Background: The discriminative power of the classical WHO parameters in relation to male fertility is quite low, because they only address few aspects of sperm quality and function. This has led investigators to focus their attention on the male gamete and in particular its genome.Objective: To explore which of the sperm DNA damage parameters measured by comet assay are more reliable, and their relations with the standard semen parameters.Methods: Study was done on 40 infertile men selected from couples attending the Institute of Embryo Reasearch and Infertility Treatment at Al-Kadhimiya City/ Baghdad in the period between February 2009 and May 2009, with a history of infertility of ≥1 years; and 15 healthy volunteers of proven fertility serving as control. Samples were allowed to liquefy for at least 30 minutes at 37°C and then evaluated according to the guidelines of the World Health Organization, 1999. The single cell gel electrophoresis (comet) assay was studied in the ejaculated spermatozoa. The exclusion criteria were the presence of azoospermia and severe oligospermia. Results were compared with the standard semen characteristics (concentration, motility and morphology).Results: Compared to healthy volunteers, infertile patients had highly significantly higher values of comet parameters (P = 0.00001). In all infertile patients, comet extent did not correlate with any of the classical semen parameters; whereas, tail length (μm), % DNA in tail, tail moment and olive moment had all significant negative correlations with the standard parameters. Significant positive correlations were observed between the studied comet parameters, except for the comet extent which was not significantly correlated with tail length and % DNA in tail (P = 0.06, P = 0.7; respectively).Conclusion: Comet assay is a very useful technique in assessing sperm DNA damage. Comet tail parameters and comet extent, may clarify different aspects of DNA damage, and together give a better insight to the integrity of the male genome.Keywards: sperm, comet extent, % DNA in tail, tail moment and olive moment
Asmari is the main productive reservoir in Abu Ghirab oilfield in the south-east part of Iraq. It has history production extends from 1976 up to now with several close periods. Recently, the reservoir suffers some problems in production, which are abstracted as water production rising with oil production declining in most wells. The water problem type of the field and wells is identified by using Chan's diagnostic plots (water oil ratio (WOR) and derivative water oil ratio (WOR') against time). The analytical results show that water problem is caused by the channeling due to high permeability zones, high water saturation zones, and faults or fracturing. The numerical approach is also used to study the water movement inside the reser
... Show MoreThe seedlings of vegetables are exposed to stress states, especially through the first period, due to injuring their roots by transplanting or heavy rain , so it is necessary to provide an available nutrient to recover the growth and increase their early yield, which means more income for farmers. In this regard, an experiment was conducted in the College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences, Agriculture Faculty, University of Baghdad, Iraq to study the effect of different types and concentrations of mineral fertilizers as starter solutions by using high nitrogen (N), high phosphorus (P) and neutral fertilizers (Q) at three levels which were 4 g/l (S1), 8 g/l (S2) and 12 g/l (S3) on broccoli growth and yield. The results showed tha
... Show MoreCancer stem cells (CSCs) are defined as a population of cells present in tumours, which can undergo self-renewal and differentiation. Identification and isolation of these CSCs using putative surface markers have been a priority of research in cancer. With this background we selected pancreatic normal and tumor cells for this study and passaged them into animal tissue culture medium. Further staining was done using alkaline phosphatase and heamatoxilin staining. Blue to purple colored zones in undifferentiated pluripotent stem cells and clear coloration in the chromatin material indicated pancreatic cells. Further studies on the cell surface marker CD 44 were done using ELISA. For this, the protein was extracted from cultivated normal and t
... Show MoreThe frog has a highly developed nervous system. It consists of a brain, a spinal cord and nerves. The brain is the only center for the control of all vital activities as it receives impulses from different parts of the body through sensory nerves and issues orders through motor fibers to different parts of the body for appropriate action. The Aims of studyis general morphological structural of the brain and spinal cord in the Iraqi frog Rana ridibunda ridibunda. The brains of twenty of frogs belonging to class Amphibia were studied using conventional techniques of dissecting microscopy. All samples were sacrificed and anesthetized and then they were removed completely from the neurocranium, cranial, sensory nerves and the meninges and trans
... Show MoreIn this research work, a simulator with time-domain visualizers and configurable parameters using a continuous time simulation approach with Matlab R2019a is presented for modeling and investigating the performance of optical fiber and free-space quantum channels as a part of a generic quantum key distribution system simulator. The modeled optical fiber quantum channel is characterized with a maximum allowable distance of 150 km with 0.2 dB/km at =1550nm. While, at =900nm and =830nm the attenuation values are 2 dB/km and 3 dB/km respectively. The modeled free space quantum channel is characterized at 0.1 dB/km at =860 nm with maximum allowable distance of 150 km also. The simulator was investigated in terms of the execution of the BB84 prot
... Show MoreObjectives: This study aims to determine the disease’s patterns and outcomes of admission among neonates hospitalized at the neonatal care unit in Erbil City, and using the findings as a baseline for neonate’s morbidity and mortality assessment in the future. Methodology: A retrospective study carried out at neonatal care unit of Raparin pediatric teaching hospital. An instrument for data collection developed by researcher included (age, gender, cause of admission, diagnosis and outcome upon discharge and causes of death). Content validity of the instrument was determined through the use of panel ex
Background: The role of prophylactic antibiotics remains controversial. It is clear that actively facial fractures are considered as clean contaminated and should be treated with therapeutic antibiotics; however, there is widespread variability in the use, type, timing, and duration of prophylactic antibiotic administrated in practice today. There is an adverse effect of increased antibiotic resistance, as well as costs, it is important to review the current evidence for the role of prophylactic antibiotics in compound facial fractures. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the role and significance of preoperative, perioperative and postoperative antibiotic prophylaxis for patients when there is already an infective focus, such as co
... Show MoreThis research addresses the necessity due to the scarcity of historical studies in the field of sports, especially those indicating the activities and achievements of Arab countries in the Paralympic movement. This study aims to document the participation of Arab countries in the Paralympic Games, explore the prominent sports in which Arab athletes with disabilities participated, and analyze their achievements during the Paralympic Games from 2004 to 2012. The research methodology adopted an analytical, historical approach, collecting and analyzing data objectively through the official website of the International Paralympic Committee, in addition to scientific and historical sources from research papers, journals, and websites. The key fi
... Show MoreIn this work, oral lesions belong to 17 patients, 7 males and 10 females. Their ages range between 15 and 45 years. Follow up was conducted after one day, 7 days, 14 days, one month, and finally 3 months postoperatively. The study lasted for 1.5 year. Surgical diode laser with wavelength of 810 ± 20 nm, with two power levels of 10 and 15 W were used in contact and in non-contact mode via optical fiber. The postoperative outcome revealed; greater haemostatic capability, dry, sealed wound and noticeable lack in pain sensation