Baghdad Journal of Biochemistry and Applied Biological Sciences

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) techniques have revolutionized forensic DNA analysis, enabling the precise amplification of trace DNA samples. This abstract provides a concise overview of the pivotal role of PCR in forensic science. It delves into the principles of PCR, emphasizing its ability to amplify specific DNA sequences with remarkable sensitivity and specificity. Multiplex PCR, a variant technique, allows for simultaneous amplification of multiple genetic loci, enhancing the efficiency of forensic investigations. This abstract further highlights the broad applications of PCR in criminal investigations, paternity testing, and disaster victim identification. Recent advancements, such as MiniSTRs and Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS), are elucidated for their crucial contributions in addressing challenging forensic scenarios. Despite its instrumental role, PCR-based DNA analysis is not without challenges, with considerations including DNA contamination and low-template samples. The abstract concludes with aforward-looking perspective on the emerging field of forensic epigenetics and metagenomic analysis, offering a glimpse into the promising future of PCR techniques in forensic DNA analysis. PCR stands as an indispensable tool in modern forensic science, unraveling genetic identities from the most minute of genetic traces.

Chemical warfare agents (CWAs) are toxic substances used to cause harm, injury, or incapacitation to an adversary in the context of warfare and related military activities. Sarin stands as an exemplar among agents, embodying some of the most potent compounds ever developed. This strength originates from its ability to permanently inhibit the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) enzyme, leading to the accumulation of acetylcholine (ACh) at synaptic junctions, which, in turn, induces stimulation of muscarinic and nicotinic receptors. The main objective of the current article is to summarize the negative influence of sarin gas on health and its role in the incidence of several pathological conditions in people who’s exposed to the gas. From this point of view, the clinical features of sarin exposure (health effect and related diseases) and the influence of nerve agents on deactivation of cholinesterase were the main area covered in this article. Furthermore, and for better understanding of the gas behavior and its toxicity, it was important to discuss the features of the gas, discovery, mechanism of toxicity, and pharmacological management. Lately, various approaches have also been reported with esteem of sarin detection, destruction, attacks, and treatment approaches after sarin poisoning.

Amygdalin,also known aslaetrile, has generated significantcontroversy within the scientificmedical community regarding its efficacy asacancer treatment. Extracted primarilyfromtheseedsoffruitslikeapricotsandalmonds,ithasbeenpromoted bycertaingroupsasa potentialcurefor cancerdespitecriticismregardingits toxicity and minimal therapeutic value. This review aims to analyze the available literature on amygdalin, focusing on its chemical characteristics, proposedmechanismsof action,anditsroleincancerpreventionand therapy.A comprehensive review ofpreclinicaldata and clinicaltrials wasconducted toassess amygdalin\'s potential effects and associated risks. The analysis of existing studies providesinsightsintothe complexityof amygdalin\'sbiologicalactivity,including its interactions and suggested pathways in cancer treatment, while highlighting the need for further research to clarify its efficacy and safety. Ultimately,the review contributes tothe ongoing discussion surrounding amygdalin\'s position in oncology and emphasizes the necessity for continued explorationto develop effective cancer treatment strategies.

Electrospinning is one of the important technologies that has contributed a lot to the development of science. Electrospinning usually requires an electrical voltage generator with a value of 10–60 kilovolts, and this voltage requires expensive and energy-consuming electrical devices. The raw materials of nanofibers usually use various polymeric materials, but mixing polymeric materials and finding a stable mixture with the desired properties is difficult and requires many experiments and studies. In this research, a safe electrospinning system with capabilities similar to those of a standard electrospinning device applying a mixture of PVP and honey that can be further tested in wound healing was being constructed. Several mixtures were tested to see which one is more approachable and materials to construct the electrospinning device included lithium battery and medical syringe and an energy booster with an aluminum foil and a rubber band to create a steady flowrate of the polymer. The method described achieved a successful formation of nanofibers by electrospinning using honey and PVP 1:1 and PVP 40%, and the designed device is portable and can be installed in any part of the laboratory, whether large or small making nanofibers production more democratized to low-income countries and labs with minimal budgets.