Background: The ideal maxillofacial prosthesis should have fine and thin boundaries that bindwith the surrounding facial structures and possess high tear strength.This study aims to determinethe best percentages of nanofiller (TiO2) and intrinsic pigment (silicone functional intrinsic) thatcould be mixed in as additives to improve the tear strength of Cosmesil M511 andVST50F siliconeelastomers with the least effect on their hardness.Materials and Methods: In this in vitro experimental study, a total of 80 samples, 40 for eachelastomer, were fabricated. Each elastomer sample was split into two equal groups to test for tearstrength and Shore A hardness. Each group consisted of 20 samples, including 10 control sampleswithout additives and 10 e

Background: Chronic cigarette smoking is one of the major risk factors for coronary artery disease. However, it has additional cardiac adverse effects independent of coronary atherosclerosis. Patient and Methods: After informed consent and perm- ission from the review board of the hospital, 80 healthy subjects who were classified as smokers or non-smokers were included in the study. They were examined by standard echocardiography protocol which was followed by two-dimensional speckle tracking to assess the functions of the right ventricle. Results: The tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) was significantly reduced in smokers as compared to non-smokers (P < 0.05). The tricuspid flow peak late diastolic velocity (A wave) was sig

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is widespread and involved in the pathogenesis of the majority of stomach and duodenal diseases. Reduced stomach acidity facilitates the initial infection. Electrolytes (sodium, potassium, and chloride) are essential for the production of stomach acid. This study aimed to observe any changes in the levels of serum electrolytes (Na, K, and Cl) and serum vitamin C levels in a sample of Iraqi patients infected with H. Pylori. We studied 30 infected patients with H. Pylori and 30 matched healthy controls. The results revealed that the serum sodium, potassium, and chloride levels were significantly decreased (p = 0.002, 0.003 and 0.0001, respectivel

The 3D electro-Fenton technique is, due to its high efficiency, one of the technologies suggested to eliminate organic pollutants in wastewater. The type of particle electrode used in the 3D electro-Fenton process is one of the most crucial variables because of its effect on the formation of reactive species and the source of iron ions. The electrolytic cell in the current study consisted of graphite as an anode, carbon fiber (CF) modified with graphene as a cathode, and iron foam particles as a third electrode. A response surface methodology (RSM) approach was used to optimize the 3D electro-Fenton process. The RSM results revealed that the quadratic model has a high R2 of 99.05 %. At 4 g L-1 iron foam particles, time of 5 h, and

Samples from tap water were chosen to be examined as one of the possible modes of G. lamblia and other parasites transmission. 144 domestic filter units were randomly distributed to houses in Baghdad in Al-Sadr City and surrounding regions then the suspended materials were examined microscopically by direct wet mount after centrifugal sedimentation method, and after staining with modified Ziehl-Neelsen (acid fast) stain. The results showed that 5/144 (3.47%) samples contained G. lamblia cysts, 3/144 (2.08%) contained E. histolytica/E. dispar cyst, while each of Cryptosporidium spp. and Cyclospora cayetanensis oocysts were observed in two samples (1.38%); also free living amoeba, ciliates and flagellates were detected in all samples. This

Background: Germ cell tumors are a rare heterogeneous group of cancers with high cure rates in the pediatric age group.
Objectives: To study the clinical and pathological features in a group of patients with germ cell tumors and to evaluate their outcomes.
Patients and methods: A record review was undertaken on a group of patients with germ cell tumor who were admitted to the Children Welfare Teaching Hospital in Baghdad during the years 2009 - 2015. Information on gender, age, clinical signs, pathological findings, treatment and overall survival rate were reviewed.
Results: The patients had a mean age of 4.2 years (ranging from 1 month - 14 years). There were 45 girls and 16 boys. Abdominal pain was the most common presentation

The ascaroid nematode Contracaecum rudolphii was recovered in large numbers from the
digestive tract of Phalacrocorax carbo collected in Baghdad area, Central Iraq. The infection
rates of the two sexes of the bird and some meristic and morphometric characters of the
parasite that allowed species determination of the nematode Contracaecum rudolphii were
discussed. This finding represents a new host record for this nematode in Iraq.