A major benefit to nanomaterial based-medicine is the ability to provide nanosized vehicles for sporadic metabolites. Here, we describe how the conjugation of valuable ginseng secondary metabolites (ginsenoside Rb1 or Rg1) with carbon nanotubes (CNT) can enhance their anti-proliferative and anti-cancer effects. Ginsenoside-CNT conjugate (Rb-CNT or Rg-CNT) permitted the ginsenosides to be used at a low dose, yet achieve a higher incidence of cancer killing. We were able to demonstrate that the ginsenoside-CNT conjugate can decrease cell viability up to 62% in breast cancer cells (MCF-7) and enhance antiproliferation of drug-resistant pancreatic cancer cells (PANC-1) by 61%. The interaction of the ginsenoside-CNT conjugate with breast cancer cells was studied using Raman Spectroscopy mapping. Total transcriptome profiling (Affymetrix platform) of MCF-7 cells treated with the ginsenoside-CNT conjugate shows that a number of cellular, apoptotic and response to stimulus processes were affected. Therefore, our data confirmed the potential use of CNT as a drug delivery system.

Background: A variety of diarrheagenic E coli (DEC) are responsible for causing different types of diarrhea in children especially in developing courtiers. Objectives: This study was primarily aimed to isolate and bacteriological characterizing of E coli from diarrheic infant stool and to investigate their antibiotic resistance patterns and then using molecular identification of DEC pathotypes for better discrimination. Methods: Total of 400 fresh stools specimens were collected from children with diarrhea in Heevi Hospital in Duhok city, Iraq. The samples were cultured on selective media such as (MacConkey and MacConkey sorbitol agar). Colonies were identified through biochemical reaction and VITEK 2 system and then antibiotic susceptibility profiles were determined. Results: A total of 349(87.2%) samples were yielded positive for growth of E coli. Out of these, 50 phenotypically-identified E coli were then subjected to PCR assay targeting certain virulence factors (alt, eae, sxt1 and sxt2) for discrimination of pathotyes. 13/50(26%) Enterotoxigenix E. coli (ETEC) was detected, 5/50(10%) Enterohemorrhagic E coli EHEC was detected, while no Enteropathogenic E coli (EPEC) was detected. All pathotypes were more frequent in samples from male children aged between 2-3 years that were artificial feeding pattern. Moreover, all pathotypes expressed high resistant to ampicillin, cephalosporin and tetracycline while little resistance to imipenem was observed. Conclusion: The study concludes presence of diarrheagenic E coli pathotypes in our community causing diarrhea in children and emphasize on using of PCR assay for best discrimination.

The present study aims to investigate the seroprevalence rate of Toxoplasma gondii infection and its relation to some demographic factors among males in Duhok province/Iraq. A total of 424 random blood samples were collected from the male population of different ages (18-60) years and different social-economic classes. Out of 424 samples examined, 108 (25.47%) were seropositive to the anti- T. gondii antibodies; 88 (20.75%) were found seropositive for IgG, while 20 (4.72%) samples were seropositive for IgM. Regarding occupation, the highest percentage for chronic toxoplasmosis was reported in workers followed by policemen and pensioners at rates of 23.96%, 23.6%, and 23.07%, respectively. The age group 18-30 years showed the highest seropositive rate which was 26.6%; the seropositivity rate decreased with the increase of age. Regarding the blood groups, the highest percentage of IgG was reported in both O+ and B- groups, which were 23.2% and 23.1%, respectively. The higher rate of seropositivity was observed among married males (21.32%) as compared to unmarried males (19.05%) and fertile (22.3%) versus sterile males (12.5%). Concerning IgM antibodies, the highest seropositivity (9.4%) was reported in infertile males. The results of this study showed the importance of demographic factors to the epidemiology of T. gondii in males, which support the role of public health in the control of infectious diseases.

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Background: The need for ongoing treatment to manage immune-mediated inflammatory diseases is a challenge for health care providers, as there is always an attempt to achieve clinical remission as much as possible. Objective: This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of non-adherence to biological drugs and factors affecting it among patients in Duhok governorate-Iraq. Patients and Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted between December 2018 to October 2019 at the specialized center of rheumatic disease and medical rehabilitation in Duhok city. One hundred forty-four patients who lived in Duhok governorate out of 216 registered cases were included, each with the established disease for at least 12 months, and had been taking biological drugs (Etanercept, Infliximab, and Adalimumab) with or without conventional drugs for at least three months were involved in this study. Disease activity scales as appropriate to each disease were used, with using a medication adherence scale to assess the adherence to medications. Results: From the total of 144 patients included in this study, 134 (93.1%) of them were nonadherent compared to only 10 (6.9%) of patients who were adherent to medication intake. Significant associations existed between adherence to the medications and different factors. These factors with the corresponding percentages of non-adherence were as follows: age between 30-39 (34.3%), illiterate/ primary education (56.0%), unemployed (64.9%), no ability to buy biologic drugs (82.1%), etanercept users (71.6%) and (56.7%) were using biological drugs for less than four years. Conclusion and recommendation: With the existence of multiple factors effect on adherence to medications and due to the inconsistency of these factors, routine measurements of adherence to medications are essential in achieving the desired therapeutic goal.