Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a widespread, yet often overlooked, parasitic disease caused by the Leishmania protozoan, which is prevalent in numerous countries, including Iraq. This condition is marked by the appearance of skin lesions on various exposed areas of the body. In most old-world regions, sodium stibogluconate (SSG) is the classical widely used drug to treat CL. The progression of skin ulceration is controlled by different inflammatory modulators including cytokines and enzymes. In this study, the possible role of the enzyme Matrix metalloproteinase9 (MMP-9) and its inhibitor Metallopeptidase inhibitor-1 (TIMP-1) as immunological markers was evaluated in CL patients suffering from cutaneous leishmaniasis before and aft

Background: Dental caries is a localized, progressive destructive, largely irreversible microbial based disease of multifactorial nature; these factors include (host, microbes and food) they influence differently on the initiation and progression of dental caries. The aims of the study: was to evaluate the effect of smoking on salivary flow rate, secretory immunoglobulin (SIgA) level and viable count of mutans streptococci (M.S) bacteria in oral cavity and their relation to dental caries experience. Material and method: The samples were collected from 80 male students ranging in ages from 18-22 years old. Where they divided in to two groups, 40 non-smokers (control group) and 40 smokers (study group). Unstimulated salivary samples were c

This study was conducted in Diyala province for renal failure patients during the periods August 2015 - April 2016. Hundred renal failure patients were enrolled in the study after diagnosis by the consultant physician at Ibn-Sina Center for Dialysis in Baquba Teaching Hospital according to criteria adopted by the World Health Organization for diagnosis of renal failure disease. The number of males in patient’s sample was 61 (61%) and females was 39 (39%) with an age range of 10 – 88 year (44.7 ± 22.1 year). In addition, the study included 50 apparently healthy individuals and considered as a group control, in which the number of males and females was similar (25 individual), with an age range of 18 – 88 year (51.7 ± 17.3 year). The

Blastocystis is a ubiquitous human and animal protozoa that inhabit the gastrointestinal tract. Metronidazole is considered the standard drug for the treatment of Blastocystis infection; however, there is growing evidence of treatment failure, hazardous side effects, and appearance of strains resistant to metronidazole. In the last era, many studies have been implicated in the quest for new treatments for Blastocystis infection, especially natural products. Attention has been focused on the effect of Amygdalin (B17) and pumpkin seed on eradicating parasitic infections. The current work was built up to explore the in vitro efficacy of two natural compounds, Amygdalin (B17) and pumpkin seeds against

Q-switched lasers widely used in management skin diseases and
sometimes its effect may be inadequate or associated with
cytotoxicity. The current study aimed to investigate the effect of
Q-switched Nd:YAG laser upon cellular elements using in vitro
experimental model. Aqueous solutions of human albumin and pure
calf thymus double strand deoxyribonucleic acid (ctdsDNA)
irradiated with Q-switched Nd:YAG laser at different rates (1, 3 Hz)
and time exposure (up to 60 seconds) using 532 nm (400 mJ) and
1064 (1200 mJ) nm wavelength with fixed spot size of 4 mm. The
effect of laser irradiation on the albumin solution also studied in the
presence of elemental salts of copper, zinc and iron.
Q-switched laser irrad

This paper is a review of the genus Sitta in Iraq, Five species of this genus are recognized
Sitta kurdistanica, S. neumayr, S. europaea, S.dresseri and S. tephronota. Geographical
distribution and systematic nots were given for separation and identification, also some notes
on nest building and nest sites of S. tephronota supporting by figures are presented.

Iraqi-Saudi Relations have witnessed a state of rapprochement over decades. However, this rapprochement was temporary and could not overcome the differences that formed the core of Iraqi-Saudi relations after 2003, relations between Iraq and Saudi Arabia deteriorated with the Iraqi governments that followed the rule of Iraq after 2003, especially the government of Nuri Al-Maliki in which relations reached the end of mutual accusations between the two parties. In order to promote the relationship between the two countries, a culture of moderation has to be propagated especially in the field of religion and the religious institution should be encouraged to open up to other sects and to recognize all sects as prelude to combating the cultur

The pioneer contributions included a sign for Iraqi Bryoflora were those of (Juratzka &
Milde) and Schiffner published at the end of the 19th century i.e. (1870 & 1897) respectively.
However, throughout the whole next century, the 20th, only few papers, by different authors,
have been published separately. They are Schiffner (1913); Handel-Mazzetti (1914); Froelich
(1959); Vondracek (1962 & 1965); Agnew &Townsend (1970); Agnew ( 1973 ) ; Agnew&
Vondracek (1975); Long (1979); Al-Ni’ma (1994). The most comprehensive work among
them was the “Moss Flora of Iraq” by Agnew & Vondracek (1975). It included a description
of 54 genera and 145 species with an identification key in addition to notes