Low grade crude palm oil (LGCPO) presents as an attractive option as feedstock for biodiesel production due to its low cost and non-competition with food resources. Typically, LGCPO contains high contents of free fatty acids (FFA), rendering it impossible in direct trans-esterification processes due to the saponification reaction. Esterification is the typical pre-treatment process to reduce the FFA content and to produce fatty acid methyl ester (FAME). The pre-treatment of LGCPO using two different acid catalysts, such as titanium oxysulphate sulphuric acid complex hydrate (TiOSH) and 5-sulfosalicylic acid dihydrate (5-SOCAH) was investigated for the first time in this study. The optimum conditions for the homogenous catalyst (5-SOCAH) wer

The clinical spectrum of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), an intracellular parasitic pathogen, ranges from a single sore healing to chronic crusty lesions with a manifestation of treatment resistance. The complicated interaction between Leishmania bodies and the early immune response, including innate and adaptive mechanisms, determines the evolution of nodules. This study examined the levels of the chemoattractant interleukin 8 (IL-8), pro-inflammatory nitric oxide (NO), and immunoregulatory macrophage inhibitory factor (MIF) in the serum of subjects recently diagnosed with cutaneous leishmaniasis, in parallel with patients being monitored during consecutive sodium stibogluconate (Pentostam) treatment. A total of 161 serum samples of newly di

The covid-19 global pandemic has influenced the day-to-day lives of people across the world. One consequence of this has been significant distortion to the subjective speed at which people feel like time is passing. To date, temporal distortions during covid-19 have mainly been studied in Europe. The current study therefore sought to explore experiences of the passage of time in Iraq. An online questionnaire was used to explore the passage of time during the day, week and the 11 months since the first period of covid-19 restrictions were imposed in Iraq. The questionnaire also measured affective and demographic factors, and task-load. The results showed that distortions to the passage of time were widespread in Iraq. Participants co

Introduction. Intraoperative rupture (IOR) of an aneurysm is a frightful complication that causes significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. IOR can be attributed to various parameters, including hypertension, increased intracranial pressure (ICP), fragility of the vessels, and inadequate anaesthesia. IOR due to insufficient anaesthesia is scarcely reported in the literature. Here, we describe a re-ruptured anterior communicating artery (ACoA) after incomplete clipping of the neck during craniotomy closure due to unintended early wake-up from anaesthesia with a discussion about the management. Case description. A 38-year-old male suddenly developed a severe headache, a brief loss of consciousness, and vomiting. Computed tomogr

Background: During the pandemic, Corona virus forced many people, especially students, to spend more time than before on the computer and smartphone to study and communicate. The poor posture of the body may have worse effect on its body parts , most of which is the cervical spine (forward head posture). Objective: To assess the incidence of neck pain and the associated factors among undergraduate medical students related to position during E learning Subjects and Methods: Cross-sectional study was conducted among medical students in three Iraqi universities during 2021. The sample size was 152. Online questionnaire by Google forms sampling method were used to collect the data which was analysed using SPSS 25. Results: The perce

Diabetes distress (DD), an emotional burden that does not meet the diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder, has gained attention in the diabetes literature. It was to evaluate the impact of diabetes education among psychological distress in type 2 diabetes patients.

Background: The preparation of Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is minimally invasive way, simple, low cost to obtain natural autologous growth factors and is now being widely used in different fields of medicine for its ability to increase the regeneration potential of tissue. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of local application of autologous PRP gel on acceleration rate of osseointegration period by clinical assessment accomplished by determining the changes in implant stability during 3 months healing period using resonance frequency analysis (RFA). Materials and methods: A total of 28 dental implants were inserted in edentulous maxillae or mandibles of 13 patients using a split mouth design, i.e. each patient was received

A vascular necrosis (AVN) is defined as cellular death of bone components due to interruption of the blood supply; the bone structures then collapse, resulting in bone destruction, pain, and loss of joint function. AVN is associated with numerous conditions and usually involves the epiphysis of long bones, such as the femoral head. In clinical practice, AVN is most commonly encountered in the hip. Early diagnosis and appropriate intervention can delay the need for joint replacement. However, most patients present late in the disease course. Without treatment, the process is almost always progressive, leading to joint destruction within 5 years. Treatment of a vascular necrosis depends mainly on early diagnosis which mainly based on clinical