Background: Speckle tracking echocardiography (STE)-derived mitral annular displacement (MAD) utilizes the speckle tracking technique to measure strain vectors, which provides accurate estimates of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).Objectives: To validate the accuracy of mitral annular displacement (MAD), assessed by Speckle Tracking Echocardiography (STE), as a surrogate for determination of left ventricular systolic function in comparison to 2-Dimensions Simpson method in patients with different heart diseases.Methods : This cross-sectional study included patients who referred to outpatient department of Ibn Albitar Center for Cardiac Surgery, Baghdad, Iraq, between October 2012 and April 2013. STE continuously tracked annular motion throughout the cardiac cycle in the apical 4- and 2-chamber views. LVEF for each patient was measured by both Simpson method and STE-derived MAD.Results: This study included 100 patients, of them (35%) had ischemic heart disease (IHD), (10%) had dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), (10%) had valvular heart disease (VHD), (25%) had normal echocardiography, and (20%) had hypertensive heart disease (HHD).There was significant correlation between EF % (derived by MAD) and EF % (derived by Simpson method) in patients with different heart diseases. This correlation was good in normal subjects (r=0.673), and those with IHD(r=0.896), DCM (r=0.724) and VHD (r=0.935), while in HHD it was moderately correlated (r=0.455). There was slight under-estimation of LVEF derived by MAD (a mean value of difference 0.846 %; p =0.022). In subgroup analysis, this difference was seen only in patients with HHD (a mean value of difference 3.145 %; p <0.001), while it was absent in other subgroups.Conclusion: STE-derived MAD provides easy, fast, and accurate assessments of global longitudinal systolic function. LVEF derived by MAD was correlated well with LVEF derived by Simpson method in patients with different heart diseases
Background: The marginal seal is essential for sealant success because penetration of bacteria under the sealant might allow caries onset or progression. The aim of the present study was to estimate and compare the microleakage of pit and fissure sealant after various methods of occlusal surface preparation. Materials and methods: Thirty non-carious premolars extracted for orthodontic reasons were equally divided into three groups. In group one, occlusal fissures were opened with round carbide bur, in group two, occlusal surfaces of the teeth were cleaned with a dry pointed bristle brush and samples of group three were cleaned with a slurry of fine flour of pumice in water using rubber cup. Then fissures of all teeth were etched using 35% p
... Show MoreIn light of the increasing interest in Child-rearing in nurseries and kindergartens and the most important experiences gained by the child at this stage that form the basis for the subsequent stages of her/his physical mental and social growth.
The significance of the research concentrates the need to asses the affecting variables on the child growth to create opportunities for her/him to have intact rearing.
The research also aims to classify these variables at each age level and highlight its moral role.
The problem of the research is the lack of clarity of different variables impact of the child growth in different age levels in nurseries and kindergart
... Show MoreThe performance of a vapor compression refrigeration system (VCRS)-based residential air conditioner operating in a high-ambient temperature (HAT) country was investigated using six zero-ODP (ozone depletion potential) refrigerants as replacements to R22. The non-flammable alternative refrigerants considered in the present research were R134a, R404A, R407C, R410A, R448A, and R507A. Using the basic conservation laws, the VCRS was modeled during steady-state operation and solved using engineering equation solver (EES) software. Coefficient of performance (COP), pressures and temperatures at compressor suction and discharge, Global Warming Potential (GWP), critical pressure and temperature, compressor
Objective(s): This study aims to evaluate the hardness of two commercially available cold cured acrylic resin material
(Vertex and PAN) when polymerized at different temperature in comparison to those polymerized by conventional
methods in air at 23C ± 5C.
Methodology: Eighty specimens, forty from cold cured acrylic (Vertex Type) and forty from cold cured acrylic (PAN
type) were prepared, flasking and packing procedure were done according to manufacturer direction and divided
according to processing as follow: 20 specimens (10 from Vertex type and 10 from PAN type) were processed in air for
two hours at 23C ± 5C under press (bench curing) as a control, and 60 specimens (30 from Vertex type and 30 from
PAN type) wer
A solar cell was manufactured from local materials and was dyed using dyes extracted from different organic plants. The solar cell glass slides were coated with a nano-porous layer of Titanium Oxide and infused with two types of acids, Nitric acid and Acetic acid. The organic dyes were extracted from Pomegranate, Hibiscus, Blackberry and Blue Flowers. They were then tested and a comparison was made for the amount of voltage they generate when exposed to sunlight. Hibiscus sabdariffa extract had the best performance parameters; also Different plants give different levels of voltage.
Soils that cause effective damages to engineer structures (such as pavement and foundation) are called problematic or difficult soils (include collapsible soil, expansive soil, etc.). These damages occur due to poor or unfavorited engineering properties, such as low shear strength, high compressibility, high volume changes, etc. In the case of expansive soil, the problem of the shrink-swell phenomenon, when the soil reacts with water, is more pronounced. To overcome such problems, soils can be treated or stabilized with many stabilization ways (mechanical, chemical, etc.). Such ways can amend the unfavorited soil properties. In this review, the pozzolanic materials have been selected to be presented and discussed as chem
... Show MoreIn this paper, an intelligent tracking control system of both single- and double-axis Piezoelectric Micropositioner stage is designed using Genetic Algorithms (GAs) method for the optimal Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) controller tuning parameters. The (GA)-based PID control design approach is a methodology to tune a (PID) controller in an optimal control sense with respect to specified objective function. By using the (GA)-based PID control approach, the high-performance trajectory tracking responses of the Piezoelectric Micropositioner stage can be obtained. The (GA) code was built and the simulation results were obtained using MATLAB environment. The Piezoelectric Micropositioner simulation model with th
... Show MoreProstate cancer is an important and potentially fatal disease in humans. Both genetic and environmental risk factors are associated with increased risk of prostate cancer among Asian pop
Schizophrenic patients who are at great risk of relapse are characterized by non-compliance,
denial of illness and need for treatment and no contact with family. So, the prevention of relapse
and readmission to hospital are crucial in mental health practice.
The present study is a descriptive-analytical study that was carried out from November 2nd
2006 through the end of 20 of April 2008.
Objectives: To assess the associated factors with the risk of relapse in schizophrenic patients at
psychiatric hospitals in Baghdad city.
Methodology: A purposive "non-probability" sample of (50) schizophrenic patient who hasd
relapsed was involved in the present study. Data were collected through the use of the constructed
qu