Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that results in a chronic, systemic inflammatory disorder that may affect many tissues and organs, but principally attacks flexible (synovial) joints. Many cases are believed to result from an interaction between genetic factors and environmental exposures. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is associated with several autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis and multip

Background: The occurrence of incidental thyroid cancer (ITC) has increased by three times during the last decades and this rise could be attributed to many factors. To limit the prevalence of ITC with goiter especially nodular goiter, total thyroidectomy can become a procedure of choice.

Objective: To determine the extent of incidental thyroid carcinoma (ITC) and to plan a proper preoperative diagnostic work up and a convenient operative procedure for patients with different thyroid diseases.

Results: ITC was found in 77 patients (19.15%). While, 63 patients with non-toxic MNG (15.6%), 12 patients with non-toxic solitary thyroid nodule (3%) and two patients (0.5%) wi

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrinopathy in women of
reproductive age with primary features of infertility, menstrual irregularity, and clinical or biochemical
evidence of hyperandrogenism (hirsutism, acne and high androgen level). Vitamin D has a role in the
development of metabolic and endocrine abnormalities in PCOS mediated by insulin resistance.
Objective: Measure serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome and
compare their levels with age and body mass index matched healthy controls. Also, assess the
correlation between insulin resistance and 25-hydroxy vitamin D among women with PCOS.
Subjects and Methods: Eighty eight women were involved in this st

Background: Diabetes is one of the common and costly chronic health issues and a major cause of morbidity and mortality among other non-communicable diseases. Diabetes patients’ literacy about their diseases is to be addressed as an active factor of the disease outcome.

Objectives: The objectives of the current study were to determine the overall health literacy level among diabetic patients attending the PHC centers and to test the association between the measured health literacy and their glycemic control.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of randomly selected diab

Background: Obesity is a public health concern worldwide associated with significant health risks and comorbid conditions. Obesity might be a strong factor that can induce left ventricular systolic dysfunction and eventually cause heart failure independent to coronary artery disease or other morbidities. In uncomplicated obese subjects, diastolic dysfunction is caused by hemodynamic and metabolic factors.
Objectives: To assess the left ventricular (systolic and diastolic) function in a sample of overweight and obese subjects using different Echocardiographic tools and exploring the percentage and type of diastolic dysfunction in those people.
Subjects and methods: one hundred seven (107) normal adult males subjects with a mean age

Background: Human colorectal carcinogenesis is a complex, multistep and multigenetic process. Matrix metalloproteinase-2 and cyclooxygenase-2 are key enzyme in degradation of extracellular material, are over expressed in several epithelia like colorectal adenocarcinoma.
Objectives: This study was designed to detect the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and cyclooxygenase-2 in patients with colorectal carcinoma and their correlation with age, gender, tumor grade and presence or absence of muscle invasion.
Materials and methods: Immunohistochemical staining of MMP-2 and COX-2 was determined in 40 tissue samples from colorectal patients, from teaching laboratories in Baghdad medical city. In additi

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) disease activity plays a central role in causing disability both directly and via indirect effects mediated through joint damage. Evaluation of RA disease activity is therefore important to predict the outcome and effectiveness of therapeutic interventions during follow-up. Clinical disease activity index (CDAI) is new simple tool for measurement of disease activity.
Objectives: To assess validity and reliability of CDAI in comparison to disease activity score-28 joints (DAS28) in Iraqi patients with active RA.
Patients and Methods: Sixty nine Iraqi RA patients were included in this study. All patients were fulfilling the ACR classification criteria and active. Full history was taken and comple

Bilastine (BL) is a novel non-sedating second-generation antihistamine, and its bioavailability is about 60%. Objective: To compare the bioavailability of prepared oral self-nanoemulsions of BL (BL-SNE) with that of pure BL and marketed tablets. Methods: Four groups of Wistar rats were used in this study, each with six rats weighing between 200 and 250 g. They were treated orally using a a gavage tube. The groups were fed either with conventional tablets ("Alerbix®") after being ground and dispersed with deionized water (DIW), treated with BL-SNE or fed with pure BL powder suspension. The fourth group did not receive any medication. The concentration of BL in the rat’s plasma was measured using HPLC. We used Trandolapril as an an interna

The goal of this study was to investigate the protein peroxidation role by measuring serum levels of advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) in type 2 diabetic patients with or without retinopathy and comparing them to controls to see if circulating AOPP levels can be used as a detection biomarker for DR. And see which of the two widely used antidiabetic treatment groups had the most impact on this oxidative stress marker. The groups were divided into two subgroups: 1) 70 type 2 diabetic patients (36 male, 34 female), 35 with diabetic retinopathy (DR) and 35 with no evidence of DR, and 2) non-diabetic controls (11 male, 9 female) were chosen from Ibn AL-Haitham Hospital for Ophthalmology and a Specialized Center for Endocrinology and Dia

Background: Diabetic Mellitus is considered as a public health concern. More than 8 percent of the United States has diabetes. Diabetes is a serious risk factor for Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and an important cause of mortality. ASCVD is the commonest cause of death in the Western world. Diabetes was defined as a high risk condition for ASCVD. In adults with diabetes with ASCVD or multiple ASCVD risk factors it is important to prescribe high intensity statin to reduce LDL at least to 50%.

Objective: To investigate association between dyslipidemia and HbA1c and to detect benefit of using some statins in decreases the risk of CVD.

Material and method: A