Archives of Razi Institute
Volume:77 Issue: 3, May-Jun 2022

The current review paper portrays the important link of different nutrients like trace elements, proteins, fatty acids, vitamins, and amino acids with the immune system as well as information related to metabolic paradoxes. Optimum working of the metabolic system is essential because it gives various types of supplements to the human body and aid in chemical pathways. Here related data have been retrieved from two databases i.e., PubMed and Google scholar to grasp detailed knowledge about micronutrients and nutrients as well as their association in the metabolic system. Like protein play important role in the normal development of different immune components, amino acids including alanine, Arginine, and glutamic acid properly control the movement of neutrophils, macrophages, and cytokines. While fatty acids act as an anti-inflammatory agent because they possess the ability to inhibit the expression of the MHC class. Apart from these, many essential molecules like uric acid, proteins, calcium, lanolin are also obtained as end products after catabolic and anabolic reactions, and it was found that the uric acid paradox has a cancer inhibitory role. Additionally, TGF and IL-6 paradoxes have a role in the development of tumors, the onset of diabetes, and low-grade inflammatory disorders respectively. However, the entire functioning of metabolic processes depends upon daily diet because humans get the important nutrient from the diet which further vital role in the immune system. Moreover, it was also observed that calcium paradox is related to heart disorders because high calcium accumulation leads to cardiac disorders. Thus, the complete knowledge about these essential components as well as metabolic paradoxes is very important due to their antagonistic role to plan better and improved therapeutic strategies for various diseases.

Breast cancer is one of the most frequent types of malignancies among women and is internationally recognized as the main reason for cancer-caused mortality. Most breast tumors are heterogeneous and genetically complicated due to the involvement of several genes. Therefore, it is clinically important to study genetic variants that increase the risk of breast cancer. It is identified that the presence of polymorphisms in genes encoding regulatory hormones is linked to a higher risk of breast cancer. Additionally, circulating estrogen levels are connected to aromatase (CYP19A1) genes, which is a recognized risk factor for breast cancer progression. In this paper, the authors present a review study on the effect of estrogen and its Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) in the occurrence of breast cancer. This review mainly aimed to find out the connection between CYP19A1 gene variations and the risk of breast cancer, as well as its clinical characteristics and prognosis. Due to the highly special activity of the CYP19A1 enzyme in steroid production, suppression of the targeted CYP19A1 is a focused medication for breast cancer patients, which has only minor adverse effects. Numerous clinical trials over the last decade have shown that Aromatase inhibitors (AIs) not only outperform tamoxifen in terms of effectiveness but also have a lower adverse effect profile.  The AI is now widely accepted as a routine therapy option for postmenopausal females with Estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer. Furthermore, not only dysregulation of gene expression in different genes related to distinguished pathways, such as estrogen metabolism, is essential in the progression of breast cancer but also particular SNPs can play an essential role in particular genes, such as CYP19A1. Different studies have demonstrated that these SNPs can be located in different sites of these genes, which are collected in this review. In a nutshell, more specific clinical trials are required to demonstrate the precise meditative role of anti-estrogen drugs in the treatment of ER+ breast cancer patients. Furthermore, more genotype analyses are needed to confirm the role of SNPs in the progression of breast cancer.

Acinetobacter baumannii is a gram-negative aerobic bacterium that can be found in different environments, such as food, containing vegetables, meat, and fish; moreover, it can be present in soil and freshwater. A. baumannii has globally considered an opportunistic nosocomial bacterium in the healthcare setting contributing to increased morbidity and mortality. The current study aimed to detect the aminoglycoside genes in A. baumannii isolated from different clinical causes. In total, 20 isolates of A. baumannii were obtained from different clinical cases. Bacterial isolate DNA was extracted using a DNA extraction kit. Quantus Fluorometer was used to detect the concentration of the extracted DNA in order to detect the goodness of samples. 1 μl of DNA and 199 μl of diluted QuantiFlour Dye were mixed. After 5 min incubation at room temperature, DNA concentration values were evaluated, and following the initial amplification of the A. baumannii aada1 gene, 20 μl of PCR product with F and R primers were sent to Sanger sequencing. The results of the antimicrobial susceptibility revealed that A. baumannii isolates were resistant to Gentamicin (95%), Amikacin (90%), and Tobramycin (60%). Molecular investigation of the aadA1 and aac (3)-IV genes exhibited that the aadA1 gene was detected in 15% of the isolates. However, the aac (3)-IV gene was not detected in any of the isolates. The gel electrophoresis revealed that the molecular weight of the aadA1 gene was 490bp. The DNA sequence of the aadA1 gene was conducted in this study, and the results exhibited no mutations in all isolates.

Thyroid cancer has been related to many environmental, genetic, and viral factors. Human Papilloma Viruses (HPV) are epitheliotropic viruses infecting cutaneous and mucosal tissues, leading to a variety of benign and malignant tumors. The p73-gene expresses two important isoforms from the N-terminal end with two opposite activities in the regulation of cell fate. The present study aimed to assess the histopathological expression of tissues from thyroid cancers in relation to the over-expression of the p73 gene with HPV 16/18 infection. A total of 116 thyroid tissues were examined for HPV 16/18-DNA and P73-gene protein expression. The samples belonged to 36 patients diagnosed with thyroid carcinoma, 40 thyroid adenoma tissues blocks, and 40 apparently normal thyroid tissues. The detection of HPV 16/18-DNA was performed by in situ hybridization (ISH), whereas P73 gene expression was carried out by immunohistochemistry (IHC). The HPV16/18 DNA-ISH reactions in thyroid cancers were found in 72.2% tissues, 35% HPV16/18- positivity was detected in the thyroid adenoma tissues group, and 27.5% of healthy thyroid tissues revealed ISH reactions. Statistically, the difference of the HPV16/18 in thyroid cancers and control was highly significant. The p73 was detected in 66.7% and 57.5% of thyroid cancer and adenoma thyroid tissues, respectively, while 45% of the examined healthy thyroid tissues revealed IHC-reactions. The difference between the p73-protein expression percentages detected in tissues of thyroid tumors and the control group was non statistically significant. The presence of HPV16/18, as well as an over-expressed p73-gene, in thyroid cancer patients, suggests that the virus, as well as this protein, may play an etiologic role in thyroid carcinogenesis.

The prevalence of alpha-thalassemia as a major health problem in the south of Iraq has highlighted the necessity of investigations and screening of patients with thalassemia. The present study aimed to characterize the spectrum of alpha-globin gene mutations in patients who were followed up in a genetic diseases center in Thi-Qar province. A total of 30 subjects were collected from thalassemia patients and 15 cases as the control group. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and direct sequencing were performed for functionally regions of the gene (exon 1 and exon 2). The fragment size amplified was 442 bp in the Exon 1 region and 324 bp in the Exon 2 region of α-globin. The molecular analysis of the sequence of PCR products revealed that 13 point mutation within the α-thalassemia gene included deletion and substitution mutation, while the rest of the mutations were in the intron site of the gene. These results indicated that mutations may constitute a risk of developing hemophilia B disease. Molecular mechanisms in the expression of globin genes are used to help manage patients with thalassemia.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Laurus Nobilis (Bay leaves) alcoholic extract on glucose, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), creatinine, and urea levels; moreover, it was attempted to examine the histological changes induced in the liver and kidney among female albino rats treated with Depakene (Sodium Valproate). The L. nobilis leaves were dried in the shade, and they were then ground in mechanical processing. The resulting substance (250 gm) was processed in 70% ethanol for 24 h using a Soxhlet extractor at 45°C. Before being measured, the extract was concentrated in vacuo and stored in a vacuum desiccator until the elimination of all the solvents. In total, 20 female adult Wistar rats (230-250 g) were bred in the Animal House Lab at the University of Kufa, Faculty of Education for Girls, Kufa, Iraq. These animals were randomly divided into four groups (n=5), housed in a typical laboratory setting, and given a standard diet and water. Each animal received the treatments intraperitoneally for 30 days. The experimental groups were designed as follows: group 1 (the control) was given only physiological saline solution; group 2 received alcoholic extract of L. nobilis leaves at a dose of 150 mg/kg BW; group 3 received Depakene (Sodium Valproate) at a dose of 500 mg/kg BW; and group 4 received alcoholic extract+Depakene at a dose of 150 mg/kg BW and 500 mg/kg BW. The animals were euthanized following anaesthesia 24 h after the last day of the experiment. Heart blood samples were gathered in gel tubes, the serum was then centrifuged for 15 min at 3000 rpm to measure the biochemical parameter levels, which included glucose, HbA1C, ALT, AST, creatinine, and urea. The liver and kidney organs were removed and placed in a 10% formaldehyde solution instantly. Following fixation, they were processed as usual before being embedded in paraffin for histological analysis. Morphological changes were assessed using hematoxylin and eosin staining techniques. The recorded data showed a major drop (P<0.05) in blood glucose and HbA1c levels in group 2 which was given ethanol extract, compared to the other groups. Interestingly, the level of blood glucose and HbA1c levels reduced significantly in group 4, which was given L. nobilis+Depakene, compared to the control and the animals treated with only Depakene. Moreover, the results showed a major rise (P<0.05) in the liver enzyme among the animals treated with Depakene, compared to other groups. On the other hand, the recorded data showed a substantial drop (P<0.05) in creatinine levels in the animals treated with L. nobilis leaves extract (group 2) and group 4, compared to group 3 and the control group, respectively. However, no changes were recorded in the case of urea levels among the groups. Finally, the findings of this study showed that the ethanol extract of L. nobilis leaves was effectively reduced the adverse effects of Depakene. On the other hand, it had a significant effect on the reduction of blood glucose.

Low pregnancy rate is an important issue in small ruminants. Superovulation protocols would serve as the possible techniques to increase the pregnancy rate in small ruminants due to the use of synthetic hormones. The present study aimed to assess the effect of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) after artificial insemination (AI) on the pregnancy rate of Romanov ewes breed. To this end, estrus was synchronized in 140 ewes using a controlled internal drug-releasing (CIDR) device. Following CIDR removal, all ewes received 400 IU Pregnant Mare's Serum Gonadotropin (PMSG). The ewes were assigned to three groups (control, n=20; experimental groups, each of them was divided into three subgroups, n=20). The first group in each experiment was assumed as control. The second and third groups received three levels of GnRH, (400, 500, and 600 µg, n=20) and hCG (200, 300, and 400 IU) administered by the intramuscular (IM) route. As soon as the signs of estrus were observed, the ewes were isolated from the others and artificially inseminated with fresh sperm using the transcervical method. The results indicated that there were no significant differences between experimental groups in ovulation and pregnancy rates on days 33 and 90 post-AI (P>0.05). The highest twin birth rate (20%) was recorded in the hCG group (300 IU), as compared to GnRH and control groups (P<0.05). The effect of GnRH and hCG on the plasma concentration of progesterone was significant (P<0.01). The groups significantly differed in fecundity rate (Single birth, twin birth, and triple birth) (P<0.05), all of these parameters were significantly higher in the hCG 300 IU group. It can be concluded that the injection of 300 IU of hCG hormone after insemination improves pregnancy rate in ewes.

Dexamethasone (DEX), which is a corticosteroid hormone (glucocorticoid), has been used to treat different conditions, such as immune system disorders, certain skin and eye disorders, as well as breathing problems. Cefotaxime sodium, also called Claforan, is synthesized from a naturally occurring material (semisynthetic). It is a broad-spectrum cephalosporin antibiotic that could be utilized for parenteral administration. The present study aimed to investigate histological changes occurring in the tissues and cells of the rats’ ovary (primordial, primary, secondary, antral, and mature follicle) treated with Cefotaxime sodium, as well as DEX, and evaluate the impacts of these medications on animals’ fertility. In total, 40 female adult Wistar rats were divided into four groups (n=10). The control group received 0.5 ml/kg of distilled water daily for five days as a placebo. The second group was injected with 0.5 mg/kg of DEX daily for five days. The same amount of Claforan (0.5 mg/kg) was injected into the third group daily for five days, and the fourth group received 0.5 mg/kg of both Claforan and DEX daily for five days. Afterward, the ovaries were prepared for histological examination. The ImageJ image analysis system was used to detect morphometric parameters and calculate the area of these organs. The findings of the present study showed that the DEX and Claforan brought changes to the ovarian area and the number of follicles. The ovarian area significantly increased (P<0.007) in the DEX-treated group (mean±SEM=7.3±0.5 mm2), compared to the control group (mean±SEM=4.6±0.20 mm2). However, DEX was found to decrease body weight. Furthermore, the ovarian area significantly increased in the Claforan-treated group (mean±SEM=8.6±0.6 mm2); however, their body weight significantly decreased (P<0.008), in comparison with the control and DEX-treated groups. The combination treatment (i.e., DEX + Cefotaxime sodium) significantly increased (P<0.009) the area of ovaries even more, compared to single treatments (mean±SEM=9.6±0.4 mm2). Overall, both DEX and Claforan brought histological changes to ovaries. However, the effect of DEX on ovaries was less than that of Claforan. The concurrent administration of both medications was found to have more significant effects on rats’ ovaries.

Control strategy of respiratory complex infections should address precipitating and predisposing causative agents in general and immunosuppressive agents in particular. In both clinical and subclinical forms, infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) is one of the most immunosuppressive diseases of young chickens. This study aimed to investigate the concurrent occurrence of subclinical infectious bursal disease (IBD) and multicausal respiratory complex infections caused by Newcastle disease virus (NDV) and avian metapneumovirus (aMPV) in broilers. In this study, 800 tissue samples (e.g., trachea, cecal tonsil, bursa of Fabricius, and spleen) and 400 sera samples were collected from broilers with confirmed respiratory signs selected from 20 broiler farms in west Azerbaijan province, Iran, from October 2018 to February 2019. Pathogens in the tissue samples were detected using RT-PCR for the VP2 gene of IBDV, F gen of NDV, and N gene of aMPV. The amplified products were sequenced afterward. At the end of the husbandry period, sera samples were used to detect antibodies against IBDV, aMPV, and NDV using ELISA and HI tests. Molecular results showed that the 45% (9/20), 30% (6/20), and 15% (3/20) of tissue samples were positive for IBDV, NDV, and aMPV, respectively. Regarding co-infection, 5% (1/20) of farm isolates were positive for IBD and ND, while 10% (2/20) of farms isolates were positive for IBD and aMPV. Co-infection of IBD, ND, and aMPV was not detected in farm isolates. Serological results indicated that the IBD co-infected flocks had almost higher (P<0.05) antibody titers against IBD; however, IBDV-NDV co-infected flocks and IBDV-aMPV co-infected flocks had lower antibody titer against NDVand aMPV, respectively. It can be concluded that lower antibody titer against ND and aMPV in IBD-ND and IBD-aMPV co-infections indicated suppressive effects of IBD on these diseases. Therefore, vaccination against IBD even in regions without clinical form of IBD is inevitable for the reduction of immunosuppressive effects of subclinical IBD on immune responses against these diseases.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) which are known as Gram-negative bacteria tend to selectively colonize in the gastric epithelium. The infiltration of neutrophilic and mononuclear cells in the antrum and corpus mucosa is one of the consequences of acute and chronic gastritis colonization with H. pylori. This chronic active gastritis is the primary condition related to H. pylori colonization, and other H. pylori-associated disorders result from this chronic inflammatory process. The present study aimed to assess the relationship between H. pylori infection and extra-gastroduodenal manifestations, such as iron deficiency anemia, chronic spontaneous urticarial, diabetes mellitus, and celiac diseases with low ferritin levels. There were 235 subjects aged 3-75 years in the patient's group. The selected eligible patients were subjected to examination by non-invasive methods using stool antigen test and 14C-urea breath test (14C-UBT). The H. pylori antigen rapid test cassette (feces) was used for the qualitative detection of H. pylori antigens in human feces specimens. In the present study, 183 (71.8%) patients demonstrated positive results for H. pylori which had been detected by stool antigen test, out of whom 106 (57.9%) and 77 (42.1%) cases were female and male, respectively. The recorded data pointed out that the rates of Iron deficiency anemia, diabetes mellitus, and celiac diseases were 92(50.3%), 62 (33.9%), and 25 (13.7%), respectively. The findings of the present study revealed that H.pylori is more prevalent in females. Moreover, the diagnostic potential of the 14C UBT method was higher and more accurate than the stool antigen assay.

Animal posture, limb gait, and body weight-bearing in dogs can be evaluated by limb gait score. In this study, nine adult male dogs of local breed were used to induce a complete transverse femoral mid-shaft fracture fixed internally by intramedullary pining under general anesthesia with the aseptic technique and followed for 60 days postoperative. The data were analyzed, including five degrees that indicate the correlation among animals’ posture, limbs, and body weight tolerance per day. The results demonstrated that in grade 5, the animals completely hold the affected limb during standing position 1st-3rd day postoperative. From the 4th-10th day postoperative, in grade 4, the animals supported the body weight on the affected limb in the standing position and hold it during waking. In grade 3, from 11th-21th day postoperative, the operated animals supported body weight on the affected limb in slow waking and hold it in speed waking and running. From the 22nd-28th day postoperative, in grade 2, the animals used the limb in speed walking, from the 29th-35th day postoperative.  In grade1, the animals could use the limb in running from the 36th-2nd day postoperative. In grade 0, the animals used the limb normally in walking, running, and jumping until the end of experimental periods (60th day postoperative). The results indicated that limb gait scores in dogs can be used for the evaluation of the relationships among animals’ posture, limb gait, and body-weight bearing per day during bone regeneration processing of femur fracture fixed by intramedullary pining.

Beta thalassemia (β-thalassemia) major is a genetic disorder of hemoglobin production that results in a diminished rate of synthesis of one or more of the globin chains causing variable degrees of anemia. Alpha-hemoglobin-stabilizing protein (AHSP) is a specific alpha-globin factor that affects the severity of the disease in patients with β-thalassemia. A recent study was conducted to investigate the polymorphism in the AHSP (rs4499252) gene and its association with β-thalassemia in Iraq. Blood samples were obtained from 90 β-thalassemia patients and 60 healthy individuals as a control group in the Wasit Center for Hereditary Anemia from August 2020 to January 2021. After DNA extraction from the whole blood, to determine the genotype of the AHSP gene, the High-Resolution Melt (HRM) Real-Time PCR was used. The results showed a significant increase (P<0.05) in genotype GG (wild type) of the SNP (rs4499252) in β-thalassemia patients, compared to the control group. On the other hand, genotype AA was significantly higher (P≤0.05) in β-thalassemia patients than in the control group, while the genotype GA showed a non-significant difference (P<0.01) between β-thalassemia patients and the healthy controls. The results also showed that the AHSP expression is a biomarker of hemoglobin H disease severity, and the A allele was more frequent in β-thalassemia patients than the G allele in Iraqi patients.

It has been well documented that one of the best ways to remediate water and soil heavy metal pollution would be the use of microorganisms able to absorb heavy metals. The ability to resist toxic and heavy metals has been developed in some bacteria and microorganisms. This study, therefore, aimed to test the resistance ability of Pseudomonas species (spp.) isolated from sludge and sewage in Iraq against heavy metals, including mercury (Hg), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), and cadmium (Cd) with a minimal concentration of 50 μg/ml for each. Water and soil samples were collected from different locations in Iraq. To test the tubes, 1 ml of each water sample, 1 gm of each soil sample, and 9 ml of sterilized distilled water were added and mixed thoroughly, followed by serial dilutions for each test tube separately. A total of 100 μl of aliquots from the appropriate dilution (10-2) were also cultured on nutrient agar plates and then incubated at 37˚C for 18 h. Different colonies from both water and soil samples were selected and grown on king A and king B media plates to confirm that these types of bacteria belong to the Pseudomonas genus. The isolates were identified based on their staining ability, shape, color, size, production of pigments, transparency, and mucoid properties of colonies growing on nutrient agar plates. In addition, some other biochemical tests were conducted. Several colonies were obtained and selected from the cultured samples and consequently, cultured and purified as a single colony. The preliminary observation and biochemical identification of these isolates indicated that two of them belonged to Pseudomonas spp.: Ps-1(M9) and Ps-2(M19). The screening of the bacteria isolates for resistance against Cu (II), Hg (II), Cd (II), and Ni (II) was performed by the use of Minimum Inhibitory Concentration. During the experiment and screening, different metal levels were evaluated to choose the best bacterial isolates with the ability of normal growth and resistance against heavy metal toxicity. The recorded data showed that two Pseudomonas isolates could tolerate heavy metal concentrations ranging from 50 to 180 μg/ml. Additionally, the two resistant Pseudomonas isolates also showed resistance to some antibiotics.

This study was performed to evaluate the prognostic value of relative changes from admission to discharge (Δ%) of integrated congestion assessment to predict adverse outcomes in patients with irreversible heart failure (HF) during a one-year follow-up. The study included 122 patients (60% males, median age of 69 years) with decompensated HF. Most of the patients (92%) had a history of arterial hypertension, 53.3% had coronary heart disease, and 40.2% had type 2 diabetes mellitus. All patients underwent assessments, including NT-proBNP, lung ultrasound (LUS) B-line score, liver stiffness by transient elastography, and resistance and reactance by bioimpedance vector analysis (BIVA). The assessments were performed at admission and discharge, and a relative change from admission (delta percentage, Δ%) was calculated. Long-term clinical outcomes were assessed by a structured interview conducted 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after discharge. The cut-offs for the occurrence of the endpoint events were Δ% NT-proBNP of ≥ -25, Δ% liver stiffness of ≥ -44, Δ% B-line score on lung ultrasound of ≥ -73, Δ% BIVA resistance of ≤ 18, and Δ% BIVA reactance of ≤ 40. It was revealed that 55% of endpoint events, including 22 (18%) deaths and 33 (27%) readmissions, occurred within a median of 74 days (interquartile range: 33-147). Patients with an endpoint event had significantly worse values of all studied parameters in contrast to patients without it. There was a significant direct association between Δ% NT-proBNP and Δ% B-lines (r=0.18; P=0.04), and a highly reliable inverse association was observed between Δ% liver stiffness and Δ% BIVA reactance (r=-0.4; P<0.001). No significant associations were found between the other parameters. Univariate Cox regression analysis demonstrated the independent prognostic value of all congestion markers under study (NT-proBNP, LUS B-lines, liver stiffness, and BIVA reactance) for predicting the combined endpoint. Multivariate Cox regression analysis confirmed the independent prognostic value in predicting the risk of endpoint event for the following parameters: NT-proBNP (hazard rate [HR] 2.5, P=0.001), liver stiffness (HR 2.3, P=0.012), LUS B-line score (HR 2.2, P=0.008). However, it did not find any significant prognostic value for BIVA resistance and reactance. The relative admission-to-discharge change in the integral assessment of congestion had a prognostic value for predicting the risk of adverse outcomes (all-cause mortality and readmission rate) in patients with decompensated HF during a one-year follow-up.

Urinary bladder cancer is a worldwide health issue and the ninth most prevalent cancer across the globe, accounting for almost two-thirds of all urinary malignancies. Interleukin 17 (IL17) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine with pivotal modulatory effects on antitumor immune responses and has been reported to play a prominent role in the occurrence and development of bladder cancer. The present study aimed to measure the quantitative serum and urine levels of IL-17 in patients with bladder cancer. Blood and urine samples were obtained from 50 diagnosed bladder cancers and 96 healthy people as a control group. The serum and urine level of IL-17 was evaluated using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. It has been revealed that the level of IL-17 was higher in all patients, as compared to that in controls. These results indicated that this interleukin is an indicator to predict the progression or recurrence of the disease.

Fascioliasis, which is caused by infection with Fasciola gigantica and Fasciola hepatica, is a zoonotic disease with a global distribution. This comparative study aimed to investigate antioxidant enzyme activities and oxidative status of chronic fascioliasis patients. In this study, 20 patients were compared with 10 controls and the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), catalase (CAT), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) enzymes were evaluated. The results showed that MDA, CAT, AST, and ALT levels were higher in patients than in controls, while SOD and GPX levels were higher in controls than in patients (P≤0.05). Moreover, the enzyme MDA showed a positive correlation with SOD and GPX in the infected group. The enzyme SOD had an indirect correlation with CAT and a direct correlation with GPX. The positive correlation between ALT and AST was shown to be extremely significant (P≤0.05). The significant decrease in antioxidant enzymes and an increase in serum lipid peroxidation in the red blood cells of patients with fascioliasis indicated the presence of oxidative stress, which showed inflammation and oxidative stress, the pathogenesis of which was indicative of the stage of infection.

Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer death in the world. Effective early detection and appropriate medications can help treat this deadly cancer. Therefore, early detection of lung cancer is of utmost importance, especially in screening high-risk populations (such as smokers) with an urgent need to identify new biomarkers. The present study aimed to demonstrate the potential of using the panel of DNA methylation as a biomarker for the early diagnosis of lung cancer from sputum samples. The methylated promoter of p16INK4a, RASSF1A, and MGMT genes was estimated by the methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction in a sample of 84 lung cancer patients (65 smokers and 19 non-smokers). Based on the results, p16INK4a promoter methylation was significantly associated with smoking habit and lung cancer progression in terms of histological grading and patient staging. The sensitivity and specificity of the p16INK4a gene as a biomarker for lung cancer were 71% and 90%, respectively. The methylated promoter of RASSF1A was less sensitive (48%) as a biomarker for lung cancer with 83%. The results demonstrated a strong association between promoter methylation of RASSF1A and late stages of lung cancer (P=0.0007). The sensitivity of the MGMT gene as a biomarker for lung cancer was 61% with high specificity (92%), compared to other candidate genes in this study. The epigenetic alteration in the promoter region of p16INK4a, RASSF1A, and MGMT genes is highly associated with cancer cell development. It is suggested that the use of these candidate biomarkers can be used as an adjunct to computed tomography screening to diagnose patients at high risk for lung cancer after validation.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a synthetic compound with alterations in the liver, antioxidant enzymes, and reproductive hormones. The therapeutic potential of Moringa oleifera extract has recently been considered. The present study aimed to estimate the leaf extract of M. oleifera against hepatotoxicity induced by BPA. In total, 44 adult male rats were used in this study, and the experiment was conducted on 11 groups (4 animals per group). The rats were administrated (orally) with 5 and 10 mg/kg BPA and treated (orally) with 100, 200, 300, and 400 mg/kg of the aqueous extract of M. oleifera. After 28 days of challenge, liver enzymes, including aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), as well as a pathological study using the liver tissue sections were determined. The findings showed a significant (P≤0.05) increase in the AST, ALT, and ALP in the BPA groups with different histological changes that included the sclerosis of the bile duct surrounded by fibrocytes and lymphocytes infiltration. After treatment with M. oleifera, the liver enzymes and tissue returned to a normal state and showed non-significant (P≤0.05) differences, compared to the control group. According to the results, it can be concluded that the aqueous extract of M. oleifera has a great potential to prevent and improve liver damage of BPA.

A wide range of hosts, especially birds, can be infested with Dermanyssus gallinae (D. gallinae), as an obligate hematophagous mite. In this study, cytochrome oxidase 1 (CO1) gene sequences were employed to perform molecular and phylogenetic analyses of D. gallinae collected from different bird species in Iran. Adult mites were collected from the body surface and cage material of ornamental and wild birds in industrial farms located in the Western and Northwestern regions of Iran. The infestation was identified in layer poultry farming by inspecting the eggs and the whole surfaces of the birds' bodies. The holding area and body surface of the ornamental and wild birds were also thoroughly examined. The D. gallinae samples were assigned to two subgroups of haplogroup A (i.e., A1 and A2). The phylogenetic tree suggested that the D. gallinae samples collected from wild birds in the A1 sub-haplogroup should be placed beside Japanese, Norwegian, Italian, and French samples isolated from wild birds in the A2 sub-haplogroup. Additionally, the highest phylogenetic similarity in the A2 sub-group was observed between mites isolated from ornamental and industrial birds in Australia. The findings of the present study suggest that crows and sparrows may play an important role in the transmission of D. gallinae infestation to other species of wild birds due to their high population, as well as their presence in most areas.

It is believed that many biomarkers and factors could be linked to the prognosis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the association of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), D-Dimer, vitamin D, and ferritin statuses with the prognosis of COVID-19; moreover, it was attempted to investigate its prevalence according to age, employment status, body mass index (BMI), and place of residency in a population sample of hospitalized patients in Thi-Qar, Iraq. This study evaluated 200 COVID-19 patients and 100 controls. The BMI of all individuals was calculated, and such demographic characteristics as age, gender, place of residency, and occupational status were collected from all participants. Blood samples were taken and used to estimate D-Dimer, LDH, vitamin D, ferritin, oxygen, and pulse rate. The mean age of the patients approached the fifth decade, and 72% of the cases were more than 40 years of age. In addition, 60% of the patients were living in the countryside, and 52% of the participants were employed, compared to only 8% of the cases who were students. The BMI of the patients was obtained at 31.44±10.2 kg/m2; accordingly, 47% and 40% of the cases were obese and overweight, respectively, compared to only 12% of the patients who had normal weight (P˂0.05). There were significantly lower vitamin D levels in the patients; however, the concentrations of LDH, serum ferritin, and D-Dimer were significantly higher in the patients, compared to the control group (P˂0.05). Not only age and body weight but also employment status and place of residency maybe also the important risk factors for COVID-19 distribution. LDH, D-dimer, vitamin D, and ferritin statuses could be used as good biomarkers for this disease and its severity.

Chlamydia abortus is one of the most important pathogens, which causes a marked economic loss in small ruminants, in particular sheep, worldwide. This study aimed to detect the prevalence of C. abortus in the sera of aborted ewes in Wasit province, Iraq, using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), followed by the investigation of the main histopathological alterations that occurred in some organs of the dead newborns. Out of 180 tested samples by ELISA, 32.22% of the evaluated animals showed positive reactions to IgG antibodies toward C. abortus. Concerning the titers of the infection of seropositive ewes, there were significant increases in values of moderate level of antibody titer (55.17%), compared to mild (32.76%) and severe (12.07%) levels of infection. History data showed a significant variation (P<0.05) in the existence of seropositive ewes with other field animals. However, significant increases (P<0.05) were reported in the seropositive ewes existed with goat (91.38%) and cattle (84.48%), while significant decreases (P<0.05) were observed in positive ewes found in donkeys (8.62%), horses (3.45%), and camels (0%). Regarding the histopathology results, the findings of the small intestine showed marked necrosis of intestinal villous, hyperplastic tissues, and necrosis in some mucosal glands; however, in the liver, there was small ductal proliferation with mild portal fibrosis, necrotic debris, and focal areas of hemorrhage in the parenchyma. In conclusion, the findings of this study represent the first Iraqi data concerning Chlamydial detection in aborted ewes; however, further studies in other regions and animal species are necessary to know the actual prevalence of organisms and initiate active measures for control and prevention.

Acute change in mental state is characterized by an impaired level of consciousness, decreased attention, and cognitive changes, and has a variable course throughout its period. Delirium is common in the elderly and hospitalized patients, especially after major surgeries, and increases mortality and morbidity in patients. This study was designed to investigate the relationship between the incidence of delirium after heart surgery and some intrusive factors during surgery. A total of 263 middle-aged, elderly, and chronic patients with functional class III-IV heart failure were classified based on the New York Heart Association classification and valvular heart disease. Cognitive impairment screening was performed using the Mini-Cog test and clock drawing test in addition to standard general clinical examinations on patients. Cognitive impairment was diagnosed in patients with coronary heart disease preparing for planned surgical treatment, regardless of age, while the results of both tests were significantly worse in elderly patients than in their middle-aged counterparts. In the early postoperative period, both among the middle-aged and elderly patients, there was a significant improvement in the results of the clock drawing test. Middle-aged patients also showed improved results on the Mini-Cog test, while the elderly patients showed an increase in cognitive dysfunction. In the third stage of the examination of cognitive function in the two studied groups of patients with valvular pathology at the first checkpoint, no statistically significant differences were found in the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Mini-Cog, and clock drawing test. The results of the clock drawing test in the main and control groups were recorded at 8.9±0.4 and 5.8±0.3 points, respectively (P<0.05). The MMSE results were estimated at the points of 27.1±0.1 and 24.1±0.2 in the main and control groups, respectively, while the results of the Mini-Cog test were calculated at 2.2±0.2 and 1.2±0.4 words in the main and control group, respectively (P<0.05). The application of the algorithm for the prevention of cognitive frailty in patients of older age groups after open-heart surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass would possibly lead to a decrease in the number of early and late postoperative complications, which shows the necessity of using it for patients of older age groups in multimodal programs to prepare them for surgical interventions.

Natural toxins have been traditionally used to trigger several diseases among which bee venom (HBV) is of great importance. The present study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects of honeybee venom (HBV) on alloxan and glucose fluid-induced Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Therefore, a total of 20 adult laboratory male mice (Mus musculus) were selected, acclimated, and divided into four equal groups (n=5). Initially, 15 mice were fasted for 12 hrs and injected with alloxan at a single dose of 150 mg/kg of body weight. The animals were exposed to drinking glucose fluid in the morning for 4 days. Then, the blood glucose was measured. The studied animals having blood glucose of £200 mg/dl were considered non-diabetic and re-subjected to injecting alloxan (150 mg/kg body weight) and drinking glucose fluid for another 4 days. Four groups of mice population included, Group 1: non-diabetic and untreated with HBV, Group 2: diabetic and received no HBV as the potential therapeutic agent, Group 3: diabetic and received a low level of HBV at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg, Group 4: diabetic and received a high level of HBV at a dose of 1 mg/kg. At the end of the 35-day testing period, blood samples were tested to determine the levels of insulin, glucose, and lipid profiles [cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL)] using Sandwich ELISA kits. The results indicated a significant increase in blood glucose in the diabetic group compared to that of the control one, while both concentrations of HBV significantly reduced the level of blood glucose compared to that of the diabetic group. Furthermore, the level of insulin was significantly decreased in the diabetic group compared to that of the controls, while HBV significantly increased the level of insulin compared to that of the diabetic group. Moreover, the diabetic mice demonstrated a significant increase in the concentration of cholesterol and TG compared to that of control mice which were significantly reversed in response to HBV treatment. The level of HDL was significantly decreased in the diabetic group compared to that of the control group which was modulated by treatment, while no significant differences were seen between all the studied groups regarding the level of LDL. Histological examination of diabetic mice revealed a significant alteration in acinar cells and destruction of b-cells of pancreatic sections with marked lacerations in the liver extended to all structures of the organ. The present study concluded that HBV could be a potential therapeutic agent to prevent and manage diabetes and its complication.

Camels are susceptible to a variety of infectious diseases, such as trypanosomiasis, anthrax, hemorrhagic septicemia, brucellosis, mange, and pox, which can also affect other farm animal species.  Camelpox is one of the most infectious skin diseases, which is caused by the Camelpox virus (CPV), a member of the Orthopoxvirus genus in the Poxviridae family. This study mainly aimed to detect and isolate CPV affecting camels in Wasit province, Iraq. Initially, the study focused principally on clinical manifestations of the disease in affected animals. Afterward, 110 skin samples were collected from infected animals under strict aseptic conditions. They were to be subjected to inoculation into the local embryonated chicken eggs to isolate the virus from the chicken embryo fibroblast cell culture. Finally, the isolates were confirmed using the molecular polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. Camelpox virus isolates appeared as several necrotic pock lesions on the Chorioallantoic Membrane (CAM) with cell clustering and sloughing or detachment from the monolayer. Molecular testing was conducted using the PCR assay by targeting the ATIP gene at 881bp. The findings demonstrated that all the investigated isolates were poxvirus positive. In addition, it was found that Camelpox disease is significantly endemic in Wasit province, Iraq. The visualization of the characteristic features of the virus also revealed it can easily adapt to replication in the CAM and cell culture.

Diabetic nephropathy has an important role in the kidneys’ function to remove extra fluid and waste products from the body. One way to avoid this disease is the treatment of other diseases, such as diabetes, thyroid gland diseases, and high blood pressure, in addition to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. This study aimed to find the relationship of thyroid hormone, blood biochemical parameters, and anthropometric measurement with the newly diagnosed diabetic neuropathy in women with hypothyroidism. In total, 90 women (with an age range of 35-55 years) were selected, 45 of whom were diagnosed with diabetic neuropathy and had hypothyroidism, and the other 45 were healthy women recruited as the control group. The following parameters were determined: serum triiodothyronine, thyroxine, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 (DHVD3) activities, anthropometric measurement, fasting blood sugar (FBS), hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C), urea, creatinine, and lipid profile. The results showed a significant increase in the body mass index, blood pressure, TSH, FSB, HbA1C, urea, creatinine, and triglycerides of women with newly diagnosed diabetic neuropathy and hypothyroidism, compared to that in the control group (P≤0.05). A significant decrease was also observed in the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, DHVD3, total triiodothyronine, and total thyroxine of women with newly diagnosed diabetic neuropathy and hypothyroidism, compared to that in the control group (P≤0.05). There was a correlation between vitamin D3 deficiency (VDD) and thyroid dysfunction in women with the newly diagnosed diabetic neuropathy, which indicated VDD is related to thyroid dysfunction and influences newly diagnosed diabetic neuropathy in women.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteria are often multi-drug resistant, resulting in a high rate of treatment failure. This study aimed to identify the antibiotics resistance profile and molecular characteristics of MRSA strains isolated from patients' samples, including skin, wounds, and burns, which are the most common infections, and collected from hospitals. The samples included 34 MRSA isolates gathered from January 2020 to September 2020. All isolates were tested using the Kirby-Bauer method to determine MRSA susceptibility against antibiotics using the minimum inhibitory concentration protocol and the E-test. The polymerase chain reaction was used for the detection of antibiotic resistance genes, including tetracycline, erythromycin, linezolid, gentamicin, rifampicin, ciprofloxacin, quinupristin-dalfopristin, clindamycin, and mecA. Staphylococcal Cassette Chromosome mec (SCCmec) was determined by multilocus sequence typing of all isolates; accordingly, the findings indicated that the sensitivity of linezolid, quinupristin-dalfopristin, rifampin, daptomycin, and vancomycin differed. Moreover, multidrug resistance of MRSA was shown to be more than 90% for penicillin and 91.1% for erythromycin. It was revealed that SCCmec III was resistant to at least four to five different antibiotics. ST585 (2.9%), ST240 (8.8%), ST45 (14.7%), ST22 (17.6%), and ST239 (higher rate) were the five sequence types found in STs (55.8%). Finally, it was indicated that the emergence of MRSA in these Iraqi hospitals highlighted further research to better understand how the infection might be effectively controlled.

The current research evaluated the efficiency of alcoholic and alkaloid extracts of the leaves and fruits of the Solanum nigrum and investigated their effectiveness against the immature stages of the blue fly with 24-hour age at concentrations of 5, 10, 15, 20 mg/ml at the temperature of 30±1°C and relative humidity of 60±5%. It was revealed that the alcoholic extract of the fruits had the highest effect on killing the eggs of blue fly at all concentrations; accordingly, the death rates were estimated at 89.11% and 42.43% at the concentrations of 5 and 20 mg/ml, respectively, compared to that in the control, accounting for 9.27% mortality. It was also found that the alkaloid extract of the leaves of the plant outperformed in recording the highest rates of killing the eggs of blue fly, with death rates of 88.83% and 31.14% in the concentrations of 5 and 20 mg/ml, compared to the control group, amounting to 10.40%. Regarding the larval stages, the first stage was more sensitive than the other larval stages to all extracts of leaves and fruits of the plant. The highest mortality rates of the three larval stages were achieved by using the alcoholic extract of the fruits with the highest concentration of 20 mg/ml, compared to the alcoholic extract of the leaves; accordingly, the death rates of the third larval stage reached the highest rates of 57.11%, 68.20%, and 88.69% for the alcoholic extract of fruits and 53.19%, 68.64%, and 89.11% for that of leaves. The recorded data showed that the alkaloid extract of the S. nigrum leaves led to the highest mortality rates, compared to the alkaloid extract of the fruits, for all larval instars and at all concentrations. The mortality rates of the third larval stage with the highest concentration were 58.13% and 67.64%, respectively. The results of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to investigate the chemical compounds in the alcoholic and alkaloid extracts of the leaves and fruits showed the presence of chemical compounds of varying numbers. The numbers of chemical compounds in the alcoholic extract of the leaves and fruits were 10 and 9, respectively, while it reached 17 and 23 for the alkaloid extract of the leaves and fruits of the plant, respectively.

It is well documented that choline is known as one of the essential ingredients of phospholipids. Choline acts as a determinative element for appropriate cell membrane functions. On the other hand α-tocopherol (Vit E) is a fat-soluble vitamin. This vitamin acts as a strong antioxidant in the living body's defense system against oxidative stress. Lipid peroxidation in peripartum and early lactating cows is significantly increased while the level of serum Vit E is decreases dramatically. These concomitant physiological changes demonstrate a higher level of oxidative stress subsequently leads to serious health issues in dairy cows. Therefore, the present research was designed to investigate the following items in dairy cattle: 1) evaluation of the possible changes in serum protein fractions, and 2) comparing the oxidative status of orally RPC and vitamin E supplementation in dairy cows in early lactation period. In the current study 30 early lactating primiparous and multiparous Holstein cows (body condition score (BCS)=2.51 ± 0.10) were used beginning five weeks postpartum. All the animals were randomly divided in to three groups (n=10) (number of lactation=2.61). The animals were randomly assigned to receive one of the following treatments. Group 1 served as control group were not received any supplement. The second group was supplemented with 90 g/d of RPC (Reashre Choline, Balchem, USA). The third group was administrated 4400 IU/d vitamin E (Roche, Vitamins Ltd; Switzerland). In the current study, serum protein electrophoresis showed four main fractions as follows: albumin, α-globulin, β-globulin, and γ-globulin.  The recorded data showed that the percentages of albumin and γ-globulin fractions were higher in treated groups compared to the control group. In the animals supplementing with RPC and vitamin E the percentages of serum albumin increased to the value of 37. 70±1.63 and 38.21±1.28 respectively compare to the control group (34.69±1.21), which were significant (P<0.05).

Eggshell waste is considered the most abundant waste material from food processing technologies. Despite the freakish features that its components possess, it is very often discarded without further application. Nowadays, most researchers are focusing their research on pollution-free environment, biodegradable character, and balanced ecological aspects while fabricating the composite materials rather than mechanical strengths, costs, and processing methodologies. This study aimed to investigate the impact of the eggshell nanoparticles on the enhanced treatment of a bone fracture. The samples included 10 healthy female New Zealand white rabbits with an average body weight of 3 kg and age of 4 months years old. The animals were kept in an open place. All these ten rabbits had a fracture by making a surgical operation conducted by opening and excluding the muscle and anther tissue, followed by cutting the bone using a special small saw. After the operational step, the animals were divided into two groups (n=5). The fractures were checked by X-ray. The negative control group was left without treatment, however, was given 0.2 mL intraperitoneal saline injection weekly. The experimental group underwent treatment with 200 mg/kg of calcium carbonate nanoparticles (CaCO3-NPs) for 4 weeks. The animals were sacrificed at the end of the study period to collect organs for histological studies. Considering the results of the radiographic examination before and after treatment with CaCO3-NPs, the recorded data showed the speed of healing in the experimental group, compared to the control group. Regarding the histological study that was carried out on the vital organs, such as the liver, kidneys, heart, and lung, no side effects appeared when comparing the treatment group with the control group, except for some slight changes. In conclusion, the recorded data in the current study demonstrated that CaCO3-NPs had a beneficial effect on the pace of fracture recovery.

Klebsiella pneumoniae is a gram-negative bacterium that causes serious illnesses, including pneumonia, liver abscess, meningitis, bloodstream infections, and urinary tract infections (UTIs). This study aimed to isolate and diagnose K. pneumoniae from clinical specimens of urine from patients with UTIs and perform molecular detection of the blaSHV-la gene in K. pneumonia in the Najaf Province, Iraq. The study included 100 clinical specimens from October 2021 to March 2022. As an initial diagnosis, K. pneumoniae isolates were diagnosed based on culture and biochemical features. Apart from the usage of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology to identify the blaSHV-la gene, the final diagnostic was achieved by the automated Vitek-2 compact system. The biochemical findings revealed that 40 out of every 100 isolates tested positive for K. pneumoniae. These results were validated by Vitek, which revealed that 40/100 of the samples tested positive for K. pneumoniae, and by PCR utilizing the blaSHV-la gene, which showed that 13/40 of the samples tested positive for K. pneumoniae isolated from the urine of patients with UTIs. In conclusion, the results indicated that the use of the Vitek-2 technique was required to confirm the accurate identification of the pathogen. Klebsiella pneumoniae clinical isolates showed multidrug resistance to antibiotics commonly used to treat UTIs. The blaSHV gene encoded for Extended-spectrum beta-lactam antibiotic was found almost in K. pneumoniae isolates.

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a highly transmissible disease caused by Aphthovirus of the family Picornaviridae. This study aimed to investigate the serological approach (non-structural protein [NSP] analysis) of 3ABC enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to diagnose FMD cattle in vaccinated and unvaccinated animals. A total of 84 serum specimens, including non-vaccinated, single-vaccinated, and multi-vaccinated samples, were collected from four districts in Baghdad Province, Iraq, to evaluate the antibodies to NSP of the FMD virus. The ELISA was used to detect antibodies (NSP) of FMDV in the serum of cattle. The result showed that the seroprevalence was estimated at 34% (29/84) in farm animals. The seroprevalence rates of FMD in relation to the age of infected animals were obtained at 21%, 7%, and 6% in 9-23-, 24-36-, and ≥ 36-month-old groups, respectively. The consequences of the examination of the sera from naive, immunized, and non-immunized infected farm animals applying 3ABC-ELISA were presented; accordingly, the incidence rates of FMD infection in non-vaccinated and vaccinated animals were 18 (75%) and 11 (18%) respectively. Negative results were recorded in the immunized group 49 (82%) higher than in the non-immunized group 6 (25%). Evaluation of NSP antibodies to isolate vaccinated animals from infected ones showed that the application of these assays was significantly useful for FMD prevention and control management programs in infected areas.

The spread of new waves of coronavirus outbreaks, high mortality rates, and time-consuming and numerous challenges in achieving collective safety through vaccination and the need to prioritize the allocation of vaccines to the general population have led to the continued identification of risk factors associated with mortality in patients through innovative strategies and new statistical models. In this study, an artificial neural network (ANN) model was used to predict morbidity in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Data of 2,206 patients were extracted from the registry program of Shahid Mostafa Khomeini Hospital in Ilam, Iran, and were randomly analyzed in two training (1,544) and testing (662) groups. By fitting different models of a three-layer neural network, 12 variables could explain more than 77% of the mortality variance in COVID-19 patients. These findings could be used to better mortality management, vaccination prioritization, public education, and quarantine, and allocation of intensive care beds to reduce COVID-19 mortality. The results also confirmed the power of a better explanation of ANN models to predict the mortality of patients.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 is a major threat to health care worldwide with high morbidity and mortality. Therefore, understanding the role of immune mechanisms and humoral response is vital in this disease. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between Immunoglobulins (IgM, IgG) in COVID-19 recovered patients with age, gender, and severity of the disease. The duration of effect of antibody levels and protection against re-infection has also been evaluated in the patients. Three groups participated in this study; group 1:  0-14 days after recovery, group 2: 2 months after recovery, group 3: 3 months after recovery, group 4: 4-6 months after recovery, group 5: more than 6 months. The nasopharyngeal swab was used to confirm recovery by Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) technique. IgM and IgG antibody levels were evaluated using Enzyme-Linked Immuno Fluorescent Assay (ELIFA) technique. The results indicated that the IgM levels increased for one month during the seven days after infection and then decreased in most patients (P≤0.05). The mean of IgG in group 1 increased compared to those of other studied groups. A significant decrease was observed in group 2 compared to group 1, as well as in group 3 compared to groups 1, and 2. Also, a significant difference existed between group 4 compared to groups 1, 2, and 3. Finally, significant differences were noticed between group 5 compared to groups 1, 2, 3, and 4 (P≤0.05). No significant differences were observed in antibodies level between male, and female COVID-19 recovered patients in groups 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 (P≤0.05).  Finally, highly significant differences in IgG levels between mild, moderate, and severe subgroups in groups 1 and 2. The present study demonstrated that IgM and IgG against SARS-CoV-2 appeared in the early stages of the disease and decreased after 1 month and failed to maintain high levels during the 6-month observation.

Proteus mirabilis is considered one of the causative pathogens that leads to complicated urinary tract infection (UTI); moreover, it produces urease. Urease plays a key role as a virulence factor for P. mirabilis. UreR, a member of the AraC/XylS family of transcriptional regulators, positively activates the expression of the ure gene cluster in the presence of urea. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate the contribution of ureR to urease activity and virulence in urinary tract infections. A total of 74 clinical samples were collected from August to December 2020. The urine samples were taken from individuals with parasitic infections in their urinary tracts. After cultivating the samples on the MacConkey agar, the initial identification was performed based on traditional methods with the automated VITEK-2 compact method. Bacterial isolates were inoculated by stabbing and streaking into a slant of urease agar, which were then incubated at 37°C for 24-48 h. The polymerase chain reaction technique was used to detect the P. mirabilis ureR gene. The results of biochemical studies were utilized to confirm the identification of P. mirabilis isolates that had previously been made. All isolates had the same oxidase-negative, catalase-positive, oxidase-negative, and catalase-positive properties. They were motile, methyl red, and uric acid, catalase, citrate, and urease positive. The results of investigating the expression of the ureR gene in 15 isolates of P. mirabilis suggested that only 14 (93.3%) of the isolates produced ureR gene products using unique primers.

Nanomaterial, especially zinc oxide nanoparticles, has entered the manufacture of many materials used in daily lives. The current study aimed to assess the impact of three concentrations of hibiscus rosa zinc oxide nanoparticles (HrZnONPs) and hibiscus rosa extract (Hre) on the liver tissue and DNA fragmentation of liver cells. A total of 35 adult male Wistar rats were grouped as follows: The first group which was the control (n=7) did not receive any treatment. The remaining 28 animals were randomly assigned to four groups. Group 1 (n=7) were subcutaneously injected with 100mgkg BW of Hibiscus rosa extract for 60 days; the rats in group 2 were subcutaneouslyinjected with 25 mgkg BW of HrZnONPs for 60 days; rats in group 3 were subcutaneouslyinjected with 75mgkg BW of HrZnONPs for 60 days; rats in group 4 were subcutaneously injected with 100mgkg BW of HrZnONPs for 60 days.  The liver biomarkers, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) have been assessed in serum at zero time, after one month, and after two months of the experiment. At the end of the experiment, all animals were euthanized, the liver was dissected, the specimen underwent a pathohistological investigation, and the percentage of DNA fragmentation was evaluated. The results pointed out that the rats which were treated with HrZnONPs at concentrations of 75 and 100 mgkg B.W. demonstrated a salient elevation in serum AST, ALT, or ALP activity, a modulation in hepatic tissue architecture, and an elevated percentage of high DNA damage, as compared to those treated with HrZnONPs at a concentration of 25 mgkg B.W. On the other hand, the recorded data indicated that the administration of Hre has some ameliorative effects on AST, ALP, and ALT levels, histological cross-section, and the value of comet assay for liver cells due to the role of Hre antioxidant. In conclusion, the results of the current study demonstrated that high doses of HrZnONPs had exerted more adverse effects, compared to low doses. Moreover, the findings confirmed the ameliorative impact of Hre on liver biomarkers, a histological cross-section of the liver, and DNA damage.

Sheep husbandry is considered one of the most important activities in the socio-economic development in the Middle East region, especially in Iraq and Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI). Therefore this study was designed to evaluate the level of ovine pasteurellosis vaccine protective antibody titer and identification of the prevailing serotypes in Iraq (Basrah, Baghdad, Tikrit, Mosul, Erbil). The vaccine was made from pasteurella multosida Bio-type A and the serotypes of Mannheimia haemolytica. This investigation was performed from September 2021 to January 2022, in Iraq. Sheep blood sera samples were obtained from control unvaccinated and vaccinated sheep after 14, 21 and 28 days post vaccination. The results showed that out of 319 sheep blood sera samples which were evaluated using indirect Haemagglutination (IHA) test to detect Mannheimia haemolytica serotypes, the high prevalence (100 %) of M. haemolytica A2 was found in all the five study regions area, while 96.5 % was M. haemolytica A7 and 88.1 % was M. haemolytica A1. The level of antibody titer was measured by specific serum antibody titer of pasteurella multosida Bio-type A. The results revealed that out of 268 vaccinated blood sera samples the overall antibody titer were 12 (3.8 %), 16 (5%) and 17 (5.3 %) for protective antibody titer of 1:160, 1:80 and 1:40 respectively and for antibody titer of 1:20 were 15 (4.7%) and for antibody titer of 1:10 were 17 (5.3 %), whereas the antibody titer in the control group was 4 (7.8 %). The result of this study indicated that the vaccine administered has limited protective power against pasteurella multocida Bio-type A which lead to researchers for further study on identification of specific strain of pasteurella multosida and development of multivalent vaccine including the most prevalent pasteurella serotypes.

One of the public health issues in the endemic areas, especially in the Middle East region would be the Leishmaniasis. The suggested cure for leishmaniasis is pentavalent antimonials. These medications have drastic side effects and the risk of relapse. On the other hand, nowadays use of herbal remedies as safe and cost-effective treatments have been increased. Therefore this study was designed to determine in vitro anti-leishmanial activity of methanol extracts of greater celandine (Chelidonium majus) against Leishmania major. Greater celandine extract was added to L. major promastigotes and intra-macrophagic amastigotes. After 24, 48 and 72 h in vitro culture the percentage of promastigotes viability was calculated by direct counting method and MTT assay. Cytotoxicity in intra-macrophagic amastigotes was evaluated by direct counting method. Viability in minimum dose and maximum dose-treated groups (1.5 and 90 μg/ml) after 24 h, was 55.52% and 36.34%, respectively. After 48 h, it was 40% and 25.26% and after 72 h, it was 62.18% and 38.45%, respectively. The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) was 0.92 μg/ml, after 24 h. Cytotoxicity in intra-macrophagic amastigotes treated by 3 μg/ml dose after 24 and 48 h, was 33.23% and 50.34%, respectively. It could be concluded that greater celandine methanolic extract has in vitro cytotoxic effect on the L. major in time and dose-dependent pattern.

Antibiotic resistance leads to a dramatic increase in the morbidity and mortality caused by infectious diseases. Even though estimates vary widely, the economic cost of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria is on a rise. The current aimed to identify the antimicrobial resistance of Escherichia coli (E. coli). In fact, this study focused on the recent deep-learning methods (sequencing) to investigate E. coli antibiotic resistance and their protein sequences. To evaluate antibiotic resistance, the sequencing method could be considered the method of choice. The E. coli was identified by either specific biochemical tests or polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using the 16S rRNA gene. The results of aadA1 gene sequences demonstrated 10 nucleic acid substitutions throughout, as compared to the reference NCBI database (MG385063). Out of the 10 nucleic acid substitutions, 9 missense effects were observed. While the dfrA1 gene sequences illustrated 20 nucleic acid substitutions throughout, compared to the reference NCBI database (KY706080), out of the 20 nucleic acid substitutions, 8 missense effects were observed. Furthermore, the sul1 gene sequences displayed 20 nucleic acid substitutions throughout, in comparison with the reference NCBI database (CP069561), and out of the 20 nucleic acid substitutions, 12 missense effects were detected. The cat1 gene sequences showed 14 nucleic acid substitutions throughout, compared to the reference NCBI database (NC017660), and out of the 14 nucleic acid substitutions, 8 missense effects were observed. The precise point (Missense) mutation in four genes (aadA1, dfrA1, sul1, and cat1) in the expected sequence is interpreted to be the target site of a site-specific recombination mechanism that led to antibiotics resistance in E. coli isolates.