Muna Abdul-Ridha Rasheed Albarqaawi

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the primary cause of death worldwide. It is mainly caused by atherosclerosis that initiates from a genetic-environmental interaction. Studies highlighted the association of numerous gene polymorphisms with CAD. Omentin-1 is secreted from visceral adipose tissues, intestine, and others; it has anti-inflammatory and insulin sensitivity improving roles. Aim: To explore the association of the omentin-1 gene polymorphisms (rs2274907 and rs2274908) with serum lipid concentrations and CAD in a sample of the Iraqi population. Methods: A case-control study was followed, in which CAD patients were analyzed versus a group of healthy persons. Serum lipid concentrations were measured by enzymatic methods. Genotyping of the omentin-1 gene for rs2274907 SNP was achieved by ARMS-PCR, while for rs2274908 SNP by allele-specific PCR (AS-PCR) techniques. Results: Atherogenic serum lipid concentrations increased significantly in CAD patients relative to the control group. Genotyping of the omentin-1 gene for rs2274907 SNP revealed a significant (OR = 4.11, P = 0.035) elevation of the AT genotype carriers in CAD versus the control groups. The genotype analysis of the rs2274908 SNP failed to exhibit a significant variation. The two analyzed SNPs were indicated to be in linkage disequilibrium (r = 0.772, P < 0.0001). The global haplotype association of the 2 SNPs was demonstrated to be significant (P = 0.006). Serum lipid concentrations were found to be independent of the genotype distribution of the rs2274907 SNP. Conclusion: Carriers of the AT genotype of rs2274907 SNP in the omentin-1gene may have a four-fold risk of developing CAD compared to those of the wild genotype. Alterations of serum lipid concentrations may do not depend on the genotypes of this SNP

Background: Asthma is a chronic airway disorder, in which cytokines are probably contributing in the inflammation and in the pathophysiology of the disease. This study aimed to determine the benefit of measurement of FENO and IL-1β in the diagnosis of asthma. Method: The study was conducted in Merjan Medical City and Spiro private clinic in Babylon province in the period from March to June 2019, 127 asthmatic patients were compared with 60 healthy subjects as control group. The age ranged from 10 to 60 years old, fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) test was performed to assess asthma by using (Medisoft® company, Belgium). Body mass index (BMI) was subtracted as weight (kg)/height (m2). Waist circumference/cm (WC) was calculated between the inferior margin of thoracic ribs and midline of the iliac-crest. Hip circumference/cm (HC) was calculated from the broadest hip eminent before the waist/hip ratio (W/H) computed. The FENO measures had classified into low (<25 ppb) or intermediate-high (⩾25 ppb) according to the ‘’American Thoracic Society recommendations’’. Iterleukine-1 beta (IL-1β) was measured in the sera by ELISA technique using Human IL-1β (Interleukin 1-Beta) ELISA Kit from Elabscience®. Results: there was no significant correlation between the levels of FENO and IL-1β with body weight as measured by the way of BMI and waist/hip ratio. There was no correlation between duration of asthma with the levels of FENO and IL-1β. ROC curve analysis of FENO test in BA patients showed significant (p-0.001) high sensitivity (92%) and specificity (90%). However, ROC curve analysis of IL-1β in BA patients revealed non-significant (p-0.53), lower accuracy (56.4%), sensitivity 962%) and specificity (57%) to distinguish BA patients). Conclusion: No relation between obesity and eosinophilic airways inflammation. The measurement of FENO level is more important in assessment of asthma inflammation than IL-1β.

Background: According to the last WHO report in 2014, Iraq is ranked as 22 out of 172 country in coronary artery disease (CAD) as the most leading cause of death. Iraq has an age standardized death rate of 187.65 due to CAD i.e., more than 187 per 100000 Iraqi person die due to CAD, which represent the first cause of death. To our knowledge, there is no Iraqi study concerning the association of MTHFR C677T gene polymorphism with sever stenosis. Objective: To study the link between C677T MTHFR gene polymorphism and coronary artery disease in individuals who had undergone coronary angiography in Iraqi people after we classify them into those with and without ischemia. MATERIALS AND METHODS:. population of the study comprised 150 patients (aged 50.4 ± 6.4 year) and 150 control subjects (aged 49.2 ± 4.6 year) that undergone to angiography for coronary vessels. We regarded angiography as positive when there is more than 70% reduction in the diameter of coronary vessels. Measurements of the participant's sugar and lipid profile were all carried out on fasting blood samples without anticoagulant by standard enzymatic assays. The MTHFR C677T polymorphism detection was carried out by PCR-RFLP method. Results: There is a significant statistical relationship between the MTHFR genotype and the presence of coronary artery disease (P< 0.001). In addition to statistically significant difference among the three genotypes CC, CT, TT regarding BMI, cholesterol level, triglycerides level, and VLDL (P < 0.05) Conclusion: MTHFR polymorphisms (CT,TT) genotype have been found to be risk factor for coronary artery disease in Iraqi population.