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.
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory disorder, the etiology and pathogenesis of which have been suggested to be influenced by cytokines. Two main clinical types of IBD are recognized, namely ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD). The present study examined serum levels of two cytokines (IL-17A and IL-23) in 60 IBD patients (30 UC and 30 CD) and 30 healthy controls. The levels were correlated with age, gender, cigarette-smoking status, disease duration, family history, disease extension, symptoms, extra-intestinal manifestations, and medication. The results depicted that IL-17A level was significantly higher in UC and CD patients compared to control (45.2 ± 23.3 and 47.5 ±
... Show More!'hi_, i1rycsligation was carried ou1 dn J)Ct'iphcral blom.l s_amplc:s.
wl1ich wendrawi·1 ih)rl1 patients w.ith l)1).hoid !'ever. Fifteen palic111 nging ]5- 45 years old .<iS vvdl as ten sample::. w:cr: c·ollec ted from healthy persons-al the same range of age. Sera were used t'or csti niation the act i vity and sp ci fie activity of t\LJ.A. The resuJts sho:«"'d sig11ltl'c u1t increase i11&
... Show MoreObjective: This study aims to assess the awareness of patients suffering from cardiovascular
diseases.
Methodology: A descriptive design was applied in this study. A purposive sample consisted of
(100) patients with cardiovascular disease in the Mosul's hospitals were interviewed to achieve study
objectives. A questionnaire was used for data collection after tested for validity and reliability by pilot
study.
Results: The study results showed the mean of patients awareness are (1.78) cut point of (3) and
the majority of patients84% were aged more than 50 years or above. Slightly increase proportion of
male more than females. Most of them are married81%, retired, smokers, and a period of developing
the disease a
The research includes a clinical study of Arginase and its relation with uterine fibroid. The normal value of arginase activity in female serum was found to be (0.52 ± 0.02 IU/L) in healthy group at age (35-55) years. The study also showed a highly significant increase in arginase activity (7.99 ± 0.23 IU/L) in serum of uterine fibroid patients group at (35-55years) in comparison to healthy.The results also indicated a highly significant increase in the level of progesterone, estradiol, prolactin, peroxynitrite and malondialdehyde in patients group. While a highly significant decrease in concentration of adiponectin in patients group was found in comparison to healthy.
Salivary peroxidases have biological functions of particular importance to oral health. The aim of this paper is to shed the light on saliva and serum total peroxidases activity as well as the activity of each of salivary peroxidase (SPO) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) in patients with oral tumors. The studied participants were divided into two groups: the first group included 18 oral squamous cell carcinoma patients and 20 age and gender-matched healthy controls while the second group consisted of 20 oral ossifying fibroma patients and 23 age and gender-matched healthy controls. Total peroxidases activity was determined, and its specific activity was calculated in serum and whole mixed saliva as well as in the supernatant and pellet fractions
... Show MoreUromodulin is the most abundant protein ordinary excreted in urine which could be used as a biomarker to diagnose kidney diseases. However, evidence suggests that it regulates salt transport, protects against urinary tract infection and kidney stones, and has a role in kidney damage and innate immunity. This study aimed to understand the association of uromodulin gene rs13332878 with chronic kidney disease. More than 100 people were selected for the study and the samples collected from the under study subjects were divided into two groups. 70 chosen subjects were under the dialysis with kidney failure, and aged between 18-88 years. The second group included 30 samples from healthy individuals, used as control. One of t
... Show MoreNeuroimaging is a description, whether in two-dimensions (2D) or three-dimensions (3D), of the structure and functions of the brain. Neuroimaging provides a valuable diagnostic tool, in which a limited approach is used to create images of the focal sensory system by medicine professionals. For the clinical diagnosis of patients with Alzheimer's Disease (AD) or Mild Cognitive Impairs (MCI), the accurate identification of patients from normal control persons (NCs) is critical. Recently, numerous researches have been undertaken on the identification of AD based on neuroimaging data, including images with radiographs and algorithms for master learning. In the previous decade, these techniques were also used slowly to differentiate AD a
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