Archives of Razi Institute
Volume:77 Issue: 4, Jul- Aug 2022

Mineral oil as a barrier can minimize temperature, osmolality, and pH fluctuation of the media in the in vitro embryo production system (IVP). Regardless of these advantages, mineral oil quality is varied and may deteriorate during storage or transport conditions. So, it can affect the IVP outcome by absorbing the essentials factors or realizing the toxic components into the media. Although, some methods have already been developed to reduce these side effects, still there is a big concern about the safety and use of mineral oil in the IVP system. In this review, we provided an overview of the advantages and disadvantages of using mineral oil in the IVP system. We also reviewed available methods for its quality control and finally, we introduced some methods for reducing the side effects of mineral oil.

American foulbrood (AFB) and European foulbrood (EFB) are the two most important honey bee brood diseases which impose heavy economic losses to the apiculture industry worldwide by reducing bee population and honey production. Treatment with antibiotics has led to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains, calling for alternative safe treatment procedures that could control these diseases. Honey bee gut microbiota is known to affect the overall health of honey bees by enhancing their resistance to a number of diseases via modulation of the immune response and production of different antimicrobial metabolites. The majority of these gut resident bacteria are identified as probiotic bacteria and secure the health of these tiny insects. In the present review, we highlighted the significance of the honey bee gut microbial community and their probiotic potency for the prevention of AFB and EFB diseases in honey bees.

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy affecting women’s health, with an increasing incidence worldwide. This study aimed to measure the intracellular concentration of the hypoxia-inducible factor 1 α (HIF-1α), tumor suppression protein p53, and estradiol (E2) in tumor tissues of adult females with breast cancer and their relation to tumor grade, tumor size, and lymph node metastases (LNM). The study was conducted on 65 adult female participants with breast mass admitted to the operating theater in Al-Hussein Teaching Hospital and Al-Habboby Teaching Hospital in Nasiriyah, Iraq, from January to November 2021. Fresh breast tumor tissues were collated and homogenized for intracellular biochemical analysis using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. In total, 44 (58%) out of 65 patients, in the age range of 18-42 years and the mean±SD age of 32.55±6.40 years, had fibroadenomas, and other 21 (42%) cases, in the age range of 32-80 years and the mean±SD age of 56±14.4 years had invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) breast cancer. Intracellular levels of HIF-1α, p53, and E2 were elevated significantly (P<0.001) in IDC cases compared to the benign group. The most malignant tumors of IDC cases were in grade III and sizes T2 and T3. The tissue concentrations of HIF-1α, P53, and E2 were significantly elevated in patients with tumor stage T3 compared to T2 and T1. A significant elevation was found in the levels of HIF-1α, p53, and E2 in the positive LNM subgroup compared to the negative LNM group. Based on the obtained results, the prognostic value of the intracellular HIF-1α is considered to be a useful prognostic factor in Iraqi women with ICD and the combination of a HIF-1α protein with the nonfunctional p53 and E2 tends to indicate the proliferation, invasiveness, and metastases of the breast tumors.

Pregnancy is considered physiological stress, during which a woman’s normal static metabolism becomes dynamic anabolism and significant changes are observed in biochemical factors. This study aimed to assess the relationship of serum vitamin D and calcium levels in a pregnant woman with a missed miscarriage. A comparison was performed among 160 women, including 80 females with missed miscarriage (as the study group) and 80 pregnant women (as the control group) in the first and second trimester of pregnancy (before the end of the 24th week of the pregnancy). The results of the comparison showed that there was an insignificant change in serum calcium, while there was a significant reduction in serum vitamin D (P≤0.05). It was also revealed that, in comparison to normal controls, there was a significant increase in the ratio of serum calcium/vitamin D ratio in cases of missed miscarriage (P≤0.05). Based on the results of the study, it can be concluded that the estimations of serum vitamin D and calcium/vitamin D ratio in certain pregnancies can be considered valuable parameters in predicting missed miscarriage.

Chitin is the most substantial natural polysaccharide after cellulose, found in the shells of crabs, shrimps, and other crustaceans. Several medical and environmental applications have been recognized for chitosan. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the biological activity of laboratory-prepared chitosan from shrimp shells against pathogenic bacteria isolates. In the present study, chitosan was extracted from chitin acetate of shrimp shells at different temperatures (room temperature, 65 and 100 ° C) for equal amounts of shells at specified time intervals. The degree of acetylation of different treatments of RT1, RT2, and RT3 reached 71%, 70%, and 65%, respectively. The laboratory-prepared chitosan was examined and antibacterial properties were observed against clinical isolates of bacterial causative agents of urinary tract infections (E. coli, Klebsiella Pneumonia, Pseudomonas spp., Citrobacter freundii, and Enterobacter spp.). The inhibitory activity of all types of treatments ranged between 12 to 25 mm for all isolates with the highest for Enterobacter spp. and the lowest for Pseudomonas isolates. The results also indicated a large relative discrepancy between the inhibitory activity of laboratory-prepared chitosan and antibiotics. These results were in the S-R range of the isolates. The similarity of laboratory production conditions and treatments is due to the different proportions of chitin formed in shrimp, environmental conditions, nutrition factors, pH, the extent of heavy metals in the water, and the age of the organism.

This experiment was conducted in the poultry field of the Department of Animal Production, College of Agriculture, Al-Qasim Green University, Iraq, for the period from 1/10/ 2021 to 4/11/ 2021. The current study aimed to use different levels of maca roots (Lepidium meyenii) to reduce the effects of experimentally-induced oxidative stress by using hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in broiler chickens. In the present experiment, 225 unsexed broiler chicks (Ross 308) were used, distributed randomly to 15 cages, with five experimental treatments for each treatment of 45 birds, and each treatment included three replicates for each replicate of 15 birds. The experimental treatments were as follows: the first treatment was considered as the control group (basic diet + drinking water free of H2O2). The second group: basic diet and water supplemented with 0.5% H2O2 at a concentration of 0.5%. The third group: adding 1 g of maca roots/kg of the basic diet + drinking water containing 0.5% H2O2. The fourth group: adding 1.5 g of maca roots/kg of the basic diet + drinking water containing 0.5% H2O2. The fifth group: adding 2 g of maca roots/kg of the basic diet + drinking water containing 0.5% H2O2. The most important results of the study can be summarized as follows: the recorded data showed significant superiority (P≤0.05) for the first, third, fourth, and fifth treatments in the average live body weight in the fifth week and the total weight gain compared to the second treatment. In addition, the first, fourth, and fifth treatments revealed the best cumulative food conversion ratio and the best productivity index measure, with a significant difference (P≤0.05) compared to the second treatment.

This experiment was conducted in the poultry field of the Department of Animal Production, College of Agriculture, Al-Qasim Green University in order to assess the effect of adding different levels of Urtica dioica seeds to the diet on the immune response and microbial composition of the gastrointestinal tract of broiler chickens. This study was performed on 180 one-day-old unsexed broiler chickens (Ross 380) which were randomly divided into four treatments, with 45 birds per treatment and 3 replicates in each treatment (15 birds per replicate). The treatments were conducted as follows: First treatment (control) without the addition of Urtica dioica seeds to the diet, second treatment: the addition of 5g/kg Urtica dioica seeds, third treatment: the addition of 10g/kg Urtica dioica seeds, and treatment Fourth: the addition of 15g/kg Urtica dioica seeds. The experiment included the following traits: antibody titer against Newcastle disease, investigating sensitivity against Newcastle disease, the relative weight of bursa of Fabricius, bursa of Fabricius index, as well as estimating the total number of bacteria, Coliform bacteria, and Lactobacillus bacteria. The results indicated that the addition of  Urtica dioica seeds led to significant improvement in cellular immunity (DHT) and antibody titer against Newcastle disease (ELISA), as well as significant improvement in the relative weight of bursa of Fabricius and bursa of Fabricius index, a significant decrease in the logarithmic number of total aerobic bacteria and Coliform bacteria, as well as a significant increase in the logarithmic number of Lactobacillus bacteria in the Duodenum contents for the small intestine and the Ceca, compared to the control treatment. Based on the obtained results, it can be concluded that the addition of Urtica dioica seeds to the diet can improve the immune traits and microbial compositions of the digestive tract of broiler chickens.

Fungal infections are currently causing health issues all over the world, among which are Candida species that cause cutaneous infection. Numerous dermatological studies concentrated on a single species. However, the virulence factors and the spread of specific candidiasis in specific areas have remained poorly understood. Therefore, the current study was designed to shed light on Candida tropicalis, which has been identified as the most prevalent yeast among Candida non-albicans species. Forty specimens were collected from patients with cutaneous fungal infection (25 females and 15 males) and underwent examination. According to conventional identification based on macroscopic and microscopic examinations, eight isolates were identified as C. tropicalis from Candida non-albicans. Molecular diagnosis for internal transcribed spacers (ITS1 and ITS4) using conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) yielded an amplicon of 520 bp for all isolates. Further investigation of PCR-restriction fragment length using Mitochondrial sorting protein; Msp1 enzyme revealed two bands of 340 and 180 bp. The ITS gene sequence in one isolated species was found to be 98% identical to C. tropicalis strain MYA-3404 chromosome R ATCC CP047875.1. Another isolate shared 98.02% identity with C. tropicalis strain MA6 18S ribosomal RNA gene DQ666188.1, indicating C. tropical species identity, implying that non-Candida species should be considered when diagnosing candidiasis. This study demonstrated the significance of Candida non-albicans, particularly C. tropicalis, in terms of pathogenic potential, the ability to cause potentially fatal systemic infections and candidiasis, and acquired flucozonal resistance with a high mortality rate.

Exosomes are extracellular endosomal nanoparticles, which are formed under complex processes during the formation of multivesicular bodies. They are also achieved from conditioned media of a variety of cell types, especially mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Exosomes can modulate intracellular physiological actions via signaling molecules on the surface or secretion of components to the extracellular spaces. Furthermore, they are potentially used as crucial agents for cell-free therapy; however, their isolation and characterization can be challenging. In the current study, two methods of exosome isolation have been characterized and compared using a culture media of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells, namely ultracentrifugation and a commercial kit; moreover, the efficiency of these two methods was highlighted in this study. Two different isolation methods of exosomes from MSCs were used to compare the efficiency of exosomes. For both isolation methods, transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), and bicinchoninic acid (BCA) assay have been performed. The electron microscopy and DLS indicated the presence of exosomes. Moreover, the kit and ultracentrifugation isolates contained approximately comparable amounts of protein measured by the BCA. Overall, the two isolation methods had similar performances. Although ultracentrifugation is used as a gold standard for exosome isolation, the commercial kit has some advantages and can be applied alternatively according to its cost-effectiveness and time-saving properties.

The Citrullus colocynthis L is a perennial herbaceous plant belonging to the family Cucurbitaceae. Several pharmacological investigations have been performed based on the medicinal application of Citrullus colocynthis. The anticancer and antidiabetic activities of fruit and seed extracts of Citrullus colocynthis have been studied. Newly developed anticancer/antitumor medications appear to have been developed based on the extracted chemicals from Citrullus colocynthis due to the high contents of cucurbitacins. The present study aimed to identify the cytotoxic effect of the crude alcoholic extract of plants of Citrullus colocynthis on the growth of human hepatocyte carcinoma (Hep-G2). The results of the chemical (preliminary) examination of the extract indicated that the fruits contain most of the secondary metabolites including Flavonoids, Tannins, Sapiens, Resins, Amino acids, Glycosides, Terpenes, Alkaloids, and Flavonoids. The toxicological effect of the crude extract was investigated by using six half dilutions concentrations of 20,10,5,2.5,1.25, and 0.625 µg/m at three exposure periods of 24,48, and72 h using MTT testing. The toxicological effect of the extract appeared for all six concentrations in the Hep-G2 cell line. The highest concentration of 20 µg/ml had the highest percentage inhibition rate with a significant difference (P≤0.01) and reached 93.36 ±1.61 after 72 h of exposure. While the lowest concentration of 0.625 μg/ml was recorded rate of inhibition of 23.36 ± 2.34 after 24 h of exposure. The findings of the present study concluded that the Citrullus colocynthis is one of the most promising medicinal plants which effectively treats cancer through its inhibitory effect and fatal toxicity on cancer cells.

One of the main reasons for recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) could be explained as follows: it is well approved that uro-pathogenic E. coli (UPEC) isolates have the ability to persist in urothelial cells, therefore, it can cause recurrent UTIs. The prevalence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) has been considered a global health issue. It is well documented that the blaCTX-M, blaSHV, and blaTEM are the prevailing beta-lactamase. Therefore, the current study was designed to determine the ESBL production and prevalence of blaCTX-M1, blaSHV and blaTEM genes among UPEC isolated from 3 hospitals during 2020-2021, Egypt. Total of 111 isolates were obtained from three different hospitals in Egypt during the years 2020-2021. The antibiotic susceptibility testing was conducted according to CLSI advice. The combine disk was used for phenotypic ESBL production. The MIC of ceftazidime was conducted with the micro-broth dilution test. The cloxacilin containing MH agar was used to detect the AmpC-lactamase. The PCR assay was used to detect the blaCTX-M-I, blaSHV and blaTEM genes. The results revealed that in the broth microdilution method, 103 (92.7%) isolates showed MIC≥1, and in the combined disk method, 89 (80.1% of all) were ESBL producers. On the other hand, among 91 ceftazidime resistant isolates, 86 (77.4% of all) were ESBL positive. The difference between the 2 methods for ESBL confirmation was not significant. The results of MIC confirmed the disk diffusion for determination of phenotypic test for ESBL production. The prevalence of blaCTX-M-I, blaSHV and blaTEM genes among ESBL producers was 77.4% (n=86), 47.4% (n=53) and 2.4% (n=2) respectively. These enzymes were amplified in a wide range of MIC to ceftazidime. The prevalence of MDR UPEC and ESBL positive isolates was high in military hospitals in Egypt. The majority of UPEC isolates amplified blaCTXM-I and blaSHV type β–lactamases. One-third of isolates were positive for both these genes. There was no relation between MIC range of ceftazidime and presence of beta-lactamase genes.

Video games have significant and diverse effects on stress and cognitive systems based on the game style. The effect of this media on the central nervous system is significant because of its repetition. Nowadays, video games have become an important part of human life at different ages, and therefore, assessing their effects (good and bad) on stress factors, cognition, and behavior can be an important help in understanding the nature of these games and managing their impact on humans. Consequently, this study aimed to investigate the effect of a puzzle game on the player's stress and cognitive indicators in neuropsychological, biochemical, and electrophysiological approaches. A total of 44 participants were entered into the study and randomly assigned to control and experimental groups. Our interventions were watching (control group) and playing (experimental group) the game. Salivary biomarkers (cortisol and alpha-amylase) were measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. Electrophysiological assessment of attention and stress was performed using electroencephalography. Neuropsychological assessments for the evaluation of mental health, mental fatigue, sustained attention, and reaction time were conducted using paced auditory serial addition test. All tests were administered before and after the interventions. The findings revealed that the salivary cortisol and alpha-amylase significantly reduced after playing the game. There were significantly higher levels of attention after playing the game. Mental health and sustained attention significantly increased after game playing. It can conclude that puzzle-style computer games can strengthen and empower the perceptual-cognitive system and suppress the stress system of players. Therefore, they can be used purposefully as a positive cognitive therapy approach.

Moringa oleifera L. and red pomegranate extracts have been reported to inhibit gram-positive facultative anaerobe growth and inhibit the formation of biofilm on tooth surfaces. The current study aimed to assess the antibacterial effect of M. oleifera L. and red pomegranate extracts and their combinations against Porphyromonas gingivalis. The antimicrobial sensitivity, minimum inhibition concentrations (MIC), and minimum bactericidal concentrations after treatment with the aqueous extracts of M. oleifera L. and red pomegranate as well as their combination against clinically isolated P. gingivalis were determined using agar well diffusion and two-fold serial dilution. The anti-biofilm activity of the extracts and their combination was evaluated using the tube adhesion method. The phytochemical analysis was carried out using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. It was found that P. gingivalis was sensitive to aqueous extract of M. oleifera L. seeds and red pomegranate albedo, however, not to M. oleifera L. leaves and red pomegranate seeds. The MIC value of M. oleifera L. seeds, red pomegranate albedo, and their combination were obtained at 12.5 mg/ml, 6.25 mg/ml, and 3.12 mg/ml against P. gingivalis, respectively. The extract combination had the highest anti-biofilm effect than M. oleifera L. seeds and red pomegranate albedo aqueous extracts at the minimum concentrations of 6.25 mg/ml, 25 mg/ml, and 12.5 mg/ml, respectively. The combination of red pomegranate albedo and M. oleifera L. seeds showed superior antibacterial and anti-biofilm effects against P. gingivalis, followed by red pomegranate albedo and M. oleifera L. seeds. This may highlight a promising alternative to the traditional chemicals that can be used as an adjunct in the treatment of periodontal diseases.

Klebsiella pneumonia is a pathogen and an agent that causes hospital-acquired infections. Klebsiella pneumonia is the first and most common causative agent in community-acquired infections and urinary tract diseases. This study aimed to detect common genes, (i.e., fimA, mrkA, and mrkD) in the isolates of K. pneumoniae, isolated from urine specimens using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. The isolates of K. pneumoniae were collected from urine specimens in health centers in Wasit Governorate, Iraq, and diagnosed using Analytical Profile Index 20Eand 16S rRNA techniques. The microtiter plate (MTP) method was used to detect biofilm formation. A total of 56 isolates were identified as K. pneumonia cases. The results led to the detection of biofilms; accordingly, all K. pneumoniae isolates showed biofilm production by MTP, however, at different levels. The PCR method was employed to detect biofilm genes and showed that 49 (87.5%), 26 (46.4%), and 30 (53.6%) of isolates carried fimH, mrkA, and mrkD, respectively. Furthermore, susceptibility tests for different antibiotics revealed that K. pneumoniae isolates were resistant to amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (n=11, 19.5%), ceftazidime (n=13, 22.4%), ofloxacin (n=16, 28.1%), and tobramycin (n=27, 48.4%). It was also found all K. pneumonia isolates were sensitive to polymyxin B (92.6%), imipenem (88.3%), meropenem (79.4%), and amikacin (60.5%).

Peptic ulcer is an acid-induced lesion that is usually found in the stomach and duodenum. It is usually a case of imbalance between the acid (and other injurious factors) and the mucosal defense mechanisms. Indomethacin is one of the most ulcerogenic drugs that is prescribed over-the-counter for the management of musculoskeletal problems. Capparis spinosa is one of the most important species in the Capparidaceae family, which has a wide range of diversity. Caper (Capparis spinosa L.) is a common member of the genus Capparis (Capparidaceae family). The present study was designed to compare the effect of C. spinosa extract as a gastroprotective agent with indomethacin as an induction agent and ranitidine as a standard drug. To this aim, 40 adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups (n=10 each), including Control +: indomethacin-treated group, Control -: receiving physiological saline solution, C.S: C. spinosa-treated group; and ranitidine-treated group (50 mg/kg) as a standard agent for the treatment of the gastric ulcer. After the experimental period, all the animals were sacrificed by anesthesia overdose and their stomachs were removed. The gastroprotective effect of C. spinosa was investigated by studying prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), Gastrin, anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and Interleukin 1 beta (IL1-β), along with histopathological examination. The results showed a significant increase in PGE2 levels in the ranitidine-treated group with a significant reduction in Gastrin, TNF-α, and IL1-β. The recorded data obtained from the histopathological study showed a significant improvement in the treated group with the extract of C. spinosa. The study concluded that C. spinosa had gastroprotective properties possibly through enhancing PGE2 which was acting as anti-inflammatory inhibiting neutrophil infiltration.

Aluminum chloride is a chemical compound widely used in both pharmaceutical and industrial sectors. The present study aimed to assess the effect of aluminum chloride on TNF levels and metallothionein gene expression in rat livers. A total of 16 Wistar rats were used as an experimental model and assigned to four groups (n=4). The treated groups received aluminum chloride (Sigma/USA) at a dose of 25g/kg body weight via a feeding tube as follows: group 1: Non-treated rats as the control group, group 2 were treated with aluminum chloride for 8 weeks, group 3 were treated with aluminum chloride for 12 weeks, and group 4 received aluminum chloride for 16  weeks. The TNF-α was measured in liver tissue using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Immunohistochemistry and real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were used to analyze metallothionein gene expression in rat liver. To estimate TNF levels, the results revealed that levels were considerably higher (P˂0.01) in all experimental groups, especially in group 4 which underwent treatment for  16 weeks (401±22.1 ng/ml), as compared to that in the control group. For the immunohistochemistry assay, a gradient intensity of staining for liver tissue was observed, ranging from zero staining in the control group to moderate, medium, and high staining in the experimental groups after 8, 12, and 16 weeks of aluminum chloride treatment, respectively. The greatest amount of methylothionine expression was observed in the livers of group 4 which received aluminum chloride for 16 weeks (15.5-fold), with a significant difference (P˂0.01) from the other experimental groups. In both immunohistochemical and RT-PCR experiments, aluminum administration had a substantial influence on TNFα levels and metallothionein expression in rat livers.

Abortion is a common complication in the life cycle of pregnancy. Based on the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, spontaneous abortion is defined as the expulsion of an embryo or the extraction of a fetus at the age of 20-22 weeks of pregnancy. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between socioeconomic factors and bacterial vaginosis (BV) in women having an abortion. As a secondary aim, it attempted to detect common bacteria that cause vaginosis associated with miscarriage and are related to Cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Lactobacillus species (spp.). A total of 113 high vaginal swabs were taken from women having an abortion. Some variables that have been investigated in this study include age, education, and infection. After the vaginal discharge collection, the smear was prepared. Afterward, one or two drops of normal saline solution were put on the prepared smear with a cover slip, and then, they were examined under a microscope. Gram stain kits (Hi-media, India), were used to differentiate between the shapes of bacterial isolates. The wet mount technique was then utilized for the detection of Trichomonas vaginalis and aerobic BV. All the samples were used for smear gram staining and were cultured on blood agar, chocolate agar, as well as MacConkey agar. Biochemical examinations performed on suspicious cultures included the Urease test, Oxidase test, Coagulase test, and Catalase test. In the present study, the participants’ age ranged from 14 to 45 years. Women aged 24-34 years had a high rate of miscarriage, determined at 48 (42.5%), which was considered a high incidence rate. The results showed that 28.6% of the studied population experienced abortion once and 71.4% of them experienced it twice due to aerobic BV. The recorded data also revealed that 50% of the studied population, who were infected with CMV or Trichomonas vaginalis, experienced abortion once and the other 50% experienced it twice. From 102 samples infected with Lactobacillus spp., 45.17% experienced abortion once and 42.2% experienced it twice.

Salmonella spp are characterized as rod- shaped, motile, gram- negative bacteria which has the ability to infect animals and human. Salmonella spp occasionally causes sickness while in most cases not lead to severe symptoms. Analyzing milk for Salmonella spp. is not routine but traditional culture methods are used to evaluate the health condition of the dairy products. However, the antibody-based and nucleic-acid- based methods are practical for identifying Salmonella spp. Therefore, this research was designed to evaluate the use of traditional culture methods and PCR in detection of the presence of Salmonella spp. in raw milk samples in, Maysan Iraq. A total number of 130 raw milk samples collected from Maysan Iraq. All the samples were analyzed for the presence of Salmonella spp. using traditional culture method and polymerase chain reaction (PCR).  The culture method used in this experiment were done by using pre-enrichment, enrichment, selective plating and biochemical tests. The results of this traditional technique were compared with the results obtained from PCR method. The PCR was performed using a 284bp sequence of the invA gene.  The results showed that 8 (7.07%) of samples were identified as salmonella positive using traditional culture technique but 14 (12.3%) samples were detected as salmonella positive by PCR method. The results of the current research revealed that the traditional culture based methods are generally time costuming and labor intensive but the development of new rapid methods including DNA based methods such as PCR are more sensitive and have dramatically decreased the time necessary for the detection of bacteria.

Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is a serious complication that remains a threat to every patient experiencing stimulation of ovulation. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) appears to be the most important predisposing factor for OHSS. The severity of OHSS is associated with the degree of the follicular response to the ovulation inducing agents. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between PCOS with the risk of moderate-to-severe OHSS in intracytoplasmic sperm injection treatment patients. Sixty patients in the reproductive ages (20-38), including OHSS patients and age-matched normoresponders were included in this study. Patients who had larger follicle counts on the day of hCG injection were considered at risk for developing moderate-to-severe OHSS. In addition, oocyte quality was assessed about 20-30 min after oocyte pickup. The incidence of OHSS in PCOS patients increased significantly up to 13.9 times higher than in patients without PCOS (OR=13.900; P=0.007). Moreover, moderate-to-severe OHSS increased significantly (OR=3.860; P=0.043) in patients with primary infertility than those with secondary infertility. In addition, oocyte quality was not affected with the severity of OHSS. In conclusion, the risk of moderate-to-severe OHSS is correlated with PCOS and primary infertility without affecting oocyte quality.

The use of natural pharmaceutical products (NPPs) for the treatment or prevention of diseases is continuously increasing. The ease of obtaining them without professional observation, as well as the incorrect popular belief that natural products are completely safe, increase the possibility of harmful and toxic effects of such products. In this study, some of the widely sold NPPs in Iraqi markets were evaluated for their pharmaceutical and microbial legibility to be consumed by humans. The evaluation includes organoleptic properties, foreign matters, loss on drying, water content, total ash percentage, heavy metal tests, aflatoxins, as well as microbial limit tests. The results revealed that some of the evaluated products were contaminated with heavy metals, lead, mercury, and cadmium.  Additionally, pathogenic bacterial growth, including Salmonella species and E. coli, was detected. A high percentage of loss on drying and water content was detected in some of the tested products. All tested samples showed negative results for aflatoxins. Some of the evaluated products were pharmaceutically and/or microbiologically unacceptable and not safe to be consumed by humans. Serious and fast measures must be taken by the Drug Regulatory Authority of Iraq to issue more rigorous standards for the quality of NPPs with continuous monitoring and control of the marketed NPPs.

Pebrine disease is the most important and dangerous disease of silkworm caused by Nosema bombycis as an obligate intracellular parasitic fungus. It has caused tremendous economic losses in the silk industry in recent years. Given the fact that light microscopy method (with low accuracy) is the only method for diagnosing pebrine disease in the country, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) methods were adopted in this study for accurate morphological identification of the spores causing pebrine disease. Infected larvae and mother moth samples were collected from several farms (Parand, Parnian, Shaft, and Iran Silk Research Center in Gilan province, Iran). The spores were then purified using the sucrose gradient method. From each region, 20 and 10 samples were prepared for SEM and TEM analysis, respectively. In addition, an experiment was performed to evaluate the symptoms of pebrine disease by treating fourth instars with the spores purified for the present study, along with a control group. The results of SEM analysis showed that the mean±SD length and width of spores were 1.99±0.25 to 2.81±0.32 μm, respectively. Based on the obtained results, the size of spores was smaller than the Nosema bombycis (N. bombycis) as the classic species that cause pebrine disease. In addition, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) pictures showed that the grooves of the adult spores were deeper than those of other Nosema species, Vairomorpha, and Pleistophora, and resembled N. bombycis in other studies. Examination of pathogenicity of the studied spores indicated that the disease symptoms in controlled conditions were similar to those in the sampled farms. The most important symptom in fourth and fifth instrars were the small size and no growth in the treatment group compared with the control group. Findings of SEM and TEM analysis showed better morphological and structural details of parasite compared with light microscopy, and demonstrated that the studied species were a native strain of N. bombycis specific to Iran, whose size and other characteristics were unique and introduced for the first time in this study.

Hyperthyroidism is a health problem characterized by an overactive thyroid gland, resulting in extra triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) production, as well as a decrease in thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). The oxidative stress indicators in hyperthyroid patients and the relationship with impaired metabolism of lipid are still controversial, especially in menopausal women suffering from a lack of ovulation hormones. In this study, blood samples were withdrawn from 120 subjects, including healthy premenopausal (n=30) and postmenopausal women (n=30) as control groups (G1 and G2), as well as 30 hyperthyroid women in each group of premenopausal and postmenopausal patient groups (G3 and G4). The levels of T3, T4, and TSH, blood pressure, and lipid profiles, such as triglyceride, total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein, and low-density lipoprotein, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, malondialdehyde (MDA),  and advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) in the two healthy control groups and patient groups with hyperthyroidism were measured. In addition, serum progesterone levels were measured by the Bio-Merieux kit France, according to the manufacturer’s instructions. The results revealed a significant decrease in SOD activity in the postmenopausal group, as compared to that in premenopausal women and control groups. Hyperthyroidism groups demonstrated a significant increase in MDA and AOPP levels, compared to control groups. Patient groups reported a decreased level of progesterone, in comparison with control groups. Moreover, there was a significant increase in T3 and T4 in patient groups (G3 and G4), compared to that in control groups (G1 and G2). There was a significant increase in systolic and diastolic blood pressure in menopausal hyperthyroidism (G4), compared to that in other groups. The TC decreased significantly in G3 and G4, compared to that in both control groups (P<0.05); nonetheless, there was no significant difference between patient groups (G3 and G4), as well as between control groups (G1 and G2). The study suggested that hyperthyroidism causes an increase in oxidative stress, which negatively affects the antioxidant system and drops levels of progesterone in both premenopausal and postmenopausal female patients. Therefore, low levels of progesterone are linked with hyperthyroidism, leading to aggravating symptoms of the disease.

Toxoplasmosis is a protozoan parasite with high distribution, leading to different abnormalities in hosts. The present study aimed to determine the distribution of toxoplasmosis in hemodialysis patients and the expression of the Interleukin (IL)-33 gene in chronic Toxoplasmosis. The present study evaluated 120 subjects, including 60 patients who were undergoing dialysis and 60 healthy samples as the control group, from the 1st February to 1st November 2021. Anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgG was detected by using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique and the real-time polymerase-chain-reaction (PCR) was used to perform IL-33. The results demonstrated that the highest anti-toxoplasmosis IgG antibody rate was observed in the age group 51-70 years who were undergoing dialysis, in comparison with that in the control group (P<0.05). The male patients who had anti-toxoplasmosis IgG antibodies outnumbered the healthy people (P<0.05), while the female patients did not significantly differ from the healthy group. Chronic toxoplasmosis showed a higher number according to residency (the urban and rural patients), compared to healthy people. The frequency of dialysis times per week in chronic Toxoplasmosis patients was significantly higher among the infected patients. The findings were displayed to be positive in dialysis at 2 weeks (P<0.05). The expression of the IL-33 gene was investigated in patients who were undergoing hemodialysis and in healthy controls by using real-time PCR. The findings demonstrated that there was a high Ct value for patients and controls with a high Ct value of templates, preoperational to the gene concentration. The high prevalence of toxoplasmosis in dialysis patients and the role of IL-33 in cellular immunity in these patients highlight the need to investigate the mechanisms limiting infection with intracellular protozoa.

Mycobacterium Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the serious bacterial infections that cause diseases and may lead to death. In this study, 178 individuals were examined for TB infection at Baghdad TB center during the period from 15th January to 1st October 2021. Out of 178 participants, 73 were shown to be positive for TB infection, while 105 showed negative results. According to the results, there was no significant variation between infected males and females with TB in comparison to the control group (P>0.05). The results showed that the mean age of the patients for both males and females was in the range of 2–65 years. Additionally, there were significant differences in patients with TB compared to the control group in terms of the weight loss of 8.82 ± 6.75 Kg, red blood cell (RBC) count (3.43 ± 0.56) × 106/μl, white blood cell (WBC) count (3.12 ± 1.57) × 106/μl, platelet count (1.03 ± 0.56) × 106/μl, and hemoglobin level (6.66 ± 1.34) g/dl. A total of 30 TB patients and 50 normal individuals were genotyped to detect the IL-1β rs 114534 gene. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used for exon amplification in region 5 of the ILB1 gene in the TB patients by using specific primers. The finding showed that there was an amplified product of 249bp located in chromosome 2q13-14. A total of 30 TB patients and 50 normal individuals were also genotyped to detect the IL-6 rs 1800795 gene. The PCR was used for amplification of the IL-6 gene in TB patients by using specific primers. The finding showed that there was an amplified product of 431 bp located in chromosome 7p15-p2. The expression of the ILB1 gene was investigated in TB patients and healthy controls by using qPT-PCR. Results showed that there was a high Ct value for patients and controls with a high Ct value of templates, preoperational to the total ribonucleic acid (RNA) concentration and gene expression. The expression of the IL-6 gene was investigated in TB patients and healthy controls by using qPT-PCR. Our findings revealed a high Ct value for patients and controls with a high Ct value of templates, preoperational to the total RNA concentration and gene expression.

Depression is one of the most common mental illnesses. Herbal medications such as ginseng and peony have recently gained popularity in treating depression due to their safety, efficacy, and cost-effectiveness. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the actions of Cordia myxa (C. myxa) fruit extract on the model of chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) and antioxidant enzymes system in male rats' brains. Sixty male rats were divided into six groups (n=10). Group 1 (control) was neither exposed to CUMS nor received any treatment, while group 2 was exposed to CUMS for 24 days with normal saline treatment for 14 days, group 3 was exposed to CUMS for 24 days and received 10 mg/kg fluoxetine daily on day 10 for 14 days, and group 4, 5, and 6 were exposed to CUMS for 24 days and received C. myxa extract (125, 250, and 500 mg/kg, respectively) on day 10 for 14 days. The antidepressant effect of fluoxetine and C. myxa extract was evaluated using a forced swim test (FST). At the end of the experiments, animals were sacrificed by decapitation; and antioxidant enzyme levels, catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays kits (ELISA) on rats’ brain tissues. All groups subjected to CUMS showed a significant rise in duration of immobility on the tenth day compared to day zero. The CUMS showed a decrease in antioxidant enzyme levels, and groups treated with extract showed significant rise in enzyme levels (SOD and CAT) compared to group 2. According to this recent study, C. myxa may have an antidepressant-like action.