Background: IL-4 is an antibodies inflammatory cytokine which has an important role in protecting against the inflammatory reactions in most of diseases. Here, we try to highlights the role of this cytokine in chronic Rheumatic heart disease and its correlation with the extent of histopathological abnormalities.
Patients and Methods: Rheumatic mitral valve surgical fragments were taken from a total of 48 Iraqi patients with chronic rheumatic heart disease under mitral valve replacement surgery in Ibn Al- Bitar Hospital for Cardiac Surgery-Iraq-Baghdad. Paraffin embedded mitral valve tissue sections were prepared. IL-4-expressing cells were detected by using immunohistochemical staining technique and histopathological picture was studied by using hematoxylin and eosin staining.
Results: There were lower numbers of IL-4 positive cells in all patients under study in general, but very lower IL-4 positive cells percentage was recorded in high risk group patients. There was no significant difference in the distribution of IL-4 mean positive cell’s count among all patients (p > 0.05). There was a correlation of IL-4 with the extent of histopathological abnormalities, and odds ratio results displayed that the histopathological abnormalities which recorded in the case group 4 times than that occurred in the control group.
Conclusion: IL-4 plays an important role in regulating the inflammatory responses against the heart in chronic rheumatic heart disease.
Gestational diabetes mellitus is glucose intolerance of varying degree with onset or first detection duringpregnancy,it can causelong and short term morbidities in both the mother and the child, such as shoulder dystocia,preeclampsia, and high blood pressure. The most powerful endogenous vasoconstrictor peptide, urotensin II, andits receptor are involved in the etiology of gestational diabetes mellitus.Aim of the study: The study’s goal was to see if there is a link between Urotensin II levels and insulin resistancein pregnant women with gestational diabetes.Patients and method: A case-control study that was conducted in obstetrics and gynecology department atBaghdad Teaching hospital from the first of January 2019 to the end of D
... Show MoreBackground: Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play a significant role in the activation of adaptive immunity and may have an essential role in the development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Objectives: To assess the gene expression of TLR4 in individuals with RA compared to healthy individuals. Methods: From July to December 2022. A total of 100 individuals were encompassed in the study, consisting of 50 individuals diagnosed with RA, of whom 42 were females and 8 were males, with an average age of 45.22 years. Additionally, there were 50 healthy control participants, 40 of whom were females and 10 were males, with an average age of 45.64 years. To assess the TLR4 transcript levels, blood samples were collected from each participant, and RN
... Show MoreOsteoarthritis is the most prevalent arthritic disease and a leading cause of disability. The pathogenesis of osteoarthritis involves multiple etiologies, including variable degree of synovial inflammation. Metformin and pioglitazone could potentially reduce the levels and activity of inflammatory mediators. This may consider as a new therapeutic approach added to the current used drugs in an attempt to decrease the pain, inflammation, and improve daily activity and quality of life in patients with knee osteoarthritis.
This study designed to evaluate the clinical utility of using metformin or pioglitazone as anti-inflammatory agents in combination with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) of selective type of cyclooxygen
... Show MoreBackground: Polycystic ovarian syndrome is one of the common gynaecological diseases encountered nowadays in the gynaecological clinic. Many criteria and diagnostic test had been evolved to be used with different classifications methods.Objectives: The present study aimed to measure the anti-mullerian hormone levels in serum of the women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and to test the possibility that if it can be used as a marker for diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome patients.Methods: A cross sectional study that had been conductedat Kamal AL-Samaraee Hospital, AL-Suwayrah Hospital andAl-Elwiya Maternity Teaching Hospital during the periodfrom July, 1st, 2013 – Jan. 1st, 2014. Where forty women withPolycystic ovarian syndrome (wit
... Show MoreObjective: To determine the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among blood donors and risky population in Diyala province.<br />Materials and methods: In this retrospective study, the records of HCV screening and confirmatory tests were reviewed for the period 1996-2001.Third generation Enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) and Enzyme immunoblot assay were used as screening and confirmatory tests respectively.<br />Results: The prevalence of HCV infection among blood donors was 0.15%, with the highest in 1997. The highest prevalence rates were found among multiple blood recipient; hemophilia, thalassemia and hemodialysis patients (27.3%, 16.9% & 14.3%) respectively. Whereas, the patients with chronic hepa
... Show MoreBackground: Chlamydia trachomatis infections are the most prevalent bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STI) recognized throughout the world. Screening programs for C. trachomatis is of paramount importance in the prevention of long-term sequelae.
Subjects and methods: A total of 91 normal healthy women were included in this study, which was conducted for the period from 1st. November/ 2011 to 1st. March 2012. They were chosen by simple random selection from Al-Batool Teaching Hospital for maternity and children, and some health care centers in Baquba city. The age range was 17-42 years. 49 (53.8%) and 42 (46.1%) were from rural and urban areas respec
... Show MoreBackground: Ovarian malignancy is considered to score the highest fatality among women due to lack of significant symptoms. Early diagnosis and treatment lead to good prognosis. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) plays a major role in the diagnosis by detecting the lesions and assessing their appearance and consistency.
Objective: To determine the accuracy of MRI in the diagnosis of ovarian malignancy and comparing this to histopathology as a gold standard test.
Patients and methods: A follow up study was conducted in the MRI unit of the Radiology Department in Baghdad Teaching Hospital / Baghdad Medical City Complex during the period from 1st of February to 31
Abstract
Sovereign wealth funds are an important tool for achieving economic stability and avoiding the local economy from external shocks, including the shocks of international oil prices. The spread of these funds is the result of large current account surpluses in many Asian and oil-exporting economies. These surpluses are due to higher commodity prices Has led to a rapid accumulation of foreign assets in central banks. Many countries with rent economies face the problem of their dependence on non-renewable natural resources, especially the oil countries, including Iraq. Oil revenues are more than 97% of oil exports, so they suffer from structural imbal
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