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.
Ni-Co-Mn-Mg ferrite nanoparticles with the formula (Ni,Co)xMn0.25-xMg0.75Fe2O4 were synthesized in this work by employing the sol-gel auto-combustion process, with nitrates used as the cations source and citric acid (C6H8O7) as the combustion agent. X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), and a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) were used to characterize the structural, morphological, and magnetic properties of ferrite powders. The XRD measurements showed crystallite sizes ranging between 24 - 28 nm. The FE-SEM images show the presence of agglomeration as well as a non-homogeneous distribution of the samples. On the other hand, the stoichiometry of the react
... Show MoreThis research includes the synthesis, characterization, and investigation of liquid crystalline properties of new rod-shaped liquid crystal compounds 1,4- phenylene bis(2-(5-(four-alkoxybenzylidene)-2,4-dioxothiazolidin-3- yl)acetate), prepared thiazolidine-2,4-dione (I) by the thiourea reaction with chloroacetic acid and water in the presence of the concentrated hydrochloric acid. The n-alkoxy benzaldehyde (II)n synthesized from the reacted 4- hydreoxybenzaldehyde and n-alkyl bromide with potassium hydroxide, and then the compound (I) was reacted with (II)n in the presence of piperidine to produce compounds (III)n. Also, hydroquinone was converted into a corresponding compound (IV) by refluxing with two moles of chloracetyl chloride in pyr
... Show More2(2-Tetrahydropyranylthio) methyl cyclopropyl amines were synthesized from allylmercaptan through several steps. The structures of the intermediates and the final products where confirmed through IR, NMR and elemental analysis, these compounds may be of value in the treatment of diseases where free radicals are implicated in their pathogensis, since the thio and the amino groups of the synthesized compounds may act as free radical scavengers.
Silicon nanowire arrays (SiNWs) are created utilizing the metal-assisted chemical etching method with an Ag metal as a catalyst and different etching time of 15, 30, and 60 minutes using n-Si (100). Physical properties such as structural, surface morphology, and optical properties of the prepared SiNWs are studied. The diameter of prepared SiNWs ranged from 20 to 280 nm, and the reflectance in the visible part of the wavelength spectrum was less than 1% for all prepared samples. The obtained energy gap of prepared SiNWs was around 2 eV, which is higher than the energy gap of bulk silicon. X-ray diffraction (XRD) has diffraction peaks at 68.70o for all prepared samples. The heterojunction solar cell was fabricated based on the
... Show MoreIn this research four steps of the new derivatives of Naproxen drug have been made which are known as a high medicinal effectiveness; the first step involved converting Naproxen into the corresponding ester (A) by reaction Naproxen with methanol absolute in presence H2SO4. While the second step involved treatment methyl Naproxen ester (A) with hydrazine hydrate 80% in presence of ethanol .The third reaction requires synthesis of Schiff bases (C1-C10) by condensation. of Naproxen hydrazide (B) with many substituted aromatic aldehydes . Finally, the fourth step synthesized new tetrazole derivatives ( D1- D10) by the reaction of the prepared Schiff bases (in the third step) with Sodium azide in THF as a solvent .The prepared compounds wer
... Show MoreAim To develop a low-density polyethylene–hydroxyapatite (HA-PE) composite with properties tailored to function as a potential root canal filling material. Methodology Hydroxyapatite and polyethylene mixed with strontium oxide as a radiopacifier were extruded from a single screw extruder fitted with an appropriate die to form fibres. The composition of the composite was optimized with clinical handling and placement in the canal being the prime consideration. The fibres were characterized using infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and their thermal properties determined using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The tensile strength and elastic modulus of the composite fibres and gutta-percha were compared, dry and after 1 month storage in
... Show MoreCatalase (EC 1.11.1.6) is a well known enzyme which exists in almost all living creatures exposing to oxygen (such as plants, bacteria, and animals). It is a very necessary enzyme to protect the cell from oxidative detriment by reactive oxygen species (ROS). The aim of this study is the partial purification and characterization of Catalase enzyme from Banana peels. In this study, fresh banana peels are treated with 70 % ethanol ,further separated with chloroform ,water and ethyl acetate respectively .The supernatant of the enzymatic sample which is treated with chloroform is loaded into gel filtration column with Sephadex G-100 (1.0 x 90 cm) equilibrated with pH7 buffer media (phosphate buffer 0.1 M). Kinetic studies of the purified en
... Show MoreA new series polymers was synthesized from reaction starting material Bisacodyl A or [(2-Pyridinylmethylene) di-4, 1-phenylene di acetate] with hydrogen bromide, then the products were polymerized by addition polymerization from used adipoyl and glutaroyl chloride. The structure of these compounds was characterized by FT-IR, melting points, TLC, X-Ray, DSC and 1H-NMR for starting material. These compounds were also screened for their antibacterial activists?
Silver Indium Aluminum Selenium AgIn1xAlxSe2 AIAS for x=01 thin films was deposited by thermal evaporation at RT and different︣︢︡ ︠︣1thickness 100 150 and 200 nm on the glass Substrate and p2Si wafer to produce AIAS/p3Si heterojunctionsolarcell4 Structural optical electrical and photovoltaicproperties6 are investigated for the samples XRD analysis reveals that all the deposited AIAS films show polycrystalline structure without any change due to increase of thickness Average diameter and roughness calculated from AFM images shows an increase in its value with increasing thickness The optical absorbance and transmittance for samples are measured using a spectrometer type UV Visible 1800 spectra1photometer to study the energy6gap The
... Show MoreStarting from 4, - Dimercaptobiphenyl, a variety of phenolic Schiff bases (methylolic, etheric, epoxy) derivatives have been synthesized. All proposed structure were supported by FTIR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR Elemental analysis all analysis were performed in center of consultation in Jordan Universty.