Background: Human semen contains high concentrations of fructose, zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) in bound and ionic forms for Zn and Cu. The presence of abnormal levels of fructose and those trace elements may affect spermatogenesis with regard to production, maturation, motility and fertilizing capacity of the spermatozoa.Objective: To evaluate the levels of fructose, Zn and Cu in seminal plasma in different groups of male infertility and to correlate their concentrations with various sperm parameters.Methods: The concentrations of fructose, Zn and Cu were measured in 114 semen samples from normozoospermic, oligozoospermic, astheno-zoospermic, and azoospermic men using the electrothermal-atomic absorption spectrometry for Zn and Cu determination. The concentration of fructose in seminal plasma was determined with a spectrophotometric method, using the resorcinol method.Results: Results of the present study showed that there was an inverse relationship between fructose levels and sperm count. The mean value of seminal plasma fructose concentrations was significantly increased (p ≤ 0.001) in the three groups of infertile male subjects (azoospermia, asthenozoospermia and oligozoospermia) than in fertile males. The mean value of seminal plasma Zn concentrations was significantly decreased (p ≤ 0.001) in the three groups of infertile male subjects (azoospermia, asthenozoospermia and oligozoospermia) than in fertile males. A good correlation in a positive direction was noted between the sperm count and seminal plasma Zn concentration. There was significant decrease in seminal plasma Cu concentration between asthenozoospermia and control groups (p ≤ 0.05) and insignificant increase in oligozoospermic patients.Conclusions: On the basis of the observations of the present study, seminal fructose, zinc and copper may contribute to fertility through their effects on various semen parameters.Key words:Male infertility, fructose, zinc, copper.
Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a well-known endocrinopathy and one of the most frequent endocrine-reproductive-metabolic syndromes in women, which can result in reduced fertility. While the actual cause is unknown, PCOS is regarded as a complicated genetic characteristic with a great degree of variability. Moreover, hormones and immune cells, including both innate and acquired immune cells, are thought to interact in PCOS. Chronic low-grade inflammation raises the risk of autoimmune disease. The study's purpose is to investigate the chemokine monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and fertility hormones in samples of women patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in the City of Medicine. Sixty PCOS women comprise 30 heal
... Show MoreOne hundred thirty seven Staphylococcus spp. isolates were isolated form one hundred fifty clinical specimens which were collected from several hospitals at Al-Sulaimaniya city. Seventy two Staphylococcus aureus isolates, 28 Staphylococcus epidermidis isolates and 37 isolates related to other coagulase negative staphylocci (S. chromogenes, S. lugdunensis, S. cohnii, S. saprophyticus, S. hominis, and S. haemolyticus constituted 3.60%, 2.20%, 2.90%, 2.90%, 6.60%, and 8.80%, respectively). Burn specimens represented the highest (P< 0.05) reservoir for S. aureus and S. epidermidis isolates. Staphylococci developed variable susceptibility to 4 antibiotics (cefoxitin; 30 μg, oxacillin; 1μg, methicillin; 5μg, and cefotaxime; 30 μg). Neve
... Show MoreTo assess the environmental pollution of the soil at north Baiji City, the concentration of As, Se, Cr, Co, Cu, Cd, Sb, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, V, U, Sr, Ba, Ag, Rb, Li, Sn, Bi, Tl and Zn were determined in 18 sites. Results showed that the range concentrations of metal in mg/kg were Mo (0.84-2.15), Cu (17.62-78.77), Pb (9.89-19.19), Zn (39.5-374.7), Ag (0.064-0.14), Ni (90.7-210), Co (12.8-26.6), Mn (407-863), As (4-7.1), Cd (0.18-0.37), Sb (0.38-0.77), Bi (0.06-0.17), V (74-281), Cr (128-287), Li (15.3-24.4), Tl (0.14-0.24), Sn (0.6-1.7), Rb (28-51.2), U (1.2-1.5), Se (0.3-0.6), Ba (173-310), Sr (218-1270). Based on enrichment factor (EF) of trace elements, Mo, Cu, Pb, Mn, Bi, U, V, Li, Sn, Rb, Ba and Tl were showed deficiency to minimal enric
... Show MoreDespite the multiplicity of institutions contributing to the decision-making process in the United States of America, they interact to crystallize positions regarding international and strategic situations. The formulation of the national security policy depends on a number of institutions that complement each other in order to achieve an advanced security situation. Thus, the decision reflects the process of interaction of the existing regulatory institutions. This is because the essence of the national security and achieving its requirements also stems from the existence of a coherent system of shared beliefs and principles in the American society. Besides, these elements are the bases for achieving
... Show MoreThe resistivity survey was carried out by using vertical electrical sounding (VES) and 2D imaging techniques in the northern Badra area, Eastern Iraq. Eleven VES points distributed on two parallel profiles and six 2D imaging stations were applied using long survey lines.
In general, two types of aquifers are recognized in the study area. The first is the Quaternary aquifer, which appears in all geological sections and inverse model of 2D imaging stations (2DS).This aquifer can be divided into upper and lower aquifers as shown in (2DS1), (2DS3), and (2DS4). Generally, the thickness of this aquifer ranges between (30-200 m) which occurs at a depth of (10-30m) according to geological sections, while its thickness ranges between (35-180m)
Moisture-induced damage is a serious problem that severely impairs asphaltic pavement and affects road serviceability. This study examined numerous variables in asphalt concrete mixtures to assess their impact on moisture damage resistance. Mix design parameters such as the asphalt content (AC) and aggregate passing sieve No. 4 (PNo. 4) were considered as variables during this study. Additionally, hydrated lime (HL) was utilized as a partial substitute for limestone dust (LS) filler at 1.5% by weight of the aggregate in asphalt concrete mixtures for the surface layer. This study also investigated the potential enhancement of traditional asphalt binders and mixtures by adding nano-additives, specifically nano-silica oxide (NS) and na
... Show MoreSmall and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Iraq have experienced low performance due to the limited usage of accounting information systems (AIS) and the inability to exploit knowledge of management capabilities (KMC). These deficiencies have led to competitive pressures in the marketplace that have adversely affected their sales and production. This study investigates the role of AIS in terms of operation support, knowledge support, regulatory support, and the role of KMC, including knowledge acquisition, knowledge transfer, and knowledge utilized to enhance organizational performance in Iraqi SMEs. The target population was managers and owners in SMEs using AIS in Iraq’s cities. A non-probability purposive sampling technique was use
... Show MoreAge and BMI may be used to diagnosis of thyroid autoimmune disease. One hundred Iraqi women with age ranged from 18 to 60 years participate in this research, 50 of them were hypothyroidism patients, 30 were hyperthyroidism patients and the other 20 were euthyroidism served as controls. Blood samples were collected from the studied subjects to determine thyroid profile [free triiodothyronine (FT3), free tetraiodothyronine (FT4) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)], thyroid antibodies [anti-thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO), anti-thyroglobulin (anti-Tg), and anti-thyroid stimulating hormone receptor (anti-TSHR)], and levels of vitamin D (vit D), calcium (Ca), and phosphorus (P) using different analysis techniques. When the effect of age
... Show MorePregnancy and childbirth are physiological states characterized by sudden hormonal and immunologically described changes. The current study aimed to investigate the influence of maternal variables (age, previous abortion, placental position, and fetal position) on some physiological biomarkers, such as oxytocin (OT), prolactin (PRL), cortisol, and insulin growth factor 2 (IGF -2) and some immune biomarkers such as programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1), programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) in Iraqi women undergoing caesarean section (CS). Blood samples were collected from 48 pregnant women in the age range (16-43 years) and serum was obtained to determine the levels of the above biomarkers. The effect of
... Show MoreP. aeruginosa is one of the complex targets for antimicrobial chemotherapy. Also, it is intrinsically resistant to several antibiotics. It produces β-lactamases enzymes that are responsible for the widespread β-lactam antimicrobial resistance. There are three major groups of β-lactamase enzymes, MBLs and ESBLs forming Pseudomonas is a major issue for the treatment of burns victims. Methods: A total of 28 clinical isolates related to P. aeruginosa have been obtained from the burns specimens from patients attending to AL-Imam hospital/Baghdad-Iraq, through the period from October 2015 to March 2016. Also, all isolates have been recognized as P. aeruginosa via utilizing bacteriological assay and confirmed by Vitek 2. In addition, the suscep
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