Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is one of the commonest hematological malignancies affecting children and adults. Recent evidence suggests an involvement of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in ALL pathogenicity. Epigenetic aberration, especially altered DNA methylation marks, is a key event of cancer development. The present study aims to investigate how the ALL epimethylome reacts to viral infection through the assessment of the total 5-methylcytosine (5mC) levels in ALL patients, according to EBV infection. The 5mC global DNA methylation levels in 50 diagnosed ALL patients (age mean 26.23 yrs; age range 10-60 yrs) and 25 age-matched healthy controls were assessed using MethylFlash™ Methylated DNA Quantification Kit. Acute pri

Background :

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the 4^th common gastrointestinal cancer. (BRAF^V600E) is a member of RAF family of serine/threonine protein kinases that function to regulate the (MAPK) / (ERK) pathway. BRAF^V600E mutated CRC are associated with right-sided primary tumors, older women and high-grade tumors.

Aims of the study:

Study the immunohistochemical expression of BRAF^V600E biomarker in a sample of Iraqi patients with colorectal cancer and the correlation of BRAF^V600E expression with other clinicopathological variables such as patient's age and tumor gra

Background: Diabetic nephropathy (DN) represents the most common cause of end stage renal disease (ESRD) worldwide. Diabetic nephropathy occurs as a result of an interaction between hemodynamic and metabolic factors, however recent evidence shows an increase growing support for the notion that inflammation plays a key role in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy.
Objectives: To speculate the role of IL-18 and TNF-α proinflammatory cytokines in the initiation and development of diabetic nephropathy in T1DM and T2DM.
Materials and methods: Eighty seven T1DM and T2DM patients with or without DN were enrolled. IL-18 and TNF-α cytokines were measured by solid phase immunosorbent assays.
Materials and me

      The level of adipokines (interleukin-6 and vaspin) in hyperthyroid patients treated with carbimazole drug was determined. Eighty-five male and female participated in this study, with mean age from 20-70 years. They included: negative control group of thirty euthyroid persons represented group 1, twenty-five hyperthyroid patient (positive control) included in the second group and thirty hyperthyroid patients treated with carbimazole drug for one year or less comprised the third group. By vein puncture, blood was collected, and serum was isolated and preserved at –20 C. Adipokines (interleukin-6 and vaspin) were estimated by using ELISA method. The results demonstrated that the the increase of IL-6 level was highly significant

Background: Hypertension is a chronic medical condition in which the blood pressure in the arteries is elevated, it's classified as either primary (essential) hypertension or secondary hypertension, and it increases the risk of ischemic heart disease, peripheral vascular disease and other cardiovascular diseases. Several classes of medications collectively referred to as antihypertensive drugs like beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, renin inhibitors and statins (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitor. Statin medication may have some beneficial effects when subjects have dental plaque or signs of periodontitis as gingival bleeding. The purpose of this study were to as

Background: The main purpose of this study is to find if there is any correlation between the level of C-reactive protein (CRP) in gingival crevicular fluid with its serum level in chronic periodontitis patients and to explore the differences between them according to the probing depth. Materials and methods: Forty seven male subjects enrolled in this study. Thirty males with chronic periodontitis considered as study group whom further subdivided according to probing depth into subgroup 1 with pocket depth ≤6mm, subgroup 2 with pocket depth >6mm. The other 17 subjects considered as controls. For all subjects, clinical examination where done for periodontal parameters plaque index (PLI), gingival index (GI), bleeding on probing (BOP),

Background: Pruritus often constitutes a major problem for patients with end stage renal disease. The pathophysiological mechanism of chronic kidney disease -associated pruritus is poorly defined.
Objectives: To evaluate the prevalence of uremic pruritus in dialysis patients and their correlation with the laboratory and clinical parameters in some Iraqi patients with chronic renal disease.
Patients & methods: This analytic, descriptive, cross-sectional study was performed on 103 patients on haemodialysis. Blood urea, creatinine, calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase and parathyroid hormone were determined. Complete blood count was also performed.
Results: Of the 103 patients included in the study the, 79 patients (76.7%)

Background: The study of human leukocytes (HLA) alleles, and haplotype frequencies within populations provide an important source of information for anthropological investigation, organ and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation as well as disease association, certain diseases showed association with specific alleles specially those of known or suspected hereditary origin or immunological basis, whether simple renal cyst is congenital or acquired is still unclear and need to be investigated.Objectives: To study the genetic aspect of simple renal cysts by detecting the gene frequency and the haplotype of HLA class I of patients with simple renal cysts, and to find the presence of these cysts in other family members.Method: Thirty patient

Background: EOS (encoded by the IKZF4 gene) is a member of the zinc finger transcription factor IKaros family, and plays a critical role in Treg suppressor functions, and maintaining Treg stability. IL-6 is a soluble mediator with a pleiotropic effect on inflammation, immune response, and hematopoiesis. Aim: To estimate serum IL-6 level and EOS gene expression in Iraqi patients with psoriasis. Method: Twenty-two patients with psoriasis (8 females, 14 males) with age ranged 18-72 years, were recruited from Baghdad Teaching Hospital, Dermatology Clinic, Baghdad, and 24 healthy donors. The serum levels of IL-6 by ELISA and the gene expression of IKZF4 (EOS gene) by RT-qPCR technique. Results: The results showed a non-significant diffe

The expression of the Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin Type 9 gene (PCSK9) is inextricably related to lipid levels and a risk of atherosclerotic coronary artery disease (ASCAD). The present study aims to measure the quantity of PCSK9 gene expression and the effect of methylation on its expression level taking part in the pathogenesis of acute coronary artery disorder.

A current study included 150 subjects from the Iraqi population, 100 ASCAD patients and 50 healthy controls. The concentration of PCSK9 in each serum sample was determined by the ELISA technique, the expression levels of the PCSK9 gene in whole blood were estimated by RT-qPCR – Quantitative Reverse Transcription PCR method, and DNA