The natural radioactivity levels in water samples along the Tigris river (one of the major rivers of the world) within Baghdad city were investigated to determine and evaluate the radioactivity risks in the water of the river. The specific activity of the radionuclides (²³⁸U, ²³²Th, ⁴⁰K, and ¹³⁷Cs) for thirty different water samples from Tigris river within Baghdad city were measured using gamma-ray spectrometer, employing a NaI(Tl) scintillation detector. The results showed that the average value of the specific activity for ²³⁸U, ²³²Th, ⁴⁰K, and ¹³⁷Cs were (24.20, 16.70, 329.22, and 19.40) Bq/l, respectively. The calculated average annual effec

     The wide use of lead compounds as an engine anti-knock reflects conversely on all components of the ecosystem. This study aimed to detect the concentration of lead in various types of gasoline and gas oil that are highly consumed by vehicles. Eight fuel samples were collected from different feul stations distributed in different districts of Baghdad city. These included two gas oil (diesel) stations and three stations for each type of gasoline (leaded and unleaded). Lead was extracted by the modified chemical method, and then flame atomic absorption technique was applied to assay its concentrations. The results indicated that lead levels were within permitted limits (150 mg Lead L^-1) recommended by the

Seventy exudative lymphocytic pleural fluid specimens of patients with suspected tuberculous pleural effusion submitted to the National Reference Laboratory of tuberculosis/Baghdad from October 2012 to February 2013. These effusions were due to tuberculosis pleuritis (n=12) and non-tuberculosis pleuritis (n=58). The following parameters were analyzed: protein concentration, glucose concentration, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) concentration and adenosine deaminase activity (ADA). As a result, the protein concentration was higher in TPE patients (8.80 ± 0.89 g/dl) than it's concentration in non-TPE patients (7.61 ± 0.54 g/dl), as well as LDH concentration was (3366.58 ± 284.28 U/L) in TPE patients and (3024.12 ± 116.84 U/L) in non-TPE pa

Background: Age progression is regarded as a critical risk factor in morbidity and mortality because of a weakened immune system. Although various studies have dealt with electrolyte imbalance in COVID-19 patients, the outcomes of these studies were partially understood. Objective: The current study aims to determine some biochemical parameters in old Iraqi COVID-19 patients and highlight the outcomes according to the aging role in the development of COVID-19 by suggesting new mechanisms. Materials and methods: forty COVID-19 patients were enrolled in the current study and divided into two groups: Gm includes (20) men, and Gf includes  (20) women. The parameters (Na+, K+, Cl-, LDH, and Hb ) were determined in sera of patients and c

The aim of the current study is to in evaluate the role of SOD activity in the previously reported oxidative stress in our laboratory(1), in the patients with different brain tumors. SOD activity was assayed according to riboflavin/NBT method and its specific activity was calculated in patients with benign and malignant brain tumors and control. Moreover the specific activity was compared in these samples according to gender and the occurrence of disease.Non significant elevation (P > 0.05) in SOD specific activity was observed in tissue of malignant tumors in comparison to that of in benign brain tumors. While a highly significant decrease (P < 0.001) of the specific activity was found in sera of malignant patients group in comparison to t

Thalassemia is a term that refers to a group of genetic disorders characterized by a defect in the synthesis of hemoglobin. It is sometimes called Mediterranean anemia. Many biochemical changes in the blood accompany this disease. In this research, some biochemical parameters were measured in thalassemic patients and compared with healthy control group. These parameters include serum Iron, ferritin, TIBC, hemoglobin, uric acid, albumin, calcium, transferrin, and transferrin saturation percentage.  The results of the research showed that there is a significant increase (P<0.05)  in serum iron and ferritin in thalassemic patients group in comparison with healthy control group. A significant decrease (P<0.05) in serum uric a

     Soil acts as a last sink for elements that people release into the environment through a range of activities due to its physiochemical characteristics. These substances, whether are organic or mineral pollutants, accumulate in the soil and constitute a significant risk to the ecosystem in general because they mess with the chemical and physical equilibrium of the soil, get into the food chain, and eventually get to people. When pollutant concentrations during the bioaccumulated process exceed the global standards for what is regarded as a contaminant in water, air, and soil. Nine soil samples were collected from different sites and two samples from each site at two depths (0-20 and 20-40 cm) to determine if there were any

The objective of the present study is to determine the anti-obesity effects of Akkermansia munciniphila  on some biometric measurements. 40 patients were divided into two groups, each with 20 patients; G1 group consumed the probiotic of A. munciphila   and G2   consumed placebo capsules. The results  showed significant effects on the body weight (p≤ 0.001), which was reduced by a range of -2.29 to -0.7, whereas non-significant differences were observed in the Waist circumferance  . The study also showed significant differences (p≤0.001) between the two groups in the levels of cholesterol (287 vs. 285 mg/dl) , whereas the level of  Triglyceride  significantly  decrease

Celiac disease (CD) is an immune-mediated disorder caused by gluten in genetically susceptible individuals characterized by chronic inflammation that essentially affects the small intestine. Objective: this study was designed to measure the potential role of some serological biomarkers including vitamin B12 and homocysteine (HCY) in the progression of CD as well as their relations to global DNA methylation (5mC). Materials and methods. Forty CD patients were enrolled in the study with an average age of (36.60 ± 2.03) years (range between 15 and 60). The diagnosis of the disease was confirmed by serological examinations and intestinal endoscopy in Gastroenterology and Liver Teaching Hospital in the Medical City Hospital in Baghdad