Journal Of AL-Turath University College

This review study claims parallels and differences of the medieval Crusades (1095-1291) and the recent West military interventions in the Islamic world especially the war in Afghanistan (2001) and Iraq (2003). Using historical, political, and cultural literature, this paper will examine how modern conflicts have been decoded using the Crusades as a prism by several players, including the Western political heavy-weights, Islamist movements and the academicians. The paper will examine the Clash of Civilizations thesis proposed by Samuel Huntington, and its critiques and will discuss how the paradigm has influenced the process of policy making as well as the way it has influenced the people. With the help of exploring the continuities and discontinuities between medieval and modern wars, this review proves that the historical contexts of the Crusades and the contemporary geopolitical rhetorical and symbolic appeals are still perpetually connected in the historical and present-day geopolitics and interreligious and interethnic relations.

Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is a common fungal infection with millions of women becoming victims worldwide. The aim of the study was to examine the correlation of Candida species distribution, host immune response, hormonal profile and virulence factors in non-pregnant women in Tikrit, Iraq. A cross-sectional analytical study was carried out between February to May 2025 among a total of 210 non-pregnant women between 18-45 years. Vaginal swabs and blood samples were taken. The identification of Candida was done by the use of culture and CHROMagar. ELISA was used to measure serum Estradiol, Progesterone, IL-6, IL-8, IL-17, and TNF-a. Virulence factors such as biofilm formation, phospholipase activity, proteinase activity and adhesion capacity were evaluated. The Candida species were obtained in 102 (48.6) participants. The predominant one was C. albicans (66.7%), then C. glabrata (21.6%). VVC women had much higher serum levels of Estradiol (192 +- 34 vs. 121 +- 27 pg/mL, p < 0.001) and IL-6, IL-8 and IL-17 levels than controls. Fifty-eight percent of isolates were found to be strong biofilm formers. The vaginal pH was highly raised in infected females (4.9 +- 0.4 vs. 4.2 +- 0.3). Candida adhesion ability had a positive relationship with Estradiol levels (r = 0.62, p < 0.01). VVC in Tikrit is linked with high estrogen, disturbed vaginal microenvironment, high levels of inflammatory cytokines and high Candida virulence. Patient management can be enhanced by including immunological, hormonal markers into the diagnostic strategies.

A chain of religious wars that took place between the eleventh and the thirteenth centuries and were known as the Crusades have had an unparalleled impact on the history of the collective memory of the Western and Middle East societies. This review article looks at how the memory of Crusades has been produced, recreated and used in modern political and cultural discourse. This paper uses the theory of collective memory as developed by Maurice Halbwachs to examine how the narratives of the Crusades have evolved since medieval historiography to the current age of political rhetoric with specific reference to the post 9/11 age. The review delves into the three themes, which are interrelated, as well as, the theoretical underpinnings of collective memory as used in the context of the Crusades, the metamorphosis of Crusade memory in Arab nationalist and Islamist discourse, and the usage of Crusade rhetoric in Western politics. According to this analysis, collective memory of the Crusades is an effective tool in the terms of identity formation, legitimizing political activity, and framing present-day conflicts in historical terms.

The issue of bacterial biofilms may be deemed one of the significant problems of modern medicine and microbiology. These surface bound microbial communities of high density are enclosed by an extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) matrix that is self-secreted to shield them against antimicrobial agents and immune systems of the host. Approximately 80 percent of all microbial infections in human beings are associated with biofilm infection resulting in chronic and recurring illnesses that are notoriously difficult to treat. This is a review that detailed the study on the role of biofilms in enhancing the virulence of bacteria and therapeutic resistance. We discuss the stages of biofilm formation, the organization, and purpose of EPS, the quorum sensing in the behavior coordination of the bacterial cells and the persister cell formation. In addition, we explore the numerous resistance mechanisms employed by the biofilm entrenched bacteria as the reduced penetration of the antibiotics, regulated micro environment, horizontal gene transfer, and phenotypic heterogeneity. These mechanisms are also studied, which is significant in the development of new treatment measures to counter biofilm-related diseases.

The beneficial soil microorganisms are crucial in sustainable agriculture in terms of increasing crop productivity, improving soil health, and decreasing reliance on synthetic agrochemicals. This broad survey is a review of the diversity of useful soil microbes such as plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), actinomycetes, and cyanobacteria and their processes of action in nutrient cycling, growth promotion, biocontrol, and soil structuring. The use of them as biofertilizers and biopesticides has been promising, and the meta-analyses have reported that biomass gains 47 percent and phosphorus uptake gains 105 percent in plants inoculated with them (1). Nevertheless, issues such as sporadic field performance, competition, and native microbiomes, regulatory, and adoption limitations by farmers are still present. New technologies like metagenomics, artificial microbial communities, CRISPR-based genome editing, and Artificial Intelligence are changing how we can learn and exert control over soil microbial communities to their agricultural advantage. The review is based on the recent development between 2015-2025, addresses the existing limitations, and outlines the future research directions that could be microbiome engineering, integration of precision agriculture, and climate-smart uses. To effectively utilize the positive microbes in the soil, it is necessary to manage the complexity of the ecology, create powerful formulations, coordinate the regulatory systems, and arrange the work of multiple stakeholders to reach sustainable agricultural intensification in the changing climate.

Background: The most prevalent endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age, and the major cause of infertility caused by anovulatory, is polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) and insulin resistance are also considered crucial pathophysiological traits of PCOS, and their roles as the biomarkers of infertility are not yet fully understood.
Design: A cross-sectional group cohort study designed to assess the AMH and insulin resistance (measured by HOMA-IR) levels in infertile and fertile PCOS patients, and to find out whether they can be used as predictive biomarkers of infertility in PCOS.
Methods: The case-control study was carried out in January 20, May first, 2025 in Samarra General Hospital, Iraq. One hundred and five women of reproductive age (18-40 years) were recruited and separated into three groups, PCOS patients with infertility (n=35), PCOS patients without infertility (n=35), and healthy fertile controls (n=35). The diagnosis of PCOS was done using Rotterdam criteria. The AMH serum levels, fasting glucose levels, fasting insulin levels, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels, luteinizing hormone (LH) levels, and testosterone levels were measured. The Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) was used in the evaluation of insulin resistance. Body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference were anthropometric measurements. The identification of independent predictors of infertility relied on binary logistic regression.
Findings: PCOS infertile patients were found to have much higher AMH levels than PCOS infertile and healthy controls (8.94 ± 2.31 ng/mL vs. 6.82 ± 1.95 ng/mL vs. 3.45 ± 1.12 ng/mL, p=0.001). The PCOS patients with infertility (4.76 +/-1.84) had a significantly higher value in HOMA-IR than PCOS without infertility (3.21 +/-1.45), and controls (1.89 +/-0.67) (p<0.001). The LH/FSH was also found to be much greater in infertile patients with PCOS (2.84 ± 0.92) than in the other groups (p<0.001). The analysis of ROC curves showed that AMH level above 7.5 ng/mL (sensitivity 82.9, specificity 77.1, AUC=0.812) and HOMA-IR level above 3.8 (sensitivity 74.3, specificity 71.4, AUC=0.768) were the best cut-off points in predicting infertility in PCOS patients. The independent variables that AMH (OR=2.84, 95% CI: 1.62-4.98, p<0.001) and HOMA-IR (OR=2.13, 95% CI: 1.38-3.29, p=0.001) were confirmed as independent predictors of infertility in binary logistic regression. The AMH and HOMA-IR had a strong positive correlation in the infertile PCOS group (r=0.68, p<0.001).
Conclusion: AMH and insulin resistance levels are strongly connected to infertility among PCOS patients and this is an independent predictor of fertility. These biomarkers can be effective pointers of fertility prospects in PCOS and can be discussed as complements to overall fertility assessment in order to implement therapeutic measures.

Objective:
This study analyzed how residential setting (urban or rural) and sex influence key biochemical regulators of calcium homeostasis serum calcium, vitamin D3, PTH, and calcitonin—in students at Tikrit University.
Materials and Methods:
A total of 90 healthy students aged 20 to 35 years were enrolled and randomly assigned to urban and rural groups, with equal gender representation. The study took place from December 2022 to February 2023. Blood samples were collected to measure serum levels of vitamin D3, PTH, and calcitonin using commercial ELISA kits, and calcium was measured by colorimetric analysis. Data were analyzed with SPSS using one-way ANOVA and Duncan’s test, with significance set at p ≤ 0.05 and p ≤ 0.01.
Results:
Residential location significantly affected certain parameters: rural students had higher calcium (p ≤ 0.01) and PTH (p ≤ 0.05) levels than urban students. Sex-based differences were also notable, with males exhibiting higher calcium levels (p ≤ 0.01) and females exhibiting higher PTH levels (p ≤ 0.01). No significant differences related to residence or sex were observed for calcitonin or vitamin D3. Interaction analysis indicated that rural males had the most favourable profile, with higher calcium and vitamin D3 levels, whereas rural females had higher PTH levels.
Conclusion:
The study indicates that geographic location and sex influence calcium regulation, reflecting possible physiological or lifestyle adaptations. Rural men exhibited superior biochemical profiles, while women showed elevated PTH levels, likely due to environmental or dietary factors. Calcitonin remained stable, suggesting a minor role.

Abnormal vaginal microbiota, as seen in bacterial vaginosis (BV), is associated with an increased risk of childbirth complications, gynecological diseases, and sexually transmitted infections. In BV, anaerobic bacteria replace the normal vaginal flora, which is dominated by lactobacilli (LDB). Diagnosis of BV relies on clinical symptoms (foul-smelling vaginal discharge) and/or microscopic examination of vaginal swabs, methods that do not identify specific microorganisms. Vaginal infections are among the most common gynecological health problems. Infections of the female reproductive tract include sexually transmitted infections, bacterial vaginosis (BV) or aerobic vaginitis (AV), and healthcare-associated infections.
Sixty clinical specimens were collected from women of varying ages in Salah al-Din Governorate. Bacterial isolation and identification were performed using standard microbiological methods, and antibiotic Susceptibility testing was conducted using tablet form. The results showed that 22 specimens (33.3%) were positive for bacterial growth, while 40 specimens (66.7%) were non-positive. Escherichia coli was the most common bacterium (90%), followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (10%). High resistance to penicillin (100%) was observed, while ciprofloxacin showed moderate efficacy. The efficacy of azithromycin and Augmentin varied with age. This study, conducted from December 2025 to April 2026, aimed to determine the prevalence of bacteria and yeasts isolated from women with vaginal infections and their antibiotic Susceptibility.

Background: Microplastics (MPs) are novel environmental pollutants that have been shown to be associated with inflammatory and redox alterations in the living tissue. The aim of this study was to assess the inflammatory effect of subchronic MP exposure on circulating inflammatory cytokines, as well as the oxidative stress markers and liver and renal indices in adult male rats and the recovery after MP withdrawal. Forty adult male Wistar albino rats (200–250 g) were randomly divided into four groups of 10 rats each: control group, low dose polyethylene microplastic group (5 mg/kg/day), high dose polyethylene microplastic group (50 mg/kg/day), and recovery group (50 mg/kg/day for 45 days followed by 14 days without the microplastic). Microplastic were gavaged orally for 45 days. Levels of serum interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-10 (IL-10), malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), reduced glutathione (GSH), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and creatinine were measured. One-way ANOVA with Tukey post-hoc tests were performed to analyse the data. Results: MP exposure produced a dose-dependent increase in IL-6 (control 18.86 ± 2.95 vs high-dose 44.85 ± 6.29 pg/mL) and TNF-α (control 22.46 vs high-dose 49.89 pg/mL; both p &lt; 0.001). The antioxidant enzymes SOD and CAT levels decreased significantly in the MP-exposed groups (p &lt; 0.001) while MDA increased significantly (p &lt; 0.001). There was no significant difference in the mean values of IL-10, GSH, ALT, AST and creatinine (p&gt;0.05). The inflammatory and oxidative parameters in the recovery group approached, but did not attain, control levels. Conclusions: Subchronic MP exposure results in an exposed dose-dependent systemic inflammatory and oxidative response in rats which partially recovers from exposure but remains for some time after it ends, suggesting possible health effects associated with environmental accumulation of microplastics.
Objective: To assess the effects of microplastics on oxidative stress, inflammation, cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α, and antioxidant enzymes in rats.The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of microplastics on oxidative stress, inflammation, cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α, and antioxidant enzymes in rats.

The problem of detecting signals in a Rayleigh fading channel is a constant challenge for conventional communication receivers. Traditional maximum likelihood (ML) detectors rely on precise mathematical models of the channel, which are affected by actual fading. This paper presents a new signal detector using a CNN which classifies the symbols directly from the image of the constellation diagram at the receiver. Both binary phase shift keying (BPSK) and quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK) modulations are tested over a Rayleigh fading channel and additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) over an SNR range of 0 to 30 dB. The CNN classifier is given the following two inputs as follows: the received signal constellation diagram (RSCD) and the channel-equalized signal constellation diagram (CED). In this work, three image resolutions were considered: 30×30, 50×50 and 100×100 pixels. Input normalization impact on the bit error rate (BER) is also explored. For both BPSK and QPSK modulations, results indicate that CNN Scenarios II (50×50) and III (100×100) provide BER performance similar to that of the ML detector. Normalization decreases the dispersion of pixels in the constellation diagram and always enhances the classification rate. The results validate the feasibility of image-based CNN classification over a fading wireless channel for replacing the traditional ML detection.

Biotechnology has emerged as a transformative force in the development of advanced drug delivery systems targeting the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The unique physiological characteristics of the GI system, including its pH gradient, enzymatic environment, mucus barrier, and resident microbiome, present both challenges and opportunities for drug delivery design. This review provides a comprehensive overview of biotechnological approaches to GI drug delivery, including polymeric and lipid-based nanoparticles, pH-responsive and enzyme-responsive systems, liposomal and vesicular carriers, stimuli-responsive hydrogels, genetically engineered probiotic bacteria for in situ therapeutic protein delivery, recombinant biopharmaceuticals (monoclonal antibodies and biosimilars) for inflammatory bowel disease, CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing strategies for GI cancers and microbiome engineering, and biotechnological platforms for oral vaccine delivery targeting the gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT). For each technology, the physiological rationale, design principles, mechanisms of action, and current clinical evidence are discussed. This review aims to provide researchers and clinicians with an integrated understanding of how biotechnological innovations are reshaping the therapeutic landscape for gastrointestinal disorders.

Medicinal plants represent an immense reservoir of bioactive compounds with diverse pharmacological activities. This review provides a comprehensive examination of the phytochemical profiles and biological activities of selected medicinal plant extracts, with emphasis on modern extraction technologies, analytical profiling methods, and the molecular mechanisms underlying their therapeutic effects. The major classes of plant secondary metabolites reviewed include alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, phenolic acids, and tannins, with detailed discussion of their biosynthetic pathways, chemical structures, and pharmacological targets. Modern extraction techniques covered include supercritical fluid extraction (SFE), ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), pressurized liquid extraction (PLE), and enzyme-assisted extraction (EAE). Phytochemical profiling of Moringa oleifera, Camellia sinensis (green tea), and Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) is presented using HPLC-MS, GC-MS, and NMR data. The antimicrobial activities of plant extracts, including synergistic interactions with conventional antibiotics, are examined alongside their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties. Quality control approaches, including chromatographic fingerprinting, marker compound quantification, and DNA barcoding for botanical authentication, are also discussed. This review highlights the potential of integrating traditional botanical knowledge with modern analytical and pharmacological methods for drug discovery and development.

Background: Lactation is one of the most challenging metabolic and oxidative periods, and the metabolic and selenium-dependent antioxidant mediators' behaviour in the period of lactation is not well known, especially in regional populations. The fibroblast growth factor-21 (FGF21) regulates lipid mobilization and energy expenditure, while glutathione peroxidase-4 (GPx4), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), selenium-binding protein-1 (SELENBP1), and selenium (Se) are involved in redox balance and selenium handling. Hypotheses: a) There will be no significant differences in serum levels of these six markers between lactating and non-lactating women, and b) these markers will be related to each other and to their ability to discriminate between lactating and non-lactating women. In this case–control study, 120 women aged between 20 and 40 years (60 lactating and 60 non-lactating) were recruited. ELISA was used to quantify serum biomarkers. Independent-samples t-tests, Cohen's d and Bonferroni correction were used to test group differences, Pearson correlation associations, and receiver-operating-characteristic (ROC) analysis discriminatory performance. Key Findings: Both groups were well matched with respect to body-mass index (BMI) and age (p>0.93). The SELENOP levels were significantly higher in lactating women (76.2±9.03 ng/mL vs 67.2±9.54 ng/mL; p<0.001, surviving Bonferroni correction, Cohen's d 0.76–0.97) while there were no differences in HO-1 and SELENBP1 (p>0.24). The AUC value for SELENOP was the highest (0.755), with moderate discrimination for FGF21 and GPx4 (AUC=0.738 each). FGF21 was positively associated with irisin and GPx4. Conclusions: Lactation is associated with a coherent and simultaneous increase in a subset of metabolic regulators, as well as in the constitutive arm of the selenium-dependent antioxidant system, without affecting the levels of those that are inducible by stress; this is consistent with, but not proof of, a supply-driven pre-emptive adaptation. Further assessment of oxidative and selenium status is needed for confirmation.