Background: Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease characterized by chronic synovial inflammation. The insufficient immune clearance of the apoptotic cell results into the formation of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies which may play a critical role in the initiations of inflammatory responses. These antibodies together with Matrix Metalloproteinase-3 play an important role in joint destruction in rheumatoid arthritis disease.
Objectives: to study the value of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies, and Matrix Metalloproteinase-3 in differentiation between active and inactive rheumatoid arthritis.
Patients and Methods: A cross- sectional study was conducted on 60 Iraqi patients with rheumatoid arthritis (16

Background: The role of Human papillomaviruses (HPV) in the etiology of ovarian cancer remains unclear and the results are controversial. Several studies have verified the presence of HPV DNA in both malignant and benign ovarian tumors.
Objectives: Determine the percentage of detection of HPV high (16&18) and low risk types (6&11) in surface epithelial ovarian carcinoma compared to benign and control groups.
Materials And Methods: Molecular detection and genotyping of HPV DNA were performed in 76 ovarian tissue blocks by using in situ hybridization (ISH) technique for detecting and localization of high risk HPV (16 and 18) and low risk HPV (6&11) types.
Results: The presence of ISH signals fo

The study aimed to evaluate the level of MMP‑2 in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients in comparison with that in remission status, and healthy subjects, and to find its correlation with hematologic parameters. This study included sixty newly diagnosed AML patients. Remission status was assessed after induction chemotherapy. The overall survival (OS) was determined after 6 months. The plasma MMP‑2 level was measured at diagnosis by enzyme immunoassay. Twenty‑eight healthy individuals were recruited as a control group. Plasma MMP‑2 was higher in AML patients than in healthy individuals (P = 0.005). The level of MMP‑2 was much higher in the M5 subtype than in the other subtypes (P = 0.0001). There was no statistically significant d

Background:  The most typical consequence of diabetes mellitus is diabetic retinopathy. An important part of the etiology of diabetes and diabetic retinopathy is played by oxidative stress. Malondialdehyde is a dialdehyde that is moderately toxic and is frequently used as a marker for oxidative stress as well as lipid peroxidation.                    

Objectives: To assess the serum malondialdehyde levels in diabetic patients with and those without retinopathy and to compare these levels to controls .In additions to, investigate the relationship between serum malondialdehyde level and long glycemic control, the glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c).

Pati

Kefir is fermented milk made from kefir grains consist mainly of lactic acid bacteria and yeast, it has several health-promoting properties, such as antimicrobial ,antitumoral, and immunomodulating effects. However, there are few scientific reports about the effects of kefir on parasites. This work, studied the biological activity of kefir fermented against Entamoeba histolytica parasite in mice at concentration (100% and 50%) compared with the metronidazole (flagyl) drug at concentration (30 mg\ml). The results showed that infected mice treated with kefir(100% and 50%) complete the eradication of parasite after (6th and 8th day) respectively post inoculation while in metronidazole treated group the complete the eradication occur after (

Background: Chronic gastritis (CG) is histopathological entity characterized by chronic inflammation of the stomach that mostly caused by Helicobacter pylori, development of
inflammation in gastric mucosa result in release of pro- and anti- inflammatory cytokines .This study aimed to shed light on the role of cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-8, IL-4, IL-10, and GM-CSF) in the
development and prognosis of CG among Iraqi patients.
Patients and methods: 100 Iraqi patients with CG (61 male and 39 female) with age range (10-79) year, were involved in this stady while attending Specialist Hospital of Disease of Liver and Gastrointestinal System at Baghdad Medical City from Nov. 2007 to Apr. 2008. Patients divided accordi

Background: Oral carcinogenesis is a molecular and histological multistage process featuring genetic and phenotypic markers for each stage, which involves enhanced function of several oncogenes and/or the deactivation of tumor suppressor genes, resulting in the loss of cell cycle checkpoints. The progression towards malignancy includes sequential histopathological alterations ranging from hyperplasia through dysplasia to carcinoma in situ and invasive carcinoma. The p16 gene produces p16 protein, which in turn inhibits phosphorylation of retinoblastoma, p16 play a significant role in early carcinogenesis. Human papillomavirus is a well established heterogeneous virus and plays an important role in oral cancers. The aims of the study were to

During recent years, there has been an increasing interest in the investigation of the cytokines roles in pathogenesis of cancer, thus the study aimed at evaluating the level of tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-?) in sera of Iraqi multiple myeloma (MM) patients. Beta 2-microglobulion (?2-m) was assessed to determine if there was any association between this cytokine and the level of ?2- m, as the latter is related to the stage of the disease. In addition, the age and gender were also taken into consideration. Furthermore, we investigated the relationship between IgG and TNF-? in sera of patients. 49 Iraqi patients (27 males and 22 females).The patients were also divided into two groups: the first group included (17) patients who were

Background: Hypertension is probably the most important public health problem around the world. People with periodontal disease may be at greater risk of hypertension. The inflammatory effects of periodontal disease help to promote endothelial dysfunction in arteries which may lead to changes in blood pressure. Salivary MMP-8 has been associated with both periodontal disease and prevalent hypertension. Aim of study: This study was conducted to measure salivary matrix metalloproteinase - 8, in relation to periodontal health condition among a group of patients with hypertension in comparison with control group. Materials and methods: Ninety subjects, aged 45-50 years old were included in this study, seeking treatment for chest pain in Ibn-A