Al-Salam Journal for Medical Science

The Leishmania parasite belonged to trypanosomatidae family,. Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL)
and visceral leishmaniasis (VL) are endemic in Iraq as one of the neglected tropical diseases. The current drugs
which are used as antileishaminial treatment characterized by enormous side effects including their toxicity to
human, long term treatment, liver problems, hugely cost. Therefore, there is a necessity to find an alternative
treatment marked as low cost, more specific against parasite’s stages, Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), a
cytokine that generated by the innate immune response to CL infection, can influence disease clearance in the
human host. The effect of this pro-inflammatory cytokine in CL ulcer development during the infection is not well
established. The current study was conducted on 88 individaul of both sexes, they were from Diyala province and
the capital Baghdad, during the period from October 2020 to February 2021.
All suspected cutaneous or visceral patients involved in this study were prediagnosed in the laboratory before
processing Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-α) and Adenosine Deaminase Enzyme (ADA) by ELISA
colorimetric detection. Total number of confirmed leishmaniasis patients were (n=57) cutaneous patients and
(n=16) visceral patients, collected from different hospitals in Diyala province and Baghdad. Positive CL or VL
samples were confirmed by microscopic Giemsa staining, In this study, the level of circulating tumor necrosis
factor alpha and adenosine deaminase enzyme levels were detected in CL patients of newly diagnosed infection and
in patients undergoing different doses of treatment, 2nd and 3rd Pentostam trail-treatment, in addition, VL patients
of newly diagnosed infection with no treatment; in comparison to control subjects. Regardless the type of
leishmaniasis and according to age, the results showed that TNF-α concentration was higher in patients less than 15
years old, in comparison with other age group over 15 years (15-60) years old, which was 1169.899 ng/ml and
961.206 ng/ml respectively. While according to sex, the higher concentration of TNF-α was recorded in female
rather than male, 1030.243 ng/ml and 996.458 ng/ml Regarding ADA enzyme, the highest enzyme activity also
recorded in the age group of 1-14 years old, which was 4.749 nanomol/minute/µg, in comparison of patients
between 15-60 years old, which was 3.706 nanomol/minute/µg. While according to sex, the maximum enzyme
activity was seen in male rather than female (4.296, 4.483) nanomol/minute/µg, respectively. The perceived rise of
TNF-α and ADA serum levels may give insights into this pro-inflammatory cytokine as a biomarker in prognosis
and tracking disease progression

Leishmaniasis is a global illness that is endemic in many countries, including Iraq. The infection is
caused by the injection of the parasite Leishmania through a female fly bite’s belonging to the genus Phlebotomus
when feed on the mammal host. The hallmark of cutaneous Leishmania is skin ulcers that are likely to be effectively
enhanced by the immune system to control the growth and the development of the parasite, while other species of
Leishmania are more severe and the parasite infect the visceral organs of the host rather than local skin infection
According to statistics and available database of Iraqi Center of Disease Control, the number of recorded cases of
cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in Iraq were 16134 cases in 2020, while for visceral leishmaniasis (VL), it was 95
cases. The current study was conducted on 88 individaul of both sexes, they were from Diyala province and the
capital Baghdad, during the period from October 2020 to February 2021. All suspected cutaneous or visceral patients
involved in this study were prediagnosed in the laboratory before processing Adenosine Deaminase Enzyme (ADA)
by ELISA colorimetric detection. Total number of confirmed leishmaniasis patients were (n=57) cutaneous patients
and(n=16) visceral patients, collected from different hospitals in Diyala province and Baghdad. Positive CL or VL
samples were confirmed by microscopic Giemsa staining, rapid immune chromatographic strip assay and indirect
fluorescent antibody test (IFAT), in addition to the clinical signs and symptoms, which were evaluated by a
consultant physician. the ADA enzyme level was also increased in the studied groups where significant difference
was recorded in the 2nd trail Pentostam treatment, which was 4.275 nanomol/minute/µg in comparison to control
subjects, which was 3.138 nanomol/minute/µg. Although no significant correlation was seen in the ADA enzyme
concentration in the newly infected and 3rd trial treatment groups, which were 3.899 nanomol/minute/µg and 3.474
nanomol/minute/µg, respectively.Furthermore, the highest serum ADA enzyme concentration was observed in the
newly visceral leishmaniasis groups, which was 5.238 nanomol/minute/µg. However, there was difference seen
among the test groups for both studied parameters.The results of this study highlighted a new concept of investigating
immunological molecules, such as ADA enzyme, as possible biomarkers for cutaneous or visceral leishmaniasis
prognosis and development.

Background and purpose: Annually about half a million children in the world are born with neural
tube defects and folic acid plays a role, it is effective in preventing this, so this study had been conducted to
determine the pattern of folic acid intake during pregnancy.
This research is a descriptive-analytical study, it depends on gathering information through interviews and
completion. It was a questionnaire. The sample numbers were 322 people who had been sent to Al-Mahmodya
Hospital.
Results inducted 81.4% of women had consumed folic acid during pregnancy, which at the time of starting
consumption was 23.9%. Percentage was mentioned from the first month and 16.4% after the third month of
pregnancy. None of the units studied the time of cutting consumption was not mentioned before the third month.
The most common reason for not consuming is not known how to take folic acid was mentioned (73.3%). Between
Folic Acid consumption during pregnancy and women\'s education (P = 0.004, occupation) (P = 0.034) neural tube
defects with number of infants and, ( P = 0.046) abortion number,( P = 0.000) number of pregnancies,( P = 0.052).
A significant relationship was found, also between folic acid consumption with previous planning for pregnancy (P
= 0.060) and Pregnancy care (P = 0.047) also had a significant relationship.
Although a significant percentage of women have consumed folic acid during pregnancy, but the onset time of
consumption was not the right time. Therefore, it seems necessary to know as many women as possible.
Appropriate measures should be taken regarding the benefits of folic acid and how to use it .

Staphylococcus aureus is a bacterium that may be found in the skin and upper respiratory system.
Although S.aureus is a normal flora, it has evolved into an opportunistic pathogen that causes numerous infections
that are difficult to cure due to the presence of virulence genes. The goal of this work is to identify MRSA in
bacterial isolates using the mecA gene. In the current investigation, 213 samples were gathered from various
clinical sources from patients hospitalized to various hospitals in Baghdad. The isolates were identified as S.aureus
using normal bacteriological methods and verified using a molecular approach based on the nuc gene. Due to the
many species of staphylococci that were expressed for varying resistance levels, the conventional approach was the
best way for finding Methicillin resistant gene in S. aureus (mecA). Finally, mecAgene was found to be present in
76.67 % of bacterial isolates.