The second group's basic diet and water supply were supplemented with 0.5% hydrogen peroxide at a concentration of 0.5%. The third group's dietary regimen comprised a basic diet augmented by 1 gram of maca root per kilogram, along with a 0.5% hydrogen peroxide solution in their drinking water. The fourth cohort's diet included 15 grams of maca root per kilogram of their baseline diet, alongside water containing 0.5 percent hydrogen peroxide. The fifth group, consuming 2 grams of maca root per kilogram of base diet, supplemented with water containing 0.5% hydrogen peroxide. The recorded data signifies a statistically significant (P<0.05) superiority in average live body weight and total weight gain for the first, third, fourth, and fifth treatment groups during the fifth week, compared directly to the results obtained from the second treatment group. The first, fourth, and fifth treatments showcased the optimum cumulative food conversion ratio and productivity index, substantially differing (P<0.005) from the second treatment group's results.
Globally, breast cancer, the most prevalent malignancy, is increasingly impacting women's health. The current study aimed to evaluate the intracellular levels of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1), the tumor suppressor protein p53, and estradiol (E2) in the tumor tissues of adult female breast cancer patients, assessing their connection to tumor grade, tumor size, and lymph node metastasis (LNM). A study encompassing 65 adult female patients with breast masses, admitted for surgical intervention at Al-Hussein Teaching Hospital and Al-Habboby Teaching Hospital in Nasiriyah, Iraq, during the period from January to November 2021, was undertaken. Freshly collected breast tumor tissues were homogenized for intracellular biochemical studies, using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique. Forty-four (58%) out of 65 patients, spanning ages 18 to 42 years and with a mean age of 32.55 ± 6.40 years, had fibroadenomas; meanwhile, 21 (42%) patients, aged 32 to 80 years and having a mean age of 56.14 ± 4.40 years, displayed invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) of the breast. Intracellular levels of HIF-1, p53, and E2 demonstrated a substantial increase (P < 0.0001) in patients with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (IDC) relative to the benign control group. The most virulent IDC tumors were displayed by grade III classification and T2 and T3 size. Significant increases in tissue concentrations of HIF-1, P53, and E2 were noted in tumor stage T3 patients when compared to patients with tumor stages T2 and T1. The positive LNM group exhibited higher concentrations of HIF-1, p53, and E2 in comparison to the negative LNM group. The results indicate that the prognostic value of intracellular HIF-1 is substantial for Iraqi women with ICD. The presence of the HIF-1 protein combined with the nonfunctional p53 and E2 proteins suggests a correlation with increased breast tumor proliferation, invasiveness, and metastasis risk.
Motile, gram-negative bacteria, in the Salmonella spp. group, exhibit a rod-like morphology and have the potential to infect both humans and animals. The presence of Salmonella species sometimes triggers illness, yet severe symptoms are not a common outcome in most cases. FB232 Although milk analysis for Salmonella spp. is not a standard procedure, traditional culture methods remain the established approach for evaluating the health condition of dairy products. Although alternative methods are available, antibody and nucleic acid-based strategies remain effective in identifying Salmonella species. Consequently, this research project was formulated to assess the application of conventional cultural techniques and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in identifying Salmonella species in unpasteurized milk samples procured from Maysan, Iraq. 130 raw milk samples were collected in the Maysan province of Iraq. To determine the presence of Salmonella spp., all samples were analyzed. FB232 Traditional cultural methodologies, along with polymerase chain reaction (PCR), are implemented. A series of culture methods was used in this experiment, beginning with pre-enrichment, proceeding to enrichment, followed by selective plating and concluding with biochemical testing. FB232 The results stemming from the conventional technique were juxtaposed against those derived from the PCR method. A 284-base-pair segment of the invA gene was employed in the PCR procedure. Analysis by traditional culture methods indicated 8 (707%) samples were Salmonella-positive, while PCR testing detected 14 (123%) samples as Salmonella-positive. This research's conclusions highlight that traditional culture-based techniques are generally time-consuming and labor-intensive, while innovative rapid methods, such as DNA-based approaches like PCR, boast enhanced sensitivity and a considerable reduction in bacterial detection times.
Within the in vitro embryo production system (IVP), fluctuations in temperature, osmolality, and pH are minimized by the use of mineral oil as a protective barrier. While these attributes are promising, the quality of mineral oil is inconsistent and may suffer deterioration during transport or storage procedures. Finally, the medium's ability to absorb essential factors or to release toxic ones can impact the outcome of the IVP. Even with the development of certain approaches to reduce these secondary effects, the safety and application of mineral oil within the IVP framework are still a subject of significant concern. We provide a breakdown of the benefits and drawbacks of using mineral oil in intravenous pyelography (IVP). We also investigated available quality control approaches, culminating in the introduction of strategies to reduce mineral oil's side effects.
Natural pharmaceutical products (NPPs) are seeing a consistent rise in use for disease treatment and prevention. The lack of professional guidance in obtaining these products, compounded by the pervasive but incorrect public assumption of their absolute safety, elevates the risk of deleterious and toxic effects from their use. This research investigated the pharmaceutical and microbial qualities of prominent NPPs sold in Iraqi markets for human consumption. The evaluation encompasses organoleptic characteristics, foreign bodies, loss due to drying, water content, total ash percentage, heavy metal analysis, aflatoxin testing, and microbial limit testing. The assessment of the products revealed a concerning level of heavy metal contamination; lead, mercury, and cadmium were detected in some of the tested items. Pathogenic bacterial growth, including Salmonella and E. coli, was a notable finding. A significant amount of water loss during drying and water content was found in some of the tested samples. No aflatoxins were found in any of the samples subjected to testing. Pharmaceutical and/or microbiological deficiencies were found in some of the evaluated products, making them unsafe for human consumption. The Drug Regulatory Authority of Iraq must proactively adopt more stringent standards for the quality of NPPs, accompanied by consistent monitoring and control of currently marketed products.
The combined application of Moringa oleifera L. and red pomegranate extracts has been found to prevent both the growth of gram-positive facultative anaerobes and the formation of biofilms on dental surfaces. The current research project focused on assessing the effectiveness of *M. oleifera L.* and red pomegranate extracts, as well as their combined applications, in combating *Porphyromonas gingivalis* bacteria. Using serial two-fold dilutions and agar well diffusion, the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs), alongside antimicrobial sensitivity profiles, were determined in aqueous extracts of *M. oleifera L.* and red pomegranate alone and in combination against clinically isolated *P. gingivalis*. Through the application of the tube adhesion method, the anti-biofilm action of the extracts and their combined effect was studied. The phytochemical analysis process relied on the analytical capabilities of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The research concluded that *P. gingivalis* demonstrated sensitivity to the aqueous extract of *M. oleifera L.* seeds and red pomegranate albedo, but not to *M. oleifera L.* leaves or red pomegranate seeds. Against P. gingivalis, the MIC values for M. oleifera L. seeds, red pomegranate albedo, and their combined extracts were measured at 125 mg/ml, 625 mg/ml, and 312 mg/ml, respectively. The extract combination demonstrated a more potent anti-biofilm activity than M. oleifera L. seeds and red pomegranate albedo aqueous extracts, effectively achieving this at the minimum concentrations of 625 mg/ml, 25 mg/ml, and 125 mg/ml, respectively. Red pomegranate albedo and M. oleifera L. seeds demonstrated a superior antibacterial and anti-biofilm action against P. gingivalis, followed closely by the same compound. This finding could unveil a promising alternative method to traditional chemicals, offering an adjunct therapy for the management of periodontal diseases.
Within the pharmaceutical and industrial sectors, aluminum chloride, a chemical compound, enjoys widespread use. This research project was designed to analyze the consequences of aluminum chloride exposure on TNF levels and metallothionein gene expression in the rat liver. Sixteen Wistar rats, serving as an experimental model, were divided into four groups of four animals each. The experimental groups (groups 2, 3, and 4) were treated with aluminum chloride (Sigma/USA) via a feeding tube at a dose of 25g/kg body weight, while group 1 served as the untreated control group. The treatment durations for groups 2, 3, and 4 were 8 weeks, 12 weeks, and 16 weeks respectively. An ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) was used to measure the TNF- concentration present in liver tissue samples. Analysis of metallothionein gene expression in rat liver tissue employed immunohistochemistry and real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Measurements of TNF levels revealed a considerable increase (P < 0.001) in all experimental groups, with group 4 receiving 16 weeks of treatment exhibiting the highest concentration (401221 ng/ml), demonstrating a marked difference compared to the control. The immunohistochemical staining of liver tissue showed a gradient in intensity, ranging from zero staining in the control group to graded moderate, medium, and high staining in the experimental groups exposed to aluminum chloride for 8, 12, and 16 weeks, respectively.