Invasive aspergillosis is a severe infection that occurs in patients with prolonged neutropenia, following chemotherapy,transplantation,or immunosuppressive protocols .Galactomannan ( GM) is a molecule ,found in the cell wall of Aspergillus species and is released in the blood during growth .The detection of GM in the blood is used to diagnose the invasive Aspergillosis in humans using ELISA assay.
Objectives: To detect Galactomannan antigen in in the serum of immunocompramized patients suspected to have invasive aspergillosis.
Patients and methods: This study was conducted on 50 patients from the hematology&oncology department,of Baghdad teaching hospital and pediatric oncology wards ,from March 2013 to October 2013.The patients presented with fever that is not responding to antibiotics along with cough and sputum and abnormal chest X-ray findings suspicious of IA. 11 healthy Iraqi individuals served as a control group.
Results: ELISA test was positive in 39 of 50 (78%)while all of the control group individuals were negative(100%).The concentration of galactomannan antigen detected by ELISA was statistically significant when compared to control group( OD 0.658±0.033 vs 0.191±0.020 respectively) ( p<0.05).
Conclusion: The detection of galactomannan antigen is a very useful and rapid method for the diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis disease in immunocompromised patients.
Chitinase-3-like 1 protein (YKL-40) is a glycoprotein primarily produced in the arthritic joint and plays a crucial role in inflammatory processes. The aim of the study is to establish the role of YKL-40 as a biomarker for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) compared to proinflammatory biomarkers and disease activity. The study included 58 patients and 18 control. Diseases activity score (DAS-28) and clinical disease activity index (CDAI) were measured. Serum level of YKL-40, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1B (IL-1β), erythrocyte sedimentation (ESR), rheumatoid factor (RF), C-reactive protein (CRP), and anti-citrullinated protein antibody (ACPA) were assessed. The results showed that the median serum YKL-40 level which was 5.42
... Show MoreThe cancer is one of the biggest health problems that facing the world . And the bladder cancer has a special place among the most spread cancers in Arab countries specially in Iraq and Egypt(2) . It is one of the diseases which can be treated and cured if it is diagnosed early . This research is aimed at studying the assistant factors that diagnose bladder cancer such as (patient's age , gender , and other major complains of hematuria , burning or pain during urination and micturition disorders) and then determine which factors are the most effective in the possibility of diagnosing this disease by using the statistical model (logistic regression model) and depending on a random sample of (128) patients . After
... Show MoreBackground: In the last years, Endometriosis affects up to 10 percent of reproductive aged Iraqi women. Little is known about the etiology of endometriosis in Iraqi women.
Objectives: The aim of this study is to investigate the hormonal changes, antioxidant status, Coenzyme Q10 and oxidative stress in women patients with endometriosis.
Patients and methods: 30 endometriotic women mean aged (31.16±5.61 year ) who were undergoing laparoscopy to participate in this study, and (n=30) healthy women volunteers mean aged (31.96±5.42 year) as control group.
Results: The results in this study revealed a highly significant increased (P<0.01) in estradiol (E2), uric acid (UA) and oxidative stress (MDA). The results of the Coenzyme Q10
Background: Breast cancer is the malignant tumor that forms from the uncontrolled growth of abnormal breast cells. It usually affects tissues involved in milk production (Ductal and lobular tissues). It is the most common malignancy in women and it remains one of the greatest health threats facing women around the world as we enter the 21st century.
Objectives: To estimate the role of IL-10 in the progression of invasive ductal carcinoma.
Patients and Method: Seventy three metastatic invasive ductal carcinoma Iraqi women were admitted to Nuclear Medicine Hospital in Baghdad and 15 samples of apparently healthy women were involved as a control. The blood samples (2 mL) were drown from all studied cases in order to be used for measur
Background: Polycystic ovarian syndrome is the most common endocrine disease in females of childbearing time of life. Women with polycystic ovarian syndrome have a higher chance of developing complications such as dyslipidemia, hypertension, and obesity. Obesity is a state of extreme fat buildup which leads to the development of multiple complications involving non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, cardiovascular disease and type2 diabetes mellitus. Podocalyxin is an element of the endothelial cells plasma membranes that is widely spread, it is limited to the luminal membrane area and is irregularly located on the surface of endothelial cells lining blood ves
... Show MoreBackground: Pyle`s disease is a distinct skeletal dysplasia with defective metaphyseal modeling and Erlenmeyer-flask deformity of tubular bones.
Objectives: Clinical implications in five reported cases with mechanical bone properties different from normal bones were presented. One patient with Genu-valgum deformity had corrective osteotomy done with internal fixation showing osteotomy healing and sustained deformity correction with more than twelve years of follow up. Two patients presented with fractures and angular malalignment with abundant callus .The other two had insufficiency fractures due to repetitive low energy activities.
Results: Patients with Pyle`s disease have less than normal mechanical bone
Background: Ovarian malignancy is considered to score the highest fatality among women due to lack of significant symptoms. Early diagnosis and treatment lead to good prognosis. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) plays a major role in the diagnosis by detecting the lesions and assessing their appearance and consistency.
Objective: To determine the accuracy of MRI in the diagnosis of ovarian malignancy and comparing this to histopathology as a gold standard test.
Patients and methods: A follow up study was conducted in the MRI unit of the Radiology Department in Baghdad Teaching Hospital / Baghdad Medical City Complex during the period from 1st of February to 31
Background: Gestational hypertension represents a transient period of elevated blood pressure with special effects on the maternal left ventricle that is different from the effects observed in chronic essential hypertension; it affects a previously normal heart and lasts for a maximum of nine months associated with volume and pressure overload on the maternal heart. Tei index (also called myocardial performance index) was found to be a dependent combined index evaluating the systolic and diastolic function of the left ventricle and represents a sensitive indicator for many types of heart diseases.
Objective: to evaluate the effects of gestational hypertension on the maternal myocar
The aim of the present study is to compare the biochemical action of the three vaccines taken in Iraq: Pfizer Biontech, AstraZeneca Oxford and Sinopharm based on biochemical parameters. Seventy COVID-19 Iraqi patients ( males and females ) were participated in the present study and classified into 7 groups : Gc : COVID-19 patients ( without vaccine ) , Gp1: COVID-19 patients took one dose of Pfizer Biontech, Gp2 : COVID-19 patients took two doses of Pfizer Biontech, Ga1 : patients took one dose of AstraZeneca Oxford vaccine , Ga2: patients took two doses of AstraZeneca Oxford vaccine , Gs1 : patients took one dose of Sinopharm vaccine and Gs2:
... Show MoreOut of 150 clinical samples, 50 isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae were identified according to morphological and biochemical properties. These isolates were collected from different clinical samples, including 15 (30%) urine, 12 (24%) blood, 9 (18%) sputum, 9 (18%) wound, and 5 (10%) burn. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) assay revealed that 25 (50%) of isolates were resistant to gentamicin (≥16µg/ml), 22 (44%) of isolates were resistant to amikacin (≥64 µg/ml), 21 (42%) of isolates were resistant to ertapenem (≥8 µg/ml), 18 (36%) of isolates were resistant to imipenem (4- ≥16µg/ml), 43 (86%) of isolates were resistant to ceftriaxone (4- ≥64 µg/ml), 42 (84%) of isolates were resistant to ceftazidime (1
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