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.
Diabetic Nephropathy(DN) is a complex disease manifested by persistence microalbuminuria occurring due to the interaction between hemodynamic and metabolic pathway that activates the local renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system resulting in a decline in renal functions.
This study aimed to quantify the associations between serum aldosterone concentration and fetuin- A as a marker of calcification in type 2 diabetic patients with and without microalbuminuria from one side, and study the possible relationship between aldosterone and fetuin-A with glycemic indices, serum electrolyte, renal function and microalbuminuria and body mass index from the other side.
A case-control study involved eighty-six adult subjects
... Show MoreSchiff bases were prepared prepared Baaan NMR to some elements of which have contributed to the results of different methods in diagnosis prove structural formulas of compounds prepared
New compounds containing heterocyclic units have been synthesized. These compounds include 2-amino 5- phenyl-1,3,4-thiadiazole (1) as starting material to prepare the Schiff bases 2N[3-nitrobenzylidene -2 hydroxy benzylidene and 4-N,N-dimethyl aminobenzylidene] -5-phenyl-1,3,4-thiadiazole (2abc) , 2N[3-nitrophenyl, 2-hydroxyphenyl or 4-N,N-dimethylaminophenyl] 3-]2-amino-5-phenyl-1,3,4-thiadiazole]-2,3-dihydro-[1,3]oxazepine-benzo-4,7-dione] (3abc), 2N[3-nitrophenyl,2-hydroxyphenyl,4-N,N-dimethylaminophenyl]-3-[2-amino-5-phenyl-1,3,4-thiadiazole-2-yl]-2,3-dihydro-[1,3]oxazepine-4,7-dione[(4abc), 2-N-[3-nitrophenyl, 2-hydroxyphenyl or 4-N,N-dimethylaminophenyl]-3-[2-amino-5-phenyl-1,3,4-thiadiazole-2yl]-1,2,3-trihydro-benzo-[1,2-e][1,3] diaz
... Show MoreThe n-type Au thin films of 500nm thickness was evaporated by thermal evaporation method on p-type silicon wafer of [111] direction to formed Au/Si heterojunction solar cell. The AC conductivity, C-V and I-V characteristics of fabricated c-Au/Si diffusion heterojunction-(HJ) solar cell, has been studied. The first methods demonstrated that the AC conductivity due to with diffusiontunneling mechanism, while the second show that, the heterojunction profile is abrupt, the heterojunction parameters have been played out, such as the depletion width, built-in voltage, and concentration. And finally the third one show that the c-Au/Si HJ has rectification properties, and the solar cell yielded an open circuit voltage of (Vic) 0.4V, short circuit c
... Show MoreIraqi kaolin was used for the preparation and characterization of NaY zeolite for biodiesel production via esterification reaction. Oleic acid was used usually as a typical simulated feedstock of high acid number for the esterification reaction.
The chemical composition for the prepared Nay zeolite is as following: (Ca2.6Na1.K0.1)(Al6.3Si17.7)O48.16H2O, the silica to alumina ratio in the prepared catalyst was found equal to 2.6 and Na2O content was 12.26 wt. %, with relative crystallinity equal to 147.4 % obtained by the X-ray diffraction. The surface area result shows that the prepared catalyst has 330 m2
... Show MoreIn this work, silver (Ag) self-metallization on a polyimide (PI) film was prepared through autocatalytic plating. PI films were prepared through the solution casting method, followed by etching with potassium hydroxide (KOH) solution, sensitization with tin chloride (SnCl2), and the use of palladium chloride (PdCl2) to activate the surface of PI. Energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) showed the highest peak in the (Ag) region and confirmed the presence of AgNPs. The diffraction peaks at 2θ = 38.2°, 44.5°, 64.6°, and 78.2° represented the 111, 200, 220, and 311 planes of Ag, respectively. The FT–IR an
... Show MoreA series of new 2-quinolone derivatives linked to benzene sulphonyl moieties were performed by many steps: the first step involved preparation of different coumarins (A1,A2) by condensation of different substituted phenols with ethyl acetoacetate. The compound A1 was treated with nitric acid to afford two isomers of nitrocoumarin derivatives (A3) and (A4). The prepared compounds (A2, A3) were treated with hydrazine hydrate to synthesize different 2-quinolone compounds (A5,A6) while the coumarin treated with different amines gave compounds (A7,A8). Then the synthesized 2-quinolone compounds (A5-A8) treated with benzene sulphonyl chloride to afford new sulfonamide derivatives (A9-A12). The synthesized compounds were characterized by FT-IR, 1H
... Show MoreThe increasing requirement and use of dental implant treatments has rendered dental implantology indispensable in dentistry. The aim of this study is to determine the optimum concentration of calcium silicate to be incorporated into a polyetherketoneketone (PEKK) matrix used as an implant material to enhance the bioactivity and mechanical properties of the composite compared with unmodified PEKK. In this study, different weight percentage (wt%) of micro-calcium silicate (m-CS) is incorporated into PEKK with ethanol as a binder. Subsequently, the mixture is dried in a forced convection oven at 120°C and poured into customized molds to fabricate a bioactive composite via compression molding (310°C, 15 MPa, and 20 min holding time
... Show MoreFrom 144 specimens of tonsillitis which were collected from patient, (children of 3 -12 year olds) there were 70 isolates beta hemolytic and 28 isolates were identified as S. pyogenes. Sensitivity of S. pyogenes isolates to antibiotics was tested, all isolates were sensitive to amoxicillin and cephaloxia while higher resistant were to erythromycin. One isolate whiche was 100 A had a stable characteristics and produce pyrogenic toxin was chosen for study and it was purified and characterized from the cell free supernatant of S. pyrogenes strain.