No abstract

Background Recently, the vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms has been linked to various autoimmune diseases. The key aim of this study is to explore the association between VDR gene polymorphisms (rs2228570, rs1544410, rs731236, rs7975232) and the risk of Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) among the Iraqi population. Methods Peripheral blood samples were used to isolate genomic DNAs from 180 HT patients and 200 healthy controls. Four VDR gene loci were amplified, and the obtained amplicons were then digested using the restriction enzymes FokI, BsmI, TaqI and ApaI. The digested fragments were then electrophoresed on agarose gel (2.5%). HT polymorphisms and estimated haplotypes were computed by odds ratios (ORs). Results After stratification by age, gender and body mass index (BMI), univariate logistic regression statistical analysis revealed a significantly higher incidence of FokI (rs2228570) polymorphisms in HT patients compared to healthy controls. In contrast, the incidence of the BsmI (rs1544410) and TaqI (rs731236) polymorphisms were significantly higher in healthy controls than in the HT patient group. Linkage disequilibrium (LD) analysis of pairs of SNPs revealed that the polymorphisms in the VDR gene (rs731236 A/G and rs7975232 G/C) were in strong LD in an HT model (D’= 0.86). Furthermore, AAGC and AAGT haplotype models (OR = 1.50, 95% CI: 1.09 − 2.07; OR = 1.61, 95% CI: 1.06 − 2.45, P = 0.02) were associated with an increased risk of HT, while the AACC haplotype model (OR = 0.37, 95% CI: 0.15–0.90, P = 0.02) exhibited a significantly decreased the risk of developing HT. Conclusion Our research supports the association between HT and the FokI polymorphism among the Iraqi population. In addition, the haplotype analysis reveals that the combination of mutant alleles from several VDR gene polymorphisms makes these individuals more susceptible to HT.

Objective: Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is an irreversible and untreatable human disease encompasses a large group of chronic lung disorders associated with excessive remodeling, scarring, and fibrosis.The current work was designed to study the harmful effects of methotrexate (MTX) administration on the lung and the possible protective role of Carthmus tinctorius leaves extract. The animals were utilized in this study. Methods:A total of 40 male healthy adult Wistar albino rats with anaverage body weight of 200±25 g, were divided into four groups (10 animals each). G1: control group, G2: MTX group, G3: Carthamus tinctorius (CT), group G4:MTX+Carthamus tinctorius(CT). CT was administered orally at a dose of (40 mg/kg/day) for 4 w to G3 and G4. The (CT) group were performed to explore any toxic effect of the (CT) extract on the lung. Rats of G2 and G4 administered 4 mg/kg dose of MTX orally for 28 d. Rats of G1 were intraperitoneally (i. p) administered with normal saline 0.5 ml ∕ day for four weeks (4wk) to serveas control. The animals were weighed at the beginning, though, and at the end of experiments. Results:The study showed that the relative lung weight was significantly increased at (P˂0.0 1) in MTX-treated animals in comparison to the control group. A combination of CT extract with MTX revealed significant decrease (P<0.01) in the lung relative weight in comparison to MTX group. Histopathological examination revealed that lung injury was less severe in group 3 and 4compared to group 2. The results indicated that CT significantly decreased collagen deposition, hydroxyproline content, and ameliorated pathological changes. Conclusion:The study has clearly identified the importance protective role of CT extract on pulmonary fibrosis induced by methoxerate. We recommended CT as one of therapeutic strategy to amelioratethe lung fibrosis associated with methotrexate therapy.

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine disorder affecting women in child bearing age and is considered the main cause of infertility. This study aims to determine the efficacy of cyproterone 12 mg/ kg and metformin 50 mg/kg as a single oral daily dose for 20 days, in PCOS induced in female rats by estrogen valerate. In untreated group PCOS, the level of serum luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) was significantly (P< 0.0001) decrease, while estradiol and testosterone levels were increased significantly (P< 0.0001 and P< 0.001 respectively) in comparison with control group. Both cyproterone and metformin significantly increased LH and FSH levels (P< 0.05) compared to the untreated PCOS group. Both cyproterone and metformin reduced the level of estradiol hormone significantly (P <0.001 and P <0.05, respectively). Cyproterone also decreased the level of testosterone (P <0.0001) compared to the untreated PCOS group, and the testosterone level became less than that recorded in the control group (P <0.05), Metformin also significantly decreased the level of testosterone compared to the untreated PCOS group (P <0.01), but it still more than that in control. According to the results of the current study, we can conclude that cyproterone and metformin showed an efficacy in the treatment of PCO, and can restore the normal hormonal levels and should be considered in the treatment of this disease.

In this study the effect of diazepam on some blood chemistry values was studied in male rats. Intraperitoneal administration of diazepam at a dose of 0.6mg/kg body weight for 60 days didn't induce significant changes in serum glucose, urea, cholesterol, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total bilirubin, creatinine and alkaline phosphatase levels. Findings of this study give further sound for the safety of benzodiazepines.