Background: The occurrence of seizures in bacterial meningitis is important, as it has been reported to increase the risk of complications; however, its frequency and predictors are not well studied yet. Objective: To assess the frequency, clinical, and biochemical predictors of seizures in children with acute bacterial meningitis. Method: A cross-sectional study recruited confirmed acute bacterial meningitis cases based on positive CSF culture and sensitivity among children aged 2 months to 15 years admitted to the Central Child Teaching Hospital emergency department in Iraq. Patients were divided into two groups based on seizure at presentation time. Demographic characteristics [age, gender, residence, duration of fever and disease, presenting complaints and antibiotic intake]; hematological [WBC, neutrophils] Lymphocyte, N/L ratio, packed cell volume, platelets, blood sugar, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) indices were compared between groups. Results: Seizures had a frequency of 18% among the 122 children and were significantly higher in younger cases with female predominance. By multivariate analysis and odds ratio (OR), predictors for seizure were as follows: CSF lymphocytes (OR=0.25, 95%CI=0.08–0.26), lethargy (OR=8.15, 95%CI=1.03-68.65), headache (OR=0.09, 95%CI=0.02-0.45), neck stiffness (OR=0.07, 95% CI=0.01-0.61) and poor feeding (OR=4.8, 95%CI=1.21–18.97). Conclusions: CSF lymphocytes reliably predicted seizure with good sensitivity and specificity of 75% and 73%. Lethargy and poor feeding had the highest odds as clinical predictors of seizures. Together, those results can help with risk stratification and allocate resources for high-risk cases to improve patient outcomes
The present research was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of a training program to improve some aspects of sensory integration disorder and its effect on self-direction among a sample of children with intellectual disabilities. The study sample consists of (10 subjects as an experimental group) were exposed to the training program، and the control group consists of (10 subjects as a control group) were not exposed to the training program. The study included the following tools: A scale of self-direction for intellectual disability (prepared by the researcher). Training program (prepared by the researcher). The Results of the study showed the following: There are no statistically significant differences between the means ranks
... Show MoreObjectives: Determine the age and gender distribution of children who experience diabetes mellitus (DM) under
the age of 15 years and the presence of some associated factors that might be a predisposing factor for the
disease including obesity.
Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted at diabetic clinic in Children Welfare Teaching Hospital
in Baghdad City during 2006. The study sample included diabetic children less than 15 years of age. Data were
taken from the patients' record and by direct interview with the patients' parents. Information included
demographic data, as well as past history of the patient and his/her family relative to diabetes and other immune
diseases.
Results: Data analysis showed t
120 samples were collected from children (ages between new born and 10 years) who infected with oral thrush. The results revealed that the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Fungicidal Concentration (MFC) of extracted oil of lemon grass against C.albicans, C.tropicalis, C.keyfr, C.glabrata and C.guilliermondii were 1.25,1.25,1.25,2.5 and 2.5µl/ml and 2.5, 2.5, 2.5, 5 and 5 µl /ml respectively. while the (MIC) and (MFC) for the extraction oil of thyme against C.albicans, C.tropicalis, C.keyfr, C.glabrata and C.guilliermondii were 0.6, 0.6, 1.25, 1.25, and 1.25µl/ml and 1.25, 1.25, 2.5, 2.5, and 2.5µl/ml respectively . While the value of (MIC) and (MFC) for Nystatin against Candida species were 32 and 64 µg
... Show MoreGroundwater is an important resource that can be used for various purposes. Various factors can change the chemistry of the GW, such as the chemical composition of an aquifer as well as the leaching of human waste into groundwater. The study area is a barren land covered by some sabkhas, in addition to some agricultural fields. The study aims to assess groundwater quality for drinking purposes using the Water Quality Index. The groundwater is chemically heterogeneous and has a wide quality range from very poor to excellent. Evaporation appears to be the controlling factor among the other shallow waters, while relatively deep water is related to rock-soil dominance. Rocks, land use and land cover have helped control the groundwater q
... Show MoreBackground: Leukemia is a group of malignant disorders
associated with increased numbers of blood white blood
cells. Acute leukemia occurs at all ages. Because zinc
influences many body systems and functions, zinc is an
essential nutrient for tissue growth, cellular division,
protein synthesis DNA and RNA replication it also ought to
play a critical role in the growth of tumor. In this study,
serum zinc was estimated in leukemic patients and
compared with healthy subjects.
Methods: The subjects in the present study were; fourtyfour depressed patients aged (14-48 year), thirty-one
apparently healthy subjects were selected as control group.
Their sex and age were comparable to that of patients.
Determin
Background: Recent research indicates that persistent inflammatory responses may contribute to the rise of diabetic nephropathy (DN) and diabetic cardiovascular disease (DCVD) in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients (DM2). Numerous molecules associated with inflammation and angiogenesis have been implicated in the development and progression of DN and DCVD, respectively. Methods: The subjects were separated into five groups: healthy controls (n= 25), type 2 diabetes mellitus patients (n= 30), type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with nephropathy DN (n= 30), and type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with cardiovascular disease DCVD (n= 30). The blood levels of irisin, IL-8, HbA1C, urea, and creatinine were determined. Results: In current study there w
... Show MoreA fracture is a damage to bone tissue that causes damage to the tissue surrounding the bone and may penetrate the skin. Subjects and methods: the present study included (80) fractured Iraqi patients (and 40) patients with DM2 and (40) without DM2 and compared them with (40) healthy control. Patients and control are matched in age. This study showed a significant increase in retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) and a considerable decrease in Vit .A GPT and GOT in fracture patients with and without DM2. In addition, there was a significant negative correlation between RBP4 with (GPT and GOT) in fracture patients with DM2 and a significant positive correlation between RBP4 with (GPT and GOT) in fracture patients without DM2.
... Show MoreBackground: Acute myocardial infarction
(AMI) is one of the most common diagnoses
in hospitalized patients. The stimulus that
initiates the acute inflammatory process in AMI
has not been identified. Conventional risk
factors account only for approximately half of
the patients with clinically apparent
atherosclerosis which can leads to AMI.
Recently a potential link between infectious
agents and atherosclerosis has been suggested
Objective: To find a possible association
between Helicobacter pylori (H. Pylori)
infection and AMI.
Method: We studied the prevalence of antiH. pylori antibodies in 94 patients who were
admitted with the diagnosis of AMI and a
similar number of healthy individuals w
One hundred of dialysis patients' mean age ( 51.18±8.28) years and one hundred healthy control group , where carried out from different hospitals of Baghdad city , during the period between November /2012 until March/2013. Blood samples were collected before dialyzing for estimation the concentration of urea, creatinine, uric acid, random blood sugar , calcium and cholesterol by enzymatic method detected spectrophotometerically.
The aim of this study is to determine concentration of urea, creatinine, uric acid, RBS , calcium and cholesterol in hemodialysis patients in Baghdad . The results showed that there were highly significant increases (P<0.01) in the mean of creatinine ,
... Show MoreAlthough Bacteroides fragilis is a bacterium present within gut microbiota, the toxin producer strain, known as enterotoxigenic B. fragilis (ETBF), is associated with diarrhea in children less than 5 years of age. This study includes 69 diarrheal and 29 non-diarrheal (control) samples collected from children less than 5 years old. DNA was extracted directly from stool specimens and directed to conventional PCR targeting beta-isopropylmalate dehydrogenase (leuB) gene, used for detection of B. fragilis, and Bacteroides fragilis toxin (bft) gene, used for the detection of ETBF. The results showed that the prevalence of leuB gene was 78 (79.6%) including 56 (81.2%) in diarr
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