This study evaluated the knowledge and practice of breast self-examination (BSE), among a sample of educated Iraqi women. The study sample comprised 858 women aged 18–62 years affiliated to 6 major Iraqi universities, categorized according to occupation as teaching staff (11.5%), administrative staff (18.0%) and students (70.5%). Data were collected by a self-completed questionnaire. In all, 93.9% of the women had heard about BSE, the main source of information was television (39.9%), doctors (18.4%) and the awareness campaign of the Iraqi National Breast Cancer Research Programme (11.6%). Only 53.9% of the women practised BSE; the most common excuses by those that did not were lack of knowledge of the significance of BSE (42.0%) and lack

         Fibromyalgia (FM) is a common, debilitating, and chronic pain syndrome. The women are more likely to have more tender points on examination than are their male counterparts. Iraqi study showed that FM occur in 1.5% among adolescents of Iraqi population. In compare to normal healthy women, present study was revealed that Iraqi women with FM have significant elevation of calcium (p = 0.003) with significant reduction of magnesium (p = 0.001), whereas the inorganic phosphorous was not differs (p = 0.31). In conclusion, magnesium and calcium would play a crucial role in etiopathogenesis of fibromyalgia.

Key words: calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, Fibromyalgia.

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrinopathy in women of
reproductive age with primary features of infertility, menstrual irregularity, and clinical or biochemical
evidence of hyperandrogenism (hirsutism, acne and high androgen level). Vitamin D has a role in the
development of metabolic and endocrine abnormalities in PCOS mediated by insulin resistance.
Objective: Measure serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome and
compare their levels with age and body mass index matched healthy controls. Also, assess the
correlation between insulin resistance and 25-hydroxy vitamin D among women with PCOS.
Subjects and Methods: Eighty eight women were involved in this st

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is one of the most common genital infections among women in the childbearing age. Many novel, fastidious and uncultivated bacterial species are related with BV. These are called bacterial vaginosis associated bacteria (BVAB), present in trace amount and have a significant role in the infection. A total of 80 vaginal swabs were obtained from 80 pregnant and non-pregnant women. Samples were collected from different hospitals in Baghdad city and Al-Kut city.
Clinically, 60 sample among 80 were gave positive results depending on Nugent score and Amsel criteria ,the Bacteriologicall test showed the percentages of gram negative bacteria (E.coli ,K.pneumoniae, P.mirabilis, Ps.aeruginosaand A. baumanniiwere) were (38.

Breast cancer becomes a major threat to female health, many reports refer to a high incidence of breast cancer in Iraq; especially, in the last years. The micro RNA-370 molecules have not been reported in Iraqi cancer patients. Our objective in this study was to identify the expression of micro RNA-370 molecules in breast cancer patients as an early detection biomarker of breast tumors and detect its relation with clinicopathological characters of breast cancer patients. Fifty fresh tissue samples were collected from benign and malignant breast patients in addition to ten normal tissue samples collected as a control group, the age ranged was(19 - 77) years for patients. The miR-370 gene expression level was measured by the quantitative r

Hypertension is a cardiovascular problem with high rates of epidemiology and risks of morbidity and mortality in the global area. Nitric oxide (NO) is one of the reactive oxygen species (ROS) that produced from L-arginine by nitric oxide synthase (NOS) enzyme. NO involves in various vital processes in human health, one of which is the modulation of vasoconstriction and relaxation of the vascular system. We have aimed to investigate the link between NO and NOS with hypertension in women. The relationship between NO and NOS, as well as the usefulness of them as indicators of hypertension risks were subjects of study in this article. The results have revealed that hypertensive women had significant (P<0.05) lower levels of NO (15.07±3.41 IU/m

Background: Breast cancer is the malignant tumor that forms from the uncontrolled growth of abnormal breast cells. It usually affects tissues involved in milk production (Ductal and lobular tissues). It is the most common malignancy in women and it remains one of the greatest health threats facing women around the world as we enter the 21st century.
Objectives: To estimate the role of IL-10 in the progression of invasive ductal carcinoma.
Patients and Method: Seventy three metastatic invasive ductal carcinoma Iraqi women were admitted to Nuclear Medicine Hospital in Baghdad and 15 samples of apparently healthy women were involved as a control. The blood samples (2 mL) were drown from all studied cases in order to be used for measur

Summary
Background: The role of humoral immunity in the pathogenesis of PET is well known so that an altered immune response could be the cause of this disease . Objectives: to evaluate the rule ofplacenta _ bound IgG in the pathogenesis of PET. Methods: 31 pregnant women were included in this study delivered by cesarean section at Baghdad Teaching Hospital , 16 of them were diagnosed and treated for PET. while the rest 15 cases were of normal women of using direct immunoflorescnt test, the level of IgG was detected.
Result: Tthe study showed a significant higher level of IgG in the placental biopsy of PET cases than those of control group using ttest, (P<0.025),
Conclusion: Trophoblastic bound IgG plays an important role in

Background: Viral infection in pregnancy is known to cause many problems such as fetal malformation; growth restriction and even fetal death; the relationship between viral infection and abortions is not well understood. The infection during pregnancy can affect the fetus due to lack of mother’s immunity.
Objective: To assess the frequency of human parvovirus B19-specific antibody type IgM and IgG among pregnant women with spontaneous abortion.
Patients and Methods: A semi-quantitative enzyme linked immunosorbent assay technique was applied for detection of anti-human parvovirus B19 IgM (Ridascreen-K6031-Germany) and IgG (Ridascreen -K6021- Germany) in sera of 90 pregnant women who have previously experienced abortion were collec

Background: Osteoporosis (OP) is a chronic and a progressive disease characterized by low bone mass and micro-architectural deterioration of bone tissue, resulting in an increased risk of fracture. Osteocalcin is a non-collagenous protein synthesized and secreted by osteoblasts. Its main physiological functions are calcium ion homeostasis, maintain the normal bone mineralization rate, inhibit the abnormal formation of hydroxyapatite crystal, and to be involved in bone remodeling through a negative feedback mechanism.
Objective: This study was planned to evaluate serum level of bone formation marker osteocalcin (OC) in postmenopausal women with and without primary osteoporosis; and study the correlation between serum osteocalcin level