Introduction and Aim: Thyroid eye illness is widely recognized as one of the most significant concerns confronting the medical profession today. The thyroid-related ophthalmopathy also known as Graves’ ophthalmopathy is an autoimmune disorder that cannot be reversed and hence, research pertaining to the identification of novel markers that can explain both the prognosis and the recovery of the condition is needed. In this study, we aimed to investigate the IL-38 gene expression levels among Graves’ ophthalmopathy patients in Iraq.   Methodology: The TSH levels were measured with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The level of IL-38 gene expression in patient blood samples and normal healthy controls was measured qualitatively using RT-PCR.   Results: Patients who were diagnosed with Graves’ ophthalmopathy were observed to have abnormally low levels of thyrotropin (TSH) in their serum. In these patients, the interleukin IL-38 gene expression was observed to be significantly greater compared to healthy controls (P<0.01), the tendency of which continued even after one year of therapy with anti-thyroid drugs.   Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that the IL-38 transcript is important in the autoimmune response. The identification of IL-38 expression levels could contribute in the early clinical diagnosis and treatment of thyroid eye disease

Aim: To evaluate the relationship between serum levels of visfatin, lead (PB) and cadmium (Cd) in obese male subjects with osteoarthritis (OA). Methods: A total of 40 obese males (age: 25 -55 years; BMI ≥ 30) participated in the study. They were subdivided into 3 groups; group A, 10 patients with OA; group B, 15 workers in gasoline filling stations; group C, 15 obese subjects without any apparent other health problems or chronic diseases. After overnight fasting, blood samples were collected from all participants to evaluate blood levels of Pb, Cd and HbA1c, in addition to serum visfatin, lipid profile, glucose and total antioxidant state (TAS). Results: Obese patients with OA have significantly higher BMI value (p < 0.05) than the other groups. Obese gasoline station workers demonstrate highest blood lead levels compared to the other groups. Serum visfatin levels in obese subjects with OA were significantly higher than that reported in the other groups. Blood lead contents and serum visfatin levels were positively and significantly correlated in the three groups, and greatest correlation coefficient value (r) was reported in obese OA patients followed by obese gasoline station workers and healthy obese subjects, respectively. BMI in obese healthy subjects shows weak positive and non-significant relationship with serum visfatin levels, while highly positive and significant correlation was reported between these two markers in obese gasoline station workers. However, BMI values and serum visfatin showed weak negative and non-significant correlation with serum visfatin levels in obese OA patients. Conclusion: Serum visfatin levels could be key regulators of obesity and OA, and an important partner with excessive environmental exposure to Pb in the pathogenesis of these disorders.