Background: Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a common health problem that has a worldwide distribution. Apart from the direct effect of the virus on the liver, there are many extrahepatic manifestations among which the probable effect on bone turnover associated with low bone mineral density (BMD). Objectives: This study aimed to determine the association between treated and untreated chronic HBV infection with BMD. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study which included a total of 48 patients with chronic HBV (28 patients treated with tenofovir-disoproxil-fumarate [TDF] antiviral drug and 20 patients have not yet started treatment). Other age- and sex-matched 30 apparently healthy individuals were recruited to represent the healthy controls. BMD was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry on the anteroposterior lumbar spine (L1–L4 spine) views, from which T-score was calculated. Liver function tests were also evaluated from serum samples. Results: Treated patients showed a lower T‑score (−0.48 ± 0.72) than either healthy individuals (1.08 ± 0.84) or untreated patients (0.78 ± 0.51), with highly significant differences. In multivariate regression, only disease duration (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 9.71, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 4.8–16.68) and TDF treatment (adjusted OR = 6.4, 95% CI = 4.18–97.05) were significantly associated with BMD. Conclusions: Prolonged use of TDF in the treatment of HBV infection can significantly reduce BMD. Moreover, BMD can also be inversely affected in long-standing HBV, regardless of treatment regimen.
Background: Psoriasis is an immune-mediated inflammatory disease with unknown aetiology that may be associated with the defect in proliferation and differentiation of the keratinocytes related to inflammatory cell infiltration. According to published reports, it is universal in occurrence; its prevalence in different populations varies from 0.1% to 11.8%. Receiving Apremilast resulted in a strong reduction in interleukin 17 and interleukin 23, as well as reduced expression of other inflammatory cytokines and improvement of psoriatic lesions. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the impact of Apremilast on levels of IL-17, IL-23, and lipids in obese psoriatic patients. Methods: Thirty obese patients with psoriasis were included in
... Show MoreBackground: Women sexuality is basic right and it plays a major role in women's Health aspects. Up is one of the factors that lead to sexual dysfunction while the incidence of it is rising as UP severity being more. Objectives: To assess the impact of different degrees of uterine prolapse on sexual function of women at teaching hospitals in AL-Hilla City. Methodology: A descriptive analytical study was conducted from 1ST Feb to 10th Jun /2014 to assess the impact of different degrees of uterine prolapse on sexual function for women who attend to consultant clinic at teaching hospitals in AL-Hilla City
Aim: This abstract aims to highlight the critical nature of climate change as a pressing challenge facing humanity in the 21st century. It underscores the severe consequences it poses to essential facets of human existence, including water and energy resources, agricultural production, and the broader environmental systems. Method: The abstract primarily utilizes a descriptive approach to emphasize the impact of climate change on the Middle East, particularly the Arab region. It relies on a review of existing knowledge and data related to climate change and its effects on ecosystems and drought patterns. Results: The abstract outlines the direct and indirect repercussions of climate change on human life and the environment. It draws atten
... Show MoreDue to the increasing interest in the quality of auditing by writers, researchers and regulators of the auditing profession. The matter necessitated a statement of the extent to which the auditor practices professional skepticism, because of its significant impact in discovering errors and material misrepresentations contained in the financial statements in order to give the financial community confidence in them and the success of the audit process. The research aims to clarify the concept and importance of the practice of professional skepticism and its effect on the quality of the auditor's performance in Iraq. To achieve the research objectives, the two re
... Show Moreدُرِست العوامل المؤثرة في عدد ساعات تجهيز الكهرباء في مدينة بغداد، وتكونت عينة الدراسة من (365) مشاهدة يومية لعام 2018، وتمثلت بستة متغيرات استعملت في الدراسة. كان الهدف الرئيس هو دراسة العلاقة بين هذه المتغيرات، وتقدير تأثيرات المتغيرات التنبؤية في المتغير التابع (عدد ساعات تجهيز الكهرباء في مدينة بغداد). ولتحقيق ذلك استعملت نمذجة المعادلات الهيكلية/ تحليل المسار وبرنامج AMOS
... Show MoreAnalyze the relationship between genetic variations in the MTHFR gene at SNPs (rs1801131 and rs1801133) and the therapy outcomes for Iraqi patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The study was conducted on a cohort of 95 RA Iraqi patients. Based on their treatment response, the cohort was divided into two groups: the responder (47 patients) and the nonresponder (48 patients), identified after at least three months of methotrexate (MTX) treatment. A polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR–RFLP) technique was employed to analyze the MTHFR variations, specifically at rs1801133 and rs1801131. Overall, rs1801131 followed both codominant and dominate models, in which in
This study is considered to be the first on this sector of Tigris River after 2003, to evaluate the effect of Tharthar Arm on the composition and diversity of Copepoda in Tigris River. Six sampling sites were selected; two on the Tharthar Arm and four sites along the Tigris River, one before the confluence as a control site and the others downstream the confluence; thirty-five copepod taxa were recorded, 34 taxa in the Tigris River and 25 taxa in the Tharthar Arm.
The highest density of Copepoda was in site 2 at Tharthar Arm was 265584.2 Ind./m3 lead to an increasing in Copepoda density in Tigris River from 63878.2 Ind./m3 in site 1 before the confluence to 127198.3 Ind./m3 in site 4 immediately downstream the confluence. Also, the me
The electronic payment systems are considered the most important infrastructure for the work of banks, particularly after a steady and remarkable development in information and communication technology, Which created the reality of the work of the infrastructure for these systems and these systems also become one of the most important components of infrastructure for the work of banks, cause it is one of the most important channels through which the transfer of cash, financial instruments between financial institutions in general and banking in particular.
In order to achieve the objectives of the research, the most important to identify the concept of electronic payment systems, and its divisions, and th
... Show MoreAlthough a great deal of works has been done on the area of capital structure and dividend policy, there is still insufficient knowledge of how these policies affect stock prices. This shortcoming may have been originated from the separation between both policies when investigating their effect on stock prices. Based on this point, this research adopts a new technique (completely randomized design), to combine the effect of capital structure and dividend policy on stock prices rather than separating between them. The study used panel based regression analysis depending on the sample of 30 service and industrial Jordanian firms for the period of 2001-2010. The result of test hypotheses found the following; 1) dividend payout has a
... Show MoreThe research aims to show the impact of the new modern malls on urban adjacent land uses; it handled concise study of the old markets, contemporary shopping malls, and the standards and regulations for commercial use. Sample study has been taken from new allocated malls in the city of Baghdad. The results of the sample analysis, and statistical analysis has proven hypothesis; that the locating of new malls impacted physical, social, and economic on urban adjacent, especially the exotic on urban fabric. It also turned out that the shopping demand from these malls is inelastic, which gives an opportunity to the planner and the decision-maker, to locate the modern new malls where spatial appropriate in the city are available. The major reco
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