Chronic pain is a complex and persistent condition involving sustained nociceptive input, maladaptive neuroplastic changes, and neuroimmune interactions. Central to its pathophysiology is the dysregulation of neuromodulatory signaling pathways, including neurotransmitters (e.g., dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine), neuropeptides (e.g., substance P, CGRP), and neurotrophic factors (e.g., BDNF), which modulate both central and peripheral sensitization mechanisms. In disorders such as fibromyalgia, altered monoaminergic transmission has been implicated in the attenuation of descending inhibitory control, thereby enhancing pain perception and reducing responsiveness to conventional therapies. Concurrently, neuroinflammation, driven by

Background: Birth defects are the leading cause of both neonatal and post-neonatal deaths, as an estimated 240,000 neonates die in their first month of life worldwide each year. In Iraq, local studies have shown varying frequencies and types of congenital anomalies. Objectives: To provide new insight into the incidence and types of congenital anomalies and to explore their possible risk factors in Baghdad City. Methods: In this cross-sectional observational study, a total of 2007 neonates were enrolled from six hospitals in Baghdad during the period extending between September and December 2020. Hospital records and personal interviews were used for data collection. These data included the neonates' demographic and clinical characte

New Schiff-base ligands bearing tetrazole moiety and their polymeric metal complexes with Co(II), Ni(II) and Cd(II) ions are reported. Ligands were prepared in a multiple-step reaction. The reaction of sodium 2,6- diformylphenolate and cyclohexane-1,3-dione with 5-amino-2-fluorobenzonitrile resulted in the isolation of two precursors sodium 2,6-bis((E)-(3-cyano-4-fluorophenylimino)methyl)-4-methylphenolate 1 and 5,5'- (1E,1'E)-cyclohexane-1,3-diylidenebis- (azan-1-yl-1-ylidene)bis(2-fluorobenzonitrile) 2, respectively. The reaction of precursors with azide gave the required ligands; sodium 2,6-bis((E)-(4-fluoro-3-(1H-tetrazol-5- yl)phenylimino)methyl)-4-methylphenolate (NaL) and (N,N'E,N,N'E)-N,N'-(cyclohexane-1,3-diylidene)bis(4- fluoro-3-

The aim of the work is the synthesis and characterization of the tridentate Schiff base (HL) containing (N and O) as donor atoms type (ONO). The ligand is: (HL) phenyl 2-(2-hydroxybenzylidenamino)benzoate This ligand was prepared by the reaction of (phenyl 2-aminobenzoate) with salicylaldehyde under reflux in ethanol and few drops of glacial acetic acid which gave the ligand (HL). The prepared ligand was characterized by (FT IR,UV–Vis) spectroscopy, Elemental analysis of carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen (C.H.N.) and melting point. The ligand was reacted with some metal ions under reflux in ethanol with (1 metal :2 ligand )mole ratio which gave complexes of the general formula: Pr III , Cr and III La III [M(L)2]Cl , M = Products were found to

Background: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) and their complications such as Bladder cancer (Bl. C.) are a health growing problem worldwide. Objective: To shed light on this subject, present study was done to investigate relationship between recurrent urinary tract infection (RUTI) due to Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Bl. C.Type of study: Cross-sectional study. Methods: This study included 130 patients with RUTI, 50 patients with Bl. C. and 50 control of both sexes (aged 7-85 years) attending Al-Zahra Teaching Hospital in Al-Kut/Wassit governorate and Al-Harery Teaching Hospital of specialized surgeries/Baghdad. The patients were divided into two groups: the first group (n=130) included those who were suffering from recurrent UTI without

Background: Despite the importance of vaccines in preventing COVID-19, the willingness to receive COVID-19 vaccines is lower among RA patients than in the general population. Objective: To determine the extent of COVID-19 knowledge among RA patients and their attitudes and perceptions of COVID-19 vaccines. Methods: A qualitative study with a phenomenology approach was performed through face-to-face, individual-based, semi-structured interviews in the Baghdad Teaching Hospital, Baghdad, Iraq, rheumatology unit. A convenient sample of RA patients using disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs was included until the point of saturation. A thematic content analysis approach was used to analyze the obtained data. Results: Twenty-five RA pa