Baghdad Journal of Biochemistry and Applied Biological Sciences

Background: Schiff base compounds derivative from1,2,4-triazole, and their transition metal complexes play an essential role in coordination and bioinorganic chemistry due to biological and industrial applications.

Objectives: This work aims to prepare and characterize 1,2,4-triazole Schiff base and its complexes with a theoretical study, photophysical properties, and surface morphology for these complexes.

Methods: 1,2,4-triazole Schiff base prepared by condensation reaction between 4-Amino-3-mercapto-5-phenyl-4H-1,2,4-triazole and 2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde, then Schiff base reacted with Co2+, Ni2+, and Cu2+ ions, the synthesized 1,2,4-triazole Schiff base, and its complexes were characterized by infrared spectra, magnetic susceptibility, conductivity measurements, photophysical properties, and surface morphology measured by atomic force microscopy. The practical results were reinforced with a theoretical study, using PM3 calculation and HyperChem program, for these Schiff base complexes. Then, the proposed structures of the prepared complexes.

Results: 1,2,4-triazole Schiff base act as a chelate ligand. The coordination has occurred through the oxygen of the phenolic group O-H and the nitrogen of the imine group N=C of Schiff base with divalent metal ions. Cobalt complex has a tetrahedral geometry, while the nickel and copper complexes have square planar geometries. The stability of all compounds was studied by calculating the energy gap by diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and theoretical calculations. Copper Schiff base is a more stable complex due to the lower value of the energy gap, and the copper Schiff base complex is more semiconductivity than the other complexes. Surface morphology, properties of chelating Schiff base ligand and its complexes measured by atomic force microscopy, cobalt Schiff base complex is higher roughness. The bond length of (-C=N-), (-C-O-),(M-O), and (M-N) are affected in the coordination with metal ions, the bond length of the square planar geometry more affected than tetrahedral geometry.

Conclusions: All compounds were prepared successfully, characterized, and photophysical properties were studied.

Background: Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men, worldwide. Many markers are suggested for prostate cancer with different specificity and sensitivity.

Objectives: This study is aimed is to examine the possible utility of prostate-specific antigen indices as markers of prostate cancer.

Methods: A case-control study was conducted in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Al-Nahrain University, Baghdad, Iraq from July 2018 till March 2019, includes 84 subjects divided into three groups: twenty-four patients with prostate cancer (PCA), thirty patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and thirty healthy subjects as a control group were examined in this study. Blood samples from all participants were collected, and before obtaining a prostatic biopsy from patients. Serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and free prostate-specific antigen (fPSA) levels were quantified by the ELISA technique.

Results: PSA cut-off value was found to be more than 9.57 ng/ml for PCA patients, values range between 3.17–9.57 ng/ml for BPH patients and cut-off value for control was found to be less than 3.17 ng/ml, while serum (fPSA/PSA)% cut-off value was less than 11.1% for PCA patients, values range between 11.1%—31 % for BPH patients, and cut-off value was greater than 31% for the control group.

Conclusion: There is a highly significant difference in serum PSA levels and (fPSA/PSA)% between the PCA and control groups. Body mass index showed an inverse association with the risk of prostate cancer.

Background: Laminins are high-molecular-weight proteins in the extracellular matrix; it is a major component of the basal lamina, influencing cell differentiation, migration, and adhesion. Laminin affects cell growth, besides effects in wound healing and embryonic development.

Objectives: The present study aims to assess the histological changes taking place during skeletal muscle healing.

Methods: The extensor digitorum longus muscle of 45 male rabbits was set as a skeletal muscle injury model and examined 3&6 weeks after initiation of injury. These animals were divided into three groups control (A) group with no injury, group (B) at 3rd post-injury week, group (C) at 6th post-injury week. The muscle tissues were prepared and examined histologically using H&E and immunohistochemically using Laminin antibodies. Aperio image scope software is used to analyze immunohistochemical reactivity quantitatively. The degeneration and regeneration process were overlapping with each other both in time and cellular morphological changes. Early myoblast-like cell appearance and new myotube formation were recorded during the 3rd week. By the end of the 6th-week postoperatively, the muscle histological maturation and muscle fascicles were noticed.

Results: Immunohistochemical reactivity of Laminin antibody showed an intense reactivity in the 3rd-week group while a less intense reactivity in the control and 6th-week groups'. A quantitative assessment of Laminin using Aperio soft wear showed that the 3rd-week group has an intensity of 0.724±0.03 pixel, while the 6th week's group was 0. 321±0.02 pixel and the control group was 0.293±0.02 pixel. The differences were statistically significant, P-value ≤0.0001.

Conclusion: The process of regeneration is a dynamic type where degeneration and regeneration superimposed each other.

Background: Preeclampsia (PE) affects approximately 3% of all pregnancies, and it is still a major cause of the adverse perinatal outcome. PE is a multisystem disease characterized by the development of hypertension and proteinuria. Although PE etiology is not fully known, the placenta seems to play a central role in the development of the disease. The inadequate placentation process results in a change in angiogenic factors levels, such as the soluble form of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor type 1 (sFlt-1) and placental growth factor (PLGF).

Objectives: To investigate the correlation between serum PLGF with soluble sFLT-1 in preeclamptic women at their third trimester.

Methods: A case-control study was carried out from August 2018 till January 2019. In this study, pregnant women were collected from the Al-Elweyia, Al-Hakeem, and Al-Imamain Alkadhimain medical city. The practical part was conducted at the College of Medicine, Al-Nahrain University. The patient group includes 50 preeclamptic women in the third trimester (25 mild and 25 severe). Fifty healthy pregnant women (at their third trimester of gestation) were selected as control. Patients and control were compared for age, serum PLGF, and Sflt-1.

Results: Serum PLGF levels were decreased significantly among women who developed PE (2.14±0.029 pg/ml, 2.44±0.038 pg/ml vs. 2.68±0.017 pg/ml; p<0.05) severe PE, Mild PE, and the control group respectively, while, serum sFlt1 levels were increased significantly (p<0.05) between the groups of PE, (5.81±0.025, 5.51±0.024, 5.19±0.017 pg/ml) severe, mild and control, respectively.

Conclusions: Serum sFlt-1 and PLGF can be considered promising biomarkers for the preeclampsia. sFlt-1 and PLGF the ROC cut-offs (5.67 ng/ml, 2.09 ng/ml, respectively), the specificity and sensitivity of serum PLGF is more than that of serum sFlt-1, for the diagnosis of preeclampsia during the third trimester of pregnancy.

Background: Preeclampsia (PE) is diagnosed after 20 weeks of gestation. This multisystem disorder affects 2-7% of pregnant women. PE is a serious complication of pregnancy and one of the main causes of maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity in the world. The inadequate placentation process results in a change in anti-angiogenic factors levels, such as placental protein 13 (PP13) and soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt-1).

Objectives: To investigate the correlation between urinary PP13 and sFlt-1 in preeclamptic women in their third trimester of pregnancy.

Methods: A case-control study was carried out from August 2018 till January 2019. Urine samples were collected from pregnant women at Al-Elweyia Hospital, Al-Hakeem Hospital, and Al- Imamain Al-Kadhimain Medical City (in Baghdad, Iraq). The patients’ group include fifty women with PE in the third trimester (25 mild and 25 severe). Fifty healthy pregnant women (at their third trimester of pregnancy) were studied as a control group.

Results: The mean urinary PP13 levels were decreased in women with PE significantly (p≤ 0.05) (mild and severe) compared with healthy women (43.44±4.914 pg/ml, 33.34±1.863 pg/ml, and 51.84 ±2.60 pg/ml) respectively. Also, urinary sFlt-1 concentrations were decreased non-significantly (p> 0.05) in women with PE (mild and severe) compared with healthy women (5.71±0.414 ng/ml, 5.31±0.38 ng/ml and 6.01±0.282 ng/ml), respectively.

Conclusions: Urinary PP13 and sFlt-1 levels in the third trimester of pregnancy were significantly correlated with the severity of PE, and urinary levels of PP13 were found to be decreased significantly in patients with PE than in healthy pregnant women in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy.