It was aimed to understand the interleukin-4 (IL-4) role in etio-pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Two approaches were adopted. In the first one, a quantitative expression of IL4 gene was assessed by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), and such findings were correlated with some demographic, clinical and laboratory parameters, which included gender, duration of disease, disease activity score (DAS-28), rheumatoid factors (RFs), C-reactive protein (CRP) and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (ACCP) antibodies. In the second approach, a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of IL4 gene (rs2243250) was inspected by DNA sequencing using specific primers. Fifty-one Iraqi RA patients (22 males and 29 fem

The multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) considers a post-infectious immunological response to coronavirus illness (COVID-19) that was originally identified in the United Kingdom and later identified in other countries.  A previously healthy 3-month-old boy was admitted to hospital context with -5-day history of fever, gastrointestinal symptoms [diarrhea, vomiting of normal gastric contents], hypoactivity, and poor oral intake, but so far no history of covid-19 active disease. The infant was dehydrated, with macular non-blanching skin rash everywhere over his body and widespread non-pitting edema. With supportive measures, methylprednisolone and IV immunoglobulin, the child improved, with his fever, skin rash, and labor

Background: The gene responsible for encoding the protein of cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) has been found to be associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in different ethnic populations. But the association of +49A/G CTLA-4 polymorphism with susceptibility of RA among Iraqi Arab populations has not yet been determined. Methods: One hundred and seventy-eight patients were examined, 67 of them were males (mean age 54.71 ± 10.4 years), while 167 were examined for the control group, of whom 64 were males and the rest were females. CTLA-4 DNA genotyping was carried on to determine the +49 A/G (rs231775) polymorphism using a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Enzyme-linked immuno

Infectious diseases pose a global challenge, necessitating an exploration of novel methodologies for diagnostics and treatments. Since the onset of the most recent pandemic, COVID-19, which was initially identified as a worldwide health crisis, numerous countries experienced profound disruptions in their healthcare systems. To combat the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, governments across the globe have mobilized significant efforts and resources to develop treatments and vaccines. Researchers have put forth a multitude of approaches for COVID-19 detection, treatment protocols, and vaccine development, including groundbreaking mRNA technology, among others.

This matter represents not only a scientific endeavor but also an essenti

Amygdalin (d-Mandelonitrile 6-O-β-d-glucosido-β-d-glucoside) and its semi synthetic product is Laetrile ( also called vitamin B17): a natural cyanogenic glycoside occurring in the seeds of some edible plants, such as bitter almonds and peaches. Early in the 19th century, Amygdalin was first isolated in 1830 by two French chemists, Robiquet and Boutron-Charlard, as active components in various fruit pits and raw nuts. However, the systematized study of vitamin B17 started when chemist Bohn (1802) discovered that a hydrocyanic acid is released during distillation of the water from bitter almonds. The various pharmacological effects of Laetrile include antiatherogenic, activity in renal fibrosis, pulmonary fibrosis, immune regulation, ant

Seeds, beans, leaves, fruit peel and seeds of five plants (Ferula assa-foetida, Coffea robusta, Olea europaea, Punica granatum and Vitis vinifera, respectively) were extracted with four solvents (distilled water, 80% methanol, 80% acetone and a mixed solvent that included methanol, ethanol, acetone and n-butanol at proportions 7:1:1:1). Such manipulation yielded 20 extracts, which were phytochemically analyzed for total polyphenols (TP) and flavonoids (TF). The DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging activity (RSA) and DPP-4 (dipeptidyl peptidase-4) relative inhibition activity (RIA) were also assessed for each extract. The results revealed that mixed solvent extract of V.

In this work a novel drug delivery system through modification of poly acrylic acid with Methionine as a spacer between the poly acrylic acid which was converted to its acyl chloride and reacted with Methionine as spacer unit which has been reacted with Ampicillin drug. In vitro drug release study had been conducted successfully in basic medium in pH 7.4 and acidic medium in pH 1.1 at 37?. Due to many problems associated with drug release and, this modification could decrease the side effect of drug. The prepared prodrug polymer was characterized by spectra method [FTIR and 1H?NMR]. Physical properties and intrinsic viscosity of drug polymer were determined. The good results were obtained in the presence of spacer unit with compar

    The plant Borago officinalis, which belongs to the Boraginaceae family and Celebrated as borage, is one of the useful medicinal plants cultivated in Iraq. It was used in olde medicine in Iraq, Irane, Syria and Europe for management of various diseases. It is commonly used as an atonic, tranquilliser, management of cough, sore throat, pneumonia, swelling, inflammatory diseases, antioxidant, and anticancer. This project provides the first comprehensive research done in Iraq to study the phytochemicals and the methods of extraction and isolation of active constituents from Borago officinalis cultivated in Iraq. The plant was harvested in spring from AL-Rifai, Nassiriyah city, IRAQ in February 2019.were w

The efficiency of attapulgite liners as anti-seepage for crude oil is examined. Consideration is given to the potential use of raw attapulgite and mixture attapulgite with prairie hay and coconut husk as liners to prevent crude oil seepage. Attapulgite clay used in this study was brought from Injana formation /Western Desert of Iraq. Two types of Crude oil brought from Iraqi oil fields were used in experiments; heavy crude oil from East-Baghdad oil field and light crude oil from Nassiriya oil field. Initially the basic properties of attapulgite and crude oils were determined. The attapulgite clay was subjected to mineralogical, chemical and scanning electron microscope analyses. Raw Attapulgite 150µm, 75µm, and 53µm were tested