative.
Material and method: Between July 18, 2011 to December 25, 2011, 10ml of blood samples were collected from National blood Transfusion Center donors, Baghdad, for 25782 individuals (25294 male, 488 female), mean age (20-65)years. HbsAg positive sera excluded (185), and final number of donors included in the
study was 25597 HbsAg negative.
Result: The data sho

Background: Although, different protocols of chemotherapy are recommended for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer, still response rates are variable.
Objectives: The aim of this study is to investigate the effects and correlation of different chemotherapy administered to metastatic breast cancer patients on serum levels of some biomarkers.
Patients and methods: Thirty metastatic breast cancer patients were enrolled in the study. The patients received different protocols of chemotherapy. Blood samples were taken from the patients before and after the last cycle of each protocol and from 20 healthy control and serum levels of biomarkers IL-6, leptin, CA 15-3 and p53 were estimated by Elisa.
Results: The mean serum levels of

Background:
Hepatitis C Virus is the main causative agent of hepatitis among blood transfused patients, in which most chronic cases result in liver carcinoma.
Materials & Methods:
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay for HCV, FNF- and IL-12p40 estimation with Recombinant Immunoblotting Assay (RIBA) as a confirmatory test for HCV, have been
applied for HCV detection in 80 HCV patients' samples in comparison with 30 samples for apparently healthy control, while viral load has been estimated using Branched-DNA (b-
DNA) technique for 32 randomly selected positive cases for HCV. Liver function test has been applied for patients' sera in comparison with control.
Results & Conclusions:
This study re

Background: five clinical phases were described in patients with chronic (HBV) infection: HBeAg- positive HBV infection, HBeAg- positive chronic HB, HBeAg negative HBV infection, HBeAg-negative CHB and occult HBV infection.

Aim: This study aimed to determine the incidence of the unclassified phase (gray zone) in chronic hepatitis B patients and its significant in the clinical practice. 

Patients and methods: The study was conducted retrospectively on 109 patients' who have HBsAg positive for more than 6 months. The data recorded include; HbeAg and anti-HBe Ab, ultrasound of the abdomen, HBV DNA load and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), accordingly; we classify the patients

Background: Patients with chronic renal failure undergoing longterm hemodialysis (HD) are prone to atherosclerosis and at increased risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.
Objective: The objective of this study is to compare atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) in predicting the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) on regular hemodialysis, when associated with other chronic diseases.
Patients and methods: A total of forty male patients with CRF on hemodialysis, matched in, age, body mass index BMI, and duration of hemodialysis were enrolled. They were grouped as group 1 (G1) includes eleven subjects with CRF without (hypertension and / or diabetes) groups 2 (G2) fourteen CRF subjects wi

Background: The hepatitis G virus( HGV), also called hepatitis GB virus, as a member of the Flaviviridae family distantly related to hepatitis C virus (HCV), Little is known about the frequency of HGV infection, the nature of the illness, or how to prevent it. What is known is that transfused blood containing HGV has caused some cases of hepatitis. They infect humans, but are not known to cause human disease. This virus can be transmitted efficiently by blood transfusion and by other parenteral mechanisms. Transient and long lasting infections with HGV have been documented in man.
Patients and methods: HBs Ag, Anti-HCV IgG and Anti-HGV IgG were detected by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA).HCV RNA

Background: Autoantibodies to islet cell antigens are known predictors of type 1 diabetes and detected in latent autoimmune diabetes in adults.
Objectives: This study aimed to identify the metabolic and immunological disturbances in diabetic patients with positive and negative islet cell antibodies (ICAs)
Materials and methods: A total number of 235 known cases of diabetes mellitus type 1 (160) and type 2 diabetes (75) were admitted in the study. Serum ICA and immunoglobulins (IgA, IgM, IgG) as well lipid profile were measured.
Results: Positive ICAs was found in 40 out of 120 T1D (33.3%) and 28 out of 75 T2D (37.3%). All the patients were poorly controlled diabetes with the evidence of significant high