Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha-863 C/A Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms and Nephrotic Syndrome

Introduction: Cytokines act as a mediator of inflammation in childhood nephrotic syndrome. Polymorphisms of cytokines genes may influence susceptibility to nephrotic syndrome (NS), as well as, patients’ steroid responses. Objective: To study the association of tumor necrosis factor-alpha single nucleotide polymorphisms (TNF-α SNP) (-863 C/A) with the development of NS in addition to access to their effects on serum level of TNF and the response to steroid therapy. Patients and Methods: This study included 60 patients (19 female and 41 male) with nephrotic syndrome; their ages ranged from 2 to 18 years. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) was used to assess the TNF-α gene polymorphism. Results: According to the digestion pattern of RFLP-PCR products of TNF-α-863, this polymorphism had three genotypes, which were CC, CA, and AA, in both NS patients and controls. Also, the current result observed that -863 SNP do not affect the serum level of TNF-α and steroid responsiveness in patients with nephrotic syndrome. Conclusion: This polymorphism did not show any significant association with response to steroid therapy and TNF serum level neither at genotype nor at allele level.

Co-existence of LasI, RhI, and Pseudomonas Quinolone Signal Quorum-sensing Genes in Clinical Pseudomonas aeruginosa Isolates

Pseudomonas aeruginosa can regulate different group actives and physiological processes through the quorum sensing mechanism. The aims of this research were to detect the presence of quorum sensing genes in 50 clinical P. aeruginosa isolates, which represent by (lasI, lasR, rhlI, and rhlR) and Pseudomonas quinolone signal (PQS) (PgsA, PgsB, PgsC, PgsD, PgsE, and MvfR) genes by Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique and interaction between the two systems. Isolates were subjected to test their susceptibility to 12 antimicrobial drugs, 64% of isolates showed resistance to ceftazidime, followed by carbencillin (56%), while only 8% were resistant to imipenem. In addition, all of the bacterial isolates were distributed within three multidrug-resistant (MDR) patterns, viz., A, B, and C. The highest rate of MDR was showed with MDR pattern C, in which bacterial isolates showed resistance to resist (9→11) antimicrobial drugs. Results revealed that P. aeruginosa isolates have different gene patterns, viz., A to E. According to quorum sensing genes production, pattern A found to express all the genes in LasI, RhI, and PQS system, while pattern B has a defective for the production of lasR, rhlR genes, while the same isolates have the PQS system all present. Significantly, there is a positive relationship between las and rhl system and regulation of antibiotics resistance, in which the bacterial isolates that have las and rhl genes showed high resistance to common antimicrobial agents under study. These findings suggest that PQS can function as an intercellular signal in P. aeruginosa that is not restricted only to alkyl homoserine lactones (AHL).

Resistance Rates of the most Isolated Bacteria from different Clinical Samples, Kerbala, Iraq

Determining the bacterial causative agents of infections by identifying their antimicrobial patterns will enable health institutions to limit the unnecessary use of antibiotics, and take active ways in preventing the spread of drug-resistant bacteria. This study aimed to identify the most common bacterial isolates responsible for infection and their antibiotic resistance rates. The results showed that Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus (S aureus), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) represent the most common bacteria isolated with a percentage of 23.9, 18.8, and 16.2%, respectively. High resistance rates were found for the most common bacterial isolates. Other important findings are the presence of extended-spectrum B-lactamase (ESBL) producing bacteria and the appearance of hetero-resistance phenomenon. Moreover, the bacterial infection is mainly occurring in men. No significant correlation was observed in the type of isolated bacteria with patient admission status. E. coli strains were found to be highly resistant to amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, ceftriaxone (88.9%), ceftazidime (85.2%), trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (74.1%), and ciprofloxacin (59.3%). Whereas, the highest sensitivity rates were seen with meropenem antibiotic (92.6%). Concerning S. aureus isolates, 100, and approximately 91% of resistant rates were seen to penicillin and cefoxitin, respectively [methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA)]. Approximately 50% of MRSA were vancomycin-resistant S. aureus (VRSA). Resistant rates of P. aeruginosa isolates to gentamycin and ciprofloxacin were 47.1%, amikacin 41.2%, and levofloxacin 35.3%. In conclusion, the current study might reveal that the isolated bacteria could be of critical priority carbapenem-resistant P. aeruginosa, and carbapenem-resistant and 3rd generation cephalosporin-resistant E. coli. In addition, the isolation of high priority bacteria includes vancomycin-resistant methicillin-resistant S. aureus.

Producing Drink like Grafted Milk from Chickpeas and Evaluation of its Qualitative Properties

The present study aimed to study the possibility of producing a drink that looks like grafted milk by using chickpeas and evaluate its physical, chemical, microbial, and sensory properties. The result showed the superiority of F treatment (soaking 100 grams of chickpeas at the refrigerator temperature 4ºC for 12 hours) over the rest seven treatments in extraction efficiency, which was 70%, while, it was 50.5% in H treatment (soaking 100 grams of chickpeas in the heated water at 60ºC for 30 minutes). The highest value of the product density was after water and flavorings addition in the D treatment (soaking 100 grams chickpeas in 0.05 soda solution at 60ºC for 30 minutes), and it was 0.97 g cm-3, compared with the lowest density 0.57 g cm-3 in A treatment (soaking 100 grams chickpeas in 0.05 soda solution at room temperature 25ºC for 12 hours). pH values were highest in A treatment compared with the other treatments, and its value was 7.66 in the 1st and 2nd day, after dissolving in a refrigerator at 4ºC, and then, for 5 minutes at room temperature 30ºC. The lowest value in the D treatment was 6.45 on the 1st day, and 6.87 on the 2nd day in the G treatment. On the 3rd day, the highest pH value was 7.13 in the D treatment, and the lowest value 6.79 was in the E treatment. pH highest value was 6.2 on the 4th day in A treatment. From the last results, it may be concluded that F treatment was the best in extraction efficiency, the final product density, and less total bacterial number, after dissolving for 5 days at refrigerator temperature 4ºC, and then, at room temperature 30ºC for 3 and 48 hours incubation. The best extraction volume and pH were in A treatment.

Virus-like Particles‑Application in Nano Vaccines: A Review

Nanomaterials are increasingly applied to develop new vaccines with new strategies. Implementation of such substances in vaccines will enhance vaccine formula immunogenicity, target delivery, and antigen stability control release. Genetically engineered virus-like particles (VLPs), structurally mimic the viruses and had been successfully used as nano vaccines. VLPs-based vaccines possess the advantage of being safe, effective, and non-infectious. Moreover, due to the optimized nano-size and repetitive structural units of the VLPs, it is suspected that those particles are highly immunogenic, even in absence of adjuvant substances. VLPs could be formulated to carry an array of heterogeneous antigens of different viruses. For all, they are considered as ideal nano vaccine model.

Simultaneous Determination of Trace Mefenamic Acid in Pharmaceutical Samples via Flow Injection Fluorometry

Mefenamic acid belongs to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that are used widely for the treatment of analgesia. Our aim from this study is to establish a new assay for the quantitative determination of mefenamic acid (MFA) in the pharmaceutical sample by two sensitive and rapid flow injection-fluorometric methods. A homemade fluorometer was used in fluorescence measurements, which using solid-state laser diode 405 and 532 nm as a source, combined with a continuous flow injection technique. The first method depends on the effect of MFA on calcein blue (CLB) fluorescence at 405 nm. Another method is a study of rhodamine-6G (Rh-6G) fluorescence after adding MFA, and recording at 532 nm. Optimum parameters as fluorescent dye concentration, basic medium, flow rate, sample volume, purge time, and delay coil have been investigated. The dynamic range of MFA was 0.2 to 2 mmol.L-1; 0.5 to 2.3 mmol.L-1 with linearity percentage (% r2) 98.92 and 99.83%, for Rh-6G and CLB, respectively. Limit of detection at a minimum concentration in calibration curve 189.34 and 199.89 ng/sample, for Rh-6G and CLB, respectively. The comparison of developed methods with the classical method (UV-vis spectrophotometry) was achieved. The proposed methods were successfully applied for the determination of MFA in the pharmaceutical samples and can be used as an alternative method.

Association of Viral Hepatitis with ABO Blood Group in apparently Normal Iraqi Blood Donors

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections are counted as a public health issue worldwide. The virus is transmitted to infect others through blood and blood products. Appointed blood groups and Rh-positive are more prone to the transmission of the infection by blood transfusion. The aim of this study is to find out the frequency of hepatitis B and C in apparently healthy blood donors and whether there is an association between ABO and Rh blood groups. ABO blood groups and their relationship with HBV and HCV infections were studied in 87,124 blood donors of both genders. Out of these donors, 353 individuals were found to be infected with HBV and HCV with a ratio of 1:250. The study was conducted between January to June 2018, which was presented to the Central Blood Bank in Baghdad and Al-Razi Medical Centre. It found that most hepatitis B and C blood donors were blood group O with a prevalence of 33.7 and 45.5%, respectively, while the results for those with blood group A showed 28.5 and 22.7% HBV and HCV infections, respectively. On the other hand, the incidence of HBV in individuals with blood group B was 29.8%, and HCV was 23.8%. AB blood group donors demonstrated the least incidence at 7.9% for both HBV and HCV. In conclusion, it has been found that there is a significant association between blood groups and Rh factor with hepatitis B and C infections.

Could the Vitacel R200 improve the Immune Response and Hemato-Biochemical Parameters of Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) challenged with Aeromonas hydrophila?

The fermentable fiber, Vitacel R200 is industrial compound cellulose exerting many beneficial health effects at the hosts. In this study, rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) fingerling (120 ± 4.5 grams) were fed dietary 1% (10 g/kg feed) Vitacel R200 for 7 weeks, then challenged with Aeromonas hydrophila. Two weeks after the challenge, hemato-biochemical and immune parameters in the challenged fish were studied. The lysozyme and complement activity, as well as, white blood cells (WBCs), hemoglobin (Hb%), percentage of neutrophil and eosinophil in the fish fed Vitacel were significantly increased compared with the control group. Furthermore, the serum total protein, albumin, Na+, K+, P, and Ca++ concentrations in the fish fed diet containing 1% Vitacel were significantly increased, while alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), as well as, cortisol, cholesterol, and glucose concentration were significantly decreased in comparison to the control group. These results concluded that dietary Vitacel could improve the hemato-biochemical and immune parameters, as well as, the stress response in O. mykiss infected with A. hydrophila.

Synthesis, Characterization, and Drug Release Study of Modified Chitosan

This research included loading of drugs (ibuprofen, ketoprofen, and fenoprofen) on a chitosan polymer to produce drug-loading polymer by entering the chitosan in a Schiff base reaction to protect -NH2 group, the reacting of the product with drug chloride. The prepared compounds were identified spectroscopically, by using infrared spectroscopy, 1H-NMR, and 13C-NMR. The thermal stability of chitosan was measured by using differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and Differential thermal analysis (DTA). The drug release of ibuprofen, ketoprofen, and fenoprofen from chitosan in hypothetical stomach fluid was studied. The drug concentration that was released in stomach fluid several times was determined by measuring the absorbance in ultraviolet (UV) spectroscopy.

Thermodynamic Study of Adsorption of Tamoxifen Drug on Activated Nano-Coal Particles prepared from Stem of Eucalyptus and its Diagnosis by different Techniques

The research included preparing nano-activated charcoal from the stem of the eucalyptus trees. The prepared nano-coal particles were diagnosed using various techniques, such as, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) technology. The research included a spectroscopic study of the adsorption of tamoxifen on the prepared nano-coal, and the results showed that the appropriate concentration is 2.5 × 10-5 molar, with an appropriate weight of the adsorbent material which is 0.4-gram, the time of equilibrium is 40 minutes, and the percentage of adsorption efficiency increases with passing time, the adsorption process is dependent to a second-degree equation, according to the correlation coefficient (R2), which gave the value of 0.9999. Thermodynamic functions were calculated for the adsorption process at different temperatures (17.5, 27.5, 37.5, and 47.5ºC), and it was found that the adsorption process is a heat emission process (ΔH negative), the adsorption is physical because it is less than 40 kJ/mol, and the free energy is negative (ΔG), and entropy adsorption was negative (ΔS), meaning less random.