Journal of Medical Genetics and Clinical Biology

SERUM AND FOLLICULAR FLUID PEDF/VEGF ANGIOGENIC INDEX AS A PREDICTOR OF EMBRYO QUALITY AND PREGNANCY RATE IN ICSI CYCLES

Hanan Abdulrazzaq Abdulazeez, Mufeda Ali Jwad, Muayad Sraibet Abbod — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Objective: To assess the angiogenic index of PEDF/VEGF in both serum and follicular fluid (FF), and to examine its relationship with oocyte maturation, embryo quality, and pregnancy outcomes in women facing infertility who underwent intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Method: A prospective cohort study was conducted on ninety (90) women with infertility undergoing ICSI at the High Institute for Infertility Diagnosis and Assisted Reproductive Technology, Baghdad, Iraq, from November 2023–April 2025. Serum and FF samples were collected on the day of oocyte retrieval. PEDF and VEGF levels were measured using ELISA, and the PEDF/VEGF index was computed. Oocyte maturation, fertilization rate, embryo grading, and pregnancy outcomes were evaluated. Results: No statistically significant differences were found in PEDF levels from serum and FF, VEGF levels, or the PEDF/VEGF index (p > 0.05). The PEDF/VEGF index did not correlate significantly with oocyte factors, including retrieval, metaphase II, and maturation rate. However, significant correlations were observed with early embryology parameters: pronuclei (p = 0.021), Grade 1 embryos (p = 0.03), and fertilization rate (p = 0.04). Serum and FF PEDF/VEGF values were higher in women who achieved pregnancy than those who did not (p = 0.0001). Novelty: The FF PEDF/VEGF index is the first predictive biomarker of ICSI outcomes in the Iraqi population. The index reflects ovarian angiogenic balance and may be a superior predictor of embryo quality and pregnancy rate compared to individual PEDF or VEGF levels. Total kata: ≈195.

COMPARISION BETWEEN PETHIDINE VERSUS TRAMADOL IN TREATMENT OF POSTOPERATIVE SHIVERING UNDER SPINAL ANASTHESIA

Abdulhussien Jaber Luaibi AL-Masoodi — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Objective: Quivering is very hostile and often stressful some patients after passing through a surgery. It may cause arterial hypoxemia, lactic acidosis, supplemented intracranial pressure as well intraocular pressure, may affect the hemodynamics and add to the pain. Numerous pharmacological and non- pharmacological approaches are available in order to control the potential shivering. Drugs like Tramadaol, Clonidine, Doxa pram, were assumed to control person suffering from shivering. Here, an artificial opioid, IV Tramadol at 1mg/kg will be compared with IV Pethidine 0.5mg/kg, standard drug for dealing with shivering and comparing between them. Method: The study involved fifty patients who were found with the case of shivering who were randomly chosen and classified into two groups with each containing twenty-five patients' tramadol content; group (Group 1) with pethidine group (Group 2). Patients were handled with 1mg/kg tramadol (Group 1) and 0.5mg/kg pethidine (Group 2). Results: After arterial administration of the tramadol substance of 1 mg/kg, termination of shivering took place instantly. The shivering lasted for additional time after the administration of pethidine 0.5 mg/kg. Repetition rate in tramadol category was recorded to be less than that of pethidine group. Where nausea as well as vomiting occurred in tramadol group. Novelty: venous tramadol 1 mg/kg is more efficient for the dealing with postoperative shivering than pethidine.

ACYL CHAIN REMODELING BY LYSOPHOSPHOLIPID ACYLTRANSFERASE 3: POSITIONAL SELECTIVITY DETERMINANTS FOR ARACHIDONOYL-COA INCORPORATION AT THE SN-2 POSITION

Ahmed Shakir Ahmed — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Objective: To define the molecular and structural determinants that confer LPCAT3 selectivity for arachidonoyl-CoA and its preferential incorporation at the sn-2 position of lysophospholipids. Methods: Human LPCAT3 was expressed in mammalian cells, and membrane fractions were used for steady-state kinetic analyses with 1- and 2-acyl-lysoPC and multiple acyl-CoA donors. Structure-guided mutagenesis targeted tunnel and side-pocket residues (L217A, F265A, L217A/F265A, H376A). Docking and molecular dynamics were performed on wild-type and mutant LPCAT3. LPCAT3-deficient cells were complemented with selected variants and analyzed by isotope-tracing lipidomics and functional readouts. Results: Wild-type LPCAT3 showed maximal catalytic efficiency for arachidonoyl-CoA (Km 5.2 ± 0.8 µM, kcat/Km set as 1.0) and lower efficiencies for 22:6-, 18:1- and 16:0-CoA (relative kcat/Km 0.70, 0.40, and 0.25, respectively). Initial rates toward 1-acyl-lysoPC were ~5-fold higher than for 2-acyl-lysoPC, with 92 ± 3% of incorporated arachidonate residing at sn-2. Mutations L217A, F265A, and L217A/F265A increased Km for arachidonoyl-CoA up to ~25 µM and reduced relative kcat/Km to 0.10, while decreasing sn-2 enrichment to ~55–65%. In LPCAT3-deficient cells, total arachidonoyl-PC rose from 0.11 ± 0.02 (vector) to 0.41 ± 0.04 (wild-type) but only to 0.17–0.24 with tunnel/side-pocket mutants. Novelty: The acyl-CoA tunnel and hydrophobic side pocket of LPCAT3 serves as a structural groove of the kinked arachidonoyl chain to bind it with high affinity and specific sn-2-positioning. Perturbation of this architecture reduces arachidonoyl-PC development and downstream lipid-signalling ability, which makes it clear that LPCAT3 is a mechanistic crossroads of regulating membrane PUFA content and arachidonate-dependent signalling.