Background: Arylesterase activity of Paraoxonase-1 (ARE-PON-1) exhibits an antioxidant role which protects lipoprotein from oxidation. It is known that ARE-PON-1 antioxidant activity associated with high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) reduces the oxidative damage mediated by low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). The present study was aimed to examine the level of serum ARE-PON1 in Iraqi patients with β-thalassemia minor and its relationship with lipid profile (total cholesterol (TC), HDL-C, very low density lipoprotein (VLDL-C), and LDL-C) and hematologic changes as a part of antioxidant system action. Methods: In the present study, the ARE-PON-1 activity was investigated in serum of patients with β-thalassemia minor. Resu

Microbial lipases today occupy a place of prominence among biocatalysts owing to their ability to catalyze awide variety of reactions in aqueous and non- aqueous media, A.baumannii were isolated from different clinical specimens from hospitalized patients from Baghdad hospitals and were detected by biochemical tests and API20E system. The percentage of isolation was (16.6%), A. baumannii is an increasingly multidrug – resistant (MDR), it showed high level of resistant to Ceftriaxon, Colistin, Piperacillin, Co-trimoxazol, Tertracycline, Carbenicillin, Amoxicillin, Penicillin G, Gentamicin and Ceftazidim , wherease the isolates were highly sensitive to Imipenem, Ciprofloxacin, Meropenem, Amikacin, and Cefotaxime.

The fabrication of Solid and Hollow silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) has been achieved and their characterization was performed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), zeta potential, UV–VIS spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction (XRD). A TEM image revealed a quasispherical form for both Solid and Hollow Ag NPs. The measurement of surface charge revealed that although Hollow Ag NPs have a zeta potential of -43 mV, Solid Ag NPs have a zeta potential of -33 mV. According to UV-VIS spectroscopy measurement Solid and Hollow Ag NPs both showed absorption peaks at wavelengths of 436 nm and 412 nm, respectively. XRD pattern demonstrates that the samples' crystal structure is cubic, similar to that of the bulk materials, with

Copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) were prepared with different diameters by sonoelectrodeposition technique using Electrodeposition process coupled with high-power ultrasound horn (Sonoelectrodeposition). The particle diameter of the CuNPs was adjusted by varying CuSO4 solution acidity (pH) and current density. The morphology and structure of the CuNPs were examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). It was found that the size of the produced copper nanoparticles ranged between 22 to 77 nm, where the diameter of CuNPs increases with reduction the solution acidity from 0.5 to 1.5 pH and increasing the current density of the deposition from 100 to 400 nm. Finally the produced CuNPs were pressed to fabricate disc

This work is focused on studying the effect of liquid layer level (height above a target material) on zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO and ZnO₂) production using liquid-phase pulsed laser ablation (LP-PLA) technique. A plate of Zn metal inside different heights of an aqueous environment of cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) with molarity (10^-3 M) was irradiated with femtosecond pulses. The effect of liquid layer height on the optical properties and structure of ZnO was studied and characterized through UV-visible absorption test at three peaks at 213 nm, 216 nm and 218 nm for three liquid heights 4, 6 and 8 mm respectively. The obtained results of UV–visible spectra test show a blue shift accomp

Background: One of the most important complications of fixed orthodontic treatment is formation of white spots, which are initial carious lesions. Addition of antimicrobial agents into orthodontic adhesive material might be wise solution for prevention of white spots formation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial properties of orthodontic adhesive primer against S. Mutans after adding the three different types of nanoparticles (Ag, ZnO, or TiO2). Materials and methods: Discs were prepared using empty insulin syringe approximately 2 mm×2 mm rounded in shape specimens (40 discs) were divided into four groups (ten discs for each group): The first group was the control (made from primer only), the second group (10 dis

Alteration in the backbone structure of the endogenously released opioid peptides Leu⁵/Met⁵ enkephalins may result in compounds having comparable profile of pharmacological activity but with different physicochemical properties and side effects. Phthalyl amino acid and phthalyl esters are among the derivatives that have been synthesized and evaluated for their antibacterial and antifungal activities.This study was conducted to evaluate the possible analgesic activity of phthalyl-tyrosyl-glycin sodium that has been recently synthesized by our team.The study was carried out on 24 albino mice using hot plate method. The animals were allocated in to three groups; the first group received saline and represent a control g

The aim of this study is to evaluating the antibacterial activity of Laurus nobilis leaves extract in hospital environment isolates. Maceration and Soxhlet apparatus were used to prepare aqueous and methanolic extracts. The total phenolic content and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) were conducted to determine the active compounds in the extracts. The results showed that the methanolic and aqueous extracts contain four flavonoids derivatives (kaempferol, luteolin, quercetin and Rutin) were identified on the basis of matching retention time with the standards. The total phenolic contents were 56.81 and 81.56 mg/g in 50 mg/ml, in aqueous and methanolic extracts respectively. The antibacterial activity of Laurus nobilis leaves ext

Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a disease caused by Leishmania tropica parasite. Current treatments for this parasite are undesirable because of their toxicity, resistance, and high cost. Macrophages are key players against pathogens. Nitric oxide (NO), a molecule produce by immune cells, controls intracellular killing of pathogens during infection. Silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) demonstrated broad-spectrum activity against various types of infectious diseases. It has the ability to stimulate oxygen species production.  This study aims to analyze the macrophages activation through NO production and estimate the cytotoxicity based on the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release upon exposure to L. tropica and