Body builder tend to use high protein diet to produce optimum skeletal muscle hypertrophy. This study was conducted during the period from November 2024 to March 2025. During this period, 40 samples were collected from patients at Al-Qasim General Hospital and private clinics the city of Babylon, encompassing form male of varying ages between (20 - 40) year. The samples were divided to four groups (G1 control, G2 natural, G3 take artificial protein (nutritional supplements) G4 takes artificial hormones). Results showed that the values Analyses were conducted. The impact of high protein diet on renal functioning test and cholesterol, Triglycerides, PCV Serum creatinine and urea were significantly high in bodybuilders using high protein intake, and urea was reduced significantly as compared to the control group. We notice a gradual increase in the levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL, VLDL and HDL from group A to D. This means clear differences in lipid indicators between the groups. This means changing the diet and body activity. This is related to the triglyceride table. As for PCV we only notice an increase in group D compared to the rest of the groups. This means a clear effect when taking the uses. In contrast, in the remaining groups, we do not notice the effect. When using synthetic protein and hormone injections, we notice a significant increase in liver enzymes, which reflects a negative effect on liver function. A significant increase in the level of creatine and urea in the serum of bodybuilders who consumed a high percentage of protein was observed, while the level of urea decreased significantly in comparison control.

Background: Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease that is caused by protozoan parasites in a genus. Understanding of the host immune response and genetic vulnerability is significant in the development of a successful methodology of treatment. Aim: To investigate the cellular immune system of patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis in the Maysan Governorate, southern Iraq according to the hematological parameters, cytokine concentrations and the HLA type patterns. Methodology: It was an analytical study that was a descriptive study and comprised of 60 confirmed patients. The analysis of complete blood count, cytokine (IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-10) measurement, and HLA typing were conducted using PCR-SSP. Results: The majority of the patients exhibited normal hematological parameters with minimal to slight inflammatory indicative parameters reflected by a slight increase in white blood cells. Parasite regulation was linked to high levels of IFN-γ and TNF-α and the partial regulation was linked to high levels of IL-10. The better immune response was related to the HLA-A*02:01 and HLA-B*35:01 as determined by HLA allele analysis was carried out. These findings suggests of a crucial role played by genetic factors in the control of cutaneous leishmaniasis; the cellular immune reaction is modulated by genetic factors that are denoted in terms of HLA alleles. Conclusion: The study elucidates host-parasite interactions in an endemic area and also underlines the significance of incorporating hematological, immunological and genetic tests to comprehend the severity of the disease and optimize disease control strategies.

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (COVID-19) can result in systemic inflammatory reactions that could disrupt endocrine and placental physiology in the course of pregnancy. The presence of the key pregnancy-supportive hormones, which are critical to keep the gestation and placental activity, includes progesterone, estradiol, and 2-human chorionic gonadotropin (2-hCG), whereas cortisol and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) indicates the maternal stress and thyroid-regulatory pathways. Although the evidence of COVID-19-induced changes in physiological changes is accumulating, the impact of severe infection on maternal hormonal profiles during pregnancy is not defined well enough. Aim: This research was meant to assess the effect of severe COVID-19 on chosen maternal hormonal parameters in second-trimester pregnant women. Methods: The study was a hospital-based case-control study carried out at Al -Nasiriyah Teaching Hospital in Dhi Qar Province in the year 2020. It involved 200 pregnant women between the ages of 25 and 40 years with a gestation period of 1620 weeks. The sample was split into two groups of which 100 women were confirmed to have severe COVID-19 that needed oxygen therapy and 100 healthy pregnant controls. Each of the participants was a singleton, with comparable body weight (73 75 kg), and chronic disease or thyroid disorders were excluded. Blood samples were taken to the venous blood used to measure serum progesterone, estradiol (E2), 8-hcg, cortisol and TSH concentrations in the serum by the use of enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (Elisa) kit. The levels of hormones in the infected group were measured about one month after infection and statistical comparisons with the appropriate parametric or non-parametric tests were conducted on the levels. Results: The women with the worst cases of COVID-19 had much lower progesterone, estradiol and 2-hCG levels than the controls. On the other hand, the levels of cortisol were dramatically increased in the infected group, whereas the levels of TSH have decreased slightly but significantly. Conclusions: Major endocrine changes in severe COVID-19 in the second trimester comprise low placental hormones, high cortisol, and low TSH. These results indicate possible effects of a serious case of viral infection on placental endocrine functions and maternal stress mechanisms, and hormonal surveillance of such pregnancies is critical.

Background: Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most prevalent thyroid malignancy, and BRAF V600E represents its most common genetic alteration. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) using the VE1 antibody offers a cost-effective alternative to molecular methods for mutation detection, particularly in resource-limited settings. Aims: To estimate the immunohistochemical expression of BRAF V600E in all histological types of PTC and determine its association with adverse prognostic factors. Methods: This cross-sectional analytical study included 67 histopathologically confirmed PTC cases from a tertiary care center over 18 months. BRAF V600E IHC was performed using the VE1 clone. Expression was correlated with clinicopathological parameters including tumor size, histological subtype, lymph node metastasis, extrathyroidal extension, and capsular status. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis evaluated predictive performance. Results: BRAF V600E positivity was observed in 37.3% of cases. The cohort demonstrated female predominance (89.6%) with mean age of 44.9±14.7 years. Significant associations were identified between BRAF V600E expression and classic variant histology (p<0.0001), larger tumor size (4.6 versus 2.6 cm; p<0.001), lymph node metastasis (69.2% versus 8.1%; p<0.0001), extrathyroidal extension (30.8% versus 5.4%; p=0.014), and capsular involvement (53.8% versus 8.1%; p=0.001). ROC analysis demonstrated excellent predictive performance for lymph node invasion (AUC=0.83; sensitivity 81.8%; specificity 84.1%) and classic PTC histology (AUC=0.837; specificity 96.9%). Conclusion: BRAF V600E immunohistochemical expression significantly correlates with adverse clinicopathological features in PTC, supporting its utility as a cost-effective tool for risk stratification and treatment planning.

Background: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic bacterial pathogen responsible for a significant proportion of hospital infections, especially in intensive care units (ICUs). The bacterium's ability to resist multiple drugs and survive in hospitals makes it more likely to stick around and cause disease. In Diwaniyah Governorate, repeated studies have explored the phenotypic and molecular characteristics of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, particularly its beta-lactamase production and antibiotic resistance. The identification of genetic markers linked to drug resistance is essential for designing antimicrobial guided strategies. Even though previous studies have evaluated Pseudomonas aeruginosa in several hospital settings, little is known about its molecular characterization and resistance profile on this setting. Knowing the prevalence of resistant genes such as GES, blaOXA-48 and SPM may help in establishing measures for infection control. Objectives: The objective of this study was to use molecular techniques to isolate and identify Pseudomonas aeruginosa from clinical samples, find out what kind of antibiotics they are resistant to, and look for genes that make beta-lactamase. Materials: The study involved the different culture media were used, and identification relied on several biochemical reagents, such as Catalase, Oxidase, IMVC, and TSI tests, in addition to the Vitek2 Compact system. To detect β-lactamase activity, Penicillin G solution, starch solution, and iodine solution were applied in the rapid iodine method. For molecular work, genomic DNA was extracted using the Genomic DNA Mini Kit (Geneaid, USA). Preparation of electrophoresis gels required agarose powder (1.5%), TBE buffer (1X), and ethidium bromide as a DNA stain. The amplification of target genes was carried out using Wizpure PCR FDmix, along with specific primers for 16S rRNA, blaSPM, blaGES, and blaOXA-48 genes, in addition to PCR-grade water. Results: Pseudomonas aeruginosa was confirmed in 15 out of 40 clinical samples (37.5%). The highest isolation rate was found in burns (60%), then wounds (26.6%), and finally urine (13.4%). The rapid iodine test and the Vitek 2 system showed that 80% of the isolates made beta-lactamase, which means they were resistant to most antibiotics except for tigecycline. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis indicated that all isolates possessed the 16S rRNA gene, 75% contained the OXA-48 gene, 40% harboured the bla GES gene, and 20% possessed the SPM gene. This study is one of the first to show what Pseudomonas aeruginosa is made of in the Diwaniyah Governorate. It also shows how resistant it is and what genes are responsible for making beta-lactamase. Conclusion: The results show how important it is to keep an eye on things all the time, follow strict infection control rules, and have antimicrobial stewardship programs in place to stop the spread of drug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa in healthcare settings.

Candida species are the utmost prevalent opportunistic fungal pathogens in the immune-compromised patients and bone marrow transplants patients, as well as in Children suffering from orofacial birth defects called Orofacial Clefts that affect the lip, palate, or both, and are more prone to oral candidiasis. Consequently, this study aimed to identify Candida dubliniensis and its virulence gene, Candida dubliniensis mitochondrial gene using various culture media, PCR, and ELISA. This study was extended between January 2023 to August 2024 at Al-Diwaniya Children’s Hospital /Iraq. A 75 oral swab and blood samples were collected from cleft lip/palate patients (with and /without candidiasis). Candida dubliniensis was identified via culture om CHROM and Sabouraud agar and PCR targeting the Cdub gene. Serum IL-17/IL-23 levels were measured by ELISA. Statistical analysis used SPSS (chi-square). Among the tested specimens (57.33%) were positive for C. dubliniensis, while (42.67%) were negative. All C. dubliniensis isolates from patients with orofacial clefts carried the Candida dubliniensis mitochondrial gene, whereas no mitochondrial gene was detected in patients without candidiasis. The cytokine levels revealed that oral candidiasis significantly increased the concentration of cytokine Interleukin-17 to 115.91 ± 15.42 pg/ml, in comparison to 68.85 ± 10.59 pg/ml and 21.58 ± 2.33 pg/ml in orofacial cleft patients without candidiasis and the control group respectively. Similarly, Interleukin -23 levels were significantly elevated to 77.28 ± 8.94 pg/ml in the candidiasis group, compared to 53.84 ± 8.93 pg/ml and 8.45 ± 2.46 pg/ml in orofacial cleft patients without candidiasis and the control group respectively. In Conclusion: This study demonstrates a relatively high prevalence of Candida dubliniensis in children with orofacial clefts, with a significant association between the presence of the Candida dubliniensis mitochondrial gene and candidiasis. The study also approved the immunological impact of C. dubliniensis infections in orofacial clefts patients with Candida dubliniensis, as evidenced by significantly elevated levels of Interleukin-17 and Interleukin -23 compared to non-candidiasis orofacial cleft patients and control group.

Background: Members of the genus Ichthyophthirius are some of the most notable ectoparasitic ciliates affecting freshwater fishes globally. While infections have been documented in common carp (Cyprinus carpio) and goldfish (Carassius auratus) in Iraq, molecular confirmations and recent updates to host range data are lacking. Considering the recent expansion of aquaculture and the translocation of fish, the potential for greater dissemination of parasites among both native and introduced aquatic ecosystems is concerning. Aim: The primary goal of the current study was to molecularly identify and phylogenetically characterize Ichthyophthirius spp. affecting freshwater fishes in the Al-Diwaniyah River, Iraq, and examine new extensions of host range. Methods: A total of 720 fish specimens belonging to five species were collected and examined between October 2023 and October 2024. Skin and gill tissues were microscopically investigated for the presence of ectoparasitic infections. From these positive samples, DNA was extracted, and the 18S rRNA gene was amplified. Subsequently, the PCR products underwent sequencing, and the resulting data were analyzed using the BLAST and Maximum Likelihood (ML) methods for phylogenetic analysis. Results: Ichthyophthirius spp were found only in skin tissues, affirming strong predilection or specific tissue preference. In molecular amplification, clear 18S rRNA products were found within the range of 1500–3000 bp. In comparison to 18S rRNA sequences of Ichthyophthirius spp, analyses of the sequences showed 98–100% similarity to any of the global reference sequence of Ichthyophthirius in the GenBank. In the phylogenetic reconstruction, Iraqi isolates formed a distinct clade with considerable support of Ichthyophthirius, which is almost identical with Asian strains, albeit minor nucleotide variations which suggest lateral stability. Although the parasite has been documented in Cyprinus carpio and Carassius auratus, this study reports Ichthyophthirius spp. for the first time in Oreochromis aureus, Garra variabilis, and Oreochromis niloticus in Iraq. Conclusion: Molecular data in this study serve to confirm the presence of Ichthyophthirius spp. in the Iraqi freshwater system. This study also expands the number of documented hosts to several cyprinid and cichlid species. Findings of this study are important in the understanding of parasite ecology, transmission cycle, and the possible impacts of aquaculture of Iraq.