Master’s Thesis at the University of Babylon on Patients with Ulcerative Colitis
As part of the activities of the Department of Clinical Biochemistry, the College of Medicine, University of Babylon, held the defense of the Master’s thesis of student Hamza Hussein Hameed, entitled:
“Evaluation of Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4, Uridine Diphosphate Glucuronic Acid, and Copper/Zinc Ratio in Patients with Ulcerative Colitis in Babylon–Iraq.”
The thesis was supervised by Asst. Prof. Dr. Ban Mahmood Shakir and Prof. Dr. Ali Jabir Abaoub.
The defense session was attended by the Dean of the College, Prof. Dr. Mohanad Abbass Al-Shalah, the Administrative Assistant Dean, Prof. Dr. Kazem Jawad Al-Hamadani, several faculty members, researchers, academics, and postgraduate students.
During his defense, the researcher explained that inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) refers to a group of chronic inflammatory disorders affecting the gastrointestinal tract, with Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) being the two main forms. Ulcerative colitis is a relapsing-remitting condition characterized by continuous mucosal inflammation confined to the colon and rectum. Although the exact cause remains unclear, UC is believed to arise from a complex interaction between immune dysregulation, genetic predisposition, and environmental factors.
This study specifically focused on ulcerative colitis and aimed to evaluate the roles of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4), interleukin-7 (IL-7), uridine diphosphate glucuronosyltransferase 1A1 (UGT1A1), C-reactive protein (CRP), and the copper-to-zinc ratio (Cu/Zn) in the pathogenesis of the disease. It further explored the interrelationships between these biochemical parameters and investigated the potential of DPP-4 and IL-7 as predictive biomarkers for early detection and monitoring of UC.
The levels of DPP-4, IL-7, and UGT1A1 in serum were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), while copper and zinc concentrations were assessed through colorimetric methods, and CRP levels were determined using fluorescent immunoassay (ichroma).
The results showed a significant decrease in DPP-4, copper, and zinc levels in patients with ulcerative colitis compared to healthy controls.
In conclusion, both IL-7 and the Cu/Zn ratio may serve as useful markers for monitoring ulcerative colitis, while DPP-4 demonstrates promise as a predictive biomarker, offering potential for non-invasive diagnostic applications.