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: Toxin-producing Shiga Escherichia coli has been identified as a new foodborne pathogen that poses a significant health risk to humans. Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli can be found in raw cow milk and its derivatives. A small number of Escherichia coli strains that produce shiga toxin are pathogenic. Aim of study: The study aimed to see if there were any virulence genes in 50 milk samples that were typical of Entero-haemorrhagic E. coli and evaluate the Myrtus communis effects on these bacteria. Materials and Method: Milk samples were used to isolate E. coli bacteria (n= 27), biochemically analyzed, and genetically screened for virulence genes using a multiplex (PCR). The hydro-alcoholic extraction of Myrtus communis leave
... Show MoreA simple, sensitive and rapid method was used for the estimate of: Propranolol with Bi (III) to prove the efficiency, reliability and repeatability of the long distance chasing photometer (NAG-ADF-300-2) using continuous flow injection analysis. The method is based on a reaction between propranolol and Bi (III) in an aqueous medium to obtain a yellow precipitate. Optimum parameters were studied to increase the sensitivity for the developed method. A linear range for calibration graph was 0.1-25 mmol/L for cell A and 1-40 mmol/L for cell B, and LOD 51.8698 ng/200 µL and 363.0886 ng /200 µL , respectively to cell A and cell B with correlation coefficient (r) 0.9975 for cell A, 0.9966 for cell B, RSD% was lower than 1%, (n = 8) for the
... Show MoreIn the present study, a novel ligand (L) made of 2-hydroxynaphthaldehyde and 3-hydrazone-1,3-dihydro-indole-2-one(3-[(3-hydroxynaphthalen-2-yl-ethylidene)-hydrazono]-1,3-dihydro-indol-2-one). The ligand was characterized by FTIR, UV-vis, mass, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, and CHN elemental analysis. New complexes of this ligand were created by treating methanol and a drop of DMF solution of the produced ligand with the hydrated metal salts of Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), and Zn(II) in a molar ratio of 2:1 (L:M). As a result, complexes have been emerged and identified FTIR, UV-vis, C.H.N., chloride-containing, molar conductance, magnetic susceptibility, and atomic absorption. The characterization result for each complex indicated complexes wi
... Show MoreFocusing of Gaussian laser beam through nonlinear media can induce spatial self- phase modulation which forms a far field intensity pattern of concentric rings. The nonlinear refractive index change of material depends on the number of pattern rings. In this paper, a formation of tunable nonlinear refractive index change of hybrid functionalized carbon nanotubes/silver nanoparticles acetone suspensions (F-MWCNTs/Ag-NPs) at weight mixing ratio of 1:3 and volume fraction of 6x10-6 , 9x10-6 , and 18x10-6 using laser beam at wavelength of 473nm was investigated experimentally. The results showed that tunable nonlinear refractive indices were obtained and increasing of incident laser power density led to increase the nonlinear refractive inde
... Show MoreThe study aims at knowing students’ academic assistance at the Department of Kindergarten. It further aims to know the difference of academic assistance among these students with respects to variables like (college of education for women, Baghdad, Thi-Qar). It also aims to know about the difference according to the academic level variable, in addition to its relation to some other variables. To achieve the objectives of the study, a number of university female students were selected from both Baghdad an Thi-Qar Universities in the academic year 2019-2020. The sample of the participants consisted of (400) students from the (second, third, and fourth) levels. To measure the study variable represented by the concept of academic assistance
... Show MoreAnew Schiff base (NaHL) has been prepared from the reaction between the salt of amino acid glycine with 2-hydroxy naphthaldehyde. By tridentate Schiff base of (ONO), donors were characterized by using U.V and spectrophotometer techniques. Complexes of Co(II) Ni(II) Cu(II) and Zn(II) ion with the ligand have been prepared, these complexes were identified by infrared, electronic spectral data, elemental analysis, magnetic moments, and molar conductivity measurements. It is concluded from the elemental analysis that all the complexes have (1:2) [metal:ligand] molar ratios, octahedral, with the exception to Zn(II) complex which have (1:1)[metal:ligand] molar ratio.
... Show MoreThe present study aimed to use the magnetic field and nanotechnology in the field of water purification, which slots offering high efficiency to the possibility of removing biological contaminants such as viruses and bacteria rather than the use of chemical and physical transactions such as chlorine and bromine, and ultraviolet light and boiling and sedimentation and distillation, ozone and others that have a direct negative impact on human safety and the environment. Where they were investigating the presence in water samples under study Coli phages using Single agar layer method and then treated samples positive for phages to three types of magnetic field fixed as follows (North Pole - South Pole - Bipolar) and compare the re
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