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.
Ethanol as a solvent, a precursor of titanium isopropoxide and a stabilizer of either hydrochloric acid or ammonium hydroxide was used to prepare a titanium dioxide aqueous solution. The aqueous solutions with different values of pH and the morphology of the resultant reaction of the nanoparticles of titanium dioxide were investigated. The X-ray diffraction showed that at low temperatures and with acidic solutions, rutile structures are more favorable to grow on titanium dioxide synthesized, while at low and average temperatures and with base solutions, anatase phase is more pronounced. The crystalline form and the re-confirmation of the crystallite size growth were observed by the scanning electron microscopy. The atomi
... Show MoreObjective: The objective of this study was to prepare nanosuspension of a practical water insoluble antiulcer drug which is lafutidine to enhance the solubility, dissolution rate with studying the effect of different formulation variables to obtain the best formula with appropriate physical properties and higher dissolution rate.Methods: Nanosuspension of lafutidine was prepared using solvent anti-solvent precipitation method using Polyvinylpyrrolidone K-90(PVP K-90) as the stabilizer. Ten formulations were prepared to show the effect of different variables in which two formulations showed the effect of stabilizer type, three formulations showed the effect of stabilizer concentration, two formulations showed the effect of combinatio
... Show MoreIn this review, previous studies on the synthesis and characterization of the metal Complexes with paracetamol by elemental analysis, thermal analysis, (IR, NMR and UV-Vis (spectroscopy and conductivity. In reviewing these studies, the authors found that paracetamol can be coordinated through the pair of electrons on the hydroxyl O-atom, carbonyl O-atom, and N-atom of the amide group. If the paracetamol was a monodentate ligand, it will be coordinated by one of the following atoms O-hydroxyl, O-carbonyl or N-amide. But if the paracetamol was bidentate, it is coordinated by atoms (O-carbonyl and N-amide), (O-hydroxyl and N-amide) or (O-carbonyl and O-hydroxyl). The authors also found that free paracetamol and its complexes have antimicrobial
... Show MoreZnO nanostructures were synthesized in one step reaction at 80℃ without any extra treatments.(Zn (NO₃) ₂. 6H2O) and (NaOH) were used for synthesis. Production of ZnO nanostructures occurred relatively in short time. The obtained ZnO nanostructures were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and the atomic force microscope AFM. Carboxymethyleted PVA (CPVA) has been prepared and characterized.(CPVA) were composite with different ZnO nanoparticles concentrations. The composites are cast into films. The dielectric constant properties of the films were measured with hp LCR meter.
A new two series of liquid crystalline Schiff bases containing thiazole moiety with different length of alkoxy spacer were synthesized, and the relation between the spacer length and the liquid crystalline behavior was investigated. The molecular structures of these compounds were performed by elemental analysis and FTIR, 1HNMR spectroscopy. The liquid crystalline properties were examined by hot stage optical polarizing microscopy (OPM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). All compouns of the two series display liquid crystalline nematic mesophase. The liquid crystalline behaviour has been analyzed in terms of structural property relationship
In the present study, ( Schiff's bases 6a - 6e) and (new amids derivatives 6f - 6j) have been synthesized . The glutaroyl chloride(2) has been prepared by the reacting of glutaric acid and thionyl chloride in presence of (DMF) . The new compound bis(4-formylphenyl) glutarate (3) has been Synthesized from reaction of one mole of glutaroyl chloride and two moles of 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde . Compound 4,4'-(glutaroylbis(oxy))dibenzoic acid (4) was Synthesized from one mole of glutaroyl chloride and two moles of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, while compound bis(4-(chlorocarbonyl)phenyl) glutarate (5) was prepared from 4,4'-(glutaroylbis(oxy))dibenzoic acid and Thionyl chloride . Then Schiff's bases 6a - 6e that prepared
... Show MoreThis research discloses the synthesis of various polyester resins, the polyesters containing homoring aromatic and others heterocyclic were synthesized by the condensation polymerization of suitable monomers (which are containing variety function groups in different structures) with phthalic anhydride. The main objective is synthesis of new polyester with keeping a reasonable electrical insulating behavior. The structural of polymer was characterized by Fourier Transform infra-red spectroscopy FTIR and HNMR. The dielectric constant (real ε' and imaginary parts ε") and AC conductivity (σAC) for all the polyester samples are studied by varying the frequency (30, 50, 70, 90, 120, 300, 500Hz and 1KHZ) at 25⁰ C. Indeed, study of the electri
... Show MoreSixty four local isolated of Klebsiella spp. have been isolated from environment samples (soil and water). These isolates were identified and diagnosis according to phenotype and biochemical tests. These isolates were subjected to primary and secondary screening, to select the isolate with the highest laccase activity. Fifteen isolates chosen from primary screening for screening their enzyme activity in secondary screening. It has been found the Klebsiella(K7) has the highest productivity of the enzyme (12 Unit/ml).Klebsiella(K7) isolate was diagnosis by Vitak 2 system, it was identified asK. pneumonia. The laccase purified was characterization, the experiments showed that: The molecular weight of laccase was 120KD and the optimum pH for th
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