Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is one of the autoimmune disorders, generated by a production of specific autoantibodies against self-antigens before the occurrence of clinical symptoms. The etiology of disease is still unknown, although there have been several infectious agents that have been associated with SLE development, especially in genetically predisposed individuals. Herpes simplex virus-I and -II (HSV-I and -II) and Toxoplasma gondiiare two infectious agents that have been suggested to be involved in SLE etiology. Accordingly, the present study assessed anti- HSV-I and -II and anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay in sera of 64 SLE female patients and 32 healthy control women. The patients w

A simple, environmental friendly and selective sample preparation technique employing porous membrane protected micro-solid phase extraction (μ-SPE) loaded with molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) for the determination of ochratoxin A (OTA) is described. After the extraction, the analyte was desorbed using ultrasonication and was analyzed using high performance liquid chromatography. Under the optimized conditions, the detection limits of OTA for coffee, grape juice and urine were 0.06 ng g−1, 0.02 and 0.02 ng mL−1, respectively while the quantification limits were 0.19 ng g−1, 0.06 and 0.08 ng mL−1, respectively. The recoveries of OTA from coffee spiked at 1, 25 and 50 ng g−1, grape juice and urine samples at 1, 25 and 50 ng mL

In this study, the aqueous extract of (Typha domingensis Pers.) pollen grain (qurraid) to know its ability to manufacture silver nanoparticles. Qurraid is a semi-solid yellow food substance, sold in Basra markets and eaten by the local population. It is made from the pollen of the T.  domingensis Pers. plant after being pressed and treated with water vapor. The Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) reaction was done to identify the active compounds of qurraid aqueous extract. The ability of the aqueous extract of qurraid to manufacture silver nanoparticles was tested, and the construction of silver nanoparticles was inferred by the reaction mixture's color, which ranged from yellow to dark brown. The synthesi

Objective: Evaluate the effects of different storage periods on flexural strength (FS) and degree of conversion (DC) of Bis-Acryl composite and Urethane dimethacrylate provisional restorative materials. Material and Methods: A total of 60 specimens were prepared from four temporary crown materials commercially available and assigned to four tested groups (n = 15 for each group): Prevision Temp, B&E CROWN, Primma Art, and Charm Temp groups. The specimens were stored in artificial saliva, and the FS was tested after 24 h, 7 d, and 14 d. A standard three-point bending test was conducted using a universal testing machine. Additionally, the DC was determined using a Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) device. The data were analyzed st

Background: Non-nutritive sucking habits are common in infants and toddlers. One of the most common non-nutritive sucking habits is pacifier; its prevalence varies from one population to another. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of pacifier sucking habit among children aged 1-5 years old in Baghdad city and to assess its effect on the occlusion of primary dentition concerning posterior crossbite. Materials and methods: The study was carried out among 1222 children aged 1-5 years old, from which 50 children with continues pacifier sucking habit were chosen to be the study group, compared to 50 children without any sucking habit (control group) matching the study group in age and gender. Children were examined clinically t

In this study, Zizphus spina-christi leaf powder was applied for the adsorption of methyl orange. The effect of different operating parameters on the Batch Process adsorption was investigated such as solution pH (2-12), effect of contact time (0-60 min.), initial dye concentration (2-20 mg/L), effect of adsorbent dosage (0-4.5 g) and effect of temperature (20-50ᵒC). The results show a maximum removal rate and adsorption capacity (%R= 23.146, q_e = 2.778 mg/g) at pH = 2 and equilibrium was reached at 40 min. The pseudo- second-order kinetics were found to be best fit for the removal process (R² = 0.997). Different isotherm models (Langmuir, Freundlich, Dubini-Radushkevich,Temkin)  were applied in this stud

A chemometric method, partial least squares regression (PLS) was applied for the simultaneous determination of piroxicam (PIR), naproxen (NAP), diclofenac sodium (DIC), and mefenamic acid (MEF) in synthetic mixtures and commercial formulations. The proposed method is based on the use of spectrophotometric data coupled with PLS multivariate calibration. The Spectra of drugs were recorded at concentrations in the linear range of 1.0 - 10 μg mL-1 for NAP and from 1.0 - 20 μg mL-1 for PIR, DIC, and MEF. 34 sets of mixtures were used for calibration and 10 sets of mixtures were used for validation in the wavelength range of 200 to 400 nm with the wavelength interval λ = 1 nm in methanol. This method has been used successfully to quant

Laser etching may be an alternative to acid etching of enamel and dentin. Several characteristics of irradiated dental hard tissues have been considered advantageous, microscopically rough surfaces without demineralization, open dentinal tubules without smear layer production and dentin surface sterilization. The aim of this study is to determine and compare histology the microleakage in class V cavity restored with a light cured composite after conditioning the samples(tooth surface) with 1-acid etching, 2-Q-switched Nd:YAG Laser etching and finally 3- acid and laser etching. Materials and methods: Twenty four non carious human extracted teeth were used in this study. The samples were equally grouped into four groups of six teeth each.