Background: The prevalence of obesity is continuously rising world-wide. Obesity is an important risk factor of cardiovascular disease (CVD), metabolic syndrome (MS), and type 2 diabetes (T2D).
Objective: To estimate the frequency of MS in obese versus non-obese subjects in Basrah, Iraq .
Methods: This is a prospective clinical study performed in Al-Sadr Teaching Hospital, Basrah, and included 86 obese subjects (with a BMI ≥ 30), 39 males and 47 females, and 132 non-obese subjects ( with a BMI < 30 ), 60 males and 73 females as a control group. Measurement of height, weight, waist circumference (WC), blood pressure ( BP ), fasting blood glucose ( FBG ), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG ) and high density lipoprotein- cholesterol (HDL-C) levels were carried out. The updated US National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III ( updated NCEP ATP III ) definition was used for the diagnosis of MS.
Results: The frequencies of MS were significantly higher among obese male and female persons (38.5% and 42.6% respectively) compared to non-obese male and female persons (15.0% and 19.4% respectively), (P<0.01). On the other hand, the frequencies of MS were non-significantly higher among over weight male and female subjects (19.2% and 24.3% respectively) compared to normal weight male and female subjects (11.8% and 14.3% respectively), (P>0.05). The major determinants for MS in obese persons in either sex were WC, BP and TG ( P<0.001, P<0.001 and P<0.05 respectively).
Conclusions: Obese individuals are at a substantial risk for MS, and thereby, at a high risk of atherosclerotic CVD and T2D, and their complications.
Researchers have recently increased their focus on the link between autoimmune diseases and infections. Most of the recent research indicates that silent human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), may have diverse roles in the initiation, development, and exacerbation of autoimmune diseases, such as coeliac Disease (CD) and inflammatory bowel disease. The aim of this study is to evaluate the role of HCMV infection in Iraqi patients with CD. Serum samples were obtained from 60 patients with CD, and from 60 healthy subjects. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to determine the Anti-Transglutaminase IgG/IgA, Anti-gliadin IgA/ IgG, as well as the HCMV IgM/ IgG levels in the serum samples. Significantly higher percentage of positivity for seru
... Show MoreThe aim of the present study is to examine the effectiveness of a proposed unite in voluntary work in enhancing critical thinking skills and the attitudes towards responsible citizenship among eighth grade female students in the Sultanate of Oman. In order to collect the study data, the researchers employed a quasi-experimental research design with twenty female students from Al-Sideeqah bint Al-Sideeq for basic education school. The research data were collected via a critical thinking test that consisted of twenty-five items and a scale of twenty items under three different dimensions, which aimed to measure students' attitudes towards responsible citizenship. The researchers implemented these two instruments as pre- and post the experi
... Show MoreBackground : Diabetes mellitus, also known as blood sugar, is a series of metabolic disorders described by high blood glucose levels (hyperglycemia), low blood glucose (hypoglycemia), or both, resulting from defects in insulin production, insulin action, or both. Numerous studies have shown that interleukin (IL-6) acts on skeletal muscle cells , liver cells, and pancreas cells to influence glucose balance and metabolism, which directly or indirectly contributes to the development of diabetes. Research in this area is crucial because diabetes is recognized as a major risk factor for many diseases like Diabetic retinopathy, Diabetic nephropathy, Diabetic Neuropathy , heart disease and others. Patients and methods : In this study, we
... Show MoreBackground and Aim: Canine parvovirus 2 (CPV-2) is a highly contagious virus that infects wild and domestic canines. Despite the use of a routine vaccination protocol, it is endemic in Iraq. The genetic drift of CPV-2 is a major issue worldwide because it abrogates virus control. In Iraq, there is a knowledge gap regarding the genetic sequences of asymptomatic and symptomatic CPV-2 cases. Therefore, this study aimed to perform a genetic analysis of viral capsid protein 1 (VP1) and viral capsid protein 2 (VP2), two major capsid-encoding genes, to demonstrate the possible role of certain mutations in triggering infection. Materials and Methods: Symptomatic and asymptomatic cases (n = 100/each) were tested by a polymerase chain reacti
... Show MoreBackground: Monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) is a chemokine expressed by inflammatory and endothelial cells. It has a crucial role in initiating, regulating, and mobilizing monocytes to active sites of periodontal inflammation. Its expression is also elevated in response to pro-inflammatory stimuli and tissue injury, both of which are linked to atherosclerotic lesions. Aim of the study: To determine the serum level of MCP-1 in patients with periodontitis and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in comparison to healthy control and evaluate the biomarker's correlations with periodontal parameters. methods: This study enrolled 88 subjects, both males and females, ranging in age from 36-66 years old, and divided into four groups: 1<
... Show MoreObjectives: This study aims to determine the disease’s patterns and outcomes of admission among neonates hospitalized at the neonatal care unit in Erbil City, and using the findings as a baseline for neonate’s morbidity and mortality assessment in the future. Methodology: A retrospective study carried out at neonatal care unit of Raparin pediatric teaching hospital. An instrument for data collection developed by researcher included (age, gender, cause of admission, diagnosis and outcome upon discharge and causes of death). Content validity of the instrument was determined through the use of panel ex
Abstract Out of 222 patients complaining from signs and symtomps raised suspicion for brucellosis, 39 (16 males and 23 females) further more they suffered from joint and/or swelling. Blood and synovial fluid (SF) from each patient were subjected to serological tests and culture. Concerning SF specimens the investigations were extended to gross examination, Blood-Synovial Fluid Glucose Difference (G-S.F.G.D), protein determination, total and differential W.B.C. count. The investigations revealed high agglutinin titres in both blood and SF specimens, abnormal gross appearance, high value (beyond normal)
Background: Cervical lymph nodes are the most frequently enlarged and biopsied of all the peripheral lymph nodes and in most of the cases the enlargement results from benign infectious causes, however, the presence of cervical lymphadenopathy (LAP) requires accurate diagnosis to exclude more serious causes. The aim of this study was to analyze cases of Iraqi patients presenting with cervical LAP who underwent surgical lymph node biopsy to establish accurate diagnosis. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included 25 patients who presented with cervical LAP for whom surgical biopsy was performed to establish a definitive diagnosis. The investigated data included the demographic and clinical parameters in addition to the final his
... Show MoreTerrorism is an old phenomenon, but awareness of its seriousness talk of where to stretch the impact of the terrorist crime and the magnitude of the results as well as the community's awareness of the newly therefore appeared studies and special laws to deal with this phenomenon, especially that this phenomenon has increased the time being to enter an organization where the scientific methods and modern techniques that cause destruction and horror of mass.That the term terrorism in the modern era did not materialize and actually only in 1793 and that was when he declared Robespierre (Robespierre) the beginning of the reign of terror or Alrhb (Reign of terror) which lasted in France from March 10 1973_27 July 1794 where it was the execution
... Show MoreBackground: Historically the traditional medical program are divided into preclinical basic sciences course which taught separately (subject based) and clinical course which taught also as subject based, spoon feeding ,few delivery modes , no or few interactive session and the assessment solely based on examination and no weightage is given to the continuous assessment.Curricular reform: In the last few decades, there have been increasing pressures on medical educators for curriculum reform, and many accreditation bodies were established a guidelines for the medical schools. In many countries, the traditional approach has largely been modified towards a more integrated approach. An integrated approach is still subject centered but transc
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