Adversity and psychosocial stress are involved in aging through the following pathways. psychological stress enhances the nerve system to secrete endocrine mediators (hormones). Mitochondrial respiration mediates energy production stimulated by binding to these hormones to their receptors. Energy produced by mitochondria accelerates metabolism and, in its turn, leads to increases in reactive oxygen species (ROS) of free radicals. Cellular stress and accumulation of damage can result from an excess of ROS. Accumulation of damage comprises damages in telomeric and nontelomeric DNA, in addition to mitochondrial DNA. Mitochondrial DNA damage plays an important role in increasing the pathway of p53/p21. The expression of the PGC-1α gene is inhi

Phthalates are ubiquitous environmental contaminants widely used as plasticizers in poly vinyl chloride products, and growing evidence implicates them in metabolic activity reduction and epigenetic dysregulation. However, their direct effects on non-transformed human cells remain incompletely characterized. The present in vitro study evaluated the reduction in cell viability and DNA methylation–modulating effects of three widely distributed phthalates, di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP), and di-isononyl phthalate (DINP), on normal human fibroblast (NHF) cells. Cells were exposed to serial concentrations (31.25–1000 μg/mL) for 72 h, and the viability was assessed by MTT assay, followed by IC50 determinati

Microbial Desalination Cell (MDC) is capable of desalinating seawater, producing electrical power and treating wastewater. Previously, chemical cathodes were used, which were application restrictions due to operational expenses are quite high, low levels of long-term viability and high toxicity. A pure oxygen cathode was using, external resistance 50 and 150 k Ω were studied with two concentrations of NaCl in the desalination chamber 15-25 g/L which represents the concentration of brackish water and sea water. The highest energy productivity was obtained, which amounted to 44 and 46 mW/m³, and the maximum limit for desalination of saline water was (31% and 26%) for each of 25 g / L and 15 g / L, respectively, when using an ex

Samarium ions (Sm +3), a rare-earth element, have a significant optical emission within the visible spectrum. PMMA samples, mixed with different ratios of SmCl3.6H2O, were prepared via the casting method. The composite was tested using UV-visible, photoluminescence and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The FTIR spectrometry of PMMA samples showed some changes, including variation in band intensity, location, and width. Mixed with samarium decreases the intensity of the CO and CH2 stretching bands and band position. A new band appeared corresponding to ionic bonds between samarium cations with negative branches in the polymer. These variations indicate complex links between the Sm +3 ion and oxygen in the ether group. The optical absorption

Mycotoxins are secondary by-products of mold metabolism and are accountable for human and animal mycotoxicosis. The most serious trichothecenic mycotoxin is the fungal T-2 mycotoxin. T-2 mycotoxin impaired nutrient absorption, metabolism, and then, eliciting severe oxidoreductive stress. Diet plays a key role beyond the supply of nutrients in order to promote animal and human health. Organic acids have been commonly used to exert antioxidative stress capacity in the liver and gut ecosystem. This study is planned to explore, the competence of using (X-MoldCid®) during chronic T-2 mycotoxicosis course in rat. Rats were allocated into 4 main groups, (CN-Gr), negative control and was allowed for the free access to the normal rats chow and the

In this article we analysis the data of Iraqi children aged 0-9 months covered in Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS6-2018) to evaluate the nutritional status . Weight for-age z-score (WAZ), height-for-age z-score (HAZ) and BMI-for-age z-score were compared with the z-scores WHO standards. The overall prevalence of underweight and stunting of the children were 4 % and 11% respectively. Prevalence of overweight based on BMI-for-age for the sexes combined was 21%. Comparing the results obtained from MICS-6 with the results obtained from MICS-4, we find that there is an improvement in the nutritional status of Iraqi children concerning weight, but as for height, we find that there is an increase in the percentage of children who suffer fr

Fifty snails of Paropeas achatinaceum specimens were collected and classified from four areas in Baghdad-Iraq from the period between June and July, 2017. The snails were divided into two groups (each group contain 25 snails). Two environment conditions were used in this study. Natural environment considered as control and experimental environment contains Citrus sinensis (L.) roots as snail’s source food. The comparison result between snail weights in the nature and experimental environment was not significant (0.497, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.01209–0.02309). Also, the comparison between snail weights in the nature environment and the food mean weight was significant (0.014, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.00591-0.04109), while the

A total of 60 species of aquatic oligochaetes were identified in different sites within Tigris-Euphrates basin / Iraq, including River Tigris, River Euphrates, Southern marshes ( Al-Haweiza , Al-Hammar and Al-Chebaiesh ) , Shutt Al-Germa, and Shatt Al-Arab. In River Euphrates 39 species were identified, 40 species from River Tigris and 32 species from Shatt-Al-Arab and southern marshes.The identified species were classified as four species of Family Aeolosomatidae, 54 species of Naididae ( 31 Naidinae , 8 Pristininae and 15 Tubificid worms), one species of each of Lumbriculidae ( Lumbriculus variegates ) and Lumbricidae ( Eiseiella tetraedra). Among Aeolosomatidae , Aelosoma aquaternarium, A. Liedyi, A. variegatum and A. hemprichi