This study has been carried out to evaluate the expression level of beta 2 microglobulin gene on patients infected by hepatitis C virus before and after treatment with interferon. The study included 117 hepatitis C patients comprising as 63 pre-treated patients, the range of age was between 20-65 year with a mean age of 48.12 ± 16.1 and 54 post-treated patients with age range was between 23-63 year with the mean of 46.1 ± 18.1. Also it was found that more than half of patients were located within third and fourth decade i.e. 30-49 year, with a percentage of 52.4% and 55.6 % for pre-treatment and post-treatment patients respectively. Moreover , regarding both groups, males are more than females with the ratio of ( 3.2:1) among pre-treatment group and 2:1 among post-treatment group. Further , It has been found that the concentration of ?2 microglobulin was (3.425±0.943mg/L) among pre-treatment group and (1.860±0.723 mg/L) among post-treatment group with significant correlation (P=0.05). Besides that , in the present study ,It has been found the concentration of ?2 microglobulin was decrease after treatment from (3.425±0.943 mg/L) to (1.860±0.723mg/L) which was statistically significant (P=0.05) , Thus ?2 microglobulin can be used as a supporting marker of responsiveness to treatment with interferon in hepatitis C patients as well as indicator for monitoring the disease progression.
Several correlations have been proposed for bubble point pressure, however, the correlations could not predict bubble point pressure accurately over the wide range of operating conditions. This study presents Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model for predicting the bubble point pressure especially for oil fields in Iraq. The most affecting parameters were used as the input layer to the network. Those were reservoir temperature, oil gravity, solution gas-oil ratio and gas relative density. The model was developed using 104 real data points collected from Iraqi reservoirs. The data was divided into two groups: the first was used to train the ANN model, and the second was used to test the model to evaluate their accuracy and trend stability
... Show MoreFeasibility of biosorbent of England bamboo plant origin was tested for removal of priority metal ions such as Cu and Zn from aqueous solutions in single metal state. Batch single metal state experiments were performed to determine the effect of dosage (0.5, 1 and 1.5 g), pH (3, 4, 4.5, 5 and 6), mixing speed (90, 111, 131, 156 and 170 rpm), temperature (20, 25, 30 and 35 °C) and metal ion concentration (10, 50, 70, 90 and 100 mg/L) on the ability of dried biomass to remove metal from solutions which were investigated. Dried powder of bamboo removed (for single metal state) about 74 % Cu and 69% Zn and maximum uptake of Cu and Zn was 7.39 mg/g and 6.96 mg/g respectively, from 100 mg/L of synthetic metal solution in 120 min. of contact t
... Show MoreTwo samples of (Ag NPs-zeolite) nanocomposite thin films have been prepared by easy hydrothermal method for 4 hours and 8 hours inside the hydrothermal autoclave at temperatures of 100°C. The two samples were used in a photoelectrochemical cell as a photocatalyst inside a cell consisting of three electrodes: the working electrode photoanode (AgNPs-zeolite), platinum as a cathode electrode, and Ag/AgCl as a reference electrode, to study the performance of AgNPs-zeolite under dark current and 473 nm laser light for water splitting. The results show the high performance of an eight-hour sample with high crystallinity compared with a four-hour sample as a reliable photocatalyst to generate hydrogen for renewable energies.
ABSTRACT Possible interference of vamin nutritional solution with the activity of several B-lactam antibiotics against E.coli was evaluated in vitro.In Minimal basal salts-glucose medium rapid growth inhibition of sensitive E. coli was induced by 4 µg/ml of ampicillin / cloxaillin, 8 µg/ml of ampicillin, 6 µg/ml of carbencillin, hostacillin, and cephalotin, and by 32 µg/ml of penicillin G and cloxacillin. Significant inactivation of up to 32 µg/ml of carbencillin, cephalotin, penicillin G, and hostacillin was induced by addition of 1:20 v/v vamin. This inactivation was due to the presence of specific amino acids in the mixture. Deletions of amino acids revealed that valine, leucine, isoleucine, tyrosine, tryptophan, phenylalanine, cys
... Show MoreEndophytic bacteria produced analogous secondary metabolites of their hosts. Similarly, the ability to generate antioxidants is not an exception. Dragon scales (Pyrrosia piloselloides), an epiphytic plant of the Polypodiaceae family, are frequently overlooked. This research aims to isolate antioxidant-producing bacteria from dragon-scale fern leaves. The antioxidant activities were tested after the extraction procedure using ethanolic extract. Bacteria were characterized and selected as candidates for antioxidant production by screening for the production of total phenolic compounds. Antioxidant levels were determined utilizing the ABTS, FRAP, and DPPH techniques. The preliminary findings of the entire phenolic compound test rev
... Show MoreIntroduction: Methadone hydrochloride (MDN) is an effective pharmacological substitution treatment for opioids dependence, adopted in different countries as methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) programmes. However, MDN can exacerbate the addiction problem if it is abused and injected intravenously, and the frequent visits to the MMT centres can reduce patient compliance. The overall aim of this study is to develop a novel extended-release capsule of MDN using the sol-gel silica (SGS) technique that has the potential to counteract medication-tampering techniques and associated health risks and reduce the frequent visits to MMT centres. Methods: For MDN recrystallisation, a closed container method (CCM) and hot-stage method (HSM) were conduc
... Show MoreTest results of eight reinforced concrete one way slab with lacing reinforcement are reported. The tests were designed to study the effect of the lacing reinforcement on the flexural behavior of one way slabs. The test parameters were the lacing steel ratio, flexural steel ratio and span to the effective depth ratio. One specimen had no lacing reinforcement and the remaining seven had various percentages of lacing and flexural steel ratios. All specimens were cast with normal density concrete of approximately 30 MPa compressive strength. The specimens were tested under two equal line loads applied statically at a thirds part (four point bending test) up to failure. Three percentage of lacing and flexural steel ratios wer
... Show MoreIn this study the simple pullout concrete cylinder specimen reinforced by a single steel bar was analyzed for bond-slip behavior. Three-dimension nonlinear finite element model using ANSYS program was employed to study the behavior of bond between concrete and plain steel reinforcement. The ANSYS model includes eight-noded isoperimetric brick element (SOLID65) to model the concrete cylinder while the steel reinforcing bar was modeled as a truss member (LINK8). Interface element (CONTAC52) was used in this analysis to model the bond between concrete and steel bar. Material nonlinearity due to cracking and/or crushing of concrete, and yielding of the steel reinforcing bar were taken into consideration during the analysis. The accuracy of t
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