In Paracoccus denitrificans Pd1222 bacterium, Pden_3633 encoding gene has been nominated to encode for Isovaleryl CoA dehydrogenase (IVDH) [1], the enzyme which involve in leucine catabolism pathway. In this study, this putative IVDH was investigated. IVDH encoding gene from P. denitrificans Pd1222 in addition to desired features for cloning, expression and purification have been designed and synthesized. The synthetic coding sequence was expressed in Escherichia coli. The enzyme was purified as a Strep-Tagged protein with a total protein 220.5 mg. An apparent molecular weight of 42.9 kDa was determined on SDS gel. Amino acid alignment showed a very high similarity (91-96%) with corresponding IVDH from several other Paracoccus species. A

Background: Periodontal disease increases local and systemic inflammatory responses in pregnant women, which may lead to premature delivery.

Objectives: To detect maternal serum levels of proinflammatory cytokine (Interleukine-6, Interleukin-8) with preterm delivery in pregnant women suffering from gingivitis.

Cases and methods: In this case-control study, a total of 85 pregnant women, were included in the study, of whom 55 had gingivitis: 25 preterm deliveries and 30 full-term deliveries. Thirty healthy pregnant women with healthy gingiva were in the control group. They were selected from Al-Ramadi Teaching Hospital for Gynecology and Pediatrics, from November 2022 to May

To investigate the effects of losartan and enalapril on serum uric acid in hypertensive patients with metabolic syndrome, one hundred and twenty six newly diagnosed mild hypertensive patients, having markers of metabolic syndrome included  in the study. The patients were divided into two groups. Group 1 (60 patients) was given losartan (50 mg/ day) and group 2 (66 patients)  enalapril (20 mg/ day) for a duration of 2 months. A control group of seventy apparently healthy individuals were included. Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed according to diagnostic criteria of metabolic syndrome related to the American National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel III. Serum uric acid levels were measured bef

Objective: To measure the serum levels of Fetuin-A, ischemia-modified albumin (IMA), and ferritin in hospitalized patients with severe COVID-19in Baghdad, Iraq. Moreover, to determine these biomarkers' cut-off valuesthat differentiate between severely ill patients and control subjects. Methods: This case-control study was done from 15 September to the end of December 2021 and involved a review of the files and collectionof blood samples from patients (n=45, group1) hospitalized in COVID-19 treatment centersbecause of severe symptoms compared tohealthy subjects as controls (n=44, group2). Results: Fetuin-A serum levels were not statistically different between patients and controls. In contrast, IMA and ferritin levels were significan

Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in men. A total of 110 Iraqi Arab individuals were included in this study; 60 individuals of them had prostate cancer with increased levels of TPSA (patients group); their age range 52-90 years. They were referred for diagnosis and treatment to the National Al-Amal Hospital for oncology in Baghdad during the period from July 2017 to October 2017. While the other 50 apparently healthy subjects were the control group, their age range similar to patients group. Sera and blood samples were collected from all patients and controls than used to assess for the level of IL-18 and DNA extraction, respectively. The polymorphisms were analyzed using polymerase chain reaction-single specific

Osteoporosis is a common complication of ankylosing spondylitis (AS), and it is related to the high levels of biochemical markers such as tartrate-resistant acid phosphates (TRACP)-5b and other proinflammatory cytokines. In early AS, osteoporosis may appear due to the action proinflammatory cytokines, however spinal osteoporosis commonly observed in those patients with severe AS of long duration but it can occur as a result of ankylosis and lack of movement. Apelin is a new adipokine that has a negative impact on bone formation and can act as an anti-anabolic agent. The aim of this study is to evaluate serum (apelin and TRACP-5b) levels in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) male patients with and without osteoporosis and look for the relation b

In this study, NaOH dissolution method was applied to dissolve cellulose fibers which extracted from date palm fronds (type Al-Zahdi) taken from Iraqi gardens. In this process, (NaOH)-solution is brought into contact with the cellulose fibers at low temperature. Experiments were conducted with different concentrations of NaOH (4%, 6%, 8% and12%) weight percent at two cooling bath temperatures (-15 oC) and (-20oC). Maximum cellulose dissolution was 23 wt% which obtained at 8 wt% concentration of NaOH and at cooling bath temperature of -20oC. In order to enhance the cellulose fibers dissolution, the sample was pretreated with Fenton's reagent which consists of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), oxalic acid (C2H2O4) and ferrous sulfate (FeSO4). This

In this study, NaOH dissolution method was applied to dissolve cellulose fibers which extracted from date palm fronds (type Al-Zahdi) taken from Iraqi gardens. In this process, (NaOH)-solution is brought into contact with the cellulose fibers at low temperature. Experiments were conducted with different concentrations of NaOH (4%, 6%, 8% and12%) weight percent at two cooling bath temperatures (-15 ^oC) and (-20^oC). Maximum cellulose dissolution was 23 wt% which obtained at 8 wt% concentration of NaOH and at cooling bath temperature of -20^oC. In order to enhance the cellulose fibers dissolution, the sample was pretreated with Fenton's reagent which consists of