ABSTRACT:Y chromosome micro-deletion (YCM) is a set of genetic diseases caused by missing gene (s) in specific regions of the Y chromosome. Many individuals with YCM show no manifestations and lead normal life. On the other hand, YCM is known to exist in a significant number of infertile males. Forty adult patients suffering from severe oligospermia and azoospermia were involved in the present study. Seminal fluid analyses were performed, and a blood sample was obtained for hormonal analysis and DNA extraction. Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) profiles were measured and those who are azoospermic with normal FSH levels were subjected to testicular biopsy. The results revealed that 23 patients were azoospermic while 17 patients were severe oligospermic. It is also shown that ten azoospermic patients had normal serum gonadotrophin levels thus they were directed for testicular biopsy. Histopathological examination of testicular biopsy showed that four patients had obstructive azoospermia while the remaining six suffered from maturation arrest. DNA was extracted according to the standard proteinase K/phenol-chloroform method in the medical biotechnology laboratory/Scientific Research Center/University of Duhok. Multiplex PCR was performed for genes located in the azoospermia factor (AZF) regions (AZFa, AZFb, and AZFc) to detect any possible micro-deletions. Y chromosome micro-deletions were determined in 26 patients out of a total of forty patients. Microdeletions in the AZFc sub-region appeared in 16 out of 26 patients (61.5 %), and 10 (38.5 %) samples showed AZFb, however, AZFa micro-deletion was not detected in any of the patients. In conclusion, it has been found that Y chromosome micro-deletions in the AZF region can be a determining factor for male infertility and the consequential manifestations.

Background and objective: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is very a well-documented nosocomial and opportunistic microorganism, a little challenge is being present with the identification of such pathogen. This study aimed to identify Pseudomonas on genus and species levels by conventional PCR and determine multi-drug resistant isolates. Methods: A total of 180 clinical isolates of Pseudomonas species were recovered from in and outpatients who attended Azadi and Rezgari Teaching hospitals in Duhok and Erbil city from October 2015 to May 2016. These isolates were phenotypically identified using standard microbiological procedures. A total of 100 isolates were randomly selected and confirmed at a molecular level as Pseudomonas spp. Results: By applying genus-specific gyr B2 primer which produced1130bp amplification band and sixty-eight isolates were identified by PCR as P. aueroginosa using species-specific primer for 16S rRNA region which showed 956bpamplicon. Forty-six isolates out of the sixty-eight resembling Pseudomonas aeruginosa were diagnosed as being multi-drug resistant isolates by the disc diffusion method. Conclusion: It can be concluded that multi-drug resistant isolates can pose a serious threat for the hospital-resident patients as increasing numbers of these isolates are being recorded in local settings.