Background: Multiple myeloma (MM) is characterized by clonal proliferation of malignant plasma cells within the bone marrow. In most patients, monoclonal immunoglobulin heavy chains or light chains are produced and are associated with organ dysfunction. The growth factor B-cell activating factor (BAFF) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of multiple myeloma due to its ability to promote B-cell survival, expansion, and differentiation. Objective: to measure the circulatory level of B-cell activating factor in multiple myeloma patients in relapsed and remission states and explore its possible correlations with the clinical staging, β2-microglobulin, and interleukin-6. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 60 multiple myeloma patients, with 30 in remission and 30 in relapse, as well as 20 healthy individuals serving as a control group. The study was conducted in the Hematology department of Baghdad Teaching Hospital in the Medical City Complex from January to September 2020. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique was used to measure plasma levels of B-cell activating factor, β2-microglobulin, and interleukin-6. Results: The B-cell activating factor levels were significantly higher in multiple myeloma patients compared to the control, and in relapsed patients compared to those in remission. The level of B-cell activating factor increased with advanced disease, in both remission and relapse states. There are positive correlations with β2-microglobulin and interleukin-6 levels in both relapsed and remission states. Conclusion: Increased B-cell activating factor level in relapse more than remission states is a useful biomarker of disease activity in multiple myeloma and has positive correlations with β2-microglobulin and interleukin-6 levels.
Aim: To determine the expression of tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMP-2) in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and the difference in its expression level between positive and negative HPV-16 (human papilloma virus- 16) OSCC patients. Methods: This study was conducted on 33 biopsies obtained from patients with OSCC and 10 normal oral mucosa as controls. In situ hybridization (ISH) was used to investigate the presence of HPV-16, while immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used to estimate the expression level of TIMP-2. Results: The TIMP-2 was expressed in 27 (81.8%) of OSCC sections with no significant difference between its expression level in HPV-16 positive and HPV-16 negative OSCC cases (p=0.058). TIMP-2 was found to be hig
... Show MoreThe evaluation of assignment problems for job suppliers is necessary to meet demands; therefore, academics in the operations research field and management factories have paid considerable attention to assignment problems. Notably, because the central point of classical assignment models with parameters assumes that supplier management oversees all inputs and outputs are fixed data, these types of models cannot provide exact and accurate data. Hence, specific inputs and/or outputs can be improper and ambiguous. Consequently, existing studies have explored various approaches to determine an optimal route that corresponds to assignments to suppliers when ambiguous values are involved. However, the computation of multiple routes for each assign
... Show MoreBackground: Malaria remains a leading cause of mortality in sub-Saharan Africa (including Sudan). C-reactive protein (CRP) is useful as a marker of severity in malaria. African studies have shown that serum CRP levels correlate with parasite burden and complications in malaria, especially falciparum. However, there are no data on CRP levels in Sudanese malaria patients.
This study aims to evaluate the association between CRP levels with comorbidities, species, and complications of severe malaria
Subjects and Methods: A cross-sectional study enrolled 65 severe malaria patients at Khartoum state hospitals during the period from April to June2021. Manifestations of severe
... Show MoreBACKGROUND: Carcinoma of urinary bladder is one of the most common malignancies worldwide and constitutes a major health problem. Multiple risk factors are associated with this tumor and its prognosis will depend on different clinicopathological parameters. Over expression of P53 protein and mutant Rb gene is associated with more aggressive clinical and histopathological features of the tumor such as advanced stage and higher grade. AIM: The immunohistochemical expression of Rb gene and P53 gene will be assessed through their protein products in transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the urinary bladder and then will be correlated with other well-known risk factors and prognostic parameters of bladder TCC, such as grading, tumor size, smoking
... Show MoreBackground: Strangles is a highly contagious equine respiratory disease caused by Streptococcus equi subsp. equi. It is a globally significant pathogen and one of the most common infectious agents in horses. In Iraq, no sequencing data on this pathogen are available, and only two molecular studies have been published to date. This study provides preliminary insights into strain diversity and provides a foundation for future large-scale investigations. Aim: This study aimed to investigate the molecular characteristics, identify SeM gene alleles, and perform a phylogenetic analysis of S. equi isolates from horses in Baghdad, Iraq. Methods: We analyzed 59 Streptococcus spp. isolates previously obtained from equine clinical sample
... Show MoreBackground: All diseases concerning bone destruction such as osteoporosis and periodontal diseases share common pattern in which the osteoclast cells are absolutely responsible for bone resorption that occurred when osteoclast activity exceeds osteoblast activity. Osteoprotegrin (OPG) considered as novel soluble decoy receptor known as “bone protector†since it prevents extreme bone resorption through inhibition of differentiation and activity of osteoclast by competing for binding site. It binds to receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL) and prevent its interaction with receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B (RANK), thus inhibits osteoclast formation. TNF-α is a pro-inflammatory cytokines having
... Show MoreIncreased attention to corporate governance with the increasing need for investors and other parties in the Iraqi market for securities of the information credible and confidence and greater transparency in the disclosure as well as the systems of governance lead to raise the value of the company and that by reducing the cost of capital and reduce the cost of financing, as well as that there are indications modern measurement can be adopted by the Iraqi market for securities for the purpose of evaluating the performance of listed companies and then raise their value.
The research problem is that there is no framework or structure of the legal and local rules for the application of corporate governance in Iraq obliges
... Show MoreDensity Functional Theory (DFT) method of the type (B3LYP) and a Gaussian basis set (6-311G) were applied for calculating the vibration frequencies and absorption intensities for normal coordinates (3N-6) at the equilibrium geometry of the Di and Tetra-rings layer (6, 0) zigzag single wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) by using Gaussian-09 program. Both were found to have the same symmetry of D6d point group with C--C bond alternation in all tube rings (for axial bonds, which are the vertical C--Ca bonds in rings layer and for circumferential bonds C—Cc in the outer and mid rings bonds). Assignments of the modes of vibration IR active and inactive vibration frequ
... Show MoreThe Assurance Services Are Represented By Expressing A Clear And Independent Opinion On All Financial And Non-Financial Information, As It Is Broader Than The Services Related To Auditing Financial Statements And Expressing Opinion (Certification) And Extends Them To A Wider Range, And It Is Possible To Distinguish Between Auditing And Certification Services And Confirming That Audit Services Relate To Expressing Opinion On Financial Statements And Certification Services Related To By Expressing An Opinion On A Wide Range Of Financial Information And More Broadly Than The Financial Statements And Assurance Services That Include Expressing An Opinion On Integrated Financial And Non-Financial Information And From This Standpoint Came The I
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