Background: Dermatophytosis is common superficial fungal infection worldwide which involve keratinized tissues including skin, hair and nails. Direct diagnostic approaches based on potassium hydroxide (KOH) microscopy and fungal culture have many limitations, mainly sensitivity and longer turnaround time. Direct polymerase chain reaction (PCR) recently became a rapid and sensitive diagnostic tool. Objective: To assess the diagnostic performance of Direct PCR in identifying dermatophytes and compare it with conventional methods. Methods: A Cross-sectional analytical study conducted from clinical samples of 100 patients suspected with dermatophytosis. All samples received KOH examination, fungal cultures and Direct PCR. Direct PCR have been evaluated against the fungal culture as a golden standard. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) and 95% confidence intervals were calculated. Statistical significance was determined by McNemar’s test. Results: Direct PCR showed a detection rate of 70% compared to the fungal culture and KOH microscopy (40% and 25% respectively). The sensitivity and specificity of Direct PCR was 87.5% (95% confidence interval:73.2–95.8) and 41.7% (95% confidence interval:30.0–54.2), respectively. The PPV and NPV were 50.0% and 83.3%, respectively. Surgery for cardiovascular or hematologic indications to restore physiological functions in patients. There was a statistically significant difference between Direct PCR and fungal culture (p < 0.001). ROC curve analysis showed AUC approximately 0.65. The highest infection rate was observed in children aged less than 10 years, with the scalp being the most commonly affected site. Conclusions: that direct PCR is a highly sensitive diagnostic method which allows rapid detection compared to conventional methods and improves the early diagnosis of dermatophytosis. Despite a relatively low specificity as compared with culture of fungi, this could be due to the shortcomings of culture as a reference standard. Hence, can be useful to screen the patients effectively. Diagnostic algorithms are potentially useful tools and warrant additional refinement and implementation into standard clinical practice to increase diagnostic accuracy and optimize patient care.

One of the most widely used herbicides in the world, glyphosate, has contaminated waterways, posing a threat to both human health and the environment. The effectiveness of Lemna sp. (duckweed) in removing glyphosate (GLY) from contaminated aquatic medium in a lab setting is examined in this study. Plants were taken from the Diyala River in Iraq and placed on Schenk and Hildebrandt (SH) medium. After being treated with varying concentrations of glyphosate (25–150 mgl−1), growth parameters, chlorophyll contents (a, b total), and the effectiveness of glyphosate removal were measured after seven and fifteen days. Using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) to Determine Residual Glyphosate. The glyphosate residue levels were ascertained using this technique. According to the results, after 15 days, Lemna sp. had a maximum clearance effectiveness of 87% at 75 mg/L. Chlorophyll content increased dramatically at low concentrations (50–75 mg L-1), indicating metabolic adaptability and potential glyphosate phosphorus utilization. Lemna sp. exhibits faster recovery and greater resistance to glyphosate in comparison to other phytoremediation plants, such as Cicer arietinum and Eichhornia crassipes. According to these results, duckweed may be an effective, affordable, and eco-friendly substitute for glyphosate-polluted aquatic systems.

The dumping of the raw municipal sewage in the Tigris River in Baghdad is also a major danger to the aquatic organisms, especially fish, which forms the source of food and livelihood of the local people. The current research examined the effects of sewage effluent on the African sharptooth catfish, i.e. Clarias gariepinus, by comparing the samples in reference (upstream) and sewage-afflicted (downstream) locations across a 15 kilometre stretch of the Tigris River near the Baghdad Medical City Complex. Water quality analysis revealed significantly elevated biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5 = 48–125 mg/L), chemical oxygen demand (COD = 85–215 mg/L), total suspended solids (TSS = 156–412 mg/L), and heavy metals (Pb: 0.35–0.78 mg/L; Cd: 0.12–0.31 mg/L; Zn: 1.2–3.8 mg/L) at impacted sites compared with reference sites (BOD5 = 4–8 mg/L; COD = 12–18 mg/L; TSS = 22–35 mg/L). The catfish in the sewage affected reaches showed a much lower condition factor (K = 0.85 ± 0.12 versus 1.24 ± 0.14, p < 0.001), high liver somatic index (LSI = 2.8 + 0.45 per cent versus 1.6 + 0.38 per cent, p < 0.001), and severe histopathological changes in the gills and liver, such as, epithelial hyperplasia, lamellar fusion, gill. Oxidative stress biomarkers indicated elevated lipid peroxidation (MDA: 18.5 ± 3.2 nmol/mg protein vs. 6.8 ± 1.5, p < 0.001) and depleted antioxidant defenses (reduced GSH: 15.3 ± 2.8 μmol/mg protein vs. 32.6 ± 4.1, p < 0.001) in livers of impacted fish. The indices of gill and liver lesions had positive significant correlations with biochemical oxygen demand (BOD; r = 0.78, p < 0.001) and heavy-metal concentrations (r = 0.72–0.81, p < 0.001). Those findings corroborate that continuous exposure to untreated sewage results in multisystemic pathology in catfish, and thus, affects the physiological fitness of catfish, and may lead to the loss of population viability. There should be urgent adoption of efficient wastewater treatment, strict effluent regulation as well as long-term monitoring of fish health in order to protect the Tigris River and human population relying on it.

Viral infections can have long-lasting immunological and neurological fingerprints, or so-called virial fingerprints. These effects are seen in behavioral changes, cognitive impairments and neurological disorders. This review provides a synthesis of the present state of the art focused on current evidence for how viruses interfere with the central nervous system (CNS) in terms of blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity, neuro-inflammation, neurotransmitter imbalances and vascular dysfunction. It also covers the clinical manifestations of brain fog, anxiety, and migraine and focus on management strategies for post-viral syndromes.

Background: Drug abuse is a chronic brain disorder affecting the dopaminergic system, characterized by a recurring cycle of intoxication and addiction. This study aimed to evaluate telomerase enzyme levels in drug users and their relationship to various demographic and health factors. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Drug and Psychotropic Substance Addiction Treatment Center in Kirkuk (Ministry of Interior). The study included 25 drug users of varying ages and backgrounds, all with pre-existing chronic conditions (diabetes, hypertension, and cancer), as well as 10 healthy individuals as a control group. .Blood samples were collected in yellow top blood tubes, centrifuged, and stored at -20°C. Telomerase enzyme levels were measured using ELISA. Results: 1- Socio-Demographic Characteristics. Type of Drug Used:- Our study results indicated that the majority of the sample (92%) used crystal meth, while the remaining percentages were distributed between marijuana and Lyrica to a lesser extent. Here, we note that the type of drug was not statistically significant in the distribution (p = 0.412). Marital and Method: Half of the sample (48%) was married, followed by single individuals (32%). Regarding place of residence, 80% of the participants lived in the city center, with limited geographical distribution in other governorates such as Baghdad, Duhok, Erbil, and Sulaymaniyah. 2- Associated Diseases of Addicts: The study revealed that the largest percentage of drug users suffered from hypertension (80%) among the sample, followed by diabetes. Statistically significant correlations (p = 0.032) were found regarding the distribution of these diseases among the sample, indicating that hypertension was the predominant characteristic in this group. Telomerase Enzyme Levels: When measuring telomerase enzyme levels, it was observed that diabetic patients had the highest average telomerase level (0.056531), while those with hypertension had an average level of 0.055248. The average enzyme level in healthy individuals was 0.054555. Conclusion: Our study demonstrates a significant correlation between crystal meth use and hypertension in most participants. Telomerase enzyme levels showed slight variations based on the type of pre-existing condition, with those with diabetes and hypertension exhibiting higher levels compared to healthy individuals in the study.

The coronavirus responsible for COVID‑19, SARS‑CoV‑2, was first identified in late 2019 and quickly spread globally, bringing about a severe public health emergency of international concern. This review summarizes genetic evolution, mutation mechanisms, epidemiology trends and the impact of virus on vaccine induced immunity. With RNA replication error, recombination, and selective pressures, these have resulted in the emergence of several variants of concern such as Delta and Omicron with increased transmissibility with partial immune escape. The millions of new cases and hundreds of thousands of deaths are well documented in global and Iraqi epidemiological data; Iraq claims more than two million confirmed COVID cases. Viral mutations, most notably in the spike protein, have affected vaccine effectiveness, but booster doses and updated vaccines have helped protect against severe disease. Integrating genomic, epidemiological and immunological data is needed to inform ongoing public health responses, adapt the vaccine for evolving variants and ensure preparedness for other viral threats in the future.

The increasing problem of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), specifically focusing on P. aeruginosa, underscores the need for new anti-pseudomonal compounds. This study uses cutting-edge computer-based strategies for the evaluation of the inhibitory activity of natural compounds Thymol, Curcumin, and Piperine (model polyphenols and alkaloids) on the DNA gyrase of bacteria, which is a well-proven target for antimicrobials, against a quinolone compound. Molecular docking studies were carried out using InstaDock v1.1.exe, calculating binding energies (ΔG), along with the study of biological pharmaceutical properties through the SWISS Drug Design platform (https://www.swissdrugdesign.org/), and toxicity studies using the GUSAR software portal (http://www.pharmaexpert.ru/gusar/). Docking studies reveal the order of compound interaction: Thymol > Curcumin > Quinolone > Piperine, where Thymol was the strongest binder at the ATP pocket of the target protein. However, the results of the analysis of the absorption, Distribution, Metabolization, and Excretion (ADME) of the compounds show that Curcumin is the compound with the highest Safety (LD50) but also exhibits several severe metabolic toxicity (3/5 CYP450 inhibition), also exhibited by Piperine. However, Thymol demonstrates the best metabolic profile, characterized by the absence of CYP inhibitions, high gastrointestinal absorption, and ease of diffusion through the blood-brain barrier. Overall, these studies clearly envisage Thymol for the prospective study for the first time, together with the requirement for specific modifications of Curcumin for overcoming the metabolic toxicity exhibited by the compound.