Al-Nisour Journal for Medical Sciences

Background: Multiple Sclerosis patients (MS) were suffering from several neurological defect.
Vitamin D deficiency increase the severity of MS disease. The aim of this study is to evaluate
Vitamin D in Multiple Sclerosis patients (MS).
Methodology: Current study enrolled thirty patients suffering from MS, they were diagnosed by
physician. For comparison thirty healthy individuals participated in this work. Vitamin D and liver
function tests were measured.
Result: A highly significant decrease in Vitamin D level (12.44±5.6 ng/ml) in MS patients when
compared to control (32 ± 6.4 ng/ml), and significant increase liver function tests in MS disease as
compare with healthy individuals.
Conclusion: Decrease of Vitamin D associated MS disease. There is an obvious proof that vitamin
D may be important in MS pathophysiology

This article aims to determine the association between IL-6, TGF- β1 with increase adipose tissue
represented the increase of the waist circumference and body max index in adults in both groups
and sex. This case-control analysis is performed on 89 (100%) were patients with obesity 52
(58.43 %) and 37(41.57%) were control for age range from (19-40) years. "The results showed
that there are significant differences (P≤ 0.05) "in mean of ages, which reached 29.71± 0.92 year
in obese groups, while it was 23.54± 0.81 year in control groups. The results indicated that there
are significant differences (P≤ 0.05) of BMI was 35.86± 0.59 Kg/M2 in obese groups and
reached 22.68± 0.29 Kg/M2 in control groups, as well as, the waist circumference was higher
(P≤ 0.05) in obese groups which reached 108.35± 1.91 cm, whereas it was 80.11± 1.23 cm in
control groups.
There were no significant differences in these parameters among both sex of two groups. The
data demonstrated that the obese groups, were no significant differences of IL-6, TGF- β1 in both
sex of study groups and among three classes of obese groups. Correlation analysis showed that
was no significant correlation between BMI with" the levels of IL-6, TGF- β1 in obese as well
as in sex" of the obese groups.

Hepcidin, a regulator of iron recycling and absorption, is a small peptide created by the
hepatocytes when there is an increase in body iron and inflammation. It is regarded as a master
regulator for the metabolism of iron. Hepcidin decreases iron absorption from food by
decreasing the transportation of iron across the enterocytes in the gut mucosa. Hepcidin
decreases iron escape from macrophages, which are considered as the main site for storage of
iron and decreases iron escape from the liver.
The aim of this study is to explore the diagnostic value of hepcidin in elderly patients with iron
deficiency anemia and anemia of chronic disease. Anemia was defined according to criteria of
the World Health Organization (hemoglobin level <13 g/dL for men and hemoglobin <12 g/dL
for women).
Thirty elderly patients (Age 65 years and above) with anemia were collected randomly from
the National center of Hematology and from Al-Karama Hospital. Together with thirty age and
sex matched healthy volunteers were collected as a control. History was taken and physical
examination was done. Blood samples were taken; hematological parameters were estimated
for the two groups.
We found strong correlation between serum hepcidin and body iron status. High hepcidin level
was detected in elderly patients with anemia of inflammation.

Aerial parts of Eclipta alba are used traditionally for the treatment of several diseases of liver,
skin and stomach. Methanolic extract and active principle compound of Iraq herb, Eclipta alba
was tested for in vitro antimicrobial studies. It was evaluated using zone of inhibition studies and
minimum inhibitory concentration was observed at the concentration of (0.08,0.04,0.02,0.01)
g/ml against pathogenic bacteria. Phytochemical screening of the extract revealed the presence
of active principles, coumestans (Wedelolactone), Alkaloids, Flavonoid, Glycosides,
Triterpenoids, Tannins and Saponins. Methanolic extract fraction (wedelolactone) showed
enhanced antimicrobial activity. Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella
pneumonia and Acinetobacter ssp. were most pathogen and resistant bacterial strain. These
results suggest coumestans/wedelolactone as a promising antimicrobial agent.

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a relapsing-remitting autoimmune disease
with wide ranging organ involvement and clinical symptoms varying from mild and transient
symptoms to death. Systemic lupus erythematosus typically develops between the teen and adult
years, ranging from ages 15-44 years, predominantly affecting females in the reproductive age.
Objective: To find the relationship between serum protein electrophoresis levels and
hematological parameters and the severity of SLE in Iraqi patients.
Patients and methods: the study involved a total of 40 SLE patients who attended one of
Baghdad teaching hospitals from October 2018 until May 2019. Diagnosis of SLE was based on
the criteria published by the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) for SLE classification
and was subdivided depending on SLEDAI into SLE-S (29 sever) and SLE-M (11 moderate).
SLEDAI was calculated for all patients (sever & moderate) as following: no activity (SLEDAI=
0), mild activity (SLEDAI 1-5), moderate activity (SLEDAI 6-10), high activity (SLEDAI 11-
19), very high activity (SLEDAI ≥20). In addition, a total of 10 apparently healthy individuals
and 10 RA patients were included in the study as a control group. Blood samples were collected
from patients and control, and serum was separated. Serum protein electrophoresis and
hematological parameters were measured in both patients and control. In addition, urine samples
were collected in plastic disposable tubes, and labeled from study patients and control for urinary
RBC count and protein urea (persistent proteinuria greater than +3 by dipstick) were detected.
Results: the study showed that the majority of patients (40%) were aged <20-29 years. A
significant difference in the WBC count was noticed between SLE-S (5.10±2.33 109
/L), SLE-M
(4.90±2.63 109
/L), RA (5.06±2.45 109
/L), and control (6.05±1.96 109
/L).On the other hand, Monocyte count showed no significant difference between SLE-S
(4.25±1.51%), SLE-M (3.94±1.60%), RA (3.89±1.38%), and control (4.05±0.72%). While other
hematological parameter showed a highly significant difference between studied groups such as
hemoglobin between SLE-S (10.97±1.45 g/dL), SLE-M (11.05±1.86 g/dL), RA (10.68±1.27
g/dL), and control (13.95±0.62 g/dL) , platelet between SLE-S (229.76±99.2 109/L), SLE-M
(242.16±104.4 109/L), RA (412.57±124.6 109 /L), and control (315.70±73.78 109 /L),
Lymphocyte between SLE-S (28.39±11.28 %), SLE-M(28.60±10.11%),RA (24.88±8.13 %),and
control (39.57±5.82%). There was a significant difference in Neutrophils between SLE-S
(60.52±15.64%), SLE-M (62.31±9.34%), RA (63.85±7.53%), and control (52.86±10.29%).
Similarly, Eosinophils were significantly different between SLE-S (1.28±0.68%), SLE-M
(1.41±0.65%), RA (1.54±0.77%), and control (2.49±1.32%); and Basophils were significantly
different between SLE-S (0.75±0.29%), SLE-M (0.77±0.28%), RA (0.91±0.37%), and control
(0.56±0.21%). Finally, a significant difference was noticed in ESR between SLE-S (59.60±36.19
mm/hr), SLE-M (51.79±37.33 mm/hr), RA (86.40±45.34 mm/hr), and control (7.86±1.97
mm/hr). Furthermore, distribution of studied groups by results of urine protein and hematuria
showed a highly significant difference. Also a highly significant difference in serum albumin
was noticed between SLE (35.3412 g/l) and control (41.486 g/l). In addition, a highly significant
difference in the gama globulin was noticed between SLE (15.4442 g/l) and control (9.656 g/l).
Conclusion: decreased in serum albumin and increased in gamma globulin were found to be
prevalent in SLE patients in our study. This decreased in serum albumin and increased in gamma
globulin was related to proteinurea and disease score in SLE patients, and thus to disease activity.

A total of (100) patients attending the Center of Tuberculosis and Chest Disease in Baghdad
were included in this study. Their ages ranged between (17-68) years. They all complained of a
reproductive cough. The study was accomplished during the period extending from November
2019 till May 2020. Twenty-five were found to have M. tuberculosis by using the Ziehl
Neelsen stain and culture technique (15 males, 10 females), their ages ranging between 17 and
68 years. Twenty-five age and sex-matched normal healthy-looking individuals were also
chosen as control group for comparison. In this work, the concentrations of the cytokines,
interleukine-12(IL-12) and tumor necrotic factor alpha (TNF-α) were evaluated in the sera of
Tuberculoid patients by using Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Results of this
work revealed that the mean concentrations of (IL-12 and TNF-α) were significantly higher in
the sera of patients with M. tuberculosis infection when compared with their concentration in
the sera of the control group (P<0.001). No significant differences were found in the mean
concentration of serum (IL-12 and TNF-α) between males and females with M. tuberculosis
infection (P>0.05).