Chronic liver disease (CLD) can potentially cause disruptions in the normal functioning of various endocrine organs responsible for producing hormones. As a result, individuals suffering from CLD may experience fluctuations or imbalances in the levels of certain hormones within their bodies. As well as they frequently have suppressed immune systems making them more vulnerable to parasite infections. The primary objective of this study was to investigate the association between Toxoplasma gondii infections and liver function by analyzing the interplay between these parasites and hormones. This study was conducted in Baghdad, Iraq from December 2021 to May 2022. One hundred and twenty male patients with Chronic liver disease (CLD) (age:14-75 years) and 120 control males (age: 24-70 years) participated in this study. Stool and serum samples were collected from all individuals and were then analysed for intestinal protozoan parasites and anti-Toxoplasma antibodies respectively. Hormonal tests were conducted for all participants which included (Cortisol, testosterone, prolactin, insulin, and thyroid-stimulating hormone TSH). Biochemical tests included (Prothrombin time PT, international normalized ratio INR and albumin); liver enzymes were (aspartate aminotransferase AST, alanine aminotransferase ALT, alkaline phosphatase ALP and gamma-glutamyl transferase GGT) and interleukins (Interleukin 13 IL-13 and transforming growth factor TGF). The findings indicate that among the control group participants, 34 individuals, which constitute 28.33% of that group, tested positive for protozoan parasitic infections. In contrast, a higher proportion, 69 individuals or 57.5%, of the participants diagnosed with CLD were found to be positive for protozoan parasites. Four sub-groups were formed in response to prior results: Control-parasites positive, control-parasites negative, CLD-parasite positive and CLD-parasite negative. The status of the protozoan parasites did not affect the hormones levels. The results of liver enzymes showed that parasite positive status was significantly related to all enzymes among CLD patients except the GGT. As well as parasite positive status was not correlated with the other biochemical (PT, INR, and albumin) and immunological parameters (IL-13 and TGF). There was no correlation between the positive status of parasites and cortisol, testosterone, insulin, prolactin, or TSH. The liver enzyme results showed a high correlation (p<0.05) between the presence of parasites and all of the enzymes among CLD patients, with the exception of the GGT enzyme. PT, INR, albumin, and the other biochemical and immunological markers (IL-13 and TGF) did not correlate with the presence of parasites.
Background: The occurrence of seizures in bacterial meningitis is important, as it has been reported to increase the risk of complications; however, its frequency and predictors are not well studied yet. Objective: To assess the frequency, clinical, and biochemical predictors of seizures in children with acute bacterial meningitis. Method: A cross-sectional study recruited confirmed acute bacterial meningitis cases based on positive CSF culture and sensitivity among children aged 2 months to 15 years admitted to the Central Child Teaching Hospital emergency department in Iraq. Patients were divided into two groups based on seizure at presentation time. Demographic characteristics [age, gender, residence, duration of fever and disease, prese
... Show MoreThis research addresses the necessity due to the scarcity of historical studies in the field of sports, especially those indicating the activities and achievements of Arab countries in the Paralympic movement. This study aims to document the participation of Arab countries in the Paralympic Games, explore the prominent sports in which Arab athletes with disabilities participated, and analyze their achievements during the Paralympic Games from 2004 to 2012. The research methodology adopted an analytical, historical approach, collecting and analyzing data objectively through the official website of the International Paralympic Committee, in addition to scientific and historical sources from research papers, journals, and websites. The key fi
... Show MoreAim: To find any association between specific ABO blood groups and FUT2 secretory status and COVID-19 in a sample of Iraqi dentists. Materials and Methods: For each participant, a questionnaire including demography, COVID-19 status, blood grouping, and RH factor, with chemo-sensitive symptoms was recorded. The saliva samples were collected and DNA was extracted from leukocytes. Sequencing of molecular detection of the FUT2 gene by real-time PCR and the data was done, whilst drawing the phylogenetic tree. Results: Out of 133, most of the dentists were female 61%, most were just under 35 years of age. The most participants in this study were predominantly with blood group O (40%), followed by B, A, and AB, with (90%) of them were RH+.
... Show MoreThe purpose of this study was to examine the role of cortisol, and it is related to BMI in the chronic diseases which may increase early cardiovascular disease (CVD) in old Iraqi. The subjects were 116 adults, aged 51-71 years. Body Mass Index (BMI), Waist Circumferences (WC) and Waist Hip Ratio (WHR) were used as a measure of adiposity. Investigation showed highly significant difference between patients in BMI ranges, most of male were in an obese weight range (48.5%), as well in women. There were no significant correlations between serum cortisol concentration and age both gender groups. While there were highly significant correlations between cortisol level and BMI, waist, and WHR (except in female subjects), also there were highly signi
... Show MoreThis study was conducted to evaluate the efficiency of some chemicals and biological agents to induce systemic resistance (ISR) against to wheat common bunt disease caused by the two species of fungus Tilletia tritici (Bjerk.) Wint (T. caries (Dac.) Tul.) and T. laevis Kuhn (T. foetida (Wall.) Liro. Trails in the efforts to find an alternative, safe and environmentally friendly means to control the disease. Results of this study which carried out during two consecutive seasons for the years 2012 - 2013 and 2013 - 2014 at two different environmental locations. Seed treatment by (SA 100 and 200 mg/L, 500 ?–aminobutyric acid (BABA) and 1000 mg/L, Effective Microorganisms (EM1) 40 and 150 ml/kg seeds) have led to high significant redu
... Show MoreAbstract
The effect of physical and mental health on the feelings of personal welfare are known as health-related quality of life. Infection with hepatitis B virus is a major global health problem. Health-related quality of life was emerged as an important consideration in the care of patients with chronic hepatitis B infection. The aim of the current study was to measure health-related quality of life among a sample of chronic hepatitis B patients in AL-Najaf city/Iraq. The current study was cross-sectional study carried out on (104) already diagnosed chronic viral hepatitis B patients who attended the Gastroenterology and Hepatology Center/Al-Sader Medical City/Najaf during November 2018 to May
... Show MoreThe wave functions of converted harmonic-oscillator in local scaling transformations are employed to evaluate charge distributions and elastic charge electron scattering form structures for 6,7Li, 9Be, 14,15N and 16O nuclei. The nuclear shell-model was fulfilled using Warburton-Brown psd-shell (WBP) interaction with truncation in model space. Very good agreements with the experimental data were obtained for the aforementioned quantities.
The aim of the current study is to in evaluate the role of SOD activity in the previously reported oxidative stress in our laboratory(1), in the patients with different brain tumors. SOD activity was assayed according to riboflavin/NBT method and its specific activity was calculated in patients with benign and malignant brain tumors and control. Moreover the specific activity was compared in these samples according to gender and the occurrence of disease.Non significant elevation (P > 0.05) in SOD specific activity was observed in tissue of malignant tumors in comparison to that of in benign brain tumors. While a highly significant decrease (P < 0.001) of the specific activity was found in sera of malignant patients group in comparison to t
... Show MoreBackground: Age progression is regarded as a critical risk factor in morbidity and mortality because of a weakened immune system. Although various studies have dealt with electrolyte imbalance in COVID-19 patients, the outcomes of these studies were partially understood. Objective: The current study aims to determine some biochemical parameters in old Iraqi COVID-19 patients and highlight the outcomes according to the aging role in the development of COVID-19 by suggesting new mechanisms. Materials and methods: forty COVID-19 patients were enrolled in the current study and divided into two groups: Gm includes (20) men, and Gf includes (20) women. The parameters (Na+, K+, Cl-, LDH, and Hb ) were determined in sera of patients and c
... Show MoreToxoplasmosis is regarded as one of the most important global life-threatening diseases in immune-compromised people. The intracellular protozoon Toxoplasma gondii is the causative pathogen of toxoplasmosis. Aim of this study is to investigate the possible association between T. gondii infection and breast cancer (BC) in Iraqi women, also to assess the effect of T. gondiion interleukin 10 (IL-10) of the immune response. By ELISA method, blood samples from 81 women with breast cancer and 60 apparently healthy women have been examined for presence of anti-toxoplasmaantibodies, also the levels of serum IL-10 were estimated in these subjects. Results showed that women with BC had the highest prevalence rate of toxoplasmosis. The anti- T.gondii
... Show More