Background : The hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) is defined as the triad of liver disease, arterial deoxygenation, and pulmonary vascular dilatation. The reported prevalence of HPS in cirrhotic patients varies between 5% -17.5%.Objective : To estimate the prevalence of hepatopulmonary syndrome among patients with chronic liver disease and portal hypertension and to study the correlation between HPS and the severity of liver disease.Patients and methods : Thirty patients were studied for the presence of HPS using transthoracic contrast echocardiography for detection of pulmonary vasodilatation. Arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) was determined in erect and supine position using a pulse oximeter , (SaO2 ≤ 92 % in supine position and/or a decrease of ≥ 4% after change from supine to upright position) to detect hypoxia and ortheodeoxia.Result : Eleven of thirty patients (36.6%) with chronic liver disease and portal hypertension were found to have contrast echocardiographic evidence of intrapulmonary right-to-left shunting. Arterial oxygen desaturation was present in 3 patients (27.3%) of those with intra-pulmonary right-to-left shunting ,they were considered as clinically significant HPS ,the remaining 8 patients were considered as subclinical HPS. Dyspnoea was more often present in patients with clinically significant HPS (100%) compared with subclinical HPS (25%), and patients without HPS (9%). HPS correlated significantly with severity of liver disease according to the Child-Pugh score.Conclusion: hepatopulmonary syndrome is not uncommon , the prevalence of clinically significant hepatopulmonary syndrome (in this study) was 10% of patients with chronic liver disease and it correlated with disease severity according to the Child-Pugh score
Background: To determine the efficacy of adenoidectomy in relieving symptoms of chronic sinusitis in children.
Patients and methods :A prospective study carried out on 35 patients who underwent adenoidectomy or Adeno-tonsillectomy between May 2004 and October 2005.The patient ages ranged from 3 to 12 years. Five patients were unavailable for follow-up and did not complete the study so they are excluded from. The pre-operative symptoms were Rhinorrohea, Nasal congestion, Headache, Postnasal drainage, Cough, Halitosis and Irritability.
Also recorded was Mouth breathing, Fever and Frequent antibiotic use. Telephone interviews with the patient's caregivers were conducted to collect information followi
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Abdominal fat synthesizes a variety of adipokines, including vaspin and chemerin, that affect the resistance to insulin. This research was conducted to demonstrate the effect of pioglitazone, one insulin sensitizer used to decrease insulin resistance, on these adipokines in obese patients with polycystic ovary (PCOS). Twenty-five obese women with PCOS were treated with pioglitazone 15mg/bid for 12 weeks. Modifications in fasting blood glucose (FBG), serum fasting insulin (FSI), chemerin and vaspin serum levels, follicle stimulation hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone (T), and in baseline and post-therapy were assessed. Body mass index decreased without any substantial variance after 12 weeks of piogl
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Background: Serum adiponectin is a hormone of adipose tissue that activateslipid metabolism and exertsphysiological functions. Its level usually fluctuates in several metabolic diseases,including renal insufficiency and diabetes; it loses its protective role against diseases and becomes a potentially risk factor for erythroid abnormalities.
Objectives: The study was designed to assess the association between adiponectin hormone, blood erythroid and various parameters in groups of patients.
Method:The study included 130 patientsand 42 healthy subjects. Parameters of serum adiponectin, erythropoietin (EPO), red blood cells (RBC), hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (Hct), ren
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Extensive studies have been conducted on the microbial properties of Streptococcus pneumoniae all over the world ,but there are few studies in Iraq on the most important factors of virulence possessed by S.pneumoniae isolates found in Iraq , 195 of sputum specimens were collected from patients with pneumonia acquired from the community who were clinically diagnosed by specialized doctors depending on symptoms and Radiography of Chest . Eighteen isolates of S.pneumoniae were diagnosed by special traditional methods that used in the phenotypic identification . All isolates 18 (100%) have been given positive results for the optochin test , bile solubility test
... Show MoreTuberculosis is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis; it is considered as one of the most common, infectious diseases and major causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. A prospective study was conducted to obtain more clarification about the impact of causative agent and its treatment to enhance autoantibodies production such as ANCA and BPI which used as diagnostic markers for several diseases, and to provide further insight into the classical risk factors (age and sex).Seventy patients with tuberculosis involved in this study, 35 of them were untreated and 35 with treatment administration these patients were attending to directorate of general health national reference laboratory in Baghdad during the period between November/ 2012
... Show MoreBackground: Cytokines produced by inflammatory cells play a pivotal role in synovial inflammation and joint destruction in rheumatoid arthritis.
Patients and Methods: The cytokine serum levels were measured by EASIA (Enzyme amplified sensitivity immunoassay) in sera from 50 RA patients, and 40 healthy donors. Cytokine levels were compared in different RA subpopulations (positive or negative rheumatoid factor (RF), long term or recent onset disease, high or low disease activity). In addition, the possible association with other demographic and clinical parameters (gender, age, etc) was also analyzed.
Results: It was demonstrated that IL-2, IL-6 and IFN-δ levels were elevated in serum samples of RA pati
Background: The coexistence of renal and heart failure carries an extremely bad prognosis. The exact cause of deterioration of kidney function and the mechanism underlying this interaction are complex, multifactorial in nature, and still not completely understood. Both the heart and the kidney act in tandem to regulate blood pressure, vascular tone, diuresis, natriuresis, etc.
Patients and methods: Sixty patients mean age 65.5 year were complaining heart failure duo to different causes assessed for renal function (blood urea &creatinine) and cardiac function by echocardiography in day 0 and 10 day after treatment of heart failure.
Results: The mean value (±S.D) of blood urea and serum creatinine on day 0 were 64.17mg/dL (±30.
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Background: previous researches showed that the hepatoprotective effect of silymarin was through inhibition of cytochrome p450- system (e.g. protection against Amanita toxin), in addition to protection from free radicals generated by this enzymatic system. In contrast to that, many evidences clarified that silymarin may increase first pass metabolism of e.g. cyclosporine and benzodiazepenes.
Objective: Our aim from this animal experiment was to relieve this confusion and detect that this herbal extract is absolutely hepatoprotective or induce hepatotoxicity in other conditions.
Materials and Methods: this study was performed on 15 healthy male rats randomized into two treatment groups; first group (5 rats)
The study was carried out for the period March 2007 -
January 2008 , in order to describe the status of the environmental sanitation and the prevalence of rodents infestation in nine quarters in Baghdad city . The results showed that the PI varied between 40 -
100% in garbage accumulation places and between 33.3 - 100% in the
other sites (houses , shops , bakeries and book shops) . It was noticed that, no rodents control activities were carried out from 2003 till now because of the unsuitable conditions a especially in Baghdad city . The level of ES was bad in general according to three degrees of evaluation (weak , mid and good)
Background: The association between oral microbial infection and systemic disease is not a new concept. A major confounding issue is that oral infections often are only one of the many important factors that can influence systemic diseases .Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the periodontal health status of patients with acquired coronary heart disease. Type of the study: Cross-sectional study.Methods: The study group consisted of 200 patients with an age range (35-70) years, having coronary heart disease .This study group were compared to a control group of non-coronary heart disease (200 individuals ) matching with age and gender. The oral parameters were examined including the periodontal conditions, assessment of periodo
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