Iraqi Population Research Articles

Perceptions and usage of traditional cigarettes, electronic cigarettes, and waterpipes among young and middle-aged adults in Iraq: A descriptive study

Tobacco use poses significant public health concerns, linked to various mental and physical health outcomes. Iraq has a high prevalence of smoking, predominantly with traditional cigarettes, but there is also growing popularity of electronic cigarettes and waterpipes among younger and middle-aged adults. This study aims to explore the perceptions and usage of traditional cigarettes, electronic cigarettes, and waterpipes among this population in Iraq. A descriptive study was conducted among 402 young and middle-aged adults (50.25% females), aged between 18 and 45 years, with a mean age of 25.88 (SD = 7.27). For the data collection, an online questionnaire was developed utilizing distribution channels on common social networking platforms. The results showed that 41.79% of respondents have used traditional cigarettes, while 31.1% of participants reported that they use electronic cigarettes. Ninety-four per cent of respondents acknowledged that they use waterpipes. The results also indicated that a significant proportion believe that using electronic cigarettes is either much more harmful or more harmful than traditional cigarettes. Participants commonly perceived all three types of tobacco products as highly harmful, including secondhand smoke, addictive qualities, and popularity among peers. Additionally, significant differences in perceptions emerged between smokers and nonsmokers regarding electronic cigarettes and traditional cigarettes, although no such differences were observed for waterpipes. These findings contribute to understanding the attitudes toward different forms of tobacco use among respondents, highlighting the need for targeted interventions to address the perceived harm associated with tobacco products.

The prevalence of periodontitis in an Iraqi population using the 2017 classification

Background: To determine the prevalence and severity of periodontitis in an Iraqi population using the 2017 classification. Methods: Data on the periodontal status of patients were retrospectively collected from healthcare records. The information included demographics, clinical parameters including bleeding on probing (BOP), probing pocket depth (PPD), and clinical attachment loss (CAL). Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were performed using SPSS (version 26, IBM, USA) software. Results: Out of 1578 records, the periodontal health, gingivitis, and periodontitis represented 26.4%, 37.1%, and 36.5%, respectively with males more affected by periodontal disease compared with females. Periodontitis cases were dominated by stage 3 and 4 which combined accounted for 77.3%, followed by stage 2 (21.3%), and stage 1 (1.4%). When looking at disease grade and levels of stability, localized pattern, Grade C, and unstable status were the most prevalent domains. Regression analysis suggested age, BOP, male, and positive family history as predictors for increasing extent and severity of CAL both in periodontal health and disease. Conclusion: The prevalence of periodontal disease (periodontitis, and gingivitis) was almost equally expressed. Severe periodontitis was the most dominant group whilst milder forms of disease were least prevalent. The data indicated that demographic variables and clinical parameters could predict severity of attachment loss.

Molecular analysis of olive (Olea europaea L.) in Iraq using the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region

Olea is a genus of about 40 species in the Oleaceae family distributed in warm temperate and tropical areas of southern Europe, Africa, southern Asia, and Australia. The study aimed to use the variations in the Internal Transcribed Spacer 1 (ITS1) region to construct a phylogenetic tree for 12 Iraqi olive varieties with 15 ITS1 sequences downloaded from the NCBI database. Leaf samples were collected from 12 olive varieties grown in five geographical regions of the north of Iraq. Using the BLAST algorithm, 12 sequences were manually adjusted by chromatogram comparison and aligned with the NCBI GenBank database. Haplotype diversity ranged from zero in the Australian population to one in the Moroccan and Spanish populations. Nucleotide diversity ranged from 0.0 in the Australian population to 0.08 in the Algerian population and Tajima's D value was −0.940. Genetic differentiation values ranged from 0.0177 between Iraqi Moroccan and Iraqi Spanish populations to 0.6540 between Iraqi and Algerian populations. The average pairwise nucleotide diversity within populations was 0.9036 in Iraqi and Turkish olive populations to 0.8671 in Iraqi and Algerian populations. The phylogenetic tree formed 2 main clusters. The first cluster includes all Algerian varieties and the Iraqi varieties are grouped in second cluster. The negative Tajima test value in all populations indicates an excess of rare alleles. The high value of gene flow between the Iraqi and Australian populations may have been mediated by human transport and these varieties may have been originated from the same geographical region.

Association of IL-4 polymorphism with severe periodontitis in a sample of Iraqi population.

Specific bacterial plaque and environmental factors cannot be considered the only cause of periodontitis. Still, several genetic factors affect the host response to the bacteria, like gene polymorphisms in anti-inflammatory cytokines. Several studies have reported that clones of T-helper 2 lymphocytes (TH2) are generated in response to dental plaque in periodontitis patients, while in healthy individuals, they are regulated by T-helper 1 (TH1) lymphocytes. Accordingly, such patients consistently produce more IL-4 (TH2) in response to bacterial stimulation, whereas healthy controls with intact periodontal tissues produce a significantly higher level of TH1.

Blood Levels of micoRNA-21 in Newly Diagnosed Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Iraqi Population

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is now regard as a worldwide health issue affecting hundreds millions of people. It is a metabolic disease targeting glucose metabolism and insulin homeostasis, Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is the most prevent type of this disease accounting about 90-95% of the disease as whole. microRNAs (miRNAs) which are a small non-coding RNAs, they revolutionized as potential new biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of a wide range of disorders. Recent studies prove the relationship between miR-21 and inflammatory process and insulin resistance, our emphasis suggest there is a role of miR-21 in insulin resistance in T2DM. Studies have explored the potential of miR-21 as diagnostic biomarkers for T2DM. The purpose of this study is to compare the sera levels of miRNA-21 among newly diagnosed patients e with T2DM patients with their levels in apparently healthy subjects using blood samples. The time frame for this case-control research is August 2022 through March 2023, and it took place at Al-Sadr Teaching Hospital/ Masin / Iraq. There were 100 patients home recent diagnosed with T2DM (50 females and 50 males) with age ranged between (20 -70 years) and 100 apparently healthy subject who dealt with as control group. 2 ml of blood drown from each patient and healthy person, putted it in EDTA tube with 1 ml of Trizole as a preservative, and put the tubes in the freezer at -70 degrees Celsius until analyze the samples.

Correlation between TCF7L2 gene expression and certain biochemical parameters in type 2 diabetes mellitus

ObjectivesThe transcription factor 7-like 2 gene (TCF7L2) is associated with a predisposition to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in different ethnic populations. This article investigated the relationship between TCF7L2 gene expression and several biochemical indexes among different age categories of T2DM in a sample of the Iraqi population. MethodsOne hundred and fifty blood samples were collected from three groups: young T2DM (10–35 years), old T2DM (40–80 years), and healthy control (10–65 years) groups. Both sexes were enrolled. qPCR was performed to explore the expression of the TCF7L2 gene. Biochemical tests were performed to assess hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels. The body mass index (BMI) was calculated. The results were statistically analyzed. ResultsPatients with T2DM had higher BMI, TG, and LDL, and lower HDL than the control group. There was a strong positive correlation between hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) and BMI, TG, and LDL and a negative correlation between HbA1c and HDL. Expression of the TCF7L2 gene showed a significant difference between old and young patients by 1.68 and 0.207 fold, respectively. These results showed that old patients had higher gene expression than young patients. ConclusionTCF7L2 gene expression was affected by age, with higher expression in old T2DM patients. This may influence beta cell functions and insulin secretion.

Correlation between Human Boca virus and IL-23in some Iraqi patients with ischemic heart disease

Heart diseases in the Iraqi population are a significant public health concern. Iraq has experienced in the prevalence of heart diseases, including coronary artery disease, heart failure and hypertension. Different researches have shown that human Boca virus (HBoV) may be a risk factor, for some cardiac disorders. Hence, goals of resent work is to investigate roles of human Boca virus in ischemia heart disease (IHD) and to investigate roles of serum level of IL-23 in these diseases. 40 heart diseases patients and 40 controls were included. Controls were females (n=30) followed by males (n=10), while patients with IHD were 27 males and 13 females. There were highly significant variations in ages of patients and controls with (p≤0.01). The mean ± SE of age of patients with IHD was 37.90 ±0.75 years, while the mean ± SE of controls was 40.52 ±0.79 years. Lipid profile was measured. There were significant variations between patients' and controls. Also, mean ± SE of HDL was statistically significant between ischemia and control groups (85.28 ±4.31 and 55.10 ±1.23 mg/dl) with p≤0.01, respectively. The serum levels of IgG and IgM were assessed using ELISA. There was no significant variation in mean ± SE of serum level of IgM between ischemia and healthy controls (0.251 ±0.04 and. 0.341 ±0.07 ug/Ml). respectively. There were significant variations in mean ± SE of serum level of IgG between ischemia and controls (0.723 ±0.16 and. 0.076 ±0.004 ug/ml). There were highly significantly differences in Mean ± SE of serum level of 1L-23 between IHD heart diseases (0.407 ±0.073 Pg/mL) and healthy controls (0.0121 ±0.003 pg/mL) with p<0.001, respectively.

Investigating the association between interleukin 18 and type 2 diabetes mellitus in the Iraqi population

Extensive research has been conducted for over a decade on the association between obesity, inflammation, and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The primary objective of this study is to investigate the correlation between levels of IL-18 and T2DM among different age groups. Ninety blood samples were collected from three groups: old diabetic patients, young diabetic patients and healthy control group. Thirteen blood samples for each group and both sexes had been enrolled in this research. The HbA1c test and interleukin 18 ELISA test were done for all these samples. The results were statistically analyzed by using: One-way ANOVA, Duncan multiple range comparison, chi-square, Pearson correlation test and ROC test. There were significant differences between patients and healthy groups regarding HbA1c and no significant differences between groups in IL18. The results of the ROC test confirmed that there wasn’t any significant relationship between IL18 and T2DM. In conclusion, our study indicates that the impact of IL-18 in the evolution of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is not significant and it may not serve as a reliable predictor of T2DM.

The association between CCR5, NLRC4, and AIM2 gene polymorphisms and susceptibility to tuberculosis in the Iraqi population

Abstract. Khaleel B, Al-Alwani HRS, Asmar A. 2024. The association between CCR5, NLRC4, and AIM2 gene polymorphisms and susceptibility to tuberculosis in the Iraqi population. Biodiversitas 25: 1022-1029. In immunological reactions against Mycobacterium tuberculosis, chemokines and their receptors, including CXCR3, CCR5, and RANTES, play an important role in the migration and activation of cells. The inflammasome is a multiprotein complex that serves as a master regulator of inflammation. Genetic polymorphisms contribute to individual phenotypic differences, such as disease risk and drug response. The current study was done to find the polymorphism in the CCR5, NLRC4, and AIM2 genes in our population and to look into how this polymorphism is linked to getting tuberculosis. Seventy-five tuberculosis patients participated in this study, while the control group comprised twenty-five control healthy individuals. We took two milliliters of blood from the patients and the control group and placed them in an Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA tube), or DNA extraction. Real-time PCR was used to find changes in the genes for CCR5 (rs2227010, rs2734648, rs1799987, rs1799988, rs1800023, rs1800024), NLRC4 (C-rs479333), and AIM2 (CC-rs1103577). Some genotypes were more common in the patient group, including SNPs CCR5 (rs2227010, rs2734648, rs1799988, rs1800023, rs1800024), NLRC4 C-rs479333, and AIM2 CC-rs1103577. However, by using Two-Two cross table the genotype of SNP CCR5-rs1799987 was not significantly different between the patient and the controls. Patients also had a lot of certain alleles for the SNPs CCR5 (rs2227010, rs1799988, rs1800023, rs1800024) and NLRC4 (rs479333). However, the alleles for the SNPs CCR5 (rs2734648, rs1799987) and AIM2 CC (rs1103577) were not very different between patients and controls. This study concludes that a polymorphism in various SNPs of the CCR5, NLRC4, and AIM2 genes may be a risk factor for tuberculosis.

Anxiolytic and Sedative Properties of Melatonin Premedication in Pediatrics Undergoing Elective Cardiac Catheterization: A Randomized Placebo Study.

Preoperative anxiety in children has been linked to various postoperative consequences, such as postoperative regressive behavioral issues, extended distress during the recovery period, eating disorders, and bedwetting. The current study aimed to investigate the efficacy of low-dose oral melatonin in alleviating preoperative anxiety among children in the Iraqi population. A randomized, double-blinded comparative study was undertaken, involving children aged four to 14 years scheduled for elective cardiac catheterization under general anesthesia. The study comprised a total of 80 children. The involved individuals were randomly assigned to two groups, each with 40 subjects. Group A received 0.5 mg/kg melatonin as premedication, while Group B received a placebo. The two groups demonstrated similarity in mean age, weight, cardiac disease, and gender distribution. Statistically significant reductions in anxiety scores were observed in the melatonin group compared to the placebo group. Particularly, children administered 0.5 mg/kg melatonin exhibited the most substantial anxiolysis and venipuncture compliance (P < 0.05). Additionally, children who were premedicated with melatonin experienced decreased cognition, maximum sedation, successful parental separation, and psychomotor impairment (P < 0.05). Melatonin demonstrated an effective sedation level without significant side effects, making it a preferred choice due to its efficacy, safety, current availability, and cost-effectiveness compared to other anesthetic agentsused in premedication procedures.

Prevalence of cervical enamel projections and enamel pearls on furcation area of Iraqi molar teeth

Cervical enamel projections and enamel pearls in relation to molar furcationsmay act as predisposing factors in periodontal attachment loss. The objectives of thisstudy were to investigate the prevalence of cervical enamel projections and enamelpearls on furcation areas of molar teeth of Iraqi population. The material consisted of(465)extracted upper and lower molars. They were (200) upper molars and (200) )lower molars extracted because of` caries and pulp lesions(groupl), while the othermolars extracted because they were periodontally diseased(group2). The cervical )64(enamel projections were classified into three grades(described according to peter et al 2000)For group l the results showed that (5l%) of upper molars and (66%) of lowermolars had cervical enamel projections. Enamel pearls were identified on (1.5%) ofupper molars and (2.5%) of lower molars. Maxillary molars had (59.8%) grade Icervicaljnamel pro`ections and 28.4%) grade ll and (ll.7%) rade III. Whilemandibular molars showed (66.6%) teeth with grade I, (24.2%) teeth with grade IIand (9%) teeth with grade III .For grou 2 cervical enamel rojcctions were identifiedon (70.7%) ofthe collected molarsThe results of the present study give an indication that cervical enamelprojections are frequent enough to be of clinical importance&#x0D;

Detection of SARS-CoV-2 variants distributed from March 2020 to May 2022 and their effect on the infection severity in Iraqi population

New SARS-CoV-2 variants appeared in late December 2020 as Mutations accumulated in the original virus. This study aimed to provide a local database about variants of COVID-19 circulating in the Iraqi population from 2020 to 2022 and the time of emergence of new strains each month since very few local studies have documented its existence in the country. Real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) assays were employed to 319 collected and analyzed nasal swabs to determine whether an infection had occurred. A sophisticated diagnostic kit that sorted the distinctive mutations was implemented to evaluate the variants. Results showed Younger patients were more likely to be infected with the Alpha variant (66 patients) than older people (43 patients). Additionally, patients with wild-type infestations had more robust viral load and lower Ct threshold values, culminating in an increase in severity during infection with wild-type virus 26/32 (81.250). Meanwhile, 65/109(59.63%) of patients infected with the Alpha variant developed severe and critical illness and 51/84(60.71%)were infected with Delta or Delta plus variants. In conclusion, the Alpha variant had the highest infection percentage of 109(46.6%), followed by Delta or Delta plus variant 84(26.33%), Beta or Gamma variants 47(20.1%), Omicron variant 46(19.6%), and finally wild-type virus of 32(13.7%). February 2020 witnessed a preliminary finding of the wild-type, while the Alpha variant emerged in December 2020, Beta/Gamma variances were recognized in December 2020, Delta/Delta plus variances began in April 2021, and the Omicron variant debuted in March 2022. Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, Mutation, rRT-PCR, Coronavirus disease 2019, TaqPath, cycle threshold (Ct) value

Detection of SARS-CoV-2 variants distributed from March 2020 to May 2022 and their effect on the infection severity in Iraqi population

New SARS-CoV-2 variants appeared in late December 2020 as Mutations accumulated in the original virus. This study aimed to provide a local database about variants of COVID-19 circulating in the Iraqi population from 2020 to 2022 and the time of emergence of new strains each month since very few local studies have documented its existence in the country. Real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) assays were employed to 319 collected and analyzed nasal swabs to determine whether an infection had occurred. A sophisticated diagnostic kit that sorted the distinctive mutations was implemented to evaluate the variants. Results showed Younger patients were more likely to be infected with the Alpha variant (66 patients) than older people (43 patients). Additionally, patients with wild-type infestations had more robust viral load and lower Ct threshold values, culminating in an increase in severity during infection with wild-type virus 26/32 (81.250). Meanwhile, 65/109(59.63%) of patients infected with the Alpha variant developed severe and critical illness and 51/84(60.71%)were infected with Delta or Delta plus variants. In conclusion, the Alpha variant had the highest infection percentage of 109(46.6%), followed by Delta or Delta plus variant 84(26.33%), Beta or Gamma variants 47(20.1%), Omicron variant 46(19.6%), and finally wild-type virus of 32(13.7%). February 2020 witnessed a preliminary finding of the wild-type, while the Alpha variant emerged in December 2020, Beta/Gamma variances were recognized in December 2020, Delta/Delta plus variances began in April 2021, and the Omicron variant debuted in March 2022. Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, Mutation, rRT-PCR, Coronavirus disease 2019, TaqPath, cycle threshold (Ct) value

Epidemic survey of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever infections in the Iraqi population during 2022

The primary cause of the Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a virus spread by ticks. The rate of frequency of case mortality is 10–40%, which is spurred on by the CCHF virus, which also produces severe viral hemorrhagic fever outbreaks. The current study can be viewed as an epidemiological survey of CCHF infections in Iraq, with the goal of better understanding block virus transmission and preventing the risk of contracting the disease. Approximately 1370 blood samples from suspect patients were taken and separated; then, the serum was processed to remove viral RNA and tested for CCHF infection using specialized kits. Results revealed 382 (27.9%) positive cases, including 76 (19.9%) positive patients with dying compared to 306 (80.1%) who experienced cures. Findings showed a significant incidence of more than 50% of the positive cases having contact with animals and raw meat, 33% slaughtering, and 36% tick bites. Furthermore, 125 (32.7%) homemakers and 64 (16.8%) butchers had the most significant infection percentage. With 42.4% of all infections, Thiqar province had the most infected patients, followed by Misan with 9.7%, then Wasit and Babil. With 27.2% of all infections, May had the most CCHF-positive infections, followed by June and July. In conclusion, in response to the initial wave counterattack in southern Iraq, public health interventions on the veterinarian side should be implemented; these should eliminate, or at least decrease, the impact of a second wave. Illegal trading practices must be controlled if zoonotic diseases like CCHF are to stop spreading. Keywords: CCHF, Iraqi provinces, RT-PCR, tick bites, zoonotic disease.

Health behaviors, knowledge, screening, and attitudes toward colorectal cancer among Iraqi adults.

This study aimed to evaluate the Iraqi population's health behaviors, knowledge, screening, attitudes toward colorectal cancer (CRC), and possible predictors that may affect their knowledge level. Cross-sectional study. One thousand three hundred sixty-one Iraqi adults from Sulaymaniyah/Iraq. The odds ratio (OR) was used to find the association between knowledge of CRC and associated factors. Among participants, 6.1% had a colonoscopy, 4.0% had a sigmoidoscopy, and 60.8% heard CRC screening. Participants had low knowledge level of CRC risk factors (5.52±1.39), and symptoms (3.73±1.16) and had a medium knowledge of screening (4.35±1.02). Respondents who retired (OR=1.30; p=.00) and who had graduated from university (OR=0.86; p=.01) had a high knowledge of CRC, while those who were aged 70 and above (OR=-1.08; p=.00) had a low knowledge of CRC. Furthermore, it was found that Iraqi adults who answered "no idea" to questions related to attitude and who answered incorrectly questions related to risk factors were likely to have low knowledge (p=.00). We found a lack of knowledge, screening, and misconceptions about CRC and screening among Iraqi adults. Thus, health training and screening programs should target Iraqi populations.

Mandibular canal assessment in dentate and edentulous ridges of 400 Iraqi Arab and Kurdish populations using cone beam computed tomography

ObjectivesThis study aims to compare differences in mandibular canal (MC) location between dentate and edentulous ridges, in the second premolar region as well as the first, second, and third molar regions using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) of Arabic and Kurdish Iraqi populations. Materials and MethodsCBCT images of 400 subjects (200 Arabs, 200 Kurds) were collected from radiological archives. RadiAnt DICOM software (Medixant, Poland) was used for image analyses. Measurements were performed from MC to buccal and lingual alveolar crests and to buccal, lingual, and inferior aspect of the mandible for both dentate and edentulous ridges. Additionally, distance to the most superior aspect of residual edentulous ridge were performed. Independent t-test and Mann-Whitney U Test were performed utilising SPSS v.26. ResultsDistances from MC to buccal and lingual alveolar crests were consistently lower in edentulous ridge compared to dentate ridge across all teeth regions. Distances to lingual and inferior border of the mandible were higher in edentulous ridge compared to dentate ridge of all teeth regions. Distances to buccal surface of the mandible varies with fluctuations of dentate and edentulous ridges displaying higher measurements. Distance to superior aspect of residual edentulous ridge revealed mean values in the range of 13.45 to 15.69 mm in Arabs and 13.96 to 16.37 mm in Kurds. ConclusionsDiscrepancy in vertical position of MC was observed between dentate and edentulous ridges within Arab and Kurd populations. Horizontal position of MC was unaffected by tooth loss and found to be closer to lingual surface of all molars. The residual alveolar ridge was sufficient to accommodate the common length and width of dental implants. Clinical significanceThe findings could play a crucial role in planning surgical interventions of the mandible, helping to prevent complications that might arise due to inadequate preoperative assessments.

The Association between Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms rs1042522 and rs1642785 in the TP53 gene and Acute Myeloid leukemia in a sample of the Baghdad/ Iraq population

يمثل سرطان الدم النخاعي الحاد (AML) أكثر أنواع سرطان الدم الحاد انتشارًا بين البالغين تصل نسبته 80% من جميع الحالات. الجين المثبط للورم TP53 هو جين تمت دراسته بشكل متكرر في مرض السرطان .والطفرات في هذا الجين تسبب ما يقارب 50% من الامراض السرطانية. هدفت هذه الدراسة إلى تقييم العلاقة بين اثنين من تعدد أشكال النوكليوتيدات المفردة في جين TP53: rs1042522 ، rs1642785 ومجموعة من المرضى العراقيين الذين يعانون من التشخيص الاولي لسرطان الدم النخاعي الحاد. جمعت عينات الدم من ستين مريضاً 26 ذكور و 34 أناث وستين عينة سيطرة 26 ذكور و 34 أناث متوافقين في الجنس والعمر والعرق. تم استخلاص الحمض النووي الجيني من عينات الدم المجمدة بالكامل باستخدامEasy Pure® Blood Genomic Kit . ثم تم قياس النقاوة والتركيز باستخدام مقياس الطيف الضوئي Nano drop NAS-99. حيث تراوحت قراءات التركيز بين (7-55 نانوغرام / ميكرولتر) وتراوحت النقاوة بين 1.78 - 1.9 تم استخدام تقنيةreal time PCR (High resolution melt (HRM للكشف عن تعدد اشكال النيوكليوتيدات المفردة و كانت تكرارات النمط الجيني لجين TP53 متوافقة مع توازن هاردي-واينبرغ مع وجود فروق معنوية ذات دلالة إحصائية p≤0.05 بين الأنماط الجينية لمجموعة السيطرة والمرضى. كان تكرار النمط الجيني rs1042522 مختلفًا بشكل كبير بين المرضى وافراد السيطرة p = 0.0001، وكان المشاركون الذين لديهم النمط الوراثي GA أكثر عرضة للإصابة بسرطان الدم النخاعي الحاد OR=7.8, 95% CI 3.2–18.4, p = 0.0001. بالإضافة الى تكرار النمط الجيني rs1642785 مختلفًا بشكل كبير بين المرضى و افراد السيطرة p=0.002 والذين يحملون النمط الجيني GA أكثر عرضة للإصابة بسرطان الدم النخاعي الحاد OR=3.5, 95% CI 1.5–8.12, p=0.002.

Sera Levels of microRNA-124 in Newly Diagnosed Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Iraqi Population

Recently, circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as potential new biomarkers for diagnosing and prognosis a wide range of disorders. The study aimed to compare the sera levels of miRNA21 and miRNA124 among newly diagnosed patients e with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients with their levels in apparently healthy subjects using blood samples. The time frame for this case-control research is August 2022 through March 2023, and it took place at Al-Sadr Teaching Hospital/Madina in Masin. One hundred patients with a recent di recently patients with T2DM (50 females) and 100 control participants appeared to be healthy but were really between the ages of 5 and 70. We took 2 ml of blood from each patient and healthy person, placed it in an EDTA tube with 1 ml of Trizole as a preservative, and put the tubes in the freezer at -20 degrees Celsius until we were ready to analyze the samples. Recent studies prove the relationship between miR-124 and inflammatory processes and insulin resistance; our emphasis suggests the role miR-124 in insulin resistance in T2DM. Studies have explored the potential of miR-124 as a diagnostic biomarker for T2DM. Altered expression levels of these miRNAs have been detected in sera of newly T2DM-diagnosed patients, which promises to be a non-invasive technique for the disease. Regarding therapeutic scope, miR-124 may be used as a target for insulin sensitivity. Modulating this miRNA may have a potential therapeutic impact in managing T2DM. It is important to note that significant progress has been made in understanding the involvement of miR-124 in T2DM. New studies may provide additional knowledge on its mechanism to decrease insulin receptor resistance and beta cell function, hence, the pathophysiology of T2DM.

Phytochemical variations antioxidant, and antibacterial activities among zebaria sumac (Rhus coriaria var. zebaria) populations in Iraq

Sumac (Rhus coriaria L.) is one of the medicinal plants of Anacardiaceae family and widely used as a spice in Iran and Arab countries. Rhus coriaria var. zebaria is a small tree or large shrub, wildly growing in Iraq and described as a new variety with special characteristics. These increase the importance of studying sumac in these areas. Here, the phytochemical variations and the antibacterial activity of 50 accessions of this variety from five different climatic conditions was evaluated in order to identify the best accession to use and the best area for its cultivation. This is the most comprehensive study on this plant. Essential oil compounds were identified using GC–MS method and according to the results, Z, E-2,13-octadecadien, caryophyllene oxide, 2,4-decadienal, E-caryophyllene and nonanoic acid were among the main compounds. Also, the variety is a rich source of minerals including K, Ca, Mg, Na, P, and N. Sumac fruit extract from Akre Xerds had the highest anthocyanin and the lowest amount was from Kavilca region. The radical scavenging effect of extract from Dostic area in the concentration of 400 µg/mL is closer to the effect of ascorbic acid. The largest inhibition was found in the sumac extracted oil of Xasto Zhere area against S. aureus in compared with penicillin and amoxicillin and enrofloxacin antibiotics.

The psychological profile of Iraq: A nation haunted by decades of suffering

Abstract The article discovers the psychological profile of Iraq, looking at the profound impact of recent decades of turmoil on the psychological well-being of its citizens. Extensive conflicts, including wars, sanctions, invasions, socioeconomic problems, and internal conflicts, have led to significant mental health problems in the community, notably the Yazidi and Kurdish populations. These groups, already affected, faced collective trauma from the ISIS invasion and Anfal campaign. Despite various risk factors, mental health support services in Iraq are markedly insufficient. The main purpose of this article is to shed light on the psychological profile in recent decades, highlighting the urgent need to prioritise mental health in health and education policies. The article advocates for the crucial implementation of comprehensive mental health programmes, interventions, and awareness initiatives to effectively address the enduring psychological challenges facing the Iraqi population.