Evaluation of Interleukin – 33 level in Iraqi children with Beta-thalassemia major

Background: Thalassemia and a bnormal hemoglobin are the most common genetic disorders and are considered health Prpblems in many developing countries. Beta-Thalassemia major is the most familiar type, in which the beta-globin chain synthesis is impaired. Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate a new recent  member of the IL-1 super family of cytokines interleukin-33(IL-33) levels in serum that has a crucial rolein signaling cellular damage and infection diseases and in order to evaluate its utility as a clinical biochemical parameter in Beta-Thalassemia Major disease. Methods: The present study was conducted on 40 subjects which divided in to 2 groups. First group includes 20 healthy individuals as control group . Second group includes 20 children with Beta-Thalassemia Major as patient group . All subjects attending Ibn-Al-Baladi hospital, and were (8-14) years old. Parameters measured in the sera of patient and healthy groups were interleukin-33 (IL-33), Iron and immunoglobulins (IgG,IgM,IgA) concentration, while (Hb) and fetus hemoglobin (HbF%) were determined in whold blood as diagnostic parameters in children with Beta-Thalassemia Major patient group and control group. Results: A recent member of super family cytokines Interterleukin-33(IL-33) was determined in serum of Beta-Thalassemia Major Patients. Higher significant elevation was found when compared with healthy control. Conclusion: From this study a conclusion was drawn, that evaluation of concentration of a new superfamily cytokines (IL-33) could be considered as clinical biochemical parameter in Beta-Thalassemia Major in Iraqi children patients. Also this study may demonstrated a relation between increased IL-33 levels and increased immunoglobulins and Iron overload. Keywords: Beta-Thalassemia Major (BTM), cytokines, interleukin-33 (IL-33), immunoglobulins, Iron overload

The Use Of The Mother Tongue In Saudi EFL Classrooms

The issue of including or excluding the learner’s mother tongue in the EFL classroom has been the subject of ongoing discussion and controversy for a long time. This paper attempts to investigate the use of native Arabic in English classes at two Saudi technical colleges. The main objectives were to examine the purpose o L1 use and the attitudes of Saudi teachers and students towards the role of Arabic in the EFL classroom. Data were collected through two different types of questionnaires. Results indicated that the use of Arabic (L1) was for clarification purposes and that a balanced and judicious use of L1 in the EFL classroom by both teachers and students can be useful in the language learning process and may even be essential to increase learners’ comprehension

Radioprotective and anti-diabetic effects of Costus speciosus and carnosine

Purpose: To evaluate the possible radioprotective effect of Costus speciosus and carnosine as natural antioxidants in order to control the  hyperglycemia developed in male albino rats exposed to acute oxidative stress induced by gamma radiation. Methods: Twenty-eight adult male albino rats were divided into four groups. The first group was taken as a control group, while the three other groups were exposed to Ɣ irradiation at a single 7.5 Gy dose. Furthermore, the rats in the second and third groups were i.p. injected with Costus speciosus root powder and carnosine, respectively. On the 3rd day, after irradiation, the serum levels of glucose, insulin, C peptide, copper, iron, calcium, total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measureded. Results: The results revealed that exposure to Ɣ irradiation induced significant increases in serum glucose, iron, and malondialdehyde. However, the levels of serum calcium, copper, total antioxidant capacity and insulin significantly decreased (p < 0.05). A significant decrease was observed in Cpeptide in the exposed group, compared to control group. All the test parameters indicate improvement after treatment with Costus speciosus and carnosine (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Costus speciosus and carnosine ameliorate the effect of gamma radiation, indicating their role as antidiabetic agents and  radioprotectors; however, Costus speciosus was critically more efficient than carnosine. Keywords: Costus speciosus, Carnosine, Diabetes, Insulin, Gamma radiation protectio

An examination of the relationship between acculturation, Islamic religious practice, and academic performance among Saudi Arabian students in the United States

Recent data have indicated that universities in the United States (U.S.) host as many as 21,933 students from Saudi Arabia, making Saudi Arabia one of the top four countries for international students attending U.S. universities. Several research studies have indicated that religiosity and acculturation influence student’s performance. However, there is a scarcity of studies that assessed the relationships among acculturation, religious practices, and the academic performances among Saudi Arabian students in the U.S. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship among acculturation, religiosity, and academic performance among Saudi Arabian students in the United States. This study was a cross-sectional quantitative survey design with a sample of 393 Saudi students enrolled in U.S. universities. Islamic religious practices and beliefs were measured by the Religiosity of Islam Scale, whereas acculturation was measured by the Vancouver Index of Acculturation. The findings of this study indicate that the overall mean GPA was 3.56, and female students had significantly higher overall GPA than male students. The results show that there was a statistically significant, weak positive relationship between religious practices and academic performance, and a significant, weak negative relationships between acculturation heritage and religious practices and beliefs. The study findings also indicate that religious practice and gender were significant predictor of academic performance. Other factors, such as religious beliefs and acculturation were not predictors of academic performance. Keywords: Religiosity, Saudi Arabia, Academic Performance, Acculturatio

CYTOTOXIC ACTIVITY OF ALKALOIDS EXTRACTED FROM THREE IRAQI PLANTS AGAINST BREAST CANCER CELL LINE

  Objectives: Screening for cytotoxic activity of total alkaloid extracts of Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Aloe vera, and Capparis spinosa against breast cancer cell line Michigan Cancer Foundation-7 (MCF-7) and nontumorigenic fetal hepatic cell line (WRL-68).Methods: The plant powders were extracted separately with 80% methanol and chloroform at pH 2 and 10. Total alkaloids were detected qualitatively by Mayer's, Dragendorff's, and Hager‘s reagents and estimated quantitatively by bromocresol green spectrophotometry depending on the atropine calibration curve. The cytotoxic activity was evaluated by 3-[4, 5-dimethylthiazoyl]-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay.Results: The extract of E. camaldulensis had highest total alkaloid content (24.50±1.70 mg/100 g plant dry weight) than the others. The total alkaloids (400 μg/ml) of E. camaldulensis reduced the cell viability of both cell lines MCF-7 and WRL-68 to 45.25±2.20% and 92.00±1.55%, respectively, and the inhibitory concentration 50% of cells were 375.50 μg/ml for MCF-7. The alkaloids of C. spinosa had effect 79.80±7.08% and 89.50±0.09% against MCF-7and WRL-68, respectively. While the total alkaloids of A. vera had slightly effect on both cell lines.Conclusion: Plant alkaloids appeared variable cytotoxic activity against cancer and normal cell lines depending on the alkaloid contents, concentrations, purity, and cell line types

CYTOTOXIC ACTIVITY OF ALKALOID EXTRACTS OF DIFFERENT PLANTS AGAINST BREAST CANCER CELL LINE

Objectives: To study in vitro cytotoxic activity of total alkaloid extracts of Pinus sabiniana L., Phoenix dactylifera L. and Ferocactus sp. L. against breast cancer cell line Michigan Cancer Foundation-7 (MCF-7) and non-tumorigenic fetal hepatic cell line (WRL-68). Methods: Plant powder of each P. sabiniana L. leaves, P. dactylifera L. pollen grains, and Ferocactus sp. L. The leaves were extracted separately with 80% methanol, chloroform at pH 2 and pH 10 and the chloroform portion was dried to obtain the total alkaloid extracts. The total alkaloids were detected qualitatively by Mayer's, Dragendorff's and Hager's reagents and estimated quantitatively by bromocresol green spectrophotometry depending on the atropine calibration curve. The cytotoxic activity was evaluated by 3-[4, 5-dimethylthiazoyl]-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. Results: The extract of P. sabiniana L. had highest total alkaloid content (164.62±2.8 mg/100 g dry weight of plant) than the other plants (P. dactylifera l., Ferocactus sp. L.), the total alkaloids of Ferocactus sp. L. and P. dactylifera L., reduced the cell viability of both cell lines, the highest reduction occurred in the concentration 400 μg/ml was 46±2.20% (MCF-7) and 56.2±2.2% (WRL-68) for Ferocactus sp. L., followed by 56.2±2.2% (MCF-7) and 57.5±3.2% (WRL-68) for P. dactylifera L. The alkaloids of P. sabiniana was very lower effects on both cell lines MCF-7, and WRL-68 was 89.3±3.44% and 90.16±2.7%, respectively, at the same concentration. Conclusion: Plant alkaloids had variable effects against cancer and normal cell lines depending on the type of alkaloid compounds and their concentration in the extract

Health-related quality of life of tuberculosis Patients in Bagdad and Socio-demographic Factors Associated with Multiple Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR TB)

Background: Tuberculosis is a highly infectious disease that primarily affects the lungs. It can also affect other organs. TB was once called “consumption.” It is the world’s second-most fatal infectious agent, after HIV/AIDS Objective: To evaluate the effect of sodium nitrate, vitamin E and vitamin C administration on  liver enzymes, alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase  and alkaline phosphatase. This research aimed to study the effect of   tuberculosis (TB) on quality (QOl) of life of MDR and non DR TB patients, it also to explore any possible association between getting MDR TB and socio- demographic variables Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Chest and Respiratory Diseases Center (CRDC) –Baghdad during 2015. The World Health Organizations Quality of Life Assessment (WHOHQL-BREF) was used to asses QOL of 50 MDR and 50 Non DR sputum positive pulmonary TB patients. Socio-demographic variables were studied. SPSS V. 22, was used in statistical analysis, Chi-square and Mann-Whitney-U tests were used to test significance of differences, PV≤ 0.05 was considered significant. Results: The mean age was 43.46 ± 14.8 and 37 ± 16.16 for MDR-TB and non-DR-TB respectively. The age difference was significant (p=0.048). Males constitute a majority in both groups (DR-TB 64% and non-DR-TB 59%). Smoking was higher in DR-TB than non-DR-TB (57% and 38% respectively) and difference was significant (P =0 .016). Significant differences between DR-TB and non-DR-TB in global QOL, global health, physical, psychological, social and environmental domains (P=0.004, 0.014, 0.001, .0019, 0.001 and 0.001 respectively). Conclusion: Patients with MDR-TB had lower mean scores than non-DR-TB for overall HRQOL domains. There is association between getting MDR TB and being older in age, lower educational level, smokers and being jobless

Assessment of the intratesticular resistive index by colour doppler ultrasonography measurment as a predictor of Spermatogenesis

INTRODUCTION: As we have entered the twenty-first century, a number of medical, environmental and social changes have profoundly affected human reproduction. The ever expanding industrialization and the growth of fabricated materials pollute our surroundings in unpredicted ways with possibly distressing effects on human health and fertility. Infertility affects 14% of the reproductive group of the world’s population. The disturbance in the males count to 20% of infertile couples and 26% when both partners are combined. Though the modern technology may provide solace to couples seeking treatment for infertility including the use of donated gametes, the socio-economical and political hardships surrounding the available resources have deterred the advancement not only in the developing world but also in the West. The couple are advised multiple investigations and they undergo lot of blood tests and imaging studies often. Especially, the male gets stressed to evaluate his semen analyzed time and again. Hence, the tool to assess spermatogenesis as and when needed, gets better if it could be done non-invasively and easily. The concept of Color Doppler Ultrasound in quick evaluation of the Resistive index in the testicular arteries throws light on the assessment of spermatogenetic potential of the subfertile male in the modern world especially in the followup. AIM AND OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study is to investigate the value of the Resistive index (RI) of intratesticular arteries and to establish diagnostic criteria for normal and pathological sperm counts on the basis of colour doppler USG. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The type of the present study is prospective diagnostic study. In all, 100 men (aged 22 -40 years, overall 200 testicles), 50 patients, who have abnormal sperm count in the form of mild oligoaesthenospermia according to WHO guidelines, 2009 (oligoasthenozoospermia defined as sperm concentration <15 x106 ml and reduced sperm motility in the form of percentage of progressively motile spermatozoa being < 32% or the percentage of progressively motile added with the non-progressive motile spermatozoa being < 40%). The other 50 men have normal sperm count, having attained paternity recently within 2- 15 months before recruitment were taken as controls. Inclusion Criteria: Patients were included if their major complaint was primary infertility, due to mild oligoasthenozoospermia, after 12–45 months of unprotected sexual intercourse. The controls are 50 men who are in age-matched groups as the cases and who had normal sperm count and who had attained paternity 2-14 months before recruitment. Exclusion Criteria: 1) History of testicular trauma. 2) Surgery on the scrotum or testes like hydrocoele surgery or varicocelectomy. 3) Men clinically suspected of having obstructive infertility due to a vas deferens obstruction by palpation or TRUS. CONCLUSION: 1) Intratesticular resistive index measurement by Colour Doppler Ultrasonogram in oligoasthenospermic patients has revealed a value of > 0.6 which is comparable with similar parallel studies conducted worldwide. These results suggest that CDUS RI parameter can be used as a simple, safe, rapid and non invasive predictor test for spermatogenesis and infertility. 2) Other parameters like testicular volume, serum testosterone (total), FSH, LH or Prolactin have also been studied and they were not significantly associated with the outcomes except FSH. The difference in the levels of FSH between the cases and controls is found to be significant which means that the OAS patients may have a slightly raised FSH compared to males with normal spermiogram. 3) Hence Resistive index can be considered to be a possible diagnostic criterion to assess the infertile males and an useful tool for follow up

Dynamics of electronic transitions and frequency dependence of negative capacitance in semiconductor diodes under high forward bias

We observed qualitatively dissimilar frequency dependence of negative capacitance under high charge injection in two sets of functionally different junction diodes: III-V based light emitting and Si-based non-light emitting diodes. Using an advanced approach based on bias activated differential capacitance, we developed a generalized understanding of negative capacitance phenomenon which can be extended to any diode based device structure. We explained the observations as the mutual competition of fast and slow electronic transition rates which are different in different devices. This study can be useful in understanding the interfacial effects in semiconductor heterostructures and may lead to superior device functionality

Clips vs Resilient Liners Used With Bilateral Posterior Prefabricated Bars for Retaining Four Implant-Supported Mandibular Overdentures.

The objective of this research was to clinically compare peri-implant tissue health of bar-clips vs silicone-resilient liners used with bilateral posterior bars for retaining 4 implant-supported mandibular overdentures. Thirty completely edentulous male patients (mean age, 65 years) were randomly assigned into 2 equal groups. Each patient received 4 implants in the canine and first molar regions of the mandible using a flapless surgical technique. Mandibular overdentures were immediately connected to the implants with bilateral prefabricated instant adjusting bars. According to the method of retention to the bar, 1 group was retained with clips (GI), whereas the other group was retained with a silicone-resilient soft liner (GII). Peri-implant tissue health was evaluated clinically in terms of plaque scores (MPI), bleeding scores (MBI), probing depth (PD), and implant stability (IS). MPI, MBI, and PD were measured at mesial, distal, buccal, and lingual surfaces of each implant. Evaluations were performed 2 weeks (T0), 6 months (T6), and 12 months (T12) after overdenture insertion. Implants of GI with clips demonstrated significant increase in plaque, bleeding, and PD scores compared with those of GII with silicone-resilient liner at all observation times. Implants in GI demonstrated a significant decrease in implant stability compared with those of GII at T6 and T12 anteriorly and at T12 posteriorly. Resilient liners are considered better than bar-clips when used with bilateral posterior bars for retaining implant-supported mandibular overdentures in terms of peri-implant soft tissue health. Bilateral posterior ready-made bars cannot be proposed as a promising design for supporting implant-assisted mandibular overdentures.</p