A significant increase in the incidence of non-O157 verotoxigenic Escherichia coli (VTEC) infections have become a serious health issues, and this situation is worsening due to the dissemination of plasmid mediated multidrug-resistant microorganisms worldwide. This study aims to investigate the presence of plasmid-mediated verotoxin gene in non-O157 E. coli. Standard microbiological techniques identified a total of 137 E. coli isolates. The plasmid was detected by Perfectprep Plasmid Mini preparation kit. These isolates were subjected to disk diffusion assay, and plasmid curing with ethidium bromide treatment. The plasmid containing isolates were subjected to a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for investigating the presence of plasmid mediated verotoxin gene (VT1 and VT2) in non-O157 E. coli. Among the 137 E. coli isolates, 49 isolates were non-O157 E. coli while 29 (59.1%) isolates were verotoxin producing non-O157 serotypes and 26 non-O157 VTEC isolates possessed plasmids. Certain isolates harboured single sized plasmid while others had multiple plasmids with different size varied from 1.8kb to 7.6kb. A plasmid containing all (100%) the isolates was multidrug-resistant. Eight isolates changed their susceptibility patterns while three isolates were found to lose plasmid after post plasmid curing treatment and the rest of the isolates (15) remained constant. Different PCR sets characterized 3 plasmid-mediated verotoxins producing non-O157 E. coli. This current study demonstrated the occurrence of plasmid mediated verotoxin gene in non-O157 E. coli. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report in the global literature on plasmid-mediated verotoxin gene in non-O157 E. coli. Timely diagnosis and surveillance of VTEC infections should prioritize to stop or slow down the virulence gene for dissemination by plasmid-mediated gene transfer amongst the same bacteria or other species.
: Partial purification of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) from type 2 diabetic patients sera take place using some purification steps such as participation with ammonium sulphate (55-80%) and filtered through dialysis, then ion exchange chromatography by DEAE sepharose anion column, gel filtration chromatography by sephadex G-100 column. In ion exchange step, there are four peak are obtained, the highest enzyme activity obtained by (0.4 M Nacl) with purification fold (2.18), yield (44.3) of enzyme and specific activity (13.5) mg/ng, which obtained a single peak by gel filtration chromatography, the degree of purification (5.34) fold, yield of enzyme (20%) with specific activity (33.109mg/ng). The purified enzyme had an optimum tem
... Show MoreBack ground: Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a common chronic musculo-skeletal disorder resulting in chronic widespread pain impacting on quality life.
Objectives: To assess the relationship between FMS and knee osteoarthritis (KOA) and to evaluate the predictors of this relationship if present.
Patients and Methods: One hundred Iraqi KOA patients and 100 healthy controls were included in this cross-sectional study. Full history was taken and complete clinical examination was done for all patients. Baseline characteristics [age, sex, duration, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, family history (Hx) of KOA, smoking history, and drug history.] were also documented. Laboratory analysis included complete blood count, erythrocyte
Non-thermal plasma(Dielectric barrier discharge) has many uses including living tissue sterilization, inactivation of the bacteria, excimer formation, angiogenesis, and surface treatment. This research aim is to use cold plasma as a tool to search the effect of the dielectric barrier discharge system at room temperature on human sperm motility and DNA integrity. This work was performed on 60 human semen samples suffering from low motility; each sample was prepared by centrifugation method, then each semen sample was divided into two sections, the first section is before significant exposure to the plasma system (DBD) and the second section is after treatment with the DBD system at ambient temperature. Before and after exposure to non-the
... Show MoreBackground: Seasonal variation and gender preponderance have not been adequately studied in Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS).
Objective: This study aims to evaluate the seasonal variation and sex preponderance in children with Guillian Barré Syndrome.
Patients and methods: A cross sectional study was carried out by reviewing wards’ registry of all cases with Guillian Barré Syndrome admitted to Children Welfare Teaching Hospital during a 10-year period (1999 - 2008). Age, sex, seasonal distribution, residence and outcome were analysed.
Results: Guillian Barré Syndrome was diagnosed in 217 (126 boys, 91 girls) patients and the annual hospital rate of admission was 22.9 /100000 children. There was increase annual incidence from 1
Background: The lack of studies regarding the neuroendocrine tumors (NET) is related to the rarity of these tumors .Long acting Octreotide is an established treatment for NETs by both providing symptomatic relief & inhibiting tumor growth. However, studies regarding incidence of NETs & their response to long acting Octreotide are still insufficient.
Objectives: To study the clinico-pathologic characteristics of Iraqi patients with NET & their response to long acting Octreotide.
Patients & methods: This is a cross-sectional observational study that was conducted in Oncology teaching hospital using patients’ follow-up records. Data recruitment included all NET patients diagnosed after October 2013.
Results: Durin
Eighty one bacterial isolates were obtained from 53 soil samples of different plants rhizosphere. All the isolated bacterial were screened for antifungal effect against Fusarium oxysporum . Three isolates gave antifungal activity with inhibition zone ranged between (0.5-2.5 cm). Two isolates (Bd1 and Bd2) were Brevundimonas diminuta, while the third (Pf1) was Pseudomonas fluorescence . B. diminuta (Bd1) which used in this study isolated from Raphanus sativus gave the highest inhibition zone against F. oxysporum. Cell free supernatant of B.diminuta(Bd1) was better in antifungal activity than bacterial cells against F. oxysporum. The highest antifungal substance production was obtained from mineral salt broth containing 1% peptone after in
... Show MoreThe molecular structures of acetophenonylidine-4-aminopyridine (I), 2, 6-dihydroxyacetophenonlidine-4-aminopyridine (II), 2, 4, 6- trihydroxyaceto phenonylidine-4-aminopyridine (III) and 2, 6-dihydroxyacetophenonylidine-2-aminopyridine (IV) have been investigated by IR and UV-visible spectrophotometry. The IR data indicate that the hydroxyl groups of these Schiff bases exist as tautomeric mixtures of free and bonded with the azomethine groups. The electronic spectra, effect of polar and nonpolar solvents, and the effect of acidity and basicity on the electronic spectra were studied and discussed. Their charge-transfer (CT) complexes with chloranil in chloroform solvent were also investigated; these complexes absorb light at 398-533 nm. T
... Show MoreBackground: Several studies linked the development of steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS) to genetic variations in the multidrug resistance 1 (MDR1) gene, though a disparity in findings was underlined among children with different ethnic origins. Objective: This study examined the relationship between MDR1 variants (rs2032582 and rs2032583) and the risk of developing SRNS in Iraqi patients with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS). Methods: This case-control study included children with steroid-sensitive INS (SSNS; n=30) and SRNS (n=30) from the Babylon Hospital for Maternity and Pediatrics. Sanger sequencing was used to determine the participants’ genotypes. Results: The rs2032582 genotypes and alleles were not associated
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