Abstract Aim: Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder which affects communication and social interaction of children. It is a heterogeneous disease with various clinical presentations. Some genes are involved in its pathogenesis. It has been suggested that environmental exposure to lead can increase the risk of autism. The aim of our study was to compare blood lead levels among autistic and non-autistic children. Material and Method: This retrospective study included 107 children (60 with autism and 47 without autism) referred from the different Iraqi provinces, in the years 2015, 2016 and 2017, to the poisoning consultation center in Baghdad. Data collection including age, gender, residence, referral source, family history and blood lead levels was taken from their medical records. Results: No significant differences were noticed between the prevalence of autism and both of age (P=0.843) and gender (P=0.699). The majority of children have no family history of autism (85%). Mean blood lead level for all participants was 16.01 μg/dl. The statistically significant difference in lead level was found between autistic and non-autistic children (17.38± 1.86 μg/dl in autism group versus 14.27± 1.57 μg/dl in non-autism group) with a P value of 0.001. Discussion: Mean blood lead level was high in all participants, compared to the international values, which might indicate a high level of lead exposure in Iraqi children due to environmental pollution. Autistic children have higher lead levels than non-autistic ones and this might explain the role of lead in the etiology of autism.
Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) causes up to 40% mortality in humans and is difficult to treat. ARDS is also one of the major triggers of mortality associated with coronavirus-induced disease (COVID-19). We used a mouse model of ARDS induced by Staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB), which triggers 100% mortality, to investigate the mechanisms through which Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) attenuates ARDS. SEB was used to trigger ARDS in C3H mice. These mice were treated with THC and analyzed for survival, ARDS, cytokine storm, and metabolome. Additionally, cells isolated from the lungs were used to perform single-cell RNA sequencing and transcriptome analysis. A database analysis of human COVID-19 patients was also performed t
... Show MoreAbstract
The main problem of the study lies in the lack of a clear perception among the study sample about the impact of digital marketing tools on legal liquidity. Legal) of the International Development Bank for Investment and Finance and to achieve the objectives of the research, the method of observation and survey was used in measuring the dimensions of digital marketing. As for banking liquidity, the reports and financial statements of the bank were used as the research sample, as well as the use of the statistical analysis program SPSS in the statement of the relationship The study concluded, in summary, the following: Mar
... Show MoreAbstract
The basic aim of this research is to study the interactional effect of investing information technology on the relationship between value added intellectual capital and financial performance as literature review suggested on the theoretical level, including previous studies, with the deduction of its trends strongly predicted by research hypotheses and their content associated with the investment in intellectual capital after information technology tools being employed in this direction to improve the financial performance of the studied companies at the levels of both industrial and service sectors, a non-random sample was chosen included (40) forty Iraqi Joint-Stoc
... Show MoreGroundwater is an essential source because of its high quality and continuous availability characterize this water resource. Therefore, the study of groundwater has required more attention. The present study aims to assess and manage groundwater quality's suitability for various purposes through the Geographical Information System GIS and the Water Quality Index WQI. The study area is located in the city of Baghdad in central Iraq, with an approximate area of 900 , data were collected from the relevant official departments representing the locations of 97 wells of groundwater in the study area for the year 2019, as it included physicochemical parameters such as pH, EC, TDS, Na, K, Mg, Ca, Cl, , and &nbs
... Show MoreThis research aimed to identify the level of English language knowledge among the students of scientific colleges and the preparatory year (scholarship students) at the Islamic University of Madinah. The research was limited to identifying students at the meanings of vocabulary and grammar of the English language. The researcher used a descriptive approach to achieve study goals. It applied three tools to collect information from the targeted sample; first, a test for determining the level of students in the achievement of vocabulary which applied to (69) students. Second, a test to determine the level of students in the English language grammar, (73) students took part. Third, a survey to get students’ opinions about the program of te
... Show MoreTo demonstrate the effect of changing cavity length for FM mode locked on pulse parameters and make comparison for both dispersion regime , a plot for each pulse parameter as Lr function are presented for normal and anomalous dispersion regimes . The analysis is based on the theoretical study and the results of numerical simulation using MATLAB. The effect of both normal and anomalous dispersion regimes on output pulses is investigate Fiber length effects on pulse parameters are investigated by driving the modulator into different values. A numerical solution for model equations using fourth-fifth order, Runge-Kutta method is performed through MATLAB 7.0 program. Fiber length effect on pulse parameters is investigated by driving th
... Show More