Autoantibodies Status of Leishmanial Patients in Iraq

A total of 145 leishmaniasis Iraqi patients were collected from suspected cases and 30 healthy control. Based on skin smear examination and serum samples analysis, the patients were distributed into two clinical groups: 30 cutaneous leishmaniasis and 30 visceral leishmaniasis patients. The study was conducted for the detection of 17 types of antinuclear autoantibodies (ANA) in studied groups, 10 types including (anti-ds-DNA, anti-Nucleosome, anti-SmD1, anti-PCNA, anti-SS-A/Ro60kD, anti-SS-A/Ro52kD, anti-SS-B/La, anti-CENP-B, anti-Mi-2 and anti-Ku antibodies), showed significant differences (P?0.05), (P?0.01) in the two groups, while 7 types which were non-significant included (anti-histones, anti-ribosomal P0, anti-Scl70, anti-U1-snRNP, anti-AMA M2, anti-Jo1 and anti-PM-Scl antibodies). With respect to the Anti-cardiolipin IgG antibodies (aCL), it showed a significant increased level in the serum of VL patients (P?0.01) as compared with control group (8.123 vs. 1.959), also as compared with CL patients (8.123 vs. 2.402). As for CL patients, also there was a significant difference (P?0.01) (2.402 vs. 8.123) when compared with VL patients, but no significant variations (2.402 vs. 1.959) were observed in compare with control group. We conclude that Leishmaniasis in iraqi patients may be considered as a cause autoimmune diseases as in case of inflammatory myopathies (IM), and the pathgenesis of human myositis, especially in VL which contributes in the immunological alterations associated with muscle damage. Keywords: Leishmania species, autoantibodies, antinuclear antibodies, anticardiolipin

Establishing an open-access program connecting all medical facilities via unique accounts for each beneficiary in Yemen

This study explores the latest developments in the treatment of HBV and HCV in Egypt, focusing on the use of small molecule antiviral drugs and their potential impact on improving patient outcomes

The Cut-off Values of Triglycerides - Glucose Index for Metabolic Syndrome Associated with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

يؤدي حدوث متلازمة الأيض مع داء السكري من النوع 2 الى زيادة شدة المرض والوفيات المرتبطة بكل منهما. يوصى باستخدام مؤشر الجلوكوز الصائم للدهون الثلاثية (مؤشر TyG) كعلامة مفيدة للتنبؤ بمتلازمة التمثيل الغذائي. كان الهدف من هذه الدراسة هو تحديد القيم الحدية لنوع Triglyceride-Glucose لتشخيص متلازمة الأيض في داء السكري من النوع الثاني. تم جمع البيانات من مستشفيات بغداد في الفترة ما بين مايو وديسمبر 2019. وكان عدد المشاركين المؤهلين 424 حيث تم قياس الجلوكوز في الدم في وضع الصيام ، مستوى الدهون ، مستوى HbA1c. فضلا عن قياس ضغط الدم وتم حساب مؤشر Triglyceride-Glucose . تم الحصول على الموافقة الأخلاقية والموافقة المستنيرة .استخدم برنامج SPSS لمعالجة البيانات. أظهر مرضى السكري الذين يعانون من متلازمة الأيض زيادة مستوى مؤشر TyG. ازداد انتشار متلازمة الأيض مع زيادة مؤشر TyG. أظهر مؤشر TyG ارتباطًا كبيرًا مع جميع مكونات متلازمة الأيض. حيث ارتبط طرديا مع مستوى الكاوكوز في الدم ومحيط الخصر ,مستوى الدهون وضغط الدم الانبساطي بينما تناسب عكسيا مع مستوى الكولسترول النافع .مقدار قيمة القطع الأمثل للمؤشر كانت 9.14 ، 9.28 للذكور والإناث على التوالي.نستنج من الدراسة ان مؤشر TyG ملائم للكشف عن متلازمة الأيض في داء السكري من النوع الثاني       The co-occurrence of metabolic syndrome with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) will potentiate the morbidity and mortality that may be associated with each case. Fasting triglycerides-glucose index (TyG index) has been recommended as a useful marker to predict metabolic syndrome. Our study aimed to introduce gender-specific cut-off values of triglycerides- glucose index   for diagnosing metabolic syndrome associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The data were collected from Baghdad hospitals between May - December 2019. The number of eligible participants was 424. National cholesterol education program, Adult Treatment Panel III criteria were used to define metabolic syndrome. Measurement of fasting blood glucose, lipid profile, HbA1c level, blood pressure, and anthropometric were done and the triglyceride-glucose index was calculated. Ethical approval and informed consent were obtained .SPSS was used to analyze the data. Diabetic patients with metabolic syndrome showed an increased level of TyG Index. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome increased with increased TyG index quartiles. The TyG-Index showed significant correlations with all components of metabolic syndrome. The optimal cut-off value revealed 9.14, 9.28 for males and females respectively. In conclusion, TyG index is a good predictor of the presence of MetS in T2DM the TyG index, just measured in one laboratory test, is simple, informative and more suitable for the detection of metabolic syndrome in Iraqi type 2 diabetes mellitus

Cytotoxic Effect of Aqueous Extract of Anastatica hierochuntica L. on AMN-3 Cell Line in vitro

Anastatica hierochuntica L. is distributed throughout Arabain Peninsula, and elsewhere it is locally called "Kuffe Maryam" .All parts of the plant are used in folk medicine. This study amid to investigate the effect of aqueous extract of anastatica hierochunctica L. on the cancer cell lines AMN-3. Anti cancer activity of aqueous extract of  anastatica hierochunctica L. showed anticancer activity against AMN-3  cell line for twelve  concentrations (0.04, 0.09, 0.195, 0.39, 0.78, 1.56, 3.125, 6.25, 12.5, 25, 50, 100) mg/mL  in comparison with negative control. Keywords: Anastatica hierochuntica L., Cytotoxic activity

Multi-time Frequency Analysis and Classification of a Micro Drone Carrying Payloads using Multistatic Radar

This article presents an analysis of three multi-domain transformations applied to radar data of a micro-drone operating in an open field, with a payload (between 200 and 600 g) and without a payload. Inferring the presence of a drone attempting to transport a payload beyond its normal operating conditions is a key enabler in prospective low altitude airspace security systems. Two scenarios of operation were explored, the first with the drone hovering and the second with the drone flying. Both were accomplished through real experimental trials, undertaken with the multistatic radar, NetRAD. The images generated as a result of the domain transformations were fed into a pretrained convolutional neural network (CNN), known as AlexNet and were treated as a six-class classification problem. Very promising accuracies were obtained, with on average 95.1% for the case of the drone hovering and 96.6% for the case of the drone flying. The activations that these variety of images triggered within the CNN were then visualised to better understand the specific features that the network was learning and distinguishing between, in order to successfully achieve classification

Fluid Inclusions Usage for Assessing Oil Migration in Duhok, North of Iraq

Studies of primary and secondary fluid inclusions were done on epigenetic barite samples which collected from carbonates in Lower part of Sarmord Formation (Lower Cretaceous and Aqra-Bekhme Formations (Upper Cretaceous) in Duhok localities of North of Iraq. Lead isotopes composition in galena which associated barite that contained fluid inclusions helped the identification two events of fluid inclusions. These fluid inclusions contain brine water and hydrocarbons. Primary and secondary fluid inclusions in barite as well as lead isotopes composition in galena helped the interpretation of oil migration history and the pathway of oil migration. Ages of galena are syngronous with the events of oil and water trapping as inclusions within barite, and hence the interpreted galena generation could be assigned to the fluid inclusions age. Accordingly, the events are two phases of early and late generations that correspond to 120 m.y. and 30 m.y. respectively. Correlation with 10 PetroMod basin modeling of the generated oil from the Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous Formations fitted with the event of early galena generation, whereas the oil migration started before 70 m.y and continued to 30 m.y ago. Palynomorphs study confirms that the oil in source rocks is similar with the migrated oil

Impact of the rotor on FRA signatures and its implications for motor health assessment

Electrical machine condition monitoring is essential in industrial processes for increasing workplace security, ensuring reliability, and cost-effective machine operation. The frequency response analysis (FRA) monitoring technique is gaining heightened popularity due to its reliability. The main purpose of this paper is to investigate the influence of the rotor on motor FRA signature. The frequency response is a highly sensitive technique. Therefore, any small defect in the motor condition will produce a unique frequency response which then can be analyzed and detected early. In this study, two motors are selected, and the corresponding frequency response is measured. To understand the impact of the rotor on the FRA signature two measurements are considered. FRA signature with and without rotor. The results obtained from both measurements are compared and analyzed. For a better understanding of the results, statistical indicators are used. The practical results are based on the measurements taken from the experimental setu

Disentangling late quaternary fluvial and climatic drivers of palaeohydrological change in the Najaf Sea basin, Western Iraq

The water resource provided by lake basins in the western desert of Iraq is important for human occupation of areas outside the Tigris-Euphrates floodplain, both in the past and into the future. This paper presents the first geomorphological and geochronological study of the date of formation of the Najaf Sea and the only such study of any lake basin to the west of Mesopotamia. Geomorphological shoreline features and a palaeochannel linking to the Euphrates were studied and dated using optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) and radiocarbon dating. Provenance was determined using heavy mineral analysis. Past environments in the Najaf Sea were reconstructed by molluscan analysis. The earliest OSL ages date from c. 30 000 and 22 000 years ago and seem to predate lake formation. Younger OSL ages date the highest lake level at c. 19 m asl to between 1620–1760 AD (base) to 1906–1974 AD (near surface). The radiocarbon ages are affected by a freshwater reservoir effect, but the maximum ages recorded for either of the c. 15 m and c. 17 m asl shorelines are c. 800 cal. BC. This predates the first archaeological sites in the Najaf basin and is similar to maximum ages of c. 850 and c. 1100 cal. BC from the associated palaeochannel. This timing does not seem to be linked to a humid climate event. We therefore conclude that the establishment of the Najaf Sea in the Najaf basin occurred as a result of an avulsion event within the Euphrates system that diverted flow to the basin. The trigger for this avulsion event likely related to rapid sediment accumulation and may have been either autogenic or driven by human activity. This study therefore suggests that Najaf Sea formation facilitated human expansion beyond the Tigris- Euphrates floodplain and occurred due to avulsion of the Euphrates

Understanding the psychosocial needs of breast cancer survivors in the United Arab Emirates: a qualitative study

Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the United Arab Emirates; yet there is little known about the psychosocial concerns of the survivors. Research shows that meeting the psychosocial needs significantly contributes to cancer survivor’s wellbeing and potentially elevates the quality of the patient’s life. Therefore the study aims to understand the psychosocial needs of breast cancer survivors through a qualitative approach. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted using semi structured in-depth interviews among ten breast cancer survivors. The recorded texts were coded and salient themes were generated using an inductive approach. Thematic analysis of the interviews was done observing for meaning, repeating phrases and keywords. Results: Analysis yielded three major themes which included survivors’ living experience with breast cancer, concerns of breast cancer survivors and the survivors’ expectations of healthcare delivery or support needed. The breast cancer survivors had psychosocial concerns that are not well understood and addressed by the healthcare. The experiences, concerns and expectations differ from individuals and through the continuum of survivorship. Conclusion: Understanding the unmet psychosocial concerns of the cancer survivors is essential to design a structured survivorship program and offer timely and effective interventions. This would improve survivorship care in the country and offers opportunities to redesign cancer services towards patient-centred care