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Obesity is recognized as a multifactorial health condition characterized by excess body fat accumulation. Orlistat is a well-known effective anti-obesity therapeutic drug, however, like many other medications on the market, it has certain unpleasant side effects. Medical herbs have recently acquired popularity in the treatment of obesity. The current project's intention was to evaluate the effect of treatment with Artemisia annua extract (AAE) to ameliorate hepato-renal dysfunction in obese rats. 40 male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were divided into 4 groups (n = 10). The 1^st group (Gp1) served as a negative control, and Gp2 was used as a positive control and given a high-fat diet (HFD) for a period of 12 weeks. For a period of 8 weeks, Gp3 and Gp4 received HFD and daily treatments of orlistat (30 mg/kg) or AAE (150 mg/kg), respectively. Hematological, biochemical, and histopathological parameters were determined. The results demonstrated that obese rats, Gp2, had hepato-renal impairment. Moreover, hepato-renal dysfunctions were exacerbated when orlistat was administered to obese rats of Gp3. In contrast, AAE-treated obese rats, Gp4, have shown alleviated hematological changes and resulted in considerable improvements in hepato-renal function. Taken together, AAE administration demonstrated potential ameliorative effects against hepato-renal dysfunctions in obese rats when compared to treatment with orlistat.

Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most common causes of death among women in the world. This study investigated the role of global DNA methylation (5mC) and hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF-1α) levels in BC disease progression. Blood samples were collected from 40 patients with benign breast tumors, 40 patients with malignant breast tumors, and 40 healthy subjects. Patients with malignant breast tumors were divided into two groups: women in stage II (low-level), and patients in stages III and IV (high-level). Genomic DNA was isolated from whole blood samples from the subjects and used for global DNA methylation. Furthermore, the levels of HIF-1α expression were measured. The results showed that the levels of 5mC in patients with BC and benign breast tumors were considerably lower (0.538 ± 0.03 and 0.432 ± 0.04%, respectively), compared to the control (0.619 ± 0.05%). Furthermore, there was a significant (p ≤ 0.05) decrease in levels of 5mC in BC patients at stages III and IV compared to control. However, there were no significant differences between low-level and high-level stages. The HIF-1α levels of patients in both the benign breast tumors and BC were insignificant (923.35 ± 72.42 and 1386.03 ± 102.01pg/ml, respectively), compared to the control (825.5 ± 62.36 pg/ml). Although, BC patients at low levels showed no significant difference in HIF-1α levels compared with patients at high levels. The findings indicated that variations in 5mC levels across different stages and types of breast tumors may serve as a prognostic indicator for the development of BC and also implicated HIF-1α in the development of BC.

Ionising radiation from radiotherapy can cause thyroid disease, autoimmune antibodies, and haematological invasion. Ionising radiation affects the immune system, and surpassing the body's tolerance can damage the hematopoietic system, causing early symptoms and serious consequences. The study used ELISA technique to determine autoantibodies and thyroid hormones in whole blood samples from Iraqi physician in Baghdad city for nuclear medicine which exposed daily to radiotherapy according to their routine job. CBC were also determined using autoanalyzer. A group of healthy control patients was also studied. Blood samples from Iraqi doctors who were routinely exposed to radiation were examined, a statistically significant decrease (P ≤ 0.01) in the serum levels of the Triiodothyronine (T3) and Thyroxine 4 (T4) and a statistically significant elevation (P ≤ 0.01) of Anti-Thyroid peroxidase Ab (Anti-TPO Ab), Anti-Thyroglobulin Ab (anti-Tg Ab), and antinuclear antibody (ANA) serum levels in female were seen in contrast to the healthy control group. Compared to healthy controls, female workers had less RBCs and Hb. For that, it can be concluded that the exposure to radiotherapy is effective in female more than male workers in Baghdad city for nuclear medicine which can be due to the effect of radiation low dose on female autoimmune system.

The effect of gas-discharge plasma radiation on the biochemical parameters of blood and urine of intact animals and animals with acute alcohol intoxication was investigated. Measurements of the content of medium-mass molecules (MMM), creatinine, urea, glucose, lactate and hemoglobin in the blood and 14 physicochemical indicators of the urine test were carried out. Acute alcohol intoxication (AAI) was simulated by intraperitoneal injection of 33% ethanol at a dose of LD50. The treatment was carried out by an experimental pulsed (10 Hz) device generating radiation of spark discharge plasma. It was revealed that exposure to plasma radiation does not lead to changes in the biochemical parameters of blood and urine of intact animals. In the model of AAI, the development of protein-creatininia, urobilinogenuria, and an increase in the specific gravity of rat’s urine was observed. The total level of MMM and hemoglobin in the blood increased, lactic acidosis developed. After exposure to plasma radiation in animals with AAI, blood and urine parameters normalized, which is probably associated with the activation of the organism's adaptive and antioxidant reserves. Thus, the positive effect of spark discharge plasma radiation on the organism during acute ethanol intoxication has been shown.