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.
Background: Automobile spray painting is considered an occupation with a high risk of respiratory impairment and asthma. Exposure to organic solvents used for spraying might be of high risk for development of dysfunction in other organs.
Objective: The study was designed to evaluate the pulmonary and hepatic toxicity due to exposure of automobile painters to organic solvents in work places within the Baghdad governorate area.
Methods: Thirty cross sectional selected male workers employed in automobile body paint shops in two industrial areas within Baghdad city (Al-Sheikh Omar and Al-Rasheed camp regions) were recruited to the study during the period from March to May 2012. Thirty non-exposed students and employees in the college o
Background: Patients who have both neurological impairment and kyphotic deformity can be treated medically, and this treatment can be achieved with anti-tuberculous drugs alone.
Objective: To evaluate conservative medical management of patients with tuberculosis of the spine (Pott disease). The prognostic significance of various clinical, radiological, and long-term follow-up findings in these patients was also evaluated.
Methods: Between January 2009 and January 2018 data were collected prospectively at The Neurosciences Hospital/ Baghdad/ Iraq in 44 patients with Pott disease in the thoracic and lumbar spine. These patients had no major neurological deficits or
... Show MoreThe study aims to identify the effect of training with weight added to different parts of the body in improving the biomechanical variables of the last step and upgrading the high jump for young people, the research was applied to one of the elite high jumpers for young people, and video imaging and kinetic analysis were conducted to extract the variables under study, and then the jumper underwent For the proposed exercises by 3 training units per week for a period of (8) weeks, in which emphasis was placed on improving the rotational forces (moments) of these parts, and then the post-tests were conducted, and the researcher concluded that the exercises applied and the added weights for all parts of the body (leg, thigh, trunk, and arms) le
... Show MoreMany studied were conducted to evaluate the antihepatotoxic and antioxidant activities of Silybum marianum and proved these actions. The Naturally grown seed in Iraqi-Kurdistan Region also were studied for its chemical contents and biological activities. Vegetable oils occur in various plant parts mainly concentrated in the seeds.
In this study comparison was made between the fatty acid patterns of two plant seeds, Silybum marianum and Nigella sativa. Seed sample of Silybum marianum and Nigella sativa were exposed for extraction and isolation of the fatty acid contents using two different solvents (petroleum ether and n-hexane) at 60-80oC using soxhlet apparatus and the oily extract
... Show MoreThe research problem is represented in the weakness of reliance on the role of some motor abilities (flexibility, balance and compatibility) in biomechanical indicators and the performance of a large number of gymnastics skills, including the skill of the human wheel, in addition to the lack of reliance on the use of video imaging of the skill in order to analyze its path and identify its weaknesses. The research aimed to identify the relationship between motor abilities, biomechanical indicators and the degree of performance of the skill of the human wheel, and the descriptive method was used on its own, chosen in an intentional method, consisting of (10) students from the third stage in the Department of Physical Education and Sp
... Show MoreJumping ability is a fundamental variable in many sports, as its execution requires an integration of muscular strength Q1 and certain biomechanical variables. This is particularly evident in gymnastics jumping events and jump shots in ball games, both of which rely on a high level of vertical resistance. Vertical resistance serves as an indicator of an athlete’s ability to overcome their body weight while counteracting gravitational force to achieve optimal performance. As such, it is considered one of the key factors in movements that demand explosive power and speed. The researchers believe that despite the significant relationship between vertical resistance, speed-strength of the arms and legs, and certain biomechanical varia
... Show MoreBackground: Helicobacter pylorus is one of the most harmful human pathogens & carcinogen. Of the world's population, more than 50% has H. pylori in their upper gastrointestinal tracts. It has been linked to a variety of extra gastric disorders. In correlation to hepatobiliary diseases; recently, the bacterium has been implicated as a risk factor for various diseases ranging from chronic cholecystitis and primary biliary sclerosing cholangitis to gall bladder cancer and primary hepatic carcinomas. However, the association between Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and gallbladder diseases is still vague and is controversial.
Aim of study: To elucidate the association of H pylori and gallbladder diseases (calculu
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This research aims to identify the challenges faced by families of children with intellectual disabilities and to identify the impact of the challenges facing them on the mental health of their children with intellectual disabilities. Based on the following questions: What is the nature of the challenges faced by families of children with disabilities and how do these challenges affect the mental health of their children with intellectual disabilities? The study was conducted on a sample of four families of six children with intellectual disabilities, depending on the degree and type of disability. To achieve the study's objectives, the qualitative approach was used, Because of the importance of accessin
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