bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Complex evolution of the 2016 Kaikoura earthquake revealed by teleseismic body waves
Authors: Ohara Kenta , Yuji Yagi , Yamashita Shinji , Okuwaki Ryo , Hirano Shiro , Fukahata Yukitoshi
Published: September 2022

The 2016 Kaikoura earthquake, New Zealand, ruptured more than a dozen faults, making it difficult to prescribe a model fault for analysing the event by inversion. To model this earthquake from teleseismic records, we used a potency density tensor inversion, which projects multiple fault slips onto a single model fault plane, which reduced the non-uniqueness due to the uncertainty in selecting the faults’ orientations. The resulting distribution of potency-rate density tensors is consistent with observed surface ruptures. In its initial stage, the rupture propagated northeastward primarily at shallow depths, and the rupture propagated northeastward at deep depths beneath a gap in reported surface ruptures. The main rupture phase started in the northeastern part of the Kekerengu fault after 50 s and propagated bilaterally to the northeast and southwest. The non-double-couple component grew to a large fraction of the source elements as the rupture went through the junction of the Jordan Thrust and the Papatea fault, which suggests that the rupture branched into both faults as it back-propagated toward the southwest. The potency density tensor inversion sheds new light on the irregular evolution of this earthquake, which produced a fault rupture pattern of unprecedented complexity. Our source model should provide new insights into source process of the 2016 Kaikoura earthquake (e.g., back-rupture propagation), which should prompt research to determine a more realistic model with segmented faults using near-field data.
Determining the Relativity of Word Meanings through the Construction of Individualized Models of Semantic Memory
Authors: Johns Brendan
Published: September 2022

Distributional models of lexical semantics are capable of acquiring sophisticated representations of word meanings (Kumar, 2020). The main theoretical advantage of this approach is that the model’s demonstrate the systematic connection between the knowledge that people acquire and the experience that humans have with the natural language environment (Landauer & Dumais, 1997). However, linguistic experience is inherently variable and differs radically across people. Recently, Thompson, Roberts, and Lupyan (2020) used distributional modeling to examine how word meanings vary across languages and it was found that there is considerable variability in the meanings of words across languages for most semantic categories. The goal of this article is to examine how variable words meanings are across individual language users within a single language. This was accomplished by assembling 500 individual user corpora attained from the online forum Reddit (Baumgartner et al., 2020). Each user corpus ranged between 3.8 to 32.3 million words each, and a count-based distributional framework (Johns, Mewhort, & Jones, 2019; Johns, 2021) was used to extract word meanings for each user. These representations were then used to estimate the semantic alignment of word meanings across individual language users. It was found that there are significant levels of relativity in word meanings across individuals, and these differences are partially explained by other psycholinguistic factors, such as concreteness, semantic diversity, and social aspects of language usage. These results point to word meanings being fundamentally relative and fluid, with this relativeness being dependent on the individual nature of linguistic experience.
Elevated Emotion Network Connectivity Is Associated with Fluctuations in Depression
Authors: Kelley Sean , Fisher Aaron Jason , Lee Chi Tak , Gallagher Eoghan , Hanlon Anna , Robertson Ian , Gillan Claire
Published: September 2022

Elevated emotion network connectivity is thought to leave people vulnerable to become and stay depressed. The mechanism through which this arises is however unclear. Here, we test the idea that the connectivity of emotion networks is associated with more extreme fluctuations in depression over time, rather than necessarily more severe depression. We gathered data from 2 independent samples of N=155 paid students and N=194 citizen scientists who rated their positive and negative emotions on a smartphone app twice a day and completed a weekly depression questionnaire for 8 weeks. We constructed thousands of personalised emotion networks for each participant and tested if connectivity was associated with severity of depression or its variance over 8 weeks. Network connectivity was positively associated with baseline depression severity in citizen scientists, but not paid students. In contrast, 8-week variance of depression was correlated with network connectivity in both samples. When controlling for depression variance, the association between connectivity and baseline depression severity in citizen scientists was no longer significant. We replicated these findings in an independent community sample (N=519). We conclude that elevated network connectivity is associated with greater variability in depression symptoms. This variability only translates into increased severity in samples where depression is on average low and positively skewed, causing mean and variance to be more strongly correlated. These findings, although correlational, suggest that emotional network connectivity could have bi-directional effects; risk for severe bouts of depression, but also the potential to be harnessed to bring about improvements.
Asian Men and Black Women Hold Weaker Race-Gender Associations: Evidence from the US and China
Authors: Axt Jordan , Atwood S. , Talhelm Thomas , Hehman Eric
Published: September 2022

Prior work finds a consistent association between race and gender: people associate Asian with female and Black with male. We used mouse-tracking to examine whether different US racial/ethnic groups hold this same association (Study 1) and compared Asian-American participants to ethnically Chinese participants in China (Study 2). In Study 1, White and Hispanic participants showed the expected “race is gendered” effect, and the strength of the effect did not differ between men and women. However, participants with a counter-stereotypical racial-gender identity (Black women and Asian men) showed weaker race-gender associations. The same pattern emerged for East Asian participants in Study 2, both among people living in the United States and China. These data provide the first evidence of moderation in Asian-female, Black-male associations, and further reveal the importance of considering intersectional identities in social cognition and social perception.
Who is the majority group? Signaling majority group membership with name-based treatments in multilingual contexts: The case of Catalonia
Authors: Fernández-Reino Mariña , Creighton Mathew
Published: September 2022

AbstractAn increasing body of work has shown how the selection of names shapes patterns of ethnic and racial discrimination in hiring observed in correspondence audit studies. A clear limitation of the existing research on name perceptions and ethnic discrimination in employment is that is predominantly based in the US, which limits its applicability to contexts with high linguistic diversity among the majority population. These territories confront a reality where language preferences and uses, social class, and ancestry are associated with specific names among the native majority group. The result is notable diversity in the labor market (dis)advantages conferred by different names within the majority population. To fill this gap, this article focuses on Catalonia, a diverse multilingual region and Spain's second most populated area. Using two complementary studies, this work identifies the direct influence of names in the hiring process (Study 1) and evaluates the associations between names and perceptions of geographic origin, social class, and linguistic competence (Study 2). The results show that having a Catalan name confers an advantage in the labour market via three mechanisms. First, names inform a perception of language proficiency, which is tied to an expectation of productivity. Second, names signal social class and certain names in the majority group (applicants with two Catalan surnames, a minority within the region), indicate higher social class, which affords an advantage. Third, some advantage could be linked to tastes that favor an ingroup for reasons of assumed cultural, historical, or political compatibility. The approach adopted in this article holds significant relevance to other research on ethnic discrimination conducted in multilingual contexts with comparable autochthonous diversity.
Welcome Back, Whigs
Authors: Broxmeyer Jeffrey
Published: September 2022

The urge to compare a current party to its own history is probably irresistible. But it can also be errant. Michael Kazin’s new book, What It Took to Win: A History of the Democratic Party, is based on the premise that lessons from the party’s longue durée can resurrect its electoral fortunes. The problem is, Obama-Biden Democrats share more in common with the old American Whig party than any previous era of their own party’s history.
Measuring sustainable urban development using novel neighborhood classification
Authors: Ala-Mantila Sanna , Kurvinen Antti , Karhula Aleksi
Published: September 2022

As a result of the ongoing urbanization megatrend, cities have an increasingly critical role in the search for sustainability. To create sustainable strategies for cities and to follow up if they induce desired effects proper metrics on the development of neighborhoods are needed. In this paper, we introduce a neighborhood classification framework and demonstrate its use through an analysis of the 20 largest cities in Finland. The high-quality data available for Finland provided solid grounds for development, but the framework is widely applicable to other locations. The classification is freely available for use and has a multitude of potential applications.
Effect of controlled temperature on the amino acid profile and protease activity of fermented bottle gourd seed
Authors:   Department of Food Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, Owerri,  P.M.B. 1526 Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria., Ibeabuchi J. C. , Iheagwara M. C. ,   Department of Food Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, Owerri,  P.M.B. 1526 Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria., Ahaotu N. N. ,   Department of Food Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, Owerri,  P.M.B. 1526 Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria., Alagbaoso S. O. ,   Department of Food Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, Owerri,  P.M.B. 1526 Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria., Onuegbu N. C. ,   Department of Food Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, Owerri,  P.M.B. 1526 Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria., Okafor D. C. ,   Department of Food Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, Owerri,  P.M.B. 1526 Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.
Published: September 2022

The effect of controlled temperature on the amino-acid profile and protease activity of bottle gourd seed (BGS) as well as melon seed (MES) was studied. De-hulled seeds were boiled for 6 hours and fermented at 28oC, 35oC and 42oC for 96 hours. The amino-acid profile of raw, boiled and fermented BGS and MES were determined respectively. The protease activity of the seeds was as well determined at various stages of fermentation. The amino-acid profile of the samples showed high content of glutamic acid (152.1 to 158.8 mg/g for BGS and 145.4 to 166.7 mg/g for MES). Generally, the concentration of the respective amino-acids (essential and non-essential amino-acids) present in the seeds decreased with boiling but increased after fermentation. Fermentation was found to significantly (p<0.05) affect the protease activity of the seeds. The magnitude of the effect was dependent on the seed type, fermentation time and temperature. An increase in fermentation temperature from 28 to 42oC led to an increase in the protease activity of the respective seeds (15.8 to 23.8 units/ml for BGS and 21.6 to 23.0 units/ml for MES) which invariably resulted to the increase in the concentration of the amino-acids present in the respective seeds thereby increasing the bioavailability of the proteins present in the seeds. Microorganisms isolated and identified in the fermenting mashes include; Bacillus Subtilis, Bacillus cereals, Micrococcus luteus, Staphylococcus aureus and corynebacterium sp. The results showed that fermented BGS could favourably substitute for fermented MES as a source of cheap and affordable dietary protein.
Proximate composition, sensory properties and microbiological status of granola substituted with soursop flour (Annona muricta) for household consumption
Authors:   Department of Food Science and Technology, Rivers State University, Nkpolu Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria., Deedam N. J. , Mbah P. E. ,   Department of Home Economics Education, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria.
Published: September 2022

This study was undertaken to investigate the proximate composition, sensory properties and microbiological status of granola substituted with soursop flour for household consumption. Matured soursop fruits were processed into flour. Granola was prepared from blends of wheat and soursop flours using 90:10, 80:20, 70:30, 60:40, 50:50 of wheat flour to soursop flour (SSF), and 100% wheat flour as control. Samples were subjected to sensory evaluation within 30 minutes of production. Proximate analysis was carried out using standard methods. The samples were also stored for 3 weeks and evaluated at weekly intervals for total bacterial and fungal counts. Proximate analysis revealed an increase in moisture (5.21 to 7.22%), ash (1.25 to 1.79%), protein (9.56 to 12.62%), crude fibre (0.83 to 1.21%) and energy contents (418.64 to 422.22kcal) with decrease in fat (14.13 to 12.09%) and carbohydrate contents (69.02 to 65.07%) as substitution of wheat flour with soursop flour increased. Sensory analysis showed that colour, taste, texture and overall acceptability of the control granola were more preferred. Colour of control granola and sample substituted with 20% SSF were significantly (p<0.05) similar. Similarly, texture and overall acceptability of control granola and samples substituted with 10, 20 and 30% SSF were significantly (p<0.05) similar suggesting that wheat flour can be substituted with soursop flour at levels up to 30% for the preparation of granola. During storage, total bacterial counts (TBCs) and fungal counts (TFCs) were observed to increase for all granola samples. TBCs and TFCs of granola samples after 3 weeks of storage ranged from 6.00×103 to 7.00×103cfu/g and 5.00×104 to 5.20×104cfu/g, respectively. The samples presented adequate microbiological conditions and were within recommended safe limit of microbial guidelines. The findings of this study therefore show that soursop can be utilized in the preparation of granola with improved nutritional value over wheat flour thereby reducing wastage associated with soursop fruits.
Biochemical and microbiological analyses of Burukutu (native beer) and a brand of factory-based lager beer (STAR)
Authors:   Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria., Gazuwa Samuel Yusufu , Agai Rita ,   Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria., Denkok Yohanna ,   Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria., Afolabi Segun Olomu ,   Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria.
Published: September 2022

Consumption of Burukutu (native beer) among the people of the area of study is a norm. The techniques applied in its production are crude and non scientific. As a result, undesirable compounds, which may themselves be toxic, could be produced as components of the ‘brew’. Also, microbes present may be pathogenic. Ten samples were aseptically collected. A composite of 2 ml portions of each of nine (9) Burukutu samples was prepared for microbial count and identification. In the case of organic metabolites and alcohol content, individual samples were analysed. Spectrophotometry was applied to determine the alcohol content; mass spectrometry method was used to identify the metabolites generated. Nutrient agar and indole test were applied for aerobic plate count and microbial identification. The results obtained revealed three isolates in all the samples thus: Escherichia coli, Bacillus species and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The alcohol content ranged between 2.0-2.6% (v/v). Metabolites generated in both Burukutu and factory-based lager beer included glycerine, 1-pentanol, methanol, 1-glyceraldehyde, trimethylene oxide, 1-butanol, toluene, benzene acetic acid Propanoic acid, 2-hydroxy ethyl ester, Heptafluorobutyric acid, n-Pentyl ester, 4-butoxy-5,7-dinitrobenzo[1,2,5] Thiadiazole, Benzene acetic acid, 2 butyl ester, ethyl alcohol. Both Burukutu contain undesirable metabolites which may synergise with alcohol making it toxic to the system. Personal and environmental hygiene will help reduce levels of contaminants in alcoholic beverages otherwise pathogenic microbes could grow in the liquor being consumed.
Nutritional and sensory evaluation of complementary food formulated from maize, pigeon pea and Moringa stenoptela leaves in southern Ethiopia
Authors:   Post-Harvest Technology Research Team, Department of Food Science,Arbaminch Agricultural Research Center, P. O. Box: 2228, Arbaminch, Ethiopia., Badebo Ermias Dureto , Eyesa Wasihun Wale ,   Post-Harvest Technology Research Team, Department of Food Science,Arbaminch Agricultural Research Center, P. O. Box: 2228, Arbaminch, Ethiopia.
Published: September 2022

The study was conducted to evaluate the nutritional and sensory attributes of maize based complementary food fortified with pigeon pea and Moringa stenoptela leaves. Methods of laboratory analysis and required reagents to determine each proximate composition were of analytical grade. A total of five food samples (FS1, FS2, FS3, FS4 and FS5) were formulated. The formulated five food products were evaluated for proximate composition to determine the nutritional value by using standard methods. The sensory evaluation of the prepared food sample were determined by 30 untrained breast feeding farmers from the study area. The nutritional analysis result indicated that crude protein, crude fat, moisture content, ash content, crude fiber and total carbohydrate of maize+moringa+pigeon pea fortified complementary food were ranged between 8.48-16.32%, 4.56-4.79%,4.60-4.79%, 5.5-7.8%, 1.32-2.60%, 67.21-76.38% respectively and increased significantly (p≤0.05) with the increasing amount of pigeon pea and moringa. But moisture and total carbohydrate contents decreased significantly (p≤0.05) when compared with common complementary food that was purely maize based. The sensory evaluation results indicated that appearance, taste, texture, odor and over all acceptance of semi-solid complementary food were ranged between 2.7-4.7, 2.4-4.9, 3.2-4.9, 2.6-4.7 and 1.8-4.8 respectively. The significant (p≤0.05) difference for sensory evaluation was attained for maize alone (FS1) and food sample with 10% moringa fortified with 5% pigeon pea and 85% maize (FS2), 15% moringa fortified with 10% pigeon pea and 75% maize (FS3), 20% moringa fortified with 15% pigeon pea and 65% maize(FS4) attained at p≤0.05. In conclusion, increasing moringa and reducing maize during complementary food preparation increased almost all nutrients except its moisture content. However, sensory acceptability of the sample decreased due to lack of familiarization and awareness of the evaluators in the study area.
Preparation and Evaluation of Physical and, Rheological Properties of Clotrimazole Emulgel
Authors: I. Khalil Yehia , H. Khasraghi Abeer , J. Mohammed Entidhar
Published: September 2022

Recently, emulgel has emerged as one of the most interesting topical preparations in the field of pharmaceutics. In this research clotrimazole was formulated as topically applied emulgel ; different formulas were prepared. The prepared emulgels were evaluated for their physical appearance , rheological behaviour , and in vitro drug release . The influence of the type of gelling agent (carbopol 934 and methyl cellulose), the concentration of both the emulsifying agent (2% and 4% w/w of mixture of span 20 and tween 20) and the oil phase (5% and 7.5% w/w of liquid paraffin) and the type of oil phase (liquid paraffin and cetyl alcohol), on the drug release from the prepared emulgels was investigated. Commercially available topical canestinÂ® cream was used for comparison. All the prepared emulgels showed acceptable physical properties concerning colour, homogeneity, consistency, and pH value. Rheological studies revealed that all emulgels formulations exhibited a shear â€“ thinning behaviour with thixotropy, indicating structural break down of intermolecular interaction between polymeric chains. Clotrimazole emulgels exhibited higher drug release than canestinÂ® cream. The results of in vitro release showed that methyl cellulose â€“ based emulgel gave better release than carbopol 934 â€“ based one. Also it was found that the emulsifying agent concentration had the most pronounced effect on the drug release from the emulgels, followed by the oil phase concentration, which has a retardation effect, and finally the type of the gelling agent. It was suggested that the clotrimazole emulgel formulation prepared with methyl cellulose, with low concentration of oil phase (5%w/w liquid paraffin) and high concentration of emulsifying agent (4%w/w), showed an optimum formula  for  highest drug  release (74.4% after three hours), which followed higuchi diffusion model with  a  diffusion-controlled  mechanism. 

Key words: Emulgel , carbopol , methyl cellulose , clotrimazole
The Correlation between Rheumatoid Factor, Chloroquine Phosphate in Osteoarthritis
Authors: S. Saleh Eman
Published: September 2022

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a series of aggressive destructive inflammatory processes. Synovitis is common both at an early and a late phase. This disease may be uniquely singular in some site but phylogenetically related at some point in time to produce a common outcome of dysfunction, disability, socioeconomic destruction and sometimes socioeconomic failure. Articular cartilage, subchondral bone and synovial membrane are the site of major abnormalities in this disease process. Rheumatoid factor (RF) represents one of the routine laboratory tests that made for all patients have joint complaints.Chloroquine phosphate (CQP) is agent belong to disease modifying osteoathritic drugs (DMOADs). Chloroquine and their derivatives have been used for their anti-inflammatory effect in juvenile chronic arthritis, Sjogren,s syndrome, discoid and systemic lupus erythematosus.The aim of this trial depend on using this drug in osteoarthritic patients for two months then estimate the level of RF check and RF(A,G,M).The result showed a significant correlation between  CQP and RF check as well as RF type M in patients suffered from OA, so the level of these two parameters are decreased significantly in period of treatment thus leads to ameliorate the patients status and the joints pain will decreased.

Key words: Chloroquine, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid factors.
Changes in Serum Levels of Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha and Antioxidant status in Different Stages of Malignant Prostate Cancer Patients in Iraq
Authors: S. Mohammed Ebtehal , F. Al-Taie Wafa , T. Numan Intesar , A. Hussain Saad
Published: September 2022

Chronic inflammation can induce proliferative events and posttranslational DNA modifications in prostate tissue through oxidative stress. The present study was designed to evaluate the changes in serum levels of TNF-Î±, malomdialdehyde (MDA) and total antioxidant status (TAS) patients with different stages of malignant prostatic cancer (PCa) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). One hundred males (age range of 58-72 years) with different stages of malignant PCa were recruited from the Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine Teaching Hospital in Baghdad during the period from September 2010 to April 2011. The patients were categorized according to the 4 disease stages (I, II, III, and IV); 25 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and 25 normal healthy subjects were considered as comparator groups. Blood samples were taken from all subjects for analysis of TNF-Î± TAS and MDA levels. The results showed significant differences between the four stages of PCa patients in all parameters; however, highly significant difference was observed in stage IV compared to control and BPH patients. In conclusion, TNF-Î± and total antioxidant status could be utilized for marking the advanced stages of malignant PCa.  

 Key words: Malignant Prostate cancer, Inflammation, TNF-Î±, Oxidative stress
Formulation of Azithromycin Suspension as an Oral Dosage Form
Authors: H. Jaber Saba , T.Salih Zainab , M. Salmo Hiba
Published: September 2022

Azithromycin is the drug of choice in the treatment of several bacterial infections, most often those causing middle ear infection, bronchitis, pneumonia, typhoid and sinusitis. Itâ€™s also effective against certain urinary tract infections and venereal diseases. This study was carried out to prepare an acceptable suspension either as dry physical mixture powder or granules to be reconstituted, through studying the effect of various type and concentration of suspending agent (xanthan gum, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), either alone or in combination) on the release profile of the drug. The best prepared suspension formulas (H& III) were selected depending on the dissolution profile of each formulas and then compared with the reference suspensions (Zithromax and Azi-once).The viscosity, sedimentation volume, Resuspendability and expiration date were evaluated for the chosen formulas (H&III) and compared with references ZithromaxÃ’ and Azi-onceÃ’.The result indicated that the chosen formula â€“ H had better dissolution rate compared with references suspensions, Also it was less viscous than them.While other chosen formula â€“ III had lower dissolution rate compared with ZithromaxÃ’ and higher dissolution rate than AZi â€“ once, also it was less viscous than both references.It was found that the dry physically mixed powder (formula â€“ H) was more stable than the granular suspension (Formula III) since the expiration date for formula H and formula III were 3.24 and 2.7 years respectively. 

Key words: Azithromycin, suspending agent, suspension.
Antibacterial and Phytochemical Study of Iraqi Salvia officinalis Leave Extracts
Authors: Y. Muttalib Lana , M. Naqishbandi Alaadin
Published: September 2022

Sage (Salvia officinalis), belong to Labiatae family is indigenous to Iraq and other Mediterranean areas but now cultivated world- wide, principally for its use as culinary herb. In the present study preliminary screening for the important phytochemical natural product groups indicated the presence of flavonoid, saponin, hyrolysable and condensed tannin groups. The antibacterial  activity of two concentrations 10 mg/ml and 100 mg/ml of chloroform and hydroalcoholic extracts from  Salvia officinalis leaves was evaluated against four strains of gram negative bacteria (Escherichia coli,  Pseudomonas arigenossa,  Klebsiella pneumonia, and  Proteus spp) and two strains of gram positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus,  Bacillus cerus) using agar well diffusion method. Chloroform extract 100mg/ml was found active against two types of bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus with MIC of 90 mg/ml and Proteus spp with MIC of 80 mg/ml. Bioassay guided separation using TLC led to the separation of 6 constituents from the active extract, one of them was identified as thujone.

Key words: Salvia officinalis, Antibacterial, TLC, Thujone.
Uric Acid as a Natural Scavenger of Peroxynitrite in a Sample of Iraqi Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: MA. Naji Zahraa , M.Mohammed Shaimaa , F. Muhammad Mays
Published: September 2022

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease associated with decreased antioxidant state .This study aim to investigate the status of oxidant/antioxidant in a sample of  Iraqi patients with RA and the role of peroxynitrite and its natural scavenger uric acid in them .This case-controlled study was conducted at Baghdad teaching hospital /Baghdad from December 2010-May 2011 . Twenty-five patients with mean age 39 years and 25 apparently healthy subject as controls with mean age 29 years were included in the study .Investigations include estimation of serum levels of nitric oxide (NO)  ,peroxynitrite (PN) , malondialdehyde (MDA)  , and uric acid (UA) .Serum PN levels were significantly elevated in RA patients as compared with control subjects , UA levels were found significantly lowered in RA patients as compared with control subjects.  No significant differences were found between NO and MDA among  patients and controls group .In conclusion :this study demonstrated decreased serum uric acid levels in patients with RA accompanied by decreased its effect as a natural scavenger of PN.

Key word :   Rheumatoid arthritis ,Peroxynitrite ,Uric acid.
Possible Cardiac Adverse Effects Induced by Therapeutic Doses of Ciprofloxacin in Juvenile Rats
Authors: J.Al-faris Omar , N. Al-Shawi Nada , D. Kako Maha
Published: September 2022

Ciprofloxacin is widely used in treating adults infected with Gram-negative bacteria. It is contraindicated in children, growing adolescents and during pregnancy due to joint toxicity. Its toxicity concerning other organs needs to be clarified. Thus, this study was designed to study the possible cardiac damage induced by two selected doses of ciprofloxacin in juvenile rats.Eighteenth healthy juvenile rats (4 weeks old and their weight 30 Â± 2 gm) were utilized in this study and divided into three groups. Group-I control; group II and group III, respectively injected IP with 25 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg ciprofloxacin every 12 hours for one week. Serum enzymes activities alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase  (AST), creatin kinase -muscle brain isoform (CK-MB), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were assessed. Histological examination of heart tissues was also performed. The results of this study showed that, ALT, AST and CK-MB enzymes were significantly elevated only in group III compared to control. LDH enzyme was elevated in both group II and III. Concerning histological examination of the heart's gross sections, the results obtained from this work demonstrated the degeneration and necrosis in the hearts of group II and III juvenile rats compared to control animals. In conclusion, our results showed that the selected therapeutic doses of ciprofloxacin utilized in this study caused cardiac damage in juvenile rats.

Key words: Fluoroquinolones, cardiac adverse effects, juvenile rat .
Neutrophil / Lymphocyte Ratio is not Correlated with Disease Activity in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients
Authors: M. Mikhael Ehab , N.Ibrahim Turath
Published: September 2022

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic systemic inflammatory disease. Inflammation leads to joint damage and increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a measure of inflammation in many diseases. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the usefulness of NLR to detect inflammation in RA, and its correlation to RA disease activity indices and some hematological parameters. A cross-sectional study involving 24 patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who are using MTX participated in this study. All patients were clinically evaluated using disease activity score of 28 joints (DAS28) and simplified disease activity index (SDAI), whereas functional disability was assessed by health assessment questionnaire disability index (HAQDI); Moreover, blood specimen of each patient was used for measuring erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C â€“ reactive protein (CRP), rheumatoid factor (RF), hemoglobin (Hb), white blood cells (WBC) count, platelets and red blood cells (RBCs) count, and NLR ratio.NLR was positively correlated with ESR and inversely correlated with Hb, but it didnâ€™t show any correlation with other clinical and laboratory parameters. In conclusion NLR is less correlated with inflammation and not suitable to monitor disease activity in RA patients using MTX.

Keywords: Rheumatoid arthritis, Inflammation, Neutrophil lymphocyte ratio.
Evaluation of Rosuvastatin Effect as Adjuvant Therapy to Methotrexate on Lipid Profile and the Possibility of its Cardioprotective Effect in Iraqi Patients with Active Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: M. Mikhael Ehab , A. Majeed Ibrahim , I. Gorial Faiq , H. Al-Ossamy Mohammad , H. Falih Ali , Abdulhameed Dhikra
Published: September 2022

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common inflammatory disease that associated with increased morbidity and mortality due to accelerated atherosclerosis. Rosuvastatin is a unique hydroxy methyl glutaryl Co A (HMGCoA) reductase inhibitor that has anti inflammatory effects.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of rosuvastatin as adjuvant therapy to methotrexate (MTX) on lipid profile and its possible cardioprotective effect in RA patients. A double blinded placebo controlled clinical trial with 8 weeks follow up periods at which 40 patients with active RA using MTX were randomized into 2 groups to receive either rosuvastatin 10mg or placebo as adjuvant therapy to MTX. In addition to twenty healthy subjects as control group.  Lipid profile and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was assessed at the start and at the end of the study. At the start of the study total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc) and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLc) values were not significantly different between RA patients and control group. At the end of the study rosuvastatin significantly reduced ESR, TC and LDLc after 8 weeks of treatment.

It can be concluded that MTX has the ability to normalize lipid profile in RA patients. Rosuvastatin effectively reduce ESR, TC and LDLc; Moreover, Rosuvastatin might have a possible cardioprotective effect in RA patients.

Keywords: Active rheumatoid arthritis, Methotrexate, Rosuvastatin.
Determine Nasal Carriage of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus MRSA in Young Adult College Student
Authors: N. Saeed Ebtihal , I.Omer Al-Deen Hanan , A. Merdaw Maysoon
Published: September 2022

Present study was carried out to find prevalence of MRSA in healthy individual of second stage students, college of pharmacy/Baghdad University. A total of 74 student selected between age 18-23 years old were included in this study, nasal swabs collected and subjected to many diagnostic standard bacteriological identification methods. Culture, colonial morphology, Gram stain,  mannitol fermentation, coagulase ,gelatinasetest, DNAase, MR/VP and antimicrobial susceptibility test was performed on tryptic soy agar by modified Kirby-Bauer muller hinton disc diffusion method and the result show that out of 74 nasal swabs,67(90.5%) were MRSA positive isolates, 21(31.4%) of them were mannitol ferment and 46(68.6%) non mannitol fermenter, among these isolates 33(44.6%)male and 41(55.4%) female, there was no significant sex difference in the prevalence of Staph. aureus, while show decrease in prevalence with age group,(54%),(27%),(9.5%) alternatively, MRSA positive isolates indicated relatively high rate of resistance to antibiotics, so to vancomycin 3(4.5%),ciprofloxacin 4(6%) , tetracyclin 9(13.5%) ,gentamycin  6(9%),  erythromycin 15(22.5%) and keflex 20(30%). This study show a  high  prevalence  of  MRSA  carriage  in  young  adult  college  student (healthy people) that indicating  the spread of MRSA in the community which consider high risk of spreading infections also we isolate  non  mannitol  fermenter  (MRSA)  Staph. aureus that need further moleculer analysis to prove it.

Keywords: Staphylococcus aureus , MRSA, Modified Kirby-Baur methods.
Evaluation of the Clinical use of Metformin or Pioglitazone in Combination with Meloxicam in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis; using Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis outcome Score
Authors: M. Mohammed Mohammed , J. Al-Shamma Kassim , A. Jassim Nizar
Published: September 2022

Osteoarthritis is the most prevalent arthritic disease and a leading cause of disability. The pathogenesis of osteoarthritis involves multiple etiologies, including variable degree of synovial inflammation. Metformin and pioglitazone could potentially reduce the levels and activity of inflammatory mediators. This may consider as a new therapeutic approach added to the current used drugs in an attempt to decrease the pain, inflammation, and improve daily activity and quality of life in patients with knee osteoarthritis.

This study designed to evaluate the clinical utility of using metformin or pioglitazone as anti-inflammatory agents in combination with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) of selective type of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor, meloxicam, in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis (OA).

Randomized, double blinded clinical study was performed on 98 patients who have symptomatic and radiologic evidence of painful OA of the knee (57 patients only completed the study). Patients were allocated into three groups, group (A); 20 patients treated with meloxicam (15mg/day) alone, group (B); 20 patients treated with metformin (1000mg/day) + meloxicam (15mg/day) and group (C); 17 patients treated with pioglitazone (15mg/day) + meloxicam (15mg/day). The treatment was followed for 12 weeks through measurement of the clinical effects of drugs each 7 days, using the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) system.

The results showed that metformin or pioglitazone, when used in combination with NSAID resulted in significant improvement in the components of KOOS, higher than that produced by meloxicam when used alone. In conclusion, administration of metformin or pioglitazone as adjuvant therapy to NSAID, meloxicam, in OA patients produced very well characterized analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities, and improves the therapeutic profile of meloxicam.

Keywords: Metformin, Pioglitazone, Osteoarthritis, Knee injury, KOOS.
Lipid Profile and Fasting Blood Sugar Analysis in Patients with Cholelithiasis
Authors: N.Al-Atrakchey Rajaa , A.Taher Mohammed , N.Saeed Ibtehal
Published: September 2022

Cholelithiasis is one of the commonest surgical problems and one of the most common gastrointestinal diseases throughout the world but its pathogenesis remains unclear. Many theories have been proposed forward to explain the mechanism of stone formation. It is not fully clear if symptomatic gallstone disease is associated with a specific pattern of some biochemical abnormalities, as lipid profile and fasting blood sugar in serum of patients.

This study was designed to estimate lipid profile and fasting blood sugar in the sera of patients with cholelithiasis in comparison with normal individuals (control).

In this study, 104(male=16, female=88) were symptomatic gallstone patients (aged 42.79Â± 12.18 years), and 38(male=6 and female=32) were apparently healthy controls (aged 40.03Â± 7.47 years).

Blood samples were collected from symptomatic gallstones patients before their cholecystectomy operation. Over night fasting, blood samples were collected from all subjects to evaluate serum lipid profile: Total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-c), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-c), very low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (VLDL-c) and fasting serum glucose (FSG). There was a significant increase (P<0.05) in serum: TC, TG, LDL-c, VLDL-c and FSG of patients with cholelithiasis compared to the apparently healthy controls. The study also showed  that there was a significant decrease (P<0.05) in serum HDL-c in gallstone patients compared to control.

In conclusion, cholelithiasis was associated with lipid profile and fasting serum glucose abnormality that be the cause or the effect of gallstone formation. These findings should be taken into consideration while treating gallstone patients.

Key words: Gallstones, Cholesterol, Cholecystectomy.
Phytochemical Investigation and Antioxidant Activity of Iraqi Tribulus terrestris
Authors: M. Ibrahim Nabaa , J. Kadhim Enas
Published: September 2022

The aim of the present study was to characterize the Iraqi Tribulus terrestris for the presence of biologically active phyto-chemicals using methanolic extracts of the plant (aerial parts) by Gas Chromatography â€“Mass spectrometry (GC/MS), while the mass spectra of the compounds found in the extract was matched with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) library , in addition to study the antioxidant activity of plant extract , results confirmed the presence of therapeutically potent compounds in the Iraqi Tribulus terrestris extract predominantly alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins and terpenoids. Antioxidant potential of Iraqi Tribulus terrestris herbal preparations was evaluated by determination of blood glutathione, serum ascorbic acid and serum superoxide dismutase in rats. The obtained results demonstrated that T. terrestris preparations possess a significant antioxidant activity.

Keywords: Iraqi Tribulus terrestris, Phytochemical investigation, Anti-oxidant activity.
Measurement of Serum Trace Elements (Zinc, Copper, Magnesium and Iron) Concentrations in Pediatric Patients with Otitis Media with Effusion in Iraq
Authors: K. Fakree Najwan
Published: September 2022

Otitis media with effusion (OME) is a common disease especially among young children (before school age) and it is one of the common causes of acquired hearing loss in childhood. Pediatric patients with OME are usually undernourished. The purpose of this study is to determine whether the serum levels of trace elements (zinc, copper, magnesium, iron) have a role in the development of OME in children. This study carried out on 55 children and subdivided them into two groups. Group 1 (patient group) consist of 30 children suffering from OME and group 2 (control group) included 25 apparently healthy children. Serum levels of zinc, copper, magnesium and iron were measured for both groups. Comparison the results between the two groups showed that group 1(patients) had significantly lower serum zinc, copper, and iron levels than group2 (P <0.05).

 Meanwhile the differences between the two groups in terms of serum values of magnesium were not statistically significant (p>0.05). This study postulated that serum levels of zinc, copper, and iron may have a role in the development of OME in children. While, serum magnesium may not have effect on the development of OME in children.

Keyword:  Pediatrics, Otitis media, Trace elements.
Effect of Metformin Treatment on some Blood Biomarkers in Women with Endometriosis.
Authors: A.Omer Noor , A.Taher Muhammad , Dh Skheel Aljebory Henan
Published: September 2022

Endometriosis is a common women health disorder that occurs when Endometrial-like tissue grows outside the uterus. This may lead to irregular bleeding , pelvic pain, infertility and other complications.   Metformin,  because of its activity to improve  insulin sensitivity, it is  used for  the treatment of diabetes; it  also  has a modulatory  effect  on  ovarian  steroid  production and has  anti-inflammatory  properties,  all may  suggest  its possible effect in treatment  of endometriosis. This  study  was  planned  to  determine  the  effect  of  metformin  on serum levels  of  interleukin- eight(IL-8),  Tumor  necrosis  factor-alpha (TNF â€“Î±)  and estradiol (E2)  production , and  related  symptomatic  changes  that  accompany  with endometriosis  (pelvic  pain,  dysmenorrhea  and  menorrheaga)  after  three months of study. Blood samples were obtained from those taking  metformin and measure the serum levels of (IL-8) , TNF â€“Î± and (E2) were measured before and after three months of taking a  metformin .Metformin  therapy  resulted  in  a  significant  reduction  in  the  clinical symptoms  of  endometriosis  (pelvic  pain  and  dysmenorrhea)  and insignificant changes in menorrhagia. Metformin therapy resulted in a  significant  reduction  in the serum levels of  IL-8,  TNF-  Î± while  insignificant  reduction  in  estradiol  E 2  in  the  study  group after 3 months of treatment .In conclusion the results of this study, demonstrated that metformin may be a well-tolerated  treatment  for  endometriosis  that  relieved  pain  and reduces  menstrual disorders and serum  levels  of  the  inflammatory  markers  (IL-8  and  TNF-Î±)  are decreased  in study  group treated  with metformin after 3 months due to its   anti-  inflammatory effects.

Keywords: Endometriosis, Metformin, TNF â€“ a ,IL-8, E 2.
Impact of Different Doses of Nicorandil-Induced Ulceration (Oral , Gastrointestinal Tract, and Anal) in Rats: Roles of Leptin and Prostaglandin E2
Authors: A. Hayder Asma , S. Altaei Tagreed
Published: September 2022

Many reports confirm ulcers as an adverse effect of drugs such as nicorandil and aspirin. The exact responsible mechanisms of ulceration have until now not proved. Mucosal ulcers associated with the onset of ulcer are manifested by an increase in proinflammatory cytokine, excessive prostaglandin, and up-regulation of Endothilin-1 level, which directly impacts the release of leptin. These, released locally within mucosal tissues, have played a role in controlling the extent of local inflammatory responses and processes of mucosal repair.This study was designed to find out the correlation of plasma leptin and prostaglandin levels as a possible mechanism of oral ulcer formation as an adverse effect of nicorandil. The effect of nicorandil for inducing ulceration was assessed. The plasma leptin and prostaglandin E2 for the tested groups in relation to the studied parameters (gender, and daily body weight change) were estimated in albino rats.Nicorandil causes mucous membrane damage, inflammation, and ulceration. A significant reduction of plasma leptin level, which was dose-dependent, and a non-significant reduction of serum prostaglandin E2 level. The mechanisms of ulcer induction as an adverse effect of nicorandil can be related to dose-dependant leptin and prostaglandin E2 levels, which affects on repair and healing process.Keywords: Nicorandil, Leptin, Prostaglandin E2, Ulcer.