Background: Neural tube defects (NTDs) are said to be inherited in a multifactorial fashion, i.e. genetic-environmental interaction. Maternal nutritional deficiencies had long been reported to cause NTDs, especially folate deficiency during early pregnancy. More attention had been paid to the exact mechanism by which this deficiency state causes these defects in the developing embryo. The most significant of all researches was that connecting reduced folate and increased homocysteine level in maternal serum on one hand and the risk of developing a NTD baby on the other hand. Objectives : to determine the significance of homocysteine level in Iraqi mothers who gave birth to babies with NTDs as compared to normal controls. Patients, Materials and Methods: Fifty Iraqi women having babies born with NTDS, referred to the genetic clinic in Baghdad Teaching Hospital, were included in this study (the study group) as well as 37 healthy women having normal children (the control group). This study was conducted from November, 2002 till October, 2003. Analysis of total serum homocysteine level for all women was done using a computerized HPLC system. Results : the age of women in both groups was comparable (mean+SD in the study group was 26.2+5.14 years vs. 26.3+4.57 years in the controls). Among the study group, 4 (8%) had normal tHcy level; 44 (88%) had mildly elevated level, and only 2 (4%) had moderately elevated tHcy level, while all (100%) women in the control group had their tHcy level within normal level. This difference was statistically highly significant (p<0.001). Conclusions : Women become at an increased risk of delivering a baby with NTD when having an elevated tHcy level in their sera, and that tHcy level is an important marker in maternal serum that is associated significantly with pregnancy outcome.
Sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) is considered as a measure of the water suitability for irrigation usage. This study examines the effect of the physicochemical parameters on water quality and SAR, which included Calcium(Ca+2), Magnesium(Mg+2), Sodium (Na+), Potassium (K), Chloride (Cl-), Sulfate(SO4-2), Carbonate (CO3-2), Bicarbonate (HCO3-), Nitrate (NO3-), Total Hardness (TH), Total Dissolved Salts (TDS), Electrical Conductivity (EC), degree of reaction (DR), Boron (B) and the monthly and annually flow discharge (Q). The water samples were collected from three stations across the Tigris River in Iraq, which flows through Samarra city (upstream), Baghdad city (central) and the end of Kut city (downstream) for the periods of 2016-201
... Show MoreBackground: Vitamin D improves innate immunity by enhancing the expression of antimicrobial peptides. The antimicrobial action of cathelicidin is widespread and effective against cariogenic bacteria. This research aimed to investigate the effect of vitamin D deficiency on the level of salivary cathelicidin concerning dental caries experience.
Subjects and Methods: A case-control study was carried out, and the sample was composed of 80 females; the study group involved 40 females with a serum vitamin D concentration of less than 10 ng/ml. In addition to the control group involving 40 females wh
... Show More
(6)
The current research focuses on a major problem: the weak role of disclosing corporate information in the application of laws, regulations and instructions related to the application of corporate governance principles weakens the ability to protect the rights of shareholders and investors in companies listed on the Iraqi Stock Exchange and the study aims to study and analyze the role of disclosure and transparency in achieving the necessary protection to ensure the rights of shareholders. The study was applied to a sample of (42) analysis samples representing (84%) of the total questionnaires distributed to investors and shareholders in all listed companies in the Iraqi Stock Exchange. The results confirm the shareholder's right to obtai
... Show MoreCongenital adrenal hyperplasia is a group of autosomal recessive disorders. The most frequent one is 21-hydroxylase deficiency. Analyzing
(10)
The present study evaluated the anti- Helicobacter pylori IgG, IgA and the role of virulence factor of H. pylori Vacuolating associated cytotoxin gene (Vac A) as a risk factors for CAD. The levels of serum IgG and IgA was done by indirect immunofluorescent (IIF) whereas Vac A measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Ibn Al-Bitar specialist center for cardiac surgery laboratory and Ministry of Health/ Baghdad/ Iraq, between May and October 2018. Seventy Iraqi patients with CAD were enrolled in this study, their ages ranged between 40-84 years ; and 20 individuals as a control group which was divided into 2 subgroups: 10 apparently healthy volunteers (negative control) and the other subgroup contained 10 with normal coronary art
... Show MoreThe dramatic series on television have a great impact on people’sattitudes towards dialects of language varieties, by relating theconceptual pictures or prototypes presented by series’ characters tothose dialects. This study aims to show the influence of TV series onIraqi university learners’ gender and age in relating positive ornegative semantic qualities to their dialects. To this end, 150 Iraqi EFLlearners have participated in this study to examine their attitudestowards Baghdadi, Mousli and Nasiriya dialects. The data arecollected by Lambert, Hodgson, Gardner, Fillenbaum's (1960)matched guise technique and then labeled by Willmorth’s (1988)subjective reaction test. A structured interview is conducted to supportthe data
... Show More
(1)
The current research aims to find out the effect of strategic sensitivity in enhancing organizational immunity at the leadership levels in the Iraqi Ministry of Education, as the strategic sensitivity variable includes two dimensions (strategic foresight and strategic Insight), and the organizational immunity variable addresses three dimensions (organizational learning, organizational memory and organizational DNA). The main purpose of this research was related to the extent to which the Ministry’s immunity was achieved through the role played by strategic sensitivity. A sample of (349) individuals was selected . The questionnaire was relied upon to collect data, and the number of questionnaires suitable for analysis was (330). Re
... Show More
The current study aims to demonstrate the role of strategic renewal in enhancing organizational immunity through strategic renewal mechanisms represented by (Reanimating, Rejuvenation, Venturing, and restructuring). The main idea of this study relates to the extent to which organizations’ immunity is achieved through strategic Renewal mechanisms, by measuring these dimensions with Organizational immunity represented by organizational learning, organizational memory, and organizational DNA. The study population was the headquarters of the Iraqi Ministry of Education, and the sample included (330) individuals from the upper, middle, and lower leadership levels. Several statistical methods were used to deal with the results of the questionna
... Show MoreThe research aims to explain the role of cloud computing technology in facilitating the application of international financial reporting standards in Iraqi banks, by preparing a checklist that included a set of paragraphs to measure the level of application of IFRSs. In those banks and then the need to use cloud computing technology, and the researchers reached a set of conclusions, including, that cloud computing technology has a role in facilitating the application of international financial reporting standards in the banks, the research sample, because of the ease it provides in preparing and saving accounting information and the possibility of accessing it in any time and from any place where the Internet service is available. T
... Show More
(1)