Background: Infection with Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) leads to activation of T-helper cells (Th-1 and Th-2) which are involved in the synthesis and release of different cytokines which may lead to endothelial dysfunction. Objectives: To evaluate the endothelial function in patients with acute toxoplasmosis. Methods: This case-control study involved 31 patients with toxoplasmosis aged 19 - 47 years matched with 20 healthy subjects. Anti-T. gondii antibody (IgG, IgM, IgA) was determined by direct antigen-antibody reaction. Interleukin-6(IL-6), endothelin-1 (ET-1) and human malondialdehyde (MDA) serum levels were measured. Results: IgM, IgG and IgA levels were high in the infected patients compared with controls (P < 0.01). Furthermore, IL-6 serum level was high in the infected patients compared with controls (P < 0.01). In addition, ET-1 level was high in acute toxoplasmosis (7.29 ± 4.59 pg/mL) compared with controls (3.11 ± 1.69 pg/mL) (P < 0.01). In addition, MDA serum level was high (9.34 ± 4.17 nmol/mL) compared with controls (2.87 ± 1.13 nmol/mL), (P < 0.01). In acute toxoplasmosis IgM serum level was significantly correlated with IgG (r = 0.55, P = 0.001), IgA (r = 0.57, P = 0.0008), IL-6 (r = 0.45, P = 0.01), ET-1 (r = 0.51, P = 0.003) and MDA (r = 0.85, P = 0.0001). Conclusions: Acute toxoplasmosis is associated with significant oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory changes which contribute to development of endothelial dysfunction
BACKGROUND: Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) is common, yet no curative treatment identified. Cinnamon is a herbal substance, which has many applications in medicine. AIM: The aim of the study was to study the effect of cinnamon on patients with chronic pelvic pain syndrome. METHODS: Sixty patients with documented CP/CPPS randomized into two groups during 2018 and 2019 in Baghdad. The first group received 60 capsules each contained 1 g of cinnamon. The other group received 60 capsules each contained 1 g of sugar powder (placebo). All the patients instructed to take one capsule twice daily for 1 month. National Institutes of Health-Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI) was reported for bot
... Show MoreIn this study tested the efficiency of three methods (Tissue culture, Multispore, Multispore mixture) to renew isolates of mother culture for cultivated mushroom strains (X20, X25, B62) And prevent it from deterioration and keep or increase productivity, It has been found that the strains in response varied according to the type of method used for the renewal of isolation. It was found that 17.78 kg/m2 higher significant increase in total yield have been achieved when use multispore mix between X20 and B62 strain compared to all of those isolates the mother culture strains, Followed by tissue culture method for the renewal of strains, which amounted to the total yield 14.16 kg/m2 when B62 strain. Multispore me
... Show MoreChronic renal disease (CRD) is a pathophysiologic process with multiple etiologies, resulting in the inexorable attrition of Nephron number and function and frequently leading to end-stage renal disease (ESRD). In turn, ESRD represents a clinical state or condition in which there has been an irreversible loss of endogenous renal function, of a degree sufficient to render the patient permanently dependent upon renal replacement therapy (dialysis of transplantation) in order to avoid life threatening uremia, reflecting a dysfunction of all organ systems as a result of untreated or under treated acute or chronic renal failure. The current study was involved 80 patients, the age range within 25-70 ye
... Show MoreThe aim of this study is to describe the leech species that are used in some of the alternative medicine clinics in Baghdad Province based on morphometric measurements and colouring pattern of the body. A collection of twenty leeches was provided from some clinics. All specimens were identified and described based on standard available keys. The morphometric characteristics and colouring patterns were recorded and the indicated that these leeches were Hirudo orientalis Utevsky & Trontelj, 2005 and H. verbana Carena, 1820.
Rosemary is a well-known aromatic and medicinal plant used to treat various ailments. This study evaluated Rosmarinus officinalis essential oil for its phytochemical and antibacterial properties. The essential oil was analysed by using a gas chromatography-mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) that revealed the common chemicals containing verbenone 36.20% and 1,8-cineol (Eucalyptol) 12.14%. Extracted essential oils were tested for antibacterial activity against vancomycin intermediate Staphylococcus aureus (VISA), a strain of bacteria obtained locally from bacteremia patients. Three isolates were found to be VISA positive using the E-test (strips) and the population analysis profile method (PAP). VISA showed lower resist
... Show MoreThe Accommodation industry in Iraq suffers from many problems, especially after 2003, when the Accommodation industry was exposed to many crises due to the security and political situation in Iraq, which negatively affected the administrative operations inside the industry and created many problems, the most important of which are deterioration, high costs and poor performance, so some hotel administrations sought To find alternative solutions that help in the advancement of hotels, one of the proposals is to go to technology, as technology is currently one of the most important solutions to solve large complex problems, as the world has turned to automation to solve complex problems such as increasing production, reducing costs, and rai
... Show MoreInflation is one of the important issues that the economic authorities in all countries of the world care about, where the loss of money for its function is one of the most important and largest inflationary effects that this phenomenon leaves on the economy, and Iraq, like other countries, has had its share of the problem of inflation for a long time due to the circumstances that He went through it, whether it was the wars he fought or the economic blockade that was imposed on him in the nineties of the last century. Economically, the problem of inflation is addressed through the use of fiscal policy tools, including tax increases in order to abso
... Show MoreObjective(s): The study aims at evaluating pregnancy-related health behaviors for pregnant women, and to identify the association between pregnancy-related health behaviors and their demographic characteristics of pregnant woman’s age, education, employment, residential area and monthly income.
Methodology: A descriptive study is carried out for the period from December 14th, 2020 to June 20th, 2021. This study was conducted through a non-probability (convenience) sample of 150 pregnant women attending, Abo Ghareeb primary health care sector in Abo Ghareeb spend. The sample has been collected by using the instrument to gather data and accomplish the study's objectives. A questionnaire is composed of (29) items and it is divided into
Background: Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic destructive inflammatory disease associated with destruction of joint connective tissues and bones, affecting 0.5%–1% of the population worldwide reporting higher prevalence of periodontitis among rheumatoid arthritis patients. The purpose of this study is to estimate level of salivary C-reactive protein in relation to the occurrence and severity of the periodontal disease and other oral parameters among group of patients with rheumatoid arthritis Material and methods: Fifty women patients with rheumatoid arthritis; twenty five on Methotrexate treatment and twenty five on combination treatment of Methotrexate and Etanercept selected as study groups with an age range (30-40) years old and
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