Al-Kufa University Journal for Biology

hypertension is a complicated condition in which many mechanisms collaborate, causing cardiovascular and cerebrovascular implications that are now among the most common causes of death, illness, and medical expenses globally. Currently, 1.13 billion individuals are suffering from hypertension, as reported by the World Health Association. The level of incidence of hypertension rises substantially with age, and due to the continuing aging of the population around the world, both the overall incidence of hypertension and the adverse outcomes continue to keep growing. Some clinical trials and reports suggest that hypertensive individuals possess deficient in serum magnesium level, with reduced levels of magnesium connected to adverse consequences on blood pressure levels. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of antihypertensive drugs on serum magnesium levels. The materials and methods: this study include 150 individuals with hypertension who have been recruited in this research from Al
Hakim General Hospital between October 2, 2024, and December 31, 2024. The concentration of magnesium in the patients' serum was determined by the xylidyl blue technique (magnesium liquicolor human reagent). The results illustrate that patient with hypertension using beta blocker drugs had significantly low serum magnesium levels. Conclusion: Hypertensive patients taking antihypertensive drugs, particularly beta blockers, had reduced mean serum magnesium level .

Celiac disease (CD) is a chronic autoimmune disorder triggered by gluten ingestion in genetically predisposed individuals, characterized by immune-mediated small intestinal damage. This study aimed to assess the gene expression levels of key immune markers, including cytokines (IL-1α, IL-17A, TNF-α) and adhesion molecules (ICAM-1, E-selectin), in CD patients and explore their relationship with demographic factors such as age and sex. Blood samples were collected from 124 CD patients and 60 healthy controls. Serological markers (TTG and AGA antibodies) were measured using ELISA, and gene expression levels were analyzed using RT-PCR. The results revealed significant downregulation of IL-1α, IL-17A, E-selectin, and ICAM-1, while TNF-α was slightly upregulated in CD patients compared to controls. Age distribution analysis showed a higher prevalence of CD in adolescents (11-20 years) and young adults (21-30 years), with a secondary peak in middle-aged individuals (41-60 years). Females constituted 67% of CD patients, indicating a 2:1 female-to-male ratio. Serological analysis showed higher levels of AGA and TTG antibodies in younger patients, though the differences across age groups were not statistically significant. Similarly, sex-based differences in antibody levels were not significant, but females exhibited greater variability. These findings suggest that younger patients and females may have a more robust immune response, potentially influenced by hormonal and genetic factors. The study highlights the importance of demographic factors in CD pathogenesis and underscores the need for targeted screening and personalized therapeutic strategies.

The RB1 gene plays important role in regulating the cell cycle and has been implicated in various malignancies, including breast cancer. Methylation-specific PCR (MSP) was used to assess RB1 methylation, while immunohistochemical markers such as ER, PR, HER2, and Ki-67 were analyzed to correlate molecular changes with clinical characteristics. The findings demonstrate that aberrant RB1methylation is significantly linked to more aggressive tumor phenotypes, including higher histologic grade, advanced stage, and elevated Ki-67 expression. Furthermore, RB1 methylation status correlated with poor survival outcomes, suggesting its role as a prognostic biomarker. This study underscores the importance of RB1 methylation in breast cancer pathophysiology and its potential clinical utility.
Method: A total of 40 primary breast carcinoma tissue samples and 10 non-neoplastic breast tissue samples were collected from the pathology archives of medical institutions in Duhok, Iraq. Clinical and pathological data, including patient age, tumor size, stage, and grade, were retrieved from medical records. Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) staining was performed to confirm diagnosis. Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining was conducted for Ki-67, ER, PR, and HER2, while MSP was employed to evaluate RB1 methylation and its association with clinical parameters.
Results: All patients in this study were female, with 70% being over 50 years old. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that ER, PR, and HER2 were negative in 65%, 70%, and 60% of cases, respectively, while 70% of tumors exhibited high Ki-67 expression. A significant correlation was found between Ki-67 expression and receptor status, as well as other clinicopathological features. RB1 methylation was identified in 24 cases (60%), demonstrating a strong association with tumor aggressiveness and immunohistochemical markers.Conclusion: The study confirms the association between RB1 methylation and breast cancer progression. Evaluating RB1 methylation status could provide valuable diagnostic and prognostic insights, potentially guiding targeted therapeutic strategies.

Vitiligo is a chronic autoimmune disease that causes parts of the skin to lose their pigments. Due to the increasing incidence of the disease, especially among adolescents, the aim was to study the demographic and clinical characteristic of vitiligo patientsin Najaf province.
Methods:This research included 63 vitiligo patients from the Department of Dermatology at AL-Najaf AL-Ashraf Teaching Hospital and AL-Sader Medical City, as well as 25 healthy controls of the same age and sex.Each patient group was further subdivided based on age, gender, age of illness beginning, type, severity of vitiligo disease, and family history. The physicians used Wood's lamp to identify patients according on their symptoms and clinical history.
Results: Vitiligo patients had an average age of 26.68±15.39 years, according to the data. In comparison to other age groups, the percentage of vitiligo patients was greatest in the 16–30 age bracket (36.5%), followed by the under–15 age bracket (30.2%). Males accounted for 57.1% of vitiligo cases, while females accounted for 42.9%. Generalized vitiligo accounts for the highest proportion of patients (63.5%), followed by facial vitiligo (15.9%), acrofacial (11.1%), and focal (9.5%). The majority of patients (54.0%) had the condition start while they were under 15 years old, followed by those between 16 and 30 years old (23.8%), followed by those between 31 and 45 years old (12.7%) and those beyond 46 years old (9.5%). Regarding vitiligo's family history, 41.3% of patients had a family history, whilst 58.7% of patients had none.
Conclusion: The majority of vitiligo patients are children and adolescents, and the majority do not have a family history.