Reports of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

BACKGROUND: Normally happening substances like flavonoids are regarded as active candidates for the treatment and prevention of cancer The purpose of this study was to see how Iraqi E. arvense total flavonoid affected cell lines biologically and human lung fibroblast normal cell line (WISH). METHODS: Plant powder was extracted by reflex apparatus, then thin-layer chromatography (TLC) was used to determine total flavonoids. Cytotoxicity assay (MTT) was used to determine the cytotoxic activity of the prepared plant against human breast cancer (MCF-7), cells human cervix cancer (HELA), human colon cancer (Caco-2) and human lung fibroblast normal cell line (WISH)...

BACKGROUND: Chemical agents, such as Chlorhexidine are used as one of dental plaque control strategy. Researchers are looking for a natural and economic substitute with same antibacterial efficacy and less complications. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of the Khorasan Razavi walnut green husk (WGH) extract with and without adding ZnO nanoparticles (nZnO) on Streptococcus mutans ( S. mutans ). METHODS: In this in vitro study, antimicrobial effect of the Hydro-ethanolic extract of WGH, was evaluated against S...

BACKGROUND: Receptor advanced glycation end products (RAGE) activation plays an essential role in diabetic retinopathy (DR) progression. This study was aimed to explore the role of anti-RAGE antibodies (RAGE antagonists) in inhibiting DR progression through their hypoglycemic and anti-inflammatory mechanism in diabetic retinopathy induced rats. METHODS: A total of 30 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five group. The group was consisted of normal control group, DR group without treatment, DR group with anti-RAGE 1 ηg/kg BW, 10 ηg/kg BW, and 100 ηg/kg BW...

BACKGROUND: MicroRNA is a form of non-coding RNAs that able to regulate gene expression. miR-424 is one of the members of the regulatory family, which plays an important role in the proliferation and differentiation of myeloid cells. Epigenetic changes can change the level of miR-424 under environmental factors. Therefore, the level of expression of miR-424 in U937 cells of the myeloid line was evaluated in this research under the influence of vitamin D3 (VitD3) and retinoic acid (RA)...

BACKGROUND: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of diabetes mellitus complication and occurred in retinal microvascular. This study was aimed to investigate the efficacy of Sambiloto, Andrographis paniculate (A. paniculata) extract on glycemic profile, antioxidant and inflammatory cytokine parameters in diabetic rats, and phytochemical analysis of A. paniculata . METHODS: A. paniculata extract (APE) was carried out by maceration with ethanol. Diabetes mellitus in Wistar male rats was induced with streptozotocin...

BACKGROUND: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease with inflammatory nature. One of the leading causes of death in SLE patients is cardiovascular (CVS) morbidity. MiRNA-24 is highly expressed in vascular endothelial cells (VECs). This dysregulated expression pattern is associated with dysfunction or even damage of VECs and leads to the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases. YKL- 40 is an inflammatory glycoprotein involved in the pathogenesis of endothelial dysfunction and thereby atherosclerosis...

BACKGROUND: Recent research indicates that persistent inflammatory responses may contribute to the rise of diabetic nephropathy (DN) and diabetic cardiovascular disease (DCVD) in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients (DM2). Numerous molecules associated with inflammation and angiogenesis have been implicated in the development and progression of DN and DCVD, respectively. METHODS: The subjects were separated into five groups: healthy controls (n= 25), type 2 diabetes mellitus patients (n= 30), type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with nephropathy DN (n= 30), and type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with cardiovascular disease DCVD (n= 30)...

BACKGROUND: Preeclampsia is a multifactorial hypertensive disorder of pregnancy with multisystem involvement. Recent studies have demonstrated that preeclampsia is associated with increased placental oxidative stress at the cellular level. The nuclear factor erythroid-2-like 2 (Nrf2) / Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1) signaling is an antioxidant pathway that plays an important role in protecting cells against oxidative stress. Here, we aimed to determine the possible association between the Keap1 variants and genetic susceptibility to preeclampsia...

BACKGROUND: Infection with COVID-19 can cause hepatic damages. Here, we aimed to examine the effect of COVID-19 infection on the serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), albumin, and procalcitonin (PCT) concentrations as markers to evaluate the liver function. METHODS: In this study, 56 patients infected with COVID- 19 and 28 healthy controls was recruited in Private Nursing Home Hospital of the Medical City, Baghdad. Patients were subdivided according to disease severity into severe and non-severe groups...

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory immune mediated disease arising from interaction between genetic risk variants and the environment. Maternally expressed gene3 (MEG3) is a long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) known for gene transcription regulation and inhibiting proliferation. MEG3 competes with microRNA (miRNA-21) influencing cell proliferation and apoptosis balance. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress proteins promote cell survival via unfolded protein response (UPR) influenced by MEG3...

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 is caused by the Severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Coronavirus 2. Since the antioxidant mechanisms such as glutathione peroxidase or superoxide dismutase are downregulated during infection by the virus, there is an imbalance in the oxidant-antioxidant system. In this study we aimed to identify the effect of COVID-19 on the antioxidant defense mechanism by comparing the concentrations of antioxidants and microminerals in COVID-19 patients and healthy controls...

BACKGROUND: Graves' disease (GD) and Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) are two autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITDs). The current study aimed to assess possible association between HOTAIR rs920778 and H19 rs3741219 polymorphisms with GD and HT. METHODS: We recruited 248 patients with autoimmune thyroid disease (133 HT patients and 115 GD patients) and 135 age- and sex-matched controls. The PCR-RFLP method was applied for genotyping of HOTAIR rs920778, and H19 rs3741219 polymorphisms...

BACKGROUND: Immunological alterations in schizophrenic patients have been considered during last decade. There are no remarkable reports on the changes of IL-17A and IL-21 in schizophrenic patients. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate changes of serum IL-17A and IL-21 in schizophrenic patients in comparison with healthy controls. METHODS: In the present study serum levels of IL-17A and IL-21 in 30 patients with schizophrenia before treatment and three months after treatment were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and compare to 30 match healthy control group...

BACKGROUND: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a global health concern involving roughly one-tenth of developed countries' populations. The flavin-containing dimethylaniline monooxygenase 3 ( FMO3 ) gene encodes an enzyme that catalyzes trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), a toxin in CKD sufferers. This preliminary study aims to evaluate the association between coding region variations of FMO3 , rs2266782G/A (E158K), rs2266780A/G (E308G), and rs1736557G/A (V257M), and the susceptibility to CKD...

BACKGROUND: This study aims to evaluate the effect of Letrozole (LE) in reducing ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) in high-risk participants with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) treated with In vitro fertilization (IVF). METHODS: This study was a randomized clinical trial in which participants were randomly divided into two groups (n= 25 per group). Based on GnRH-antagonist protocol, recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone 150 units/day subcutaneously and human menopausal gonadotropin 75 units/ day intramuscularly used from day 2 of the menstrual cycle...

BACKGROUND: Rhodomyrtus Tomentosa (Karamunting) is one of South Kalimantan's biodiversity. In previous research on asthma and coal dust exposure models, nebulization with an ethanol extract of R. tomentosa leaves has been shown to reduce inflammatory cells. This study aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory activity on the stabilization of red blood cell membranes and to identify the chemical compounds present in extracts of R. tomentosa leaves. METHODS: Anti-inflammatory effect of R...

BACKGROUND: Diabetes-related vascular complications linked to increase in the expression of VEGF and its receptors. It helps to accelerate tissue damage inflicted by hyperglycemia, which is potential risk for diabetic complications. The study aimed to assess VEGF genetic polymorphism and its correlation with glucose and HbA1C level among Sudanese patients with diabetic retinopathy and nephropathy. METHODS: A case-control study was conducted among a total of 252 subjects and divided into four groups of 63 subjects each...

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is still considered one of the prevalent cancers worldwide. Investigation of potential biomarkers for early detection of CRC is essential for the effective management of patients using therapeutic strategies. Considering that, this study was aimed to examine the changes in lncRNA FOXD2-AS1 expression through colorectal tumorigenesis. METHODS: Fifty CRC tumor tissues and fifty adjacent normal tissue samples were prepared and involved in the current study...

BACKGROUND: Bladder cancer is one of the most common genitourinary cancers with significant mortality. Finding reliable tumor markers and potential drug targets can improve early diagnosis, prognosis, and more effective therapeutic protocols. Previous studies have reported the involvement of the substance P (SP)/neurokinin-1 receptor (NK-1R) system in cancers. The potential prognostic role and the interaction of SP and NK-1R in bladder tumor are yet to be elucidated. METHODS: Serum samples from 22 primarily diagnosed patients with bladder cancer as well as 22 healthy controls were examined for SP level using ELISA method...

BACKGROUND: Amenorrhea is defined as the absence of menstruation at the reproductive age of women. Amenorrhea caused by various etiological factors including genetic factors, intrauterine malformations, endocrine dysfunction, and environmental factors. Genetic factors particularly chromosomal abnormalities are the main cause of Amenorrhea. This study was performed to estimate the frequency and types of chromosomal abnormalities in patients with amenorrhea in the northeast of Iran. METHODS: A total of 381 women with the history of amenorrhea participated in this study...