Al-Farabi College

Background/Objectives: Diabetes is major metabolic disorder and rapidly increasing public health problem globally. The greatest way to reduce diabetic complications is adequate knowledge about the condition. Hence, the primary objectives of this study were to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Simplified Diabetes Knowledge Test-Arabic version (SDKT-A) among Iraqi insulin-dependent diabetic patients. Additionally, the secondary objectives were to assess the associated independent variables and the risk of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular risk event by using atherogenic indices and lipid ratios with the SDKT-A. Methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted in primary healthcare clinics. The SDKT was translated into Arabic using forward-backward translation, reconciliation, and pilot testing. Thereafter, psychometric properties of the SDKT-A were evaluated depending on different criteria. Atherogenic indices of Castelli risk indices I and II (CRI-I and II), triglyceride/HDL ratio, non-HDL-C ratio, atherogenic coefficient (AC), and triglyceride-total cholesterol-body weight index (TCBI) were calculated using specific formulas. Results: The SDKT-A questionnaire showed acceptable readability and validity. Cronbach's alpha test (95% confidence interval) was 0.662 (0.59-0.73). The Pearson correlation coefficient of reliability for test-retest was found to be 0.659. The item difficulty index for most items was between 0.237 and 0.877. The point biserial correlation values ranged from 0.028 to 0.535 with Ferguson's sigma value equal to 0.962. The content validation results showed a significant content validity ratio (CVR) value for most of the questions, ranging from 0.8 to 1. The content validity index (CVI) value for SDKT-A was found to be 0.98, which showed good agreement between experts. In addition, the exploratory factor analysis with promax rotation identified four domains for the final 20 items of the SDKT-A that explained 41.83% of the scale total variance. The mean score of the SDKT-A was 11.09 ± 3.40. The total score of the SDKT-A was positively and significantly correlated with education level (r = 0.322, p < 0.01). In addition, the total scores of the SDKT-A were negatively and significantly correlated with glycemic control, age, CRI-I, CRI-II, triglyceride/HDL ratio, AC, non-HDL-C ratio, and TCBI. Furthermore, the glycemic control (HbA1c) was positively and significantly correlated with the preventive measures factor (r = 0.175, p < 0.05), and were negatively and significantly correlated with the lifestyle and modification factor (r = -0.169, p < 0.05), diet and monitoring factor (r = -0.158, p < 0.05), and awareness factor (r = -0.149, p < 0.05). Conclusions: This study showed acceptable psychometric properties for the SDKT-A, with low levels of knowledge of diabetic disease in the sample population. Finally, comprehensive and interactive educational programs regarding lifestyle and modification, diet, and monitoring and awareness in primary healthcare centers in Iraq are warranted.

(1) Background: Gastroretentive systems are an interesting option for enhancing the bioavailability of weak bases and poorly soluble drugs. The aim of this study was to formulate supramolecular organogels based on cinnarizine (CIN) as a potential gastroretentive system. (2) Methods: The organogels were prepared with different oils in different ratios. Thereafter, their pharmaceutical characteristics and in vitro gastric retention were evaluated through in vitro and in silico simulations. (3) Results: Organogels with different proportions of CIN to oils were successfully obtained. The DSC thermal analysis results demonstrated that all organogels showed gel-sol temperature transitions. The frequency sweep test verified that all organogels presented frequency-independent behavior. Optical imaging revealed longitudinal spherulites of the 1:4 CIN in organogels in all oils. The CIN organogels in all oils (1:4) were observed to float in gastric media during the entire release study. The pharmacokinetic parameters of CIN in peppermint oil (1:4) revealed a close Cmax value to that of the 25 mg immediate-release tablet, but a different AUC. (4) Conclusions: The organogels in all oils floated throughout the release study, establishing their potential as a gastroretentive system. Furthermore, these dosage forms were assessed as a gastric-controlled system through in silico simulations, which enabled prediction of their pharmacokinetic parameters.

The present study aimed to evaluate the insecticidal efficacy of alkaloid extracts from Duranta repens fruits at concentrations of 4%, 6%, and 8% against different developmental stages of the southern cowpea beetle (Callosobruchus maculatus) under laboratory conditions. The tested stages included eggs, last instar larvae, and pupae at 24 and 120 h of age. The 8% alkaloid extract exhibited the highest ovicidal activity, achieving 100% egg mortality, compared to 60% mortality at the 4% concentration. Similarly, the 8% concentration induced the highest larval mortality (82%) in the last instar stage, significantly outperforming the lower concentrations. Pupae treated at 24 h old with the 8% extract recorded a 93% mortality rate, while 120-h-old pupae showed a reduced mortality rate of 77% at the same concentration. In contrast, the 4% extract resulted in 68% and 60% mortality for 24- and 120-h-old pupae, respectively. Furthermore, the 8% alkaloid extract was most effective in protecting stored cowpea seeds, recording the lowest seed loss (6.55%) after six months of storage, compared to the 4% and 6% treatments. The study also demonstrated that seed germination was not adversely affected by any treatment across all evaluation periods (1 day, 90 days, and 180 days). Overall, the 8% alkaloid extract of D. repens fruits proved to be the most effective concentration in controlling C. maculatus and preserving seed viability during storage.

Iraqi Cordia myxa known as Bumber, belongs to the family Boraginaceae. It contains diverse phytochemicals depending on the plant part used. Different parts of Cordia myxa show different phytochemicals with various pharmacological effects. The study aims to evaluate and compare the extract yields, total polyphenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) of extracts obtained by optimized ultrasound-assisted extraction and conventional extraction and assess their activity against L. tropica promastigotes, responsible for cutaneous leishmaniasis in Iraq. Preliminary phytochemical investigation revealed that Iraqi Bumber leaf extract contains saponin, alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, coumarins and phenolics. The optimum conditions for the highest extract yield were 15 min, 70 % and 40 kHz. The extract yield percentage obtained by ultrasound-assisted extraction was higher than that of conventional extraction methods at 14.8 % and 6.93 % of dry extract respectively. The TFC and TPC of the optimized extract were 4 and 3.5 times higher than the extract obtained by a conventional method, respectively. Moreover, the current study revealed that promastigote inhibition by Iraqi Bumber leaf extract acquired by optimized ultrasound-assisted extraction was 89 % with IC50 38.98 μg/mL. In comparison, inhibition by the extract obtained by the conventional extraction method was 75 % with an IC50 of 46.81 μg/mL. For the first time, the TFC and TPC of the Iraqi plants were determined, along with their anti-leishmanial activities. The Iraqi plant may be a potential antileishmanial drug or be used as an adjuvant with conventional antileishmanial treatments to increase their effectiveness, decrease side effects and shorten the treatment period.

Penelitian ini bertujuan menganalisis penyebab, tanda-tanda, serta langkah penanganan efektif terhadap kesulitan belajar siswa MTs Negeri 2 Pangandaran. Metode yang digunakan adalah deskriptif kualitatif dengan wawancara mendalam bersama guru BK sebagai teknik utama pengumpulan data, didukung studi pustaka sebagai referensi tambahan. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa kesulitan belajar disebabkan faktor internal, seperti rendahnya konsentrasi dan motivasi, serta faktor eksternal, seperti lingkungan belajar yang kurang mendukung. Gejalanya terlihat dari penurunan prestasi, kesulitan fokus, dan emosi tidak stabil. Penanganan dilakukan melalui komunikasi efektif antara guru dan siswa, metode pembelajaran variatif, bimbingan individu dan kelompok, serta kolaborasi dengan orang tua dan pihak terkait. Penelitian ini diharapkan dapat menjadi acuan dalam merancang solusi yang lebih efektif untuk mengatasi kesulitan belajar siswa.

The present study was carried out to investigate in-vitro antibacterial activity of aqueous extract of Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) fruit against Escherichia coli isolated from urinary tract infection. The present study included two experiment; the first one is isolate and identify of E. coli; the second experiment include study in-vitro antibacterial activity of aqueous extract of Cranberry, consisting two steps, the first step involved collection of Cranberry fruit then they were identified and then squeezed by an electric mixer to obtain the aqueous extract. The fruit extract then dried. The second step was to study the in vitro antibacterial activity of Cranberry aqueous extract including minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against E. coli used as reference antibiotics. The yielding percentage of Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) fruit extract was (30%). The in-vitro antibacterial study showed the Cranberry aqueous extract was more effective than Gentamicin against E.coli, this organism was quite resistant to Ciprofloxacin. It could be concluded however that Cranberry aqueous extract was more effective in comparison with the standard antibacterial agent, and that the antibacterial activity of Cranberry aqueous extracts against urinary tract infection may be attributed to its essential particularly the important phenolic compound (Proanthocyanidin).

وفقا ل (سبمسون 2004:6) فان علم الأصوات هو دراسة أصوات الكلام التي تنقل نغمة المعنى وتوصيل المعنى في مواقف سياقية معينة فان التنغيم هو التنوع في نبرة الصوت أثناء الكلام. تم اختيار الفيلمين ملفيسنت والسيدة داوتفاير.لإظهار التنغيم بشكل مختلف. تظهر النغمة في كلا الفيلمين معان مختلفة في مواقف مختلفة. كل فيلم له نوعه ونوع التشويق الخاص به لذلك يتم قياس التنغيم باستخدام برنامج (برات) الذي يصف درجة الصوت بشكل دقيق في المواقف وبالتالي يظهر التنغيم في نظام (برات) المعاني في الأفلام في سياقات ومواقف معينة. يسعى هذا البحث الى تحقيق الأهداف التالية: 1. التحقق من التنغيم في بعض المقتطفات من الأفلام الأمريكية المختارة. 2- يصف مقاصد كل نغمة صاعدة وهبوطية في المقتطفات. 3- إنتاج الصفات الصوتية والخطابية والنفسية المتضمنة في هذه النغمات. لتحقيق الأهداف المذكورة أعلاه تم إنتاج الفرضيات التالية: 1. استخدام استراتيجيات صوتية مختلفة من قبل صانعي الأفلام لاستخدام التنغيم. تشير الفرضيات المذكورة أعلاه الى المواقف النفسية التي يمر بها الممثل اثناء الكلام بما يتوافق مع تمثيلات المواقف. الاجراءات 2. تُستخدم الاستراتيجيات المذكورة أعلاه للاشارة إلى المواقف النفسية للممثلين المتوافقة مع التمثيلات الظرفية. استخدمت الإجراءات التالية للفرضيات المذكورة أعلاه: (1) اظهار التنغيم باستخدام برنامج (برات) الذي يسهل وصف الميزات الصوتية. (2) إنتاج مصطلحات التنغيم لبيان التأثيرات الخطابية والنفسية والصوتية المحددة وفقًا لتحليل مقتطفات قليلة من الأفلام المذكورة أعلاه. نستنتج مما سبق أن الفرضيات المذكورة أعلاه صحيحة لأن هذا الاستنتاج يوضح أن التنغيم يلعب دورًا محوريًا في كلا الفلمين لإنتاج حالة نفسية معينة ومعان معينة في سياق معين يوضحه التنغيم المذكور وبذلك يختلف التنغيم المستخدم في كلا الفيلمين من حيث انواع الافلام والسياقات والوظائف والأهداف والمعاني. مصطلحات مفتاحية التنغيم النغمة الاهتزازية برنامج (برات) الصوتي معلومات صوتية التأثير التواصلي