Serum low density lipoprotein receptor related protein-6 is a discriminator of occluded ‎coronary artery assessed by coronary angiogram

Background: Human lipoprotein receptor-related protein -6 (LRP6) plays a role in the development of coronary artery disease. This study aimed to determine the serum level of the LRP6 in patients referred to the coronary angiogram taking into considerations the findings of ‎coronary angiography, evidence of dyslipidemia, obesity and co-existed diabetes mellitus. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 96 patients who referred to coronary angiogram as an interventional diagnostic test for coronary artery disease. The patients were grouped into Group I (negative angiogram); Group IIA (non-obstructed coronary vessels, positive angiogram) and: Group IIB (obstructed coronary vessels, positive angiogram).  The anthropometric measurement, blood pressure, and fasting serum lipid profile and glucose were determined. The serum levels of LRP6 were determined by using the Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay (ELISA).  Results: A non-significant higher serum level of LRP6 observed in patients with a positive angiogram ‎0.175 ± 0.074 ng/ml (Group IIA) and ‎0.166 ± ‎‎0.063 ng/ml (Group IIB) ‎compared with the negative angiogram (Group I: 0.160 ± 0.019 ng/ml). The area under the curve of LRP6 in patients with positive angiogram was significantly lower than that with a normal angiogram. Conclusion: We conclude that the serum level of LRP6 is a good discriminator of patients with coronary ‎artery disease as the area under the curve of the serum levels of LRP6 is significantly decreased as the number of occluded coronary vessels increased.

Effect of chlorpromazine on intact and irradiated aliquot ctdsDNA samples

Bagkground:Chlorpromazine is widely used in human medicine in the therapy of schizophrenia, organic psychosis and the manic phase of manic depressive illness. It expressed a selective cytotoxicity and the results of genotoxicity were positive. Objectives: This study is designed to explore the effect of chlorpromazine on irradiated and non irradiated calf thymus double strands DNA (ctdsDNA) molecule. Methods: Aliquots of irradiated (subjected to UVB light) and non-radiated ctdsDNA samples were incubatyed with different concentrations of chlorpromazine. Further series of experiments studied the simultaneous effects of chlorpromazine and UVB light on aliquots of ctdsDNA, The changes in optic densities of ctdsDNA aliquots were mointered and recorded bu UVspectrophotometer at 260 nm. Results: Chlorpromazine exerts dual effects on non-radiated ctdsDNA aliquots represented by hyperchromasia and hypochromasia in regard to its concentration. It potentiates the effect of UVB radiation on ctdsDNA molecules. Its effect is differed in respect to the radiation status. Conclusion: chlorpromazine exerts several effects on aliquot ctdsDNA samples which are related to the nature of DNA molecule as well as to the concentration of chlorpromazine.Also chlorpromazine potentiates the hyperchromasic effect of UVB radiation on aliquot ctdsDNA samples but it produces completely damage of DNA molecule when the aliquot ctdsDNA samples irradiated in presence of chlorpromazine

Serum magnesium and visfatin levels in newly diagnosed non-obese type 2 diabetes without insulin resistance: a cross-sectional study

Background. Previous studies demonstrated that type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients have low serum magnesium and high serum levels of visfatin. This study aimed to show the relationship between serum levels of insulin, visfatin, and magnesium in T2D patients characterized by a non-insulin resistance status.Methods. This was a cross-sectional study conducted in the Hawler Medical University, Kurdistan Region, Iraq from April 2019 to March 2020. A total number of 130 T2D patients and 45 healthy subjects were enrolled in the study. T2D patients with scores of homeostasis model assessment — insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) of < 2.5 were included. Serum levels of magnesium, visfatin, and glycemic indices, including fasting serum glucose, insulin, visfatin, and glycated hemoglobin were determined.Results. The serum level of visfatin is significantly higher in T2D patients than the corresponding values of the healthy subjects. Serum magnesium level is significantly correlated with the percentage of the glycated hemoglobin (Spearman’s correlation factor = 0.184, P = 0.036), and a positive significant correlation between serum insulin and visfatin (r = 0.216, P = 0.014) was observed. Multivariate regression analysis of the association of fasting serum insulin as a dependent variable with serum magnesium and visfatin as independent variables showed a non-significant positive correlation (r = 0.197, P = 0.082).Conclusion. Significant low serum levels of magnesium and visfatin are observed in non-insulin resistant T2D patients with a HOMA-IR score of < 2.5. Serum visfatin and magnesium levels showed significant correlations with glycemic indices

Effects of meloxicam and rofecoxib on psychomotor performance: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled cross-over study

Objectives: To investigate the effects of meloxicam and rofecoxib on psychomotor performance in young, healthy volunteers. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted in Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Al-Mustansiriya University, Baghdad, Iraq in 2003. Twelve healthy, young males were allocated randomly from college students and participated in a balanced one-period cross-over investigation, with each period separated by a 7-day washed-out period. Participants were asked to perform psychomotor performance (choice reaction time and critical flicker-fusion threshold tests) before and after 2 h of receiving single oral dose of either meloxicam (7.5 mg) or rofecoxib (25 mg). Results: Meloxicam and rofecoxib were statistically significant, differing from placebo in reducing motor and recognition reaction times, respectively, of the objective test used. Both drugs were not significantly different from placebo in critical flicker-fusion frequency thresholds. Conclusion: These results allow the conclusion that the effects of preferential (meloxicam) and highly selective (rofecoxib) cyclo-oxygenase-2 inhibitors showed central effect by improving psychomotor performance, but in different directions

Subclinical ventricular repolarization abnormality in uncontrolled compared with controlled treated hypertension

Background: Antihypertensive medications have variable effects on the duration of the QT interval. This study aims to demonstrate the subclinical ventricular conduction defect in treating hypertensive patients taking in consideration the status of the blood pressure control with the antihypertensive agents. Methods: This cross-section study was performed at the Departments of Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Al-Mustansiriya University, Baghdad, Iraq. A total number of 97 hypertensive patients (30 males and 67 females) were eligible to enroll in the study. The patients were grouped into controlled hypertension (Group I) and uncontrolled hypertension (Group II). Each participant is subjected to the electrocardiograph (ECG) investigation. A QT nomogram plot used to identify the patients who are vulnerable or at risk of developing cardiac arrhythmias. Results: There were no significant differences in the values of the electrocardiogram determinants between Group I and Group II. Abnormal prolonged QTcB interval observed in 18 out of 80 (22.5%) patients of Group II compared with 4 out of 17. The JT index value of ≥112 was observed in 20 out of 80 (25%) patients of Group II compared with 6 out of 17 (35.3%) patients of Group I. A significant correlation between the QTcB duration with JT index observed in both Groups I and II. Conclusion: Patients with hypertension have variability in ventricular repolarization (QTcB and JT) irrespective of their blood pressure control putting them at higher risk of cardiac arrhythmias

Measurements of serum high sensitivity-C reactive protein, and procalcitonin levels in type1 and 2 Diabetes complicated with diabetic foot syndrome

Background and objective: There is evidence that the procalcitonin levels are usually correlated with the high sensitivity C-reactive protein levels in inflammatory conditions. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the simultaneous changes of the procalcitonin and hs-CRP levels in the diabetic foot syndrome complicated type 1 and 2 diabetes. Method: This observational study was carried in the Center of Diabetes Mellitus in Erbil, Iraq from 1st January to the 30th September 2015. A total number of 170 participants were enrolled in this study. They grouped into Group I (healthy subjects, n=30), Group II (type 1 diabetes with diabetic foot syndrome, n=70) and Group III (type 2 diabetes with diabetic foot syndrome, n=70). The anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, fasting serum glucose and lipid profile, and the inflammatory markers included high sensitivity C-reactive protein and procalcitonin were determined. Results: Group III patients had a significant longer duration and score of diabetic foot syndrome, higher anthropometric measurements, higher blood pressure and fasting lipid profile levels compared with Group II. Serum procalcitonin and high sensitivity C-reactive protein levels were significantly higher in diabetic patients compared with Group I subjects. The serum levels of procalcitonin and high sensitivity C-reactive protein of Group III patients (1.11±0.47 ng/ml; 12.48±2.57 mg/L) were significantly higher than corresponding values of Group II patients (0.334±0.094 ng/ml; 5.73±0.89 mg/L). A non-significant correlation between procalcitonin with high sensitivity C-reactive protein in Group II and III was observed. Conclusion: We conclude that the simultaneous measurements of high sensitivity C-reactive protein and procalcitonin as inflammatory biomarkers are not necessary because the correlation was not significant

Patient's experience with pain influences the pain, anxiety and cardiovascular responses during extraction of tooth

Background: Pain and anxiety are common symptom in dental practice, and they involved in the alteration of the hemodynamic responses. Aim: This study aimed to demonstrate the role of a patient's experience with pain in the hemodynamic responses that observed in the practice of tooth extraction. Materials and Methods: This observational cohort study was carried in the Clinics of Dentistry at the Department of Dentistry in the Al-Rafidain University College in Baghdad-Iraq through 2019. A total number of 70 patients (48 males and 22 females) aged 15-66 years were included in this study. The authors assessed the severity of the pain by using visual analogue scale (VAS), the anxiety by using Corah's Dental Anxiety Scale-Revised and the hemodynamic responses, including heart rate, blood pressure, arterial stiffness, and myocardial work stress before and after teeth extraction. Results: females expressed pain, anxiety and changes in the hemodynamic responses more than males. The VAS score is significantly and inversely correlated with age (r= -0.314, p=0.008). Anxiety is significantly correlated with heart rate (r=0.244, p=0.042) and myocardial work stress (r=0.232, p=0.05). The VAS score was significantly less in patients who previously experienced pain due to the concomitant illnesses while the mean ±SD of the hemodynamic responses were significantly higher than the corresponding values of patients without pain experience. Conclusion: there are many factors influencing the level of anxiety and pain, and patients with previous history of pain due to other diseases are at risk of activation of hemodynamic responses. &nbsp