Rana Talib Fakher Alnafakh

Abstract Objectives: Sandflies are a major public health concern in various parts of the world. The aim of this study was to identify the species and strain of sandflies, using molecular methods. Methods: Sandflies were collected from January to October 2017, in 16 rural areas in the province of Najaf AL-Ashraf, Iraq. PCR technique was performed for detection of mitochondrial cytochrome b (mtCytb) gene in Phlebotomus papatasi (P. papatasi), Phlebotomus sergenti (P. sergenti), and Sergentomyia sintoni (S. sintoni). DNA sequencing method was performed for confirmatory identification of P. papatasi, P. sergenti and S. sintoni from local isolates based on mtCytb, using phylogenetic tree analysis (MEGA.6) and NCBI--BLAST multiple sequence alignment tool. Results: Morphological identification of sandflies shows that all specimens were categorized into two genera with 3 species, Phlebotomus and Sergentomyia. Leishmania DNA was detected in 16 pools, all were infected with L. major, 8 of them infected with L. tropica. Sequencing and phylogenetic inference analysis confirmed that the local P. papatasi isolates were demonstrated to be closely related to the NCBI, P. papatasi reference sequence (AF161214.1), the local P. sergenti isolates showed high similarity with the NCBI, P. sergenti sequence (AF161216.1), and the local S. sintoni isolates showed high homology with the NCBI, S. sintoni sequence (EU159507.1). Conclusions: P. papatasi, P. sergenti and S. sintoni were the genotypes that has a high prevalence in the city of Najaf. No previous data were found in this regard. The present study contributes to a better understanding of the molecular epidemiology of this parasite.

Background: Ischemia/reperfusion (IR) injury is defined as tissue ischemia with inadequate oxygen, followed by reperfusion, initiating a wide and complex array of inflammatory responses that may aggravate local injury and induce impairment of remote organ function by mechanisms involving oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis. Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the potential role of Zofenopril to improve myocardial I/R injury induced by ligation of coronary artery in rats. Materials & Methods: Adult male Albino rats were randomized equally into four groups, harboring seven rats each. Group I was the sham group: rats underwent the same anesthetic and surgical procedure as the control group, except for the ligation of the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery; Group II was the control group: rats were subjected to regional ischemia for 25 min by ligation of the LAD coronary artery, followed by reperfusion for 2 hours; Group III was the vehicle control group: rats received normal saline intraperitoneally as a vehicle of Zofenopril, subjected to regional ischemia for 25 min by ligation of the LAD coronary artery, followed by reperfusion for 2 hours. Group IV was the Zofenopril-treated group: rats were pretreated with Zofenopril (15 mg/kg) intraperitoneally for 30 minutes before ligation of the LAD coronary artery. At the end of each experiment, blood samples were collected, using a direct cardiac puncture for the measurement of plasma troponin T (cTnT), and serum MDA and GSH. After blood sampling, the heart was dissected and divided into two parts. The apex was used for histopathological examination and the remaining part was used for the measurement of cardiac tissue concentrations of TNF-α, IL- 6, IL-10, caspase-3 and Bax, after removal of the remaining blood clots and aorta. Results: In the active control group, compared with the sham group, results showed that the myocardial tissue concentrations of inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10, caspase-3, Bax, plasma cTnT concentration, and serum MDA concentration were significantly increased (p < 0.05), while the serum GSH concentration was significantly decreased (p < 0.05). Histopathologically, all rats in the active control group showed a significant cardiac tissue Rana Talib Al-Nafakh, Yasmeen Al 2 i Hussein, Najah R Hadi et al. injury (p < 0.05) compared with the sham group. Zofenopril significantly prevented (p < 0.05) the increase of the myocardial tissue concentrations of TNF-α, IL-6, caspase-3 and Bax, Additionally, it counteracted the increase of the plasma cTnT concentration and serum MDA concentration; similarly, Zofenopril produced a significant increase (p < 0.05) in the cardiac tissue concentration of IL-10 and serum GSH concentration, and significantly reduced (p < 0.05) the cardiac tissue injury in the Zofenopril-pretreated rats. Conclusions: The results show that Zofenopril improves myocardial I/R injury in rats by interfering with inflammatory reactions and apoptosis induced by I/R injury. Keywords: Myocardial Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury, Zofenopril

Background: This study aims to find out the relationship between biochemical test and molecular in diagnosis of Proteus mirabilis and correlation between them calibrated and the effects on the patients of the difference age groups. Material and method: The collected of 60 from patients attending (Al-Najaf hospital/Central healthy Laboratories. Samples were wounds swabs and urine. The specimens were directly streaked onto Macconkey and blood agar sand and Incubated at 37ºC for 24 hours. Also the isolates were identified depending on morphological and biochemical tests as compared with vitak 2. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect the ureC and zap genes in the genomes of the bacterial strains. Results: A total of 60 cases samples were collected from patient attended AL-Najaf Hospital / Central healthy laboratories. Forty five (75%) out of 60 patient by Vitak 2, and isolated of Proteus mirabilis from 42 cases of urine while 18 cases of wound patients. By Vitak test, the highest frequency of Proteus in urine [17/19 (89.5%)] was detected among the patients of the 1st age group (10-30 yr.), followed by the patients of the 2nd age group (31-51yr.) [15/19(78.9% )], while the lowest frequency [1/4(25%)] was seen in the patients of the 3rd age group. While showed the highest frequency of positive in wound were the 2nd age group (31-51yr.) [6/7(85.7%)] and then the patients of the 1st age group (10-30yr.) [4/4(100%)], while the lowest frequency was seen in the patients of the 3rd age group [2/7(28.6%)]. The percent of urine and wound patients that positively by PCR were 54.5% in urine and 83.3% in wound .This appear the compared of between positive and negative tests with Proteus mirabilis by PCR detected that isolated from urine and wound patients . The detection of Proteus mirabilis genes by PCR technique for positive patients were recorded in ureC gene (33.3 %),zapA (44.5%) and aac(6')-Ib (22.2%) in urine while in wound were recorded ureC gene (50%), zapA ( 30%) and aac(6')-Ib (20%). Conclusion: The correlation between of the Vitak test and biochemical tests with molecular test. Recommendations: To detect genotypes that lead to aminoglocides resistance. Keywords: Proteus mirabilis, PCR , ureC, zapA and aac(6')-Ib.

Introduction: Globally, Giardia duodenalis (G. lamblia) is a protozoan parasite that has the ability to cause sporadic or epidemic infectious diarrhoea. Giardia infection is a crucial cause of waterborne and foodborne disease, outbreaks in the daycare centre, and international travel-related infection. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Giardia lamblia infection on serum MUC2 and lipid profile. Patients and Methods: From March to April 2021, a case-control study was conducted on 48 patients with giardiasis who attended AL-Hakeem Hospital in Najaf Province in Iraq and 24 healthy adults as a control group. Stool examinations were done using standard techniques for the identification of the parasitic infection. Results: The results showed a significantly higher concentration (130.57 ± 4.04 ng/ml, and 130.11 ± 3.6 ng/ml) (p < 0.05 of MUC2 in G. lamblia infected patients (males and females) in comparison to the individuals of the control group. In addition, significantly higher concentrations (p < 0.05) of cholesterol, VLDL, TG, and LDL were found in comparison to the control individuals, whereas the concentration of HDL was significantly lower (p < 0.05 in patients infected with G. lamblia as compared to the control group. Conclusion: The current study revealed that MUC2 and lipid profile are valuable biomarkers that help in the diagnosis of G. lamblia parasite infection. Keywords: Giardia Lamblia, MUC2, Lipid Profile

Background: Some studies suggested a link between Epstein–Barr Virus (EBV) and rheumatoid arthritis, although the exact mechanism of this is not yet established. Cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy are more immunocompromised. Hence this study has demonstrated the role of EBV in rheumatoid arthritis in these patients. Objective: To study the relationship between Epstein–Bar viral infection and rheumatoid arthritis in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy Patients and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from September 1, 2021 to March 1, 2022. The study participants included 200 cancer patients who reported to the Middle Euphrates Cancer Center in Al Najaf for chemotherapy treatment. Cancer patients were diagnosed with cases of rheumatoid arthritis, according to rheumatologist physicians and serological tests. Five ml of blood was collected from every cancer patient. Each sample was screened for the presence of anti-EBV antibodies. The chi-square test was used to test the significance of the relationship between qualitative variables. A p value of less than or equal to 0.05 indicated a statistically significant difference. Results: Two hundred cancer patients were included in this study. Their age ranged from 17 to 73 years. Nearly half of them (47.5%) aged 30–50 years. Most of them were females (67.0%) and 60.5% of the participants lived in urban areas. More than one-third of participants (40.0%) had rheumatoid arthritis. More than half of them (53.0%) were EBV-positive. Statistical analysis showed a highly significant association between EBV and rheumatoid arthritis (p < 0.00001). No significant differences (p > 0.05) were found between different age groups regarding anti-EBV-IgM and IgG antibodies in rheumatoid and non-rheumatoid patients. On the other hand, PCR testing showed a statistically significant difference (p < 0.001) in non-rheumatoid patients and no significant difference in rheumatoid patients. Conclusion: A significant association was detected between EBV and rheumatoid arthritis in cancer patients treated by chemotherapy and this association was not related to EBV antibody levels. Keywords: EBV, RA, Cancer Patients, Chemotherapy, ELlSA, IgM, IgG

The workshop will be held at the College of Medicine on 2018/11/19 in the College Council Hall at 10 am and in the presence of the supervisors in the program of living with long term conditions

The establishment of the Voluntary Awareness Awareness Campaign for Early Detection of Breast Cancer A Breast Cancer Awareness Seminar and Early Detection of Cancer and Breast Self-Examination at the Faculty of Education - Kufa University on 2018/12/3 at 10:00 am in the Great Hall in the presence of female teachers, female students

The workshop was held at the Faculty of Medicine on Monday, 2018/12/17, at 9:30 am in the Medical Education Hall, in the presence of the laboratory