Background: Acute appendicitis is a common surgical
problem that is associated with an acute-phase reaction.
Previous studies have shown that cytokines and acutephase proteins are activated and may serve as indicators for
appendicitis.
Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate of serum
levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in correlation to the severity
to acute appendicitis.
Methods: This is a prospective study from December 2008
to March 2009 of patients who had appendectomy in
Department of Surgery, Al-Kindy Teaching Hospital -
Baghdad/Iraq. Serum for estimating levels of interleukin-6
(IL-6) was taken pre-operatively. Depending on the
macroscopic evidence during the operation and the
histopathological examination of the specimens, the
patients were separated into 3 groups, group one with
negative appendectomy (normal appendix), group two with
non-complicated acute appendicitis (catarrhal,
suppurative), and group three with complicated acute
appendicitis (perforated, gangrenous). The
histopathological results were correlated with IL-6 values
statistically.
Results: A total number of 50 patients were included in
this study, 28 male (56%) and 22 female (44%). The mean
age was 23 year (ranged from 7 to 50). On histological
examination, there were 7 patients (14%) in group one, 29
patients (58%) in group two, and 14 patients (28%) in
group three. Serum IL-6 values gave true negative results
in 6%, true positive results in 82%, false negative results in
4%, and false positive results in 8%. We determined,
therefore, in the present study the sensitivity, specificity,
and accuracy of serum IL-6 were calculated as 95.34%,
42.85%, and 88% respectively.
Conclusion: Laboratory results should be considered to be
integrated within the clinical assessment. If used critically,
IL-6 can provide surgeons with complementary
information in discerning the necessity for urgent
operation
The amount of protein in the serum depends on the balance between the rate of its synthesis, and that of its catabolism or loss. Abnormal metabolism may result from nutritional deficiency, enzyme deficiency, abnormal secretion of hormones, or the actions of drugs and toxins. Renal cancer is the third most common malignancy of the genitourinary system, and accounts for 3% of adult malignancies globally. Total serum proteins were measured in malignant kidney tumor, benign kidney tumors, and non tumoral kidney diseases patient groups, as well as in healthy individuals. A significant decrease (p< 0.001) of total serum protein levels in patients with malignant kidney tumors when compared with those of benign tumors, non tumoral diseases, and hea
... Show MoreBackground: Community acquired pneumonia is the most frequent infection-related cause of death. Illness severity might usefully guide a number of management decisions and predict mortality. Confusion, blood urea ,respiratory rate ,blood pressure and age 65 years or older (CURB-65) based largely on clinical assessment.
Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of CURB-65 score in assessment severity of community-acquired pneumonia and to predict mortality.
Patients and Methods: Fifty patients were enrolled in this prospective study between 1st. of March 2007 and 31st. of January 2008, recruited at Baghdad Teaching Hospital diagnosed as community acquired pneumonia depending on having lower respiratory tract infection symptoms , signs and
Background: Nitric oxide ( NO) is a physiological mediator of many processes in the eye including regulation of aqueous humor dynamics. Compounds acting via NO dependent mechanisms may enhance aqueous humor outflow and reduce intraocular pressure (IOP) .
Objective: Sildenafil a cGMP specific phosphodiesterase 5inhibitor that potentiates NO production and increases cyclic GMP is tested in this study for its effects on intraocular pressure in an acute ocular hypertension model in rabbits.
Materials and methods: Newzealand albino rabbits of either sex weighing 2–2.5 Kg , were used in this study. Sildenafil was prepared in a vehicle of phosphate buffer and diluted to the required strength of 0.5%. Intraocular pressure (IOP ) was meas
Background:
B -Natriuretic peptide is a neurohormone normally synthesized in ventricular heart muscle and known to be released in situations when left ventricular wall stress increases, it
has a variety of physiological functions on its own, that are thought to be compensatory.
Objective:
The aim of this study was to apply B-natriuretic peptide (BNP) as a biomarker and to correlate its levels with the severity of heart failure using certain selected parameters as
indicators of cardiac function.
Patients and Methods
Forty Six (46) patients with provisional diagnosis of heart failure were chosen for this work, thirty six (36) males and ten (10) Females, their age ranged between 33 and 80 Years.
All un
Background: Atherosclerosis is a diffuse disease process, being present in one vascular bed predicts its presence in the others. Ankle –brachial pressure index (ABI) is a non invasive test proved to be sensitive and specific in detecting and assessing the severity of peripheral arterial disease.
Patients and Methods: One hundred fifty patients (150) were enrolled in this study, from January - June 2007; all were referred to the Iraqi Centre for Heart Diseases (I.C.H.D.) for further evaluation, with request for further assessment of CAD or lower extremity peripheral arterial disease. Clinical data and physical examination were performed; ABI was calculated by measurement of systolic pressure on both ankl
Background: Chronic Tonsillitis outcomes from frequent attacks of acute Tonsillitis usually for six attacks or more per year for two successive years. Poor dental hygiene had been associated with oro- pharyngeal problems and causes both dental caries and Tonsillitis alike.
Objective: To evaluate the relation between chronic Tonsillitis and severity of dental caries among 4-5 years old children.
Patients and Methods: Random sample of children was selected in Hospital of Baghdad medical city Otolaryngologic department city. Fifty-four children aged 4- 5 years old were participated in this study divided into two group: 29 children with Chronic Tonsillitis (study group) and 25 children with intact tonsils (control group). The determina
Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) causes up to 40% mortality in humans and is difficult to treat. ARDS is also one of the major triggers of mortality associated with coronavirus-induced disease (COVID-19). We used a mouse model of ARDS induced by Staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB), which triggers 100% mortality, to investigate the mechanisms through which Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) attenuates ARDS. SEB was used to trigger ARDS in C3H mice. These mice were treated with THC and analyzed for survival, ARDS, cytokine storm, and metabolome. Additionally, cells isolated from the lungs were used to perform single-cell RNA sequencing and transcriptome analysis. A database analysis of human COVID-19 patients was also performed t
... Show MoreAtherosclerosis is a condition of the hardening of a blood vessel via the development of plaques around the artery wall which causes the artery to narrow, leading to severe complications. Toxoplasmosis is an opportunistic parasitic infection that causes pathological complications in immunocompromised patients, which lead to increase the burden on the immune system in these patients. This study aims to assess the incidence rate of toxoplasmosis in atherosclerosis patients and its potential to change C - reactive protein (C-RP) and vitamin D3 levels. Serum samples (150) were tested for the positivity of anti-Toxoplasma IgG and IgM antibodies by means of Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In addition, C-RP was assessed in a
... Show MoreBackground: Increase in marrow reticulin has long been recognized in primary myelofibrosis, but little was known about the reticulin structure of leukemic marrows, there has been a tendency to accept an increase in marrow reticulin as evidence of myelofibrosis. Similarly, there has been a tendency to diagnose as "acute myelofibrosis" cases of acute leukemia with brisk reticulin and early collagen production. This study was undertaken to determine incidence, type and pattern of fibrosis in the bone marrow of patients with acute leukemia, both acute lymphoblastic and acute myeloid leukemia.
Method: thirty-five bone marrow biopsy specimens from patients with acute leukemia were examined histologically; connective tissue stains were appli