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.
The study aimed to investigate the role of Dectin-1 and Card-9 in pathogenicity of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This investigations involved 150 blood samples for IBD patients which divided in to two groups (50 for crohns disease CD (G2) and 50 for ulcerative colitis UC (G3)). All a apparently (male and female) attended to) Al-Kindy hospital) in Baghdad city, department of Gastroenterology. and all of thin were diagnosis by consulters medical staff and pathologists with age range 15-65years average 40 years. in addition to 50 blood samples were collected from apparently healthy individuals as control group (G1). 10 ml were withdrawn from all participants, 5ml for the immunological study which carried by ELISA technique and 5 ml used fo
... Show Morethe association between celiac disease and viral infection
خلفية البحث: المتلازمة الأيضية عند المرضى العراقيين المصابين بالمتلازمة التاجية الحادة قليلا ما تمت دراستها. الأهداف: دراسة الخصائص المجتمعية-السكانية للمرضى العراقيين المصابين بالمتلازمة الايضية مع المتلازمة التاجية الحادة. المرضى وطرق العمل: شملت الدراسة المقطعية 150 مصابا بالمتلازمة التاجية الحادة الذين يعالجون في وحده العناية القلبية في مستشفى اليرموك التعليمي في بغداد للفترة من منتصف كانون الث
... Show MoreRecurrent respiratory tract infections are responsible for about 85% of all diseases in childhood, and are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study is to evaluate the main causes underlying recurrent respiratory tract infections in 176 pediatric patients aged 2 month to 4 year and weight from 4 to11 kg referred to the child center hospital and Al-sader hospital prospective study.All parents were given information sheet which then analyzed and the percentage of incidence of causes were recorded, we found that higher % related to many causes; mostly related to the parent like poor family education, mother carelessness, incomplete vaccination, other related to empirical diagnosis, and short course of t
... Show MoreThe current study was designed to compare some of the vital markers in the sera of diabetic and neuropathy patients via estimating Adipsin, Fasting blood Glucose(FBG), Glycated(HbA1c) hemoglobin, Homeostasis Model Assessment Index (Homa IR ), Cholesterol, High density lipoprotein (HDL), Triglycerides (T.G), Low-density, and lipoprotein (LDL), Very Low Density Lipoprotein (VLDL), in sera of Iraqi patients with diabetes and neuropathy. A total of ninety subjects were divided into three groups: group I (30 diabetic with neuropathy males) and group II (30 diabetic males without neuropathy), and 30 healthy sujects were employed as control group. The results showed a significant decline in Adipsin levels (p>0.05) in neuropathy, T2DM g
... Show MoreThe role of transmembrane protease serine 2(TMPRSS2) in prostate carcinogenesis relies on overexpression of ETS transcription factors. The aim of this article was to investigate the association of TMPRSS2 polymorphism (rs12329760 (C\T)) with prostate cancer (PCa) in sample of Iraqi patients. One hundred and two individuals were involved in this study for the period from February – 2019 to February – 2020. The sample type was formalin fixed paraffin embedded tissue samples (FFPE), which involved fifty-six samples of pre-diagnosed patients with prostate cancer, aged between 48 and 86 years, and forty-six samples were found to be controls (healthy group) dependent on Prostate Gland integrity, which is the same age as in a group o
... Show MoreBackground: Diabetes mellitus a major factor that has adverse effects on the vascular system and the heart. It causes an increase in cardiac muscle thickness, resulting in decreased compliance and increased peripheral arterial stiffness. This study aims to assess the left ventricular mass (LVM) and left ventricular hemodynamic changes in diabetic patients measured by Doppler echocardiography. Patients and Methods: The study included 50 diabetic patients ranging in age between 25 and 80 years, (mean age: 54.1 ± 15.10, 19 males, 31 females) and 50 healthy subjects, aged 25 to 80 years (mean age: 48.52 ± 14.45, 11 males, 39 females). Doppler echocardiography was used to assess left ventricular function. The measurements included
... Show MoreBackground: Hypertension is probably the most important public health problem around the world. People with periodontal disease may be at greater risk of hypertension. The inflammatory effects of periodontal disease help to promote endothelial dysfunction in arteries which may lead to changes in blood pressure. Salivary MMP-8 has been associated with both periodontal disease and prevalent hypertension. Aim of study: This study was conducted to measure salivary matrix metalloproteinase - 8, in relation to periodontal health condition among a group of patients with hypertension in comparison with control group. Materials and methods: Ninety subjects, aged 45-50 years old were included in this study, seeking treatment for chest pain in Ibn-A
... Show Morethis study deals with effect of diabetes and hypertension on quality of life
This study is prospective in nature, It consider
110 patients with vertigo who were assessed
between April and December 2010 at E.N.T out
patient department of otolarygiology, in Al
Diwania teaching hospital, in Diwania city,
Iraq. The study is designed to assess the
incidence of vestibular and non vestibular
vertigo and their association with
tinnitus,hearing loss,migraine in Young adult
and elderly.All patients were assessed by
questionary method and by pure tone
Audiometry.
Results: the incidence of vestibular vertigo was
69.1% while non vestibular vertigo is 30.9 %,
vestibular vertigo was inversely related to the
age while non vestibular vertigo directly related
to the age
The percen