Background: Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is an autoimmune vesiculobullous mucocutaneous disease with life-threatening consequences. Rituximab (RTX) has recently emerged as an effective treatment for PV. Objectives: This study aims to determine changes in neutrophil and platelet counts for PV patients treated with RTX or corticosteroids combined with Imuran (azathioprine). Materials and Methods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Dermatology at Baghdad Teaching Hospital, Baghdad, Iraq. Thirty PV patients received two types of treatment: 15 patients were administered RTX and 15 patients took corticosteroids with Imuran (azathioprine). Neutrophil and platelet counts were detected at the hospital laboratory. Results: The age range of PV patients was 27–67 years, and the mean ±SD was 44.866 ± 10.979 years for the patient group treated with RTX and 44.133 ± 11.519 for the patient group treated with corticosteroids and Imuran. In patients treated with RTX, 26.6% were males and 73.33% were females, with a female-to-male ratio of 2.75:1. In patients treated with corticosteroids with Imuran, 40% were males and 60% were females, with a female-to-male ratio of 1.5:1. The results revealed that among patients treated with RTX, 30% of them had mucocutaneous lesions, 6.66% had oral lesions, and 13.33% had cutaneous lesions. Among the other groups treated with corticosteroids and Imuran, 23.33% had mucocutaneous lesions, 13.33% had oral lesions, and 13.33% had cutaneous lesions. Among the patients treated with RTX, 53.33% had normal range of neutrophil count, while 46.6% had neutrophil count above the NR, while in patients treated with corticosteroids and Imuran, 40% had a normal range and 60% had above the normal range. Conclusion: RTX was a more effective treatment compared to corticosteroids with Imuran because no patient remained in an active state during this study. PV was prevalent in females aged 40 years with mucocutaneous lesions.
The current study aimed to isolate and diagnose Candida spp yeasts that cause candidiasis with a PCR device from patients reviewed for some hospitals in Baghdad city and by 190 samples, the study recorded 123 isolates and the total percentage of infection was 64.7% .Samples were taken from different clinical cases of the vagina, blood and mouth and the Candida spp were (70.37%, 41.26%, 86.95%) respectively. Five types of yeasts were isolated and diagnosed, namely C. albicans, C. tropicalis, C. parapsilosis, C. krusei and C.glabarta. They were confirmed by PCR device and the most notable were yeast C. albicans, where 91 isolates were found, 73.98%, while the lowest infection was recorded. C.glabartawith 3 isolates, at 2.43%, significant diff
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This study is concerned with the estimation of constant and time-varying parameters in non-linear ordinary differential equations, which do not have analytical solutions. The estimation is done in a multi-stage method where constant and time-varying parameters are estimated in a straight sequential way from several stages. In the first stage, the model of the differential equations is converted to a regression model that includes the state variables with their derivatives and then the estimation of the state variables and their derivatives in a penalized splines method and compensating the estimations in the regression model. In the second stage, the pseudo- least squares method was used to es
... Show MoreIn this paper we use the Markov Switching model to investigate the link between the level of Iraqi inflation and its uncertainty; forth period 1980-2010 we measure inflation uncertainty as the variance of unanticipated inflation. The results ensure there are a negative effect of inflation level on inflation uncertainty and all so there are a positive effect of inflation uncertainty on inflation level.  
... Show MoreBackground: spontaneous abortion constitutes one of the most important adverse pregnancy outcomes affecting human reproduction, and its risk factors are not only affected by biological, demographic factors such as age, gravidity, and previous history of miscarriage,but also by individual women’s personal social characteristics, and by the larger social environment. Objective:To identifyEnvironmental effects on Women's with Spontaneous Abortion. Methodology:Non-probability(purposive sample)of(200) women, who were suffering from spontaneous abortion in maternity unitfrom four hospitals at Baghdad City which include Al-ElwiaMaternity Teaching Hospital, and Baghdad Teaching Hospital at Al-Russafa sector. Al–karckhMaternityHospita
... Show MoreBackground: Legionella pneumophila (L. pneumophila) is gram-negative bacterium, which causes Legionnaires’ disease as well as Pontiac fever. Objective: To determine the frequency of Legionella pneumophila in pneumonic patients, to determine the clinical utility of diagnosing Legionella pneumonia by urinary antigen testing (LPUAT) in terms of sensitivity and specificity, to compares the results obtained from patients by urinary antigen test with q Real Time PCR (RT PCR) using serum samples and to determine the frequency of serogroup 1 and other serogroups of L. pneumophila. Methods: A total of 100 pneumonic patients (community acquired pneumonia) were enrolled in this study during a period between October 2016 to April 2017; 92 sam
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