BACKGROUND: HLA-B27 can effect clinical presentation and course of ankylosing spondylitis. Different detection techniques of HLA-B27 are available with variable sensitivities and specificities. OBJECTIVE: To compare serologic and molecular diagnostic techniques of detecting HLA-B27 status and to correlate it with some clinical variables among ankylosing spondylitis patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 83 Iraqi patients with ankylosing spondylitis. Clinical and laboratory evaluations were reported. HLA-B27 status was determined in all patients by real-time PCR using HLA-B27 RealFast™ kit; ELISA method was used as well to detect soluble serum HLA-B27 antigens using Human Leukocyte Antigen® kit. RESULTS:

Acrylic polymer/cement nanocomposites in dark and light colors have been developed for coating floors and swimming pools. This work aims to emphasize the effect of cement filling on the mechanical parameters, thermal stability, and wettability of acrylic polymer. The preparation was carried out using the casting method from acrylic polymer coating solution, which was added to cement nanoparticles (65 nm) with weight concentrations of (0, 1, 2, 4, and 8 wt%) to achieve high-quality specifications and good adhesion. Maximum impact strength and Hardness shore A were observed at cement ratios of 2 wt% and 4 wt%, respectively. Changing the filling ratio has a significant effect on the strain of the nanocomposites. The contact angle was i

The performance of asphalt pavements is crucial due to heavy traffic loads from civil and industrial developments. Various additives and modifiers are used in flexible roads to improve their resistance to deterioration caused by climatic changes. From this context, modifying the asphalt binder with polymers is popular in asphalt pavement construction. The present research investigates the effect of Polyethylene (PE) polymers in powder form on the characteristics of asphalt mixtures since these polymers are composed of hydrocarbons. It is similar to asphalt binders, making them very effective in enhancing the performance of neat asphalt produced from the oil refinery. To confirm this, two types of PE, High-Density PE (HDPE) and Low-Density P

Background: Bone cutter is widely used in the
Middle east area to cut the prepuce during circumcision.

Results :One hundred twenty one male neonates
were included in this study.The mean operative
time (MOT) was 6 minutes, mean time of
healing (MTH) was 5 days, 7 cases (5.9%)
developed early & late complications, 2 (1.7%)
had bleeding, 3 (2.5%) developed infection, 2
(1.7%) developed late complications in the form
of meatal stenosis.
Settings:Al-Yarmouk Teaching Hospital and a
private surgical clinic.
Aim of the study: To assess the safety of
circumcision using bone cutter.
Methods: Over 6 years period from Jan. 2000
till Dec. 2005, one hundred twenty one male
neonates were circumci

The work in this paper focuses on the experimental confirming of the losses in photonic crystal fibers (PCF) on the transmission of Q-switched Nd:YAG laser. First HC-PCF was evacuated to 0.1 mbar then the microstructure fiber (PCF) was filled with He gas & gas. Second the input power and output power of Q-switched Nd:YAG laser was measured in hollow core photonic bandgap fiber (HCPCF). In this work loss was calculated in the hollow core photonic crystal fiber (HCPCF) filled with air then N2, and He gases respectively. It has bean observed that the minimum loss obtained in case of filling (HC-PCF) with He gas and its equal to 15.070 dB/km at operating wavelength (1040-1090) nm.

The behavior of AC conductivity (σ_ac), loss tangent (tan δ), and relative permittivity (ε′) for composites of PVC-P/graphite electrode waste (GEW) was investigated, and a qualitative explanation was provided as a function of PVC-P weight fractions (0, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25) wt. percent, temperature (30-90) °C, and frequency (100Hz-2MHz). The behaviors of the composites' ac. conductivity and impedance as a frequency function and temperature have been examined. The permittivity was shown to rise with increasing temperature (Tg). The relative permittivity increased as the GEW filler concentration increased and was highest in the low-frequency range; nevertheless decreased as the frequency increased.

Objective: The aim of the study is to assess the personal hygiene of adult patients with
diabetic foot.
Methodology: A descriptive study was carried out in Baghdad teaching hospital, Al-Karama teaching hospital
and Al-Kindey teaching hospital for the period of 10/1/2006 to 1/9/2006. A purposive "non probability" sample
of (100) patient.
Questionnaire was constructed for achieving the purpose of the study. Data were collected through the
application of the questionnaire and interview technique. Data were analyzed through descriptive statistical
approach (frequency & percentage) and inferential statistical approach (chi-square & correlation) by using of
SPSS.
Results: The study results indicated that the

Objective: The aim of the study is to assess the personal hygiene of adult patients with
diabetic foot.
Methodology: ٨ descriptive study was carried out in Baghdad teaching hospital, Al-Karama teaching hospital
and Al-Kindey teaching hospital for the period of 10/1/2006 to 1/9/2006. A purposive "non probability" sample
of (100) patient.
Questionnaire was constructed for achieving the purpose of the study. Data were collected through the
application of the questionnaire and interview technique. Data were analyzed through descriptive statistical
approach (frequency & percentage) and inferential statistical approach (chi-square ع correlation) by using of
SPSS.
Results: The study results indicated that the ra