Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory skin condition characterized by uncontrolled keratinocyte proliferation and potential systemic manifestations. Its pathogenesis involves activation of both innate and adaptive immune responses, leading to an imbalance in inflammatory cytokines. Interleukin (IL)-12 and IL-23 are key cytokines in the pathophysiology of psoriasis and sustain chronic skin inflammation. Biologic therapies, such as ustekinumab (UST), have been developed to induce long-term remission in moderate-to-severe psoriasis. The objective of this study was to identify differences in serum levels of inflammatory biomarkers [erythrocyte sedimentation rate, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), IL-12, IL-17, IL-22, and IL-23] between optimal and suboptimal responder Iraqi patients with moderate-to-severe plaque-type psoriasis treated with UST. Clinical response was assessed using the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score, and patients were divided into two groups: Group 1, patients with an optimal response (PASI ≤ 3); and Group 2, patients with a suboptimal response (PASI > 3). Optimal responders demonstrated significantly greater improvement in PASI and body surface area percent change compared to suboptimal responders (p = 0.001 for both). In contrast, suboptimal responders exhibited significantly higher levels of hs-CRP, IL-17, IL-22, and IL-23, indicating a greater inflammatory burden among individuals with an inadequate clinical response. These findings suggest that patients with persistent disease activity have an elevated pro-inflammatory cytokine environment, which may contribute to their reduced therapeutic response. Cytokine levels may serve as crucial indicators that optimal responders achieve not only skin clearance but also deeper, systemic control of the inflammatory disease process.
Background: Visfatin is a novel adipokine that mainly secreted by visceral adipose tissue, had an important role in inflammation and immune system. Creatine Kinase (CK) which is an enzyme that is involved in energy metabolism, found in large amounts in myocardium, brain and skeletal tissues. This study is carried out To evaluate the periodontal health status of the study groups (chronic periodontitis and chronic periodontitis with coronary atherosclerosis) and control groups, to measure the salivary levels of visfatin and Creatine Kinase in these groups and compare between them, and to determine the correlations between salivary visfatin and Creatine Kinase levels with the periodontal parameters in the three groups. Materials and Methods: e
... Show MoreThis study aimed to estimate the serum levels of interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1α) and interleukin-36 alpha (IL-36α) in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and to examine their relationship with age and body mass index (BMI). A total number of collected specimens are 75, which were 45 patients and 30 healthy control women participated in this study from different private clinics in Baghdad/ Iraq, for the period starting December 2023 to February 2024. The age ranges for both patients and controls was 18–40 years, with mean ages of 25.60 ± 6.38 years for patients and 29.44 ± 11.61 years for controls. BMI was determined for all participants, revealing a statistically highly
... Show MoreBackground: Atherosclerosis is well known related to age and certain cardiovascular diseases. Aging is one reason of arteries function deterioration which can cause loss of compliance and plaque accumulation, this effect increases by the presence of certain diseases such as hypertension and diabetes disease. Aim: To investigate the reduction of blood supply to the brain in patients with diabetes and hypertension with age and the role of resistive index in the diagnosis of reduced blood flow. Method: Patients with both diseases diabetic and hypertension were classified according to their age to identify the progression of the disease and factors influencing the carotid artery blood flow. By using ultrasound and standard Doppler techniq
... 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 MorePrevious studies indicated that supplementation with antioxidants has a protective effects against oxidative stress–induced damage in type 2 diabetes. In this study we evaluated the antioxidant effects of melatonin on the oxidative stress parameters and microalbuminuria in type 2 DM patients. 30 patients with type 2 DM were treated with 3mg/day melatonin for 90 days. Erythrocytes and plasma MDA and glutathione, fasting plasma glucose, %HbAIC, microalbuminuria, total plasma protein and lipid profile were measured each 30 days and compared with those obtained from 20 healthy controls.
A decrease in MDA levels associated with the elevation in GSH levels were observed, compared with the pre–treatment levels.
... Show MorePrednisolone (SAID) was conjugated with ibuprofen (NSAID) through an amino acid (glycine) as a spacer arm to synthesize the following compound:
Prednisolone – glycine – ibuprofen.
The method employed consists of converting the carboxylic acid function of (R,S) – ibuprofen – glycine to the highly reactive acid chloride and subsequent reaction with the C21 hydroxyl group of prednisolone. This reactive intermediate was found to react as well with the C17 tertiary hydroxyl group of the steroid to form three compounds and eight diastereomers. These results were confirmed by T.L.C, and the desired compound was separated by column chromatograph
... Show More5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is a widely used chemotherapeutic agent, but its hepatotoxic potential poses clinical challenges, as it induces oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis in liver tissue. Butein, a natural chalcone flavonoid that possesses varied biological activity, such as anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antiplatelet effects. This study aimed to evaluate the possible protective effects of Butein against 5-FU-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Male albino rats were divided into 4 Groups (of 7 animals each): control, 5-FU, and two Butein-pretreated Groups (50 and 100 mg/kg/day, orally for 14 days) each before a single intraperitoneal dose of 150 mg/kg 5-FU, which was injected on day 14. Serum liver enzymes (ALT and AST), cytokines
... Show MoreBackground: With the increasing demands for adult orthodontics, a growing need arises to bond attachments to porcelain surfaces. Optimal adhesion to porcelain surface should allow orthodontic treatment without bond failure but not jeopardize porcelain integrity after debonding.The present study was carried out to compare the shear bond strength of metal bracket bonded to porcelain surface prepared by two mechanical treatments and by using different etching systems (Hydrofluoric acid 9% and acidulated phosphate fluoride 1.23%). Materials and Methods: The samples were comprised of 60 models (28mm *15mm*28mm) of metal fused to porcelain (feldspathic porcelain). They were divided as the following: group I (control): the porcelain surface left u
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