Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic and debilitating autoimmune disease characterized by chronic inflammation with subsequent cartilage and bone destruction. Cytokines are key mediators of inflammation and can be found in abundance both in the joint and blood of patients. This study was designed to evaluate the role of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in pathogenesis of RA, as well as study the correlation among these cytokines.
Patients and methods: Forty patients with RA and thirty age-matched healthy controls were included in this study. Serum cytokines were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
Results: The serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1α, IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12 and TNF-α) were significantly higher in RA patients than in healthy controls (p<0.01, p<0.05). Moreover, these levels were significantly increased in active RA patients than in inactive RA (p<0.01, p<0.05). On the other hand, the serum levels of IFN-γ and anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-4, IL-10) showed no significant differences between RA patients and healthy controls and neither between active RA patients and inactive RA (p>0.05). Interestingly strong positive correlation was found among each of (IL-1α, IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12 and TNF-α), p<0.05.While strong negative correlation was noticed between IL-6 and (IL4 and IL-0) and also between TNF-α and (IL4 and IL-0), p<0.05.
Conclusion: The current study suggests that serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1α, IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12 and TNF-α) may play an important role in RA and may be used as a marker of disease activity. Moreover imbalance between pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines may yield effective therapeutic targets in this inflammatory disease.
Background: revascularization therapy for patients with left main (LM) and/or three vessel coronary disease is a matter of argument for long a time whether bypercutaneous coronary angiography orcoronary artery bypass grafting. SYNTAX trial was designed to assess the optimal revascularization strategy between percutaneous coronary intervention and coronary artery bypass grafting, for patients with left main stem coronary artery disease and/or 3-vessel coronary disease.
Aim: To estimate the complexity of coronary artery disease in patients referred to a tertiary Iraqi cardiac center and its effect on mode of revascularization.
Patients and Method: Ninety nine patients who w
... Show MoreBackground: In recent years, bone marrow angiogenesis is indicated to be involved in the pathogenesis and progression of certain hematological malignancies like acute leukemia, lymphomas, and multiple myeloma. Recent studies have suggested that bone marrow angiogenesis plays an important role in the pathogenesis of adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia and also has prognostic value in the disease.
Objectives: at the present study, bone marrow angiogenesis in ALL will be examined using immunohistochemical staining for CD34, and this will be correlated with various pathological, laboratory and clinical parameters.
Patients and methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was done on 60 patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (32 ma
The Growth Differentiation Factor -15 (GDF-15) is a member of the transforming growth factor β superfamily. İt represents an example of the stress response cytokines. It's mostly found in cardiac myocytes, adipocytes, macrophages, endothelial cells, and vascular endothelial cells, whether they're generated normally or not. GDF-15 levels have increased and are associated with cardiovascular risk. Aim of the study: To investigate the correlation between angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) with the level of plasma GDF-15 in a group of hypertensive patients. Materials and methods: A case-control study involved 90 individuals, 60 hypertensive patients (36 on ACE inhibitors and 24 on ARBs)
... Show MoreConcurrently with the technological development that the world is witnessing the crime of money laundering to evolve faster and with multiple methods and its economic, political and social impacts raised increasingly. And for phenomenon dangerous the international community in recent years is keen to be considered combating money laundering as a general indication whereby verification of the international response the stats and its banks and financial institutions with international requirements mandated in this aspect, so the increasing interest the governments of countries in the laws and procedures that contribute to the reduction of the phenomenon of money laundering and avoid legislation economy and the banking and financial sectors
... Show MoreTraumatic radial nerve injury in humeral shaft fracture is the most common traumatic nerve injury in long-bone fracture, with overall prevalence 2-18%, ranging from traction to complete transection. Spontaneous recovery may reach 88%. The aim of the study is to assess the sensitivity & specificity of the ultrasound to detect the radial nerve injury and to see if this can be used as a diagnostic test. This is a prospective study on 17 adult patients with a closed fracture of the humeral shaft, dividing into two groups, the first group of 7 patients had signs and symptoms of radial nerve palsy at presentation and the second group of 10 patients had intact radial nerve function was considered as a control group. All these patients had at leas
... Show MoreBackground: Periodontal diseases are bacterial infections of the gingiva, bone and attachment fibers that support the teeth and hold them in the jaw. α-amylase is an enzyme, produced mainly by parotid gland and it seems to play a role in maintaining mucosal immunity. Aims of the study: Determine the salivary levels of α-Amylase and flow rate and their correlations with clinical periodontal parameters(Plaque Index , Gingival Index , Bleeding on Probing , Probing Pocket Depth , and Clinical Attachment Level ) and the correlation between α-Amylase with flow rate of study groups that consist of ( patients had gingivitis and patients had chronic periodontitis with different severities(mild ,moderate ,severe) and control group . Ma
... Show MoreSince June 2020, an explosion in number of new COVID-19 patients has been reported in Iraq with a steady increment in new daily reported cases over the next 3 months. The limited number of PCR kits in the country and the increment in the number of new COVID-19 cases makes the role of CT scan examinations rising and becoming essential in aiding the health institutions in diagnosing and isolating infected patients and those in close contacts. This study will review the spectrum of CT pulmonary changes due to COVID-19 infection and estimate the CT severity score index and its relation to age, sex, and PCR test results
Pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) is a major pregnancy complication that causes pregnant women mortality. Here, we had scrutinized the correlation between serum levels of -hCG and biochemical parameters in PIH. Serum samples were collected from eighty Iraqi women (forty women with pregnancy-induced hypertension as patients group, twenty normotensive pregnant women as a positive control, and twenty normotensive non-pregnant women as a negative control) all groups were diagnosed clinically. All -hCG hormone level was measured for all studied groups, also serum uric acid, albumin, and total protein levels were measured as biochemical parameters. Data analysis showed that serum level of -hCG hormone was significant increase (p≤
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