Aim and Objectives: The objective of this study was to illustrate the link between periodontitis (PO) and endothelial dysfunction in hypertensive patients. Materials and Methods: This cross‑sectional study involved 53 hypertensive patients with or without PO compared with 28 healthy controls. On the basis of the study protocol, the participants were divided into three groups: Group (1): 24 patients with hypertension only, Group (2): 29 patients with hypertension and PO, and Group (3): 28 healthy controls. Lipid profile, endothelin‑1 (ET‑1), and high‑sensitivity C‑reactive protein (hs‑CRP) were measured. Blood pressure and body mass index (BMI) were evaluated. Diagnostic criteria of severe PO periodontal indices including plaque index, gingival index, and community periodontal index were estimated. Data collected during the study were analyzed using analysis of variance followed by Bonferroni post hoc test and unpaired t‑test (IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, version 20.0, 2014, IBM, Armonk, NY). Results: BMI was not differed in both groups, P = 0.08. Systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure were high in hypertensive patients with PO compared with hypertensive patients only, P = 0.04 and P = 0.03, respectively. Moreover, hypertensive patients with PO showed significant dyslipidemic status compared with hypertensive patients only (P < 0.05). Biomarker of endothelial dysfunction (ET‑1) was elevated in patients with PO (67.54 ± 13.56 pg/mL) compared with hypertensive patients only (23.67 ± 9.63 pg/mL), P = 0.0001. hs‑CRP serum level was increased patients with PO compared with hypertensive patients only, P = 0.002. PO indices were high in patients with PO compared with hypertensive patients only, P < 0.01. Conclusion: ET‑1 serum level is elevated in hypertensive patients with severe PO and correlated with cardio‑metabolic complications, mainly endothelial dysfunction. Therefore, ET‑1 serum level is regarded as a surrogate biomarker link PO with risk of endothelial dysfunction.
Background and Aim: Canine parvovirus 2 (CPV-2) is a highly contagious virus that infects wild and domestic canines. Despite the use of a routine vaccination protocol, it is endemic in Iraq. The genetic drift of CPV-2 is a major issue worldwide because it abrogates virus control. In Iraq, there is a knowledge gap regarding the genetic sequences of asymptomatic and symptomatic CPV-2 cases. Therefore, this study aimed to perform a genetic analysis of viral capsid protein 1 (VP1) and viral capsid protein 2 (VP2), two major capsid-encoding genes, to demonstrate the possible role of certain mutations in triggering infection. Materials and Methods: Symptomatic and asymptomatic cases (n = 100/each) were tested by a polymerase chain reacti
... Show MoreRheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, progressive, inflammatory autoimmune disease of unidentified etiology, associated with articular, extra-articular and systemic manifestation that require long-standing treatment. Taking patient’s beliefs about the prescribed medication in consideration had been shown to be an essential factor that affects adherence of the patient in whom having positive beliefs is an essential for better adherence. The purpose of the current study was to measure beliefs about medicines among a sample of Iraqi patients with Rheumatoid arthritis and to determine possible association between this belief and some patient-certain factors. This study is a cross-sectional study carried out on 250 already diagnosed rheumatoid
... Show MoreBackground: The main purpose of this study is to find if there is any correlation between the level of C-reactive protein (CRP) in gingival crevicular fluid with its serum level in chronic periodontitis patients and to explore the differences between them according to the probing depth. Materials and methods: Forty seven male subjects enrolled in this study. Thirty males with chronic periodontitis considered as study group whom further subdivided according to probing depth into subgroup 1 with pocket depth ≤6mm, subgroup 2 with pocket depth >6mm. The other 17 subjects considered as controls. For all subjects, clinical examination where done for periodontal parameters plaque index (PLI), gingival index (GI), bleeding on probing (BOP),
... Show MoreThe bile salt hydrolase gene (bshA), encoding bile salt hydrolase enzyme (EC 3.5.1.24) from probiotic isolate Lactobacillus acidophilus Ar strain which is responsible for assimilation cholesterol were studied in the present work. About 801 bp in length DNA fragment of Lb. acidophilus Ar strain was amplified by PCR techniques. Two restriction sites (PstI/SacI) were added to each end of that fragment for manipulation of DNA during cloning. Amplified fragment inserted into pJET1.2\blunt end vector and pMG36e vector respectively. pJET1.2\blunt end vector is overexpression plasmid for E. coli MC1022, and pMG36e vector is a shuttle vector which is able to replicate in both E. coli and lactic acid bacteria. The resulted constructs were named as pJ
... Show MoreBackground: Otitis media with effusion is a common and important pediatric clinical problem; it is the leading cause of hearing impairment in children. Medical treatment remains controversial. Aim: To evaluate the usefulness of using topical nasal steroids in the treatment of otitis media with effusion. Patients and Methods: Between November 2019 and October 2022, a prospective controlled clinical study was carried out in the department of otolaryngology at Al-Jerrahat Teaching Hospital in Medical City, Baghdad, Iraq. This study comprised 40 patients with bilateral otitis media with effusion (23 males, 17 females). Two groups were created for the patients. Patients in group A (20 patients) were treated with mometasone furoate nasal spra
... Show MoreRheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease associated with decreased antioxidant state .This study aim to investigate the status of oxidant/antioxidant in a sample of Iraqi patients with RA and the role of peroxynitrite and its natural scavenger uric acid in them .This case-controlled study was conducted at Baghdad teaching hospital /Baghdad from December 2010-May 2011 . Twenty-five patients with mean age 39 years and 25 apparently healthy subject as controls with mean age 29 years were included in the study .Investigations include estimation of serum levels of nitric oxide (NO) ,peroxynitrite (PN) , malondialdehyde (MDA) , and uric acid (UA) .Serum PN levels were significantly elevated in RA patients a
... Show MoreBackground: Hemorrhoids are one of the most
common surgical conditions .Conventional
haemorrhoidectomy was the traditional operation for
the treatment of hemorrhoids. Other modalities of
treatment had been used as an alternative operations
including CO2 laser haemorrhoidectomy.
Objectives: To determine the outcome of treatment
of hemorrhoids by using CO2 laser
haemorrhoidectomy and its advantages over
conventional surgery
Methods: This is a retrospective comparative
interventional study of 1024 case of third degree
haemorhoids selected out of 1300 case of
hemorrhoids of different degrees, admitted to
ALKINDY, ALYERMOUK teaching hospitals and
ABD ALMAGEED private hospital, from May 1998
to J
The study is situated in the Kokoe Region of Central Buton Regency, Southeast Sulawesi, specifically in the southern part of Kabaena Island. Its primary objective is to assess the potential of nickel laterite in the designated area. The research methodology involved microscopic analysis of bedrock using a polarizing microscope, examining the drilling data, including logging descriptions, and utilizing XRF geochemical analysis (Ni, Fe, Al2O3, Co, Mg, and SiO2) from 32 drilling sites. Both elementary grade and laterite profiles were visualized using Strater 5 software to simplify the representation of laterite profiles. Petrographic analysis divided the bedrock into two lithological units: serpentinized lherzolite and serpentinite. Th
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The current study aimed to identify the quality of health services provided by the Omani health sector through the comparison between public and private hospitals in Dhofar Governorate, Oman. A questionnaire has been developed to collect data from 360 patients who received health services in one public Hospital (Sultan Qaboos) and three private Hospitals (Badr Al-Sama, Lifeline, and Al-Hakeeim). The data were analyzed using independent samples T-Test and One Way ANOVA. The results of the study showed that the quality levels of health services offered in private hospitals were better than public hospitals. The study results also reveled that there are significant differences between public hospitals and private hos
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