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To determine the association between cigarette smoking and oxidative stress, a study was conducted in the period from January 2020 to April 2021, at College of Medicine, Al-Nahrain University, Baghdad, Iraq. The Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique was utilized for measurement the antioxidant enzymes including: Glutathione superoxide (GPX) and catalase (CAT) and the biomarker of lipid peroxidation Malondialdehyde (MDA). Also, the gene expression of Nrf2 and HO-1were determined by using RT-PCR technique. The results indicate lower level of both GPX and CAT (p £ 0.001) in smokers compared with non-smokers. While the result of MDA indicate higher level in smokers (p£0.001) compared with nonsmokers. The Nrf2 and HO-1 gene expression was lower in smokers (p£0.001) compared with non-smokers. Thus, we may conclude that smokers are exposed to more oxidative stress compared to the non-smokers group led to alterations in gene expression, enzymatic activities and MDA level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cigarette smoking is a lifestyle behavior that causes significant adverse health effects. Cigarette smoke contains chemicals, many of which are lead to the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can lead to apoptosis and autophagy. To estimate the association of Cigarette smoking with the autophagy and immunity, technology of real time polymerase chain reaction (RTPCR) for gene expression of (LC3A, LC3B, LC3C, myd88) was used. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique was utilized to measurement the amount of TNF-a protein. The ratios of LC3A/LC3B and LC3B/LC3C were calculated to estimate the autophagy flux. The results indicate the expression of LC3B, LC3C and Myd88 genes in smokers is increased significantly (p £ 0.001) compared with non-smokers. While the expression of LC3A gene is decreased significantly. Findings show that the serum mean concentration of (TNF-α) for smokers group is increased significantly (p £ 0.001). The ratio of LC3A/Lc3B is increased highly significant (p £0.001) in smokers individuals. While there is no significant differences in the ratio of LC3B/LC3C between smokers and non-smokers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autophagy and inflammasome are crucial for controlling Toxoplasma gondii infection. T. gondii infection during pregnancy can cause damage to the fetus, birth defects, reduced birth weight, and congenital disorders. The aim of the study is to investigate the expression of LC3C, NLRP3 and MYD88 in placental tissue with all study groups. One hundred ninety-one women participated in this study: 92 with spontaneous abortion positive for toxoplasmosis, 84 with spontaneous abortion negative for toxoplasmosis and 15 women undergoing elective termination (induced abortion). Immunohistochemistry streptavidin-peroxidase (SP) assay was used to detect the protein expression of LC3C, NLRP3 and MYD88 in the trophoblastic tissue. Our result of the positive group showed that LC3C and NLRP3 were mainly expressed in the nucleus and cytoplasm of trophoblastic cells and an inflammatory cell, while MYD88 was expressed in the cytoplasm of trophoblastic cells and an inflammatory cell. The expression of LC3C, NLRP3 and MYD88 in the positive group was significantly higher than that in the negative group and induced abortion (p<0.001), these results suggest the increased expression of LC3C, NLRP3 and MYD88 in placental tissues may be associated with spontaneous abortion in infected women. In conclusion, these results suggest the increased expression of LC3C, NLRP3, and MYD88 in placental tissues may be associated with spontaneous abortion in infected women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cellular immune response and apoptotic pathways are closely related dose dependent responses against Echinococcus granulosus antigens. The aim of this study is to evaluate the cellular expression of Bax, Bcl-2 and Caspase-3 in both liver and spleen of experimentally cystic echinococcosis mice treated with Oxfendazole, Oxfendazole +Praziquantel, Oxfendazole +Albendazole and Albendazole +Praziquantel of experimentally mice model of cystic echinococcosis. After 2 months of treatment, mice were sacrificed and both liver and spleen were processed for immunohistochemistry staining protocol using specific primary antibody against mouse Bax, Bcl-2 and Caspase-3 proteins. The results showed that E. granulosus infection able to induce apoptosis in both liver and spleen tissues after induction of cystic echinococcosis mice model, treatment with Albendazole in combination form gives better results because of attenuation of apoptosis pathway and restore of normal cellular behavior. In conclusion, this study describes the involvement of apoptosis in the pathogenesis of cystic echinococcosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Toll like recptor-4 protein level increased due to cellular activation during inflammatory process. This study aimed to measurement of seminal plasma TLR-4 in association with seminal fluid analysis parameters. A total of 170 semen samples were collected from infertile men attending High Institute of Infertility Diagnosis and Assisted Reproductive Technology, AL-Nahrain University, Baghdad. Semen samples were processed according to WHO manual 2010 and seminal plasma were used for TLR-4 measurement using sandwich ELISA kit. The results showed that an elevated TLR-4 was associated with reduction of grade A motility (r = -0.510) and increased grade D motility (r = 0.680), round cell count (r = 0.228). Interestingly, it was not related to the leukocyte number (r = 0.126). Toll Like Receptor-4 was evident in seminal plasma, its concentration is related inversely with sperm motility and its independent on leukocytospermia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The infection by hepatitis C virus caused liver diseases such as: chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The current study aims to investigate the rate of HCV genotypes, subtypes, viral load and antibody immune response among Iraqi chronic hepatitis patients. During 2012-2017 period seventy-hundred and twenty tow hepatitis patients were referred to Middle East Laboratory from Baghdad and other provinces asking for HCV viral load, its genotype and anti-HCV antibody determination. A cross six years records, HCV genotype 4 was the most prevalent among Iraqi chronic hepatitis patients (46.68%), then genotype 1 (37.12%). There is notable changes in HCV genotypes distribution especially during 2017, where the genotype 1 predominantly found (52.63%). Although, these genotypes were none significantly associated with gender, age, viral load or anti-HCV antibody. This study recordindicates a recent change in the rate of HCV genotype 1 over genotype 4 infection in Iraqi chronic hepatitis patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asthma is chronic inflammatory disease affecting 5% of world population. Characterized by eosinophilic type2 inflammation. FKBP51 immunophilin, important modular protein of glucocorticoid receptor (GR). We aimed to evaluate immunocytochemical localization of GR and FKBP51 in induced sputum cells by using immunocytochemical method and immunofluorescent ant-FKBP51 and anti -GR antibody and estimation of IgE and Type 2 inflammatory cytokine IL-5,IL-13 by ELISA technique.GR in the sputum show non-significant decrease of cytoplasmic distribution of the patient groups and highly significant increase in steroid treated patients and non-significant increase in nuclear distribution in non-steroid, FKBP51 nuclear localization show non-significant increase in steroid treated and more than control and non-steroid treated patient and non-significant decrease in cytoplasmic localization in asthmatic than control. IgE serum level was highly significant elevated in both asthmatic groups when compared to control (P<0.001), it was in ICS treated asthmatics 297.59± 33.89 IU/ml, in nonsteroid treated 278.23±84.9IU/ml and in control 36.25±7.45 IU/ml, IL-5 show highly significant increase (P<0.001) in both steroid treated and non-steroid asthmatics, but not in control subjects it was 21.82±7.4Pg/ml, 17.97±4.02Pg/ml and 11.08±0.55Pg/ml, respectively, IL-13 show non-significant increase in asthmatic groups when compared to control, it was 32.58±1.8Pg/ml, 29.14±2.76Pg/ml and 15.8±1.15Pg/ml, respectively. It can be concluded that elevated FKBP51 localization in nucleus in steroid treated patients associated with asthma type 2 inflammation cytokine increase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The circumventricular organs (CVOs) are peculiar structures that border the brain ventricles, they are highly vascularized and lined by a specialized ependymal cells called tanycytes. There are seven CVOs that are generally characterized by deficient blood brain barrier and can be classified into two main groups (sensory& secretory CVOs). The sulcus medianus organum (SMO) is a previously described CVO, is located at the floor of the fourth ventricle at the rostral part of median sulcus, little information is available about this region of the brain. This research performed an immunohistochemical study considering the astrocytes and the ependymal lining of this region to explore the previous observations that suggest it as a CVO. Twenty adult male rats (Rattus Norvegius Albinus) aged 3-6 months were used to study the immunohistochemistry of the SMO & the median eminence (ME) which was used as a control region since it was a known CVO lined by specialized ependymal cells (tanycytes). The immunohistochemical study involved the use of (ZO-1 antibody) to detect the tight junctions and (GFAP antibody) to evaluate the distribution of the astrocytes and their foot processes in this region. The immunohistochemical labeling findings showed a ZO-1 antibody reactivity that forms a continuous green line at the apical aspects of the ependymal lining of both SMO & ME. The GFAP antibody labeling in the ME region was most marked at the lateral aspects at a sub-ependymal level while that of the SMO showed a sporadic distribution of the astrocytes. Conclusively, the SMO region contain an ependymal lining cells that could be regarded as a tanycytes-like cells & The GFAP immunohistochemical reactivity in the region of SMO showed diffuse stellate astrocytes that may indicate the formation of glia limitans related to blood brain barrier in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Measles is a highly contagious viral disease. It remains an important cause of death among young children globally, despite the availability of a safe and effective vaccine. Measles transmitted via droplets from the nose, mouth or throat of infected persons. Objective: To evaluate the immune response to measles infection among immunized school aged children, and to detect the cluster of differentiation 46 single nucleotide polymorphism (CD46 SNP) in association with the immune response. Methods: The current study is a cross sectional study including 158 hospitalized patients were previously vaccinated with two doses of measles-mumps-rubella vaccine. The ages of patients were 5-10 years school aged children. All samples were collected from blood collection unit in Al-Imamein Al- Kadhimein Medical city during the period from December 2018 to April 2019. The detection was based on the presence of IgG Antibody to measles. The positive results were considered according to enzyme linked immunosorbant assay and conventional polymerase chain reaction to detect CD46 SNP. Results: Among those 158 subjects' male children count for 62% and female children were 38%. Forty-one (41) immunized children (with mean age 7.98±1.92 years) were low immune response to measles vaccine (MV). On the other hand, only two cases (with mean age 5.50±0.71 years) were negative to measles virus vaccine. Conclusion: Ensuring two doses of MV give protective immune response to MV may declines with aging. CD46 cellular receptor gene SNP (rs7144) may play role in reduction in immune response to MV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The infection by hepatitis C virus causedliver diseases such as:chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The current study aims to investigate the rate of HCV genotypes, subtypes, viral load and antibody immune response among Iraqi chronic hepatitis patients. Methodology: During 2012-2017 period seventy-hundred and twenty tow hepatitis patients were referred to Middle East Laboratory from Baghdad and other provinces asking for HCV viral load, its genotype and anti-HCV antibody determination. Results: A cross six years records, HCV genotype 4 was the most prevalent among Iraqi chronic hepatitis patients (46.68%), then genotype 1 (37.12%).There is notable changes in HCV genotypes distribution especially during 2017, where the genotype 1 predominantly found (52.63%). Although, these genotypes were none significantly associated with gender, age, viral load or anti-HCV antibody. Conclusion: This recordindicates a recent change in the rate of HCV genotype 1 over genotype 4 infection in Iraqi chronic hepatitis patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Inflammasome pathway has been linked in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS) disease and its expression may be linked to the response to treatment. This study aims to evaluate inflammasome protein and mRNA expression and activating cytokines (interleukin [IL] 1B and IL18) in MS patients undergoing the first line and second line of treatment. Materials and Methods: In this study, 60 MS patients whom attended the MS clinic in the medical city of Baghdad. 30 from them on the first-line drug which includes interferon-beta and 30 on the second-line drugs which include fingolimod and natalizumab and 30 apparently healthy controls included in this study. Nucleotide-binding and oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) mRNA expression was evaluated using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and NLRP3, IL-18, and IL-1β plasma level were estimated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: This study found that the mRNA expression of NLRP3 was significantly higher in patients compared to controls (P < 0.001), as well as the plasma concentration of NLRP3, IL-18, and IL-1β was significantly higher in patients than controls (P < 0.001). In another hand, this study found that there is no significant difference in the expression of NLRP3 and the plasma level of NLRP3, IL-18, and IL-1β between patients who are on the first line and those on the second-line drugs (P = 0.382, 0.449, 0.197, and 0.327, respectively). Conclusion: The NLRP3 expression and activation might govern the inflammatory process in MS disease, and it might be affected equally by treatment with the first line and second line of treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complex interplay between H. pylori and autophagy was elucidated in gastritis in term of host defense and survival of microbe. However, H. pylori frequently succeed in their survival and develops more aggressive tissue damage by different ways. A total of 80 gastritis patients undergoing gastroscopy during September, 2013 to August, 2014. Formalin fixed paraffin embedded gastric tissue were prepared for immunohistochemistry evaluation of ATG16L1, LC3C and vacA protein expression. Rapid urease test was used to discriminate between H. pylori or none H. pylori gastritis. Xenophagy index was elevated among both urease and IgG positive cases (29.86% and 27.13%) compared with negative cases (13.43% and 17.6% respectively (p<0.001). vacA have been found in 62.5% of urease positive cases and 55.88% of IgG positive cases. The higher xenophagy index score found to be associated with vacA positive cases (p=0.002). Xenophagy index to be associated with chronic H. pylori infection and this might be related to vacA positivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Human Adenovirus (ADV) is one of highly prevalent viruses worldwide, after primary infection, it remains latent and then might reactivate in immunocompromised patients. High ADV viremia seen in renal transplant recipients (RTR) with clinical presentations range from asymptomatic viremia to respiratory and gastrointestinal disease hemorrhagic cystitis, graft dysfunction and severe disseminated disease. Objective The objectives of this study are to determine the rate of occurrence of ADV viremia by quantitative Real time PCR (QRT-PCR) in RTR and correlate them with urine cytology results, renal function tests and patients' hematological parameters. Methods Seventy-one renal transplant recipients (RTR) were enrolled in this study. Whole blood samples (3 ml) divided into two parts, one part for complete blood picture and differential count and other part from which plasma separated and subjected to viral DNA extraction and then ADV Taqman QRT-PCR analysis for viral load measurement. Five ml urine specimens were collected for Pap-stained urine cytology. Results Out of 71 RTR, 15 (21.12%) had positive ADV viremia by QRT-PCR, with a mean viral load 4.0 x107± 1.9 x108 copies/ml, and 80% (12 out of the 15) of positive viremia patients aged more than 40 years (p=0.011). All of RTRs 15/15 (100%) had symptomatic urinary tract infection (UTI) (p=0.039), and 5 out of 9 patients who had lymphopenia had positive viremia (p=0.007). Pap-stained urine cytology smears showed that 39/71 (55.71%) of the RTRs had positive decoy cells (DC), but there was no significant correlation between ADV viremia and the presence of DC (p=0.107). Conclusion The present study showed the prevalence of ADV viremia in RTRs, with very high viral load, which is associated with lymphopenia and overt clinical features, this suggests that ADV might be an important cause of morbidity in RTRs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background:inflammasome protein govern the inflammatory process. The elevation of NLRP3 inflammasome might be related to bad seminal fluid analysis results. Objectives:This study aimed to evaluate seminal plasma NLRP3 protein and its relation with seminal fluid analysis parameters before and after in vitro sperm activation. Patients and Methods: a total of 50 infertile patients were collected form higher institute of infertility diagnosis and assisted reproductive technique, there semen samples were processed for seminal fluid analysis before and after in vitro sperm activation. NLRP3 inflammasome protein were measured in seminal plasma. Results:the mean level of NLRP3 protein was 5.12 ng/ml. the higher level of NLRP3 protein (4.5ng/ml) associated with lower sperm concentration, grade A, B, C and higher level of grade D motility. However, 50% of those patients have an improvement in their seminal fluid analysis after in vitro sperm activation. Conclusion:Elevation of NLRP3 protein in seminal plasma may be associated with the increased leukocytospermia, bad sperm quality and unresponsiveness to in vitro sperm activation among infertile male. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background:Although progress was made in an in vitro fertilization (IVF) techniques, the majority of transferred embryos fail to implant. Morphology embryo scoring is the standard procedure for most of IVF centers for choosing the best embryo, but remains limited since even the embryos classified as (top quality) may not implant. Determining molecular mechanisms of human embryo implantation is an extremely challenging task due to the limitation of materials and significant differences underlying this process among mammalian species. L-Selectin and its ligand carbohydrate have been proposed as a system that mediates initial adhesion of human blastocysts to the uterine epithelia. Objectives:Quantitative evaluation of soluble L-Selectin molecule in an in-vitro culture media used for in vitro fertilization. Determine cut-off value of soluble L-Selectin quantity to be as qualitative predictor of successful implantation Patients and Methods: This prospective study was undertaken in the High Institute of Infertility diagnosis and assisted Reproductive Technologies/ Al-Nahrain University/ Baghdad/ Iraq, during the period from september2017 to April 2018.A total of 74 infertile women were underwent controlled ovarian hyper stimulation for intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycle. Fixable antagonist protocol was used as ovulation induction protocol in all the case .culture media L-Selectin level were measured on the day of embryo transfer by using Enzyme linked immune sorbent assay (ELISA) for all cases . Comparison in culture media L-Selectin was done to all cases. Results: There was no significant difference between pregnant and non-pregnant groups in age , BMI, and level of basal hormone FSH, LH , AMH and E2 in the day of hCG injection, and significant difference in the level of L-Selectin in pregnant compared to non-pregnant groups. Conclusion: Level of L-Selectin concentration in embryo culture media can be used as predictor of ICSI success [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) detection is a challenge to any clinical microbiology laboratory and demands implementation of strict protocols for active screening. This study aims to determine the validity of rapid immunochromotographic (ICT) test for detection compared with the gold standard method. Duplicate swabs were collected from nasal or ear. First swab used for conventional culture and Cefoxitin disk sensitivity. From each culture positive, pure colony were obtained, DNA extracted and conventional polymerase chain reaction for mecA detection were done. The second swab was processed for lateral flow test that constructed in Department of Microbiology laboratory/College of Medicine/ Al-Nahrain University. Monoclonal capture anti- PBP2a (test line) and goat anti-mouse IgG antibodies (control line) were applied on each nitrocellulose membrane. Gold-in-a-BoxTM conjugation kit (40nm. 15OD) conjugated monoclonal anti- PBP2a were adsorbed in conjugate pad. Then assembled in the test cassette. Serially diluted Methicillin resistance S. aureus (1-108cfu/ml) and Methicillin sensitive S. aureus also used in concentration 108 (cfu/ml). Bacterial cells treated with lysozyme for 30 minutes and distilled water were loaded on a strip and visually evaluated after 30 min. The minimum detection limit of the immunochromatography test was 103cfu/ml. Furthermore, based on comparison of 82 culture positive of different clinical swabs, the specificity and sensitivity of this assay were 100% and 97.1% respectively. While, in comparison with mecA PCR detection the specificity and sensitivity of this assay were 100% and 93.03% respectively. However, the procedure used in this study was less complicated and gives the results within 1hour. This study recommends using of Rapid pbp2a as a new tool for the detection of MRSA directly from clinical samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted for the purpose of extracting and estimating some PAHs of six vegetable oils selected They (ginger, cloves, bitter almonds, castor, mint and sesame) are used locally for medical, skin and skin treatments. Highperformance liquid chromatography (HPLC) technique is used to estimate these PAHs in the vegetable oil samples under study and the standard solution for calculating the retention time for each compound and to identify the area of each peak for vegetable oil samples and the standard solution. The results showed that the concentrations of vegetable oil samples, calculated according to the time of detention between the sample and the standard solution, showed only two compounds, acenaphthylene, Benzo (g, h, i) perylene, with bitter almond oil and sesame oil. While the rest of the compounds did not appear in all study samples, the concentrations are very low and this indicates that these vegetable oils are free from the risk of PAHs. Most of the PHAs compounds were not included in all study samples except acenaphthylene and Benzo (g, h, i) perylene compounds in almond oil and sesame oil but with very few concentrations are not dangers to human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) is the major cause of urinary tract infection (UTI), establish quiescent intracellular bacterial reservoirs (QIRs). These latent reservoirs, which persist indefinitely, are resistance to antibiotic therapies and can induce recurrence. Autophagy related 16 like 1 gene (ATG16L1) Thr300Ala genetic variant confer an increased risk for the development of urinary tract infection caused by UPEC. This study aimed. Objective: To determine the possible relationship between the ATG16L1 Thr300Ala genetic variant and UPEC for the development of acute and chronic urinary tract infection. Methods: A total of 100 urine and blood samples were collected from patients complain from UTI, 20 blood samples of apparently healthy during the period between (November 2014 to May 2015) from two hospitals in Baghdad; Al-Imamein Al-Kadhimein Medical City and Al-Yarmauk Teaching Hospital. The age range exactly with mean ± SD or SE. E. coli were isolated by ordinary methods and the identification of non entero-pathogenic E. coli was performed at a group level by slide agglutination test with specific antisera. UPEC isolates were tested for their susceptibility to 12 antimicrobial agents by disc-diffusion method. ATG16L1 T300A genotyping was done by Species Specific Primer – Polymerase Chain Reaction (SSP-PCR), after genomic DNA extraction from each blood sample. Results: A total of sixty E. coli were isolated from 20 acute UTI (16 females and 4 males) and 40 chronic UTI (32 females and 8 males). There is a high rate of acute UTI among the age range exactly groups (≤10-20 years) and chronic UTI among age groups (21-40 years). Overall isolates had a complete resistance to Ampicillin and Gentamycin (100%), high resistance to Nalidixic acid (88%), Piperacillin (86%), Trimethoprime+Sulfa (84%), Cefotriaxon (80%), Ciprofloxacin (78%) and Cephalosporin (66%). Moderate resistance to Azithromycin (51%) and Cephalothin (50%) were seen. Whereas these isolates were highly susceptible to Imipenem and Nitrofuranton with the resistance rate 8% & 27% respectively. Ninety percent of the isolates were resistant to three or more antibiotics. The SSP-PCR result showed that a (89%) and (92%) of acute positive E. coli infection (P=0.009) and chronic positive E. coli infection (P=0.006) respectively were carried allele-G. While the occurrence of allele-G was (62%) in acute negative E. coli infection, and (30%) in chronic negative E. coli infection. Conclusion: There is a relationship between allelic variants of ATG16L1 gene with acute and chronic UTI. In the other hands, the risk of the present allele G was associated with increased susceptibility to infection by UPEC, which developing chronic and acute UTI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aim: Diagnosis of Hirschsprung's disease (HD) can be hard and requires good experience, principally for pathologists who infrequently encounter the disease. However, diagnosis is not always possible with hematoxylin and eosin (H and E) because staining has limitations in the identification of immature ganglion cells in neonates and the submucosal area. Aim: To assess the diagnostic role of calretinin immunostaining in HD in comparison to neuron-specific enolase. Patients and Methods: Formalin-fixed paraffin tissue blocks of full-thickness distal colonie and rectal biopsies for 48 patients who clinically presented with symptoms suspicious for HD were collected for the period from December 2012 to January 2016. All biopsies were already studied by routine H and E histopathological examination for the presence or absence of ganglion cells. Further confirmation of ganglion cells and nerve fibers was performed by immunohistochemical study for neuron-specific enolase and calretinin, respectively, in a private pathology laboratory. Results: According to the histopathological assessment, cases with absent ganglionic cells were considered to be HD, which comprised 40 cases out of the total 48 cases. The mean age for HD cases was 19.43 months. The male-to-female ratio in HD cases was 2.34:1. All HD cases showed negative expression of calretinin in small nerve fibers of the lamina propria, musularis mucosae, and submucosa, and negative expression of neuron-specific enolase in ganglionic cells. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive values for both the markers in the confirmation of diagnosis of HD were all 100%. Conclusion: Calretinin immunostaining, similar to that of neuron-specific enolase, is a highly sensitive and specific diagnostic aid to histopathological examination in suspected HD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Helicobacter pylori persistence may develop atrophic gastritis, gastric ulcer or cancer. Objectives To determine the association between the presence of autophagy related gene 16 like 1 and thrionin 300 alanine mutation and H. pylori infection among atrophic gastritis patients. Methods Gastric biopsy was taken from eighty patients and tested for urease, and blood samples were taken for serum separation for detection of Anti-H. pylori IgG by ELISA and DNA extraction from whole blood were used for sequence specific primer - polymerase chain reaction for autophagy related gene 16 like 1 and thrionin 300 alanine mutation allelic discrimination. Results Among 40 H. pylori positive cases, the carriers of mutated allele were 62.5% compared with 36.25% in H. pylori negative cases (p = < 0.001, OR = 1.72, CI = 1.23-2.42). Conclusions Among Iraqi atrophic gastritis, there is an association between H. pylori infection and mutated autophagy related gene 16 like 1 and thrionin 300 alanine mutation allele. Thrionin 300 alanine may confer higher risk for infection with H. pylori. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, the evaluation and treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases relies on specific clinical signs accompanied with single or multiple marker(s) for that disease. Despite that, these diseases share a common innate immune mechanism involved upregulation of "Inflammasome" that have been proved in its implication in the pathologic mechanism (s) and direct irreversible conversion of pro-interleukin 1β and pro-interleukin 18 into active IL-1b and active IL-18 contributing in disease progression and tissue damage, suggesting a common theranostic target to reduce inflammatory mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) has been found to be associated with increase in the pro-inflammatory cytokines which cause up-regulation of inflammatory mediators including cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) that might act in aggravation of this pathological process. Objective: To find out whether there is a relation between the pathology of RPL and the expression of intracellular adhesion molecule- 1 (ICAM-1) and ICAM-3 at the feto-maternal interface in these patients. Methods: Immunohistochemistry technique was performed to detect and determine the expression of ICAM-1 and ICAM-3 using paraffin embedded sections of curate samples obtained from 40 women, who where divided into three groups: 24 women with RPL, 10 women with abortion for the first time, and 6 women with induced abortion. Results: The levels of the expression of both endothelial ICAM-1 and leukocytes ICAM-3 at the feto-maternal interface were found to be significantly up-regulated in the first group as compared with the second and the third groups (p=0.001), with a highly significant positive correlation between these two parameters (r=0.927, p<0.01). Conclusion: ICAM-1 and ICAM-3 might play an important role in the pathology of RPL by increase adherence and recruitment of inflammatory cells at the feto-maternal interface ending with a pregnancy failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There are several regulatory proteins involved in the control of lymphocyte apoptosis. Their impairment may play a role in the pathogenesis of several autoimmune diseases. Recent studies have reported impairment in the apoptosis of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the cellular expression of P53 and BcI-2 proteins in the PBLs and their roles in the apoptotic process, and correlate their cellular expressions with the percent of peripheral T cell population. Methods: This study involved forty-six RA patients were examined and compared with 17 healthy control individuals of similar ages. Lymphocytes were separated from peripheral blood samples, the assessment of their cellular expression of CD3 and regulatory proteins p53 and Bcl-2 by immunocytochemistry staining method. Results: The results showed abundant accumulation of CD3 T lymphocytes in the peripheral circulation of RA patients in comparison with controls. A highly significant increased percentage of Bcl-2 protein expression in RA PBLs, compared to healthy control (p<0.001) while there was no such statistical difference regarding P53 expression in PBLs from both groups (p=0.278). The results of linear regression showed a significant correlation between the increased peripheral blood T lymphocytes and cellular percentage of Bcl-2 protein expression (p<0.001), while there was no such correlation with the percentage of P53 expression (p=0.587). Conclusion: in conclusion of these results, we found an increase in the peripheral blood T lymphocytes from patients with RA that could be resulted from the noticed up-regulation of cellular expression of Bcl-2 protein, rather than with changes in cellular expression of P53 protein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Epilepsy is a common brain disorder that is not quite controlled via available antiepileptic drugs. Gephyrin is a scaffolding protein that interacts particularly with GABAA receptor subunits and has a role in epilepsy. Further, the production of massive reactive oxygen species seems to involve in the pathophysiology of epileptic seizures and giving rise to the death of neuronal cells. Artemisinin is an agent utilized for malaria has a neuroprotective effect and targets gephyrin. Aims: the investigation of the possible protective effect of artemisinin in pentylenetetrazole-induced kindling and its underlying mechanisms. Materials and methods: Forty albino male mice were assigned randomly into four equal groups; at the end of the study, their brain tissues were removed and examined via scoring of immunohistochemical expression of gephyrin, glutathione, and NeuN. Results: Artemisinin showed significant upregulation in each of gephyrin, glutathione, and NueN expression. Conclusion: The findings suggest that artemisinin is effective in attenuation of PTZ-kindling in male mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]