Heavy metal poisoning is a worldwide problem that is caused by different human industrial activities such as battery and painting manufacturing and occupational exposure of those working at petrol stations. Wastewater is known to contain higher amounts of heavy metals such as lead (Pd) and cadmium (Cd) and might be sources of exposure for workers at the wastewater treatment plant. However, to our best knowledge, no studies were done to evaluate the level of cadmium and lead in blood of workers at wastewater treatment plants and evaluate the subsequent effect of lead and cadmium on delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (δ-ALAD), urinary delta-aminolevulinic acid (Uδ-ALA), and 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) as markers of lead and cadmium toxicity. In this case-control study, 79 workers at the Al-Rustumiya wastewater plant in Baghdad, Iraq, and 40 control subjects were included. The levels of lead and cadmium were measured in blood of the study subjects using the atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) method. 8-OHdG was analysed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. δ-ALAD and Uδ-ALA were estimated using spectrophotometry-based methods. Our work showed that workers had a significantly higher level of lead and cadmium when compared with the control group (P<0.05), yet, still within the World Health Organization permissible limit. The level of both metals was positively associated with duration of work at the plant (P<0.01). The activity of δ-ALAD was inversely associated with the lead level, while both Uδ-ALA and 8-OHdG were positively correlated with the lead level (P<0.05). These three markers lacked any statistically significant association with the cadmium level (P>0.05). To sum up, working at the wastewater treatment plant was associated with a higher blood level of lead and cadmium and their possible health hazard. Health and occupational safety authorities are required to set up tighter regulations and protocols to minimize these hazards and ensure a safe working environment.

Polycystic syndrome (PCOS) is a considerable infertility disorder in adolescents and adult women in reproductive age. Obesity is a vigorous risk factor related to POCS.  This study aims to evaluate the association of obesity and PCOS by investigating several parameters including:  anthropological, biochemical (lipid profile, fasting blood sugar, glucose tolerance test, and hormone levels (LH, FSH, LH/FSH ratio, Estradiol2 and Testosterone),and genetic parameters (Fat mass and Obesity associated gene (FTO) polymorphism at rs17817449) in 63 obese and non-obese PCOS women. The biochemical tests were investigated by colorimetric methods while FTO gene polymorphism was detected by PCR–RFLP.  Lipid profile, FBS, GTT, hormones (LH, LH/FSH ratio) in obese PCOS patients were significantly higher than non-obese non PCOS patients. It was found that the FTO variant TT risk genotype is a predisposing factor to obesity but not for PCOS. The study substantiated a possible familial risk factor for developing obesity among women in the same family.

Two genuses of imported nuts (Turkish Hazelnut and Uzbek Walnut) were examined for their nutritional and mineral contents. It was found that the percentages on dry weight basis of total ash, proteins, lipids, total carbohydrates, reducing sugars, crude fiber, total phenolic compounds, free phenolic compounds, tannins(g/100g) and ascorbic acid (mg/100g) for the hazelnut were 1.

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) stands for highly prevalent female endocrine pathology. Females suffering from PCOS have a significantly higher number of inflammatory markers. The IL-1 family members enormously affect the innate immune system. Objectives: Study the changes in the levels of Interleukin- 1ß and Interleukin- 27 in the stimulated and non-stimulated cycle (by gonadotrophin) in polycystic ovarian syndrome women. Methods: Fifty-eight infertile women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have been included in this research article. Twenty-nine of them did not undergo ovulation induction (OI) protocols, while the other twenty-nine were under ovulation induction (OI) therapy. Interleukin-1ß and Interleukin -27 measured in both groups, in the stimulated cycle just prior to administration of HCG and on the second day of the menstrual cycle in the non-stimulated females. Results: Both interleukins have been significantly more significant in the ovulation stimulated group than the non-stimulated one, with P-value of (0.04) for Interleukin -1ß and (0.02) for interleukin-27. Conclusion: The ovulation processes involve an increase in the inflammatory process, as demonstrated by the rise in these interleukins' levels. This increase is more prominent in the process of ovulation induction.

Background: Anemia is a common finding in patients with renal failure disease and it is, primarily, due to reduced production of iron and erythropoietin. Therefore, the aim of current study was to evaluate the relationship between serum level of hepcidin 25, on the one hand, and levels of serum iron, total iron-binding capacity, serum erythropoietin and transferrin saturation% in Iraqi male patients undrgoning haemodialysis.. Methods: Serum from75 males in the end stage of hemodialysis, as group one, and 25 Iraqi healthy malecontrols, as group two, were recruited in this study. Results: Data from current study showed significant increase in hepcidin 25 and significant decrease in serum iron, total iron-binding capacity, transferrin saturation % and erythropoietin in group one as a compered with group two. In addition, current study showed non-significant positive and negative correlations between hipcidin 25 and serum iron, transferrin saturation%, total iron-binding capacity and erythropoietin. Conclusion: Patients with end-stage renal disease need to take iron supplements to correct iron-deficiency anaemia that probably results from elevated hepcidin 25 levels in those patients.