Background: The discriminative power of the classical WHO parameters in relation to male fertility is quite low, because they only address few aspects of sperm quality and function. This has led investigators to focus their attention on the male gamete and in particular its genome.Objective: To explore which of the sperm DNA damage parameters measured by comet assay are more reliable, and their relations with the standard semen parameters.Methods: Study was done on 40 infertile men selected from couples attending the Institute of Embryo Reasearch and Infertility Treatment at Al-Kadhimiya City/ Baghdad in the period between February 2009 and May 2009, with a history of infertility of ≥1 years; and 15 healthy volunteers of proven fertility serving as control. Samples were allowed to liquefy for at least 30 minutes at 37°C and then evaluated according to the guidelines of the World Health Organization, 1999. The single cell gel electrophoresis (comet) assay was studied in the ejaculated spermatozoa. The exclusion criteria were the presence of azoospermia and severe oligospermia. Results were compared with the standard semen characteristics (concentration, motility and morphology).Results: Compared to healthy volunteers, infertile patients had highly significantly higher values of comet parameters (P = 0.00001). In all infertile patients, comet extent did not correlate with any of the classical semen parameters; whereas, tail length (μm), % DNA in tail, tail moment and olive moment had all significant negative correlations with the standard parameters. Significant positive correlations were observed between the studied comet parameters, except for the comet extent which was not significantly correlated with tail length and % DNA in tail (P = 0.06, P = 0.7; respectively).Conclusion: Comet assay is a very useful technique in assessing sperm DNA damage. Comet tail parameters and comet extent, may clarify different aspects of DNA damage, and together give a better insight to the integrity of the male genome.Keywards: sperm, comet extent, % DNA in tail, tail moment and olive moment
The present study was undertaken to use individual terrestrial crustacean from Isopoda such as the species Porcellionides pruinosus (Brandt 1833) as environmental cleaner and that through the test of their abilities in decomposition of residues of some cellulosean wastes such as wood pieces which contain high ratio of urban wastes, and residue of Zea mays and particularly leaves as plant waste in agricultural fields and residue of Cynodon dactylon plants which compose the main wastes in most of gardens and parks. Experiments were conducted relatively in stable laboratory conditions to ensure environmental conditions similar to crustaceans' life. The results showed presence of good efficiency of these individuals in treating such wastes as
... Show More98 samples were collected from various clinical sources included (Burns, wounds, urines, sputums, blood) From the city of Baghdad, After performing the biochemical and microscopic examination, 52 isolates were obtained for Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 17 (32.7%) isolates from burn infection, 12 (23%) isolates from Wound infection 11 (21.2%) isolates from urine infection, 7 (13.5%) isolates of sputum and 5 (9.6%) isolates from blood. Bacteria susceptibility to form biofilm has been detectedby microtiter plate method, The results showed that 80% of the bacterial isolates were produced the biofilm with different proportions, alg D gene (alginate production) has been detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) Which plays an essential role in the fo
... Show MoreObjective: 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
... Show MoreBackground: The bond strength of endodontic sealers with dentin is a very important property for maintaining the integrity and seal of the root canal filling. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the effect of various irrigants (QMix, 17% EDTA and 2.5% NaOCl) on the push-out bond strength of AH plus and Bioceramic sealers. Materials and methods: Forty eight freshly extracted maxillary first molars human teeth with striaght palatal root were used in the study. The collected samples were randomly divided into three groups of equal sample size (n=16), according to the final irrigation regimen as follows: Group (1): QMix 2 in 1, Group (2): 17% ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, Group (3): 2.5% sodium hypochloride. All samples were
... Show MoreBackground: Separation and deboning of artificial teeth from denture bases present a major clinical and labortory problem which affect both the patient and the dentist. The optimal bond strength of artificial teeth with denture base reinforced with nanofillers and flexible denture bases and the effect of thermo cycling should be evaluated. This study was conducted to evaluate and compare the shear bond strength of artificial teeth (acrylic and porcelain) with denture bases reinforced by 5% Zirconium oxide nanofillers and flexible bases under the effect of different surface treatments and thermo cycling and comparing the results with conventional water bath cured denture bases. Material and methods: Two types of artificial teeth; acrylic and
... Show MoreProduction of the steroidal saponin digitonin in multiplied shoots of Digitalis purpurea , (var. Excelsior Mixed) has been achieved in vitro by two experiments. In the experiment 1, shoot tips ( 1cm length ) explants from the sterilized seedlings were excised and cultured on MS medium ( Murashige and Skoog medium) supplemented with 0.5 mg/L TDZ (thidiazuron) and cholesterol at the concentrations 0.0, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 or 4.0 mg/L. After 45 day, results showed that the treatment with 0.5 mg/L TDZ and 2.0mg/L cholesterol had a positive effected on increasing the dry weight of multiplied shoots and their production of digitonin when compared with other treatments, where this treatment gave 2
... Show MoreAphelenchus avenae was isolated from the wheat crown in Summel distract- Duhok, Kurdistan region-Iraq infected by a crown rot disease which is caused by Fusarium spp; wheat's crown culturing on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) and incubating at 25°C A. avenae was found associated with fungal culture which meant that fungal nematode was parasitic on crown rot fungi on wheat crown, this species was described for the first time in Iraq.
Fungal Nematode incubated with Fusarium graminearum, F. oxysporum and Verticillium dahliae reproduce in both solid and liquid media, best results of nematode reproduction were recorded on F. graminearum followed by F. oxy
... Show MoreIn the current research the absorption and fluorescence spectrum
of Coumarin (334) and Rhodamine (590) in ethanol solvent at
different concentration (10-3, 10-4, 10-5) M had been studied. The
absorption intensity of these dyes increases as the Concentration
increase in addition to that the spectrum was shifted towards the
longer wavelength (red shift). The energy transfer process has been
investigated after achievement this condition. The fluorescence peak
intensity of donor molecule was decrease and its bandwidth will
increases on the contrary of the acceptor molecule its intensity
increase gradually and its bandwidth decreases as the acceptor
concentration increase.