Background: The overuse and inappropriate use of antibiotics cause antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The antibiotic stewardship program (ASP) plays a crucial role in improving prescribing antibiotics. Although the Iraqi Ministry of Health has issued ASP legislation, its full implementation in clinical practice remains incomplete. Objectives: To explore physicians' perspectives regarding the current and potential implementation of ASP in Al-Nasiriya hospitals. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted in Al-Nasiriyah public hospitals from December 17, 2023, to January 21, 2024, using face-to-face interviews. Physicians who prescribe antibiotics, work in Al-Nasiriyah public hospitals, and consent to participate in the study were recruited using purposeful and snowball sampling, and the size of the sample was specified by saturation. The interviews' audio was transcribed verbatim and analyzed thematically. Results: Nine public hospitals in Al-Nasiriyah were included in the study. One hospital was excluded because the ASP was activated after data collection began. Sixteen physicians in different specialties were recruited, 15 males and one female. Thematic analysis revealed two major themes: challenges in antibiotic prescribing practices (3 subthemes: antibiotic selection, review, and practice, antibiotic mismanagement, and antibiotic resistance) and antibiotic stewardship implementation (4 subthemes: ASP knowledge and components, perceived benefits and importance, implementation challenges and barriers, and ASP enablers). Conclusions: There were many challenges in antibiotic prescribing practice, including antibiotic mismanagement and AMR. The participants acknowledged the importance of the ASP, but they mentioned many barriers to its application.
Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) causes up to 40% mortality in humans and is difficult to treat. ARDS is also one of the major triggers of mortality associated with coronavirus-induced disease (COVID-19). We used a mouse model of ARDS induced by Staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB), which triggers 100% mortality, to investigate the mechanisms through which Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) attenuates ARDS. SEB was used to trigger ARDS in C3H mice. These mice were treated with THC and analyzed for survival, ARDS, cytokine storm, and metabolome. Additionally, cells isolated from the lungs were used to perform single-cell RNA sequencing and transcriptome analysis. A database analysis of human COVID-19 patients was also performed t
... Show MoreThe impact of exposure to different sizes of particulate matter (PM1, PM2.5, PM7, and PM10) was evaluated in Babylon concrete plant workers who had been exposed to concrete dust for at least 10 years. The effects of these particles on the hematological parameters, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, and antioxidant enzymes (catalase and glutathione peroxidase ) were examined. The results exhibited that the levels of PM2.5 and PM10 were higher than the acceptable limits approved by the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). The blood parameters, namely white blood cells (WBC), red blood cell (RBC) and platelets counts, demonstrated non-significant differences between workers exposed to the PM as compared to the control gro
... Show MoreThe main objective of this study was to evaluate the adsorption efficiency of two adsorbent materials, Iraqi chicken eggshells (ESh) and activated carbon (AC) derived from ESh powder for the removal of a cationic dye (Janus green B; JGD) from aqueous solution. Activated carbon was synthesised from ESh using a simple chemical activation method using phosphoric acid as the activating agent. The physicochemical properties of the adsorbents were characterised by the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) method, FT-IR spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES), and point of zero charge (pHpzc). The results of BET analysis confirmed th
... Show MoreThe main objective of this study was to evaluate the adsorptionefficiency of two adsorbent materials, Iraqi chicken eggshells (ESh)and activated carbon (AC) derived from ESh powder for theremoval of a cationic dye (Janus green B; JGD) from aqueoussolution. Activated carbon was synthesised from ESh usinga simple chemical activation method using phosphoric acid asthe activating agent. The physicochemical properties of the adsor-bents were characterised by the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET)method, FT-IR spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy(SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), inductivelycoupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES), andpoint of zero charge (pHpzc). The results of BET analysis confirmedthat AC has
... Show MoreArid and semi-arid climates are critical for water security in sustainable river systems. The Euphrates River in western Iraq has been increasingly stressed by both geogenic and anthropogenic factors. This study analyzed hydro-geochemical processes, recharge dynamics, and groundwater flow modeling in western Iraq. Additionally, stable isotope tracing (δ¹⁸O, Cl⁻) integrated with hydro-chemical parameters was used to assess water quality and river-aquifer connectivity in both Syria and western Iraq. A total of 144 groundwater samples were collected annually across 12 stations in western Iraq. Surface water and groundwater data were collected from previous studies at 13 stations in Syria. Results revealed slightly alkaline freshwater con
... Show MoreArgumentation is not a contemporary, yet a deep rooted intellectual phenomenon dates back to Romans and Greeks times. The argumentative elements ,the author is trying to convey to the reader, are linguistic procedures aim at persuading and being persuaded of what is true. The present study traces, through Camus’ novel The plague, the best method to construct argumentative techniques used to express the author’s deep philosophies.
Résumé
L’argumentation n’est pas un phénomène intellectuel nouveau, ses origines reviennent aux savants grecs et romains. Elle est une act
... Show MoreThe study aims at analyzing the inconsistent structural and semantic aspects found in the plays of N.A Ostrovsky. The analysis, that includes all the linguistics schools of thoughts in modern Russian language, is performed chronologically to clarify all the ambiguities that the Russian language learners may face. Such difficulties lie in the use of inconsistent aspects with complete declarative sentences and adverbial clauses. Hence, it constructs a new sentence category that consists of secondary clause and its syncretism semantic.
The study illustrates the wide scope of both studying the sentence inconsistent
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