Background: Gallstone disease (GSD) is a significant global health burden with variable prevalence influenced by metabolic, genetic, and infectious factors. Increasing evidence suggests that Gram-positive bacteria, particularly Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus species, contribute to gallstone pathogenesis through enzymatic activity and biofilm formation. Objectives: To characterize Gram-positive bacteria within gallstones from Iraqi patients, evaluate their biofilm-forming capacity, and analyze the relationship between bacterial colonization, gallstone type, and cholesterol levels. Methods: A total of 100 gallstones were obtained from patients undergoing elective cholecystectomy between October 2024 and March 2025. Stones were aseptically processed for bacterial isolation and identification using selective culture media and the VITEK® 2 Compact System. Serum cholesterol levels were determined by enzymatic colorimetric assay. Biofilm formation was quantified via the 96-well microtiter plate method, and statistical correlations between gallstone type, cholesterol level, and bacterial presence were analyzed. Results: Cholesterol stones (57%) were more prevalent than pigment (40%) and mixed stones (3%). Bacterial growth was observed in 43% of gallstones, with Enterococcus species (31 isolates) predominating over S. aureus (12 isolates). Species-level identification revealed E. faecalis (n= 16), E. faecium (n= 9), and E. gallinarum (n= 6), marking the first reported isolation of E. gallinarum from gallstones. Cholesterol concentrations were significantly higher in sterile stones (median 235 mg/dL) compared to bacteria-positive stones (173-186 mg/dL) (P < 0.0001). Biofilm analysis showed all S. aureus isolates as strong producers, whereas E. faecalis exhibited predominantly moderate-to-strong formation, while E. faecium and E. gallinarum displayed weaker capacities. Conclusion: A significant interplay between microbial colonization and gallstone composition. Strong biofilm-producing Gram-positive bacteria, particularly S. aureus and E. faecalis, may facilitate stone maturation and persistence. The novel isolation of E. gallinarum expands the spectrum of biliary microbiota.
Background: The COVID-19 infection is a more recent pandemic disease all over the world and studying the pulmonary findings on survivors of this disease has lately commenced.
Objective: We aimed to estimate the cumulative percentage of whole radiological resolution after 3 months from recovery and to define the residual chest CT findings and exploring the relevant affecting factors.
Subjects and Methods: Patients who had been previously diagnosed with COVID-19 pneumonia confirmed by RT-PCR test and had radiological evidence of pulmonary involvement by Chest CT during the acute illness were included in the present study. The radiol
... Show MoreBedside clinical teaching is a fundamental part of the medical education that offers invaluable opportunities for the students to build and improve their clinical and communication skills. However, there is a growing concern about the increasing refusal of patients to participate in clinical sessions, especially in certain settings where there are sensitive cultural traditions and decreased trust in institutions.
This paper discusses patient refusal duri
ABSTRACT Background: work-related musculoskeletal disorders represent an important occupational health issues among dentists especially neck and low back complaints. Biomarkers of tissue damage as results of occupational physical demands could be used for detection of work related musculoskeletal disorders. Aim: The aim of this study was to assess work- related musculoskeletal disorders, physical work load index, selected salivary biomarkers (Creatine kinase and C - reactive protein) and to find the relation among them. Subjects and Methods: Study participants are consisted of 112 dentists. They were selected from college of dentistry /Baghdad University, health care center in Bagdad city. They were of both gender and aged between 40-45 yea
... Show MoreThe current research aims to identify the Impact of strategy of modeling in the of deductive thinking and the attitvde towards mathematics among students in the high school stage
through check the following hypotheses:
1.There is no difference statistically significant at the level (0.05) between the scores mean of the experimental group students who have studied according to the modeling strategy and scores of control group students who have studied according to ordinary method in deductive thinking.
2.
... Show MoreAbstract: A home-made dc sputtering is characterized by cathode potential of 250-2500 V and sputtering gas pressures of (3.5×10-2 – 1.5) mbar. This paper studies in experiment the breakdown of argon, nitrogen, and oxygen in a uniform dc electric field at different discharge gaps and cathode potentials. Paschen curves for Argon, Nitrogen, and oxygen are obtained by measuring the breakdown voltage of gas within a stainless steel vacuum chamber with two planar, stainless steel electrodes. The Paschen curves in Ar, N2, and O2 gases show that the breakdown voltage between two electrodes is a function of pd (The product of the pressure inside the chamber and distance between the electrodes). Current-voltage characteristics visualization of the
... Show MoreThe present work involved synthesis of new thiozolidinone derivatives,These derivatives could be divided into three type of compounds; quinolin-2-one[V]a,b ,Schiff bases[VI]a,b and imide compounds[VII]a-d. The reaction p-Hydroxyacetophenone with thiosemicarbazide led to formation thiosemicarbazon compound [II], the reacted of thiosemicarbazone with chloro acetic acid in CH3CO2Na led to yield 4- thiazelidinone compound[III] in addition, thiosemicarbazide was POCl3 to [III] give [IV] compound used intermediates to synthesis new compounds of reacted with two type of coumarin in glacial acetic acid to give quinolin-2-one[V]a,b, The later compound refluxing with different benzaldehyde in dry benzene and glacial acetic acid give Schiff bases[VI]a
... Show MoreWorldwide attention is being focused on nanocrystalline zeolites and they are replacing conventional ones due to their pronounced potential in many fields. In this study, NaY zeolite has been prepared hydrothermally using sol –gel method and modified to the proton type by ion –exchange process. Characterization is made using X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Atomic force microscopy (AFM), Brunauer –Emmet- Teller (BET) nitrogen adsorption method, Ammonia Temperature programmed desorption (NH3-TPD) and Scanning electron microscopy( SEM). The effect of aging time, silica to alumina ratio is studied and the results sh
... Show MoreThis work comprises the synthesis of new thioxanthone derivatives containing C-substituted thioxanthone. To obtain these derivatives, the o-mercapto benzoic acid was chosen as the starting material, which was reacted with dry benzene in sulfuric acid (98 %) to produce the thioxanthone (1). The 2,7-(disulfonyl phosphine imine) thioxanthone (4-8) were prepared from reaction of compound (1) with chlorosulfonic acid gave 2,7-(disulfonyl chloride) thioxanthone (2). Treatment of (2) with sodium azide to produce 2,7-(disulfonyl azide) thioxanthone (3). Condensation of (3) with phosphorus compounds afforded compounds (4-8). The 2,7-(disulfonamide) thioxanthone (9-21) was obtained when co
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