Monitoring water quality in hemodialysis systems is extremely important to maintain adequate quality services for patients suffering from kidney failure. This work aims to examine and evaluate bacteriological characteristics and endotoxin contamination levels in hemodialysis water produced in dialysis centers. Forty‐eight water samples were collected and analyzed from four major hospitals in Baghdad for one year to evaluate seasonal effects. The analysis included the determination of total heterotrophic bacteria using the pour plate method, identification of bacterial isolate using the Vitek2 compact instrument, and the determination of endotoxins levels using Limulus ameboc
Collagen triple helix repeat containing-1 (CTHRC1) is an essential marker for Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), but its relationship with pro-inflammatory, anti-inflammatory, and inflammatory markers has been scantily covered in extant literature. To evaluate the level of CTHRC1 protein in the sera of 100 RA patients and 25 control and compare levels of tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 10 (IL-10), RA disease activity (DAS28), and inflammatory factors. Higher significant serum levels of CTHRC1 (29.367 ng/ml), TNF-α (63.488 pg/ml), and IL-10 (67.1 pg/ml) were found in patient sera as compared to that in control sera (CTHRC1 = 15.732 ng/ml, TNF-α = 33.788 pg/ml, and IL-10 = 25.122 pg/ml). There was no significant correlati
... Show MoreThe present study investigates the characterization of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) synthesized using Fusarium solani and their impact on tomato seed germination, plant growth, and disease resistance. A visible color change from yellow to dark smoky indicated the formation of AgNPs, while UV-visible spectrophotometry revealed an absorbance peak at 437 nm, confirming their presence. Atomic force microscopy analysis showed that the AgNPs ranged from 0 to 39.27 nm in size, with an average height of 5.772 nm, while scanning electron microscopy highlighted their diverse surface morphology. The application of AgNPs and mycorrhizal fungi significantly improved tomato seed germination rates, plant height, and dry weight compared to untreate
... Show MoreThe impact of exposure to different sizes of particulate matter (PM1, PM2.5, PM7, and PM10) was evaluated in Babylon concrete plant workers who had been exposed to concrete dust for at least 10 years. The effects of these particles on the hematological parameters, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, and antioxidant enzymes (catalase and glutathione peroxidase ) were examined. The results exhibited that the levels of PM2.5 and PM10 were higher than the acceptable limits approved by the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). The blood parameters, namely white blood cells (WBC), red blood cell (RBC) and platelets counts, demonstrated non-significant differences between workers exposed to the PM as compared to the control gro
... Show MoreThis study investigates in vitro biofilm production. Presence of ica A and D genes in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was evaluated for biofilm production by the microtiter plate method. Between December 2020 and October 2021, out of 215 clinical specimens were collected from patients with pulmonary fibrosis, pneumonia, bacteremia, chronic burns, deep wounds, urinary tract infection and catheterized patients. Out of which 45 MRSA isolates were identified by the susceptibility test utilizing cefoxitin and the occurrence of mecA gene for resistance for this antibiotic verified by polymerase chain reaction technique. A sensitivity test was conducted for five other antibiotics
... Show MoreLeishmania parasites reproduce wherever there are cells of the mononuclear phagocyte system, almost in macrophages. These are most copious in the liver and spleen;therefore, infection leads to an expansion of both of them. This study determined the burden of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) infection on liver and spleen. A total of 20 mice were infected peritoneally with 2x107promastigotes of Leishmania donovani / ml and other 12 mice left without infection as a healthy control. The weight of whole body, liver and spleen were measured and the histological development using hematoxylin and eosin stains were determined after 15, 30, 45-and 60-days post infection. The results represent that the mean weights of liver and spleen were increased in inf
... Show MoreIn the present study, the effects of brake pad particles of lung and liver histological sections were evaluated for (60) adult male mice. The animals were divided into three groups ( A,B,C) according to the periods of exposure (4, 8, and 12) weeks respectively exposed to brake pad particles in addition to the control groups (F) exposed to fresh air only. A special inhalation chamber designed locally has been used to expose the animals. The exposure to brake pad particles was (2.228) µg/m³ for 30 min/day, 5 days/week for (4,8and12) weeks respectively.
The examination in group (A) of the histological sections of the lung showed the thickness of interalveolar septa. Also, a congestion of alveolar capillary was marked indicat
... Show MoreThe level of thyroid autoantibodies between type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus
patients in Baghdad City were investigated.
Fifty individuals (25 female and 25 male) with type-1 DM in the age group of 10
to 35 years and seventy (35 female and 35 male) of having type-2 DM in the age
group of 33 to 60 years were investigated. A control group of twenty-five nondiabetes
was included. Serum sample collected was used to estimate anti-TPO, TG
and thyroid stimulating hormone antibodies (thyroid stimulating immunoglobulin
TSI and thyrotropin binding inhibitory immunoglobulin TBII) by using enzymelinked
immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique.
The results show that there is a significant (p< 0.05) increase in the level
This study was conducted to delineate diversity and species composition of non-diatoms planktonic algae in Hoor- Al- Azime marshes, Iran. The samples were collected from four sites at monthly basis from April 2011 to March 2012. A total 88 taxa were identified, out of which (40 taxa, 45.45%) belonging to Cyanophyta followed by Chlorophyta (29 taxa, 32.96%), Euglenophyta (18 taxa, 20.45%) and (1 taxa, 1.14%) of Dinophyta recorded. Comparing species richness (65 taxa, 34.76%) at Shat- Ali (St4) was the highest and the lowest (34 taxa, 18.18%) was observed at Rafi (St2). Species occurrence was associated with temperature where in summer (66 taxa) and (25 taxa) encountered winter. The phy
Abstract: This research was performed to study the effect of some amino acids and vitamins on the growth of bacteria Staphylococcus aureas and its sensitivity against UV light. The results showed low inhibition in bacterial growth because amino acids repairs the damges caused by UV light. Besides the effect of two groups of antibiotics (β-lactame and tetracycline) on the growth of S. aureus and the possible interference of amino acids and vitamins in the activity of the antibiotics against this bacteria in the presence of UV light were studied. The result show increase in the sensitivity towards these antibiotics and provided protection against the antibiotics.
Pregnancy and delivery are physiological conditions that are marked by abrupt alterations to hormones, immunological and molecular characters. The current study aimed to evaluate oxytocin (OT), prolactin (PRL), cortisol and insulin growth factor-2 (IGF-2) levels as physiological biomarkers; programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1), programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1),interleukin-6 (IL-6) as immunological biomarkers, and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs; rs53576 and rs2254298) of oxytocin receptor gene OXTR as molecular factors in samples of Iraqi women undergoing caesarean section (CS) and normal delivery (ND). Blood samples were collected from 96 pregnant women at term with ages ranging between 16-43 years. Regarding
... Show MoreThis study was carried out to isolate opportunistic hydrocarbons oil-degrading bacteria and develop a consortium or a mixture of bacteria with high biodegradation capabilities which can be used in biological treatment units of the contaminated water before release. The biological processes in general are environmentally friendly and cost effective, as they are easy to design and apply; as such they are more appropriate to the public.
The location of the study was in Al-Dora refinery sludge holes area. The samples were collected for three seasons (winter, spring and summer) each consisted of three months. The sludge samples were analyzed for various physical
... Show MoreDual-species biofilms of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus generate difficult-to-treat illnesses. Nutrition stress in biofilms affects physiology, microbial metabolism, and species interactions, impacting bacteria growth and survival. Furthermore, the function of alginate, which is encoded by the algD gene, in the production of biofilms has been established. The present study aimed at investigating the impact of starvation on algD gene expression in single-species biofilm of P. aeruginosa and dual-species biofilms of P. aeruginosa and S. aureus from hospital sewage. A total of six P. aeruginosa and six S. aureus isolates were obtained from the microbiology laboratory at the Department of Biology, College of Science, Universit
... Show MoreLeuciscidae species are the abundant and widely distributed fish species in Iraq's inland waters. They are complex species, and morphology makes them difficult to identify. Molecular analysis achieved and confirmed the morphological characters. Twenty specimens of Acanthobrama marmid were collected from two localities at Tigris River, in the middle of Iraq; 15 specimens from the Al-Zubaydia sub-district and five specimens from Al-Tharthar Lake. We used the mitochondrial DNA cytochrome b (cytb) gene to sequence the DNA of A. marmid. The following analysis are compared the sequences with those of other fish genera and species found in the Gene Bank. The barcoding result (DNA sequencing) in fishes found in the same family (Leuciscidae) showed
... Show MoreOut of a total of fifty samples, thirty-five isolates were identified as Serratia marcescens. Thesediverse clinical samples were collected over a three-month period, from October 2023 to December 2023, fromseveral hospitals in Baghdad, including Fatima Al-Zahraa Hospital, Al-Sader Hospital, Ibn Al-Balady Hospital,and Al-Imam Ali Hospital. The clinical samples primarily included urine from patients with urinary tractinfections (UTIs). All isolates were cultured on nutrient agar, MacConkey agar, and blood agar, and theiridentities were confirmed through biochemical testing and the Vitek 2 compact system. Based on phenotypicvirulence factors, the S. marcescens isolates showed varying positive patterns: 32 out of 35 (91.42%) forprotease
... Show MoreThe present study aims to evaluate the effects of methotrexate (MTX) with and without vitamin A (Vit. A) on some biochemical parameters and histological structure in male rabbits liver. Twenty male rabbits weighing 1250-1480 gm were divided into four equal number groups. The first group was given 2 ml distilled water as control group. The second group was given MTX (20 mg/kg), the third group was given Vit. A (5000 IU), while the fourth group was given MTX (20 mg/kg) +Vit. A (5000 IU) in alternative days. Following four weeks of treatment, lipid profile total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), [low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL)]; in addition to thyroid hormones tr
... Show MoreA total of (90) blood samples were collected from male patients infected with Toxoplasmosis who recovered from COVID- 19 and attended Kamal Alsamiraai Hospital from 15 January to 15 September 2021. We measured anti-Toxoplasma antibodies (IgG and IgM) detected by ELISA, whereas Anti-COVID-19 antibodies (IgG and IgM) were estimated using Elisa and Afilias. The semen characteristics were also studied among fertile, healthy individuals (control group) and sub-fertile patients. Results showed that the mean sperm count was high among the control group (40.5±1.3x 106/ml) compared with that of the sub-fertile patients (10.3±1.75 and 8.8±1.9 x 106/ml for oligozoospermia, and oligoasthenozoospermia respectively), and it was the highest (44.7±1.4
... Show MoreTuaimah GS, AQ Al-Awadi, Ahmed ME., Effect of Cutibacterium acnes cell free antigen (CFAg) immunization, levofloxacin and cinnamon oil on Cutibacterium acnes infection in rabbits, Onl J Vet Res., 22 (9):811-822, 2018. C. acnes causes acne vulgaris most commonly in 12-24 year olds. Five albino rabbits were immunized at day 1 and 14 with Cutibacterium acnes cell free antigen (CFAg) and then infected intradermally with 0.1 ml C. acnes suspension (2×108 cfu/ml) at day 30. Two groups of five infected rabbits were then treated at Day 30 with 0.5% levofloxacin or 0.2% cinnamon oil twice daily for 12 days. Five control rabbits were infected intradermally with 0.1 ml 2×108 cfu/ml Cutibacterium acnes n (2×108 cfu/ml). At day 42, skin test (mm), se
... Show MoreThe prospective study has been designed to determine some biomarkers in Iraqi female patients with
breast cancer. The current study contained 30 patients whose tissue samples have been collected from
hospitals in Medical City in Baghdad after consent patients themselves and used immunohistochemical
technique to determine these markers. The results showed a significant correlation between ER and PR tissue
markers (Sig = 0.000) and a significant correlation between cyclin E phenotype and cyclin E intensity (Sig =
0.001).