Background: Chronic periodontitis is an inflammatory disease that affects the supporting tissues of the teeth and it’s common among adults. Smoking is an important risk factor for periodontitis induces alveolar bone loss. Alkaline phosphatase enzyme is involved in the destruction of the human periodontium. It is produced by many cells such as polymorphonuclear leukocytes, osteoblasts, macrophages and fibroblasts within the area of the periodontium and gingival crevice. Osteocalcin is one of the most abundant matrix proteins found in bones and the only matrix protein synthesized exclusively there. Smaller Osteocalcin fragments are found in areas of bone remodeling and are actually degradation products of the bone matrix.The purpose of this study was to evaluatethe effect of smoking on the salivary alkaline phosphatase and Osteocalcin in subjects with chronic periodontitis compared to control subjects. Materials and Methods: Five ml of unstimulated whole saliva samples and full-mouth clinical periodontal recordings (plaque index, gingival index, bleeding on probing, probing pocket depth and clinical attachment level) were obtained from study groups (25 light smokers and 33 non-smokerssubjects, both with chronic periodontitis) and control groups (8 light smokers and 13 non-smokers subjects, both with healthy periodontium). All subjects were systemically healthy males, with age range (30-50) years. Salivary Alkaline phosphatase and Osteocalcin levels were determined by Colorimetric and Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assays, respectively. Results: Smoker chronic periodontitis patients revealed non-significant differences in clinical periodontal parameters with non-smoker counterparts (P˃o.o5) in terms of Plaque index, Probing pocket depth and Clinical attachment loss, with slight increase in plaque index value in smoker chronic periodontitis group(1.42±0.46) than non-smoker chronic periodontitis group, while there were highly significant differences in terms of Gingival index and Bleeding on probing(P ≤ 0.01).Osteocalcin levels were lower in smoker chronic periodontitis group (0.13±0.20) than non-smoker chronic periodontitis group (1.09±2.26) with significant difference (0.05 ≥ P > 0.01). Mean of Alkaline phosphatase level was lower in smoker chronic periodontitis (11.14±4.53) than non-smoker chronic periodontitis (11.45±4.17) with a non-significant difference, while there was a significant difference inAlkaline phosphatase concentrations between smoker and non-smoker control groups.There were non-significant differences between smoker chronic periodontitis and smoker control groups in terms of Osteocalcin and Alkaline phosphatase concentrations. There were non-significant differences between non-smoker chronic periodontitis and non-smoker control groups in terms of Osteocalcin and Alkaline phosphatase concentrations. Conclusion: Within the limits of this study, it may be suggested that suppression of salivary Osteocalcin levels by smoking and slight increase in alkaline phosphatase in smokers groups, may explain the deleterious effects of smoking on periodontal health status.
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
... Show MoreRheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune diseasecharacterized by chronic inflammationthat affects joints and cartilage. Bone complications such asRA-relatedosteoporosis are one of the most extra-articular manifestations. Many inflammatory mediators are released during RA disease pathophysiology; these mediators stimulate osteoclast genesis of bone by direct effects on RANKL and OPG. The study aimedto measure RANKL, OPG in RA patients treated with Etanercept only and other groups treated with Methotrexate onlyat baseline and after three months to evaluate bone state. An observational case-control prospective study was done on 30 RA patients who received MTX, 30 RA patients who received ETN, and 30 healthy,age-matched control groups. The
... Show MoreTo determine the expression of key epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers in gingival tissue samples collected from patients with periodontitis.
Epithelial–mesenchymal transition is a process responsible for shifting epithelial‐phenotype to mesenchymal‐phenotype leading to loss of epithelial‐barrier function. Thus, EMT could be involved as a pathogenic mechanism in periodontitis as both conditions share common promoters and signalling pathways.
Gingival tissue samples were collected fro
Anemia of chronic disease (ACD) and iron deficiency anemia (IDA) are the two most important types of anemia in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Functional iron deficiency in ACD can be attributed to overexpression of the main iron regulatory hormone hepcidin leading to diversion of iron from the circulation into storage sites resulting in iron-restricted erythropoiesis. The aim is to investigate the role of circulating hepcidin and to uncover the frequency of IDA in RA. The study included 51 patients with RA. Complete blood counts, serum iron, total iron binding capacity, ferritin, and hepcidin- 25 were assessed. ACD was found in 37.3% of patients, IDA in 11.8%, and combined (ACD/IDA) in 17.6%. Serum hepcidin was higher in ACD than in con
... Show MoreThe objective of this study is to evaluate plasma levels of total Sialic acid TSA and Lipid –associated Sialic acid LSA as a marker of Rheumatoid Arthritis AR. Plasma Sialic acid is known as a parameter of inflammation. In the present study, in order to explore the potential role of sialic acid in arthritis rheumatoid, plasma sialic acid levels, plasma LSA and total protein in patients with arthritis rheumatoid were measured. A total 40 patients were compared with 40 healthy control subjects. Plasma TSA, LSA and TP level were determined spectrophotometrically in plasma samples. Plasma Sialic acid levels were significantly increased in RA (88.48±14.15 mg/dl, P<0.05) and LSA level were significantly increased in RA (26.3
... Show MoreIn this study, NaOH dissolution method was applied to dissolve cellulose fibers which extracted from date palm fronds (type Al-Zahdi) taken from Iraqi gardens. In this process, (NaOH)-solution is brought into contact with the cellulose fibers at low temperature. Experiments were conducted with different concentrations of NaOH (4%, 6%, 8% and12%) weight percent at two cooling bath temperatures (-15 oC) and (-20oC). Maximum cellulose dissolution was 23 wt% which obtained at 8 wt% concentration of NaOH and at cooling bath temperature of -20oC. In order to enhance the cellulose fibers dissolution, the sample was pretreated with Fenton's reagent which consists of
... Show MoreIn this study, NaOH dissolution method was applied to dissolve cellulose fibers which extracted from date palm fronds (type Al-Zahdi) taken from Iraqi gardens. In this process, (NaOH)-solution is brought into contact with the cellulose fibers at low temperature. Experiments were conducted with different concentrations of NaOH (4%, 6%, 8% and12%) weight percent at two cooling bath temperatures (-15 oC) and (-20oC). Maximum cellulose dissolution was 23 wt% which obtained at 8 wt% concentration of NaOH and at cooling bath temperature of -20oC. In order to enhance the cellulose fibers dissolution, the sample was pretreated with Fenton's reagent which consists of
... Show MoreIn this study, NaOH dissolution method was applied to dissolve cellulose fibers which extracted from date palm fronds (type Al-Zahdi) taken from Iraqi gardens. In this process, (NaOH)-solution is brought into contact with the cellulose fibers at low temperature. Experiments were conducted with different concentrations of NaOH (4%, 6%, 8% and12%) weight percent at two cooling bath temperatures (-15 oC) and (-20oC). Maximum cellulose dissolution was 23 wt% which obtained at 8 wt% concentration of NaOH and at cooling bath temperature of -20oC. In order to enhance the cellulose fibers dissolution, the sample was pretreated with Fenton's reagent which consists of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), oxalic acid (C2H2O4) and ferrous sulfate (FeSO4). This
... Show MoreBackground: Ulcerative colitis disease is a chronic inflammatory condition that affects the gastrointestinal tract. In regulation of this inflammatory process, Interleukin-6, C-reactive proteins and albumin have a major role. Overproduction of IL-6 by immunocompetent cells contributes to activate the liver to produce CRP, transudation of plasma albumin and development of the inflammatory condition. Elevated levels of IL-6 in saliva could be expected, because the saliva-producing cells are part of the digestive system. The purpose of this study was to assess salivary IL-6, CRP and albumin in ulcerative colitis patients in relation to oral findings. Materials and methods: Forty eight saliva specimens collected from three groups of subjects (s
... Show More