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A 28-year-old non smoker male who had undergone kidney transplantation and has been taking immunosuppressive drug for the last 15 months was presented to the Hospital of Special Surgery/Baghdad with low grade fever, productive cough, shortness of breath, purulent sputum and bilateral chest crepitation. Laboratory investigations showed low Hb percentage (11.9%) with normal blood urea and creatinine (42 mg/ dL and 0.9 mg/ dL respectively). Chest x-ray revealed homogenous shadow. Initial antibiotic and anti-tuberculosis therapy was not helpful. Laboratory examination of sputum indicated the causative agent was Nocardia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study introduces a novel, cost-effective, and rapid method for identifying hemorrhage or leakage sites following postoperative deaths, a critical aspect in the context of medical malpractice litigation. The technique employs diluted ink as an injectable dye, providing an alternative to postmortem contrast imaging. The utility of this method was demonstrated through a series of three cases. In the first case, the technique successfully detected leaks within vascular structures. The second case revealed a leakage in the cystic duct, while in the third case, the method was instrumental in identifying a leak in a hollow organ situated below the gastro-esophageal junction. Given its demonstrated efficacy, this technique has been incorporated into routine practice by the forensic pathologist in the medicolegal directorate in Baghdad, Iraq., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

A database for the Iraqi Sorani Kurds, specifically focused on the 12 X-short tandem repeat (STR) loci, has been developed to fascilitate forensic and population genetics investigations. The present study involved genotyping 117 unrelated individuals from the Sorani Kurds ethnic group using the Investigator Argus X-12 QS kit. The analysis revealed that the DXS10135 locus exhibited the highest degree of polymorphism, as indicated by a polymorphism information content (PIC) value of 0.94565 and a gene diversity (GD) value of 0.95623. Conversely, the DXS8378 locus displayed the lowest level of polymorphism, with a PIC value of 0.61026 and a GD value of 0.68170. Notably, two individuals were found to possess a rare allele (allele = 6) at the DXS8378 locus, which was not included in the allelic ladder of the kit. Furthermore, a significant linkage disequilibrium (LD) (p < 0.05/117) was observed between the DXS10103 and DXS10101 loci on linkage group 3 (LG3). The ancestral composition of the five primary geographic regions, namely Africa, Middle East, East Asia, Europe, and South America, was determined through the utilization of the [Formula: see text] ratio. The findings of this analysis revealed that the Middle Eastern populations exhibited the lowest [Formula: see text] ratio, measuring at 0.23243, indicating a relatively lower ancestral diversity. Conversely, the European populations showcased the highest [Formula: see text] ratio, measuring at 0.27122, indicative of a greater ancestral diversity within this region. Additionally, the allelic richness indicators, namely distinctive and private alleles, indicated that Africa and the Middle East displayed the highest levels, while Far East Asia exhibited the lowest. This analysis supports the hypothesis of repeated founder effects during outward migrations, as evidenced by both the ancestry variability and the allelic richness. Consequently, the findings of this study have important implications for forensic genetics and population genetics research, particularly in relation to the consideration of genetic predispositions within specific ethnic groups., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2023 M. Albarzinji et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

The Y-chromosome has been widely used in forensic genetic applications and human population genetic studies due to its uniparental origins. A large database on the Qatari population was created for comparison with other databases from the Arabian Peninsula, the Middle East, and Africa. We provide a study of 23 Y-STR loci included in PowerPlex Y23 (Promega, USA) that were genotyped to produce haplotypes in 379 unrelated males from Qatar, a country at the crossroads of migration patterns. Overall, the most polymorphic locus provided by the Promega kit was DYS458, with a genetic diversity value of 0.85 and a haplotype diversity of 0.998924. Athey's Haplogroup Predictor tool was used to predict haplogroups from Y-STR haplotypes in the Qatari population. In a median-joining network, the haplogroup J1 predominance (49%) in Qatar generated a star-like expansion cluster. The graph of population Q-matrix was developed using Y-STR data from 38 Middle Eastern and 97 African populations (11,305 individuals), and it demonstrated a stronger sub-grouping of countries within each ethnic group and showed the effect of Arabs on the indigenous Berbers of North Africa. The estimated migration rate between the Qatari and other Arabian populations was inferred using Bayesian coalescence theory in the Migrate-n program. According to the Gene Flow study, the main migration route was from Yemen to Kuwait through Qatar. Our research, using the PowerPlex Y23 database, shows the importance of gene diversity, as well as regional and social structuring, in determining the utility of demographic and forensic databases., Competing Interests: NO authors have competing interests., (Copyright: © 2023 Almohammed et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Background: The study of hymen morphology and injuries is critical in forensic medicine, particularly in Iraq and other Asian countries. Problems with the hymen can have serious social consequences., Aim of the Study: The aim of this study is to shed light on various hymen's variants, as well as the possible causes of their injuries and their medicolegal significance., Method: This study was carried out at Baghdad's medico-legal directorate (M.L.D.) from January 1st to March 31st, 2017. There were 127 cases in total. They ranged in age from two to sixty. The morphology of the hymens, their injuries, and other relevant details were documented using a specific questionnaire., Results: Compared to other varied examinations undertaken, such as infertility, impotence, and others, the examination of the hymen made up (5.1%) of all examinations conducted in the Medico-Legal Directorate (M.L.D.) clinic in Baghdad. The majority of the women tested were over the age of 14. The annular hymen was the most common variant (57.3%). The elastic hymens percentage was 14.6% while the Imperforated variant had the lowest prevalence (0.8%). The majority of the properties of the examined hymens were smooth free edge, medium consistency, and medium sized hymen opening. The majority of the cases involved female children (prepubertal girls) who were accidently injured, followed by sexual assaults and wedding night doubts. The majority of hymen tears (40.2%) were old. Multiple tears (47.5%) outnumbered single tears (37.3%). Fresh tears were only observed in adult girls., Conclusion: The annular variant of the smooth free edge, average consistency, and average hole size is the most common hymens. The elastic hymens were a main reason for the referral of cases for medical examination due to wedding night doubts. In more than half of the cases, the hymens were smooth with no transection or deep notches., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Background: The Kurds as an ethnic group are believed to be a combination of earlier Indo-European tribes who migrated and inhabited a mountainous area thousands of years ago. However, as it is difficult to describe the precise history of their origin, it is necessary to investigate their population relationship with other geographical and ethnic groups., Results: Seventeen Short Tandem Repeat markers on the Y chromosome (Y-STR) included in the AmpFLSTR™ Yfiler™ PCR Amplification Kit (Thermo Fisher Scientific, USA) were used to type DNA samples from the Sorani (Central) Kurdish population in Sulaymaniyah province. One hundred fifty-seven haplotypes were obtained from 162 unrelated male individuals. The highest and lowest gene diversities were DYS385a/b (GD = 0.848) and DYS392 (GD = 0.392), respectively. The haplotypes were used to predict the most likely haplogroups in the Sulaymaniyah population., Conclusion: Haplogroup prediction indicated predominance (28%) of subclade J2 (44/157) in the Sorani Kurds, northeast of Iraq. The pairwise genetic distance results showed that the Kurdish group clustered along with Asian populations, whereas the furthest countries were Europeans and Africans., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Gypsies are a separate ethnic group living in Pakistan and some other countries as well. They are mostly known as 'Roma' and 'untouchables'. They have different types of lifestyles as compared to other common people, as they always keep migrating from one place to another. They do not have proper houses; they live in tent houses and most probably work on daily wages to earn their living. Gypsies cannot be specified according to the place of residence and can only be classified according to their migration route. Previous historical and linguistic research showed the north Indian origin of Roma people. The present study collected 285 unrelated Roma individuals living in Punjab and typed with the Goldeneye Y20 system. Allelic frequencies ranged between 0.0035 and 0.5266, with haplotype diversity (HD) of 0.9999 and discrimination capacity (DC) of 0.8790. Gene diversity (GD) ranged from 0.6489 (DYS391) to 0.9764 (DYS391) (DY385ab). A total of 223 unique alleles were observed. Interestingly, the haplogroup R accounted for 40.56% and J for 22.06%. In MDS analysis, Pakistani Roma formed a close cluster with Roma from Constanta, Romania. The migration pattern of the Roma population from Pakistan, India and Europe was inferred using coalescence theory in the Migrate-n program. Overlapping Y-STR data were used to test different migration models. These migration models showed us the dominant gene flow from Pakistan to India and Europe to Pakistan. The results of our study showed that Y STRs provided substantially stronger discriminatory power in the Pakistani Roma population.

Objective: The aim: To find out the frequency of WU and KI polyomaviruses, and Human Boca and Adenoviruses infections among children with different types of acute upper respiratory tract infections and to compare the frequency of these viruses among immune-competent and immune compromised patients., Patients and Methods: Materials and methods: A case-control study conducted in children aged 3-18 years with acute upper respiratory tract infections. The samples were taken from: Group 1: 100 immuno competent children with acute upper respiratory tract infections. Group 2: 100 immuno compromised children (Leukemic, cancer, Nephrotic syndrome, chronic renal failure and children with renal transplant) with acute upper respiratory tract infections. Group 3: 100 apparently healthy children without respiratory infections as control group. Nasal swap samples were collected from children and then viral DNA extracted from these samples. Then detection of WU, KI polyomaviruses HBoV and HAdv was done by using real time PCR., Results: Results: All of 300 samples were negative for WU and KI polyomaviruses. However, human Bocavirus was detected in the three groups (immunocompromised, immunocompetent and control group) and the positivity rates were 61.61%, 37.37% and 18.18%, respectively. While human adenovirus was found only in 2% of immunocompromised patients and 1.1% of immunocompetent patients also there were cases positive for both HBoV and HAdv in 5.5% of immunocompromised patients, and 8.8% of immunocompetent patients., Conclusion: Conclusions: High frequency of HBoV especially in immunocompromised patients while low number of positive cases for HAdv by using nasal swab samples, WU and KI polyomaviruses could not be detected in samples.

Y-STRs have emerged as important forensic and population genetic markers for human identification and population differentiation studies. Therefore, population databases for these markers have been developed for almost all major populations around the world. The Iraqi population encompasses several ethnic groups that need to be genetically characterised and evaluated for possible substructures. Previous studies on the Iraqi population based on Y-STR markers were limited by a restricted number of markers. A larger database for Iraqi Arab population needed to be developed to help study and compare the population with other Middle Eastern populations. Twenty-three Y-STR loci included in the PowerPlex Y23 (Promega, Madison, WI, USA) were typed in 254 males from the Iraqi Arab population. Global and regional Y-STR analysis demonstrated regional genetic continuity among the populations of Iraq, the Arabian Peninsula and the Middle East. The Iraqi Arab haplotypes were used to allocate samples to their most likely haplogroups using Athey's Haplogroup Predictor tool. Prediction indicated predominance (36.6%) of haplogroup J1 in Iraqi Arabs. The migration rate between other populations and the Iraqis was inferred using coalescence theory in the Migrate-n program. Y-STR data were used to test different out-of-Africa migration models as well as more recent migrations within the Arabian Peninsula. The migration models demonstrated that gene flow to Iraq began from East Africa, with the Levantine corridor the most probable passageway out of Africa. The data presented here will enrich our understanding of genetic diversity in the region and introduce a PowerPlex Y23 database to the forensic community.

A novel actinomycete strain designated CN-207(T) was isolated from northern Tunisian soil. This strain exhibited potent broad spectrum antibacterial activity against clinical isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus species and several other Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Strain CN-207(T) developed greyish aerial mycelium and pale grey substrate mycelium on yeast extract/malt agar. The isolate produced branching vegetative mycelia with sporangiophores bearing sporangia developing at a late stage of growth. The sporangia contained smooth, non-motile spores. Chemotaxonomic characteristics of strain CN-207(T) were typical of the Streptomyces genus. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain CN-207(T) belonged to the genus Streptomyces, and was most closely related to Streptomyces griseoincarnatus DSM 40274(T), Streptomyces variabilis DSM 40179(T), Streptomyces labedae DSM 41446(T) and Streptomyces erythrogriseus DSM 40116(T). Low DNA-DNA relatedness values were recorded between strain CN-207(T) and its closest phylogenetic neighbours. Strain CN-207(T) was also distinguished from the nearest phylogenetic neighbours using a combination of morphological and phenotypic characteristics. On the basis of its phenotypic and molecular properties, strain CN-207(T) is considered as a novel species of the Streptomyces genus, for which the name Streptomyces tunisiensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CN-207(T) (=JCM 17589(T) = DSM 42037(T)).

Streptomyces rimosus CN08 isolated from Tunisian soil produced 8.6 mg l(-1) of oxytetracycline (OTC) under submerged fermentation (SmF). Attempts were made for enhancing OTC production after irradiation-induced mutagenesis of Streptomyces rimosus CN08 with Co(60)-γ rays. 125 OTC-producing colonies were obtained after screening on kanamycin containing medium. One mutant called Streptomyces rimosus γ-45 whose OTC production increased 19-fold (165 mg l(-1)) versus wild-type strain was selected. γ-45 mutant was used for OTC production under solid-state fermentation (SSF). Wheat bran (WB) was used as solid substrate and process parameters influencing OTC production were optimized. Solid-state fermentation increased the yield of antibiotic production (257 mg g(-1)) when compared with submerged fermentation. Ammonium sulphate as additional nitrogen source enhanced OTC level to 298 mg g(-1). Interestingly, OTC production by γ-45 mutant was insensitive to phosphate which opens the way to high OTC production even in medium containing phosphate necessary for optimal mycelia growth.

The purpose of the present research is to study the production of thermophilic alkaline protease by a local isolate, Streptomyces sp. CN902, under solid state fermentation (SSF). Optimum SSF parameters for enzyme production have been determined. Various locally available agro-industrial residues have been screened individually or as mixtures for alkaline protease production in SSF. The combination of wheat bran (WB) with chopped date stones (CDS) (5:5) proved to be an efficient mixture for protease production as it gave the highest enzyme activity (90.50 U g(-1)) when compared to individual WB (74.50 U g(-1)) or CDS (69.50 U g(-1)) substrates. This mixed solid substrate was used for the production of protease from Streptomyces sp. CN902 under SSF. Maximal protease production (220.50 U g(-1)) was obtained with an initial moisture content of 60%, an inoculum level of 1 x 10(8) (spore g(-1) substrate) when incubated at 45 degrees C for 5 days. Supplementation of WB and CDS mixtures with yeast extract as a nitrogen source further increased protease production to 245.50 U g(-1) under SSF. Our data demonstrated the usefulness of solid-state fermentation in the production of alkaline protease using WB and CDS mixtures as substrate. Moreover, this approach offered significant benefits due to abundant agro-industrial substrate availability and cheaper cost.

Various strains of Escherichia coli, isolated from different patients, were screened for type II restriction endonuclease activity. In 1 out of 23 patients, a type II restriction endonuclease activity was found. The restriction endonuclease designated Eco1524I was purified to near homogeneity, based on hydroxyapatite and heparin sepharose chromatography. Eco1524I exhibited endonuclease restriction activity in the pH range from 6.0 to 10.0 (maximum level at pH 8.0) and required Mg2+ as divalent cation. The enzyme was stable till temperature 55 degrees C and pH range from 6.0 to 10.0. Eco1524I recognized the sequence 6-bp palindromic 5'AGG downward arrow CCT 3', producing blunt end and is found to be an isoschizomer of Stu I.