Background: Obesity is a serious public health concern that has reached epidemic proportions; the prevalence, as well as the severity of obesity in adolescents is increasing at an alarming rate. A close relationship was found between weight status and dental caries. Thus this research aimed to assess the prevalence and severity of dental caries among overweight adolescent females in relation to physicochemical characteristics of stimulated whole saliva in comparison with normal weight adolescent females. Materials and methods: The total sample involved for nutritional status assessment is composed of 2678 females aged 13-15 years. This was performed using Body Mass Index specific for age and gender according to CDC growth chart (2000). The diagnosis and recording of dental caries was by using Decay, Missing, Filled surface index (DMFs); and according to the criteria of Manji et al (1989). Salivary samples were collected from 30 overweight females and their control under standardized conditions and then analyzed for measuring salivary flow rate and viscosity, in addition to estimation essential elements (zinc, copper, calcium, iron, and total protein). Results: The caries experience among the overweight females was lower than that among the normal weight with non significant difference. Salivary analysis demonstrated that the salivary flow rate was non significantly higher among overweight females. The viscosity of saliva was having an equal value among both groups. The data analysis of salivary elements found that the zinc and copper concentrations were highly significant higher among the overweight females than that among the normal weight. The opposite result found concerning salivary calcium level with also highly significant difference; while the iron and total protein were non significantly lower among the overweight females. DMFs and its grades correlated negatively weak with salivary flow rate among overweight females; while concerning salivary viscosity, the correlation was direct weak with DMFs. Salivary copper, calcium and total protein showed an inverse correlation with dental caries. Conclusion: The results of the current research revealed that overweight affect the caries experience. Several of salivary factors that found to be higher among the overweight females might play a role in protection of teeth from dental caries.
study was conducted on a stretch of Tigris river crossing Baghdad city to determine the concentration of some chlorophenols pollutants. Aqueous samples were preliminary enriched about 500 times and the chlorophenols have determined using high performance liquid chromatography HPLC. Limits of detection LOD were (0.007–0.012 mg L-1), relative standard deviations RSD% were 2.4%–5.59% and relative recoveries were 51.06%– 104.07%. The existence of chlorophenols in Tigris river was in the range 0.023–4.596 mg L-1. The developed method suggested in this study can be applied for routine analysis and monitoring of chlorinated phenols in environmental aqueous samples.
The antiviral activity of leaf extracts from Datura stramonium and tomato plants inoculated with TMV, combined with 20% skimmed milk, was investigated. A TMV isolate was confirmed using bioassay, serological, and molecular approaches and subsequently used to inoculate plants. Tomato plants, both pre- and post-inoculated with TMV, were sprayed with leaf extracts from either TMV-free or infected plants, alone or mixed with 20% skimmed milk. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using tobamovirus-specific antibodies and local lesion tests were conducted to assess antiviral activity based on virus concentration and infectivity in treated plants. The experiment followed a completely randomized design (CRD), and the Least Significant
... Show MoreA dust storm in Iraq is a climatic phenomenon common in arid and semi-arid regions . The frequency of the occurrence has increased drastically in the last decade and it is increasing continuously .Baghdad city like the rest of Iraq is suffering from the significant increase in dust storms . In this research , the study of the phenomenon of dust storms for all types (Suspended dust , rising dust , dust storm) , and its relationship with some climate variables (Temperature , rainfall ,wind speed) .The statement of the impact of climate change on this phenomenon to Baghdad station for the period (1981 – 2012) . Time series has been addressing the phenomenon of storms and cli
... Show MoreThe Lamiaceae L. family grows and widely distributed in Iraq. The study aimed to enumerate the species that has been preserved in several botanical herbariums: National Herbarium of Iraq- Ministry of Agriculture (BAG), University of Baghdad Herbarium (BUH), Iraq Natural History Research Center& Museum- University of Baghdad Herbarium (BUNH), College of Agricultural Engineering- University of Baghdad Herbarium (BUG), College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences- Duhok Province University Herbarium (DPUH) and College of Science - Salahddin University Herbarium (SUH). This family has not yet been registered in the Flora of Iraq. After examining more than 1000 herbarium specimens, the study found 139 species belonging to 33 genera h
... Show MoreThe study evaluated the recovery performance of any home herbs group as first aid in some emergency cases. The study involved 10 items of herbs (chamomile, black pepper, cloves, cinnamon, and anise) which used in acute cases such as cold, colic, inflammation of the intestine and tonsillitis, and (hibiscus, catnip, dried lime, cress seed, and ginger) were used for chronic cases such as hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and arthritis. The results showed the herbs had healing power and efficiency in the primary remedy for the above-mentioned diseases. The side effects, the contradictions, and the overdoses of these substances were discussed. It was concluded that home herbs could be used for treatment in emergency cases until moder
... Show MoreHepatitis, an inflammation of the liver, has a number of infectious and non-infectious causes. Two of the viruses that cause hepatitis (hepatitis A and E) can be transmitted through water and food; hygiene is therefore important in their control. First, to assess the importance of HAV and HEV as a possible diagnosis for clinically diagnosed patients with acute viral hepatitis. Second, to assess the prevalence of hepatitis A and E in all provinces of Iraq and study its association with age, gender. This study consisted of two groups: The first group consisted of 2975 patients with a clinical diagnosis of acute viral hepatitis. The second group consisted of a total of 9610 persons, which were recruited by surveying a nationally representative
... Show MoreA general and accurate morphological study was carried out for the species Calotropis procera which belongs to the family Asclepiadaceae. The research included the phenotypic characteristics of the root, stem and leaves the leaves were studied morphologically and anatomically, Flowers, fruits and seeds, as well as the geographical distribution of the genus were studied also. In general, there are no previous taxonomic study of this genus under consideration, according to the available sources and it is the first one has been done in Iraq, perhaps Because of its low prevalence previously, where it was recently noticed its spread in last two to three years ago. Keywords: Apocynaceae, Apple Sodom, Poisonous Plant, Anatomy
The bile salt hydrolase gene (bshA), encoding bile salt hydrolase enzyme (EC 3.5.1.24) from probiotic isolate Lactobacillus acidophilus Ar strain which is responsible for assimilation cholesterol were studied in the present work. About 801 bp in length DNA fragment of Lb. acidophilus Ar strain was amplified by PCR techniques. Two restriction sites (PstI/SacI) were added to each end of that fragment for manipulation of DNA during cloning. Amplified fragment inserted into pJET1.2\blunt end vector and pMG36e vector respectively. pJET1.2\blunt end vector is overexpression plasmid for E. coli MC1022, and pMG36e vector is a shuttle vector which is able to replicate in both E. coli and lactic acid bacteria. The resulted constructs were named as pJ
... Show MoreThe Manganese doped zinc sulfide nanoparticles of the cubic zinc blende structure with the average crystallite size of about 3.56 nm were synthesized using a coprecipitation method using Thioglycolic Acid as an external capping agent for surface modification. The ZnS:Mn2+ nanoparticles of diameter 3.56 nm were manufactured through using inexpensive precursors in an efficient and eco-friendly way. X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy are used to examine the structure, morphology and chemical composition of the nanoparticles. The antimicrobial activity of (ZnS:Mn2+) nanocrystals was investigated by measuring the diameter of inhibition zone using well diffusion mechanism
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