Al-Kufa University Journal for Biology

In this present research, acetic acid bacteria were isolated from local vinegar samples produced from fermented apple, date and grape; from all (26) vinegar samples; twenty-one isolates of the bacteria were obtained as a dense and smooth colonies with creamy colour on the surface of HS-agar medium, four isolates were identified as Acetobacter xylinum by followed many physiological and biochemical tests, the isolates were gram negative, oxidase negative and catalase positive, the isolates showed positive growth at (25, 30 and 40)°C and furthermore at pH 7.0 and 4.5, but there was no growth at (45°C), pH (2.5 and 8.5). All isolated bacteria were unable to liquefy gelatin. Four isolates were capable to ferment glucose, xylose, galactose, mannose and unable to ferment lactose, mannitol and maltose.The isolates BS2, BS3, BS8 and BS20 had ability for bacterial cellulose production. The percentage of dry weight of cellulose ranged between (2.163 – 7.234)%. Since BS2 showed the best productivity, which had the maximum cellulose production (7.234g/L) was obtained after incubation time of 7 days with Hestrin and Hchramm (HS) media in static fermentation. The isolates (BS2, BS3, BS8 and BS20) were examined for bacterial cellulose production in HS broth medium. The dry weight of crude cellulose produced by each isolates was measured and ranged from (0.36-0.42) gm. and the pH value of bacterial cellulose were (6.2-6.9), approximately equal and nearly to the neutral values with comparison with plant cellulose. The thickness of bacterial cellulose membrane is a key parameter in preparing film, the initial thickness of the wet BC membrane was measured as 32 micrometers and after drying the computed thickness of BC membrane decreased to 0.4 μm. The average tensile strength value and the average elongation at break value of the dried BC films were 34.5 MPa and 5.2% respectively.

Objective: To evaluate the level of zinc and 8-OHdg in follicular fluid and determine the correlation of both with Intracytoplasmic sperm injection outcome.Aim: The aim of this study is. To evaluate the Level of zinc and oxidative stress biomarker 8-OHdg in follicular fluid for unexplained female and compare with male factor. Study the correlation between zinc and 8-OHdg with ICSI outcome. Material and method: eighty eight subfertile couples were involved in this study. They divided into two groups. First group male factor and second group unexplained female factor. Both were interred in ICSI program. Result: The study showed that the mean follicular fluid level of zinc in pregnant group (17.47) and non-pregnant group (16.62). However, not different level of zinc in follicular fluid in both group unexplained female factor and male factor (16.66) and (16.97), respectively. The level of zinc significantly with No. of the oocyte (p=0.004), MII (p=0.033), No. of 2PN (p=0.035), Fertilization rate (p=0.001), Embryo G1 (p=0.044) and Embryo G2 (p=0.026). No significant statistical difference between level of 8- OHdg in follicular fluid in two groups regarding the cause of infertility unexplained female factor and male factor mean (2.20) and (2.25), respectively. But significant with pregnant status in pregnant group mean (1.37) and non pregnant group mean (2.54). The level of 8-OHdg non-significantly with ICSIoutcome. Conclusion: zinc level is statically significant and positively correlated with ICSI outcome, as the number of oocytes, mature oocyte (MII), fertilized oocytes 2PN, fertility rate, embryo G1 and embryo G2.The level of 8-OHdg in follicular fluid statically non- significant with ICSI outcome and not found a correlation between zinc and 8-OHdg.

Fibromyalgia is a syndrome characterized by chronic wide- spread pain at multiple tender points, joint stiffness, and. systemic symptoms (e.g., mood disorders, fatigue, cognitive. dysfunction, and insomnia) without a well-defined. underlying organic disease. A model of fibromyalgia pathogenesis has been suggested in which biological and psychosocial variables interact to influence the predisposition, triggering and aggravation of a chronic disease, but the details are unclear. Diagnosis requires the history of a typical cluster of symptoms and the exclusion of a somatic disease that sufficiently explains the symptoms by medical examination. Current evidence-based guidelines emphasize the value of multimodal treatments, which encompass both non-pharmacological and selected pharmacological treatments tailored to individual symptoms, including pain, fatigue, sleep problems and mood problems.

This study detects the serological test and the prevalence of Cytomegalovirus infection in women (from 14-45 years) in AL-Najaf city, 300 samples were collected from AL-Zahraa Hospital, AL-Hakeem Hospital and central public health laborotary from the September 2019 to December 2019, 5ml of blood samples have been withdrawn from each women, centrifuged at 3000 r.p.m for 15 minutes, the serum has been aspirated to another test tube for storage in deep freeze (-20˚ C) until the time of analysis, the following laboratory testing, ELISA (CMV IgG, CMV IgM ), The percentage of cases of total CMV that showed positive results for ELISA CMV IgG test were )982/96.3 %( from total sample, and for ELISA CMV IgM tests, were ) 6/
2%( from total samples.

This review aimed to survey some classes of phytoplankton composition in Iraqi waters. These data were taken from investigations of phytoplankton in Iraq, covering both freshwater and saline waters in many cities. A total of 342 taxa belonging to twelve classes have been recorded in the review. Among these classes, Chlorophyceae presented a larger number of taxa, while Compsopogonophyceae, Conjugatophyceae, Coscinodiscophyceae and Trebouxiophyceae presented one taxon only. This study proposes to present a checklist of phytoplanKton in Iraq, built on the compilation of preceding surveys.