Background: Directly observed therapy-short course (DOTS) had been adopted by World Health Organization (WHO) as hopeful strategy for treatment of tuberculosis (TB) since early nineties. Iraqi health authorities started DOTS implementation since 2001 in Baghdad. Coverage expanded gradually till 100% in 2004. War and unstable security condition hit Iraq since March 2003. Objective: The objective of this study was To evaluate the DOTS implementation program in Baghdad in different periods including 2 unstable periods for proper assessment of war and instability on treatment of TB. Patients and methods: This study had been conducted in Baghdad during four different periods (before and during 2003 war, after war; without and with DOTS). Direct interview with patients, and follow up of their treatment were done. Results: The results reveled that78% of patients were in active age groups, 62% of them were males. Surprisingly, direct observation was not achieved in those who were treated under DOTS in the whole periods. Patients treated under DOTS in the 1st and 4th periods showed much better sputum conversion rate after 2 month treatment (88.7 %in 1st and86.5% in 4th periods` patients) than those treated under DOTS during war (45.9% or Non-DOTS 75.6%). A better cure rate also found in patients of both periods (64.9% in 1st and 63% in 4th period) than patients in other periods ( 11% in 2nd% and 43.6% in the 3rd one) .Conclusions: DOTS strategy played important role in improving registration and curing of TB cases in Baghdad. War and unstable security conditions got a destructive effect on treatment of TB patients regardless the followed strategy. Involvement of private medical sector and other governmental and nongovernmental organization can improve TB treatment outcome.
Tuberculosis continues to be the leading cause of morbidity and mortality, with an estimated annual incidence of 10.4 million worldwide. It has been estimated that 10% of patients with extrapulmonary tuberculosis have musculoskeletal involvement, with the spine being the most common. Spinal tuberculosis (TB) accounts for 50% of cases of musculoskeletal tuberculosis.
Spinal tuberculosis is the result of infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It is a secondary infection, the primary lesion of which is in the lungs, genitourinary system, or gastrointestinal tract and can be active or latent. Involvement of the vertebral segment is the result of hematogenous spread of infection along the arterial pathway or Batson's vei
... Show MoreMultiplesclerosis(MS)isachronic,inflammatory,immune-mediateddiseaseof the central nervous system (CNS). More than 2 million people worldwidehave MS. The goal of the present study was to compare Iraqi patients' treat-ment satisfaction with three different disease-modifying therapies (DMTs),administeredorally,subcutaneously,andbyslowinfusion;namely,fin-golimod, interferon beta-1b (IFNβ-1b), and natalizumab, respectively. Aswell as to assess the individual differences among these therapies about theireffectiveness, convenience and global satisfaction also to assess the role ofcertain predictors on treatment satisfaction. Patient satisfaction with medi-cation assessed by the Treatment Satisfaction Questi
... Show MoreThe phenomenon of child labor, any activity performed by a child and represents a contribution to the production, this phenomenon had been rife in Iraqi society, after that the proportion of child labor for the age group (6-14 years) amounting to 3% in 2006, became for the same age group of 8% in 2008*.
It is recognized that each phenomenon reasons, the phenomenon which our atten
... Show MoreLeucocytes Migration Inhibition test in agarose was carried against PPD and Mycobacterium tuberculosisantigen . The proportion of different Kinds of migrating leucocytes was calculated and expressed as a function of the migration distance . Application of this test to clinical problem revealed that with PPD as antigen , a highly significant inhibition was obtained in PPD skin test – positive normal individual , as well as, a high significant inhibition was recorded in individuals recovered from tuberculosis . These results demonstrated the suitability of this test for routine
... Show MoreHelicobacter pylori (H. Pylori) is one of the most common infectious human pathogens. H. pylori could induce inflammation, that causes illnesses and disorders of upper gastrointestinal which including peptic ulcer diseases, dyspepsia, gastroesophageal reflux disease and gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma. It is important to use a better tolerated and greatly effective eradication regimen. In this study, 75 newly diagnosed adult patients with H. pylori infection were included and completed the study, they were allocated into three groups with three different treatment regimens for H. pylori eradications; Group A (25 patients) received oral standard clarithromycin-based tr
... Show MoreBACKGROUND: Montelukast (Singulair) is a cysteinyl leukotriene receptor antagonist, used for the maintenance treatment of asthma and to relieve symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis and asthma, also used for exercise-induced bronchospasm. AIM: This study was performed to determine the prevalence of Montelukast use as an add-on therapy among Iraqi asthmatic patients on treatment. Comparing the effectiveness of regimens with and without montelukast. METHODS: This descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out on 73 Iraqi asthmatic patients on treatment of both sexes with age range (18-60) years old, attending Al-Kindy Teaching Hospital and Al-Zahraa Centre of Asthma and Allergy, Baghdad, for the period between February
... Show MoreBACKGROUND: Montelukast (Singulair) is a cysteinyl leukotriene receptor antagonist, used for the maintenance treatment of asthma and to relieve symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis and asthma, also used for exercise-induced bronchospasm. AIM: This study was performed to determine the prevalence of Montelukast use as an add-on therapy among Iraqi asthmatic patients on treatment. Comparing the effectiveness of regimens with and without montelukast. METHODS: This descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out on 73 Iraqi asthmatic patients on treatment of both sexes with age range (18-60) years old, attending Al-Kindy Teaching Hospital and Al-Zahraa Centre of Asthma and Allergy, Baghdad, for the period between February
... Show MoreRoads irrespective of the type have specific standard horizontal distance measured at 90 degrees from a lot boundary to a development known as a setback. Non-observance of the recommended setbacks accommodated in any urban center’s master plan creates noise hazard to the public health and safety as the movement of vehicular traffic is not without the attendant noise. This study assessed noise intrusion level in shops along a section of Ibadan-Abeokuta road with due consideration to compliance with the recommended building structure setback. Analysis of noise descriptors evaluated in this study gave A-weighted equivalent sound pressure level average of 91.3 dBA, the daytime average sound level (LD) 92.27 dBA,
... Show Morewe studied the effect of low level laser therapy (LLLT) using diode laser with wavelength of (790-805) nm in promotion and enhancement of wound healing of episiotomy and to evaluate the analgesic effect of LLLT in reducing the pain sensation caused by the episiotomy wounds. Nineteen women with episiotomy wound were selected and divided into three groups; 1st group (group No.1: control group) given antibiotics without laser therapy, in the 2nd group (group No.2) the wounds were exposed to laser therapy (4 sessions, each session with energy density of 19.90 J /cm2 every other day ) and systemic antibiotics were prescribed for 1 week. In the 3rd group (group No.3) the wounds were exposed to laser therapy (4 sessions, the same as in the 2nd
... Show MoreMany urban and rural areas fall under the impact of disasters, whether natural or industrial, and with increasing complexity in urban areas, with diversity of economic, social and political components, and technological and cognitive development, the effects of disasters and wars have increased with the time, where disasters are affecting all aspects of life, causing great waste of property and lives, also displacement of populations and disruption of economic life, these effects are multiplied if they are not dealt with in sound curricula and scientific strategies.
The research aims to identify the experiences of some countries and their strategies and effective programs in reconstruction after exposure to disasters and wars wit
... Show More