Toxoplasmosis: Serious disease during pregnancy

Toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by Toxoplasma gondii that leads to abortion or hydrocephalus during pregnancy.One hundered and twenty two aborted women were selected for this study. Serum samples were collected form Al-Kadhmia and Kamal Al-Samari Hospitals,and laboratories around Baghdad, and tested for specific IgG and IgM anti-toxoplasma antibodies to confirm toxoplasmosis in those women by using ELISA test.The result recorded that 51(41.8%) women had antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii, 25(59.5%) women were positive for IgG, and 17(40.5%) women were positive forIgM, while 9(17.6%)women were positive for both

The efficiency of biosynthesized Zinc oxide nanoparticles by Fusarium sp. against Saprolegnia parasitica isolated from common carp eggs in fish hatchery

Saprolegnia spp. infect common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) eggs in hatcheries. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the antifungal effect of biosynthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnNPs) against Saprolegnia spp. as an eco-friendly treatment. Biosynthesized ZnNPs were characterized using atomic force microscope (AFM), size distributor and Ultra Violate-Visible spectrometer (Uv-Vis), and Scanning   Electron Microscope (SEM). Biosynthesized (ZnNPs) had a spherical shape with diameters ranging 10-70 nm. Antifungal activity was tested by fungal radial growth inhibition on corn meal agar. The highest concentration of 100 ppm of ZnNPs showed a remarkable inhibition rate of 79% against Saprolegnia spp., demonstrating similar efficiency as the positive control i.e. malachite green in the inhibition percentage rate of fungal growth. This study showed that biosynthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles had a significant antifungal effect (P<0.05) and can be used as an alternative option to control Saprolegnia spp. in fish hatcheries

Storage behaviour of exotic potato genotypes and hybrid clones under natural condition

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the storability of hybrid clones and exotic genotypes at room temperature during April to August 2011 and April to August 2012. Fourteen hybrid clones and 14 exotic genotypes were stored for five months at ambient temperature. Hybrid clones 7.33 and 7.12 showed better performance in respect of storage behaviour (minimum weight and rottage loss) at ambient temperature. The maximum storability was found in Labadia, Liseta, Albaata, Lambada and Amanda exotic genotypes. Moreover, hybrid clones 7.33 and 7.12 exhibited minimum weight and rottage loss in both the hybrid clones and the exotic genotypes. Based on their storage behaviour at ambient temperature, it may be concluded that hybrid clones 7.33 and 7.12 are found to be suitable for storage under ordinary room temperature conditions for a period of 90 to 120 days and slow release to market for avoiding distress sale

Performance evaluation of ad-hoc based aerial monitoring system

Recently there is a huge interest in designing and implementing systems that can be used in surveillance and emergency situations. These systems are designed and implemented using two main technologies that are: Mobile Ad-hoc Networks (MANETs) and the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). MANETs with its unique characteristics of rapid deployment, self-organization and cost effectivenes had made it a popular topic for designers and developers to design and implement such systems. In this paper, a prototype system was designed and implemented using MANETs and UAVs; this system can be developed to be used as an aerial monitoring system in surveillance and security issues, the system was used to record and send a real-time video from source to destination node over a multihop path. This system was first implemented and tested using testbed method, then it was simulated using network simulator (NS-3) with two case studies to evaluate the performance of the system using two routing protocols (Ad-hoc On-Demand Destance Vector AODV[1] and Optimised Link State Routing OLSR [2]). The evaluating metrics used here are; delay, average jitter, packet loss ratio (PLR) and packet delivery factor (PDF) against variable number of nodes. The optained results of the test bed method showed the configuration parameters and self-organization characteristics of MANET, the results obtained from the simulation platform illustrated that the OLSR had outperformed the AODV protocol in dense networks and the optimum number of nodes needed to cover the simulation area were 90 nodes

Study of Some Biochemical Parameters of Tuberculosis Patients InThi-Qar Province/Iraq

        The current study was designed,to estimate of, serum sugar, serum urea and lipid profile of tuberculosis patients in comparison with healthy subjects .Twenty eight TB patients (15 men and 13 female) random, and twenty three healthy subjects(13 men and 10 female) (control group) were used in this study. The results showed that serum sugar was non significantly (p<0.89) higher than control group, serum sugar value was raised with increase of age , and it  was no significantly  increased (P<0.909) in Women compared with Men. While, the serum urea was significantly lower (P<0.000) than control group , serum urea level was decreased with increase of age and it was no significantly increased (p<0.189) in Men compared with Women. Serum cholesterol in TB patients were no significantly (P<0.505) higher than healthy subjects , TC level was decreased with increase of age  and it was no significantly increased (P<0.418) in Women compared with Men .Tiglycerides (TG) was no significantly (P<0.085)  lower than healthy subjects,. TG level was no differences with the age, and it was non significantly increased (P<0.394) in Women compared with Men. High density lipoproteins (HDL) was no significantly lower (P<0.154 ) than healthy subjects,. HDL level was no differences with the age, and it was no significantly increased (P<0.019) in Women compared with Men. Low density lipoproteins LDL in TB patients were no significantly (P<0.634) higher than healthy group, LDL level was significantly decreased with increase of age and it was no significantly increased (P<0.577) in Men compared with Women. very low density lipoproteins (VLDL)  was no significantly lower (P<0.89) than healthy subjects,.VLDL level was no differences with  the age, and it was no significantly increased (p< 0.394)in Women compared with Men

Study of Some Biochemical Parameters of Tuberculosis Patients InThi-Qar Province/Iraq

        The current study was designed,to estimate of, serum sugar, serum urea and lipid profile of tuberculosis patients in comparison with healthy subjects .Twenty eight TB patients (15 men and 13 female) random, and twenty three healthy subjects(13 men and 10 female) (control group) were used in this study. The results showed that serum sugar was non significantly (p<0.89) higher than control group, serum sugar value was raised with increase of age , and it  was no significantly  increased (P<0.909) in Women compared with Men. While, the serum urea was significantly lower (P<0.000) than control group , serum urea level was decreased with increase of age and it was no significantly increased (p<0.189) in Men compared with Women. Serum cholesterol in TB patients were no significantly (P<0.505) higher than healthy subjects , TC level was decreased with increase of age  and it was no significantly increased (P<0.418) in Women compared with Men .Tiglycerides (TG) was no significantly (P<0.085)  lower than healthy subjects,. TG level was no differences with the age, and it was non significantly increased (P<0.394) in Women compared with Men. High density lipoproteins (HDL) was no significantly lower (P<0.154 ) than healthy subjects,. HDL level was no differences with the age, and it was no significantly increased (P<0.019) in Women compared with Men. Low density lipoproteins LDL in TB patients were no significantly (P<0.634) higher than healthy group, LDL level was significantly decreased with increase of age and it was no significantly increased (P<0.577) in Men compared with Women. very low density lipoproteins (VLDL)  was no significantly lower (P<0.89) than healthy subjects,.VLDL level was no differences with  the age, and it was no significantly increased (p< 0.394)in Women compared with Men

Using a genetically encoded sensor to identify inhibitors of Toxoplasma gondii Ca2+ Signalling

This work was supported in part by National Institutes of Health Grants AI-110027 and AI-096836 (to S. N. J. M.) and 1DP5OD017892 (to S. L.).The life cycles of apicomplexan parasites progress in accordance with fluxes in cytosolic Ca2+. Such fluxes are necessary for events like motility and egress from host cells. We used genetically encoded Ca2+ indicators (GCaMPs) to develop a cell-based phenotypic screen for compounds that modulate Ca2+ signaling in the model apicomplexan Toxoplasma gondii. In doing so, we took advantage of the phosphodiesterase inhibitor zaprinast, which we show acts in part through cGMP-dependent protein kinase (protein kinase G; PKG) to raise levels of cytosolic Ca2+. We define the pool of Ca2+ regulated by PKG to be a neutral store distinct from the endoplasmic reticulum. Screening a library of 823 ATP mimetics, we identify both inhibitors and enhancers of Ca2+ signaling. Two such compounds constitute novel PKG inhibitors and prevent zaprinast from increasing cytosolic Ca2+. The enhancers identified are capable of releasing intracellular Ca2+ stores independently of zaprinast or PKG. One of these enhancers blocks parasite egress and invasion and shows strong antiparasitic activity against T. gondii. The same compound inhibits invasion of the most lethal malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum. Inhibition of Ca2+-related phenotypes in these two apicomplexan parasites suggests that depletion of intracellular Ca2+ stores by the enhancer may be an effective antiparasitic strategy. These results establish a powerful new strategy for identifying compounds that modulate the essential parasite signaling pathways regulated by Ca2+, underscoring the importance of these pathways and the therapeutic potential of their inhibition.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Using a Genetically Encoded Sensor to Identify Inhibitors of Toxoplasma gondii Ca 2+ Signaling

The life cycles of apicomplexan parasites progress in accordance with fluxes in cytosolic Ca2+. Such fluxes are necessary for events like motility and egress from host cells. We used genetically encoded Ca2+ indicators (GCaMPs) to develop a cell-based phenotypic screen for compounds that modulate Ca2+ signaling in the model apicomplexan Toxoplasma gondii. In doing so, we took advantage of the phosphodiesterase inhibitor zaprinast, which we show acts in part through cGMP-dependent protein kinase (protein kinase G; PKG) to raise levels of cytosolic Ca2+. We define the pool of Ca2+ regulated by PKG to be a neutral store distinct from the endoplasmic reticulum. Screening a library of 823 ATP mimetics, we identify both inhibitors and enhancers of Ca2+ signaling. Two such compounds constitute novel PKG inhibitors and prevent zaprinast from increasing cytosolic Ca2+. The enhancers identified are capable of releasing intracellular Ca2+ stores independently of zaprinast or PKG. One of these enhancers blocks parasite egress and invasion and shows strong antiparasitic activity against T. gondii. The same compound inhibits invasion of the most lethal malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum. Inhibition of Ca2+-related phenotypes in these two apicomplexan parasites suggests that depletion of intracellular Ca2+ stores by the enhancer may be an effective antiparasitic strategy. These results establish a powerful new strategy for identifying compounds that modulate the essential parasite signaling pathways regulated by Ca2+, underscoring the importance of these pathways and the therapeutic potential of their inhibition

An Analysis of Private School Closings

We add to the small literature on private school supply by exploring exits of K-12 private schools. We find that the closure of private schools is not an infrequent event, and use national survey data from the National Center for Education Statistics to study closures of private schools. We assume that the probability of an exit is a function of excess supply of private schools over the demand, as well as the school's characteristics such as age, size, and religious affiliation. Our empirical results generally support the implications of the model. Working Paper 07-0