Hepatitis B virus (HBV) remains one of the most pervasive viral threats worldwide, posing a significant risk to millions. Due to the absence of proofreading activity during reverse transcription, HBV exhibits a high genetic variability. To date, ten distinct HBV genotypes have been identified globally, associated with varying disease outcomes, including progression to cirrhosis and carcinoma, as well as responses to antivirals. Consequently, genotypic analysis and molecular characterization of HBV are critical for optimizing therapeutic strategies. This study aimed to investigate the distribution of HBV genotypes among Iraqi patients and to characterize their molecular profiles. Therefore, a modified protocol was used to improve sequencing success rates in samples with low amplification yields. Results: HBV/D was predominant in the study cohort (100%). Subgenotypic analysis revealed that HBV/D1 accounts for the majority of cases (68%), followed by D3 (32%). Sequences of 16 isolates were deposited in NCBI under accession numbers PV068280; PV124387–PV124397; and PV172617–PV172620. Moreover, the analysis of antiviral resistance indicated that 47% (32/68) of HBV/D1 isolates exhibited drug resistance, with all resistant isolates showing mutations associated with Lamivudine resistance (100%), Entecavir intermediate/high resistance (81% and 19%, respectively), and Telbivudine (25%). These findings underscore the dominance of genotype D, particularly HBV/D1 among Iraqi patients. To our knowledge, this is the first local study to correlate genotypic variation with drug resistance and highlight the importance of continuous surveillance for antiviral resistance to guide effective treatment strategies.
Background: The microbial production of substances that have the potency to suppress the growth of other microorganisms is probably one of the prevalent defense strategy developed in nature, microorganisms produce a variable bunch of microbial defense systems, which include antibiotics, metabolic by-products, lytic agents, bacteriocins and others. Objective: The purpose of the present study was to isolate and identify Enterococcus faecium isolates then detecting its ability of carrying the gene responsible for enterocin production in this species. Materials and methods: Out of 50 samples from different sources (food and clinical sources) were collected for the Enterococcus faecium isolation, and the isolated bacteria Enterococ
... Show MoreMetabolic dysregulation and obesity are associated with many metabolic alterations, including impairment of insulin sensitivity and dyslipidemia. Recent studies highlight the key role of phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-triphosphate-dependent Rac exchange proteins (PREX proteins) in the pathogenesis of obesity, advocating further elucidation of their potential therapeutic implications. The present study aimed to estimate the serum level of PREX proteins and its potential association with insulin resistance markers and plasma lipids level in obese and overweight non-diabetic patients. The study included 30 persons classified as obese, 30 as overweight, and 30 healthy individuals of similar age and gender. The levels of PREX1 and PREX2 were
... Show MoreThis research investigates the pre- and post-cracking resistance of steel fiber-reinforced concrete specimens with Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) bars subjected to flexural loading. The purpose is to modify the ductility and cracking resistance of GFRP-reinforced beams, which are prone to early cracking and excessive deflections instigated by the low modulus of elasticity of GFRP. Six self-compacting concrete specimens (1500×240×200 mm), incorporating steel fibers of two lengths (25 mm and 40 mm) with varying distribution depths, were tested to assess their structural performance. The results indicate significant enhancements in cracking resistance, stiffness, energy absorption, ductility, and flexural strength. Tested beam
... Show MoreThis research investigates the pre- and post-cracking resistance of steel fiber-reinforced concrete specimens with Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) bars subjected to flexural loading. The purpose is to modify the ductility and cracking resistance of GFRP-reinforced beams, which are prone to early cracking and excessive deflections instigated by the low modulus of elasticity of GFRP. Six self-compacting concrete specimens (1500×240×200 mm), incorporating steel fibers of two lengths (25 mm and 40 mm) with varying distribution depths, were tested to assess their structural performance. The results indicate significant enhancements in cracking resistance, stiffness, energy absorption, ductility, and flexural strength. Tested beam
... Show MoreIntroduction: Metabolism is a vital technique in the field of medical research. It offers an insight into the etiopathogenesis of diseases and the formulation of personalized treatment regimens. Biochemical and metabolic alterations require innovative therapeutic approaches in polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Trace elements, like copper and zinc, may help treat PCOS due to their relation to metabolism. Objective: The aim of this work was to explore the metabolic impact of copper and zinc supplementation in women with PCOS using state-of-the-art metabolomics technologies. Methods: This study included fifty PCOS patients and fifty healthy subjects. High-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) and nuclear magnetic resonance
... Show MoreThe aim of this study is to estimate the parameters and reliability function for kumaraswamy distribution of this two positive parameter (a,b > 0), which is a continuous probability that has many characterstics with the beta distribution with extra advantages.
The shape of the function for this distribution and the most important characterstics are explained and estimated the two parameter (a,b) and the reliability function for this distribution by using the maximum likelihood method (MLE) and Bayes methods. simulation experiments are conducts to explain the behaviour of the estimation methods for different sizes depending on the mean squared error criterion the results show that the Bayes is bet
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