Background: Infection with Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) leads to activation of T-helper cells (Th-1 and Th-2) which are involved in the synthesis and release of different cytokines which may lead to endothelial dysfunction. Objectives: To evaluate the endothelial function in patients with acute toxoplasmosis. Methods: This case-control study involved 31 patients with toxoplasmosis aged 19 - 47 years matched with 20 healthy subjects. Anti-T. gondii antibody (IgG, IgM, IgA) was determined by direct antigen-antibody reaction. Interleukin-6(IL-6), endothelin-1 (ET-1) and human malondialdehyde (MDA) serum levels were measured. Results: IgM, IgG and IgA levels were high in the infected patients compared with controls (P < 0.01). Furthermore, IL-6 serum level was high in the infected patients compared with controls (P < 0.01). In addition, ET-1 level was high in acute toxoplasmosis (7.29 ± 4.59 pg/mL) compared with controls (3.11 ± 1.69 pg/mL) (P < 0.01). In addition, MDA serum level was high (9.34 ± 4.17 nmol/mL) compared with controls (2.87 ± 1.13 nmol/mL), (P < 0.01). In acute toxoplasmosis IgM serum level was significantly correlated with IgG (r = 0.55, P = 0.001), IgA (r = 0.57, P = 0.0008), IL-6 (r = 0.45, P = 0.01), ET-1 (r = 0.51, P = 0.003) and MDA (r = 0.85, P = 0.0001). Conclusions: Acute toxoplasmosis is associated with significant oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory changes which contribute to development of endothelial dysfunction
The current research aims to identify the fear of intimacy and post-traumatic stress disorder among Yazidi women and the correlation between them. To achieve the objectives of the research, the researcher adopted the Descutner, 1991 & (Thelen) scale, which consisted of (35) items. The researcher also adopted the post-traumatic stress disorder scale for (Davidson, 1995) translated by (Abdul Aziz Thabet), which consists of (17) items. These two scales were administered to a sample of (200) individuals. Then, the researcher analyzes the data using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The results showed that the research sample of Yazidi women has a fear of intimacy. The research sample of Yazidi women is characterized by
... Show MoreThe experiment was conducted in the old botanical garden belong to Biology Department/ College of Education for Pure Science - Ibn Al-Haitham/Baghdad University for growing season 2015-2016 to study the effect of irrigation with four concentrations of sodium chloride (0, 50, 100, 150) mM.L-1 and spraying with selenium in three concentrations (0, 10, 20) mgL-1 on growth of broad bean plant using clay pots. The experiment was design according to completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications. Results indicated that broad bean plant irrigated with saline water and increasing concentrations of sodium chloride in growth medium caused a significant decreased in the plant growth parameters (plant height, no. of compound leaves. Plant-1
... Show MoreRecent developments in two main phases of cumulus cloud studies are discussed; first the relations between the clouds and their energy sources in the subcloud layer and second, the interaction between the clouds and their environment in the cloud layer. Under the first heading, the various originating impulses for cumulus formation are mentionitd. and how the character of this impulse affects the spacing, scale and temperature structure of the clouds. The possible origins of trade cumuli are considered.
The mechanical design of elevator elements is always performed by international standards. The engineer selects the appropriate elements of elevator according to catalogues without knowing scientific details. Therefore, a theoretical analysis is achieved at two operating conditions for guide rails (1) safety gear operation, and (2) running condition with the loads unevenly distributed on the elevator car. The guide rail is considered a continuous beam with variable supports. Then the British code is listed showing the equations used in it.
The theoretical equations showed that guide rails are never subjected to stress in simultaneous combined buckling and bending in the plane, where the bending moment is exerted. It is always a c
... Show MoreDual-species biofilms of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus generate difficult-to-treat illnesses. Nutrition stress in biofilms affects physiology, microbial metabolism, and species interactions, impacting bacteria growth and survival. Furthermore, the function of alginate, which is encoded by the algD gene, in the production of biofilms has been established. The present study aimed at investigating the impact of starvation on algD gene expression in single-species biofilm of P. aeruginosa and dual-species biofilms of P. aeruginosa and S. aureus from hospital sewage. A total of six P. aeruginosa and six S. aureus isolates were obtained from the microbiology laboratory at the Department of Biology, College of Science, Universit
... Show MoreHelicobacter pylori (HP) colonizes the gastric mucosa and causes gastric and extra-gastric disorders. Several liver diseases, such as Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, seem to be caused by the gastrointestinal tract, which is primarily determined by the presence of bacteria like Helicobacter pylori. The study aims to evaluate the relationship between Helicobacter pylori infection and liver diseases by measuring liver enzymes, inflammatory markers, and hematological parameters among patients with gastritis and without Helicobacter pylori infection. A total of 1,325 patients who had gastritis diagnosed by gastroscopy were included in our study. They were divided into the HP– group (340 women, 323 men) and the HP+ group (330 women,
... Show MoreThe aim of this study is to detect the level of psychological stress among unemployed individuals and the level of their wellbeing by finding the correlation between these two variables.
The research sample consisted of (99) people who are currently unemployed and registered at the Ministry of Labor Affairs.
Schafer (1996) scale for psychological stress was used and alongside Ziout's (2012) scale for wellbeing.
The results of the research showed an inverse relation between being unemployed and having wellbeing.
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... Show MoreA total of (90) blood samples were collected from male patients infected with Toxoplasmosis who recovered from COVID- 19 and attended Kamal Alsamiraai Hospital from 15 January to 15 September 2021. We measured anti-Toxoplasma antibodies (IgG and IgM) detected by ELISA, whereas Anti-COVID-19 antibodies (IgG and IgM) were estimated using Elisa and Afilias. The semen characteristics were also studied among fertile, healthy individuals (control group) and sub-fertile patients. Results showed that the mean sperm count was high among the control group (40.5±1.3x 106/ml) compared with that of the sub-fertile patients (10.3±1.75 and 8.8±1.9 x 106/ml for oligozoospermia, and oligoasthenozoospermia respectively), and it was the highest (44.7±1.4
... Show MoreFloods caused by dam failures can cause huge losses of life and property, especially in estuarine areas and valleys. In spite of all the capabilities and great improvements reached by man in the construction of dams and their structures, they will remain helpless before the powerful forces of nature, especially those related to tectonic activation, and the occurrence of earthquakes of different intensities.
The region extending from the Ilisu Dam in Turkey to the Mosul Dam in Iraq was chosen as an area for this study, and the HEC-RAS application was used to simulate the collapse of the Ilisu Dam due to a major earthquake, to know the magnitude of the risks and losses that could result