Objective To highlight the main demographic characteristics and clinical profiles of female patients registered with breast cancer in Iraq; focusing on the impact of age.Methods This retrospective study enrolled 1172 female patients who were diagnosed with breast cancer at the Main Center for Early Detection of Breast Cancer/Medical City Teaching Hospital in Baghdad. Data were extracted from an established information system, developed by the principal author under supervision of WHO, that was based on valid clinical records of Iraqi patients affected by breast cancer. The recorded information regarding clinical examination comprised positive palpable lumps, bloody nipple discharge, skin changes, bilateral breast involvement, tumor

Background: Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a well-recognized cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.Objectives: To evaluate the prognostic implications of the restrictive left ventricular filling pattern (RFP) in dilated cardiomyopathy.Methods: Patients with DCM admitted to Ibn AL-Bitar Hospital for Cardiac Surgery, Baghdad-Iraq, from May 2006 to August 2008, underwent a full clinical evaluation and Doppler echocardiography study. Patients were classified into three groups: Group I had persistent restrictive filling pattern; Group II had reversible restrictive filling pattern; and Group III had nonrestrictive filling pattern. Results: The current study was conducted on a total number of 80 patients with DCM, fifty (62.5 %) were

Introduction: In recent decades, the endovascular treatment of cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) has advanced. However, it still carries risks of unanticipated complications. Coil migration is a reported complication of aneurysmal coiling procedures. Herein, we report a case of early intraprocedural coil migration during pressure cooker technique embolization of right thalamic AVM, discussing the management and potential explanations. The literature showed no report of coil migration after the pressure cooker technique in the form of coil-augmented Onyx injection technique (CAIT). Case description: An otherwise healthy 26-year-old female suddenly developed a severe headache with no loss of consciousness. Computed tomograp

Background: Joubert syndrome (JS) is a very rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by agenesis of cerebellar vermis, abnormal eye movements, respiratory irregularities, and delayed generalized motor development. Retinal dystrophy and cystic kidneys may also be associated with this clinical syndrome. The importance of recognizing JS is related to the outcome and its potential complications. This syndrome is difficult to diagnose clinically because of its variable phenotype. Its neuroimaging hallmarks include the characteristic molar tooth sign and bat wing-shaped fourth ventricle

Inflammation of the tonsils could be described as acute tonsillitis, mainly due to infection. Recurrent tonsillitis could be defined as 3-7 episodes during the first 3 years of age. Vitamin D, which is a neuro-hormone with pleiotropic biological activities may modulate the immune response by alleviation, and stimulation of Th1 and Th2 cell proliferation, respectively, that influence the stimulation, synthesis, and secretion of both pro and anti-inflammatory cytokines. In this study we aimed to shed light on the levels of vitamin D in children with different episodes of tonsillitis in association with levels of interleukins (TNFα, IL-2, IL-4, IL-10). Blood samples were collected from 48 participants in 3 groups: control, acute tonsilliti

BACKGROUND: Sickle cell nephropathy, a heterogeneous group of renal abnormalities resulting from complex interactions of sickle cell disease (SCD)-related factors and non-SCD phenotype characteristics, is associated with an increased risk for morbidity and mortality. AIMS: The aims of this study were to determine the frequency of microalbuminuria (MA) among pediatric patients with SCD and to determine risk factors for MA among those patients. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A case–control study was carried out on 120 patients with SCD, 2–18 years old, registered at Basrah Center for Hereditary Blood Diseases, and 132 age-and sex-matched healthy children were included as a control group. Investigations included complete blood panel, blood urea, se

Background:
Patients treated for pediatric malignancy are at high risk of parenterally transmitted viral hepatitis.
Objectives:
To detect the seroprevalence of hepatitis B and C viral infections in children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia & identify some variables that could affect its
prevalence in these patients.
Patients and Methods:
One hundred fifty pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients, presented to Children Welfare Teaching Hospital, Baghdad, during the period from March 11th
2007 to July 31st 2007 were enrolled in this study; they were 103 males, 47 females, aged (2.25 months- 16 years). Sera of these patients were investigated for hepatitis
markers including HBsAg and A

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a parasitic infection caused by an intracellular growth of Leishmania spp. in macrophage cells. The autoimmune disorder is a condition takes place when the immune system produces antibodies which incorrectly attacked its own body tissues. VL has been involved as an effect or on the autoimmune aspect. This study was conducted to identify the auto antibodies profile in patients infected with VL. The presences of auto antibodies in 21 Iraqi children infected with VL were tested for laboratory autoimmune aspect. The highest percentage of seropositive in Leishmania patients was observed for anti-ds DNA, anti-Mi-2, anti-Ku and anti-PCNA antibodies (90.5%, 90.5%, 90.5% and 61.9%) respectively, while the lowest percen

Background: Septicemia is a common condition in children with a resultant high morbidity and mortality. It’s defined as the presence of bacteria in the blood and is often associated with severe infections, the alternative names (Blood poisoning, Bacteremia with sepsis, systemic inflammatory response syndrome).
Objective: To study the etiological agents and antibiotics susceptibility of septicemia in children admitted to Central Teaching Hospitals of Pediatric.
Patients and Methods: A total of 80 patients having signs and symptoms of Septicemia who were admitted to Central Teaching Hospital of Pediatric in Baghdad city. Samples were obtained during the period from the 1st January till the 30 th of Feb

The treatment of migraine headache targets the neurovascular mechanism and involves the use of serotonin receptor antagonists. Some of these drugs are used for the treatment of acute attacks; while others are effective as prophylactic measures to decrease the duration and frequency of attacks. Pizotifen, a 5-HT_A antagonist, is one of the prophylactic drugs for which the clinical use resulted in low outcomes in reducing migraine symptoms. Melatonin, a serotonin derived neurohormone, was reported to exert many functions like sleep induction, anti-inflammatory, neurovascular regulation, cytoprotection and modulation of neurotransmitter release.  In the view of the involvement of serotonin in the pathophysiology of migraine a