Baghdad Journal of Biochemistry and Applied Biological Sciences

One of the most common and enduring bacterial infections globally, Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infects almost half of the world’s population. The bacterium is described as a spiral microaerophilic gram-negative bacterium; it is commonly found in the stomach and can cause several categories of gastrointestinal conditions, such as gastritis, peptic ulcers, and in some circumstances, stomach cancer. There is also a growing knowledge that chronic H. pylori infection may be associated with an increased danger of extra-gastric disease that includes host iron deficiency anemia, and cardiovascular, autoimmune, metabolic, neurological, and dermatological diseases. In this article, we examined the virulence factors of H. pylori and its correlation to gastrointestinal diseases, as well as the bacterium’s potential involvement in extra-gastric diseases such as iron and vitamin B12 deficiency, in addition to neurological, cardiovascular, inflammatory bowel, and diabetes mellitus disorders.

Subclinical hypothyroidism is characterized by elevated thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels with normal serum free thyroxine (fT4) and free triiodothyronine (fT3) concentrations. In contrast, overt primary hypothyroidism occurs when fT4 levels fall below the normal reference range. Diagnosing subclinical hypothyroidism is challenging due to varying upper limits of normal for TSH. This review explores the differentiation between clinical and subclinical hypothyroidism in pathophysiology, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment.

Overt hypothyroidism lacks a singular identifying symptom, while subclinical hypothyroidism is often asymptomatic. However, both conditions can present with non-specific symptoms such as mild to moderate weight gain, fatigue, impaired concentration, depressive symptoms, and menstrual irregularities. These symptoms alone are insufficient for diagnosis, necessitating thyroid function tests for confirmation.

Levothyroxine (LT4) is the primary treatment for hypothyroidism and is one of the most widely prescribed medications worldwide. LT4 has a slower onset of action and produces prolonged effects compared to endogenous thyroid hormones. It facilitates the conversion of thyroxine (T4) to triiodothyronine (T3) and normalizes TSH levels, replenishing the body\\'s T3 reserves. While LT4 monotherapy is the standard treatment, a combination of LT4 and Liothyronine (LT3) may be considered for hypothyroid patients. However, some evidence suggests that T3 levels may not be fully restored in patients receiving LT4 therapy alone. The choice of treatment should be individualized based on clinical presentation, symptom severity, and laboratory findings.

Nanotechnology offers a revolutionary approach to drug delivery systems, with nanoparticles playing a central role. These particles, typically sized between 1 and 100 nanometers, possess unique properties that enhance medication effectiveness and reduce side effects. This article explores the key applications of nanotechnology in drug delivery. The ability to deliver drugs directly to target sites is a significant advantage. Nanoparticles can be engineered to navigate biological barriers and reach specific cells or tissues, minimizing damage to healthy areas. This targeted approach is particularly valuable in cancer treatment, where it can significantly reduce the cytotoxicity of chemotherapeutic drugs. Nanotechnology improves the solubility and bioavailability of poorly soluble drugs. By encapsulating drugs within nanoparticles, their absorption and therapeutic effect are significantly enhanced.

Soluble Cluster of Differentiation 14 (sCD14) and soluble Cluster of Differentiation 163 (sCD163) are the circulating forms of the cell surface receptors CD14 and CD163 expressed on the surface of monocytes and macrophages. When these cells become activated, the extracellular domains of the CD14 and CD163 receptors are shed or cleaved from the cell surface, releasing the soluble forms in the circulation, which are considered valuable biomarkers for evaluating inflammatory conditions. The sCD14 and sCD163 were both done using the ELISA technique, which showed a significant difference between the patient and control groups. Where these parameters increased in the patient groups compared to the control group, sCD14(ng/ml) was in the HBV group (44.2±7.9), the HCV group (46.8±8.9), and the healthy group (35.1 ± 6.5), while sCD163(ng/ml) was in the HBV group (106.8±9.4), the HCV group (104.3±3.3), and the healthy group (93.01±5.9). The P value was < 0.000 for both parameters. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis shows that it can distinguish patients from controls. It was performed by using the serum levels of each sCD14 and sCD163 in patients with HBV and HCV and a healthy control group according to the presence of the disease. The diagnostic performance of these soluble biomarkers was evaluated in the two patient groups (HBV and HCV) by using ROC analysis, and sCD163 showed a higher diagnostic performance compared to sCD14, where was the area under the curve in the HBV group 0.96 vs. 0.83 while in HCV group 0.97 vs. 0.86 respectively, with statistically significant differences (P = 0.000). In conclusion, the results of this study demonstrate that sCD163 is a more useful and reliable biomarker for predicting and differentiating HBV and HCV infection compared to sCD14, and sCD163 could be a valuable non-invasive tool for the clinical management of viral hepatitis. infection compared to sCD14, and sCD163 could be a valuable non-invasive tool for the clinical management of viral hepatitis.