Sirte University Scientific Journal

Evaluation of Heavy Metal Contamination in Water and Sediments of the Gulf of Tobruk, Eastern Libya: Implications for Human Health

Mohamed Masoud — 2025-06-25

Globally, contaminated water and sediment provide serious threats to human health and the environment. Aquatic ecosystems and sediments are impacted by pollutants that enter water bodies through municipal wastewater, industrial effluents, and agricultural runoff. Bioaccumulation and biomagnification result from the accumulation of heavy metals, herbicides, and industrial pollutants in sediments. Carcinogenic, neurotoxic, and reproductive effects are caused by human exposure by ingesting, inhalation, and skin contact. Eight samples were taken from four significant locations in the Gulf of Tobruk to assess the level of pollution in the area: four surface water samples and four sediment samples. Specific of the heavy metals, including Fe, Mn, Zn, Ni, Pb, and Cd, had their concentrations measured. The results showed that Zinc, iron, and cadmium levels in water were high, and all heavy elements—Fe, Mn, Zn, Ni, Pb, and Cd—were above the WHO allowable limit in both surface water and sediments. This provides an indication that the Gulf of Tobruk is totally contaminated, unsuitable for a variety of activity uses, and hazardous to human health.

Evaluation of the effect of wet cupping on blood pressure and some blood parameters in hypertensive patients in Sirte city.

Fatima Mohamed Makhlouf — 2025-06-25

Cupping is an olden method that is at this time used as an alternative treatment for a wide variety of medical conditions. It has traditionally been used in various cultures and popular treatment in Arab and Islamic countries to relieve pain, removing toxins, and improving blood circulation. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of wet cupping and to confirm its role in positively affecting patients with hypertension in some of their blood parameters. 18 samples of patients with hypertension, aged between 21-62 years (10 males and 8 females) who visited the Modern Medical Cupping Center in Sirte were used in this study. Samples were collected from December 23, 2023, to January 25, 2024. Blood samples were collected from the veins of patients before and after cupping (10 days after the cupping). Two blood samples were collected from each patient, and serum samples were tested for blood parameters and biochemical indicators, including hemoglobin (HGB), red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs), platelets (PLT), creatinine (CREA), urea (BU), triglycerides (TG), blood glucose (BG) and cholesterol (CHOL). Additionally, blood pressure measurements were also taken before and after cupping.
The results presented a decrease in both blood systolic and diastolic pressure after cupping in both males and females, with statistical significance observed in males. There was a significant decrease in urea, cholesterol, triglyceride, and blood sugar levels in male patients after cupping (P>0.05), but an increase in platelet count after cupping. In female patients, cholesterol and blood sugar levels also decreased compared to pre-cupping values, with a higher MID% observed after cupping. In brief, cupping can be considered an alternative treatment method to medications through its role in regulating blood pressure and glucose levels, thus reducing the risk of heart and arterial diseases..

Bacterial Species Causing Urinary Tract Infections in Tobruk, Libya: A Contemporary Epidemiological and Analytical Investigation

Naimah hussein — 2025-06-25

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) remain among the most prevalent bacterial infections worldwide, posing significant clinical and economic burdens. This study aims to assess the contemporary distribution of uropathogens and their antimicrobial resistance patterns among patients in Tobruk, Libya. A total of 200 urine samples were collected from symptomatic patients in 2021 at Al-Shifa Medical Center. The findings indicate that Staphylococcus aureus (33.6%) was the predominant isolate, followed by Escherichia coli (31.5%) and Klebsiella spp. (26.2%). This deviates from the global norm, where E. coli is typically dominant. Females were significantly more affected (82.1%) than males (17.9%), and high infection rates were observed among children, young adults, and the elderly. These trends underscore the importance of regional surveillance, evidence-based antibiotic policies, and targeted public health strategies to manage UTIs effectively.
Keywords: Urinary tract infections, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp., epidemiology, antimicrobial resistance, Tobruk, Libya.
Objectives- To identify the most frequently isolated bacterial species responsible for UTIs in Tobruk, Libya.- To analyze the distribution of UTI cases by gender and age group.- To evaluate the antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of the isolated pathogens.

Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Microbial Profile of Urinary Tract Infections in Pediatric Population

Khadeejah Miftah Ali Al-Khurum — 2025-06-25

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common bacterial infections in childhood. This study aimed to determine the clinical symptoms, laboratory test results, risk factors, and etiology of symptomatic UTIs in pediatric patients admitted to Tobruk Medical Center, with a focus on age and sex differences. The study was designed as a retrospective analysis and included data from 1 January to 31 December 2023. A total of 84 patients were included in the study. In terms of sex distribution, females were three times more prevalent than males, accounting for 77.4% of cases compared to 22.6% for males. The observed clinical presentations were as follows: dysuria (18%), suprapubic pain (17.2%), vomiting (17.2%), fever (15.2%), urinary frequency (15.2%), urgency (9.3%), and hematuria (7.8%). The age distribution of participants was as follows: 46% were between 3 and 4 years old, 40% were between 5 and 8 years old, 9.5% were between 9 and 12 years old, and 3.6% were over 12 years old.

The Impact of Gamma Radiation on Aluminum Alloy Thermal Conductivity Alumina Composite 6063

Abdlfatth. A Khalil — 2025-06-25

The thermal conductivity of aluminum alloy 6063 alloy reinforced with alumina particles was studied. Aluminum alloy 6063 alloy matrix composites reinforced with varying weight percentage of alumina particles (0, 3, 5, 7) were prepared using the stir casting technique. Under normal circumstances (before to irradiation), the thermal conductivity tests were performed for every weight percentage. Because of the reinforcement material, we observe that the values of thermal conductivity drop as the weight % increases. Following exposure to gamma rays emitted from cesium, which has a half-life of 30.04 years and an emitted energy of 662 KeV, tests of thermal conductivity are conducted. When compared to thermal conductivity readings under normal circumstances, the results indicate a drop in thermal conductivity levels following irradiation. The thermal conductivity of the developed composites was analyses and compared with the matrix alloy. The experimental results showed that the composition ratio of reinforcement and gamma radiation influenced the structure of aluminum alloy 6063 alloy through homogeneously dispersed within the matrix and point defect. It can be leading to destroyed in thermal conductivity.

Antimutagenic effects of the ginger extract of reducing chromosomal mutation induced by cyclophosphamide in male rats

Aziza AbdulghaniMansur — 2025-06-25

The drug cyclophosphamide (CP) has harmful genetic effects when used with a dose of 5 mg/kg body mass. For this reason, this study was carried out to determine these harmful effects and try to reduce these effects by using the metabolic extract of ginger. Chemotherapeutic treatments are linked to a variety of undesirable outcomes, the most dangerous of which are mutagenesis acts. To measure the possible anti-mutagenic and ginger extract's ability to prevent chromosomal abnormality in bone marrow cells. Four groups, each with seven animals, were used in the experiment. The first group, the control group, consisted of negative control rats fed a regular meal and purified water. In contrast, the second group was given oral cyclophosphamide at a daily amount of 5 mg/kg body mass for four weeks. The third group (the test group), for the duration of four weeks, received 200 mg of ginger extract per kilogram of body weight every day. The fourth group, the protective group, received two phases of treatment: first, 200 mg/kg body mass of ginger extract was given, and then, two hours later, cp (5 mg/kg body mass daily) was received verbally for four weeks. In the CP group, notable changes existed in the chromosome genes of the somatic and mitotic index and an increased frequency of chromosomal changes in terms of structure and number. These results describe the chromosomal effects of CP free radicals. Chromosome aberration is reduced in comparison to the test group when ginger extract is used; chromosomes in bone marrow cells are negatively impacted by CP. Chromosomal studies in bone marrow cells of rats indicate that the CP at 5mg/Kg causes an increase in the level of chromosomal aberrations. These aberrations include ring chromosomes, breaks in the chromosomes and chromatids and in the centromere region, and other aberrations. However, when the ginger extract was given before the CP, the level of chromosomal aberration defects was reduced in comparison with the positive control. The current study concludes that the ginger extract had an anti-mutagenic effect when given at the dose of 200g /Kg before the CP. It can be used as a protective and therapeutic treatment agent since it has a preventive effect against the mutagenic effects of CP.

ESP PRODUCTION OPTIMIZATION BY USING PIPESIM

Salim Ghayth — 2025-06-25

Artificial lift systems are among the most extensively employed production methods. Lift methods are required to facilitate production in wells that cannot produce liquids to the surface under their pressure. One of the important types of artificial lift methods, which is lowers the producing bottom hole pressure on the formation to obtain a higher production rate from the well. It is an efficient and reliable method for lifting moderate to high volumes of fluids from wellbores.
This study aims to design & Simulate an Electrical submersible pump by using PIPESIM software also to change WC, GOR and Tubing size to observe the effects of each one of them on the ESP design and on production system.
The input data from the Nafoora oil field that is operated by the Arabian Gulf Oil Company (AGOCO) a subsidiary of the state owned national oil corporations (NOC).

A Comparison between steam injection and combined cycle power plant using exergy analysis

Reyad Qaddoura — 2025-06-25

The objective of this paper aims is to analyze the performance of a Siemens GT5-2000E gas power plant in West Tripoli using steam injection and combined cycle technologies from an exergy perspective to evaluate energy conversion efficiency and reduce thermal losses. The study relies on real operational data from the power plant. Two gas turbine units were simulated using Aspen Plus to apply the steam injection and combined cycle techniques, while an exergy analysis using the operational data of each system component was performed using Excel. The results showed that the steam injection and combined cycle technologies achieved different exergy efficiencies compared to a standard cycle gas turbine. The exergy efficiency of the two gas units in the conventional cycle was 55.19%. After applying the steam injection technique, the exergy efficiency increased to 74.82% at 15°C, reflecting an improvement of 35.6% compared to the conventional cycle. In contrast, the combined cycle technique recorded an exergy efficiency of 49.10%, representing a lower improvement of 10.1% compared to the conventional cycle. Exergy analysis also revealed that the combustion chamber was the largest contributor to exergy destruction in all cases, accounting for 40–50% of total losses. It can be concluded that the steam injection technique represents the most efficient option from an exergy perspective, as it achieves the highest improvement in energy conversion efficiency and the lowest energy losses compared to the combined cycle and the conventional cycle gas units.

Time effects on deflection of reinforced concrete beams with large web opening

Wael Mounir Saker — 2025-06-25

The objective of the present study is to elucidate the influence of creep and shrinkage on the long-term deflection of reinforced concrete beams that contain a large opening in the web under service sustained loads while also providing practical equations for the design of deflection in reinforced concrete structures predicated on linear creep theory. To achieve this, the simplified equations used in the present EC2, ACI code, and ACI435 are rigorously evaluated and contrasted. In addition, 4RC simply supported reinforced concrete beams (3RC beams with large web opening and 1RC beam without opening) under sustained mid-span load were made and tested, to validate the proposed method. The proposed method, based on a new simplified curvature coefficient, is found simple to use, amenable to programming on compact calculators, and exhibits a high degree of concordance with empirical results, thus, it is concluded that the proposed equations possess a suitable level of practicality for adoption in practice.

Prevention, early detection and treatment of breast cancer in Benghazi-Libya: Patients’ points of view: A qualitative study

Mohamed M. B Elfallah — 2025-06-25

Programs focusing on prevention, early detection, and treatment of breast cancer (BC) are crucial for enhancing survival rates, improving quality of life, reducing morbidity and mortality. Patients’ experiences play important role in detecting gaps in present programs help creating and executing initiatives that raise awareness about risk factors, promote screenings, and ensure early detection and effective management of BC.
Aim of the study:
- Explore patients’ experiences and knowledge.
- Address use of Breast Self-Examination (BSE), screening programs.
- Describe financial burden of BC management.
Participants and method:
Qualitative study during January- March 2022, at Benghazi Medical Center. 31 patients participated. In-depth interviews conducted, recorded. Familiarizations of data, coding, identifying thematic framework, indexing, charting, mapping, interpretation and reporting findings.
Results:
Half the sample were below fifty, no family history of BC, one-third of patients discovered by (BSE). Two themes developed: 1) Prevention, Education and Early detection: patients lack scientific knowledge of BC risk factors and causes. Two-thirds of patients never applied BSE. Most cases diagnosed in advanced stages. Lack of communication between healthcare providers and patients led to late detection. 2) Diagnosis, treatment and support: public health financing programs inadequacy, medical system weakness led to delay in diagnosis and treatment. Lack of fundings caused out of pockets spending, (catastrophic spending). Need of patient groups to provide medical, psychological and social support.
Conclusion:
Urgent need to improve screening and diagnosis, treatment and palliative care of BC patients. Need to develop organized frameworks and management guidelines for prevention, early detection and management of BC in Libya.

Outcomes of 52 cases of surgical mesh repair for paraumbilical hernias

Abdalla M.M Etbiga — 2025-06-25

Background:
The literature stated that para-umbilical hernias of less than 2cm in diameter could undergo primary suture closure. Mesh repair is preferred for defects greater than 2 cm in diameter. The objective of the study was to assess the result of para-umbilical hernia repair with proline mesh regardless of the size.
Patient and Methods:
We present a retrospective study of patients with para-umbilical hernia treated with onlay mesh placement and followed for 1–4years. Various factors including sociodemographic data of patients, post-operative complications, morbidity and mortality were examined.
Results:
The median age of the 52 patients in the series was 46 years old, with ages ranging from 23 to 77. (28.7) was the mean body mass index. Of the 44 female patients, 35 (79.5%) were multipara. Nine cases (17.3%) had recurrent hernias, while 43 cases (82.6%) presented for the first time. 35 patients (67.3%) had a hernia size > 2 cm, while 17 patients (32.6%) had a hernia defect ≤2 cm. Five patients (9.6%) had superficial surgical site infections. Two female patients (3.8%) had seroma. After two years, one patient (1.9%) had a recurrence hernia.
Conclusion:
All sizes of paraumbilical hernias can be repaired using mesh onlay surgery, which also has a low recurrence rate and equivalent rates of morbidity and recurrence to international standards.

A study of Mycobacterium tuberculosis among respiratory patients coming to the center for infections and Endemic Diseases in Sirte city, Libya between 2018 and 2023

Hana Abd Alsalam zaed — 2025-06-25

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major global health challenge, with significant morbidity and mortality, particularly in developing countries. Libya has an incidence rate of 53 cases per 100,000 population, but there is no information about other regions, especially from Sirte. This study aimed to assess the epidemiology of Mycobacterium tuberculosis among respiratory patients in Sirte (2018–2023) to address this gap. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on some respiratory patients attending the National Center for Control of Communicable and Endemic Diseases in Sirte, Libya. It included 136 patients . Ziehl-Nielsen stain and the GeneXpert test were used to examine sputum and make the diagnosis. Using SPSS, demographic and clinical data were analyzed, and associations were found using chi-square tests. RESULTS: This study found an 8.08% TB prevalence (11/136 cases), with higher rates in females (13%) than males (5%) (P>0.5). The age group from 16 - 26 years showed the most widespread occurrence at 45.45% and the group from 26 - 37 years demonstrated 31.25% prevalence. The reported cases did not include children between 5 - 15 years old or adults from 58-67years. All infections were recorded among Libyan nationals, with no notable differences based on nationality (P>0.5). The highest prevalence rate of 45.45% appeared in the age group between 16 and 26 years old. Following this group were people between 26 and 37 years old showing a 31.25% occurrence. No instances of this condition were documented in children between the ages of. CONCLUSION: The results indicate an 8.08% prevalence of tuberculosis in patients. These results found an 8.08% tuberculosis (TB) prevalence in patients which occurred at greater percentages among young adults and Libyan nationals. Although statistical significance was not reached about gender and nationality differences, the detected patterns point to potential sociodemographic impacts. The research underscores the requirement to develop better screening methods and implement targeted public health projects while establishing complete surveillance systems that will enhance tuberculosis control in Libya.

Unique Case of Guillain-Barré Syndrome Associated with Pneumococcus in a Young Female Patient Attending Sirt Teaching Hospital, Libya

Jadalla Emhalhel — 2025-06-25

Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) is an infrequent neurological disorder where the immune system mistakenly attacks peripheral nerves, leading to progressive weakness, sensory disturbances, and, in severe cases, paralysis. The precise cause of GBS remains unclear, though it is often preceded by an infection. Common infectious triggers include gastrointestinal pathogens such as Campyl-obacter and respiratory infections like Mycoplasma pneumoniae and influenza. In this case report, we describe a 25-year-old female who presented with acute dyspnea, bilateral limb weakness, and sensory abnormalities beginning as a "pins-and-needles" sensation in her hands. Her condition rapidly progressed, culminating in septic shock due to Pneumococcus, complicated by Acute Respir-atory Distress Syndrome (ARDS). Neurological evaluation confirmed the diag-nosis of Guillain-Barré Syndrome. This case highlights a rare but significant as-sociation between pneumococcal infection and GBS, emphasizing the complexity of its clinical presentation.

Carrot Juice as a Natural Adjuvant Therapy: Amelioration of Cisplatin-Induced Testicular and Epididymal Histoarchitectural Disruption

Warda M Abdelhafiz — 2025-06-25

Background: Cisplatin is a widely used chemotherapeutic agent known for its efficacy against various solid tumors. However, its use is limited by significant adverse effects, particularly testicular toxicity, which can impair spermatogenesis and male fertility. Cisplatin-induced testicular damage is primarily mediated through oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis. Natural antioxidants have garnered attention for their potential to counteract such toxicity. Carrot (Daucus carota) is rich in β-carotene and polyphenols, which possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the histoprotective effects of fresh carrot juice on cisplatin-induced testicular damage in rabbits, focusing on the preservation of testicular architecture and mitigation of histopathological alterations.
Methods: Fifteen adult male rabbits were randomly assigned to three groups: control, cisplatin-treated, and carrot juice + cisplatin. Carrot juice (5 mL/kg/day) was administered orally for four days before and three days after a single intraperitoneal dose of cisplatin (5 mg/kg). Testicular and epididymal tissues were harvested and processed for histological examination using hematoxylin and eosin staining. Observations were made under light microscopy, and statistical analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA with Tukey’s post hoc test.
Results: Histological analysis revealed that cisplatin treatment induced marked testicular damage, including degeneration of seminiferous tubules, loss of germ cells, interstitial edema, and disrupted Leydig cell morphology. In contrast, the group pre-treated and post-treated with carrot juice exhibited significant preservation of testicular architecture, with reduced germ cell loss, minimal tubular degeneration, and relatively intact Leydig and Sertoli cells. Epididymal epithelium and sperm maturation structures also appeared better preserved in the carrot-treated group.
Conclusion: Fresh carrot juice demonstrated a protective effect against cisplatin-induced testicular histopathological alterations, likely through its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. These findings support the potential use of carrot-derived bioactive compounds as adjuvants to reduce chemotherapeutic gonadotoxicity and safeguard male reproductive health.

The Prevalence and Association of Micronutrient Deficiencies with Hair Loss in Children and Adolescents: A Cross-Sectional Study

Hoda Farag Jaloul — 2025-06-25

Background: Hair loss is one of the most frequent dermatological complaints that causes significant stress not only for adult patients but also for children and adolescents and their families. Since the latter are more prone to metabolic deficiencies, the association between this complaint and micronutrient deficiencies is worth evaluating. This study did not explore the prevalence of the disease among the specified age group but only found the association between micronutrient deficiency (vitamin D and iron) among the selected study sample.
Methods: a cross-sectional observational study, the study sample was taken from a dermatology clinic in the city of Sirte – Libya, over a time period of 6 months, patients were selected according to their clinical presentation (two main complaints: hair loss and alopecia areata) and according to age (from birth to 15 years old), after careful history, clinical examination and investigations, a total of 35 cases were included and their serum levels of Vit D, Ferritin and calcium were registered and analyzed by SPSS program.
Results: A total of 35 cases were evaluated, comprising 27 female and 8 male patients. The mean age of the participants was 11.03 years, with a median age of 12 years and a standard deviation of 3.50198. Of the cases examined, 29 patients (82.86%) reported experiencing hair loss, while 8 patients (17.14%) were diagnosed with alopecia areata. Within the hair loss group, 96.55% were found to have low levels of vitamin D, 34.48% presented with low serum calcium, and 68.97% exhibited low serum iron levels. Among the patients with alopecia areata, 83.3% had a deficiency in vitamin D, 50% had hypocalcemia, and 100% exhibited iron deficiency.
Conclusion: The findings indicate a significant prevalence of micronutrient deficiencies associated with hair loss and alopecia areata in children and adolescents. This observation may suggest a potential etiological relationship between these deficiencies and hair-related symptoms. Nevertheless, further large-scale studies are necessary to validate this association.

Evaluation of the effectiveness of treating broad bean seeds with fungicides on germination and plant growth

Ali Abdulla Emhemmed — 2025-06-25

The current study was carried out in a laboratory and a greenhouse at the Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, University of Sirte, during the 2024/2025 season, to determine the effects of soaking faba beans in four different fungicides (Moncerin 25%, Topsin–M70, Rizolex-T50%, and Vitavax-200) on germination percentage and some morphological traits of faba beans under laboratory and greenhouse conditions. These treatments were distributed in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replicates. The laboratory results showed that the Moncerin 25% fungicide achieved the highest values of faba bean germination percentage after 3, 5, 7, and 10 days, followed by Topsin–M70, while the control treatment had the lowest germination percentage values. Furthermore, compared to the control, which recorded lower values of seed dressing germination percentage, Vitavax-200 recorded the highest dressing germination percentage after 3, 5, 7, and 10 days, followed by Moncerin 25% and Rizolex -T50%. This was true for all fungicides tested. However, in a greenhouse, seed soaking with 25% Moncerin, Rizolex T50%, and Topsin-M70 had a highly significant impact on shoot length, number of leaves, and fresh weight. Furthermore, compared to Rizolex T50% and Moncerin 25%, the germination percentage of faba bean seed soaking was greater with Vitavax-200, Topsin-M70 (83%), and control.

Evaluation of the Quality of Bottled Water Available in Benghazi, Libya

Essa Shawail — 2025-06-25

Water quality indices serve as effective tool for evaluating overall water quality. They are beneficial for decision- makers, stakeholders, and individuals lacking extensive expertise in the numerous parameters that define water quality. This study evaluates the quality of drinking water by employing the weighted arithmetic Water Quality Index (WQI) method, utilizing various physicochemical parameters from five different brands of bottled water available in Benghazi City, Libya. The WQI was calculated for the 14 physicochemical parameters (EC, TDS, pH, total hardness, fluoride, chloride, nitrate, Bicarbonate HCO3-, sulphate, NTU, Ca+2, Mg+2, K+, and Na+). All brands demonstrated excellent quality of drinking water as indicated by their Water Quality Index (WQI) values.