The impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2, or COVID-19) has been detrimental to human health, economy, and wellbeing. Little information is known on the epidemiology and outcome of the disease in a localized community within Iraq. We carried out an audit of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Kirkuk General Hospital. Data from the 20th of June to the 31st of July, 2020, were collected and analyzed. Suspected COVID-19 cases were confirmed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Data on clinical symptoms, age, and treatment protocols were analyzed concerning the outcome. Our study included a total of 200 individual confirmed COVID-19 patients. The majority of cases 55% (n = 110) displayed severe symptoms, while 32.5% (65 cases) and 12.5% (25 cases) of patients displayed moderate to mild symptoms, respectively. The rate of death in the referred patients was 5%. Most patients admitted to the hospital for treatment recovered and were discharged from the hospital within 5 to 30 days post-diagnosis. Statistical analysis revealed that patients treated with oseltamivir, hydroxychloroquine, and azithromycin in combination with vitamins C and D have shorter hospital stay compared to patients receiving the same therapeutic protocol in combination with steroids. Moreover, a higher mortality rate (4.5%) was observed in patients treated with oseltamivir, hydroxychloroquine, ceftriaxone, and steroids. This study highlights a significant relationship between age, secondary ailments, and the choice of medications as simple predictors of the outcome of COVID-19.

Several messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) and inactivated COVID-19 vaccines are available to the global population as of 2022. The acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine will play a key role in combating the worldwide pandemic. Public confidence in this vaccine is largely based on its safety and effectiveness. This study was designed to provide independent evidence of the adverse effects associated with COVID-19 vaccines among healthcare workers in Iraq and to identify the attitudes of healthcare workers who rejected the vaccination. We conducted a cross-sectional study to collect data on the adverse effects of the Pfizer, AstraZeneca, and Sinopharm vaccines. Data were collected between October 2021 and February 2022. A total of 2,202 participants were enrolled in the study: (89.97%) received injections of the COVID-19 vaccines and (10.03%) were hesitant to receive the vaccination. Participants received either the Pfizer vaccine (62.9%), AstraZeneca vaccine (23.5%) or Sinopharm vaccine (13.6%). Most adverse effects were significantly less prevalent in the second dose than in the first dose. Notably, the adverse effects associated with the Pfizer vaccine were significantly more prevalent in females than in males. Following the first dose, the participants experienced more adverse effects with the AstraZeneca vaccine. Following the second dose, more adverse effects were associated with the Pfizer vaccine. Interestingly, the prevalence of COVID-19 infection in participants who received two doses of the Pfizer vaccine was significantly reduced compared to those who received two doses of either the AstraZeneca or Sinopharm vaccines. According to vaccine-hesitated participants, insufficient knowledge (29.9%), expeditious development (27.6%) and lack of trust in the vaccines (27.1%) were the three major reasons for refusing the vaccines. The results of our study indicated that these adverse effects do not present a significant problem and should not prevent successful control of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In eucaryotes entry into and exit from mitosis is regulated, respectively, by the transient activation and inactivation of Cdk1. Taxol, an anti-microtubule anti-cancer drug, prevents microtubule-kinetochore attachments to induce Spindle Assembly Checkpoint (SAC, also known as the Mitotic Checkpoint)-activated mitotic arrest. SAC activation causes mitotic arrest by chronically activating Cdk1. One consequence of prolonged Cdk1 activation is cell death. However, the cytoplasmic signal(s) that link SAC activation to the initiation of cell death remain unknown. We show here that activated Cdk1 forms a complex with the pro-apoptotic proteins Bax and Bak during SAC-induced apoptosis. Bax and Bak-mediated delivery of activated Cdk1 to the mitochondrion is essential for the phosphorylation of the anti-apoptotic proteins Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL and the induction of cell death. The interaction between a key cell cycle control protein and key pro-apoptotic proteins identify the Cdk1-Bax and Cdk1-Bak complexes as the long-sought-after cytoplasmic signal that couple SAC activation to the induction of apoptotic cell death.

Progressive fibrosing interstitial lung diseases (PFILDs) cause substantial morbidity and mortality. Antifibrotic agents slow progression, but most of the clinical need remains unmet. The archetypal PFILD is idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Chronic progression is driven by transforming growth factor (TGF-)β1 signalling. It is punctuated by inflammatory flares known as acute exacerbations (AE-IPF), which are associated with accelerated decline and high mortality. We hypothesized that acute injury responses underlying exacerbations and the mechanisms of chronic fibrosis overlap at the molecular level, via a cell surface assembly nucleated by galectin-3 that we term the 'gal-3-fibrosome'. We focused upon a putative pro-inflammatory galectin-3 ligand, the CD98:integrin complex. Our data indicate CD98 and β1-integrin co-localise with galectin-3 within epithelial cells in IPF lung tissue, and within 40 nm in human lung tissue treated with TGF-β1 compared to controls. CD98 is required for interleukin (IL-)6 and IL-8 responses to biochemical and biophysical conditions mimicking stimuli of AE-IPF in vivo, ex vivo and in cells, and for an interstitial neutrophilic response in a mouse model. We demonstrate this pathway progresses via intracellular influx of Ca2+ mediated by TRPV4, and NF-κB activation, operating in positive feedback. Lastly we show the CD98- and galectin-3-dependence of IL-6 and IL-8 responses to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein receptor binding domain and the conservation of this response pattern between lung epithelial cells and monocyte-derived macrophages. Taken together our findings identify CD98 as a key mediator of both pro-fibrotic and acute inflammatory responses in the lung with relevance to AE- and chronic progression of IPF, and the priming of fibrotic lungs for acute inflammatory responses. They similarly implicate CD98 and galectin-3 as mediators of COVID pneumonitis and worse outcomes in ILD patients with COVID.

StepOnePlus Real-Time PCR machine. The extent of cytochrome c release was quantitated using immunofluorescence and apoptosis assessed using an Attune NxT flow cytometer. Gel filtration and immunoprecipitation experiments were performed according to standard protocols. Statistical analysis was performed using a two-way ANOVA with p values: * for p£0.05, ** for p£0.005 and *** for p£0.001. Results and discussions Employing a rapid DSF-based assay, we screened a panel of BH3 mimetics to identify that only S63845 and to a smaller extent, A-1210477, demonstrated enhanced binding to MCL-1 that correlated with a rapid, concentration-dependent apoptosis in relevant cell lines. At higher concentrations, S63845 also appeared to weakly bind BCL-2. Furthermore, S63845 synergized with other BH3 mimetics to induce apoptosis in several cancer cell lines. However, in the colorectal HCT-116 cells, BCL-X L -regulated apoptosis required all known BH3-only members, whereas apoptosis and cellular proliferation regulated by MCL-1 appeared to occur independently of all known BH3-only proteins. Conclusion The anti-apoptotic and cell survival roles of BCL-X L and MCL-1 could be distinct, as antagonising BCL-X L induced BH3-dependent apoptosis, whereas MCL-1 appeared to regulate apoptosis even in the absence of all known BH3-only proteins.

Background and objectives: : Hypertension has been reported as a possible sequela of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy. The aim was to determine, in a clinical trial, the effect of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) on blood pressure Methods: This study included 216 patients, aged (12-65) years, with asymptomatic renal stones that underwent ESWL in lithotripter unit/ Azadi teaching hospital -Kirkuk Province. Blood pressure was recorded randomly using a standardized protocol. Patients undergoing ESWL received a mean (±SD) of 3608.8 (±475.9) shocks over a mean (6.81) of sessions on one lithotripter. Patients were then followed-up by assessing their blood pressure. Data were analyzed on an intention to treatment basis. Results: At randomization (13.42) % of the study group were hypertensive. Of (320) patients referred to the study, (258) were recruited based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. A total of (216) patients (83 % of patients included) completed follow up, (137) (63.42%) were male and (79) (36.57%) were female. The mean follow-up period was (15.03) months. In the present study there was no association between mean diastolic and systolic blood pressure before and after ESWL. Conclusion: : In the present study there was no evidence that ESWL causes changes in BP. More randomized control trials are needed to demonstrate the relationship between ESWL and hypertension.

Controlling the pandemic is primarily achieved through vaccination against COVID-19. Although various COVID-19 vaccines are used worldwide, little is known about their safety and side effects. As a result, the objectives of this research are to identify the shortterm side effects of the different COVID-19 vaccines used in Iraq. Furthermore, exploring the association between experienced side effects and the brand of vaccine received. The current study evaluated the shortterm side effects of Pfizer, Sinopharm and AstraZeneca vaccines among healthcare workers in Iraq. The study used a questionnaire that consisted of dedicated sections to collect demographic data, the brand of COVID-19 vaccine received, the short-term side effects, and the willingness to receive a third booster dose. Regarding the post-vaccination side effects, the studied COVID-19 vaccines showed a comparable range of side effects, such as headaches, fever, muscle pain, joint pain, malaise, tenderness, redness, as well as pain at the site of vaccination. However, the Pfizer vaccine showed a higher incidence of pain and tenderness at the site of injection and fever compared to AstraZeneca and Sinopharm, respectively. On the other hand, the Sinopharm vaccine was associated with a higher occurrence of headaches, muscle pain, joint pain, and malaise in comparison to the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines, respectively. In summary, the short-term side effects of the three vaccines were comparable; however, the AstraZeneca vaccine was associated with a lower risk of side effects.

Background and objectives: Male Infertility is often caused by problems with sperm production or motility. Zinc in human semen seems to play an important role in the physiology of spermatozoa .This study was designed to demonstrate the relationships between concentrations of zinc and testosterone in serum and seminal plasma and sperm quality among infertile men. Methods: One hundred four infertile males, aged (19-44) years, were selected from Infertile Clinic-Azadi Teaching Hospital- Kirkuk Province. Forty known fertile males were selected as normospermic control group. Semen samples were analyzed according to WHO criteria. Serum and seminal plasma zinc concentrations were estimated by atomic absorption technique. Serum testosterone was measured by MiniVIDAS apparatus. Results: The mean value of serum testosterone was significantly lower in infertile males (4.87±0.15 ng/ml) as compared to control group (6.41±0.16 ng/ml); (P< 0.01), significant correlations were observed between serum testosterone with seminal plasma zinc level in oligospermic subjects (r=0.44) and with serum zinc level in azoospermic subjects (r=0.37), (P< 0.01); (P< 0.05) respectively. Serum and seminal plasma zinc levels were lower in infertile men (7.75±0.18 µmol/L); (0.83±0.02 mmol/L) when compared with normospermic control group (14.09±0.27 µmol/L); (1.41±0.01 mmol/L) respectively (p<0.01), Conclusion: Zinc may contribute to fertility through its positive effect on spermatogenesis. Also there was significant decrease in serum and seminal plasma zinc levels in oligospermic and azoospermic infertile males with significantly low androgen. It indicates that the zinc may have a role for steroidogenesis.