Activation of farnesoid X receptor (FXR) markedly attenuates development of atherosclerosis in animal models. However, the underlying mechanism is not well elucidated. Here, we show that the FXR agonist, obeticholic acid (OCA), increases fecal cholesterol excretion and macrophage reverse cholesterol transport (RCT) dependent on activation of hepatic FXR. OCA does not increase biliary cholesterol secretion, but inhibits intestinal cholesterol absorption. OCA markedly inhibits hepatic cholesterol 7α‐hydroxylase (
Autoimmune hepatitis is an inflammatory disease and its incidence has been increasing. The features of hepatitis are the release of inflammatory cytokines, the elevation of AST and ALT, and hepatocyte apoptosis and necrosis. Concanavalin A considered as essential model represents the acute immune-mediated liver damage in rodents. Thymoquinone is well known herbal compound that exert hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activity. In this study, we focus on the immunoregulatory and liver protective effect of thymoquinone in a mouse model of concanavalin A-induced liver injury.
Twenty-four male mice were randomly divided into four groups each containing six animals: Negative control group, concanavalin A model group,
... Show MoreBackground: The bone mineral density of the lumbar vertebra has been assessed according to the results of the Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry (DEXA). Although anemia is known to affect bone mineral density, at the present time, it is not clear which vertebra is more affected by this disease. Objective: To evaluate the effects of anemia on the bone mineral density of the lumbar vertebra in comparison with a normal subject and determine which part of the lumbar vertebra is more affected by anemia. Methods: All 205 participants in this study complained of bone pain (90 males and 105 females). 95 patients, including both sexes, suffered from anemia. Additionally, the study included 110 seemingly healthy volunteers as the control group
... Show MoreA study was carried out to analysis of some heavy metals in nine different types of vinegar, belong to Grape, Apple, Synthetic White, Date, Hawthorn, Garlic, Cactus, Pomegranate and Ginger vinegar, which are locally available in Iraqi folk medicine markets. The concentrations of heavy metals in the studied samples including, Cr, Mg, Mn, Zn, Fe, Cd, Ni, Pb and Ag, were determining by using flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry. All data were subjected to statistical analysis by calculating accuracy, precision and correlation coefficient for each concentrations level. The results indicate that Ni was recorded the highest concentration in all studied samples except, Ginger and cactus vinegar, each one receded the highest concentration valu
... Show MoreThis study is concerned with the evaluation of the effect of Euphrates River water quality in Al-Samawa region during
the period 1984-2003 on efficiency and reliability of reverse osmosis desalination systems by calculating the calcium
sulfate scaling index depending on the following indicators: - TDS, Ca+2, Mg+2, Na+1, Cl-1, So4-2, HCO3-1. It was
found from data analysis that this index for these units is greater than permissible limit. Also, the fitted relationship
between this index and TDS is logarithmic, i.e. this index varies more rapidly than TDS, and consequently it is more
representative to the water quality than TDS.
Different bremsstrahlung spectra from tungsten anode x-ray tube generated at 30, 40 and 50 kV have been examined theoretically and experimentally for an attempt to find a most suitable spectrum to radiograph a test object of 0.01 cm thickness of Cu and Ag. The high contrast using this suitable spectrum is demonstrated and the possible effects of fluorescent radiation are discussed.
The largest use of x-ray in medical by dentists, employers or persons that needed by patients with specific conditions, lead to higher exposure of x-ray that may cause many diseases. In the present work radiography films have been used in evaluating the efficiency of using unsaturated polyester polymer reinforced with lead oxide (PbO) as shield material for medical x-ray devices, many parameters studied like concentration and thickness that they are increasing the attenuation of x-ray in them. The results show that the attenuation of X-ray increasing with concentration of reinforced material and with thickness, and the optical density decreases with increasing concentration from 0% to 50%, we chose 30% as suitable concentration to increase
... Show MoreThe present paper focuses on the nature of the different interactions between cometary nucleus and tail with solar wind. The dynamics of the comet will impose many features that provide unique behavior of the comet when entering the solar system. These features are reviewed in this paper and few investigations are made. The calculations made in this work represent the analysis and interpretation of the different features of the comet, such as perihelion and eccentricity dependence on the gas production rate, and the dependence of the latter on the composition of the comet nucleus. The dependences of the heliocentric, bow shock, contact surface, and stand-off distances with gas production rate for many types of comets that cover linear and n
... Show MoreIn some cases, surgeons need to navigate through the computer system for reconfirmation patients’ details and unfortunately surgeons unable to manage both computer system and operation at the same time. In this paper we propose a solution for this problem especially designed for heart surgeon, by introducing voice activation system with 3D visualization of Angiographic images, 2D visualization of Echocardiography processed video and selected patient’s details. In this study, the processing, approximation of the 3D angiography and the visualization of the 2D echocardiography video with voice recognition control are the most challenging work. The work involve with predicting 3D coronary three from 2D angiography image and also image enhan
... Show MoreAnaemia is a common extra-articular manifestation of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) where anaemia of chronic disease (ACD) and iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) are the two most frequent types. The distinction between these two types of anaemia has always been challenging requiring sophisticated techniques. Serum transferrin receptor (sTfR) a truncated soluble form of the transferrin receptor is one of the parameters that is influenced by the Iron content and supply to the erythrons and is not affected by inflammatory status and therefore the use of the sTfR/log ferritin (sTfR-F) index can be a reliable indicator of functional iron deficiency.