Interleukin-1 β (IL-1 β) is considered to be one of the most important mediators in the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases, particularly in neurodegenerative diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS). MS is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized with demyelination in central nervous system (CNS). There was believe that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in IL-1β gene can alter the structure and function of the IL-1β and consequently may have play role in MS disease. In this this study the IL-1β gene polymorphism (rs16944, rs1143634) and their association with MS in Iraqi patients were investigated. Two SNPs including IL-1β-511 (rs16944) in promoter and IL-1B+3962 (rs1143634) in encoding region, were studied using Polyme

Background : To assess the actual practice of breast self-examination (BSE), as an early detection tool for breast cancer, among a sample of patients affected with breast cancer in Iraq.Methods: A random sample of 200 female patients with breast cancer was analyzed to evaluate the extent of their actual practice of breast self-examination before the diagnosis of the disease.  The examined variables included the age of the patients, marital status, education, occupation, smoking habit, family history of cancer, frequency of gravidity, parity and abortions. Results: The age of patients ranged from (24-70) years with a mean age of 48 years. The highest frequency of the examined sample

Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are enzymes that included, in a more range of detoxifying reactions by conjugation of glutathione, to electrophilic material. Polymorphisms n the genes that responsible of GSTs affect, the function of the GSTs. GSTs play an active role in protection of cell against oxidative stress mechanism. Polymorphisms of GSTP1 at codon 105 amino acids forms GSTP1 important site for bind of hydrophobic electrophiles and the substitution of Ile/Val affect substrate specially catalytic activity of the enzyme and may correlate with reach to different diseases in human like diabetes mellitus type2 disease. Correlation between these polymorphisms and changes in the parameters file of diabetic patients has also bee

       Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is one of the commonest hematological malignancies affecting children and adults. Recent evidence suggests an involvement of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in ALL pathogenicity. Epigenetic aberration, especially altered DNA methylation marks, is a key event of cancer development. The present study aims to investigate how the ALL epimethylome reacts to viral infection through the assessment of the total 5-methylcytosine (5mC) levels in ALL patients, according to EBV infection. The 5mC global DNA methylation levels in 50 diagnosed ALL patients (age mean 26.23 yrs; age range 10-60 yrs) and 25 age-matched healthy controls were assessed using MethylFlash™ Methylated DNA Quantification Kit. Acute pri

Background: Infertility is recognized as the incapability of infertile couples to become pregnant following one year of unsafe intercourse, with male factors accounting for roughly half of the documented instances. Several reasons for male infertility factors have been reported; however, the actual cause in the majority of cases remains unknown.

Objective: To study prospectively the outcome of N-acetylcysteine on semen parameters in males with oligoasthenoteratozoospermia.

Patient and methods: A total 45 patients with idiopathic oligoasthenoteratozoospermia have received N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) for 12 weeks, their seminal fluid parameters were measured at the baseline and a

Background: Since the introduction of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) inhibitors including etanercept, their efficacy and safety in treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have been studied in many randomized controlled clinical trials. However, data regarding predictors of clinical response to anti-TNF therapy are still sparse.
Objective: To assess the predictors of response to etanercept in treatment of Iraqi patients with active RA.
Methods: An open label single group prospective study was conducted over 15 months on 190 Iraqi patients with RA. All the included patients were given etanercept at a dose of 50 mg by subcutaneous injection on
a weeklybases. Each patient was followed at regular intervals of bas

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disorder of the joints that is characterized by extra-articular involvement in addition to inflammatory arthritis. Joint and periarticular tissue loss brought on by inflammation results in functional impairment. To lessen the significant daily challenges that patients confront and to ensure better outcomes, early detection and treatment are essential. The study's objective was to establish the use of human β-defensin-2 (HBD-2) as a RA diagnostic marker. A total of 60 RA patients and 30 healthy controls participated in the research. The ELISA technique was used to measure serum HBD-2. The following tests were performed: complete blood count (CBC), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), renal func

The level of liver enzymes and kidney functions in pregnant women in the second trimester of pregnancy at different age groups was determined. This study is composed of fifty pregnant women in the second trimester of pregnancy and were classified into two subgroups; first group included twenty-five pregnant with an age between 22-30 years, a second group included twenty-five pregnant with an age 35-42 years. A control group included twenty-five non-pregnant, healthy women was also included. Blood samples were obtained from each group, centrifuged, serum was collected from each group to measure liver enzymes (AST, ALT and ALP) and kidney function tests (urea and creatinine) were measured using enzymatic kits. The results of present study

The effect of toxoplasmosis infection on liver and kidney functions among pregnant women in Abo-Gharib District- Iraq was studied. Forty women that had positive test for toxoplasmosis by ELISA test were participated in this study. Also control group of apparently healthy women was selected (ten total women). This group had negative test for toxoplasmosis (ELISA test). The venous blood was collected from each patient and control individual to obtain serum. Liver function was evaluated by the estimation of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST/GOT), serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT/ GPT) and serum alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) activities. Kidney function was evaluated by the estimation of serum creatinine and urea concentrations by the enz