Rafidain journal of science

The aqueous and methanolic extracts of Cucurbita pepo, were used as antimicrobial activity against multi-antibiotic resistance strains (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumonia, and Proteus mirabilis) which were isolated biochemically from human urinary tract infections. The in vitro antimicrobial activity was performed by using Kirby-Bauer diffusion. The methanolic extracts of Cucurbita pepo fruit-cortex showed for the first time a high to moderate antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli respectively whereas the aqueus extract showed a moderate effect against Staphylococcus aureus only. Weak antimicrobial activity was seen on Klebsiella pneumonia, and Proteus mirabilis using both extract. Using core fruit methanolic and aqueus extraction showed no effect on any pathogenic bacteria. Whole fruit methanolic extract gave moderate and low antimicrobial effect on Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli respectively. The results concluded that the application of Cucurbita pepo cortex extract against human multiresistant urinary tract pathogens may represents a new source as adjuvant to antibiotics for effective treatment of bacterial urinary tract infections.

Rheumatoid Factor (RF) occurs in 70- 90% of patients with established rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody (Anti-CCP) detection can be used to diagnose RA patients with uncharacterized chronic inflammatory arthritis. The aims of the study are: 1-To measure the serum levels of anti-CCP and IgM-RF in the RA patients and the control groups. 2-To evaluate and compare these diagnostic tests in the terms of sensitivity and specificity and to determine the test which yields the best combination of sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of RA. 3- To assess the relationship between anti-CCP antibodies test and joints deformities in comparison with IgM-RF antibodies test. Blood sample were obtained from 55 patients with established RA attending the Rheumatology Ward of Ibin-Sina Teaching Hospital during the period of 1st November 2010 to the 1st June 2011 and 35 apparently healthy controls. Anti-CCP antibodies and IgM-RF were measured using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Patients demographic data, disease duration and joint deformities were recorded. The sensitivity and specificity of anti-CCP and IgM-RF antibodies were calculated taking the clinical diagnosis as the gold standard. Fifty five patients and 35 healthy age and sex matched controls were enrolled. Sensitivity was highest for IgM-RF test (58.18%) followed by anti-CCP test (56.3%). Specificity was highest for anti-CCP test (97.14%) followed by IgM-RF test (82.85%). A combination of the two tests improve the sensitivity and specificity for RA diagnosis to reach 59.5% and 100% respectively. Of the special diagnostic value was the detection of positive anti-CCP antibodies in 3/23 (11.5%) of IgM-RF negative patients. Furthermore, in RA patients with hand joints deformities, anti-CCP was more often presented. The same results were obtained for IgM-RF seropositivity. The study suggests that despite lack of specificity, IgM-RF continues to be a central part of the definition of RA due to favorable sensitivity profile. Anti-CCP test is a powerful diagnostic tool of high specificity especially in RF negative RA patients. No superiority of one test over the other regarding prognosis of joint deformity was discovered.

Cisplatin drug is one of platinum compounds and it is in common use world wide for the treatment of a variety of human neoplasms. However in high doses it can produce undesirable toxic side effects on liver, so in this study we investigated whether vitamin C has protective effect on hepatotoxicity induced by cisplatin or not. Three equal-sized groups (six rats each) of adult male albino rats were used as a)- control group b)- recipient of cisplatin or c)- recipient of vitamin C, 24 hrs before cisplatin injection. Histological examination of livers were carried out using light microscopy. Results showed that cisplatin produced pathological changes manifested as severe fatty changes, congestion and dilatation of portal blood vessels and central veins, dilatation and congestion of sinusoids, with multiple necrotic foci and apoptotic cells, while prior administration of vitamin C produced amelioration of the pathological changes induced by cisplatin

The present study was performed in order to compare the efficacy of lisinopril against telmisartan on oxidative stress represented by serum malondialdehyde (MDA) and total antioxidants status (TAS) in already diabetic newly diagnosed hypertensive patients. It was organized according to a randomized controlled comparative trial during the period of the study from November 2010 to June 2011. The current study included 82 patients, 43 took lisinopril (5 mg/day), 39 enrolled with telmisartan (40 mg/day). In addition to 48 apparently healthy persons taken as controls. Serum levels of MDA and TAS were estimated before and after one month of therapy for patients, and at baseline only for controls. In the present study type 2 diabetic hypertensive patients revealed a significant rise in serum MDA and TAS at baseline stage, however, one month monotherapy with either lisinopril or telmisartan result in a significant improvement in both above parameters. The final conclusion of the study was that both lisinopril and telmisartan are able to subside oxidative stress in diabetic hypertensive patients

The voltammetric behavior of pure Sodium Nitroprusside was studied in a direct method in aqueous phosphate solution at (pH=7.0) by square wave voltammetry Sodium Nitroprusside gives a well defined square wave voltammetric peak at (-0.592) volt against the reference electrode (Ag/AgCl/SatKCl). The calibration curve is linear within the range of concentration [(0.398 ×10-6) – (8.424×10-6)] molar with a correlation coefficient of (0.9991). The binding of Sodium Nitroprusside with Albumin has been studied, the binding constants (K) were calculated at different temperatures. Vant's hoff equation applied to calculate the thermodynamic variables (∆G,∆S,∆H), and the results indicate that the binding of SNP with albumin is of the type (ion-ion).

The aim of this work is to measure the electrical conductivity of Co (II) and Ni (II) complexes with 4-amino antipyrine in mixtures of different percentages of methanol and water at different temperatures. The data were analyzed using the Lee-Wheaton equation for unsymmetrical electrolytes, the conductivity parameters: ionic equivalent conductivity λM+2, association constant KA, and the distance parameter R are calculated. The ionic equivalent conductivity λM+2, increases with increasing temperature, which may attributed to the breaking of hydrogen bonds between solvated ion. Association constant KA increase with increasing temperature, which assumed the presences of simple coloumbic interactions between hard sphere ions in continuous medium. The distance parameter R are calculated at the bist fit values of standard deviation σΛ. Thermodynamic parameters from the relation between LnKA and 1\T were calculated to examine the nature of interaction. Walden product were calculated which show the variation depending on electrochemical equilibrium between ions and the solvent molecules with the composition of the mixed polar solvents

A spectrophotometric method for the determination of microgram amounts of tetracycline -HCl(TCH) has been proposed. The method is based on coupling of tetracycline-HCl with diazotized 4-aminoantipyrine in presence of cetylpyridinium chloride in alkaline medium. The molar absorptivity of the formed dye reached to 1.92×104 l.mol-1. cm-1 at 537 nm and Beer's law is obeyed within the range of 10-300 μg of tetracycline-HCl /10 ml (i.e.1.0 – 30 ppm). The colour reaction was highly stable, a relative error ranged from - 2.5 to + 0.21 % and a relative standard deviation of ± 0.37 to ± 0.73 %, depending on concentration level of tetracycline-HCl. The proposed method has been applied successfully to the determination of tetracycline-HCl in pharmaceutical preparations

A simple, rapid and direct spectrophotometric method for the determination of beryllium II is developed. The method is based on the reaction beryllium II with chrome azurol S in the presence of cetylpyridinium chloride at pH 5.0 forming a stable blue coloured complex which has an intense absorption at 620 nm. Beer's law was obeyed over the range of 0.25-100 μg/25 ml. The molar absorptivity and Sandal's sensitivity of the coloured complex are 1.02×104 l.mol-1.cm-1 and 0.00883 μg.cm-2, respectively. The interference caused by a number of common cations and anions can be removed by using EDTA as a masking agent. The method has been applied successfully to the determination of beryllium II in different water samples

This study includes an isolation and partial purification the protenases from human plasma in city center of Mosul. Three proteinous components had been isolated by gel filtration technique from the precipitate produced by saturation ammonium sulfate. It was found that the peak (A) had a high activity of protenases using sephadex G-75. The apparent molecular weight of the isolated protenases the peak (A) using gel filtration was (75000± 1000 Da).
Maximum activity for protenases was obtained using (0.32) mM of casein as substrates, phosphate buffer (50 mmol) at PH (7.5) for (10) minutes in incubation at (45) C. Using Line Weaver-burk plot were the maximum velocity (0.796) U/ml and Michaelis constant (0.035) mmol. EDTA and thiourea inhibition on the protenase activity, while magnesium sulfate and calcium chloride shown increase activity.

Coumarin and its furo derivatives (psoralene and isopsoralene) are used as precursor for preparation of heterocyclic compounds. The 4-methyl-7-mthoxycoumarin, psoralene and substituted isopsoralene (II, III and IV) which are derived from 4-methyl-7-hydroxycoumarin (I), when reacted with hydrazine hydrate through nucleophilic substitution reaction under basic condition give N-amino-2-quinolone and its furo derivatives (1,5 and 9) in good yields.
Reaction of these compounds (1,5 and 9) with methyl acetoacetate, ethyl acetoimidate or thiosemicarbazide, a new heterocyclic compounds will be formed pyrazolo-quinoline and it is furo derivatives (2,6 and 10); 1,2,4-triazolo-quinoline and its furo derivatives (3,7 and 11) and 1,2,4- triazolo-quinoline-2-thione (4,8 and 12) respectively.
The assigned structure of the prepared compounds were elucidated by the available physical and spectral methods IR, UV and 1H-NMR.

The present research includes determination of adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity in benign and malignant colon tumor tissues.
Patients were enrolled in the study to the surgery unit in AL-Jamhoory teaching hospital in Nineveh Governorate, samples of (6) patients (3) benign and (3) malignant colon tumors.
The results showed a significant increase in the activity of (ADA) in malignant tissues compared with benign which was (32.4 and 84.55 mU) in benign and malignant tumors respectively. Which represent about (50%) increase.
The study also included an isolation and partial purification of ADA using gel filtration chromatography from benign and malignant colon tumor tissues. the results indicated that the number of purification fold for the ADA was (10 and 12) from benign and malignant colon tumors respectively.
The approximate molecular weight of ADA by gel filtration using sephadex G-100 were (31622 Dalton, 39810 Dalton) for benign and malignant tumors respectively.
The optimum condition of ADA for the peak separated from malignant tumors showed an optimum reaction incubation time at (30) minutes, pH at (6.3), temperature at (37°C) and the substrate concentration was about (0.021mM). when we used linweaver - Burk plot, the maximum velocity (V max) and Michaelis -menten constant(Km) where found to be (31.25 mU/ml) and (10.310-3mM) respectively. Also in this investigation we was studied the inhibiters of ADA by Zn+2, Ag+1, Ca+2, Mg+2, Hgcl2, Fe+2 benign but not by Fe+3

Expressions for the distributions of the density and mass of spiral galaxies have been derived for three different orientations of rotation curves with a turn over radius (rt). The central region of the galaxy is found to rotate as a rigid body with a constant density and with a central mass as a function of r3. The density of the outer regions (r > rt) is found to vary inversely with the radius (r), and the corresponding mass is found to be a function of r2. Galaxies with flat rotation curves at (r > rt) has less mass than that with rising up or lowering down rotation curves

A new design of electron gun has been developed to study the effect of the curvature shape of the opposite electrodes faces on its optical and operational performance. Convex and concave arc shapes of different radii and orientations of the electrodes faces combined to design a series of electron guns geometries including the flat shape of the electrode face. Each model has been studied extensively to obtain the optimum electrode curvature shape. It has been found that it is possible to improve the current density and other optical properties of the electron gun by choosing suitable arc shape and radius for the confront electrodes.

The study was conducted to investigate effect of salvia plant powder in some heamatological parameters and histological changes in adult male albino mice, Balb/c breeder 30-45gm. weight, and 5-7 months old. Mice were divided into 4 groups, 6 mice for each. Ratio dried leaves of saliva plant had been powdered and added to the diet in different ratios 2.5, 5, 10 g/kg forage. The treatment of mice was repeated daily for four weeks. The results of the current study showed that the leaves powder of salvia plant had good qualities along with blood values. The treatment lifted number of red blood cells and the concentration of hemoglobin and PCV in all treatments comparing with control group. The white blood cells has increased number in both groups 2.5, 5 g/kg forage and decreased in number in the group 10 g salvia/kg diet. Histological examination also showed the presence of differences some were positive and some were negative for liver tissue and heart comparing with control group.

Six species and seven genus fungal has been recognized that associated with four generation grains from cross of barley (Beckson  Arivat), different species were reported in four generation grains (F1, F2, and back crosses Bc1 and Bc2): Alternaria alternata, Alternaria raphani, Aspergillus flavus, Chaetomium sp., Cladosporium sp., Candida albicans, Fusarium spp., Rhizoctonia solani, Stemphylium sp., Penicillium sp. . The most frequent fungus in grains of four generations was Rhizoctonia solani followed by Penicillium sp. , The F2 generation was the most frequent in species, followed by Bc1 and Bc2 finally.

Bioinsecticidal activity of Tilia chordate Miller, Euphorbia peplus L., Solanum carolinense L. and Hammada salicornica (Bunge) Botsch (=Haloxylon salicornicum) were tested against various stages of Culex pipiens Pallens and Chironomus ninevah Ahmad 4th larvae. For 12 and 24 hrs. exposure times, Lc50 were (16.0 , 7.5 ppm), (14.0 , 13.0 ppm), (18.0, 26.0 ppm) and (26.0, 21.0 ppm) caused by T. chordate, E. peplus, H. salicornica and S. carolinense respectively. Pupal mortality were 56 , 41 , 36 and 28% for T. chordata, H. salicornica, S. carolinense, and E. peplus at the later (80 ppm) applied concentration. Only, T. chordata, and H. salicornica, extracts were active on adult exclusion with mortality 41 and 19% at 80 ppm concentration.
On the other hand, its revealed that significant differences between Lc50 of the targeted C. pipiens larvae and that of the non-targeted C. ninevah larvae with 10, 4 and 2 folds of the applied extracts ; T. chordata, S. carolinense and H. salicornica.

It was found that the increased levels of copper and myo-inisitol in the culture medium was positively effective in increasing the morphogenic response of grape plants Kamali cultivar till the level of 0.025+ 200 mg/l from both compounds respectively. Since the use of this combined level caused to achieve the highest number of shoots (10 shoots/ explant) and leaves (25.75 leaves/ explant) at shoot multiplication stage as well as achieving the highest number of roots (3.08 roots/ explant) at root formation stage. The use of these levels of copper and myo-inisitol did not show any aberrant morphology appearance but the use of higher elevated levels till three times, gradually decreased the morphological response by giving lower values of the numbers of shoots, leaves and roots. At acclimatization stage, the produced plants were successfully transferred to the out-air conditions with a high survival rate reached to 85%.

The present study was designed to effect the excessive levels of vitamin A on bone formation and some biochemical parameters in young rats. 18 of albino males young rats were divided into 3 groups it 6 animals each. These included untreated control and two treated groups received orally vitamin A at the doses 330 and 660 IU/g B.W daily for 30 days. Animals were weighted weekly, Blood samples were obtained at specific times for biochemical parameters determination which include alkaline phosphatase activity (ALP), Calcium, Inorganic phosphorus ,magnesium and albumin levels. At the end of the experimental period, rats were anesthetized and killed. The right femur bone were obtained for mineral analysis in bone ash include calcium, magnesium and Phosphorus. The results showed significant decrease in body weights and ALP, calcium, Inorganic phosphorus, magnesium, albumin in the serum of the first and the second groups. More reduction was observed in the second group when compared with the control groups. The mineral analysis of bone ash showed a significant decrease in calcium, magnesium, Phosphorus in the first and the second groups compared with control groups. It was concluded from this study, that excessive levels of vitamin A caused an effect on body weight and defect detection in bone formation of young males rats.

The present study includes the investigation of the effect of lead on some enzymatic, non enzymatic antioxidants and lipid peroxidation in serum of male albino rats Rattus norvegicus aged 2.5-3 months. Fifty male rats were randomly divided into 5 groups (10 rats/ group).The first group: was given standard forage and distilled water (as a drinking water) and considered as control. The second group: was given standard forage and distilled water (as a drinking water) containing 20 mg lead /L. daily for a period of 15 days. Third group: was given standard forage and distilled water (as a drinking water) containing 40 mg lead/ L. daily for a period of 15 days. The fourth and fifth groups were treated with the same concentration of the second and third group separately daily for a period of 30 days.
The results showed that treatment with lead caused a significant decrease in the concentration of each of total protein, albumin, globulin, glutathione GSH and the superoxide dismutase SOD activity in serum of treated rats compared with the control group. The reduction of the above mentioned parameters was progressive with the time of treatment. The result also showed that treatment with lead caused a significant increase in uric acid and malondialdhyde MDA in serum compared with control group. The results also showed that the decrease and increase were more prominent in rats treated with 40 mg
lead/ L of drinking water. These results suggests that lead may induce oxidative stress in albino rats.

The research included study the effect of foliar spray of three concentrations (0, 30 and 60 mg.l-1) of Iron element as Iron cheleat (Fe – EDDHA) and three concentrations (0, 2, 4 and 6 cm3 ) of Acta Agro fertilizer on growth and some vegetative characteristics of pistacia vera L. seedlings which grown in black poly ethylene bags filled with lomy soil, each treatment was applied three times at 25/4, 10/5, 25/5 /2011. A complete randomized block design (R.C.B.D) with three replicates each consisted of 4 seedlings was used to carry out this research. Data collected at the end of September 2011 indicated that, foliar spray of Iron element at 60 mg,l-1 resulted in a significant increase in both parameters, seedlings high and percentage chlorophyll pigment as compared with control treatment. Mean while spray of Iron element at 30 mg.l-1. led to the most significant increase in seedlings high. At the same time, application of Acta Agro fertilizer at 6 cm3.l-1 gave the highest increase in total number of leaves per plant, single leaf area and leaf area per seedling. None of treatments had a significant effect on the fresh and dry weight and percentage of dry matter of leaves as compared with control.

The effect of Gamma radiation on kidney tissues of male mice before and after Nigella sativa seeds alcoholic extractions (50mg/kg B.W.) supplementation for 10, 20 and 30 days was investigated. Histopathological examination carried out in this study indicated that a dose 125 rad /day of Gamma radiation causes different degree of damage in the morphology of kidney tissues includes cytoskeleton disturbance, necrosis, apoptosis, nuclear damage, cellular death, vacullation, Bowman capsules damage and Hemorrhage. The histological observations also revealed important differences between control and tested individuals depending on the irradiation duration. On the other hand the results showed that kidney tissues recovered to almost restored the natural architecture in mice treated with 50mg/keg B.W. Nigella sativa seeds alcoholic extractions pre exposed to Gamma Ray at (10 ) days but at ( 20 ) days the recovery is les pronounce then the mice which exposed to gamma ray for ( 30 ) days, as compared with control group and all duration of exposure to radiation. these results indicate that Nigella sativa seeds have protective role against Gamma rays.

The effect of two synthetic phthailmides derivative compounds on the response of Lettuce seedling stem explants with single node was studied by addition to MS medium alone or with 3×10-6 M Naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) or with 4×10-6 M Benzyl adenine (BA).
The results indicated that the addition of 10-4 M of N-2(2-hydroxy phenyl) phthalimide compound (A) N-2-(2-carboxy phenyl) phthalimide compound (B) alone to MS solid medium increased the regeneration of shoots from seedling stem segments containing single node. However, addition of 10-8M of both compounds enhanced root formation. results showed that callus induced when 10-6 M of compound A added to MS medium .
Addition of 10-4 M and 10-6 M of both compounds A and B separately with the presence of 3×10-6 M NAA encouraged callus formation as in the standard medium, callus fresh weight was 23.30g and 23.06 g in the medium contains 10-8M of compound A or B with 4×10-6M BA respectively, compared with 18.73g for the callus grown on standard medium after 60 days of growth. Whereas the fresh weight of callus grown on MS medium with addition of compound A or B alone reached 21.45g and 18.86 g respectively. addition of compound A and B separately with 4×10-6 M of BA enhanced shoot differentiation without formation of roots and from all the concentrations used 10-4 M of compound A was the best.

The present research is a clinical study of chitinase and its relation with thalassemia. It had been found that the normal range of chitinase activity in serum of healthy control (1.79 ± 0.10 U/ml), and it had been found that significant decrease of chitinase activity for patients group when compared with controls group. It was also found that the activity was not affected by sex whereas an increase was found with aging in both patients and control groups. The result demonstrated that the chitinase activity was not affected by the type of thalassemia (a or β - thalassemia), distress of β- thalassemia (major and intermediate) and splenctomy. The results show a significant increase in (GPT), (GOT), (Fe) and (TIBC) while also showed a significant decrease in hemoglobin level of thalassemia patients compared with control. Correlation coefficient between chitinase activity and clinical variables of thalassemia patients studied showed a significal reversible relation between chitinase and (Fe) and irreversible relation between chitinase and(GPT) in control. It also show a reversible relation between chitinase and hemoglobin in patients.
The isolation method of chitinase from lysosome of plasma (protein peak B) showed two protein peaks by gel filtration technique, using column containing sephadex G-75. The activity of a chitinase showed in(protein peak B).while the isolation method of chitinase from ammonium sulphate solution (75%) saturation of plasma showed three protein peaks by gel filtration technique, using same column. The activity of a chitinase showed in (protein peak E), a high number of purification showed in (protein peak B) compared with (protein peak E), it was found that the two peaks (B and E) had apparent molecular weight (39180 ± 1000 dalton) and (36307 ± 1000 dalton) respectively. The study of the optimum condition of chitinase activity in the two peaks show an optimum reaction time at (35), (30) minute, optimum pH at (7), optimum temperature at (60°C), (55°C), optimum concentration of substrate colloidal chitin (12 mg/ml), (10 mg/ml), Vmax (2.08 U/ml), (2.00 Uml) and Km (2.12 mg/ml) and (2.00 mg/ml) respectively. Finally the biological activity had been improved for the isolated chitinase from plasma (for B and E peak) upon the growths of some bacteria and fungi pathogen, it had been found that the enzyme had the ability to inhibit its growth at ratio (100%) for peak (B) and (50%) for peak (E).

The research included a study of oxidative stress in infertility female for two types (Primary and secondary) in Ninava governorate, beside of the effects of Body mass index (BMI) on oxidative stress of infertility through measuring (17) oxidants and antioxidants parameters. The study was carried out on (223) sample of women (age 19 – 45 year). The infertility (179) divided into two groups (depending on types of infertility). Non infertility (44) were included in the study as control with similar age and sex.
The group of primary infertility showed significant decrease concentrations of vitamin C, vitamin E, glutathione, total bilirubin, folic acid and zinc when compared with control, while there was a significant increase of: glutathione S-transferase(GST), albumin, copper, iron, Cp, MDA and peroxynitrite. While, the secondary infertility showed significant decrease concentrations of vitamin C, vitamin E, GSH, total bilirubin, folic acid, zinc and copper, and there was a significant increased of : GPx, GST, Cp, MDA and peroxynitrite. Moreover, the oxidative stress showed increased in primary infertility compared with secondary infertility because of increased of antioxidants and decreased of oxidants in primary infertility.
Beside of, the study showed the effect of BMI on the oxidants and antioxidants levels. The results revealed that there were direct correlation between BMI increase with the concentrations of (MDA, peroxynitrite) and inverse correlation with the concentrations of antioxidants (For example vitamin C, vitamin E, SOD, total bilirubin, folic acid and uric acid).