Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive airflow limitation that is preventable but not curable. It is associated with persistent symptoms that cause a considerable burden on individual productivity at work, and daily activities, and reduced quality of life, also burdening the healthcare system and society. Objectives: The study aims to measure the burden of COPD on patients in terms of daily activities and work productivity. It also seeks to investigate some inflammatory biomarkers' levels and their correlation with selected outcomes. Patients and Methods: A cross-sectional study on 120 stable COPD patients who were diagnosed and treated according to the GOLD guidelines at Kirkuk General Hospital's chest and Internal Medicine consultation clinics, and in private internist clinics in Kirkuk City, Iraq between January and April 2023. The Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire (WPAI-COPD) measured the Burden of COPD. The symptom burden was assessed by the COPD assessment test (CAT). The level of IL-6 monoclonal antibodies was measured via a Roche Cobas 6000 analyzer and TNF-α using the ELISA sandwich technique. All these devices and machines were authorized by the Ministry of Health, Iraq. Results: The mean age was (54.1 ± 8.12) years, 62.5% being males and 37.5% being females; 41.7% were public sector employees, and 39.2% were self-employed. Due to COPD, the overall work loss was (45.9±18.91) days, the mean percentage of absenteeism was (10.9% ± 12.31%), activity impairment was (47.5% ±17.79%) among all patients, presenteeism was (40.8 ± 15.05%,) and COPD-related retirees were 14.2% of the study group. The mean CAT score (19.3±5.63) was high and the most troubling symptom among patients was chest tightness. WPAI-COPD scores were higher in older age and longer disease duration. The levels of biomarkers were above the reference ranges, the mean IL-6 level was (69.4 ± 35.29) pg/ml, and the mean TNF-α was (72.3 ± 22.45) pg/ ml. Conclusions: COPD patients exhibit a disease burden in terms of productivity loss at work and activity impairment that increases with aging and disease duration. COPD patients with low BMI are more prone to a decline in lung functions and to worse symptoms.
The objective of this study was to evaluate the alteration in levels of gonado trophins hormones i.e.,Leutizing (LH),Follicular(FSH) in sera of patients with thyroid disorders and molecular binding study of (LH ,FSH) with their antibodies The study was conducted at the specialized center for endocrinology and diabetes from January / 2009 to March / 2010.Two hundreds and twenty three Iraqi subjects, 109 patients with thyroid disorders at age range between (40-50) years and 114 healthy individuals as control group were included in this study.The majority of patients were female with hyperthyroidism and (49.54 % ) were at age range between(40 - 50) years. The levels of hormones(LH,FSH.tri iodothyronine(T3).thyroxine(T4), thy
... Show MoreBackground: Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disease of the neuromuscular junction that results in fluctuating muscle weakness as well as significant fatigue. Disease exacerbation is a critical condition, and the predisposing factors for it need to be identified to improve preventive measures.
Objectives: Our study aims to determine the predisposing factors for myasthenia gravis exacerbations in a group of Iraqi patients.
Subjects and Methods: A total number of 30 myasthenia gravis patients were admitted to the hospital with an exacerbation of their symptoms, determined as the development of functional disability, dysphagia, or respiratory fai
... Show MoreRenal transplantation is a principal treatment option for end-stage kidney failure. Bone loss and fracture are serious complication of kidney transplantation, associated with morbidity and mortality. The pathogenesis of post transplantation bone loss is multifactorial and complex
The simulation is the oldest theory in art, since it appeared in the Greek aesthetic thought of the philosopher Plato, as we find in many of the thinkers and philosophers over a wide period of time to reach our world today. Our fascination with art in general and design art in particular is due to the creativity and innovations of the artist through the simulation, as well as the peculiarities in this simulation, which give objects signs and signals that may have an echo that sometimes does not exist in their physical reality.
The real representation of life and design construction, descriptions of the expression of each of them in the form of intellectual construction and the ideas of producti
... Show MoreThe research team seeks to study the phenomena of random housing in Iraqi society in general and Baghdad city in particular by standing on the causes behind this phenomena and its relation with security situation in Baghdad. The researchers adopted a theoretical and practical framework. The main objective is to diagnose the risks caused by the escalation of slums in Baghdad city.
The current research aims to diagnose the extent of interest in knowledge sharing and its role in achieving organizational excellence at the level of the Iraqi environment Primary data through descriptive statistics (arithmetic mean, standard deviation, coefficient of variation, percentages, frequencies) and hypothesis testing using appropriate statistical methods for inferential statistical analysis (Pearson correlation coefficient, simple linear regression, multiple regression, path analysis) and checking the quality of the data from During (normal distribution, confirmatory factor analysis, structural modeling method, and exploratory factor analysis), after collecting data from (358) observations from the company’s leaders, as
... Show MoreAbstract
The research aims to verify the dimensions of tax justice that exist in Iraq, and to determine their impact on tax compliance. Through a revised model of tax justice based on the literature of tax justice according to the classification of the studies of (Saad, 2009), (Wenzel, 2002), by using a questionnaire as an experimental measurement tool designed to be in line with perceptions of tax justice in Iraq. To define the dimensions of tax justice (the independent variable) with eight dimensions (Distributive justice, Exchange justice, Vertical justice, Horizontal justice, Retributive justice,
... Show More The research aims to (identify the applications of pedagogy in art education), the research community included, art education for the primary stage, so the community consisted of (8) main areas in art education, either the research sample was chosen, two main areas (objectives, and content), and included the research methodology (descriptive and analytical), the researcher built the research tool represented (the validity form of the tool) and presented to a group of experts to indicate its validity as well as to measure its stability, To show the results, the researcher used the percentage, and the researcher recommended - modifying the curriculum every period of time, such as every four years, others
Abstract
The research aims at achieving a set of objectives, which is to study a vital variable in the organizations which is the talent management and its impact on encouraging and empowering employees to take part in making appropriate decisions with their heads in the Iraqi Cement State Company. The problem of this research is in finding solutions to the weaknesses that face the managers in attracting talented employees and keep them in the company, and this leads to a weak capacity of the company on authorizing talented employees and giving them the needed confidence to participate in decision making process. The research sample was included (45) managers in the researched company. Th
... Show MoreDuring the 2016–2017 and 2017–2018 winter semesters, researchers from the College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences at the University of Baghdad conducted a field experiment at the university’s research station. This inquiry set out to examine how spraying wheat plants with vitamins B9 (Folic acid) and E (Tocopherol) affected certain yield characteristics (Al-Fourat variety). The studies were set up as three repetitions of a factorial experiment using a Randomized Full Block Design. Vitamin E was sprayed at 0, 1, and 2 ml.L-1, while vitamin B9 was sprayed at 0, 1, and 3 ml.L-1 (0, 250, and 500 mg. L-1). While the