MRSA is one of the major pathogens in hospitals and the community, which have the ability to produce biofilm as a virulence factor, the impact of chalcone on biofilm formation, the synergism effect of chalcone and antibiotic in both in vitro and in vivo experiments, the gene expression of virulence genes (srtA, fnbA, fnbB) before and after treatment of it on MRSA biofilm cells in vitro, all these were the prime aims of this study. Chalcone at MBIC (20 μg/ml), significantly reduced the biofilm formation to 21.45% and at sub MBIC (15 μg/ml) to 36.58 %. While, Chalcone at MIC(5 μg/ml) reduced MRSA planktonic cells to 49.61%. Susceptibility of MRSA isolates against eight antibiotics showed that all isolates were sensitive to vancomycin and none of the isolates developed susceptibility to erythromycin. The combinatorial effect of chalcone at 5 μg/ml and vancomycin at MIC of (1 μg/ml) on MRSA planktonic cells was reduced it from 70 to 23.3% , and in combination with erythromycin at 32 μg/ml, was decreased from 53.1% to 22% and the effect of chalcone at sub MBIC (15 μg/ml) when combined with vancomycin was reducing the biofilm formation from 87% to 27.6 and with erythromycin from 55.1% to 23.8%. Combinatorial phenotypic effect of the antibiotics and chalcone (at sub MBIC), in vitro came in line with the result of in vivo experiment and the results showed decrease in the expression of fnbA, fnbB and srtA genes in tested isolates in the presence of chalcone at sub MBIC. In our study, we demonstrated that chalcone exhibited significant effect in biofilm formation of MRSA strains, which can be considered as promising antimicrobial agents that can be used for prevention of MRSA adherence or as adjunct to antibiotics in conventional therapy.
In spite of increasing clinical cases which caused by enteroviruses transferred by water and no documents about entericviruses in the Iraqi water standards. The use of coliphages as an indicator of enteroviruses and fecal pollution were suggested two procedures were applied . The first is Two-Step Enrichment Method and the second is Single Agar Layer Method. Both methods gives good results in Identification of coliphages through testing fifty different water samples (Tap water, Surface water and Bottled water) the study shows the presence of coliphages in fourteen samples.
The accumulation of toxic elements in vegetables and melons grown in agriculture, Brassica rapa - turnip, Solanum lycopersicum - tomato, Citrullus lanatus - watermelon, Capsicum annuum - bell pepper, Daucus carota - carrots, Cucurbita pepo - pumpkin, Cucumis melo - melon, and also Prunus armeniaca - apricot from fruit trees were analyzed. The excess of maximum allowable concentrations in agricultural crops of the element As by 1.65-1.75, Cd - 1.6-2.3, Cr -1.2-2.35, Cu -1.6-3.3, Ni - 1.16-3.53, Pb - 1.54-3.08, Al - 1.36-3.5, Sb - 2.0-33, Se - 1.1-3.3 times was established. The maximum allowable concentration of mercury in vegetables and melons was equal to 0.02 mg/kg,
... Show MoreIn this work, monitoring of monthly variation (from May 2016 to October 2016) in the concentration of the metals (Co, Zn, Cd, Pb, Ni and Fe) from Al-Diwaniya city of Iraq. Investigation about the pollution with these metals was achieved from five selected sites locate in study area by flame atomic absorption spectroscopy. The results showed a wide variation in the levels of heavy metals from site to site and from month to month. A total of 180 surface soil samples were analyzed to detecting the pollution with selected samples. The resultsshowed that the highest concentration with Ni was 6.290 mg kg-1 while the lowest concentration detected with Ni was 0.080 mg kg-1. The results of pollution index (enrichment factor, contamination factor, po
... Show More: Clobetasol propionate (CP) is a potent corticosteroid used for skin conditions but often causes side effects due its systemic absorption. To improve its solubility and reduce it side effects (like skin irritation, skin atrophy, hypopigmentation and steroidal acne), Microsponge (Msg) has been employed as a unique three-dimensional particle that can encapsulate hydrophilic and lipophilic drugs. This study aims to develop and evaluate CP Msg-loaded hydrogels. Two Clobetasol-loaded ethylcellulose-based Msg formulas were prepared using the quasi-emulsion solvent diffusion method, then they were incorporated into Carbopol hydrogel. Two ratios of Carbopol 940 (1% and 1.5% w/w) were used. The prepared hydrogel were assessed for appearance, pH, dr
... Show MoreRemote sensing techniques used in many studies for classfying and measuring of wildfires. Satellite Landsat8(OLI) imagery is used in the presented work. The satellite is considered as a near-polar orbit, with a high multispectral resolution for covering Wollemi National Park in Australia. The work aims to study and measure wildfire natural resources prior to and throughout fire breakout which occurred in Wollemi National Park in Australia for a year (October, 2019), as well as analyzing the harm resulting from such wildfires and their effects on earth and environment through recognizing satellite images for studied region prior to and throughout wildfires. A discussion of methods for computing the affecred area i
... Show MoreEsterification reaction is most important reaction in biodiesel production. In this study, oleic acid was used as a suggested feedstock to study and simulate production of biodiesel. Batch esterification of oleic acid was carried out at operating conditions; temperature from 40 to 70 °C, ethanol to oleic acid molar ratio from 1/1 to 6/1, H2SO4 as the catalyst 1 and 5% wt of oleic acid, reaction time up to 180 min. The optimum conditions for the esterification reaction were molar ratio of ethanol/oleic acid 6/1, 5%wt H2SO4 relative to oleic acid, 70 °C, 90 min and conversion of oleic 0.92. The activation energy for the suggested model was 26625 J/mole for forward reaction and 42189 J/mole for equilibrium constant. The obtained results s
... Show MoreThis study included the Zakhikhah area in the Al- Anbar desert, which it bounded on the north, east, and west by the Euphrates River and on the south by the Ramadi-Qaim road. Several exploratory field trips were taken to the study area. During this time, a semi-detailed area survey was carried out based on satellite imagery captured by American Land sat-7, topographic maps, and natural vegetation variance. All necessary field tools, including a digital camera and GPS device, were brought to determine the soil type and collect plant samples. All of these visits are planned to cover the entire state of Zakhikhah. All vegetation cover observations, identifying sampling sites and attempting to inventory and collect medicinal plants in t
... Show MoreAlkaloids are regarded as important nitrogen-containing chemical compounds that serve as a rich source for discovering and developing new drugs where most plant-origin alkaloids have antiproliferation effects on different kinds of cancers. Alkaloids’ continence of Calotropis procera leaves are detected by two biochemical alkaloid reagents. Also GC-MS analysis for leaf alkaloid extract was done that showed the existence of one type of alkaloid compound at retention time12.8min detected as colchicine (C22H25N06( by comparing it with colchicine standard reference (Sigma Aldrich) with M.wt 399g/mol and percentage area 7.1%. Furthermore, identification, separation, and purification
... Show MoreSamples from tap water were chosen to be examined as one of the possible modes of G. lamblia and other parasites transmission. 144 domestic filter units were randomly distributed to houses in Baghdad in Al-Sadr City and surrounding regions then the suspended materials were examined microscopically by direct wet mount after centrifugal sedimentation method, and after staining with modified Ziehl-Neelsen (acid fast) stain. The results showed that 5/144 (3.47%) samples contained G. lamblia cysts, 3/144 (2.08%) contained E. histolytica/E. dispar cyst, while each of Cryptosporidium spp. and Cyclospora cayetanensis oocysts were observed in two samples (1.38%); also free living amoeba, ciliates and flagellates were detected in all samples. This
... Show MoreBackground: Human teeth considered to be an important etiological host factor in relation to dental caries through its morphology and composition. Elements may incorporate in tooth structure during pre and post-eruptive period changing the resistance for caries. The aims of this study were to determine the concentration of selected major (Calcium and phosphorus) and trace elements (Ferrous iron, nickel, chromium and aluminum) in permanent teeth and enamel among a group of adolescent girls in relation to severity of dental caries Material and Methods: The study group consisted of 25 girls with an age of 13-15 years old referred by Orthodontists for extractions of upper first premolars (two sides). Tooth and enamel samples were prepared for
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