advancing age. The risk of cardiovascular disease in adults is lowest with systolic BP <120 mm Hg and diastolic BP < 80 mm Hg and increases progressively with higher systolic and diastolic blood pressures. Acupuncture (from the Latin word acus, “needle”, and pungere, meaning “prick”) is a technique in which the practitioner inserts fine needles into specific points on the patient’s body. Accupuncture could be used as a nonpharmacological way of controlling high readings of blood pressure among cases with essential hypertension. This study aimed to investigate the effects of acupuncture on essential hypertension.
Patients and Methods: 51 hypertensive patients of both genders and 30 normotensive control subjects were inv

     In this research, we obtained nanoparticles (NPs) using a type of microwave (cold plasma) and water extract from Origanum vulgare with the addition of silver nitrate (AgNO3) solution. Silver nanoparticles are characterized by high production techniques. Experimental factors such as morphology, structure, optical properties and active compounds of the nanoparticle extract were studied through specific tests such as morphology, UV spectroscopy, FE-SEM, FT-IR, and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). Plants were used in manufacturing the nanoparticles, as plants are well known for their accessibility and applicability in different pathological areas. The current research provides information on the Green Union System of N

Objectives: (I) to describe the hemodynamic and electrocardiograph (ECG) responses in patients with acute myocardial infraction (AMI) to a low level treadmill test (2) to assess the safety of low-level treadmill testing after AMI (3) to determine if information gained from the test can be used for discharge planning.
Methods: 50 consecutive patients with AMI were subjected for symptoms limited treadmill testing in the CCU of University Teaching Hospital Iraqi medical College, their age range was from 30-70 with mean age of 55 years. Blood pressure, heart rate, and ECG during a low level treadmill test studied 6 days after AML They were divided into two groups, group I those who could finish the test and group 2 those who couldn't fini

Background: disturbed physiological rhythm of blood pressure in preeclampsia is a common finding. The role of oxidative stress in pathogenesis of preeclampsia is well accepted. Melatonin is a powerful free radical scavenger so it's rapidly consumed by enhanced reactive oxygen species in preeclampsia causing non-dipping in blood pressure.
Objective: To evaluate the change in plasma melatonin levels in patients with preeclampsia and its relationship with blood pressure.
Patients and methods: In this prospective case control study a total of 40 primigravidae pregnant women were recruited during the period of 11 months between August 2015 and August 2016 in Baghdad teaching hospital, medical city, Iraq, divided into two groups:
Firs

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disorder that involves autoantibodies attacking and weakening joints. RA is characterized by leukocyte (Monocyte, Lymphocyte mast cell .etc) infiltrations into the synovial compartment leading to inflammation in the synovial membrane.   Synovitis leads to the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, matrix metalloproteinases, chemokines, complement proteins, and growth factors. Objective: The current study pointed to verify the diagnostic values of interleukin -17 A and interleukin -18 in Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and the effect of treatment thereon. Study subjects and methods: A total of 88 samples with RA were selected from the health clinics of AL-Yarmouk

Acute appendicitis is the most common surgical abdominal emergency. Its clinical diagnosis remains a challenge to surgeons, so different imaging options were introduced to improve diagnostic accuracy. Among these imaging modality choices, diagnostic medical sonography (DMS) is a simple, easily available, and cost effective clinical tool. The purpose of this study was to assess the accuracy of DMS, in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis compared to the histopathology report, as a gold standard. Between May 2015 and May 2016, 215 patients with suspected appendicitis were examined with DMS. The DMS findings were recorded as positive and negative for acute appendicitis and compared with the histopathological results, as a gold standard

      Coronavirus 2 is the cause of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which leads to severe acute respiratory illness. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have been linked to leukocyte infiltration and chemokine activation during inflammatory responses. Tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase (TIMP) family are thought to dampen the proinflammatory effects of these MMPs. The molecular pathways of lung fibrosis are mediated by MMPs and TIMPs. In this study, we sought to investigate the probable link between MMPs, specifically MMP-3, TIMP-2, and COVID-19. The study included 58 COVID-19 patients and 30 apparently healthy individuals matched in terms of age and sex. Multiplex real- time PCR was used to detect the ORF1ab, E, and N genes of

This study was conducted to examine the discharge capacity of the reach of the Tigris River between Kut and Amarah Barrages of 250km in length. The examination includes simulation the current capacity of the reach by using HEC-RAS model. 247cross sections surveyed in 2012 were used in the simulation. The model was calibrated using observed discharges of 533, 800, 1025 and 3000m³/s discharged at Kut Barrage during 2013, 1995, 1995 and 1988, respectively, and its related water level at three gauge stations located along the reach. The result of calibration process indicated that the lowest Root Mean Square Error of 0.095 can be obtained when using Manning’s n coefficient of 0.026, 0.03 for th