Meta-heuristic algorithms have been significantly applied in addressing various real-world prediction problem, including in disease prediction. Having a reliable disease prediction model benefits many parties in providing proper preparation for prevention purposes. Hence, the number of cases can be reduced. In this study, a relatively new meta-heuristic algorithm namely Barnacle Mating Optimizer (BMO) is proposed for short term dengue outbreak prediction. The BMO prediction model is realized over real dengue cases data recorded in weekly frequency from Malaysia. In addition, meteorological data sets were also been employed as input. For evaluation purposes, error analysis relative to Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE), Mean Square Err

The rapid increase in the number of older people with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other forms of dementia represents one of the major challenges to the health and social care systems. Early detection of AD makes it possible for patients to access appropriate services and to benefit from new treatments and therapies, as and when they become available. The onset of AD starts many years before the clinical symptoms become clear. A biomarker that can measure the brain changes in this period would be useful for early diagnosis of AD. Potentially, the electroencephalogram (EEG) can play a valuable role in early detection of AD. Damage in the brain due to AD leads to changes in the information processing activity of the brain and the EEG which ca

Background:

     Ghrelin and leptin are two hormones that possess multiple functions, including appetite regulation, maintenance of the tissue homeostasis and regulation of proinflammatory cytokines. A few studies on serum ghrelin and leptin levels in autoimmune diseases have exhibited conflicting results. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the relationship between the two energy balance hormones and autoimmune diseases. Serum ghrelin and leptin levels were assessed in 94 adult patients, 61 females and 33 males, with various autoimmune diseases (celiac disease, type 1 diabetes mellitus and rheumatoid arthritis) as well as in 35 healthy people as controls, using commercially available ELISA kits. Statistically important distinction

Background: Chronic cough is often the key
symptom not only of chronic pulmonary diseases
but for other important extrapulmonary
pathologies, in particular upper airway and
gastrointestinal diseases.
Objective: This study was designed to
determine the etiology of chronic cough and the
usefulness of the available diagnostic tests in
reaching its causes.
Methods: One hundred patients presenting with
chronic cough at Baghdad Teaching Hospital
Outpatient Clinic were enrolled in this study. The
patients underwent a full clinical interview,
physical examination with indicated diagnostic
test(s) (such as chest x ray, bronchoscope, PFT,
GIT study, sinus X ray or CT).
Results: An etiology of chronic

Background: Chronic otitis media (COM) of mucosal or squamous type is a common problem in otolaryngology practice, the active form of COM is characterized by discharge of pus and is treated by antibiotics to start with, the appropriate antibiotic should be prescribed to avoid antibiotic abuse and guarantee good outcome. Objectives:The objective of this study is to identify the causative organisms of active chronic active otitis media both (mucosal, squamous) type and test their sensitivity to various anti- microbial agents &compare with abroad studies.Methods:A prospective study was done on eighty patients, different ages and sexes were taken and carful history and examination was done, examination under microscope was done with carf

Background: Polymorphisms in the TNF-α gene affect the development and progression of rheumatoid arthritis. Objective: To investigate the associations between (-806 T/C) and (-857 T/C) SNPs with rheumatoid arthritis severity and susceptibility in a sample of Iraqi patients. Methods: A case-control study was conducted in Baghdad, Iraq. Twenty healthy controls and 63 patients confirmed to be newly diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis were included. Those are divided into two groups (patients and controls), and the patients were further subdivided into severe and mild-moderate groups. Samples from those participants were analyzed for clinical and inflammatory parameter measurements. Genotyping by the Sanger method was performed to stu

Background: the exposure of  chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells to fludarabine and cyclophosphamide resulted in an increased, synergistic cytotoxicity . DNA repair mechanisms in CLL cells, which are initiated in response to cyclophosphamide exposition, are inhibited by fludarabine. This observation was later translated into clinical trials evaluating the combination of fludarabine plus cyclophosphamide (FC) showed promising efficacy with response rates exceeding 90% in previously untreated and pretreated patient

Aim of  this study: To assess the efficacy and safety of combination therapy of fludarabine plus cyclophosphamide in  Iraqi adults patients with advance stage of chro

Background: Obesity is imposing a growing threat to world health. The autonomic nervous system (ANS) regulates visceral functions via balance between sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions. In the cardiovascular system (CVS) this non stationary balance results in the fluctuation between intervals of consecutive heart beats, so called heart rate variability (HRV). Obesity is one of the causative co-morbid conditions leading to metabolic and cardiac disorders as it is accompanied with varied combinations of abnormalities in the ANS, one view is that obese people have higher sympathetic tone. HRV measures the effect of autonomic function on the heart alone. Therefore, it could be the most useful method to investigate the