The typical test for diagnosis of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 is a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique, but the chest CT scan might play a complementary role at the first detection of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia. Objectives: To determine the sensitivity of CT scan on patients with COVID-19 in Al-Najaf, Iraq, and to compare the accuracy of CT scan with that of RT-PCR technique. Material and Method: This is a prospective study. The patients suspicious of having COVID-19 infection and respiratory symptoms were registered. All patients were diagnosed by RT-PCR and chest CT. Diagnostic performance of CT was intended using RT-PCR as the reference sta
... Show MoreBackground: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Clopidogrel, antiplatelet drug, has been widely used for management of CAD. Arylesterase, the activity of Paraoxonase-1 (PON-1), is mainly contributed in the biotransformation of clopidogrel to its active thiol form. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of receiving clopidogrel drug on the arylesterase activities in CAD patients. The effect of receiving clopidogrel drug on the antioxidant activity of arylesterase was also monitored by determination of malondialdehyde (MDA) level. Methods: One hundred CAD patients, who were followed-up for 5 days after reciving clopidogrel, and 50 healthy volunteers were included in our study
... Show MoreIntroduction Periodontal diseases are ranked among the most common health problems affecting mankind. These conditions are initiated by bacterial biofilm, which is further modulated by several risk factors. Objectives To investigate the association of different risk factors with periodontal...
BackgroundThe diagnosis and important aspects in treating acute abdomen during pregnancy tend to be delayed due to the peculiar physiological features of pregnancy and the restrictions imposed on imaging diagnostic techniques such as x-ray and CT.Aim of the studyTo identify the most common causes of acute abdomen during pregnancy and identifying the approaches for early diagnosis and to take a correct decision for surgery and assigning the complications that may occur during and/or after surgery for the mother and the fetus.Patients and Methods This is a prospective study that involves data obtained from 91 pregnant patients admitted in the surgical wards in Baghdad teaching hospital during the period from January 2008 to December 2009 .
... Show MoreAcute toxoplasmosis (AT) which is caused by Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) leads to induction of pro-inflammatory and/or oxidative stress changes through activation of host immune response. Therefore, the endeavor of the present study was to assess endothelial dysfunction(ED) and oxidative stress in patients with acute toxoplasmosis.
Anti-tumor necrosis factor treatments for inflammatory bowel disease face challenges like primary nonresponse and secondary loss of response, often due to antidrug antibodies that increase drug clearance. The Fc-gamma receptors type3A (FCGR3A) (rs396991) polymorphism affects infliximab pharmacokinetics and immunogenicity. This study investigates its influence on trough levels, anti-infliximab antibody development, and clinical outcomes in Iraqi ulcerative colitis (UC) patients. This single-center study involved patients on maintenance infliximab therapy who were enrolled. Serum infliximab trough levels and anti-infliximab antibodies (antibodies to infliximab) (free and total) were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Genotyping
... Show MoreThis study is pointed out to estimate the effectiveness of two solvents in the extraction and evaluating the active ingredients and their antioxidant activity as well as anti-cancer efficiency. Therefore, residues from four different Brassica vegetables viz. broccoli, Brussels sprout, cauliflower, and red cherry radish were extracted using two procedures methods: methanolic and water crude extracts. Methanol extracts showed the highest content of total phenolic (TP), total flavonoids (TF), and total tannins (TT) for broccoli and Brussels sprouts residues. Methanolic extract of broccoli and Brussels sprouts residues showed the highest DPPH· scavenging activity (IC50 = 15.39 and 18.64 µg/ml). The methanol and water ex
... Show MoreA novel ligand, (E)-5-((2-hydroxy-4,6-dimethylphenyl)diazenyl)-2,3-dihydrophthalazine-1,4- dione, was synthesized through the reaction of 3,5-dimethylphenol with the diazonium salt of 5-amino-2,3-dihydrophthalazine-1,4-dione. The ligand underwent characterization through the utilization of diverse spectroscopic methods, including UV-Vis, FT-IR, 13C, and 1H-NMR, alongside Mass spectroscopy and micro elemental analysis (Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, and Oxygen). Metal chelates of transition metals were prepared and analyzed using elemental analysis, mass spectra, atomic absorption, UV-Vis, FT-IR spectral analysis, as well as conductivity and magnetic measurements. The investigation into the compounds’ nature was conducted by utilizing mole r
... Show MoreABSTRACTBackground: Concerns about hepatitis A infections is increasing worldwide specially after improving economic and sanitary conditions in many countries making older age groups who escape infection on early life vulnerable to infection.Objectives: The objectives were to estimate the frequency of hepatitis A among children consulting Al Alwyia pediatric Teaching Hospital during the year 2013 and to study some demographic characteristics of the disease.Methods: This cross - sectional hospital -based study wasconducted during 2013-2014 and include pediatric patients(43525 patients) who consult Al Alwyia pediatric hospitalduring that time. The outcome is total IgM antibodies tohepatitis A virus detected using Enzyme Linked FluorescentA
... Show MoreBackground:The most common pattern of dyslipidemia in diabetic patients is increased triglyceride (TG) and decreased HDL cholesterol level, The concentration of LDL cholesterol in diabetic patients is usually not significantly different from non diabetic individuals, Diabetic patients may have elevated levels of non-HDL cholesterol [ LDL+VLDL]. However type 2 diabetic patients typically have apreponderance of smaller ,denser LDL particles which possibly increases atherogenicity even if the absolute concentration of LDL cholesterol is not significantly increased. The Third Adult Treatment Panel of the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP III) and the American Heart Association (AHA ) have designate diabetes as a coronary heart dis
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