High-sensitive cardiac troponin I (hs-cTnI) is a recognized marker of myocardial injury in acute coronary syndromes, but its utility in chronic coronary syndromes (CCS) remains unclear. Midkine (MK), a heparin-binding growth factor, plays a role in inflammation and vascular remodeling in atherosclerosis. This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the predictive value of serum hs-cTnI and MK in determining the severity of coronary artery obstruction in patients with CCS. The study included 125 subjects undergoing coronary angiography (CAG) at the Iraqi Center of Heart Disease/ Medical City/Baghdad, from March to December 2024. Subjects were classified into three groups based on CAG findings: no CAD, 1- or 2-vessel disease, and 3-vessel or left main disease. Serum levels of hs-cTnI and MK were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in the laboratories of Department of Biochemistry/College of Medicine/ Baghdad University. Median serum levels of both biomarkers differed significantly across all groups. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis demonstrated good diagnostic performance for both biomarkers in differentiating moderate (Group II) from severe disease (Group III). For hs-cTnI, a cutoff of 354.4 pg/mL yielded 90% sensitivity and 92% specificity; for MK, a cutoff of 2.75 ng/mL yielded 90% sensitivity and 85% specificity. Logistic regression revealed that the two biomarkers together explained 75% of the variance in CAD severity. Combining the two markers offered a slight improvement in diagnostic accuracy compared to using either alone. In conclusion, serum hs-cTnI and MK levels may help predict CAD severity in CCS and support early risk stratification before CAG.
The integration of nanomaterials in asphalt modification has emerged as a promising approach to enhance the performance of asphalt pavements, particularly under high-temperature conditions. Nanomaterials, due to their unique properties such as high surface area, exceptional mechanical strength, and thermal stability, offer significant improvements in the rheological properties, durability, and resistance to deformation of asphalt binders. This research reviewed the application of various nanomaterials, including nano silica, nano alumina, nano titanium, nano zinc, and carbon nanotubes in asphalt modification. The incorporation of these nanomaterials into asphalt mixtures has shown potential to increase the stiffness and high-tempera
... Show MoreIn this paper, a miniaturized 2 × 2 electro-optic plasmonic Mach– Zehnder switch (MZS) based on metal–polymer–silicon hybrid waveguide is presented. Adiabatic tapers are designed to couple the light between the plasmonic phase shifter, implemented in each of the MZS arms, and the 3-dB input/output directional couplers. For 6 µm-long hybrid plasmonic waveguide supported by JRD1 polymer (r33= 390 pm/V), a π-phase shift voltage of 2 V is obtained. The switch is designed for 1550 nm operation wavelength using COMSOL software and characterizes by 2.3 dB insertion loss, 9.9 fJ/bit power consumption, and 640 GHz operation bandwidth
BACKGROUND: Transverse fractures of the patella are important fractures with a wide variety of subtypes, the common incidence in the age group of 20–50 years. Surgical interference aims to achieve a perfect alignment of the joint surface, in addition to rigid fixation of the fracture for early re-habitation and early movement to retain the extensor mechanism of the knee joint. AIM: The aim of this study was to compare the radiological and functional outcomes of the displaced transverse patella fracture in adult patients treated by ORIF using tension band wiring versus cannulated screws with wiring. METHODS: A prospective analytic comparative study was conducted in Al-Kindy Teaching Hospital/Baghdad/Iraq for 18 months from Apr
... Show MoreIn this paper the concept of (m, n)- fully stable Banach Algebra-module relative to ideal (F − (m, n) − S − B − A-module relative to ideal) is introducing, we study some properties of F − (m, n) − S − B − A-module relative to ideal and another characterization is given
Background: Anaemia is a major public health concern and is one of the most prevalent health issue in women within reproductive age group.
Objective: to assess maternal knowledge related to anaemia during pregnancy.
Type of the study: A cross –sectional study.
Method: The study including 200 mothers who attended selected primary health care centres, Baghdad during November and December 2015, they completed a previously prepared questionnaire coveringsocio-demographic characteristics and knowledge regarding anaemia in 4 main domains. The responses were analysed by using frequency, percentage and percent score for each statement a
... Show MoreLanguage is a vehicle for social values and ideologies that a man intends or attempts to express. Dramatic texts are one of the discursive practices that embody values and ideologies. What is expressed in dramatic text is deliberate because it is meant to affect other’s values, trends and ideologies in one way or another. Such ideologies and values are not explicit. To bring them out requires putting language under scrutiny to unveil what is implied. The present study attempts to analyze a dramatic script entitled Advice to Iraqi Women by the British playwright Martin Crimp in an attempt to unveil the intended political ideologies underlying the text. The title reflects a political aspect embedded in the word “Iraqi” that
... Show MoreThis study was designed to compare the effect of two types of viral hepatitis A and E (HAV
and HEV) on liver functions in Iraqi individuals by the measurement of biochemical changes
associated with hepatitis.
The study performed on 58 HEV and 66 HAV infected patients compared with 28 healthy
subjects. The measured biochemical tests include total serum bilirubin, serum transminases (ALT
and AST) alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT).
The study showed that adolescent and young adults (17-29) years, were mostly affected by
HEV while children (5-12) years were frequently affected by HAV. The severity of liver damage in
HEV patients was higher than HAV patients as a result of high serum transa
Objective: To compare two positioning approaches in the surgical treatment of unstable intertrochanteric femoral fractures fixed by proximal femoral nailing, the supine versus lateral decubitus position Methodology: This randomized prospective comparative study on 26 patients with unstable intertrochanteric fractures was carried out from January 2020 and June 2022. We randomly divided patients into two groups: group A (13 patients) were operated using the traction table in the supine position for implant insertion, and group B (13 patients) were operated using the lateral decubitus position. We compared both groups regarding the setup time, operative time, tip-to-apex distance, collodiaphyseal angle, time for fluoroscopic time expo
... Show MorePreparation of identical independent photons is the core of many quantum applications such as entanglement swapping and entangling process. In this work, Hong-Ou-Mandel experiment was performed to evaluate the degree of indistinguishability between independent photons generated from two independent weak coherent sources working at 640 nm. The visibility was 46%, close to the theoretical limit of 50%. The implemented setup can be adopted in quantum key distribution experiments carried out with free space as the channel link, as all the devices and components used are operative in the visible range of the electromagnetic spectrum.