Leishmaniasis is a group of parasitic diseases caused by Leishmania spp., an endemic infectious agent in developing countries, including Iraq. Diagnosis of cutaneous lesion by stained smears, serology or histopathology are inaccurate and unable to detect the species of Leishmania. Here, two molecular typing methods were examined to identify the promastigotes of suspected cutaneous leishmaniasis samples, on a species level. The first was species-specific B6-PCR and the second was ITS1-PCR followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) using restriction enzyme HaeIII. DNA was extracted from in vitro promastigote culture followed by amplification of kDNA by B6 or amplification and digestion of LITSR/L

Mycobacterium tuberculosis resistance to rifampicin is mainly mediated through mutations in the rpoB gene. The effects of rpoB mutations are relieved by secondary mutations in rpoA or rpoC genes. This study aims to identify mutations in rpoB, rpoA, and rpoC genes of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates and clarify their contribution to rifampicin resistance. Seventy isolates were identified by acid-fast bacilli smear, Genexpert assay, and growth on Lowenstein Jensen medium. Drug susceptibility, testing was performed by the proportional method.  DNA extraction, PCR, and sequencing were accomplished for the entire rpoA, rpoB, and

Aim: To evaluate the effect of two bonding systems and two curing systems on sealing ability of class V composite restorative materials. Materials and methods: This study was performed in vitro on 40 caries free upper first premolar teeth. The Standardized class V cavity preparation on buccal and lin- gual surfaces of each tooth was done. Then the teeth were randomly divided into two major groups each of twenty. 40 cavities were performed on these teeth and the first group7th generation bonding agent (i Bond) were applied according to the manufacturer instructions and single increment of univer- sal composite (XRV Herculite) from kerr were applied and twenty of the cavities were cured with con- ventional light cure device (astralis-5) and t

Background: White spot lesion considered as irreversible tooth demineralization presenting challenge to orthodontists during treatment schedules, fluoride was the most successfully used measure to overcome this challenge. Materials and method: A total of forty sound human permanent premolars were used in the present study and categorized into four groups, in one group the teeth were bonded with stainless steel brackets using Resin-modified glass ionomer cement (RMGIC) and the other three groups the teeth were bonded with light cured composite Resilience® (Ortho technology Co., USA). Group A; Acidulated phosphate fluoride (APF) topical gel (Mfg by DEEPAK PRODUCTS, INC, USA), fluoride ion 1.23% applied on examine area for four minute. Gro

Background: Osteoporosis is an extra-articular complication of rheumatoid arthritis that results in increased risk of fractures and associated morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. Objective: To evaluate changes in bone mineral density in a sample of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients on biological (anti tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha) and non-biological agent disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). Patients and Methods: A cross sectional study enrolled 60 RA patients diagnosed by rheumatologist according to the 2010 American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism (2010 ACR/EULAR) classification criteria for RA. Thirty patient on biological agent (anti TNF alpha) and 30 patient on non-biological agent (D

The elections of the Council of Representatives in Iraq are one of the manifestations of political participation, which makes it attracts the attention of researchers. Where Iraq witnessed in 2005 important political events in the Iraqi arena, a pluralist parliamentary elections or elections in Iraq by direct free election on January 30, the first almost half a century ago. On November 15 of the same year, Iraq adopted a permanent constitution for the country through a popular referendum.

Ultraviolet spectrophotometric studies for antibiotic (amino glycoside) derivatives including, Neomycin, Streptomycin, Gentamycin and Kanamycin with special reagents, which are benzoyl chloride; benzene sulfonyl chloride, toluenesulfonyl chloride and phthalic anhydride were made. Amino glycosides derivatives were followed through measurements of the ultraviolet absorbance (A) from which the absorptivity (ε) of the complexes was deduced and molar absorbances using Ultraviolet for products and calculate the number of reagents molecule that combine to amino glycosides.

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are defined as a population of cells present in tumours, which can undergo self-renewal and differentiation. Identification and isolation of these CSCs using putative surface markers have been a priority of research in cancer. With this background we selected pancreatic normal and tumor cells for this study and passaged them into animal tissue culture medium. Further staining was done using alkaline phosphatase and heamatoxilin staining. Blue to purple colored zones in undifferentiated pluripotent stem cells and clear coloration in the chromatin material indicated pancreatic cells. Further studies on the cell surface marker CD 44 were done using ELISA. For this, the protein was extracted from cultivated normal and t

BACKGROUND: HLA-B27 can effect clinical presentation and course of ankylosing spondylitis. Different detection techniques of HLA-B27 are available with variable sensitivities and specificities. OBJECTIVE: To compare serologic and molecular diagnostic techniques of detecting HLA-B27 status and to correlate it with some clinical variables among ankylosing spondylitis patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 83 Iraqi patients with ankylosing spondylitis. Clinical and laboratory evaluations were reported. HLA-B27 status was determined in all patients by real-time PCR using HLA-B27 RealFast™ kit; ELISA method was used as well to detect soluble serum HLA-B27 antigens using Human Leukocyte Antigen® kit. RESULTS: