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.
In this research investigation, a total of eighteen diverse tetra- and penta-lateral cyclic compounds were synthesized. These included 1,3,4-thiadiazole, thiazolidin-4-one (via an alternative method), 1,2,4-triazole, carbothioamide, thiazole-4-one, azetidin-2-one, and oxazole. The synthesis procedure entailed a sequence of reactions. The thiazolidine-4-one 1 was obtained by reaction p-aminobenzoic acid with thiosemicarbazide, followed by treatment with p-tolualdehyde to produce Schiff base 2. Reaction Schiff base 2 with mercaptoacetic acid in dry benzene was carried out to produce thiazolidine-4-one 3. In another synthesis pathway, the esterification of p-nitro benzoic acid with ethanol in the presence of sulfuric acid was
... Show MoreIn this work, two groups of nanocomposite material, was prepared from unsaturated polyester resin (UPE), they were prepared by hand lay-up method. The first group was consisting of (UPE) reinforced with individually (ZrO2) nanoparticles with particle size (47.23nm). The second group consists of (UPE) reinforced with hybrid nanoparticles consisting of zirconium oxide and yttrium oxide (70% ZrO2 + 30% Y2O3) with particles size (83.98nm). This study includes the effect of selected volume fraction (0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, 2%, 2.5%, 3%) for both reinforcement nano materials. Experimental investigation was carried out by analyzing the thermo-physical properties like thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity and specific heat for the polymeric composit
... Show MoreThe elections of the Council of Representatives in Iraq are one of the manifestations of political participation, which makes it attracts the attention of researchers. Where Iraq witnessed in 2005 important political events in the Iraqi arena, a pluralist parliamentary elections or elections in Iraq by direct free election on January 30, the first almost half a century ago. On November 15 of the same year, Iraq adopted a permanent constitution for the country through a popular referendum.
The current study is based on previous findings, where corporate governance (CG) significantly increased corporate social responsibility (CSR) to enhance transparency while reducing the tendency of corporate management to engage in earnings management (EM). A sample of 11 Iraqi banks listed on the Iraq Stock Exchange from 2010 to 2020 was selected. The CG was included in the board size and board independence apart from the variables of Chief Executive Officer (CEOs) gender, majority shareholder ownership, foreign ownership, and institutional ownership. The CSR included the wage growth rate, bank contribution growth rate for social security, training programmes, subsidies, environmental protection, and bank compliance with the law. Specifica
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The study deal with two main variables:- the dimensions of distribution, and the customer loyalty . the researcher has chosen samples of Iraqi newspapers like (AL Sabah, AL Mada, AL Bayna aljdeida newspaper), because this product depends greatly on the consumption of customers so as to achieve the success. After studying the dimensions of these variables ( cost, flixibilty & deliver time ) which concerns the distribution, and for these dimensions ( marketing relationship, customer perception, customer experience, brand, & product quality) which relate to the customer loyalty . the problem has been identified in a number of remarks concerning the extent of awareness that the administration
... Show Morehe research aims to determine the competencies that must be met in the digital media literacy curriculum, which contributes to a great extent in developing the skills of criticism and analysis of the media contents of the students. The study of the two researchers according to the methodology of the media survey. The research tools were: the questionnaire tool, which distributed on 86 . The main objectives of the research were:
1. Knowing the best strategy in teaching the digital media literacy curriculum.
2. Knowing which education fits the digital media literacy curriculum.
3. Identifying the cognitive, educational, media, technical skills, and emotional competencies required for the digital media literacy curriculum from the
This study comes as: The responsibility of the Iraqi newspapers in promoting the political culture inside society, an analytical study in newspapers: Al-Sabah, Al-Ittihad, Al-Aalam for 2/ 3/ 2013 to 31/ 3/ 2013 to spot light on the extent to which the three mentioned newspapers are compliance with the promotion of the political culture inside society which is seen as one of the essential requirements for the success and promotion of the democratic process inside society.
The study aims to: finding out the extent to which these newspapers are compliance with their responsibility in the promoting the political culture inside society; knowing the nature of their role in pr
... Show MoreThis study aims to identify the role of forensic accounting in the Iraqi environment, banking stability, and to achieve this goal, we used the field survey method, as it is the most appropriate for studying the phenomenon in question and achieving its objectives.
Where we selected a sample consisting of (50) male and female employees, distributed among five private banks in Baghdad governorate, namely (Ashur International Bank, Development Investment Bank, Iraqi Middle East Investment Bank, Hammurabi Commercial Bank, Khaleej Commercial Bank), and the questionnaire tool was applied to them Designed for this purpose, which consisted of
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