Background: In accordance with DSM-5-TR, Depression is a common psychiatric disorder marked by persistent sadness, loss of interest, and impairment in everyday activities. Recent evidence shows that between 22% and 45% of international student’s experience depressive symptoms. There is limited information on the prevalence of depression among international medical students at the International Campus of Tehran University of Medical Sciences.

Objectives: To investigate the prevalence of depression among international medical students at the International Campus of Tehran University of Medical Sciences and to examine related factors.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was con

Background: While endometriosis has a high prevalence among women during their reproductive years, appendiceal endometriosis is an uncommon clinical condition that affects women, and it is mostly presented as acute appendicitis, and or similar to several other gynecological disorders.
​Case Presentation: A thirty-four years old female presented with symptoms of a one-day of acute right lower quadrant (RLQ) pain as well as a chronic history of abdominal pain and chronic recurrent pelvic pain. The physical and clinical assessment referred for laboratory, the findings suggested acute appendicitis, then admitted to Baghdad teaching hospital for  Laparoscopic appendectomy, and the specimen was sent fo

Background: Hypospadias is the second most common congenital malformation and may be classified according to the anatomical site of urethral meatus into distal, which accounts for about 70-80% of all hypospadias cases, and proximal, which is rare. There are multiple surgical options for the management of hypospadias. This study covers cases of distal hypospadias with two surgical options, which are urethral advancement and Glanuloplasty, and meatal advancement glanuloplasty.
Objectives: To compare the surgical outcomes and complications of urethral advancement and meatal advancement with glanuloplasty for the treatment of distal hypospadias.
Methods: Forty-three patients, 20 of

This study examined the effect of replacing local feed mixture with protein concentrate in broiler feed on production, histological, and microbial characteristics. The study was conducted on 200 one-day-old broiler chicks of Ross 308, randomly divided into four treatments, 50 chicks per treatment, with five replicates and 10 chicks per replicate. The control treatment (T1) was fed 5% protein concentrate, while the protein concentrate in the other treatments (T4, T3, T2) was replaced with protein concentrate in varying proportions (2%, 2.5%, 3%). The feed mixture contains several components, including the carrier materials, which are potato peels at a rate of 33%, and active materials, which are a group of amino acids represented by (meth

Groundwater depletion, climate change, and rising water demand are the primary challenges to the sustainable management of water resources in arid/semi-arid areas, such as Iraq. This study evaluates current models for groundwater and their performance and assesses the recent advancements in groundwater modeling techniques. It addresses that currently, numerical models, Artificial intelligence (AI), and remote sensing techniques are being implemented separately. Physically based models are widely used in groundwater modelling due to their reliable performance in simulating groundwater flow and transport processes. It was widely used in Iraqi and international groundwater studies, constituting 62% and 60% of groundwater st

Increasing carbon emissions pose a serious issue affecting the environment. Several methods have been proposed to reduce this phenomenon. Carbon capture and storage (CCS) and enhanced oil recovery EOR are among these methods, which typically involve injecting CO₂ into geological formations to store CO₂ or to enhance oil production. The effectiveness of these methods relies heavily on the interaction between CO₂, rock, and water.  This review summarizes most of the important studies that focused on the alteration of mineralogy, porosity, permeability, and wettability of the host rock, employing different methods such as core flooding and static soaking. Despite extensive research on CO₂–water–rock interaction

Cell-Free Massive MIMO is believed to be one of the most promising designs of future wireless networks due to its ability to provide more coverage, high reliability and improved spectral efficiency, while also supporting secure communication through distributed access point (AP) cooperation. However, secure downlink transmission in cell-free massive Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (CF-mMIMO) systems becomes challenging when an active eavesdropper (Eve) is located near the targeted user. To achieve high secrecy spectral efficiency (SSE) with a limited number of active APs and a restricted power budget under Nakagami-m fading and imperfect channel state information (CSI), a secrecy-oriented AP selection algorithm is propose

     The global need for the treatment of cancer diseases has been directed towards the use of enzymes, as these diseases have worsened in recent years for several reasons, including chemical and physical pollutants. L-glutaminase is one of the enzymes used in the treatment of tumors, as it converts the amino acid glutamine into glutamic acid, which helps inhibit the growth of cancer cells. Therefore, this study aimed to produce and purify L-glutaminase from a local isolate of P. aeruginosa P48 and evaluate its anticancer activity. The result of PCR with the 16SrRNA gene for identification of P. aeruginosa P48 showed that the 16SrRNA gene (956bp) was presented as a single band on agarose gel as an

     The significant factor that participated in virulence and pathogenesis for Gram-positive pathogen Staphylococcus aureus is biofilm development. In hospital settings, biofilm construction on medical equipment is quite concerning since it is a permanent source of infection. The infection results from S. aureus biofilm, which was considered a serious problem due to the difficulty in treating it with traditional antibiotics. In recent years, the medical community has been using probiotic bacteria to suppress biofilm development. The current work aims to investigate the impact of cell-free supernatant (CFS) of lactobacillus acidophilus on biofilm generation and gene expres

The combined effects of glycemic dysregulation, dyslipidemia, and cellular stress responses lead to increased expression of glucose-regulated protein-78 (GRP-78), a key mediator in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) development. Due to its involvement in glucose and lipid metabolism, GRP-78 is considered a potential therapeutic biomarker. This study aimed to assess the impact of various antidiabetic medications on GRP-78 levels in individuals with T2DM. A cross-sectional study comprised 134 participants: 96 T2DM patients who were divided into patients under treatment with glucovance 500 (n=38), or insulin injection (n=42), and newly diagnosed diabetic patients (n=16). A control group of 38 healthy subjects were enrolled. Serum levels GRP-78

     Breast cancer is a major cause of malignancies–related mortalities among women worldwide. The development and progression of this disease are attributed to the contribution of key cellular modulators, including the NBN (Nibrin) gene and interleukin 20 (IL20), that are linked to genomic instability, stemness, cell cycle regulation and cancer predisposition. Due to the lack of local studies investigating NBN gene expression in the context of breast cancer, the present study aims to assess its gene expression along with the assessment of interleukin 20 (IL20) serum levels in newly diagnosed breast cancer patients in comparison to cases with benign breast lumps and healthy controls. Total RNA was extracted from t

     Fungal infections of the respiratory system have increased in recent years with the increase in the number of fungal spores due to pollution, so there was a need for a study focusing on fungal species that infect the respiratory system, studying their pathogenicity and diagnosing them accurately to be able to give appropriate treatment and save patients. The study aimed to isolate and diagnose pathogenic fungi from patients with respiratory diseases and to indicate their pathogenicity by studying their virulence, toxicity, and impact on the immune system to know the extent of the danger of these fungi as well as their impact in causing serious opportunistic diseases for patients with respiratory injuries. The current study obtai

       This work employed the Zernike and Karhunen-Loeve polynomials in the adaptive optics (AO) systems to correct wave-front aberrations. The present work uses MATLAB-based program for simulating wave-front distortion correction with the use of the Modal AO method. Wave-front aberrations were represented by a modified von Karman turbulence model; numerical simulations and analyses were performed. The Zernike polynomials higher values of SNR and Strehl ratios, lower values of RMSE, variance, and covariance in comparison to Karhunen-Loeve polynomials modes, proved the superiority of the Zernike polynomials in correcting wave-front distortion. The present work provides valuable insights into the quality and performance metrics of th

Biosynthesis of copper oxide nanoparticles using the extracellular mixture solution of Gram-negative bacteria Klebsiella pneumonia and Gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus acted as a reducing and capping agent to stabilize and prevent the aggregation of the biosynthesized nanoparticles. CuO NPs are characterized by UV-visible, FTIR, AFM, FE-SEM, and XRD, and tested for their antibiofilm activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The biofilm capability was demonstrated with the microtiter plate method. The antibiotic susceptibility of P. aeruginosa exhibits resistance to Piperacillin, Nitrofloxacin, and Levofloxacin. While sensitive to Cefepime, Piperacillin-Tazobactam, and Imipenem.   The antib

Ecological diversity between the diurnal bird of F. francolinus and the diurnal squirrel of S. anomalus reflects the ability to adapt to their vision environments. The histological characteristics of the retina in F. francolinus and S. anomalus were studied using light microscopy. The retina of F. francolinus is avascular, while that of S. anomalus is vascular. The retina in both species consists of ten layers. In both species, the retina includes cones and rods, and the increased cone density is adapted for daytime and color vision. The retina of F. francolinus contains a shallow fovea for visual acuity. This shallow fovea was characterized by the presence of all retinal lay

     The Leishmania parasite is divided into two main divisions: the old-world Leishmania species and the new-world Leishmania species. The antileishmanial medications currently in use have a number of side effects, for instance, their toxicity to humans, liver issues, long-term treatment, and extreme cost. Cymbopogon citratus is a herbal medicine used as an anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, antiprotozoal, and gastrointestinal disturbances remedy. Sphingolipids (SLs) in many eukaryotes, one of the important cell membrane components, and their metabolites interfere with the control of many vital functions in the cell, such as cell growth, apoptosis, and differentiation. In this study, th

     A convex open boundary domain was used to define the predator-prey equations. This was then mathematically analysed using Robin boundary conditions. Using the Faedo-Galerkin methodology and compactness arguments, we demonstrate the existence of strong and weak solutions and their uniqueness. The solution findings exhibit a higher level of regularity. We construct a more regular model based on the initial data. Furthermore, we can demonstrate continuous dependence on initial conditions. To complement the theoretical results, numerical simulations were also conducted, confirming the validity of the model and illustrating the dynamic behaviour of the predator-prey system under Robin boundary conditions.

     Several heavy metals emitted from car petrol may accumulate in occupational workers at elevated concentrations, resulting in various impacts on these workers. The current work was designed to assess the blood content of  Zn, Cu, and Pb in occupationally exposed workers. Four car filling stations situated within Baghdad city, Iraq, and 40 occupational workers were subjected to this study; in addition, a sample of 20 individuals away from these examined fuel stations was selected to act as a control sample during November 2023. From both occupational workers and control samples, 4 ml of blood from each individual was taken and placed in a gel tube for coagulation. Each blood sample was centrifuged for 40 min at 3000 rpm to separa

 This note introduces a new extended concept into a fuzzy soft area that plays a prominent role in functional analysis, called the fuzzy soft b-partial metric space, which is an extension of the fuzzy soft metric space and the fuzzy soft partial metric space. The research discusses numerous analytical features based on this proposed space, including the -closed, -open ball, -Hausdorff space, and -converge sequence. Moreover, several essential theorems of convergence of this space are investigated. Furthermore, close connections between this newly defined space and b-metric spaces are also examined. In this regard, several instances are illustrated.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disorder characterized by inflammatory joint damage, leading to stiffness, swelling, and pain. The biomarkers galectin-3 (Gal-3) and matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) have been implicated in RA pathogenesis. This study aimed to observe the effect of Methotrexate (MTX) and Etanercept (ETA) medications on serum Gal-3 and MMP-3 levels of Iraqi RA patients. Gal-3 and MMP-3 were measured in sera of 92 RA patients and 38 control using ELISA assay. Patients were categorized into groups according to received treatment: MTX, ETA, combined MTX plus ETA, and untreated patients (Un-T).  The clinical disease activity index (CDAI) was calculated for patients. The Gal-3 levels for MTX red

     Bitter almond is a peach fruit from the Rosaceae family.  Despite its diverse health benefits, some harmful and toxic properties can be produced in the body as it contains hydrocyanic acid, which gives a bitter taste. This study was conducted to investigate the harmful toxic properties of bitter almonds that can be produced in the body as they contain hydrocyanic acid; despite its many beneficial secondary metabolites. Methods: Whole bitter almond seeds collected in Iraq were extracted and dosed to rats. 20 Westar albino male rats weighing (200- 250) gm were obtained from the Biotechnology Center / AL-Nahrain University. The animals were divided into 4 groups (control group administered distill

     Staphylococcus aureus is a common pathogen associated with community and hospital-acquired infections; it can rapidly develop resistance to new antibiotics. The emergence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has severely limited treatment options, necessitating the judicious use of effective antibiotics such as clindamycin. However, routine susceptibility tests often fail to detect inducible clindamycin resistance (ICR), ultimately leading to treatment failures. This cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2023 to June 2024, and it aimed to identify and report the prevalence of ICR phenotypes among MRSA with the d-test. A total of 101 isolates were investigated, of which 85 were

     Efficient solar energy harvesting through selective absorber coatings is critical for advancing sustainable thermal applications, such as domestic hot water production and water purification. Enhancing photo-thermal conversion while maintaining durability and ease of fabrication remains a challenge. To address this, a composite selective coating was developed by decorating a heat-resistant paint with aluminium and nickel particles, applied via air-spraying on the base paint layer. The coatings were characterized structurally, morphologically, and compositionally using optical microscopy, field-emission electron microscopy, UV-Vis spectroscopy, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, and elemental mapping. Photo-thermal conversion perf

     This research is primarily an educational applied study, where a step-by-step MATLAB program has been written (unlike other ready-made programs). This allows researchers to modify, add, or remove any steps that suit their work in the program and what they find most appropriate for their tasks. The program is based on the spectral signature of the colors present in the map; it selects an area composed of 30×30 pixels or 20×20 pixels in a desert region, for example. The program recognizes its basic colors to identify all similar areas throughout the map and other regions, whether they are fertile areas, semi-desert regions, or water bodies. This research is a guide on applying for a program in MATLAB step by step to reach wide a

     Due to radioactive uranium pollution of water posing serious risks to human health and the environment, effective and sustainable cleanup techniques are required. Zeolite, a porous alumina-silicate mineral with a large surface area and ion-exchange capacity, has drawn interest as a successful uranium removal adsorbent. This study the removal of uranium from radioactively polluted water using laboratory prepared zeolite. To increase the adsorption efficiency, a number of variables were adjusted, such as pH, contact time, initial uranium content, and temperature. According to experimental studies, zeolite exhibits a great affinity for uranium ions and, in the right circumstances, can remove uranium ions with high efficiency. The r

     One plant with considerable therapeutic promise is Jatropha integerrima (J. integerrima ), which belongs to the Euphorbiaceae family. This study aimed to assess the cytotoxic effects on the (B16) melanoma cell line of ethyl acetate fraction obtained from the aerial parts of J. integerrima cultivated in Iraq, with six concentrations (200, 100, 50, 25, 12.5, and 6.25 µg/ml). It has drawn interest due to its possible cytotoxic effects on several cancer cell types. The bioactive chemicals responsible for the observed cytotoxic activity were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) on the ethyl acetate fraction. The cytotoxicity of the fraction

     Biofilm formation interferes with Enterococcus faecalis infections. Modulating biofilm formation may aid in developing innovative treatment strategies for multidrug-resistant bacteria responsible for urinary tract infections (UTIs). This study aims to evaluate the effect of nitrofurantoin minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) on E. faecalis biofilm formation and adherence. Midstream urine samples (78) were collected from patients with UTI. The biochemical tests and VITIK technology were used to identify the E. faecalis isolates. The MICs of nitrofurantoin were determined to evaluate the susceptibility of E. faecalis isolates. Biofilm levels to polystyrene and adherence to human oral mucosal e

Adenosine deaminase (ADA) is essential for immune function, facilitating the conversion of adenosine to inosine. Elevated ADA activity has been observed in several autoimmune disorders, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), which is characterized by the production of autoantibodies and dysregulation of T and B lymphocytes. This study involved thirty-five females diagnosed with SLE disease classified according to the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria and 70 age-matched healthy controls. Blood and saliva samples were collected from all participants both before and after 4 weeks of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) treatment. Results demonstrated that serum and saliva levels of TADA, ADA1, and ADA2 activities were noticeably hi

Ribonucleases (RNases) play a crucial role in various biological processes. Many studies have affirmed their significant role in numerous types of cancer. Saliva is an absorbing fluid that has attracted the attention of researchers due to its essential role in pathological and physiological situations. Therefore, this study aims to explore the relevance of alkaline and acidic Ribonuclease activities in serum and saliva for the diagnosis of breast tumours as well as the potential of using saliva as an alternative diagnostic fluid for ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) patients and benign tumour. The study examined changes in RNase activities in the serum and saliva of some breast-tuomr patients. The result demonstrated a significant