Rana Fadhil Obaid Al-kalabi

The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is known as human leukocyte antigen (HLA). Genetic predisposition plays a role in the development of most human diseases caused by microbial infections including parasitic infection. So the current study carried out on the women suspected to be infected with toxoplasmosis. The main purpose of this study is to determine whether women genotype had an effect on susceptibility to toxoplasmosis and its complication like abortion. The current study covers quite different regions of Najaf province, including rural and urban communities. The study was conducted from March 2013 to March 2014, on 355 women, the mean age of the studied group was 29.5±7.6 (range:16-50) years, included 228 aborted women suspected to be infected with toxoplasmosis and 127 non aborted women. Toxo-IgM and Toxo-IgG were determined in all studied groups by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). As well as blood sugar, rheumatoid factors (RF), antibodies directed to cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP), anti nuclear factor (ANF) were measured in all study groups. Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genotyping was performed using histo spot SSO system. The seropositive results of Toxo-IgG, Toxo-IgM by ELISA were 121(34.1%); 36(10.1%) respectively. The cases with diabetes mellitus, rheumatoid arthritis and patients with systemic lupus erythromatosus (SLE) were 17 (4.8%), 44(12.4%), 8(2.3%) respectively. The present study showed that toxoplasmosis positive women were about 4.8 folds more likely to have abortion (OR= 4.8, P=0.0001). The distribution of HLA–DQ genotypes in 180 aborted women and 106 non-aborted women were studied. HLA-DQ*03 and DQ*06 were significantly the most frequent genotypes in the aborted women with toxoplasmosis (47% and 42.5% respectively).

Background: Toxoplasmosis, caused by the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii, is one of the most common parasites of man; Toxoplasmosis may causes severe symptoms in the congenitally acquired form with severe complications such as miscarriage, fetal developmental retardation, intracranial calcification, hydrocephalus, encephalitis, neurological, mental illnesses and visual disorder. Methods: A case-control study was conducted to estimate role of Toxoplasmosis in occurrence of abortion among pregnant women in Najaf province. The present study was carried out on 228 aborted women, and 127non-aborted (pregnant women at 20th week gestation and had more than one successful birth as a control). All of these cases were limited to females only in the reproductive age (15-50 years). Toxo-IgM and Toxo-IgG antibodies were detected with Enzyme-Linked Immunoadsorbent Assay (ELISA) (Human/ Germany) in both groups. Results: It was found that IgG positive cases were 112 (31.5%), IgM positive cases were 27 (7.6%) and both IgM and IgG positive cases were 9 women (2.5%). The present study showed that toxoplasmosis positive women were about 4.8 folds more likely to have abortion (OR= 4.8, P=0.0001). Conclusion: There is association between infection with Toxoplasma gondii and occurrence of abortion.

ackground:Autoimmune diseases are chronic conditions initiated by the loss of immunological tolerance to self-antigens. The pathogenic hypothesis comprises a complex interaction between genetic, environmental and hormonal factors. Aim of this study to assess the association between toxoplasmosis and some autoimmune diseases. Methods: A case-control study was conducted to estimate the association between toxoplasmosis and some of autoimmune disease including diabetes mellitus, rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus. The present study was carried out on 48aborted women, and 21non-aborted women, all of these cases were limited to females only in the reproductive age (16-50 years).Toxo-IgM and Toxo-IgG antibodies were detected with (ELISA) (Human/ Germany) in both groups, and measure blood sugar, ACCP, and ANF. Results: The infections with toxoplasmosis were 5(17.9%) and 23(82.1%) among those with diabetes mellitus and rheumatoid arthritis disease respectively. However, none of the 8 women with SLE had toxoplasmosis, Furthermore; the results revealed that toxoplasmosis positive women were about 4.4 folds more likely to have RA. (OR= 4.4, P≤ 0.01). Conclusion: This research concludes that the primary or secondary infections with Toxoplasma gondii can mimicry immune response and make shift in the immune response to induce autoimmune disease.

Background: The complement system consists of more than 30 proteins that are either present as soluble proteins in the blood or present as membrane-associated proteins. Inappropriate complement activation and complement deficiencies are the underlying cause of the pathophysiology of many diseases. Methods: A case-control study was conducted to asses role of complement system during toxoplasmosis in Najaf province. Thirty five sera of infected women with toxoplasmosis by investigation antibody against toxoplasmosis for IgG and IgM by ELISA technique were tested to determine the levels of C3 and C4 by using single radial immunodiffusion technique and compared with the ten of control sera of non infected subjects and non-aborted. Results: The high C3 in significant differences(P<0.05) and C4 with no significant differences(P>0.05) levels were found in aborted toxo-positive women in compared with control. Likewise, it was found that association between concentration of C3,C4 and number of abortion. Conclusion: complement were play role in immune response of pregnant women especially against toxoplasmosis that cause abortion to these women.

The present study is conducted to detect the prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies among pregnant women as well as immuncocompromised patients like diabetic patients, leukemic, patients with malignancy and chronic renal failure with Latex agglutination test (LAT), IgG & IgM Enzyme immunoassay, and IgG & IgM Dipstick dye immunoassay. The total number of positive cases of toxoplasmosis were 210 (52.2%) out of 402 samples by LAT and 79 (19.6%), 193 (48%), 87(31.9%) and 163(59.9%) by IgM-EIA, IgG-EIA, IgM-DDIA and IgG-DDIA respectively.

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory illness that affects the entire body but its cause is unknown. There has been a considerable debate about the relation between thyroid gland and Rheumatoid arthritis. Aim of the study: To determine the frequency of Hashimoto's thyroiditis in patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis and determine whether patients with Rheumatoid arthritis are at higher risk of Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Patients and methods: This study is a cross-sectional observational study done in the governorate of Najaf from September 2022 to February 2023 involving 140 participants diagnosed with Rheumatoid arthritis, determined by rheumatologist doctors in line with ACR/EULAR 2010 Criteria and serological testing. Patients including 16 males and 124 females, ranging between the ages of 20 and 60. All participants underwent complete clinical and laboratory assessments. The data were collected during the direct patient interview and the information from the questionnaire, verbal approval has been received from the study participant. Results: The frequency of Hashimoto's disease in the selected patients of rheumatoid arthritis (N=140), was 45 (32.14%), While euthyroidism (Rheumatoid arthritis patients without Hashimoto’s) was 95(67.9%). Hashimoto's disease included subclinical 9 (6.4%) and overt Hashimoto's thyroiditis 36(25.7%). Conclusions: HT is frequent among patients with RA. Therefore, there is a need of screening of thyroid hormone dysfunction as well as presence of Anti- TPO antibodies as markers of HT in RA patients particularly in young patients, females, and those with high disease activity. The association was a significance among RA patients with HT and ACCP, BMI, and ESR. Keywords: Rheumatoid arthritis, Hypothyroidism, Hashimoto's.

ABSTRACT Background: The pandemic results of Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) range from moderate to serious, necessitating the rapid assessment and association of diagnostic markers. Patients suffer from infection with SARS-Covid-2 had measurements of ferritin, LDH, and D-dimer. In addition to being a problem for healthcare institutions, the SARS-Covid-2 additionally represents a major financial burden. Aim: To assess the predictive importance of serum ferritin & D-dimer levels as predictors for individuals at risk of serious and fatal infection with SARS-Covid-2. Methods: This study designs as Case-control study was done at AL-Amal Specialized Hospital for Communicable Diseases in Al-Najaf, Iraq, during the period of June to August of 2023. Prior to their enrollment in the clinical study, every individual participant provided written consent. 44 samples which included 22 patients (8 men and 14 women) and 20 control (8 men and 14 women) and varying age groups from 28 to 76 years old—were reported to have symptoms of SARS-Covid-2 infection. Results: The present investigation reveals significant differences between the patient and control groups, as well as between the patient and control groups' age groups and sexes. Patients who are older have a higher age-related prevalence of severe SARS-Covid-2 infection. In total, 22 COVID-19 patients were incorporated into this research; 8 (36.4%) were male and 14 (63.6%) were female. In comparison, there were 8 (36.4%) male and 14 (63.6%) female among 22 healthy control individuals. According to the statistical analysis, there were statistically significant differences betweenthe female and male patients. There wasn't a noticeable difference in the mean serum level of ferritin between the SARS-Covid-2 infected patients' group and the control group (μg/l). Conversely, it was highly significant difference in mean serum level of D-Dimer between the COVID-19 patient group and the control group (μg/l). Conclusion: The age-specific prevalence of severe SARS-Covid-2 infections increases in older adults age of patients: Females showed higher rates of infection than males. Higher level Serum of D-dimer and ferritin are linked with outcomes in patientsCovid-19. Significantly elevated ferritin and D-dimer levels in infection with SARS-Covid-2 recovered individuals, which may serve as SARS-Covid-2 diagnostic biomarkers.

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory disease that affects the joints found in the limbs. It mostly presents as recurring, persistent inflammation in the joints. When patients are advanced, the cardiac, skin, as well as other tissues and organs may have serious impediments as a result of joint abnormalities and impairments. Nuclear factor kappa B is an active transcription factor that moves from the cytoplasm to the nucleus when it is activated, NF-kB is also the most extensively researched pathophysiologic mechanism for RA. This might result in a positive auto-regulatory loop that leads to the amplification of the inflammatory process and the maintenance of chronic inflammation at local locations.Methods: The study was performed between November 2021 to April 2022. involving 70 patients with disease who fulfilled four or more of the 2010 American College of Rheumatology and European League Against Rheumatism (ACR/EULAR) classification criteria for RA and 70 individuals healthy as control groups. The (DAS28-ESR) disease activity score, Clinical activity index (CDAI), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were measured, as well as rheumatoid factors (RF) were detected by latex agglutination in all participants. Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (ACCP) and NF-KB in the human serum samples were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The age group of both the patients and the controls included in this study was 20-70. RA was found to be high in individuals of the age group >40 years, at a percentage of 71.4%. The mean age was 46.2±10.3 years for patients and 1.7±0.5 for controls. Results: The results clearly showed high serum NF-KB levels in patient groups with RA compared to control (P = 0.0001). NF-KB and ACCP have a weak positive correlation at (r) = 0.200. According to DAS28-ESR, there were significantly increased concentrations of NF-KB in severe patients at P values of 0.0001 in comparison to mild patients.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disorder of the multisystem, a multifactorial disease with generalized persistent inflammation that can involve multiple tissues and organs. Nucleosomes are essential chromatin molecules, and are thought to be the main antigens in SLE pathogenesis. A case-control study was performed to show the relationship between antinucleosome antibodies and systemic lupus erythematosus in Najaf province. This study was carried out in the Department of Microbiology in the Faculty of Medicine- University of Kufa, for the period of (January 2018 to December 2018), subjects were included in present study, divided into three groups: SLE patient (30), RA patient (30), and Healthy controls(20). Anti-NCS antibodies, ANA and anti-dsDNA antibodies were done for all individuals those included in this study. The findings of the current study showed that, in sera of SLE patients the mean level of antibodies against the following parameters NCS, ANA and ds-DNA were high in comparison with the mean levels of these parameters in sera of the normal control group (p<0.001). As well as, the levels of antibodies against NCS significantly higher in sera of the SLE group than in the rheumatoid arthritis RA (diseased control group) (p<0.001). On the other hand, the mean levels of antibodies against NCS were statically insignificant (p value 0.356) among the healthy individuals and the diseased control group. Anti-NCS antibodies have an important role in SLE diagnosis in comparison to other autoantibodies, and may have a role to predict the disease outcome.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of nasal polyposis among allergic patients, and to investigate the impact of polyposis on allergic inflammatory markers. Method: The cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2018 to January 2019 at the Asthma and Allergy Centre, Babylon, Iraq, and comprised patients aged 15-71 years with allergic asthma and or allergic rhinitis. The patients were divided into two groups; A with nasal polyposis, and B without nasal polyposis. Other than demographical data, total serum immuglobulin E, and blood eosinophil percentage were collected. Data was analysed using SPSS 22. Results:Of the 240 patients, 81(33.8%) were in group A, and 159(66.2%) were in group B. The overall mean age of the sample was 35.9±13.8 years. The overall mean immunoglobulin E level was 221±141 and the mean peripheral eosinophil percentage was 4±1.68. Prevalence of nasal polyposis increased with age (p<0.05), but was not affected by gender or residency (p>0.05). The markers increased significantly in the presence of polyposis in patients with respiratory allergy (p<0.05). Conclusion: Nasal polyposis was found to be highly prevalent in patients with respiratory allergy and the combined presence of these two diseases caused additional increment in allergic markers. Keywords: Nasal polyposis, Allergy, Asthma, Allergic rhinitis.

Chickenpox is an infection transmitted by the respiratory tract, causing itching and rash with small blisters filled with fluids. It also easily moves from one person to another and may cause pneumonia, brain infection, dehydration and sepsis. The study aim: to assess the prevalence of chickenpox and associated with age and gender among under 10 years. A descriptive study design is conducted retrospectively for the last 5 years ago in Hilla City. By a convenience sample of (N=156) was collected five years from (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018) and was for all years for children diagnosed with chickenpox. As a medical records of statistic considered a study tools. Through the used descriptive and inferential statistic, data were analyzed. The study findings depicts that the years of 2017 were records the highest percentage among years. The most of infection were target the age groups (5-9) years, As well as, there is a non significant association between the time of prevalence and infected patients their age and gender at p-value >0.05. There is an inter-annual response to the infection and there were longer the age the increasing the infection for males gender more than females. Its need to be conducted further studies in a national level to assess the associated factors with chickenpox infection in different areas of country (rural-urban).

Chickenpox is an infection transmitted by the respiratory tract, causing itching and rash with small blisters filled with fluids. It also easily moves from one person to another and may cause pneumonia, brain infection, dehydration and sepsis. The study aim: to assess the prevalence of chickenpox and associated with age and gender among under 10 years. A descriptive study design is conducted retrospectively for the last 5 years ago in Hilla City. By a convenience sample of (N=156) was collected five years from (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018) and was for all years for children diagnosed with chickenpox. As a medical records of statistic considered a study tools. Through the used descriptive and inferential statistic, data were analyzed. The study findings depicts that the years of 2017 were records the highest percentage among years. The most of infection were target the age groups (5-9) years, As well as, there is a non significant association between the time of prevalence and infected patients their age and gender at p-value >0.05. There is an inter-annual response to the infection and there were longer the age the increasing the infection for males gender more than females. Its need to be conducted further studies in a national level to assess the associated factors with chickenpox infection in different areas of country (rural-urban).