Pregnancy and delivery are physiological conditions that are marked by abrupt alterations to hormones, immunological and molecular characters. The current study aimed to evaluate oxytocin (OT), prolactin (PRL), cortisol and insulin growth factor-2 (IGF-2) levels as physiological biomarkers; programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1), programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1),interleukin-6 (IL-6) as immunological biomarkers, and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs; rs53576 and rs2254298) of oxytocin receptor gene OXTR as molecular factors in samples of Iraqi women undergoing caesarean section (CS) and normal delivery (ND). Blood samples were collected from 96 pregnant women at term with ages ranging between 16-43 years. Regarding the physiological biomarkers, the study findings indicated that the change in OT, cortisol and IGF-2 between CS and ND groups was not significant, While the PRL level indicated a highly significant (P≤0.001) decrease in the CS group, especially in comparison with the ND group. Immunological biomarkers demonstrated a significant (P≤05) elevation for PD-1 as well as for PD-L1 in the CS group as compared to the ND group. However, PD-1/PD-L1 ratio revealed a high significant (P≤0.001) rise in CS compared with ND. The IL-6 results revealed a significant (P≤0.001) reduction in the CS groups compared to the ND group. And regarding the SNP of OXTR (rs53576), the findings revealed no notable association in genotypes CC, TC and TT between both groups. In addition, the mutant C allele and the wild T allele revealed no significant association between CS and ND groups [OR=1.26 (0.68-2.3%)]. The SNP results of OXTR (rs2254298) showed a high positive association (P≤0.001) in genotypes GG, AG and AA between CS and ND groups. Also, the mutant G allele and the wild A allele revealed high significance (P≤0.001) between both groups [OR=5.3 (2.8-9.76%)].
A cross-sectional study was conducted on 80 type 2 diabetic patients aged 20-60 years in Baghdad and 20 non diabetic persons as controls. Laboratory assessment of glucose related parameters; Fasting blood sugar (FBS), Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), Insulin and Insulin resistance (IR), renal function test; Blood urea, serum creatinine, Calcium (Ca) and Phosphorus (P), Calcium regulating hormones; Parathyroid hormone (PTH), calcitonin and vitamin D, cytokines, Adiponectin and Tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) and comparison these parameters between patients and controls. The results: a high significant (p˂0.01) increase in FBG level in the patients (211.34 ± 11.20 mg/dl) as compared with control (85.89 ± 3.07 mg/dl). A high significant (p˂0.01
... Show MoreRheumatoid arthritis and periodontitis use analogous effector destructive procedures, in that the inflammatory cells and pro-inflammatory cytokines that drive chronic bone erosion in RA and chronic periodontal destruction in Periodontitis are alike. Periodontitis (PD) has appeared as a hazard factor in a number of health situations as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). To determine the effect of anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha biological treatment (methotrexate and Enbrel or infliximab) on periodontal status of patients having rheumatoid arthritis with periodontitis in comparison to those having periodontitis without rheumatoid arthritis and control healthy subjects and to determine the serum levels of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (ACCP) in t
... Show MoreBegomoviruses infecting zucchini squash were investigated. Leaf samples were collected from zucchini squash growing areas in Baghdad (Jhadryaa and Yusufiyah), Babylon (Jibela and Mahmudiyah) and Diyala (Khan Bani Saad) Provinces. Samples were screened for the presence of begomoviruses using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Deng genus specific primers. Sixteen out of 40 samples were begomovirus positive. Sequence analysis confirmed the detection of Tomato leaf curl Palampur virus (TLCPALV)
This study is carried out to investigate the prevalence of Coxiella burnetii (C. burnetii) infections in cattle using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay targeting IS1111A transposase gene. A total of 130 lactating cows were randomly selected from different areas in Wasit province, Iraq and subjected to blood and milk sampling during the period extended between November 2018 and May 2019. ELISA and PCR tests revealed that 16.15% and 10% of the animals studied were respectively positive. Significant correlations (P<0.05) were detected between the positive results and clinical data. Two positive PCR products were analyzed phylogenetically, named as C. burnetii IQ-No.5 and C. burnet
... Show MoreQ fever is an infectious disease of animals and humans, caused by globally distributed C. burnetii. In Iraq, there are no previous studies associated with the detection of the organism in cattle. An overall of 130 lactating cows were submitted to direct collection of milk samples. Initially, the samples of milk were tested using the molecular polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay targeting three genes (16S rRNA, IS1111a transposase, and htpB). However, positive results (18.46%; 24/130) were detected only with the 16s rRNA gene. Concerning risk factors, the highest prevalence of C. burnetii was showed in the district of Badra (42.86%), whereas the lowest - in Al-Numaniyah and Al-Suwaira districts (P=0.025). There was no significant v
... Show MoreBackground: Asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) is
defined as isolation of a specified quantitative count
of bacteria in an appropriately collected urine
specimen from an individual without symptoms or
signs of urinary tract infection.
Aim of study: To evaluate the frequency of
bacteriuria according to age, pregnancy, and type II
diabetes mellitus in a sample of Iraqi women.
Patients and Methods: A total of 125 female
individuals were involved. The study participants
were classified into the following groups: nonpregnant
women with type II diabetes mellitus,
pregnant women with type II diabetes mellitus,
pregnant women without type II diabetes mellitus, and
apparently healthy non-pregnant women. Urine
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is one of the most common disease and major cause of morbidity in elderly men which may lead to bladder outflow obstruction and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). Although sex steroid hormones play fundamental roles in prostate growth, their clinical significance is not completely clear. In the present study we assessed whether serum hormones levels as markers of prostate disease. This study includes (40) patients with benign prostatic hypertrophy and (40) control group with age rang (41-79) and (42-71) years respectively. The following biochemical investigations have been studied: Testosterone, Estradiol (E2), and Prostatic Specific Antigen (PSA) levels using ELISA method which correlated with t
... Show MoreThe recurrent somatic variations in
The aim of the study was to detect the frequency of R132 mutations in the
A linear and nonlinear theoretical and experimental aeroelastic investigation of a wing-flap-tab typical section model undergoing two-dimensional incompressible airflow is described. The linear flutter velocity (LFV) and frequency are predicted using linear analysis. Then a freeplay structural nonlinearity is considered in the tab. The structural equations of motion have been coupled with Theodorsen aerodynamic theory to produce the theoretical aeroelastic model which is analyzed by a state space method to predict the LFV and flutter frequency. Linear piecewise function has been used to introduce the tab spring stiffness in the freeplay state. The ground vibration test is used to measure the model structural dynamic characteristics. Then th
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