Background: Hand osteoarthritis (HOA) is a common joint disorder leading to considerable pain and with substantial impact on hand function. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) is a measurable index of the presence of atherosclerosis. Increased CIMT is associated with increased cardiovascular mortality and morbidity, so early diagnosis and management may improve quality of life.
Objective: To assess the relationship between carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and hand osteoarthritis (HOA), and to evaluate the predictors of this relationship.
Patients and Methods: One hundred Iraqi HOA patients and 100 healthy controls were included in this study. Full history was taken and complete clinical examination was done for all patients. Disease characteristics [age, sex, duration, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, family history of HOA, smoking history, lipid lowering agent use] were also documented. Laboratory analysis included complete blood count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), and lipid profile. Individuals in both groups were assessed for CIMT by B-mode ultrasonography. X-rays of both hands was taken for patients and was graded according Kellgrenand Lawrence scale.
Results: Fifty five (55%) Iraqi HOA patients have increased CIMT compared with 38 % of controls (p=0.02). There was no statistical significant association between increased CIMT and HOA radiographical grading (p=0.72). The lipid profile was the only predictor of increased CIMT in patients with HOA [p=0.02, OR (95% CI) = 3.24 (1.20-8.75)]
Conclusions: There is increased frequency of increased CIMT (55%) in Iraqi patients with HOA. Abnormal lipid profile is the only significant predictor of increased CIMT.
Background: Periodontitis (PD) is well-known chronic disease affecting the periodontal ligament and alveolar bone, Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic joint disease with compound reasons characterized by synovial inflammation, subchondral bone remodeling, also the formation of osteophytes, that cause cartilage degradation. Chronic periodontitis and osteoarthritis are considered widely prevalent diseases and related to tissue destruction due to chronic inflammation in general health and oral health. The aim of this study is todetermine the association of chronic periodontitis and osteoarthritits in patients by analysing tumor necrosis factor alpha TNFα and high sensitive c-reactive protein (hsCRP) in the serum. Materials and Method: A tot
... Show MoreThe current study was designed to compare some of the vital markers in the sera of diabetic and neuropathy patients via estimating Adipsin, Fasting blood Glucose(FBG), Glycated(HbA1c) hemoglobin, Homeostasis Model Assessment Index (Homa IR ), Cholesterol, High density lipoprotein (HDL), Triglycerides (T.G), Low-density, and lipoprotein (LDL), Very Low Density Lipoprotein (VLDL), in sera of Iraqi patients with diabetes and neuropathy. A total of ninety subjects were divided into three groups: group I (30 diabetic with neuropathy males) and group II (30 diabetic males without neuropathy), and 30 healthy sujects were employed as control group. The results showed a significant decline in Adipsin levels (p>0.05) in neuropathy, T2DM g
... Show MoreBackground: telogen effluvium is a form of non- scarring alopecia characterized by diffuse hair shedding, often of acute onset. It’s a reactive process caused by metabolic or hormonal stress or by medications. Generally, recovery is spontaneous within 6 months.
Objectives: is to shed a light on the clinic- epidemiological aspects and most important causes of telogen effluvium in Iraqi women.
Patients and methods: A total number of 100 female patients were seen in the period between March 2014 to March 2015 in the Dermatology Department of Baghdad Teachinhg Hospital / Medical City. Their ages ranged between 20 to 40 years old and the duration of their complaints ranged between 1 to 12 months. Their symptoms were excessive hair los
Omentin (or intelectin) is a main visceral fat secretory adipokine. There is a growing interest to link omentin, obesity and co-morbidity factors. The aim of the present study is to evaluate serum omentin and its association to insulin resistance biomarkers, lipid profile and atherogenic indies. This cross – sectional study was conducted in Obesity Research and Therapy Unit-Alkindy College of Medicine by recruiting (115) individuals; 49 males /66 females. Subjects between (20 to 60) years of age were selected and classified into two groups according to their Body mass index (BMI). Group1 involved healthy lean volunteers (25 male/ 36 female; BMI 18.5 - 24.9). Group2 involved obese subjects; (24 male / 36 female with BMI ≥ 30). The s
... Show MoreBackground: The median nerve in paraplegic patients, who must rely on increased hand activities including transfer and wheel-chair propulsion, may be subjected to increased pressure, so that the incidence of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) may be higher than that in the normal population.
Objectives: To study the prevalence and the severity of carpal tunnel syndrome in Iraqi paraplegic patients and to identify the effect of duration of the injury as a possible factor related to its occurrence to avoid any chronic problems which interfere with the hand functions since these patients are greatly dependent on their hands for their daily activities.
Patients and Methods: Fifty paraplegic patients (100 hands), whose level of spinal cord in
Background: Osteoarthritis is the most common joint disorder. Treatment is usually limited to short term symptom relived and is by no means satisfactory.
Osteoarthritis is the most prevalent arthritic disease and a leading cause of disability. The pathogenesis of osteoarthritis involves multiple etiologies, including variable degree of synovial inflammation. Metformin and pioglitazone could potentially reduce the levels and activity of inflammatory mediators. This may consider as a new therapeutic approach added to the current used drugs in an attempt to decrease the pain, inflammation, and improve daily activity and quality of life in patients with knee osteoarthritis.
This study designed to evaluate the clinical utility of using metformin or pioglitazone as anti-inflammatory agents in combination with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) of selective type of cyclooxygen
... Show MoreBackground: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common arrhythmia in daily practice and one of the heart disorders with the highest morbidity and death rates, as it is responsible for a huge number of negative consequences. In our country, there is limited information on the prevalence or natural history of the less well-defined clinical types.
Objective: to evaluate the clinical profile and coronary artery findings in atrial fibrillation patients.
Patients and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted during the period from the first of October 2019 to end of July 2021 at the Iraqi Center for the heart disease at Baghdad Medical City. Included 32 Iraqi patients with atri
... Show MoreBackground: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a common genetic cardiovascular disease. Its morphologically divided into asymmetrical septal hypertrophy, symmetrical concentric hypertrophy and apical hypertrophy,and physiologically divided into obstructive HCM and non obstructive HCM according to the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) gradient at rest or with provocation. Several factors that increase risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD), the more risk factors a patient has, the greater the chance that the patient is exposed to sudden death and sufficient to warrant consideration for interventional therapy.
Objective: The aims of the study are to evaluate the clinical presentations, risk strat
... Show MoreFibroblast growth factors-23 (FGF-23) are a class of cell signaling proteins produced by macrophages. They have a range of roles, but they play a particularly important role in the development of animal cells, where they are essential for appropriate growth. Phosphate, which is found in the body as both organic and mineral phosphate, plays crucial roles in cell structure, communication, and metabolism. Most phosphate in the body resides in bone, teeth, and inside cells, with less than 1% circulating in serum. The aim of the study is to evaluate the levels of the Fibroblast Growth Factors-23 and phosphate and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) in acromegaly patients against healthy control. A case control study Fibroblast Growth Fact
... Show More