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.
Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the leading cause of death in United State (U.S.). Controlling of modifiable risk factors such as smoking, hypertension (HT), diabetes mellitus (D.M.), dyslipidemia, physical inactivity & obesity will prevent other serious cardiovascular complications
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is the prototypic multisystem autoimmune disorder with a broad spectrum of clinical presentations encompassing almost all organs and tissues. Aimes of study determination of integrin- linked kinase 1(ILK-1) and anti-smith antibody(ASAB) levels in serum of Iraqi patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, in addition, that ILK-1 may be as a diagnostic marker of SLE disease, and study the effect of systemic lupus erythematosus on renal function in these patients. This study included 100 females’ patients with systemic lupus erythematosus attending to the Rheumatology Unit in Baghdad Teaching Hospital, Medical City, (Baghdad), in addition to 30 healthy females as controller group were chosen without any chr
... Show MoreThe importance of social exclusion lies in the psychological problems that cause problems in social relations and mental-physical health. For this reason, the researcher set three goals for the current research: identifying the level of social exclusion among people infected with the Coronavirus. The incubation period of the virus. Social exclusion and its relationship to the duration of incubation of the disease among people infected with the Coronavirus. The result showed that the research sample does not suffer from social exclusion. The mean value for the period from
(8-14) days is the highest value followed by the period (1-7) days and the period
(14 days or more) comes at the end. There is no statistically sig
... Show MoreDiabetes Mellitus (DM) is a chronic disease distributed worldwide and dominantly related to different types of diseases especially microbial infections, this study aimed to find the relationship between DM mouth microbiome and some demographic factors. Sixty saliva specimens and bacterial oral swabs were collected from randomly selected DM patients, including 29 females and 31 males enrolled in this study, which was obtained from the Al-Mustansiriya University national diabetes center in Baghdad, and other 40 apparently healthy people specimens and swabs were collected from 25 females and 15 males as a control group for the period starting November / 2021 to February / 2022. The results revealed that the most prevalent bacterial gener
... Show MoreIntroduction: Cerebral hydatid disease (CHD) is rare and the multiple-cystic variety is even rarer. In this paper, we report a case of multiple CHD and explore a possible link with a preceding spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH). Case presentation: A 27-year old gentleman with a history of surgically-evacuated, spontaneous ICH presented with severe headache, left-sided weakness - Medical Research Council (MRC) grade II - and recurrent tonic-clonic seizures, while on a full dose of anti-epileptic medication. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans showed multiple intra-axial cystic lesions in the right hemisphere. The cysts were removed intact using Dowling’s technique through a large temporoparietal crani
... Show MoreBackground: Extensive reports denote the biological role of trace elements (Cu Zn ", Se ') in many various physiological and pathological conditions, one of the list is shown to be Behcet's disease (BD).The aim of this study was directed towards the distribution of trace elements (Cu 2,Zn, 2,Se 2) in sera of BD patients, and control groups.
Methods: Fifty Arab Iraqi patients who fulfdled the ISO criteria for diagnosis BD.compared with 21 patients control with recurrent oral ulcer (ROU), healthy control groups (2Ihealthy relative and 21healthy volunteer). Typing HLA Class I was carried out at Alkarama hospital, by using microlympho-cytotoxicity test. The concentrations of serum Cu ', Zn ", and Se" were determined by atomic absorption s
Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases are the main cause of death among type 2 diabetic patients. Higher levels of plasminogen activator urokinase receptor have been found to predict morbidity and mortality across acute and chronic diseases in the common populace. This study aims to explore the role of serum plasminogen activator urokinase receptor levels as a cardiometabolic risk factor among type 2 diabetic Iraqi patients. Methods: Seventy type 2 diabetic patients (40 male and 30 female) (mean age: 46.20±7.56 years) participated in this study; 35 patients were with cardiovascular disease and 35 were without cardiovascular disease; their ages range was 40-55 years. In addition, 30 individuals who apparently healthy were selected a
... Show MoreBackground: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is an adult leukemia characterized by rapid proliferation of undifferentiated myeloid precursors, leading to bone marrow (BM) failure and impaired erythropoiesis. The p53 tumor suppressor protein regulates cell division and inhibits tumor development by preventing cell proliferation of altered or damaged DNA. It orchestrates various cellular reactions, including cell cycle arrest, DNA repair, and antioxidant properties. Objectives: To investigate the relationship of P53 serum level with hematological findings, remission, and survival status in de novo AML patients. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study that enrolled 63 newly diagnosed de novo AML patients, and 15 sex- and age-matched healt
... Show MoreThe present study evaluates the effects of Ginkgo biloba extract as monotherapy on the glycemic status, insulin resistance (IR), body mass index (BMI), and visceral adiposity index (VAI), in addition to the inflammatory markers, oxidative status and leptin level in patients with metabolic syndrome in comparison with metformin.
The study is a randomized, double-blind pilot study conducted during the period May to September, 2020. Fifty patients were recruited in the study and they were allocated into two groups (25 per each group): Ginkgo biloba and Metformin groups, they received (120 mg Ginkgo biloba extract/ capsule) and (500 mg Metformin/ capsule) respectively; orally as a single dose for 90 days. Blood samples were taken at z
... Show MoreBackground: 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),
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