Comparison between Recombinant Immunoblot assay 3rd generation and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay for detection hepatitis C virus .

This study was carried out to compare between recombinant immunoblot assay 3rd generation and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay for identify hepatitis C virus. Seventy six Iraqi patients undergo hepatitis C were involved in this study. The study was carried out from July 2010 to April 2011 were followed up in public health center- Baghdad. These patients included 54 males and 22 females as well as their ages ranged between (8-68) year with a mean age of 47.1±13.79, besides, the majority of patients are at the age between 31-60 year (54 %), while children elicit less frequency of infection (2 %). Additionally the ratio between male to female was 2.45:1. There are two methods which are used for HCV diagnosis. The first method by using ELISA technique for detection of anti HCV antibody. 61 out of 76 sera samples of hepatitis patients (i.e. 80.2%) were found to be positive for this test. Another advanced method such as recombinant immunoblot assay 3rd generation (RIBA) has been applied, all these specimens gave positive results (100 %) with significant difference was noticed between them (P<0.05), therefore the current results confirm that a RIBA 3rd generation is more sensitive manner to detect hepatitis C virus than ELISA

Evaluation of serum resistin levels in Iraqi rheumatoid arthritis patients under biological treatment and their correlated clinical disease activity index

Objective: The current study aimed to evaluate RA patients’ serum resistin levels and to observe the relationship between disease activity and resistin. Methods: A case-control study was conducted on (100) RA Iraqi patients during treatment with bDMARDs. The first group of 50 patients received etanercept, and the second group of 50 patients were on Rituximab (RTX). The control group comprised of 50 healthy individuals. ELISA was used to evaluate serum Resistin in and anti-CRP. Inflammatory markers ESR, and CRP with biochemical tests were conducted. In addition to estimating Clinical Disease Activity score I(CDAI) by the physicians; at Baghdad Teaching Hospital. Results: Levels of Resistin of RA treated with RTX were significantly higher (16.30 ± 7.38ng/ml) than in RA treated with ETN (10.61±5.85ng/ml) compared to the control group. (6.95±1.70 ng/ml). The resistin level showed a positive correlation with Anti-CCP abs which was considered to have a high positive correlation (p< 0.01) in ETN group. While this correlation was lower than the RTX group, the, correlation between resistin, and ESR was the highest in RTX group whilst no such correlation was observed in the ETN group. There was a positive correlation with CDAI of RA subgroups (moderate activity (p<0.05), and high activity (p<0.001). The logistic regression of resistin was associated with biological treatment, odds ratio was (OR=1.138, p-value= 0.014, 95% CI.1.025-1.257) during ETN, and RTX independent of CRP. Conclusion: There is an association between serum RSN and anti CRP as a result of disease activity independent of CRP. resist in levels can be used to determine disease activity to avoid disease progression and erosion. Keywords: Protein, Antibodies, Etanercept, Rituximab, Disease, Physician

The role of IL-24 as a pro-inflammatory cytokine in some Iraqi rheumatoid arthritis patients

Objective: To determine the role of interleukin-24 as a pro-inflammatory cytokine among female rheumatoid arthritis patients, and its correlation with clinical parameters. Method: The case-control study was conducted from April to July 2021 at the Baghdad Teaching Hospital and Yarmouk Teaching Hospital, Iraq, and comprised women aged 26-60 years in the Al-Karkh district having rheumatoid arthritis diagnosed by a rheumatologist, and healthy controls matched for age and gender. Data was analysed using SPSS 28. Results: Of the 118 subjects, 76(64.4%) were patients with mean age 45.38±1.23 years, and 42(35.6%) were controls with mean age 46.48±2.02 years. Rheumatoid factor level was highly significant among the cases 37.30±2.50mg/L compared to the controls 4.91±0.53mg/L (p Less than or Equal to 0.05), and similar was the case with anti-cyclic citrullinated peptides 63.04±2.82U/mL versus 14.02±0.30U/mL (p Less than or Equal to 0.05). Serum interleukin-24 was considerably elevated in patients 157.52±9.40 compared to controls 34.75±3.06 (p Less than or Equal to 0.05). Interleukin-24 had a significant positive correlation with rheumatoid factor, and a significant negative correlation with C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (p<0.05). Conclusion: Patients with rheumatoid arthritis had higher interleukin-24 serum levels than healthy controls, indicating that interleukin-24 may be a significant marker in rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis. Keywords: Protein, Antibodies, Cytokines, Arthritis, Rheumatoid

Electrochemical Effect of Ascorbic Acid on Redox Current Peaks of CoCl2 in Blood Medium

Cyclic voltammetric technique using glassy carbon electrode of cobalt chloride Co(Ⅱ) was studied in blood medium for the effect of ascorbic acid as an electrocatalyst reagent on the oxidation reduction current peaks of Co(Ⅱ). It was found that the two oxidation reduction current peaks for Co(Ⅱ) in 0.1M KCl as electrolyte were at 900 and 250 mV respectively. In the study of Co(Ⅱ) in blood medium the result was different, in that the reduction current peak disappeared and the oxidation current peak shifted to a higher potential at 1.4 V. The other study for the effects of different concentrations of ascorbic acid on the anodic current peak of Co(Ⅱ) in blood medium showed an enhancement of the oxidation current peak about three times and the ascorbic acid acted as an electrocatalyst in blood components which caused damage to blood cells