The virulent genes are the key players in the ability of the bacterium to cause disease. The products of such genes that facilitate the successful colonization and survival of the bacterium in or cause damage to the host are pathogenicity determinants. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of virulence factors (esp, agg, gelE, CylA) in E. faecalis isolated from diverse human clinical collected in Iraqi patient , as well as to assess their ability to form biofilm and to determine their haemolytic and gelatinase activities. Thirty-two isolates of bacteria Enterococcus faecalis were obtained, including 15 isolates (46.87%) of the urine, 6 isolates (18.75%) for each of the stool and uterine secretions, and 5 isolates (15.62%) of the wounds from various hospitals in Baghdad, including (Central Children's Hospital, Educational Laboratories, Ibn Al-Baladi Hospital).The isolates were confirmed to belong to the genus E.faecalis after performing morphological and biochemical microscopic examinations and for final diagnosis using the VITEC 2 system. The virulence genes viz. cylA, esp, gelE and agg were recognized in the E. faecalis, and the consequences appeared that the bacteria had eps gene in 32 isolates (100%). As for the agg gene, 32 isolates (100%) were carriers of this gene, which was responsible for these isolates' aptitude to form the biofilm. While for the gelE gene, 27 isolates (84.37%) of the isolates carried this gene, responsible for gelatinase activity whereas, the gene responsible for hemolysis cyl, there were 29 isolates (90.62%) of the total isolates. The presemce of genes in the isolates would be helpful to determine the colonization and survival of the bacterium in or causing damage to the host.
Objective: Chronic periodontitis (CP) is a common inflammatory disease that causes destruction to the supporting tissues of the teeth. Many treatment modalities tried to stop the disease progression. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is one of the regenerative methods that used in adjunct to conventional periodontal treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of PRP by monitoring the lymphocyte count before and after its application to the periodontal pocket. Materials and Methods: Twenty patients, with CP and a pocket depth equal to or deeper than 4 mm, subjected to scaling, root planing, and PRP injection into the pocket. The lymphocyte count measured before an
Background: Both bladder cancer and schistosomiasis are endemic in Egypt. The former has a unique epidemiological pattern, which has been linked to bladder infestation by Schistosoma. The last decades have witnessed a great reduction in the infection rate of schistosomiasis and a decline in the incidence and changes in the patterns of bladder cancer. Whether these changes are linked to each other or a co-incidence is a subject of investigations.
Method: Literature on epidemiological data of bladder cancer and Schistosoma in Egypt was searched for in Medline, Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar. Furthermore, a hand search for literature and reports released by the Egyptian government and involved agencies was perfo
... Show MoreThe study aims to build a model that revolves around the main question of the role of strategic agility (SA) in enhancing organizational excellence (OE). For the purpose of achieving OE and to determine the extent of interest and knowledge of managers at the Midwest Refineries Company (MRC) on the theoretical and practical implications, and on the performance foundations of these two vital variables with the aim of continuous improvement. A questionnaire was used and distributed to a random sample of 54 managers in this important energy production company. The study followed the descriptive analytical approach to answer the questions raised. The study model and dimensions were built according to reference models, most notably the mo
... Show MoreBackground: Different diagnostic definition and criteria have been recommended by different expert groups for the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome, however, it’s prevalence in the same population could differ depending on the definition used yielding different results. In Iraq, there is a lack of research comparing these different diagnostic definitions. Objective: To find out the most suitable metabolic syndrome definition to be used for Iraqi people. Methods: 320 participants were recruited for this study, 53.4% men and 46.6% women, aged between 25-85 years, visiting Baghdad Teaching Hospital, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome according to different definitions were compared and the agreement was assessed by the Kappa st
... Show MoreThe study of Lake Hamrin is of enormous importance in understanding changes in water levels and their impact on the local environment. It helps to clarify the role of climatic and human factors in the decline of its water resources from 2013 to 2023 in order to ensure sustainable solutions. Satellite imagery from Landsat 8 is used, and processing is performed using ArcGIS Pro and ENVI. The normalized vegetation index (NDVI) is applied to show the changes in the vegetation cover and reveal the amount of change in the surface water area of the lake. It is noted that the water area changes in one year as it increases in the rainy season and decreases in the summer, and it also varies from one year to another with the difference in the amount o
... Show MoreFor a huge and important productive reservoir such as Mishrif formation, the key factors for understanding its production performance and to introduce different production scenarios for future planes are its petrophysical properties. These properties may obtain from different sources such as experimental measurements which are a highly costed methods and well logs data. However, well log data cannot be used to find accurate estimation of such properties without an integrated sedimentological analysis. This research focus on petrophysical evaluation of Mishrif formation employing well log data, core analysis, and depositional modeling to elucidate reservoir characteristics and depos
This study was conducted with the Iraqi Pin-tailed Sandgrouse (Pterocles alchata). For this purpose, five adult birds weighing between 195–250 g were dissected and the spleen was removed. The organs were placed in 0.9% normal saline and fixed in 10% formalin and then preserved in 70% alcohol. Histological sections were prepared using the paraffin wax method, which involves several steps: Dehydration, clarification and embedding. The present results show that the spleen is surrounded by a capsule of connective tissue containing collagen fibres and smooth muscle. A series of connective tissue trabeculae extend from this capsule and penetrate the parenchyma of the spleen. The parenchyma consists of two main regions: the white pulp an
... Show MoreChromium (Cr), a first-series transition metal with a standard atomic mass of approximately 52 g/mol, plays a sophisticated role as an essential trace element in human and animal physiology. Characterized by its diverse oxidation states most notably the highly stable Cr3+ this micronutrient functions primarily as a biochemical potentiator of insulin action. Through the activation of the low-molecular-weight chromium-binding substance, chromodulin, chromium amplifies insulin receptor tyrosine kinase activity, thereby facilitating efficient glucose uptake and the metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids. Beyond glycemic control, chromium serves as a critical modulator of lipid profiles, stimulating lipase activity to reduce very low-
... Show MoreMoisture-induced damage is one of the primary causes of premature distress in asphalt pavements, leading to reduced service life and increased maintenance costs. Although nanomaterials have shown potential in enhancing asphalt performance, the underlying composite interaction mechanisms among nanomaterials, asphalt binder, and aggregate phases under moisture exposure are still not fully understood. In addition, comparative evaluations under consistent experimental conditions remain limited. This study investigates the influence of five nanomaterials: nano-silica (NS), nano-alumina (NA), nano-titanium dioxide (NT), nano-zinc oxide (NZ), and carbon nanotubes (CNT) on the physical and mechanical properties of asphalt binders and mixtur
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