Interleukin-33 [IL-33] is a specific ligand for the ST2 receptor, and a member of the
IL-1 family. It is a dual-function protein that acts both as an extracellular alarmin cytokine,
and an as an intracellular nuclear factor participates in maintaining barrier function by
regulating gene expression of IL-33 modulating tumor growth and anti-tumor immunity in
cancer patients. The present study aimed to investigate the role of IL-33 serum level and gene
polymorphism in Iraqi women with breast cancer. Materials and methods: Blood samples
were collected from 66 Iraqi patient women diagnosed with breast cancer, which were divided
into two groups: pre-treatment [PT] and under treatment with chemotherapy [UTC] patients in
addition to 34 apparently healthy women who were matched with patients as a control.
ELISA technique was used to determine the IL-33 serum level. The PCR-RFLP technique
was performed to determine IL-33 gene polymorphisms at single nucleotide polymorphism
SNP [rs1929992]. Results: IL-33 serum level recorded lower significant in PT [182.22 ±
29.86pg/ml] and UTC [129.87 ± 45.11pg/ml] patients compared with control [258.08 ± 39.54 pg/ml] under [p<0.05]. In a polymorphism study on IL-33 SNP [rs1929992] showed AG genotype recorded the high frequency in control than in patients [76.47, 58.46] compared to other genotypes AA, GG with no significant difference according to fisher’s exact probability. In conclusion: IL-33 serum level decreased after performing surgery on breast cancer patients. There was no association between breast cancer development and IL-33 SNP [rs1929992]. The heterozygous genotype AG was a common genotype in the Iraqi population. Allele G had an environmental fraction, while allele A had preventive fraction, which related to increasing the level of IL-33 with both genotypes AA, AG in the healthy control group, in contrast with GG genotype which showed the highest level in the patients’ group.
Emergency contraceptives (ECs) are indicated for preventing the chance of unintended pregnancy that follows unprotected sexual intercourse in cases of incorrectly used regular contraceptives and in sexual assault. It is considered a safe choice to prevent pregnancy than abortion which is considered life threating. The aim of this study was to assess knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) of community pharmacists towards emergency contraceptives and their association with sociodemographic variables. This study was a cross sectional study conducted between August and September 2021 on a convenient sample of community pharmacists from Iraq. The survey tool was an online, self-administered questionnaire, in English language and a paper-bas
... Show MoreThe plants of genus Heliotropium L. (Boraginaceae) are well-known for containing the toxic metabolites called pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) in addition to the other secondary metabolites. Its spread in the Mediterranean area northwards to central and southern Europe, Asia, South Russia, Caucasia, Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, and India, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and over lower Iraq, Western desert. The present study includes the preparation of various extracts from aerial parts of the Iraqi plant. Fractionation, screening the active constituent, and identification by chromatographic techniques were carried out.Heliotropium europaeum
... Show MoreIn this work, linear and nonlinear optical properties of two types of Iraqi heavy crude oil extracted from fields in southern Iraq were determined. The nonlinear optical properties were measured utilizing Z-scan technology with He-Ne laser at 632.8 nm. It was found that nonlinear refractive index (NLR) values for the Basra and Kut heavy crude oil samples are 6.34381×10-4 and 8.25108×10-4 cm2/mW, respectively, while those for the nonlinear absorption coefficient (NLA) are 2.68942×10-5 and 2.58874×10-5 , respectively. These results showed that the two samples with linear and nonlinear optical properties can be used in optics field applications as
... Show MoreReconstruction in Iraq requires coherent legitimate frameworks that are able to detail obligations, rights and responsibilities of the parties participating in reconstruction projects, regardless their type or delivery system.
Conditions of Contract can be considered an important component of these frameworks. This paper investigates flexibility and appropriateness of the application of Iraqi conditions of contract in reconstruction projects. These conditions were compared to FIDIC Conditions. The objective wasn't comparing individual clauses, but rather exploring the principles and philosophy laying behind each conditions, and to what extent each conditions care about realizing equity between main contract parties. Validity of applic
Everywhere carriers incur a measure of liability for the safety of the goods. Carriers are liable for any damage or for the loss of the goods that are in their possession as carriers unless they prove that the damage or loss is attributable to certain excepted causes. Damaged and lost items can unfortunately be a common problem when shipping freight. Legal responsibilities arise due to loss or damage during transit while cargo is in their care. This study intends to investigate the nature of the liability of the maritime carrier when this liability is realized, and the extent to which it can be paid or disposed of given the risks realized from the transportation process, which may result in damage or loss of the goods, and the damag
... Show MoreMorus alba, member of the Moraceae family, is a perennial tree utilized in folk medicine, preparing the modern drug, and considered the main food for silkworms. However, data on chemical content in the leaves is still limited; the main objective of this study is to detect the presence and determine the concentration of different polyphenolic constituents in the leaves of the Morus alba plant by reverse phase-high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) and evaluate the cytotoxic effect of ethyl acetate extract of this plant on human breast cancer (AMJ-13) cell line. Phytochemical analysis of the Morus alba leaves ethyl acetate extract led to identifying and quantification of six polyphenolic constituents designated as phenolic a
... Show MoreThe performance grading system (superpave) has provided means to incorporate binder characteristics with
pavement failure types. It’s a comprehensive system that relates climate, traffic conditions and aging with
critical pavement distress. The objective of this paper is to develop an improved asphalt binder grading
system for Iraq based on the principal of superpave. The country was divided into different zones according
to the highest and lowest temperature ranges and traffic loading. The Performance graded binder proposed
for each zone was compared with some States of USA that have same hot weather of Iraq by using Long
Term Pavement Performance (LTPP v3.1) software. Iraqi asphalt samples were tested using the Supe
On-site pit is the most common option that may be used to dispose drilling wastes. The contents of these pits vary, depending on the lithology of formations drilled and the drilling mud ,and different chemical additives.
Eighty samples of mud (sludge) and eighty samples of water have been collected from ten pits of two Iraqi oilfields(North Rumaila and South Rumaila/southern Iraq) and were chemically analyzed for metals Cr, Pb,As, Zn, Fe, Mn,K , Na,Ba, Ca, Mg,SO4=,and Cl- in order to determine the quality and quantity content of studied reserve pits
Inefficient equipment, using toxic materials for various drilling processes, absence of regulations for the design and monitoring of pit during and after drilling operation, and leaking
Amoebas live freely in different climates and parts of the world. Several species of Free Living Amoeba (FLA) are capable of causing serious as well as fatal infections in human beings. The aim of this study was to identify and compare genotypes of water-polluting FLA in major rivers and lakes of Iraq and compare them with FLA isolates from Iran and Turkey. For this purpose, the study included 20 water samples from the Tigris River, Euphrates River , Najaf Sea and Dukan lake in Iraq, 20 water samples from Marivan, Velasht, and Soleimanshah lakes and Caspian sea in Iran, and 20 water samples from Sabanca, Seyfi , Hazar and Yay lakes in Turkey. The samples were studied by culture methods, invert microscope, and molecular methods.
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