Background: Neonatal jaundice (NJ) is a common problem worldwide and frequent in Iraq . Several reports were published on prevalence, distribution, causes and treatment of NJ.This clinical trial was carried out to demonstrate the effect of combinations of Castrol oil, riboflavin and magnesium in mechanical elimination of bilirubin after enhancing hepatic excretion by phototherapy.
Patients & methods: This clinical trial included a total of 61 significantly jaundiced neonates who were admitted to the special care baby unit of Children Welfare Teaching Hospital, medical city complex, Baghdad, Iraq, during the period June 1st to Dec.31st 2007. Phototherapy was applied alone in 30 neonates (group 1) and p

Background: In developing countries, neonatal death account for 99% of neonatal deaths in the world. In Iraq, the neonatal death rates are still unknown.
Objectives: To assess the death rate and the major causes of neonatal death in the neonatal care unit (NCU) in Baghdad Teaching Hospital-Medical City/ Baghdad.
Patients &Methods: A descriptive study of 564 neonatal deaths in the neonatal care unit (NCU) from 1st of January 2007 to 31st of December 2009 in Baghdad Teaching Hospital-Medical City/ Baghdad was carried out, and the causes of death as registered in the neonatal medical records and death certificates were studied.
Results: Neonatal death rate relative to admission was (18.5%). The Neonatal death rates were lower i

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 .

     One of the most prevalent illnesses in developing countries is myocardial infarction (MI), which develops when the heart's blood supply is suddenly interrupted and causes tissue damage. It is connected to several metabolic risk factors, including diabetes, hypertension, and obesity. The objective of this study was to assess how oxidative stress (OS) contributed to the pathophysiology of MI and T2DM. The current study examined 152 male samples, including 52 MI patients without T2DM (G1), 50 MI patients with T2DM (G2), and 50 seemingly healthy men as controls (C). The levels of fasting blood sugar (FBS), C-reactive protein (CRP), total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidant status (TAS), oxidative stress index (OSI), malondialdeh

miRNAs regulate protein abundance and control diverse aspects of cellular processes and biological functions in metabolic diseases, such as obesity and diabetes. Lethal-7(Let-7) miRNAs specifically target genes associated with diabetes and have a role in the regulation of peripheral glucose metabolism. The present study aimed to describe the gene expressions of the let-7a gene with the development of diabetes in Iraq and the difference in the expression of this gene in patients with diabetes and healthy individuals. The association between age and gender with the development of diabetes was studied in this study and the results were compared with those of healthy individuals in the group of control. Based on the obtained results, there was

pancreatic islets in which a process of programmed cell death (apoptosis) is elicited in the β-cells by interaction of activated T-cells and proinflammatory cytokines in the immune infiltrate. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a pleiotropic cytokine with a key impact on both immunoregulation and nonimmune events in many cell types .
Objective: to assess the level of serum IL-6 as an inflammatory marker in type 1 diabetic children, with correlation to FBG and HbA1c.
Subjects and methods: 45 type 1 diabetic child (20 males and 25 females), mean age 10.9± 3.4 years who attended the National Diabetic Center, Al-Mustansiria university were included in this study. 45 apparently healthy controls matched for age and sex were participated in this s

Background: Cytokines have long been implicated in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diabetes in a number of studies, and playing a role in the initiation of β-cell damaging process. The objective of this study is to gain more understanding about the role of cytokines in initiation of T1DM, through assessment of IFN-γ, IL-10 and IL-6 in diabetic patients.
Patients and methods: A total of 60 patients who were newly diagnosed as having T1DM (diagnosed less than five months) were included in the present study. Fifty apparently healthy control subjects were underwent the measurement of serum IFN-γ, IL-10 and IL-6 by ELISA.
Results: Higher serum levels of IFN-γ, IL-10, and Il-6 were observed in the investigated