Background: Endothelial dysfunction is thought to be a key event in the development of atherosclerosis. It is a systemic process that simultaneously affects different vascular territories including coronary arteries. It is recommended that noninvasive approaches assessing endothelial function in peripheral vessels like flow mediated dilatation are indirectly representative of coronary vascular function.
Objectives: This study is aimed to assess endothelial dysfunction by using flow mediated dilatation in patients with coronary artery disease
Patients and methods: 82 patients of either sex with an age range of 40-65years are involved in this study. Each patient was subjected to two tests; first test was the flow mediated dilatation percentage (FMD%) measurement to assess endothelial functional integrity and second one was coronary computerized tomography angiography for measuring the percentage of coronary artery stenosis.
Results: the results of this study revealed that FMD% is inversely correlated with the percentage of coronary artery stenosis (p value <0.01). FMD% in patients having a single coronary vessel atheromatous stenosis (9.9±3.5) % was significantly lower than that of control subjects (15.3±7) %, p<0.0001.
Conclusion: this study concludes that FMD% of brachial artery could be used as a marker for systemic endothelial functional integrity including that of coronary arteries.
Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common female endocrine disorders leading to infertility. Majority of women with PCOS have insulin resistance and elevated hemoglobin A1c.The presence of thyroid dysfunction may affect the levels of HbA1c and the results of ovulation induction programs.  
... Show MoreIn this study, we attempt to provide healthcare service to the pilgrims. This study describes how a multimedia courseware can be used in making the pilgrims aware of the common diseases that are present in Saudi Arabia during the pilgrimage. The multimedia courseware will also be used in providing some information about the symptoms of these diseases, and how each of them can be treated. The multimedia courseware contains a virtual representation of a hospital, some videos of actual cases of patients, and authentic learning activities intended to enhance health competencies during the pilgrimage. An examination of the courseware was conducted so as to study the manner in which the elements of the courseware are applied in real-time learn
... Show MoreBackground: In recent years, bone marrow angiogenesis was reported to be involved in the pathogenesis and progression of certain hematological malignancies like multiple myeloma, leukemias, and lymphomas. Recent studies have suggested that bone marrow angiogenesis plays an important role in the pathogenesis and prognosis of multiple myeloma.
Objectives: at the present study, bone marrow angiogenesis in multiple myeloma was examined using immunohistochemical staining for CD34, and correlated with various pathological and clinical parameters.
Patients and methods: This is a retrospective study; where by archival paraffin-embedded tissue blocks along with the clinical and hematological records of fifty-two patients with multiple myelo
Background: Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a compound articulation formed from the articular surfaces of the temporal bone and the mandibular condyle.CBCT imaging of TMJ is that it allows accurate measurements of the volume and surface of the condyle. The aim of the study is to assess the sagittal position of mandibular condyle in patients with temporomandibulardysfunction using Cone Beam Computed Tomography in centric occlusion. Materials and Methods: CBCT images for all patients were obtained in an upright position using New Tom Giano CBCT with different field of view (11 x 8), (11 x 5), and (8 x 8) and exposure factors was changed accordingly using NNT version 5.1 software for sagittal reconstruction, anterior, superior and posterior
... Show MoreBackground: Ulcerative colitis has been reported to be associated with autonomic dysfunction, mainly of vagal involvement.
Objectives: To Determine whether there is a parasympathetic dysfunction in ulcerative colitis patients in remission state or not.
Results: For all of the three tests, patients group gave significantly lower results (P˂ 0.05) which was the least level of significance. Materials and methods: Three standardized tests of parasympathetic function, based on heart rate variation in response to certain stimuli (heart rate response to Valsalva maneuver, to deep breathing and to standing from supine position) were used on 54 ulcerative
Background: Assessment of function of the right side of the heart in cases of left ventricular dysfunction has been widely studied but the sensitive and specific echocardiographic parameter to be tested is still a matter of controversy. Right ventricular function is related to left ventricular function by ventricular independence so function of both should be assessed carefully. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of left ventricular systolic dysfunction on right ventricular systolic and diastolic functions and pulmonary pressure using conventional and tissue Doppler echocardiography. Patients and Methods: Sixty patients (39 males and 21 females) with heart failure due to left ventricular systolic dysfunction
... Show MoreBackground: Atherosclerosis causes thickening of the artery walls. The intima-media thickness (IMT) of the common carotid artery (CCA) is widely used as an early indicator of the development of coronary artery disease, atherosclerosis, and independently cardiovascular disease (CVD). Diabetes increased the risk of cardiovascular disease, also accelerates the common IMT progression. The Sonographic measurement of carotid intima-media thickness is used as a valid simple and noninvasive method for the assessment of atherosclerosis disease.
Also the ankle brachial index (ABI) is considered as a strong predictor for future cardiovascular events, and a golden standard for the diagnosis of peripheral arterial disease (PA
... Show MoreBackground: Ankylosing spondylitis is a rare disease affecting people with hereditary factors. Its treatment includes life style modification and use of drugs such as the biologic agent infliximab or its biosimilar, CT-P13 infliximab. Despite their therapeutic usefulness, these agents are associated with a number of serious adverse effects such as immunogenicity.
Objectives: The aim of current study was to investigate if immunogenicity of the biosimilar CT-P13 infliximab or the original infliximab, in Iraqi patients with Ankylosing spondylitis, is affected by any of the patients’ demographic characteristics.
Methods: A retrospective open-label study was conducted from Dec
... Show MoreColon cancer is an abnormal growth of cells that occurs in the large intestine. Sometimes growth remains restricted for a relatively long time before it becomes a malignant tumor and then spreads through the intestinal wall to the lymph nodes and other parts of the body. The study aims to estimate the effectiveness and partial purification of lipoxygenase (LOX) enzyme and measure gamma-glutamyle transferase (GGT) activity in serum patients of colon cancer in Baghdad. The study included (80) case male patients with colon cancer with (50) samples of apparently healthy males (control) as comparison group. The result displayed a noteworthy increase in lipoxygenase effectivene
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