Rafidain journal of science

Modern lifestyle has an unhealthy routine, including overeating and less physical activity, full of many complications such as chronic and degenerative disease in which the function and structure of tissues and organs deteriorate with advancing age due to lack of exercise and an unhealthy diet. IF is one of the ways that it has proven successful as a preventive method as well. IF was shown to be successful for short term weight loss in a systematic analysis of the four groups studied. However, long-term follow-up and randomized controlled trials are required to evaluate diet adherence and long-term maintenance of weight loss without regaining lost weight. Also, it is reducing levels of oxidative stress in all cells of the body, and improves the body's ability to resist stress at the cellular level by increase the total antioxidant capacity. IF forces the body to use fat as a fuel source, which means weight loss. The study also showed an increase in the level of the hormone adiponectin, which helps in fat metabolism, protects against heart disease and helps lose weight. The results also showed the occurrence of hyperthyroidism and the production large amount of the hormone thyroxine, caused an increase in the rate of metabolism, which resulted in weight-loss. This study and previous studies showed the positive results of IF in a well-studied scientific way, but there is a need to implement this protocol to distinguish the most effective time period in reduce oxidative stress and increase TAC level

Smoking is the primary cause of fatalities, disabling conditions, and avoidable diseases worldwide. Smokers are subject exposed to a variety of dangerous compounds, which stimulate the bone marrow to produce more RBCs. So that, this study aims to know the effects of smoking on men with polycythemia by studying the blood parameters and thyroid hormones. The study is conducted on 100 men (75 with polycythemia and 25 men control), ages (20-59) years, with samples collected from the blood bank at Maysan governorate, from the period November 2022 to March 2023. The results showed an increase significant (P≤0.05) in the values of red blood cells, hemoglobin and hematocrit, while, the white blood cells count showed no significant (P≤0.05) differences for both groups of polycythemias (smokers and non-smokers) as compared to the control group. Also, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration showed an increase significant (P≤0.05) in the smokers group. No significant (P≤0.05) variation was recorded in the values of thyroid stimulating hormone and thyroxine among groups, and triiodothyronine values in polycythemia (smoker and non-smoker) increased significantly (P≤0.05) in comparison with the control group. According to the above results we conclude the smoking effect in blood parameters and T3 hormones in smoker polycythemia men.

As antibiotic growth promoters are being phased out from poultry diets in different global regions, there is a significant focus on exploring substitute strategies. The complete randomized design applied to the study included 216 one-day-old male strain (Ross 307) broilers assigned into six equal number groups, three replicates, each consisting of 12 chicks. The control (group 1) was fed standard diet and group 2 was exposed to oxidative stress (OS) by 0.5% ml of hydrogen peroxide (50%) concentration per liter of water. Group 3 was exposed to OS and treated with 3.5 g/kg non-fermented Ginkgo biloba leaves (Gbl), group 4 was exposed to OS and treated with 3.5 g/kg fermented Gbl, group 5 comprised normal chicken treated with 3.5 g/kg non-fermented Gbl, group 6 normal chicken consists of 3.5 g/kg fermented Gbl. The result showed that the normal chicken in group 6 treated with F- Gbl caused a significant decline (P < 0.01) in feed conversation ratio FCR (1.38) compared to all groups 2,3,4 and 5 (1.53,1.56,1.48 and1.57) respectively, while non- significant change (P > 0.01) observed inverses to control group. the final body weight (FBW) and weight gain (WG) in group 6 significantly increased (P < 0.01) as compared to all other experimental groups, and the level of T3 and T4 in group 6 non-significant change (P > 0.01) observed compared to group1.In summary, incorporating F-Gbl within the recommended range into broiler diet improved growth performance, physiological condition and regulated thyroid hormone function thereby increasing FI, WG and FBW.

Echinococcus granulosus is a causative agent of cystic echinococcosis, with a cosmopolitan allocation. The current study investigated levels of interleukins IL-2, 12, 13 and IL-15 in the serum of mice treated with PRO-30 Max probiotics, comprising (Lactobacillus acidophilus, L. plantarum, L. casei, L.reuteri, Bifidobacterium bifidum, B. lactis, B. longum, and Streptococcus thermophilus), then infected with the protoscoleces of E. granulosus. Three dilutions of probiotics, 18×10-8/1 ml, 14×10-9 / 1 ml, 12 x 10-10/ ml (CFU), and three periods 3, 5, and 7 months were applied, 0.1 ml of each dilution was injected in mice intraperitoneally, before and after infection with the protoscoleces. On the fifth day of infection, bacterial infection was continued every 72 hours for all periods. Blood was drawn from the ophthalmic venous plexus; serum samples were kept at -20° until use. Interleukins were estimated using ELISA technique. The highest level of IL-2 was at dilution 18×10-8, 195.29 pg/ml, compared with the C+, 30.212 pg/ml after seven months of infection. The highest level of IL-12 was at dilution 18×10-8, 195.19 pg/ml, compared with the C+, 35.955 pg/ml after seven months of infection. The lowest level of IL-13 in mice treated with the dilution 18×10-8, was 31.755 pg/ml, after three months of infection, compared with the C+, 190.919 pg/ml after the seventh month of infection. An increase in the level of IL-15 was observed at the dilution 18 × 10-8, 193.012 pg / ml, compared with the C+, 30.022 pg/ ml after seven months of infection.

An indirect electrochemical determination of carvedilol (CAR) as pure and in its pharmaceutical tablets through its interaction with nitrous acid has been studied using square wave voltammetry (SWV). Nitrous acid which is prepared instantaneously in a voltametric cell contains a three-electrodes detection system, a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) as the working electrode, Pt-wire as an auxiliary electrode and silver/silver chloride/ saturated potassium chloride (Ag/AgCl. sat. KCl) as a reference electrode, gives a well-defined oxidation peak at 1.35 V vs. Ag/AgCl. saturation KCl. The effect of different pH (buffer types), time and concentration were tested. The calibration curve was constructed under measured optimum conditions by following the decrease in nitrous acid peak as a result of the addition of carvedilol solution. The plot of carvedilol concentration added and the differences in current gives two straight lines, first at a low concentration range (0.499 -5.99) × 10-8 M by a calibration equation Y=93.893x-4.9093 and second, at a high concentration range (6.99 - 11.98) ×10-8 M by a calibration equation Y=9.2363x+484.69 with correlation coefficient R2 equal 0.9937 and 0.9574 respectively. The limit of detection (LOD) was (0.10048×10-8) M and the limit of quantitation (LOQ) was (0.33493 ×10-8) M

The present study reports the synthesis of a range of compounds including oxazepines (5a-e), benzoxazepines (6a-e), imidazolidines (7a-e) and (8a-e), and tetrazoles (9a-e) containing 1,2, -4-triazole. These compounds were synthesized from benzilic acid hydrazide (1) using both traditional and green approaches, with the latter utilizing ultrasound technology to increase the yield and speed up reaction times. Thus, the bezilic acid hydrazide was first converted to potassium2-(2-hydroxy-2,2-diphenylacetyl) hydrazine-1–carbodithioate) (2) followed by treatment with hydrazine hydrate to produce (4-amino -5- mercapto- 4H-1,2,4-triazole-3-yl) diphenyl methanol (3). Compound (3) was then reacted with various substituted benzaldehydes to produce Schiff base compounds (4a-e). The cyclization of compound (4a-e) with many reagents provides the product with oxazepines, benzoxazepines, imidazolidineand tetrazoles compounds. The results proved that the use of ultrasound technology proved to be a more efficient method compared to traditional approaches, as it resulted in shorter reaction times and high-quality products. The purity of all synthesized compounds was determined using thin-layer chromatography (TLC), and the structures were confirmed through physical and spectral analysis including FT-IR and 1H NMR.

The last two decades witnessed focusing on the role of spirulina in protecting organs against oxidative stress and toxic metabolites. Therefore, this study aimed to detect its potential protection influence on the brain, liver, and kidney in paracetamol-induced subacute toxicity in male rats. Animals were administered paracetamol 500mg/kg body weight, 500 and 1000mg/kg body weight Spirulina in set with paracetamol for 28 constitutive days. Spirulina tablets were grounded and dissolved in distilled water then administered to rats 3 days before starting with paracetamol. Open field was used to probe neurotoxicity effects of paracetamol treated group and the combination of Spirulina and paracetamol treated groups in day 14th and 28th of treatment. Liver and kidney functions were tested at the end of treatment on day 29th; aspartate aminotransferase AST, alanine transaminase ALT, gamma-glutamyl transferase GGT, creatinine, and blood urea nitrogen BUN. Histopathological changes were tested in brain, liver, and kidney. High concentration of spirulina markedly affected on neurobehavioral activity represented by increasing number of rearing, grooming, and square crossing compared to paracetamol treated group. Liver enzymes levels in Spirulina and paracetamol treated animals were significantly decreased compared with only paracetamol treated animals. Kidney function in Spirulina and paracetamol treated animals was also noticeably decrease in comparison with only paracetamol treated animals. Histopathological changes caused by paracetamol in brain, liver, and kidney were reduced in animals received Spirulina 1000mg/kg body weight. The results of the current study detected that Spirulina has capacity to protect organs; including brain, liver, and kidney against paracetamol induced toxicity. This may due to spirulina richness with variety of nutrients, in particular, antioxidants

Ten soil samples were collected from different areas on Hammam Al-Alil Township, located in the city of Mosul within the Nineveh Governorate / Iraq. The specific activity of natural radionuclides (238U, 232Th, 40K and 137Cs) were measured, and the results showed that the values of radioactivity concentration of the mentioned nuclides for soil samples ranged between (BDL, BDL, 3.52, BDL) Bq/ kg to (3.12, 6.05, 73.85, 2.02) Bq/ kg with an average (0.87, 3.13, 27.2 and 0.75) Bq/ kg, respectively, and the activity of the radium equivalent measured and its average value was (10.03) Bq/ kg. As well as absorbed dose in the air, which was the average value (3.42) nGy/ h. The average annual dose in the outside and inside were (0.004 mSv/y, 0.016 mSv/y) respectively, and the average internal and external hazard indicators were found, and its value was (0.02, 0.02) respectively. Finally, the lifetime risk of developing cancer was determined utilizing the risk factors for Ionizing radiation's biological effects are discussed by the International Committee on Radiation Protection. All values of soil samples are less than the global limit.

Staphylococci are common commensals in human beings, yet certain species are pathogenic. Staphylococcus aureus, particularly, is a very virulent human pathogen. The capacity of staphylococci to sense the density of bacterial cell, i.e., quorum, and thereafter respond via genetic modifications is attributable to one primary mechanism known as accessory gene regulator (Agr). Agr's extracellular signal is a peptide that is post-translationally modified with a thiolactone molecule. Agr is in charge of the upregulation of numerous exotoxins and hydrolyzing enzymes, as well as the downregulation of many colonization determinants, under circumstances of high cell density. This modulation is critical for the scheduling synthesis of virulence determinants throughout the infection course and the establishment of acute illness, whereas low Agr activity is linked to persistent staphylococcal infections, such as biofilm development. Moreover, Staphylococcal Accessory Regulator A ِ (SarA) controls the establishment of biofilm in S. aureus that hinders the production of nuclease and protease via triggering the P2 and P3 promoters resulting in the activation of RNAII and RNAIII, respectively. SarA also endures the transcription of agrA and saeS, and many virulence determinants including hla, hlb, and hlg coding α-, β-, and γ-hemolysins, respectively. Upon the aforementioned facts, the present review will shed some light on the Quorum Sensing (QS) in S. aureus, particularly, the Agr and Sar systems and how these systems control the pathogenicity of this species. Moreover, it will cover the factors that interfere with these systems.

Breast cancer ranks first among the cancers that affect women globally and causes death in approximately 28.6% of women affected by it. Thymidylate synthetase (TS) is the only enzyme responsible for the synthesis of deoxythymidine monophosphate (dTMP) in the de novo pathway. dTMP is one of the basic building blocks for synthesis and duplicating DNA, and thus the TS enzyme plays an important role in cell division and proliferation. Its activity may be considered as a tumor biomarker for monitoring malignant diseases such as breast cancer. TS activity was evaluated in serum using the sandwich (ELISA) technique, as well as malondialdehyde and creatinine in (30) healthy females as a control group and 60 female patients with breast cancer undergoing endoxan, epirubicin and paclitaxel chemotherapy. The patient and control groups were divided according to age into three groups, and the patients were parted according to disease stages and treatment doses into four and three categories, respectively. The current study aimed to estimate the activity of this enzyme to find out the extent to which it can be used as a diagnostic tool and to determine the effectiveness of treatment and follow-up of the disease in its various stages. The results showed a significant decrease p≤ 0.01 by 30.68% in serum TS activity in patients with breast cancer compared to the control group, while malondialdehyde and creatinine did not. Also, age and disease stage factors did not show any significant effect on these parameters, while drug doses showed a different effect

The current study aimed to evaluated the titanium dioxide particles (TiO2-NPs) which biosynthed using propolis of honey bee Apis mellifera (nano-extract) at five concentrations (50, 100, 200, 400, 800) ppm, against adults and third instar larvae of the Ephestia cautella. The results showed that the nano-extract had a significant toxic effect on adults, the mortality rate was 96.7% at a concentration of 800 ppm and the mortality rate decreased to 61.4% at a concentration of 50 ppm after seven days of treatment and the concentrations caused a decrease in the rate of food consumption, which was reflected in the value of the antifeedant index which was 100%. The results showed that the nano-extract had a repellent effect on larvae, which ranged from (-20 to -66)% after 3 hours of tested. The nano extract showed the least loss of date weight (7%) at a concentration of 800 ppm within 90 days of storage

One hundred and sixty clinical Specimens were collected, of which 120 isolates belonging to genus Acinetobacter spp, for 75%, and the highest percentage of burns was 85.7%, wounds 75.6%, diabetic foot ulcers 75%, tonsil smears 66.6%, urine from cases of urinary tract infection and kidney failure 50%, and bone marrow fluid spiny C.S.F by 25%. from various Mosul hospitals. Thirteen isolates belonging to the two species Acinetobacter baumannii-AE and Acinetobacter junii-AE were selected based on morphological traits and biochemical tests. The phylogenetic relationship based on 16SrRNA The Acinetobacter species clustered in 3 clusters: A: include 8 strains A. baumannii-AE at 98.05%, B: include 2 strains A. junii-AE at 98.2% and C: include 3 strains A. junii-AE at 98.75% were obtained using (Mega7) program and method Clustering depended on (UPGMA). The results showed that the genus Acinetobacter produced a biofilm at 53.8% strongly, while the average production on CRA medium was 46.1%, while the results on MTP 53.8% strong production of the mucous layer in abundance with dark colonies and 46.1% medium producing biofilm with brown colonies, the minimum inhibitory concentration of Mersacidin extracted from strain Bacillus sp.-AE against pathogenic isolates A.baumannii and A.junii ranged between (625-2500) μg/ml, while minimum sub MIC ranged between (312.5-1250) µg/mL, and the strain Bacillus sp.-AE Mersacidin-producing bacteriocins have the highest anti-biofilm effect than A.baumannii and A.junii strains. is a strong biofilm-forming.

The study included two axes: the first was isolation and diagnosis of Bacillus spp. that fixed atmospheric nitrogen from 10 different soil samples collected from the city of Mosul, diagnosed microscopically and culturally depending on several biochemical tests. Its effectiveness in fixing nitrogen was tested by inoculating it in a nitrogen-free medium with the presence of a control sample. The best isolate (F5) was chosen to conduct the second section, which aimed to determine the effect of environmental factors, such as different temperatures, the effect of high salt content and different pH ranges on the ability of Bacillus to produce nitrogenase, which is important in fixing nitrogen. The results showed that the optimal growth of the isolate (F5) was on Nutrient Agar at a temperature of 37°C and a pH of 7. The bacteria were grown at temperatures of 40°C, 45°C, and 50°C, the isolate (F5) tolerated growth to a temperature of 50°C, as there was a significant difference compared to control sample, in addition to retaining its ability to fix nitrogen. The bacteria were grown in culture media containing 6%, 7%, and 8% concentrations of NaCl, and they tolerated growth to a concentration of 8%, with a slight significant difference to the control sample. The bacteria retained their ability to fix nitrogen at 6%, 7%, and at a concentration of 8%, there was a slightly significant difference compared to the control sample. It was also grown on media with pH value of 6, 5 and 4. There was a slight significant difference in the level of pH 6 when compared to the control sample, while at the level of pH 5 there was weak growth with a large significant difference compared to the control sample, and no bacterial growth appeared at pH 4. Nitrogen was fixed at pH6 and there was no significant difference compared to the control sample. However, a very small amount of nitrogen was fixed at pH5 and it was with a large significant difference compared to the control sample.

In this paper investigation, a 600 m thick CR-39 nuclear track detector was implemented. It was divided into four pieces, each with a 1 x 1 cm2 surface area. At a vertical angle, the pieces were irradiated with 2.6 MeV of energy from an 241Am source. Then, three of the pieces were annealed at successively higher temperatures (100–120–140oC) using a Memmert U4079142 water bath. The samples were etched using a sodium hydroxide solution, NaOH, with a concentration of 6.25 at a temperature of (70 ± 1o C) in a water bath for 6 hours at 0.5-hour intervals. Then, track images of the alpha particle diameters were taken using a digital camera (MADC- 5A) connected to an optical microscope (XSZ-H Series Biological Microscope) and a computer. It was discovered that an increase in annealing temperature increased the alpha track diameters. The experimental alpha lengths were measured using a new method that involved knowing the general etching rate and entering variables into the Track Test program. The length of the alpha track was calculated through the program, and compared to the results of the first equation of the Track Test program