Evaluationof highly sensitive c-reactive protein in female patients with nodal osteoarthritis

Nodal Osteoarthritis is a subset of OA characterized by polyarticularinterphalangeal and thumb base OA ,Heberden'sand Bouchard's nodes formation.C-reactive protein [CRP] is one of the first acute phase response proteins to be elevated in an inflammatory processes. The aim of this study is to investigate whether the inflammatory processes have roles in the development of nodal osteoarthritis [NOA] in Iraqi femalepatients using serum highly sensitive C-reactive protein as aninflammatory marker. The study included eighty four females, divided into two main groups,sixty were patients with [NOA], and twenty-four represented the control group. Other subdivisions were applied according to body mass index and menopause status. Measurement of serum [hsCRP], wasapplied to all subjects included in this study, by ELISA sandwich method. Serum highly sensitive C-reactive protein [hsCRP] level was significantly higher [18.08 +/- 8.15] [P value < 0.05] in patients with NOA in comparison to control group [2.23 +/- 1.73]. Highly significant elevated level of serum [hsCRP] observed in the NOA patients compared to control suggest that the inflammatory processes have roles in the development of NOA

Serum anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide [anti_CCP] antibody level in rheumatoid arthritic patients with and without nodal osteoarthritis

Rheumatoid Arthritis [RA] is chronic systemic inflammatory disease affects synovial joints, articular structures and extra articular, the prevalence rate occurs aprox in about 1% of population Anti citrullinated peptide/protein antibody [Anti-CCP] antibody are autoantibodies [antibodies directed against one or. more of the individuals own proteins] frequently detected in RA patients during inflammation. citrulline is incorporated enzymalically into proteins. The current study is a trail to ensure that Anti-CCP marker is more specific and sensitive for diagnosis of RA patients and to detect the effect of the presence of other disease like NOA on Anti- CCP value. Evaluation of Anti-CCP Ab level in RA patients with and without NOA. The serum level of Accp_Ab is estimated using ELISA technique in patients with RA and NOA. The studied group includes 30 RA patients [24 females and 6 males], who fulfilled four or more of the 1987 ACR criteria compared with 30 RA+NOA patients [23 females and 7 males] also fulfilled four or more of the 1987 ACR criteria for the classification of Rheumatoid arthritis and nodal osteoarthritis group. Blood samples were taken from three groups to analyze and measure the serum levels of Anti-CCP. Result of investigations were compared with that for the 30 apparently healthy control individuals who matched the patient's group in age and sex. The result of the study showed that majority of patients is females [80%] for RA patients and [76.6%] for RA+NOA patients [with females: males 4:1 and 3.28:1 for RA and RA+NOA respectively]. Moreover, the mean age for RA, RA+NOA and control groups are:48.03 +/- 12.95y, 51.3 +/- 11.8y and 37.43 +/- 12.57 years respectively. It was observed from the result that there is a higher positivity of Anti-CCP in the patients sera[76.7% for RA+NOA cases and 70% for RA cases] in comparison with healthy control group [0.0%] so there is highly significant difference [p<0.001]. While the quantitative estimation of Anti-CCP antibodies showed that its level was higher among sera of RA+NOA patients in addition to RA patients [53.59 +/- 33.29 RU/ml and 52.28 +/- 48.99 RU/ml respectively] in comparison with healthy control group 2.88 +/- 2.50 RU/ml. We found that Anti-CCP is a good and specific marker for diagnosis of RA and RA can be differentiated from other disease by measuring this marker. Moreover, Anti-CCP Ab level in RA patients does not significantly affected by the presence of NOA

role of interleukin-8 in patients with primary fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia syndrome [FMS] is a common rheumatologic syndrome with multiple manifestations and associated with many diseases, it characterized by chronic wide spread muscular pain and tenderness. Further, circulatory levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines like IL-8 and others may be altered in FMS patients, possibly associated with their symptoms.The objective of the study is to measure IL-8 concentration and to evaluate its role in the pathogenesis of primary FMS. Fifty patients with primary FMS were included in the study [37 females and 13 males] the age range of [17-65] years [Mean +/- SD] [40.13 +/- 12.0] years, and thirty healthy individuals volunteers [21 females and 9 males], whose age and sex matching with FMS patients, age ranging [18-63] years, [Mean +/- SD] [36.1 +/- 10.0] years. IL-8 concentration was measured in sera of patients and controls by ELISA kit. Anthropometric measurements like body mass index [BMI] and waist circumference [WCr] were taken, besides other features like sleep disturbance, emotional distress, and fatigue were reported. IL-8 concentration was higher in FMS patients than controls[40.24 +/- 22.0] pg/ml vs. [19.16 +/- 7.8] pg/ml. This elevation was highly significant statistically [p=0.000].Other measurements in patients group like BMI, WCr were[28.39 +/- 5.0] Kg/m2 and [100.34 +/- 13.21] cm respectively .These values were highly significant when compared to their control group [p=0.002]and [p=0.008] respectively .Clinical features like sleep disturbance, emotional distress, and fatigue showed highly significant difference between the two groups . No significant differences were reported with respect to age and sex. The result of the current study suggest that interleukin-8, [IL-8] might have a role in the pathogenesis of FMS

Sperm DNA content: An overall correlation study with sperm count, motility and morphology

To determine the DNA content in sub fertile patients and correlate it with seminal sperm parameters, [count, motility and morphology]. Prospective observational study. College of Medicine, Department of physiological chemistry and Institute for Embryo research and Infertility treatment, University of Baghdad. A random sample of 58 sub fertile male patients undergoing semen evaluation and their age ranged from 20-45 years were studied. Semen samples were assessed for seminal sperms [count, motility and morphology] by direct light microscopy. Sperm DNA content was estimated using a microchemical spectrophotometric method The data were categorized into four groups according to normal and abnormal sperms count [million/ ml], percent motility and percent morphology. The normal limits of those sperm function parameters were according to WHO criteria. The four groups were named as Normozoospermic [NZS] [control] Normoasthenozoospermic [NAZS], NormoasthenoterafozooSpermic [NATZS] and oligoasthenoteratozoospermic [OATZS] groups. The Mean +/- SD of the four groups were of significant difference [P < 0.05] with respect to sperm count, sperm percent motility and morphology with exceptions of certain groups. Moreover, a non significant difference [P > 0.05] was found with respect to DNA content [pg/ml] and [pg/sperm] except for Gr. IV which showed a significant difference when compared to others. The correlation coefficients [r values] between sperm count and sperms motility, morphology and DNA content [pg/ml] were non significant in the four groups. Noticeably, the DNA content [pg/sperm] was statistically of significant [P < 0.05] negative correlation with sperm count in all groups. All groups were of significant difference [P < 0.05] among their Mean +/- SD values of their count, motility and morphology. There were few exceptions. No significant differences [P > 0.05] were found with respect to DNA content [pg/ml or pg/sperm] except for oligoasthenoteratozoospermic group compared to others. No significant correlation was found between sperm count and each of sperms motility, morphology and DNA content [pg/ml] in the four groups However, the DNA content [pg/sperm] had a statistically significant [P < 0.05] negative correlation with sperm count in all groups

DNA content of spermatozoa with respect to seminal sperm concentration using a microchemical spectrophotometric method

To determine the DNA content in subfertile patients and to correlate it with seminal sperm concentration. Prospective observational study. College of Medicine, Dept. of Physiological chemistry and Institute for embryo Research and infertility treatment-University of Baghdad. The study was conducted through years 2004-2005. A random sample of 61 subfertile male patients undergoing semen evaluation and aged from 20-45 years were studied. Semen samples were assessed for seminal sperm concentration microscopically and were classified into 3 different groups according to count [million/ml].Then sperm DNA content [micro g/ml] was estimated using a microchemical Spectrophotometric method. The three groups were statistically of significant difference [P <0.01].The D N A concentration per spermatozoan in Gr.III [120 million/ml] was higher than the other two groups It was also noticed that there was a statistically significant [P< 0.05] correlation in Gr.III between DNA content and sperm concentration. No significant [P >0.05]correlation was observed in the other two groups [Gr. I and Gr. II]. Significant positive correlation was obtained between sperm concentration and DNA content, in the oligozoospermic subfertile patient, but no significant correlation was found in the normozoopermic patients. DNA content per spermatozoan from oligozoospermic patients was higher than that in normozoospermic patients

effect of some social and biological factors on the values of serum glucose, cholesterol and uric acid

The effect of some social and biological factors namely: marital status, alcohol consumption, genetic factors, the effect of body weight and Quetelet index on the values of serum glucose, cholesterol and uric acid were studied. The striking finding is that the genetic factors of family history of diabetes mellitus, hypertension myocardial infarction and sudden death do not operate before the 5th decade in females. In males there was a strong effect of genetic factors