bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Latest advances in cell-death pathway approaches in treating high-risk neuroblastoma
Authors: Temirbek Adeliya , Then Sue Mian 
Published: September 2022

Neuroblastoma (NB) is one of childhood's most common malignant tumours worldwide. Upon diagnosis, NB is categorized according to staging and risk, with treatment according to different risk categories. High-risk NB is treated with intensive chemotherapy, surgery, radiation therapy, bone marrow / hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, differentiation treatment of isotretinoin and antibody therapy that is usually administered with the cytokines GM-CSF and IL-2. To date, the genetic profile of NB is still being investigated. The most established gene associated with NB is the MYCN Proto-Oncogene, BHLH Transcription Factor (MYCN) amplification that contributes to the risk stratification of the disease. MYCN gene is an important foetal oncogene involved in cell proliferation for organ and tissue growth. Unfortunately, despite significant advances in the treatment of NB in recent decades, the prognosis for high-risk patients remains unfavourable since the overall 5-year survival rate, according to statistical data, does not exceed 40%. The use of cell technologies in paediatric oncology and haematology occupies a significant place and continues to improve. Since one of the leading causes of tumour development is an imbalance between cell death and cell survival, this paper aims to discuss treatment strategies to eliminate tumour cells using cell death pathways, including inducing apoptosis, necroptosis, autophagy, bioenergetics pathways, and immunotherapy. In conclusion, there is a need for a well-studied genetic profile of NB, which will allow the identification of new biomarkers, thereby contributing to the development of new therapeutic strategies. At the point of this review, immunotherapy seems to be the most promising treatment for high-risk NB as it has been highly effective in other kinds of cancer.
Preparation and Evaluation of Physical and, Rheological Properties of Clotrimazole Emulgel
Authors: I. Khalil Yehia , H. Khasraghi Abeer , J. Mohammed Entidhar 
Published: September 2022

Recently, emulgel has emerged as one of the most interesting topical preparations in the field of pharmaceutics. In this research clotrimazole was formulated as topically applied emulgel ; different formulas were prepared. The prepared emulgels were evaluated for their physical appearance , rheological behaviour , and in vitro drug release . The influence of the type of gelling agent (carbopol 934 and methyl cellulose), the concentration of both the emulsifying agent (2% and 4% w/w of mixture of span 20 and tween 20) and the oil phase (5% and 7.5% w/w of liquid paraffin) and the type of oil phase (liquid paraffin and cetyl alcohol), on the drug release from the prepared emulgels was investigated. Commercially available topical canestinÂ® cream was used for comparison. All the prepared emulgels showed acceptable physical properties concerning colour, homogeneity, consistency, and pH value. Rheological studies revealed that all emulgels formulations exhibited a shear â€“ thinning behaviour with thixotropy, indicating structural break down of intermolecular interaction between polymeric chains. Clotrimazole emulgels exhibited higher drug release than canestinÂ® cream. The results of in vitro release showed that methyl cellulose â€“ based emulgel gave better release than carbopol 934 â€“ based one. Also it was found that the emulsifying agent concentration had the most pronounced effect on the drug release from the emulgels, followed by the oil phase concentration, which has a retardation effect, and finally the type of the gelling agent. It was suggested that the clotrimazole emulgel formulation prepared with methyl cellulose, with low concentration of oil phase (5%w/w liquid paraffin) and high concentration of emulsifying agent (4%w/w), showed an optimum formula for highest drug release (74.4% after three hours), which followed higuchi diffusion model with a diffusion-controlled mechanism.
Key words: Emulgel , carbopol , methyl cellulose , clotrimazole
The Correlation between Rheumatoid Factor, Chloroquine Phosphate in Osteoarthritis
Authors: S. Saleh Eman 
Published: September 2022

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a series of aggressive destructive inflammatory processes. Synovitis is common both at an early and a late phase. This disease may be uniquely singular in some site but phylogenetically related at some point in time to produce a common outcome of dysfunction, disability, socioeconomic destruction and sometimes socioeconomic failure. Articular cartilage, subchondral bone and synovial membrane are the site of major abnormalities in this disease process. Rheumatoid factor (RF) represents one of the routine laboratory tests that made for all patients have joint complaints.Chloroquine phosphate (CQP) is agent belong to disease modifying osteoathritic drugs (DMOADs). Chloroquine and their derivatives have been used for their anti-inflammatory effect in juvenile chronic arthritis, Sjogren,s syndrome, discoid and systemic lupus erythematosus.The aim of this trial depend on using this drug in osteoarthritic patients for two months then estimate the level of RF check and RF(A,G,M).The result showed a significant correlation between CQP and RF check as well as RF type M in patients suffered from OA, so the level of these two parameters are decreased significantly in period of treatment thus leads to ameliorate the patients status and the joints pain will decreased.
Key words: Chloroquine, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid factors.
Changes in Serum Levels of Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha and Antioxidant status in Different Stages of Malignant Prostate Cancer Patients in Iraq
Authors: S. Mohammed Ebtehal , F. Al-Taie Wafa , T. Numan Intesar , A. Hussain Saad 
Published: September 2022

Chronic inflammation can induce proliferative events and posttranslational DNA modifications in prostate tissue through oxidative stress. The present study was designed to evaluate the changes in serum levels of TNF-Î±, malomdialdehyde (MDA) and total antioxidant status (TAS) patients with different stages of malignant prostatic cancer (PCa) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). One hundred males (age range of 58-72 years) with different stages of malignant PCa were recruited from the Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine Teaching Hospital in Baghdad during the period from September 2010 to April 2011. The patients were categorized according to the 4 disease stages (I, II, III, and IV); 25 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and 25 normal healthy subjects were considered as comparator groups. Blood samples were taken from all subjects for analysis of TNF-Î± TAS and MDA levels. The results showed significant differences between the four stages of PCa patients in all parameters; however, highly significant difference was observed in stage IV compared to control and BPH patients. In conclusion, TNF-Î± and total antioxidant status could be utilized for marking the advanced stages of malignant PCa.
Key words: Malignant Prostate cancer, Inflammation, TNF-Î±, Oxidative stress
Formulation of Azithromycin Suspension as an Oral Dosage Form
Authors: H. Jaber Saba , T.Salih Zainab , M. Salmo Hiba 
Published: September 2022

Azithromycin is the drug of choice in the treatment of several bacterial infections, most often those causing middle ear infection, bronchitis, pneumonia, typhoid and sinusitis. Itâ€™s also effective against certain urinary tract infections and venereal diseases. This study was carried out to prepare an acceptable suspension either as dry physical mixture powder or granules to be reconstituted, through studying the effect of various type and concentration of suspending agent (xanthan gum, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), either alone or in combination) on the release profile of the drug. The best prepared suspension formulas (H& III) were selected depending on the dissolution profile of each formulas and then compared with the reference suspensions (Zithromax and Azi-once).The viscosity, sedimentation volume, Resuspendability and expiration date were evaluated for the chosen formulas (H&III) and compared with references ZithromaxÃ’ and Azi-onceÃ’.The result indicated that the chosen formula â€“ H had better dissolution rate compared with references suspensions, Also it was less viscous than them.While other chosen formula â€“ III had lower dissolution rate compared with ZithromaxÃ’ and higher dissolution rate than AZi â€“ once, also it was less viscous than both references.It was found that the dry physically mixed powder (formula â€“ H) was more stable than the granular suspension (Formula III) since the expiration date for formula H and formula III were 3.24 and 2.7 years respectively.
Key words: Azithromycin, suspending agent, suspension.
Antibacterial and Phytochemical Study of Iraqi Salvia officinalis Leave Extracts
Authors: Y. Muttalib Lana , M. Naqishbandi Alaadin 
Published: September 2022

Sage (Salvia officinalis), belong to Labiatae family is indigenous to Iraq and other Mediterranean areas but now cultivated world- wide, principally for its use as culinary herb. In the present study preliminary screening for the important phytochemical natural product groups indicated the presence of flavonoid, saponin, hyrolysable and condensed tannin groups. The antibacterial activity of two concentrations 10 mg/ml and 100 mg/ml of chloroform and hydroalcoholic extracts from Salvia officinalis leaves was evaluated against four strains of gram negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas arigenossa, Klebsiella pneumonia, and Proteus spp) and two strains of gram positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cerus) using agar well diffusion method. Chloroform extract 100mg/ml was found active against two types of bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus with MIC of 90 mg/ml and Proteus spp with MIC of 80 mg/ml. Bioassay guided separation using TLC led to the separation of 6 constituents from the active extract, one of them was identified as thujone.
Key words: Salvia officinalis, Antibacterial, TLC, Thujone.
Uric Acid as a Natural Scavenger of Peroxynitrite in a Sample of Iraqi Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: MA. Naji Zahraa , M.Mohammed Shaimaa , F. Muhammad Mays 
Published: September 2022

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease associated with decreased antioxidant state .This study aim to investigate the status of oxidant/antioxidant in a sample of Iraqi patients with RA and the role of peroxynitrite and its natural scavenger uric acid in them .This case-controlled study was conducted at Baghdad teaching hospital /Baghdad from December 2010-May 2011 . Twenty-five patients with mean age 39 years and 25 apparently healthy subject as controls with mean age 29 years were included in the study .Investigations include estimation of serum levels of nitric oxide (NO) ,peroxynitrite (PN) , malondialdehyde (MDA) , and uric acid (UA) .Serum PN levels were significantly elevated in RA patients as compared with control subjects , UA levels were found significantly lowered in RA patients as compared with control subjects. No significant differences were found between NO and MDA among patients and controls group .In conclusion :this study demonstrated decreased serum uric acid levels in patients with RA accompanied by decreased its effect as a natural scavenger of PN.
Key word : Rheumatoid arthritis ,Peroxynitrite ,Uric acid.
Possible Cardiac Adverse Effects Induced by Therapeutic Doses of Ciprofloxacin in Juvenile Rats
Authors: J.Al-faris Omar , N. Al-Shawi Nada , D. Kako Maha 
Published: September 2022

Ciprofloxacin is widely used in treating adults infected with Gram-negative bacteria. It is contraindicated in children, growing adolescents and during pregnancy due to joint toxicity. Its toxicity concerning other organs needs to be clarified. Thus, this study was designed to study the possible cardiac damage induced by two selected doses of ciprofloxacin in juvenile rats.Eighteenth healthy juvenile rats (4 weeks old and their weight 30 Â± 2 gm) were utilized in this study and divided into three groups. Group-I control; group II and group III, respectively injected IP with 25 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg ciprofloxacin every 12 hours for one week. Serum enzymes activities alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), creatin kinase -muscle brain isoform (CK-MB), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were assessed. Histological examination of heart tissues was also performed. The results of this study showed that, ALT, AST and CK-MB enzymes were significantly elevated only in group III compared to control. LDH enzyme was elevated in both group II and III. Concerning histological examination of the heart's gross sections, the results obtained from this work demonstrated the degeneration and necrosis in the hearts of group II and III juvenile rats compared to control animals. In conclusion, our results showed that the selected therapeutic doses of ciprofloxacin utilized in this study caused cardiac damage in juvenile rats.
Key words: Fluoroquinolones, cardiac adverse effects, juvenile rat .
Neutrophil / Lymphocyte Ratio is not Correlated with Disease Activity in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients
Authors: M. Mikhael Ehab , N.Ibrahim Turath 
Published: September 2022

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic systemic inflammatory disease. Inflammation leads to joint damage and increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a measure of inflammation in many diseases. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the usefulness of NLR to detect inflammation in RA, and its correlation to RA disease activity indices and some hematological parameters. A cross-sectional study involving 24 patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who are using MTX participated in this study. All patients were clinically evaluated using disease activity score of 28 joints (DAS28) and simplified disease activity index (SDAI), whereas functional disability was assessed by health assessment questionnaire disability index (HAQDI); Moreover, blood specimen of each patient was used for measuring erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C â€“ reactive protein (CRP), rheumatoid factor (RF), hemoglobin (Hb), white blood cells (WBC) count, platelets and red blood cells (RBCs) count, and NLR ratio.NLR was positively correlated with ESR and inversely correlated with Hb, but it didnâ€™t show any correlation with other clinical and laboratory parameters. In conclusion NLR is less correlated with inflammation and not suitable to monitor disease activity in RA patients using MTX.
Keywords: Rheumatoid arthritis, Inflammation, Neutrophil lymphocyte ratio.
Evaluation of Rosuvastatin Effect as Adjuvant Therapy to Methotrexate on Lipid Profile and the Possibility of its Cardioprotective Effect in Iraqi Patients with Active Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: M. Mikhael Ehab , A. Majeed Ibrahim , I. Gorial Faiq , H. Al-Ossamy Mohammad , H. Falih Ali , Abdulhameed Dhikra 
Published: September 2022

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common inflammatory disease that associated with increased morbidity and mortality due to accelerated atherosclerosis. Rosuvastatin is a unique hydroxy methyl glutaryl Co A (HMGCoA) reductase inhibitor that has anti inflammatory effects.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of rosuvastatin as adjuvant therapy to methotrexate (MTX) on lipid profile and its possible cardioprotective effect in RA patients. A double blinded placebo controlled clinical trial with 8 weeks follow up periods at which 40 patients with active RA using MTX were randomized into 2 groups to receive either rosuvastatin 10mg or placebo as adjuvant therapy to MTX. In addition to twenty healthy subjects as control group. Lipid profile and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was assessed at the start and at the end of the study. At the start of the study total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc) and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLc) values were not significantly different between RA patients and control group. At the end of the study rosuvastatin significantly reduced ESR, TC and LDLc after 8 weeks of treatment.
It can be concluded that MTX has the ability to normalize lipid profile in RA patients. Rosuvastatin effectively reduce ESR, TC and LDLc; Moreover, Rosuvastatin might have a possible cardioprotective effect in RA patients.
Keywords: Active rheumatoid arthritis, Methotrexate, Rosuvastatin.
Determine Nasal Carriage of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus MRSA in Young Adult College Student
Authors: N. Saeed Ebtihal , I.Omer Al-Deen Hanan , A. Merdaw Maysoon 
Published: September 2022

Present study was carried out to find prevalence of MRSA in healthy individual of second stage students, college of pharmacy/Baghdad University. A total of 74 student selected between age 18-23 years old were included in this study, nasal swabs collected and subjected to many diagnostic standard bacteriological identification methods. Culture, colonial morphology, Gram stain, mannitol fermentation, coagulase ,gelatinasetest, DNAase, MR/VP and antimicrobial susceptibility test was performed on tryptic soy agar by modified Kirby-Bauer muller hinton disc diffusion method and the result show that out of 74 nasal swabs,67(90.5%) were MRSA positive isolates, 21(31.4%) of them were mannitol ferment and 46(68.6%) non mannitol fermenter, among these isolates 33(44.6%)male and 41(55.4%) female, there was no significant sex difference in the prevalence of Staph. aureus, while show decrease in prevalence with age group,(54%),(27%),(9.5%) alternatively, MRSA positive isolates indicated relatively high rate of resistance to antibiotics, so to vancomycin 3(4.5%),ciprofloxacin 4(6%) , tetracyclin 9(13.5%) ,gentamycin 6(9%), erythromycin 15(22.5%) and keflex 20(30%). This study show a high prevalence of MRSA carriage in young adult college student (healthy people) that indicating the spread of MRSA in the community which consider high risk of spreading infections also we isolate non mannitol fermenter (MRSA) Staph. aureus that need further moleculer analysis to prove it.
Keywords: Staphylococcus aureus , MRSA, Modified Kirby-Baur methods.
Evaluation of the Clinical use of Metformin or Pioglitazone in Combination with Meloxicam in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis; using Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis outcome Score
Authors: M. Mohammed Mohammed , J. Al-Shamma Kassim , A. Jassim Nizar 
Published: September 2022

Osteoarthritis is the most prevalent arthritic disease and a leading cause of disability. The pathogenesis of osteoarthritis involves multiple etiologies, including variable degree of synovial inflammation. Metformin and pioglitazone could potentially reduce the levels and activity of inflammatory mediators. This may consider as a new therapeutic approach added to the current used drugs in an attempt to decrease the pain, inflammation, and improve daily activity and quality of life in patients with knee osteoarthritis.
This study designed to evaluate the clinical utility of using metformin or pioglitazone as anti-inflammatory agents in combination with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) of selective type of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor, meloxicam, in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis (OA).
Randomized, double blinded clinical study was performed on 98 patients who have symptomatic and radiologic evidence of painful OA of the knee (57 patients only completed the study). Patients were allocated into three groups, group (A); 20 patients treated with meloxicam (15mg/day) alone, group (B); 20 patients treated with metformin (1000mg/day) + meloxicam (15mg/day) and group (C); 17 patients treated with pioglitazone (15mg/day) + meloxicam (15mg/day). The treatment was followed for 12 weeks through measurement of the clinical effects of drugs each 7 days, using the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) system.
The results showed that metformin or pioglitazone, when used in combination with NSAID resulted in significant improvement in the components of KOOS, higher than that produced by meloxicam when used alone. In conclusion, administration of metformin or pioglitazone as adjuvant therapy to NSAID, meloxicam, in OA patients produced very well characterized analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities, and improves the therapeutic profile of meloxicam.
Keywords: Metformin, Pioglitazone, Osteoarthritis, Knee injury, KOOS.
Lipid Profile and Fasting Blood Sugar Analysis in Patients with Cholelithiasis
Authors: N.Al-Atrakchey Rajaa , A.Taher Mohammed , N.Saeed Ibtehal 
Published: September 2022

Cholelithiasis is one of the commonest surgical problems and one of the most common gastrointestinal diseases throughout the world but its pathogenesis remains unclear. Many theories have been proposed forward to explain the mechanism of stone formation. It is not fully clear if symptomatic gallstone disease is associated with a specific pattern of some biochemical abnormalities, as lipid profile and fasting blood sugar in serum of patients.
This study was designed to estimate lipid profile and fasting blood sugar in the sera of patients with cholelithiasis in comparison with normal individuals (control).
In this study, 104(male=16, female=88) were symptomatic gallstone patients (aged 42.79Â± 12.18 years), and 38(male=6 and female=32) were apparently healthy controls (aged 40.03Â± 7.47 years).
Blood samples were collected from symptomatic gallstones patients before their cholecystectomy operation. Over night fasting, blood samples were collected from all subjects to evaluate serum lipid profile: Total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-c), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-c), very low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (VLDL-c) and fasting serum glucose (FSG). There was a significant increase (P<0.05) in serum: TC, TG, LDL-c, VLDL-c and FSG of patients with cholelithiasis compared to the apparently healthy controls. The study also showed that there was a significant decrease (P<0.05) in serum HDL-c in gallstone patients compared to control.
In conclusion, cholelithiasis was associated with lipid profile and fasting serum glucose abnormality that be the cause or the effect of gallstone formation. These findings should be taken into consideration while treating gallstone patients.
Key words: Gallstones, Cholesterol, Cholecystectomy.
Phytochemical Investigation and Antioxidant Activity of Iraqi Tribulus terrestris
Authors: M. Ibrahim Nabaa , J. Kadhim Enas 
Published: September 2022

The aim of the present study was to characterize the Iraqi Tribulus terrestris for the presence of biologically active phyto-chemicals using methanolic extracts of the plant (aerial parts) by Gas Chromatography â€“Mass spectrometry (GC/MS), while the mass spectra of the compounds found in the extract was matched with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) library , in addition to study the antioxidant activity of plant extract , results confirmed the presence of therapeutically potent compounds in the Iraqi Tribulus terrestris extract predominantly alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins and terpenoids. Antioxidant potential of Iraqi Tribulus terrestris herbal preparations was evaluated by determination of blood glutathione, serum ascorbic acid and serum superoxide dismutase in rats. The obtained results demonstrated that T. terrestris preparations possess a significant antioxidant activity.
Keywords: Iraqi Tribulus terrestris, Phytochemical investigation, Anti-oxidant activity.