This paper examines Gloria Naylor's Mama Day (1988) that shows the mixing of African and American culture. Afro-American authors reject the Eurocentric hypothesis that slavery had ended the Afro-American cultural engagement in Africa. African Americans represent an essential fabric of American society, sharing many traditions, habits, and traits with the American society. Yet, at the same time, Naylor portrays Afro-American individuals in Mama Day as a separate unit with a unique and rich culture. These mannerisms expose a kind of resistance, appreciation to her African identity, history, and roots. A tale of a conjure woman located in Willow Springs' mythical isle, Mama Day, highlights the mystical, storytelling, and folkloristic customs.

Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, a nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor utilized for the treatment of hepatitis B virus and human immunodeficiency virus infections; and is now one of the most widely used antiretroviral drug. However, tenofovir disoproxil fumarate can induce nephrotoxicity, which may be attributed to the interaction between such drug and the organic anion transporters (hOAT1, and OAT3) with consequent changes in levels of some parameters that may have a role in nephrotoxicity. Thiazide diuretics have high to intermediate potency of inhibition of OAT1s and OAT3; thus, it may possess nephroprotective effects. This study was designed to investigate whether hydrochlorthiazide has nephroprotective effects on tenofovir diso

Both methotrexate and vitamin D3 are used in combination for the treatment of various diseases. The aim of this study is to highlight the effect of vitamin D3 on methotrexate-induced jejunum damage using biochemical and   histopathological  studies. Seven groups of both sexes of rats were selected and treated as follows: (Group I and Group II) : control 1,control 2 (I.P normal saline) daily for 14 and 21 days respectively ; (Group III and Group IV) :vitamin D3 groups (500 IU/rat/day) orally for 14 and 21 days, respectively;(Group V): once daily dose of methotrexate 20mg/kg, I.P injected for 4 days;(Group VI):vitamin D3 (500 IU/rat/day) once daily for 14 days and methotrexate (20 mg/kg I.P) injected only at day 10;.(Group

Background: Periodontitis and type 2 diabetes mellitus are both considered as a chronic disease that affect many people and have an interrelationship in their pathogenesis. Objective: The aim is to evaluate the salivary levels of interleukin-17 (IL-17) and galectin-3 in patients with periodontitis and type-2 diabetes mellitus. Materials and Methods: The samples were gathered from 13 healthy (control group) and 75 patients split into 3 groups, 25 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and healthy periodontium (T2DM group), 25 patients with generalized periodontitis (P group), and 25 patients with generalized periodontitis and type 2 diabetes mellitus (P-T2DM group). Clinical periodontal parameters were documented. The concentration of IL-17

Irinotecan induced-mucositis is an inflammatory event of intestine caused by an increase in concentration of active metabolite 7­ethyl­10-hydroxycamptothecin (SN­38) in the intestine. Irinotecan must first be converted by a carboxylesterase (CES) to the active metabolite (SN­38), which is subsequently glucuronidated by the hepatic enzyme to SN38G. The SN-38G is deconjugated in the intestine to SN-38 via ?-glucuronidase produced by the intestinal bacterial flora, which accounts for SN-38 delayed intestinal mucositis of irinotecan. To study the protective effect of mentha in irinotecan-induced mucositis, intestinal mucositis induced by I.P injection of irinotecan (75mg/Kg/day) for 4 days. Mentha ethanolic extract orally administered to

The liver is the primary organ for drug metabolism, elimination, Cyclophosphamid is the classical alkylating agent nitrogen mustard, its metabolism into two cytotoxic metabolites, and increase reactive oxygen species that is make liver toxicity. Safranal as the most abundant chemical in saffron essential oil, it have anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiapoptic and free radical scavenger activity. The aim of study is to assess the protective effects of safranal on the cyclophosphamide-induce liver toxicity in rat model. This occur by using five different groups of rats; control group, treatment group, cyclophosamide group (intraperitoneal i.p), cyclophosamide and (50mg and 100mg) oral safranal treatment groups. This study showed this pro

Beta-irradiation effects on the microstructure of LDPE samples have been investigated
using Positron Annihilation Lifetime Technique (PALT). These effects on the orthopositronium
(o-Ps) Lifetime t3, the free positron annihilation lifetime 2 t , the free-volume
hole size (Vh) and the free volume fraction (fh) were measured as functions of Beta
irradiation - dose up to a total dose of 30.28 kGy.
The results show that the values of t3, Vh and fh increase gradually with increasing Beta
dose up to a total dose of 1.289 kGy, and reach a maximum increment of 17.4%, 32.8% and
5.86%, respectively, while t2 reachs maximum increment of 211.9% at a total dose of 1.59
kGy. Above these doses, the values show nonlinear changes u

Several observations have showed the synergistic effect of nutrients elements and phytoestrogens on bone resorption elimination. Zn is one of the trace elements found to increase the stimulatory effect of phytoestrogens including genestein, coumestrol and daidzein on bone formation; however the synergistic modulation of Zn, genestein, coumestrol and daidzein on proinflammatory-producing T-cells and receptor  activator of NFκB ligand (RANKL) expression that implicated in osteoclast formation is still open area to debate. This study found that Zn enhanced the inhibitory effect of genistein, daidzein and coumestrol on TNF-α expression; however the same effect was shown with daidzein on IL-1β expression while there is no furthe

Background: 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