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/Aim: Psoriasis is a persistent systemic disorder characterised by chronic inflammation and linked to multiple comorbidities, including arthritis, cardiometabolic disorders, obesity and hyperlipidaemia. Objective of this study was to identify the relationship of abnormal lipid profiles and psoriasis, as well as to pinpoint factors that correlate with disease severity. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out at the dermatology clinic over 6 months from the 1 August 2024 to the 1 February 2025. Patients aged 15 years and above with a diagnosis of psoriasis were enrolled. For each patient two sets of data were collected, demographical characteristics (age, sex, disease duration and the body mass index (BMI)) and the
... Show MoreBackground: Practicing self-medication is common and a worrisome issue because of irrational drug use. This study aimed to evaluate self-medication knowledge and views among the final year pharmacy students in Iraq. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted from December 2018 to January 2019. A pre-validated and self-administered questionnaire was recruited to survey pharmacy students at the University of Baghdad and Al-Rafedain University College. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 20 (SPSS v. 20) software used to save and analyze the data. Results expressed as numbers and percentages. Results: A total of 344 students (response rate: 94.24%) with a mean age of 22.10 years includ
... Show MoreRoad accidents have been identified as one of the main causes of death and have a significant effect on public health challenges, economic growth and development. The Iraqi transport infrastructure has suffered from the effects of war, carelessness, and lack of investment. As a result, road traffic accidents have increased, and the current efforts to address road safety are minimal in comparison to the growing level of citizen suffering. The objective of this study was to provincially analyze traffic accidents in Iraq using data from 2010 to 2020 to shed light on the current situation. Three key conclusions were made from the results: first, people aged 35 years and under was the age
Background: Dental anomalies are abnormal tooth condition occurs due to certain genes or environmental factor disturb tooth development during morphodifferentiation stages, affecting group of teeth or entire dentition. The aim of the study is to evaluate the frequency of occurrence of dental anomalies among dental student. Materials and Methods: Three hundred dental students with age ranged (18-23 years) were examined clinically and radiographically searching for dental anomalies in shape, number and position. Results: Only 25 students (8.3 %) from the total sample (300) had dental anomalies, female form the higher percentage of anomalies (about 68%) compared to male (32%). The age group (22 years) which was the larger group had a higher
... Show MoreRoad accidents have been identified as one of the main causes of death and have a significant effect on public health challenges, economic growth and development. The Iraqi transport infrastructure has suffered from the effects of war, carelessness, and lack of investment. As a result, road traffic accidents have increased, and the current efforts to address road safety are minimal in comparison to the growing level of citizen suffering. The objective of this study was to provincially analyze traffic accidents in Iraq using data from 2010 to 2020 to shed light on the current situation. Three key conclusions were made from the results: first, people aged 35 years and under was the age group recorded in the most traffic accidents; second, Al-
... Show MoreFifty one patients with serologically confirmed brucellosis and 70 healthy controls were phenotyped for HLA-A, -B, -DR and -DQ antigens by using standard microlympho-cytotoxicity method, and lymphocytes defined by their CD markers (CD3, CD4, CD8 and CD19). The results revealed a significant (Pc = 0.001) increased frequency of HLA-DR8 (41.18 vs. 10.0%) in the patients . A significant increased percentage of CD8+ lymphocytes was also increased in the patients (25.15 vs. 22.0%; P = 0.006), while CD3+ lymphocytes were significantly decreased (75.1 vs. 79.4%; P = 0.02).
ABSTRACTBackground: dyslipidemia plays a crucial rule in the development of cardiovascular disease, which has become the leading cause of death in most developed countries as well as in developing countries (1). The effects of reducing low density lipoprotein – C (LDL-C) concentrations on the prevention of cardiovascular events and stroke have been well reported in many clinical trials.Objectives: Evidence supports the use of statins for lipid modifications in the primary prevention of coronary artery disease, morbidity and mortality. This study aims to determine the effectiveness of atorvastatin in treating dyslipidemia in Iraqi obese patients.Methods: 200 overweight and obese patients with hypercholesterolemia, according to NCEP ATP
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The multi-drug resistant efflux pump is a glycoprotein pump whose function is to push foreign substances. The efflux pump is found in humans, animals. It also has wide-ranging properties in bacteria and fungi. They are found in all species of bacteria, and efflux pump genes can be found in bacterial chromosomes or mobile genetic elements, such as plasmids. The most sensitive function that leads to a global problem is its resistance to antibiotics in bacterial cells, which increases the ability to bacteria from becoming strong virulence factors that most or all antibiotics cannot kill. It also has othe
... Show MoreThe aim of the present study is to highlight the role of total cholesterol (TC), triacylglycerol (TG), Glycated hemoglobin A1c and iron in Iraqi women with multiple sclerosis and also to examine the biochemical action of copaxone (which is the most widely used in the 21st century to treat multiple sclerosis) on these biochemical parameters. This is the first study in Iraq which deals copaxone action on TC , TG , HbA1c and iron. Ninety women in their fourth decade suffering from multiple sclerosis were enrolled in this study. They were divided into: the first (group B) composed of (30) women without any treatment related to multiple sclerosis or any treatment linked with chronic or inflammatory diseases. The second (group A1) included (30)
... Show MoreBackground and Purpose: Coronavirus has posed an unfamiliar threat to the world. Despite such circumstances, Malaysians continue to stay optimistic by keeping abreast with updates and mostly by seeking refuge in hopeful and consoling messages shared by fellow citizens. This study identified Facebook postings with positive messages, posted by Malaysians during the Movement Control Order (MCO) implemented by the Malaysian government as a form of prosocial behaviour. Methodology: Through an analytic framework consisting of Positive Discourse Analysis and Critical Discourse Analysis, 15 Facebook postings related to COVID-19 were selected and identified as positive discourse, which were coded and categorised using a thematic analysi
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