Abstract Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide. Identifying novel biomarkers is critical for improving diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment strategies. This study investigates the serum levels of kisspeptin-1 (KISS1), its receptor (KISS1R), growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15), and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in Iraqi CRC patients. Objectives: Explore associations between serum levels of Kiss1, Kiss1R, GDF, and CEA and disease progression in Iraqi patients with CRC. Methods: A case-control study was conducted, including 72 CRC patients and 36 healthy controls. Patients were stratified into non-metastatic and metastatic groups. Serum biomarker levels were measured using enzyme-link

Objectives: To determine the impact of an educational program on nurses’ knowledge
and practices concerning neurogenic bladder rehabilitation for spinal cord injured persons
through a follow-up approach each two months post program implementation for six
months.
Methodology: "Follow-up" longitudinal design by using time series approach of data
analysis and the application of pre-post tests approach for the study and the control
groups. The study was carried out at Ibn Al-Kuff hospital for (SCI) in Baghdad governorate
from 5th of July 2010 to 15th of October 2011. To achieve the objectives of the study, a
non-probability (purposive) sample of (60) nurses (males and females) were working in SCI
units were selec

This investigation integrates experimental and numerical approaches to study a novel solar air heater aimed at achieving an efficient design for a solar collector suitable for drying applications under the meteorological conditions of Iraq. The importance of this investigation stems from the lack of optimal exploitation of solar energy reaching the solar collector, primarily attributable to elevated thermal losses despite numerous designs employed in such solar systems. Consequently, enhancing the thermal performance of solar collectors, particularly those employed in crop drying applications, stands as a crucial focal point for researchers within this domain. Two identical double-pass solar air heaters were designed and constructed for

Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most frequently observed malignancy in females worldwide. Today, tamoxifen (TAM) is considered as the highly effective therapy for treatment of breast tumors. Oxidative stress has implicated strongly in the pathophysiology of malignancies. This study aimed to investigate the changes in the levels of oxidants and antioxidants in patients with newly diagnosed and TAM-treated BC. Sixty newly diagnosed and 60 TAM-treated women with BC and 50 healthy volunteers were included in this study. Parameters including total oxidant capacity (TOC), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and catalase (CAT) activity were determined before and after treatment with TAM. The serum levels of TOC and oxidative stress index (OSI) were

Water-based drilling fluids (WBDFs) are the industry-preferred medium for drilling reactive shale formations, yet they remain susceptible to shale swelling, fluid invasion, and cuttings dispersion—all of which compromise wellbore stability. Although oil-based fluids (OBFs) provide effective shale inhibition, their high cost and adverse environmental profile limit their use. Nanoparticles (NPs) derived from waste feedstocks offer a low-cost, environmentally responsible alternative for enhancing WBDF performance, but no prior study has simultaneously evaluated both waste-derived SiO2 and Al2O2 NPs within a single WBDF system. This study synthesised SiO2 NPs from Halfaya bentonite clay waste and Al2O2 NPs from recycled aluminium scrap, char

This study evaluated yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) larvae meal as an alternative animal-protein ingredient in diets for common carp (Cyprinus carpio) fingerlings. Two diets were compared for 60 days: a conventional fish-meal diet (T1; 32.09% crude protein) and a diet in which the animal-protein component was replaced weight-for-weight with T. molitor meal (T2; 23.88% crude protein). Each treatment was tested in duplicate tanks containing 28 fingerlings per tank, and growth was assessed over three consecutive 20-day phases. The initial mean body weight was 3.21 g. Weight gain differed significantly between treatments (p < 0.05), with the highest total value recorded in T2 (4.87 ± 0.47 g). The T2 diet produced a significantly higher fee

This investigation provides a comprehensive anatomical, histological, and endocrine profile of the thyroid gland in adult guinea fowls (Numida meleagris), a species for which detailed morphological data remain scarce in avian literature. A total of ten clinically healthy specimens, representing both sexes, were subjected to morphometric analysis of their thyroid glands, including lobar dimensions and weight. Anatomical dissection revealed that the glands are bilaterally positioned at the thoracic inlet, symmetrically located near the carotid arteries. Histological examinations—conducted using Hematoxylin and Eosin and Masson\'s trichrome stains—demonstrated the presence of structurally uniform follicles surrounded by a highly vasculariz

The purpose of the current investigation was to examine the relationship between inflammation marker C-reactive protein (CRP), an oxidative stress marker (Malondialdehyde; MDA), and DNA damage assessed by comet assay (single-cell gel electrophoresis, SCG) in smokers and non-smokers. The comet assay score was analyzed by image software using three parameters for measuring DNA damage which were tail length, tail DNA %, and tail moment. SCG is commonly used as an in vitro and in vivo genotoxicity test. Because of its ability to detect different forms of DNA damage and its simplicity of application, the technique is being increasingly used in human biomonitoring. The test was performed on blood samples from smokers and non-smokers to bett

Polymer electrolyte films composed of PVP and PVP/glycerin with varying concentrations of CuCl2 (10, 20, and 30 wt.%) were synthesized using the solution casting method. The synthesized electrolyte films were characterized using FTIR, XRD, UV-Vis, DSC, and TGA techniques. FTIR spectroscopy revealed an O-H stretching vibration of PVP around 3300 cm(-1), which experienced broadening and a reduction in intensity upon the introduction of glycerin and CuCl2. XRD analysis displayed a characteristic peak at 2 theta similar to 20 degrees, with the peak shifting towards higher angles and a slight decrease in intensity as the CuCl2 concentration increased, indicating a disruption of the crystalline structure of the host matrix. UV-Vis analysis reveal