Morphological, Histological Changes and Acetyl Cholinesterase Activity in Chick Embryos After Exposure to Abamectin Insecticide

Abamectin is a bio-insecticide, derived from the soil bacteria Streptomyces avermitilis. This insecticide is used in public health and agriculture to protect crops. Major adverse impacts of Abamectin are neurological symptoms acting on the peripheral nervous system. The aim of the current study is to reveal the toxic effects of Abamectin on chick embryo Ross 308 including morphological and histological changes and acetyl cholinesterase activity. 120 fresh fertilized eggs were divided into 6 groups; two of them were used as control. After 2 days of incubation, the eggs were injected with 100 µL of Abamectin solution (diluted at concentrations 360, 540, 900 and 1800 ppm) into the yolk sac. The Results showed that the mortality increased significantly in chicks treated with Abamectin, but had a lower weight in comparison to the control groups. Treated chicks started hatching at day 22 but were physically weak with drooping limbs, paralysis and then died after 24 hours of hatching. Some chicks did not normally hatch and needed assistance. They characterized by limb defects, failure retraction of yolk sac with bleeding. Histological examination of the liver showed hepatic cell degeneration, congestion in the central vein, infiltration of inflammatory cells and hepatocytes necrosis. Furthermore, the Acetyl cholinesterase enzyme analysis showed a significant decrease in the enzyme activity which leads to inhibition the activity of the body systems. It is concluded that low and high concentration of Abamectin has adverse impacts on chick embryo by changing some of morphological, histological characteristics and acetyl cholinesterase activity.

Biofilm formation by Candida albicans and Candida glabrata isolated from urine specimens of diabetic Iraqi women

Biofilms are multicellular communities where microorganisms are grown and form an extracellular matrix that protects the pathogenic microorganisms from the immunity system and antimicrobial agents. This study is aimed to identify Candida spp. isolated from urine specimens by using traditional techniques, germ tube, growth on corn meal agar medium and chromogenic medium then determine the ability of isolates to producing biofilm by tube method (TM) and congo red agar method (CRA). In our study urine specimens were obtained from 174 diabetic females in the period of six months at the Al-Wafa Specialized Center for Diabetes and Endocrinology, Mosul city, Iraq. Out of the total 174 specimens, yeast species were isolated from 56 (32.2 %) specimens. Out of the 56 isolates, 50 isolates were positive for Candida spp., especially C. glabrata which appeared maximum in 30 isolates (60 %) and followed by C. albicans 18 isolates (36%) and C. krusei 2 isolates (4 %). In the TM method for biofilm detection, C. albicans showed 16 isolates (88.9%) positive for biofilm formation followed by 29 isolates (96.7%) of C. glabrata. Furthermore, in the CRA method, all isolates (100%) of C. albicans were negative followed by 27 isolates (90%) of C. glabrata, whereas only 3 isolates (10%) of C. glabrata were positive. We can conclude that TM is the best conventional method and is sensitive to detect biofilm-forming yeast when compared with the CRA method.

Evaluation of Health and Environmental Safety in Food and Water Production Factories in Duhok Governorate

Lack of adequate occupational safety and health strategies is a reason that workplace accidents in food and water production industries remain high, making this sector one of the riskiest operations worldwide. The research was carried out to examine the degree of implementing the health, occupational and environmental safety measures in the selected factories to assess health and safety level and to measurement the noise levels in these industries. A cross-sectional survey was conducted by utilizing structured pre-tested questionnaire and noise level measured at four places: selling, administrative, machine and passage industry places. The study revealed the absence of health and safety policy, and the absence of safety and training departments. The suitable measures in place to combat harmful dust generated by motor traffic were present in 23.3%, and the system with deal with the spillage was current in 43.3% of factories. Wastes segregation was found in 3.3%. Exhaust dilution ventilation system was seen in 83.3% of these factories. Personal protection equipment was not provided to all workers exposed to dust, fumes, or gases. Only 3.3% of factory staffs were aware of fire prevention and safety measures. The sound level at the machine place was above average (above 85 decibels) in all factories.

Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilms: Functional molecules; relation to virulence and the host immune response

Staphylococcus epidermidis is the most significant nosocomial pathogen related to people with vulnerable frameworks such as malignant growth patients, neonates, and foreign body embedded materials such as heart valves. A few virulence factors in S. epidermidis can cause host damage in comparison to Staphylococcus aureus. In spite of that, the key roles of S. epidermidis virulency rely on biofilm formation, bacterial biofilm is essential for the pathogenesis by encouraging microorganisms to consist shape networks of assurance rather than free planktonic cells, hence resistance to antibacterial agents, and medically uninsured problems by colonizing medical indwelling, making the disease long span, and difficult to treat. The National Institute of Health (NIH) reported 65-80% of bacterial illnesses are biofilm formed, thus making numerous passing wellbeing additional costs. Therefore, the biofilms establishing on the susceptible hosts' tissues demonstrate; preventing antibiotics efficient treatment, protecting against host defense mechanisms, and announce the bacteria virulence determinants manifesting.

A Review of Hepatitis C Virus: Prevalence, Genotype, Risk Factors in Pakistan Last Quarter of Century

Hepatitis C virus has infected over 200 million people worldwide and is the most common blood-borne disease. Pakistan has the HCV prevalence rate of over 8%. A literature search has been performed using different keywords in different databases i.e. PubMed, Google Scholar, and NCBI. 6.2% prevalence rate was found in the general population, 4.13% in healthcare workers and a higher prevalence rate was observed in injection drug users and multi transfusion population. Use of injection was very frequent among the Pakistani population, reuse and sharing of syringes have an association with HCV infections. In Pakistan most prevalent genotype of HIV was 3a. Knowledge about HCV and its risk factors also varies with the educational background. Blood donors should be screened for HCV, awareness campaigns about different risk factors should be initiated at the government level, and strict regulation on healthcare waste should be implemented, these might help in preventing its spread to healthy individuals.

Bioconversion of Saw Dust Powder Acid Hydrolysis to Single Cell Protein by the Yeast Candida tropicalis

This study was aimed to grow the local isolates yeast Candida tropicalis on locally prepared sawdust powder hydrolysate as a basal medium and carbon source with respect to single cell protein (SCP) production. The saw dust powder was treated with 10% H2SO4 for one hour at 100 0C. After cooling the supernatant containing the isolated sugar separated from debris by filtration and used as a carbon source and basal medium for yeast growth and SCP production. A high amount of SCP was achieved after five days of incubation, the percentage of the produced SCP 39.05% of the biomass dry weight, which is equivalent to 3.07g/l. SCP formation biosynthesis was affected by the level of nitrogen present in the medium; a high amount of protein being achieved in fermentation medium containing 0.3% urea in which the percentage of the yielded SCP was increased to 42.54%, (3.71g/l) of the biomass dry weight. The effect of varying nitrogen sources on SCP accumulation was also assayed. Medium containing ammonium phosphate greatly stimulated protein production in which the produced SCP was increased to reach 5.90 g/l. The produced amount equivalent to (48.22%) of the biomass dry weight. Conversely, a medium containing sodium nitrate had a suppressive effect on SCP production. This evidence clearly suggests that the metabolic versatility of Candida tropicalis may be employed in the conversion of low-grade material into high SCP product.

Serum Asprosin Levels in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in Duhok City, Kurdistan Region of Iraq

Asprosin is a novel peptide hormone produced and secreted by white adipose tissues. Asprosin associated with insulin resistance and promotes hepatic glucose production. Previous studies showed that serum asprosin was raised in the general population with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). However, there were studies supporting the opposite. Also, there were studies that showed the highest levels of asprosin was due to insulin resistance, as well as in type 2 diabetes patients. PCOS is one of the metabolic disorders related to insulin resistance. Therefore, the current study aims to evaluate the levels of asprosin in the blood serum of women with PCOS compared to the healthy women who resident in Duhok in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. A cross-sectional study was conducted from 20th of June, 2020 to 11th of January, 2021 at Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital and Mazi medical clinics. Serum asprosin level was determined in 75 women with PCOS (18-44 years) and 96 healthy women. SPSS software was utilized for analyzing the study data. The (means ± SD) of demographic parameters (body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC)) in women with PCOS were significantly highest in comparison to healthy women. The biochemical parameters (serum asprosin, fasting blood sugar (FBS), fasting insulin (FI), total cholesterol (TC), and triglyceride (TG)) in women with PCOS also were remarkably higher compared to healthy women with the exception of high-density lipoprotein- cholesterol (HDL-C). The current data show that serum asprosin variance significantly between WC, BMI, FBS, FI, TC, TG and HDL-C. The study confirms that serum asprosin in women with PCOS was higher than in the healthy women. In addition in women with PCOS it was found that serum asprosin was positively correlated with BMI, WC, FBS, FI, HOMA-IR, TC and TG (P<0.05). Except, HDL-C was negatively correlated with serum asprosin (P<0.01).

Toxicity of Soursop Leaf Powder and Its Relevance in Determining The Micronutrient Status in Formulated Complementary Food

Complementary food was produced from blends of hungry rice (A), pigeon pea (P) and soursop leaves (S). The raw materials were washed with portable water, dried at room temperature, milled with hammer mill, fermented for 24 hours at 28 ± 2 °C (28 ± 2 °C), oven-dried at 50 °C for 12 hours, remilled, sieved to 1 mm pore size and packaged in polyethylene bags for further analysis. The samples were in the ratio of 70:30:0 (sample APS), 65:30:5 (sample APS1), 60:30:10 (sample APS2) and 55:30:15 (sample APS3). Toxicity test for lethal dose (LD50) was carried out on the soursop leaves. Bioassay was carried out with male albino rats for 28 days including acclimatization period of 7 days. Feed intake and weight gain of experimental rats were recorded daily and weekly. Blood serum was collected before and after feeding trials for analyzing bioavailability of the selected micronutrients. The data were subjected to one-way analysis of variance. Means were separated using the Duncan’s multiple range test and significance was accepted at probability level of 0.05 %. The toxicity test (LD50) indicated safety of soursop leaf as an infusion (oral administration) at lower doses of 10-1000 mg/kg body weight of rats. The bioassay revealed that food intake was significantly (p < 0.05) different among the samples in the first, second and third week. Rats that ate normal rat chow had the highest food intake while the rats that ate APS3 had the lowest food intake. Weight gain was highest in rats that ate rat chow while it was lowest in the rat that ate APS3. Bioavailability of selected micronutrient revealed that calcium content had the highest bioavailability in rats fed with rat chow and lowest in AP. Sample of APS1 had the highest iron bioavailability (47.83 %) among the fortified samples and the rat chow. Zinc had the highest bioavailability (52.86 %) in APS1. The work revealed that selected vitamins were most available in APS2 and the selected minerals were most available in sample APS1.

Defining a Role of Amanita phalloides Toxins in Cancer: Research and Therapy

Despite the progress of diagnostic and therapy, the cancer burden is still rising worldwide. The new chemotherapeutical toxicity to somatic cells and its tolerance to tumor cells illustrates the immediate demand through recent pharmaceutical products with less harmful impacts. The use of natural anticancer products, like alpha-amanitin toxins have reached the cancer field therapy since the separation of Amanita phalloides fungi was performed. Application of Amanita phalloides affects tumor cell activity. It is thought that Amanita phalloides dilutions are recommended for a patient suffering from various cancer types and have no severe side effects resulting from amanita therapy. This review aims to explain the use of the therapeutic potential of -amanitin toxin against different cancer types.

A Study of The Histopathological Effect of White Albino Mice Lung Infected with Aspergillus Fumigatus, Treated with Amphotericin B, And Trametes Spp.

The present study was designed to investigate the histological lesions in the lungs of white mice infected with Aspergillus fumigatus by intraperitoneal injection, nasal implantation, the current research also examined an attempt to treat these tissue lesions by using both of the antifungal Amphotericin B and the alcoholic extract of Trametes for two weeks. The results showed that A. fumigatus led to tissue changes represented by the degeneration, desquamation the lining respiratory epithelium of the bronchiole, thickening, rupturing of the alveolar walls, congestion of the vessels and lymphocytic infiltration, the lungs of mice that infected with A. fumigatus and treated with the antifungal Amphotericin B and alcoholic extract of the Trametes spp. showed improvement, as degeneration and desquamation of the lining of the respiratory epithelium of the trachea, the presence of dust cells, lymphocytic infiltration, in addition to the appearance of semi-normal lung tissue in another histological also were observed. We conclude that Amphotericin B and alcoholic extract of Trametes spp. have activity in treating the histological lesions that resulted from A. fumigatus infection.