Background: Coronary artery disease remains the main cause of death despite several preventive programs. Epicardial adipose tissue is a visceral fat depot of the heart located along the large coronary arteries and on the surface of ventricles and apex. Intima media thickness is commonly recognized as the initial stage in the development of atherosclerosis. The development of ultrasound machines, advances in echocardiographic devices and high resolution transducers facilitate comprehensive analysis of epicardial fat thickness (EFT) and carotid –intima media thickness (C-IMT).
Aim: To investigate the relationship of echocardiographic epicardial fat thickness (EFT) and carotid –intima media thickness (C-IMT) with the severity of coronary artery disease.
Methods: A cross sectional multicenter diagnostic accuracy study carried out at Ibn Al-Nafis Cardiovascular Hospital, Ibn Al- Bitar Cardiology Center and Ghazi Al-Hariri Hospital –Iraqi Center for Cardiology during the period between October 2016 and May 2017 assessing. History regarding demographic data and risk factors was taken. Two dimensional transthoracic echocardiographic measurements were done. EFT was measured from parasternal long axis view perpendicular to the right ventricular free wall. C-IMT was measured according to that recommended by the American society of echocardiography (ASE).
Results: The current study demonstrated that the EFT has a direct and significant correlation with the number of involved vessels (P value ˂ 0.001, r= 0.770). The validity of EFT to discriminate between multiple vessels disease and no vessel involvement is excellent (AUC= 0.984, cut point > 8mm, sensitivity=92.9%, specificity= 93.3%). There is inverse and significant correlation between ejection fraction (EF) and three vessels disease (P value ˂ 0.001, r= -0.507). Also there is a direct and significant correlation between C-IMT and severity of CAD. ROC analysis for validity of C-IMT to discriminate between multiple vessels disease and no vessel involvement is excellent (AUC= 0.961, cut point > 1.04mm, sensitivity=92.9%. specificity=86.7%). C-IMT is fair to discriminate between single vessel disease and no vessel involvement (AUC=0.738, cut point ˃ 0.84mm, sensitivity 100%), so if correlated with age, C-IMT above 0.84 can be used as a cut off point for the prediction of CAD. Finally, EFT and C-IMT are more likely to reflect severity of CAD than their ratio.
Conclusions: C-IMT and EFT are simple and reproducible parameters that can be used as a screening tool for the presence and severity of CAD especially before symptoms appearance in high risk patients
This study investigates the characterization and mechanical performance of Stone Mastic Asphalt (SMA) mixtures modified with two types of polymers: styrene–butadiene–styrene (SBS) and high-molecular-weight polyethylene (PE). Neat asphalt cement PG 64-16 was modified using a higher content of SBS and PE at concentrations of 6%, 7%, and 8% by weight of asphalt through the dry blending method to produce Highly Modified Asphalts (HiMA). The physical and rheological properties of the modified binders were evaluated using penetration, softening point, rotational viscosity, and dynamic shear rheometer (DSR) tests. Also, their phase compatibility and morphological changes were evaluated using the storage stability testing and scanning electron
... Show MoreBackground: The denture base inaccuracies during processing negatively influence the retention and stability of finished complete denture. The aims of this study were to evaluate teeth movement and palatal adaptation of autoclave cured denture bases and their relationship with palatal depths and investments. Materials and methods: A nightly maxillary complete dentures prepared, processed and organized to be tested as follows: 1. Processing methods: water bath and autoclave with both fast and slow cycles. 2. Palatal depth: shallow, medium and deep. 3. Investing medium: stone and silicone. For every finished denture, two measurements were done: first: teeth movement by attaching metallic reference screws on the right and left centrals, first
... Show MoreThe study of biopolymers and their derivative materials had received a considerable degree of attention from researchers in the preparation of novel material. Biopolymers and their derivatives have a wide range of applications as a result of their bio-compatibility, bio-degradability and non-toxicity. In this paper, chitosan reacted with different aldehydes(2,4 –dichloro- benzaldehyde or 2-methyl benzaldehyde), different ketones (4-bromoacetophenone or 3-aminoacetophenone) to produce chitosan schiff base (1-4) . Chitosan schiff base (1-4) reacted with glutaric acid or adipic acid in acidic media in distilled water according to the steps of Fischer and Speier to produce compounds (5-12)
... Show MoreOsteoporosis (OP) is a systemic skeletal disorder that is characterized by reduced bone mass and micro-architectural deterioration of bone tissue, with a consequent increase in bone fragility and susceptibility to fracture. The most frequent osteoporotic fractures are fractures of the hip, wrist, and spine. The exact causes of OP are still unknown; several factors contribute to the disorder. Subjects and Methods: This study consists of patient groups, this group (Group A) was composed of 80 postmenopausal women with OP and osteopenia and the patient group was subdivided into two group; First group (GroupA1) was composed of 50 postmenopausal women with OP and the second group (Group A2) composed of (30) Postmenopausal Women with oste
... Show MoreThe effect of air injection device on the performance of airlift pump used for water pumping has been studied numerically and experimentally. An airlift pump of dimensions 42mm diameter and 2200 mm length with conventional and modified air injection device was considered. A modification on conventional injection device (normal air-jacket type) was carried out by changing injection angle from 90 (for conventional) to 22.5 (for modified). Continuity and Navier-Stokes equations in turbulent regime with an appropriate two-phase flow model (VOF) and turbulent model ( ) in two dimensions axisymmetry flow were formulated and solved by using the known package FLUENT version (14.5). The numerical and experimental investiga
... Show MoreA low speed open circuit wind tunnel has been designed, manufactured and constructed at the
Mechanical Engineering Department at Baghdad University - College of Engineering. The work is one of
the pioneer projects adapted by the R & D Office at the Iraqi MOHESR. The present paper describes the
first part of the work; that is the design calculations, simulation and construction. It will be followed by a
second part that describes testing and calibration of the tunnel. The proposed wind tunnel has a test
section with cross sectional area of (0.7 x 0.7 m2) and length of (1.5 m). The maximum speed is about (70
m/s) with empty test section. The contraction ratio is (8.16). Three screens are used to minimize flow
distu
A new carbonyl complexes of triazole and oxadiazole were synthesized. These complexes were identified and their structural geometric were suggested by using FT-IR and UV-Vis spectra, conductivity measurements and other chemical and physical properties. The spectra data (FT-IR, UV, Vis.) with the substantial aid of group theoretical calculations gave so many evidences for the proposed geometries and the type of bonding of these compounds
Abstract
The factor that keeps society from collapsing and regressing to chaos, violence, and lawbreaking is to stick to the human moral principles and criteria of moral behavior that prevent the spread of corruption and crime to the extent that law becomes devoid of activity and loss its dot errant power in front of chaos. The role of moral behavior is to motivate individuals to respect the general laws in dealing with others. Because of the dissemination of odd behavior patterns within our society, the social links are been badly affected and it's urgent for educational institutions to perform their duty in working on spreading awareness about moral values and avoid deviant directions and socially threatening t
... Show MoreHe mentioned in this article the main types of corruption, which are political, moral, financial and administrative. Others may add other types of corruption, such as religious, scientific, media, informational and statistical corruption. At the global level, the focus is largely on financial corruption, although other types of corruption are no less bad than it. Financial corruption can be defined as all financial deviations in violation of general laws or the provisions of regulations, legislation, and procedures regulating the work of the state, private institutions and individuals and applied in state institutions and the private sector in general and inconsistent with the controls and instructions of financial control.
In th
... Show MoreThe formula of Ijarah and Ijarah ending with ownership is one of the investment formulas in Islamic banks, so this research has shed light on it in order to benefit from the experiences of the research sample banks, This research aims to find a reliable way for Iraqi Islamic banks, namely (leasing and leasing ending with ownership) in order to invest their money without usurious interests, The problem of the research emerges through the lack of awareness of the Iraqi Islamic banks to work with different Islamic financing formulas and their inability to invest their money through the adoption of their administrations for different formulas, including the leasing, and this is reflected in the decrease and fluctuation of its profits, Theref
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