The Incidence of Postpartum Metritis and Retained Placenta in Cattle and Buffalo Cows in some Villages Around Baghdad

This survey aimed to investigate the incidence rate of some reproductive problems especially retained placenta and metritis in cattle and buffalo cows to design appropriate manners for correction and treatment of such disorders of those two important animals in Iraq. A field survey was carried out on 257 cattle cows during 2011 and 290 during 2012 and 383 local water buffalo cows (Bubalus bubalis), during 2011 and 404 during 2012 in some villages around Baghdad (Al-Fudalia, 7 Nisan and Basmaia) where animals were reared. A complete data about case history, owner complains, clinical examinations for reproductive status, were documented by private clinics during 2011 - 2012. Results revealed that retained placenta percentage in cattle was 12.84, 12.41% during 2011, 2012 respectively, whereas it was 12.53, 12.62% during 2011, 2012 respectively in buffalo cows, in the case of uterine infections percentages, buffalo exhibited the highest percentages (40.46,37.87 %) during 2011, 2012 respectively in the comparison with cattle which showed 35.40, 35.17 % during 2011,2012 respectively. Highly significant differences (p ≤ 0.01) between species were observed yearly and during some months during the years of study. We concluded that management programs differences and environmental changes may lead to monthly and yearly differences in reproductive disorders capability

Clinical Information System: Measuring End-User Satisfaction in a Governmental Hospital in Qatar

Clinical services in hospitals are too diversified and include different kinds of care patient needs. To be efficient, clinical services need to be supported by a promising clinical information system. As we did not find enough literature talking about the clinical information system (CIS) in terms of end-users’ satisfaction in the context of Qatar, we took the initiative and conducted this research to study this vital feature of CIS. In this paper, the satisfaction of three categories of clinicians was tested. These job categories included: physicians, nurses, and pharmacists who work in Al Wakra Hospital, a member of Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) which is the dominant healthcare provider in Qatar. The study tested the following research questions: RQ 1: What are the key variables affecting the satisfaction of CIS end-users in Al Wakra Hospital? RQ 2: What are the levels of CIS end-user satisfaction in Al Wakra Hospital? The research model incorporated five independent variables measuring their impact on end-user satisfaction. These variables included: information quality, system quality, service quality, professional maturity, and personal innovativeness. The survey questionnaire was divided into two sections: the first one collected demographic data while the second one included measured related to different variables included in the study. Necessary approval was collected from Qatar University IRB Committee. The questionnaire was distributed to targeted end-users. A total of 308 responses was collected, out of which there were eight incomplete responses. After removing three outliers, the necessary analysis was conducted for the remaining 297 useful responses. The following analyses were conducted including frequencies, descriptive analytics, reliability, validity, Pearson’s correlation, and regression. Results revealed reliable measures and variables as Cronbach’s alpha exceed minimally accepted scoring. Collinearity was eliminated via conducting necessary Pearson’s Correlation and VIF test. One variable, system quality, was found to be insignificant and was eliminated from the model. Four hypotheses were supported, while one hypothesis was not supported eventually. Research findings can be used by related decision-makers to improve understanding of reasons impacting end-users’ satisfaction. Listening to the end-users and considering their feedback can help optimize CIS and reach the best possible utilization of it. Nonetheless, there are certain limitations to the study that need to be kept in mind

The association of Human Leukocyte Antigens Complex with Type 1 Diabetes in Omanis

Background: Identifying the human leukocyte antigens (HLA) high risk alleles, genotypes and haplotypes in different populations is beneficial for understanding their roles in type 1 diabetes (T1D) pathogenesis and intervention practices. Objective: The aim of this study was to identify T1D associated HLA gene alleles in the Omani population. Methods: Our case-control study included 73 diabetic seropositive children (mean age 9.08±3.27 years) and 110 healthy controls. HLA–A, -B, -C, -DRB1, and -DQB1 genes were genotyped using sequence specific primer polymerase chain reaction (SSP-PCR). Results: Two HLA class I alleles (B*08, B*58) and three class II alleles (DQB1*02, DRB1*03 and DRB1*04) were associated with T1D susceptibility, while one class I (B*51) and three class II (DQB1*05, DQB1*06, and DRB1*16) alleles were associated with T1D protection. HLA- DRB1*03 and DQB1*02 alleles showed the strongest risk association among all alleles. Six DRB1 residues (E9, S11, S13, Y30, V70 and K71) were significantly associated with T1D susceptibility. Heterozygous genotypes, HLA-DRB1*03/*04 and DQB1*02/*03 were significantly associated with T1D susceptibility (P=4.29E-07, OR=63.2 and P=0.02, OR=3.6, respectively). Furthermore, we detected a significant combined action of DRB1*03-DQB1*02 haplotype in T1D risk (P=1.76E-05, OR=15), and DRB1*16-DQB1*05 haplotype in protection (P=3.12E-2, OR=0.48). Conclusion: Known HLA class II gene alleles are associated with T1D in Omani children. Keywords: Type 1 diabetes; human leukocytes antigens; zygosity; alleles; residues; haplotypes, case-control study; Oma

Immunized camels and COVID-19

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), a global pandemic on 11th March 2020, as its causative virus “severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2” (SARS-CoV-2) spreads rapidly out of control across the world[1]. A few months ago, the virus has spread all over the world claiming the lives of thousands of people, and hundreds of thousands being infected on daily bases and the numbers are on the increase[12]. This pandemic puts enormous pressure on health services across the globe, especially as it coincides with the seasonal flu. Therefore, all efforts to control this new pandemic are needed

Serine Protease Variants Encoded by Echis ocellatus Venom Gland cDNA: Cloning and Sequencing Analysis

Envenoming by Echis saw-scaled viper is the leading cause of death and morbidity in Africa due to snake bite. Despite its medical importance, there have been few investigations into the toxin composition of the venom of this viper. Here, we report the cloning of cDNA sequences encoding four groups or isoforms of the haemostasis-disruptive Serine protease proteins (SPs) from the venom glands of Echis ocellatus. All these SP sequences encoded the cysteine residues scaffold that form the 6-disulphide bonds responsible for the characteristic tertiary structure of venom serine proteases. All the Echis ocellatus EoSP groups showed varying degrees of sequence similarity to published viper venom SPs. However, these groups also showed marked intercluster sequence conservation across them which were significantly different from that of previously published viper SPs. Because viper venom SPs exhibit a high degree of sequence similarity and yet exert profoundly different effects on the mammalian haemostatic system, no attempt was made to assign functionality to the new Echis ocellatus EoSPs on the basis of sequence alone. The extraordinary level of interspecific and intergeneric sequence conservation exhibited by the Echis ocellatus EoSPs and analogous serine proteases from other viper species leads us to speculate that antibodies to representative molecules should neutralise (that we will exploit, by epidermal DNA immunization) the biological function of this important group of venom toxins in vipers that are distributed throughout Africa, the Middle East, and the Indian subcontinent

A randomized, single dose, two treatment, two period, crossover bioequivalence study of cefixime (as trihydrate) suspension in healthy participants comparing Acacime® suspension produced by ACAI / Iraq to Suprax® suspension produced by Hikma / Jordan

Formulation of drugs affects their access into human body, thus bioequivalence studies are conducted to assess therapeutic equivalence between medicines which are produced by different manufacturers. In this study, bioequivalence of two cefixime formulations as powder for suspension, Acacime® manufactured by Arab Co. for Antibiotics Industries (ACAI) / Iraq, and Suprax®, manufactured by the Jordanian Co., Hikma, is tested. Twenty-four subjects had participated in the study which was designed as, a randomized, single dose, two period, crossover study. Cefixime concentrations in plasma were measured by validated bioanalytical method, using high-performance liquid chromatography with UV detection. The determined pharmacokinetics parameters were Cmax, AUC0–t and AUC0–∞ for cefixime. The mean results obtained for Acacime® and Suprax® were, for C max: 2.736 and 2.395 µg/ml, for AUC0–t: 16.787 and 16.579 µg/ml*h and, for AUC0–∞: 21.011 and 21.685 µg/ml*h, respectively. The 90% confidence intervals for AUC0-t, AUC0-∞ and Cmax were 92.3 – 110.8%, 84.8 – 102.7% and 96.3 – 117.9% respectively. This study revealed that both products were comparable in efficacy and safety, so they are considered as bioequivalent products and can be used interchangeably. الخلاص

Distance Based Deployment Approach to Improve the WSNs Coverage and Connectivity

A "wireless sensor network (WSN)" represents the gathering of certain number of sensors that are closely deployed in a recognizable area. The efficiency of any WSNs is heavily depending on the coverage delivered by the deployed sensors. This paper suggested the development of "deployment approach" to improve the WSN coverage, connectivity and reliability. This approach is based on the "distance between" each sensor node and its neighboring sensors. It aims to improve the nodes coverage in steps after a primary arbitrary deployment. In each step, a sensor node is appealed in the direction of its neighbors that have lower distance. This reaction maximizes the coverage of the detected area by forcing the sensor to change its position towards the area with a lower sensors density. The simulation results were compared with the GSO results. Our results showed that this deployment approach could provide high coverage, full connectivity and good reliability. Such results could be achieved with less number of iterations