Background: Birth defects are the leading cause of both neonatal and post-neonatal deaths, as an estimated 240,000 neonates die in their first month of life worldwide each year. In Iraq, local studies have shown varying frequencies and types of congenital anomalies. Objectives: To provide new insight into the incidence and types of congenital anomalies and to explore their possible risk factors in Baghdad City. Methods: In this cross-sectional observational study, a total of 2007 neonates were enrolled from six hospitals in Baghdad during the period extending between September and December 2020. Hospital records and personal interviews were used for data collection. These data included the neonates' demographic and clinical characteristics, maternal, pregnancy, and immediate postnatal conditions. Description of the defects in those with birth defects was recorded from hospital records and as described by the parents. Statistical analysis was performed as required. Results: There were 64 (3.2%) neonates with birth defects, i.e., an incidence of 32/1000 total births (28/1000 live births); of them, 38 (59.4%) were males, 8 (12.5%) were stillborn, 43 (66.2%) were born with a cesarean section, the majority (87.5%) had maternal age between 20 and 40 years, and 35 (54.6%) had a low birth weight and were statistically significant. In addition, reduced fetal movement, prematurity, and not receiving tonics during pregnancy were also statistically significant. Among the 64 births with congenital anomalies, multiple congenital anomalies were the most common defects [26 (40.6%)]. An isolated defect was detected in 38 (57.8%) of them. The predominant system involved was the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) [12 (18.8%)] cases, followed by the central nervous system (CNS) with 11 (17.2%) cases, and the musculoskeletal system (MS) with 6 (9.4%) cases. Conclusion: The incidence of birth defects in Baghdad is close to global figures at 28/1000 live births with multiple congenital anomalies, gastro-intestinal, central nervous, and musculoskeletal systems defects being the most frequent, while cardiovascular, genitourinary, and skin defects being the least frequent. Possible risk factors included maternal age, drug intake, and not receiving tonics during pregnancy.
The Old World Screwworm Fly Chrysomya bezziana is a new insect pest on cattles and other domestic recor¬ded for the first from Iraq. It was first observed in cow's vagina in September of 1996 in Shaikh Hammed (Tarmiya), near Baghdad city. Chrysomya bezziana Villeneuve is well known as one of the most important insect pests of livestock. Its larvae infest living tissues by causing myiasis. In a wide range of worm-blooded host species (Spradbery and Vanningham, 1980; Spradbery and Kirk. 1992). It is widely dist¬ributed species over an extensive area of tropical and subtropical Africa, the Arabian Gulf countries, Iran. Indian subcontinent. South-East Asia. Indonesia, and as far east as Papua New Guinea (Zurapt, 1965; Djalayer et al. 1978;
... Show MoreThis study was aimed to evaluate atotal phenolic content, antibacterial activity, and antioxidant activity of M. communis callus extracts were evaluated. Callus induction in general Murashige and Skoog (MS) media is completed by the Benzil adenine's unique knowledge of callus formation. A well diffusion experiment was used to examine antibacterial interest in Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The DPPH radical scavenging activity test was used to measure antioxidant activity. FTIR and HPLC have been used to pinpoint the presence of polyphenol compounds in calluses. The total phenol content of plant leaves extract (0.1, 0.5, and 1) mg/ml was 42.12, 94.08, and 189 mg of Gallic ac
... Show MoreToxic dyes are commonly discharged into waste waters and dyes are extensively used in the textile industry so it is necessary to find out efficient and eco-friendly method for treating waste waters resulting from industrial effluences. To achieve this aim the fungus Trichoderma sp. is employed into two lines: first line was self – immobilized fungal pellets in (Czapek – Dox medium) to adsorbs two dyes crystal violet, congo red by concentrations 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04, 0.05, 0.06 mg/L to both dyes, PH 2, room temperature with shaker in ( hrs.2,hrs.4,hrs.24) , by Uv- Visible spectrum . the removal efficiency of 0.05 mg/L crystal violet by Trichoderma sp was 96%. but there was no remova
... Show MoreMelanoidins can be diagnosed using the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) technique. UV/Vis is an effective tool for both qualitative and quantitative analysis of chemical components in melanoidin polymers. The structural and vibrational features of melanoidin synthesized from D-glucose and D-fructose are identical, according to FTIR spectra, with the only difference being the intensity of bands. Using FTIR spectra, the skeleton of melanoidin is divided into seven major regions. The existence of the C=C, C=N, and C=O groups in all melanoidins formed from fructose and glucose with ammonia is confirmed by the areas ranging from 1600 to 1690 cm-1, and the band is largely evident as a broad shoulder. Both melan
... Show MoreFour new species of Thrips (Thripidae) Chirothrips imperatus sp. nov.; Frankliniella megacephala sp. nov.; Retithrips bagdadensis sp. nov; Taeniothrips tigridis sp. Nov.; from middle of Iraq, are described and illustrated with their hosts.
The presence of residual antibiotics in water results in the development of antibiotics resistant genes. The available wastewater treatment systems are not capable of removing such antibiotics from sewage. Thus, antibiotics need to be removed before the discharge of wastewater. Adsorption is among the promising techniques for the wastewater treatment to aid the removal of a wide range of organic and inorganic pollutants. The present work is a contribution to the search for an economical method for the removal of low concentrations of amoxicillin (AMX) from water by adsorption on water treatment residue, WTR, taken from a local drinking water facility. The chemical composition and the adsorptive characteristics of the material were first
... Show MoreThe hydrolysis of urea by the enzyme urease is significant for increasing the irroles in human pathogenicity, biocementation, soil fertilizer, and subsequently in soil improvement. This study devoted to the isolation of urease from urea-rich soil samples collected from seven different locations. Isolation of the various bacterial species was conducted using nutrient agar. The identity of isolated urease was based on morphological characteristics and standard microbiological and biochemical procedures. The urease producing strains of bacteria were obtained using the urease hydrolysis test. The bacterial isolates produced from soil samples collected from different environments and treat
In this study miconazole nitrate was formulated as topically applied emulgel; different formulas were prepared using sodium carboxymethylcellulose (SCMC) and carboxypolymethylene (carbomer 941) as gelling agents. The influence of type of gelling agent and concentration of both oil phase and emulsifying agent on drug release was studied and compared with commercially available miconazole nitrate cream (Mecozalen®). The results of in vitro release showed that SCMC emulgel bases gave better release than carbomer 941 bases and the release of drug increase from both bases as a function of increasing the concentration of emulisifying agent. The oil phase had retardation effect when
... Show MoreNicotine was separated from eggplant and green pepper seeds (Solanaceous) by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC).The concentration of nicotine in the eggplant extract (0.871-0.877 μg/ml) was determined by injecting standard material with 0.5 and 1.5 μg/ml, while the concentrations of nicotine in green pepper extract (0.613-0.618 μg/ml) was determined when the standard material was injected with 0.5 and 1.5 μg/ml. The qualitative chemical data was calculated from derivations of the standard material. Nicotine concentration was measured qualitatively in both extracts through the calibration curve and method of the standard addition. This technique has high accuracy and compatibility, bringing the proportion of relati
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