Inflammation of the tonsils could be described as acute tonsillitis, mainly due to infection. Recurrent tonsillitis could be defined as 3-7 episodes during the first 3 years of age. Vitamin D, which is a neuro-hormone with pleiotropic biological activities may modulate the immune response by alleviation, and stimulation of Th1 and Th2 cell proliferation, respectively, that influence the stimulation, synthesis, and secretion of both pro and anti-inflammatory cytokines. In this study we aimed to shed light on the levels of vitamin D in children with different episodes of tonsillitis in association with levels of interleukins (TNFα, IL-2, IL-4, IL-10). Blood samples were collected from 48 participants in 3 groups: control, acute tonsillitis (1-2 episodes/year), chronic tonsillitis (more than 7 episodes/year), serum was separated and the levels of Vitamin D, TNFα, IL-2, IL-4 and IL-10 were estimated using ELISA technique. Vitamin D decreased significantly as the episodes of tonsillitis increased, with level of 16.38± 2.41ng/ml in acute and, 14.13± 2.15 ng/ml in chronic tonsillitis as compared to control (30.91± 2.31 ng/ml), while pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNFα and IL-2) significantly increased (46.88± 14.05 and 44.55± 9.24, 1267.25± 111.85 and 1191.72± 121.52 ng/ml, respectively) as compared to control (9.45 and 138.48 ng/ml respectively). Anti-inflammatory (IL-4, IL-10) cytokines in control group were (243.08± 28.72 and 24.27± 1.83 ng/ml, respectively), which increased non-significantly in acute and chronic tonsillitis (302.76± 38.93, 290.12± 44.69 and 28.16± 2.01, 26.29± 1.99 ng/ml, respectively). Significant direct correlation was observed between the levels of vitamin D and anti-inflammatory cytokines in chronic tonsillitis (P<0.05). In conclusion, deficiency of vitamin D may affect the number of episodes of tonsillitis in children by modulation of the secretion of some cytokines.
In order to achieve optimal plant growth and production, essential nutrients must be readily available in adequate quantities and in a balanced proportion to give a good yield, especially broccoli which has health benefits that may not be found in many other plants. For this purpose, this experiment was carried out during the seasons 2019/2020 in the botanical garden of the Department of Biology, College of Science for Women, University of Baghdad, to study the effects of nitrogen and sulphur and their interaction on eight parameters reflecting the overall traits of vegetative growth, yield, and chlorophyll content of broccoli Brassica oleracea L. (var. italic JASSMINE F1 Hybrid). A factorial design with three replicates was use
... Show MoreAjloun Governorate is considered the smallest governorate in Jordan in terms of area, and its population density rises to 472.2 people/ km2 and is distributed among five municipalities. The Al-Shafa municipality is one of these municipalities. Al-Shafa is rich in its natural and human resources, and the first municipal council was established in it in 2001.
This study seeks to achieve the following general objective: inventory the natural and human resources that Al-Shafa enjoys, and highlight the role of Al-Shafa municipality in achieving and settling sustainable development for the local community. Certain content, which are: the comprehensive approach to geographical reality, the descriptive
... Show MoreA total of 45 voucher specimens of falcons which are deposited in the bird's collection of the Iraq Natural History Research Center and Museum (INHM) were reviewed. Mummified falcons were preserved as voucher study specimens and tagged with museum collection labels. In the current study, morphometrics of six species of the genus Falco Linnaeus, 1758: Lanner falcon F. biarmicus Temminck, 1825; Sacker Falcon F. cherrug Gray, 1834; Lesser Kestrel F. naumanni Fleischer, 1818; Peregrine Falcon F. peregrines Tunstall, 1771; Eurasian Hobby F. subbuteo Linnaeus, 1758 and Common Kestrel F. tinnunculus Linnaeus, 1758 were documented. These species were recorded previously in the ornithological literatures by several authors and deposited in t
... Show MoreBackground: Directly observed therapy-short course (DOTS) had been adopted by World Health Organization (WHO) as hopeful strategy for treatment of tuberculosis (TB) since early nineties. Iraqi health authorities started DOTS implementation since 2001 in Baghdad. Coverage expanded gradually till 100% in 2004. War and unstable security condition hit Iraq since March 2003. Objective: The objective of this study was To evaluate the DOTS implementation program in Baghdad in different periods including 2 unstable periods for proper assessment of war and instability on treatment of TB. Patients and methods: This study had been conducted in Baghdad during four different periods (before and during 2003 war, after war; without and with DOTS). Dire
... Show MoreObjective(s): To determine the effect of obesity and socioeconomic status upon adolescents' high school students' intelligence quotient in Baghdad City. Methodology: A descriptive design is carried throughout the study to determine the effect of obesity and socioeconomic status on adolescents' high schools students' intelligence quotient in Baghdad City for the period of January 7th 2017 to May 29th 2017. A non-probability, purposive sample, of (120) high school students, is selected. The sample is comprised of (12) students from 7th grade, (26) students from 8 th grade, (14) students from 9th grade, (3
The importance of our research is that it examines the causes and sources of the security challenges in the internal security environment of the GCC countries, and aims to address the most important issues that are of great interest, namely, the issue of inter-GCC differences and addressing the issues of regional security for the Gulf region, After it is one of the most dynamic and more polarized areas for the emergence of threats and challenges because of the multiplicity of sources of threat and their complexity due to the specificity of the strategic environment and the negative repercussions it can have on the Gulf region, especially the issue of regional security of the Gulf Cooperation Council Which has become a magnet for competing i
... Show MoreThis study included the estimation of growth rate, viability and morphological changes in different culture media (NNN, P-Y, RPMI- 1640, and Panmed). Promastigotes cultured in RPMI-1640 showed maximal growth rate after (2, 4, 6) days of cultivation (27.26 ± 0.05), (172.20 ± 0.1) and (343.81 ± 1.48) million parasites / ml for each day respectively, while P-Y media gave the highest mean of growth rat after (8 and 10) days of cultivation (307.16 ± 1.67) and (303.5 ± 4.96) million parasites / ml for each day respectively. P-Y medium showed the maximal percentage of viability after (2, 4, 6, 8, and 10) days of cultivation (99.76 ± 0.5) %, (98.30 ± 0.17) %, (96.1 ± 0.1) %, (92.5 ± 0.52) % and (87.26 ± 0.05) % for each day respectively.
... Show MoreBACKGROUND: Vaccine hesitancy and reluctant had an important obstacle in achieving protection and population immunity against coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19). It is essential to achieve high COVID-19 vaccination acceptance rates among medical students and health care workers to provide recommendations and counseling vaccine hesitant population. AIM: This study aims to identify level of COVID-19 hesitancy, attitude, knowledge, and factors that affect vaccination decision. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was done among medical students in Al-Kindy College of Medicine, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq. Data collection was done through an online Google Forms questionnaire during 2021 from 810 medical students.
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