advancing age. The risk of cardiovascular disease in adults is lowest with systolic BP <120 mm Hg and diastolic BP < 80 mm Hg and increases progressively with higher systolic and diastolic blood pressures. Acupuncture (from the Latin word acus, “needle”, and pungere, meaning “prick”) is a technique in which the practitioner inserts fine needles into specific points on the patient’s body. Accupuncture could be used as a nonpharmacological way of controlling high readings of blood pressure among cases with essential hypertension. This study aimed to investigate the effects of acupuncture on essential hypertension.
Patients and Methods: 51 hypertensive patients of both genders and 30 normotensive control subjects were inv

Concrete filled steel tube (CFST) columns are being popular in civil engineering due to their superior structural characteristics. This paper investigates enhancement in axial behavior of CFST columns by adding steel fibers to plain concrete that infill steel tubes. Four specimens were prepared: two square columns (100*100 mm) and two circular columns (100 mm in diameter). All columns were 60 cm in length. Plain concrete mix and concrete reinforced with steel fibers were used to infill steel tube columns. Ultimate axial load capacity, ductility and failure mode are discussed in this study. The results showed that the ultimate axial load capacity of CFST columns reinforced with steel fibers increased by 28% and 20 % for circular and square c

The Ant System Algorithm (ASA) is a member of the ant colony algorithms family in swarm intelligence methods (part of the Artificial Intelligence field), which is based on the behavior of ants seeking a path and a source of food in their colonies. The aim of This algorithm is to search for an optimal solution for Combinational Optimization Problems (COP) for which is extremely difficult to find solution using the classical methods like linear and non-linear programming methods. 

The Ant System Algorithm was used in the management of water resources field in Iraq, specifically for Haditha dam which is one of the most important dams in Iraq. The target is to find out an efficient management system for

    In this survey, there are 14 species belonging to 14 genera, nine families and two orders, collected on Macrofungi from Tikrit city, Salahadin Governorate, North Central of Iraq. The members of Coleoptera were more abundant than flies on Macrofungi.

    The family of Ciidae and Leiodidae (Order, Coleoptera), Mycetophilidae (Order, Diptera), and 6 species are recorded for the first time for insect fauna of Iraq.

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrinopathy in women of
reproductive age with primary features of infertility, menstrual irregularity, and clinical or biochemical
evidence of hyperandrogenism (hirsutism, acne and high androgen level). Vitamin D has a role in the
development of metabolic and endocrine abnormalities in PCOS mediated by insulin resistance.
Objective: Measure serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome and
compare their levels with age and body mass index matched healthy controls. Also, assess the
correlation between insulin resistance and 25-hydroxy vitamin D among women with PCOS.
Subjects and Methods: Eighty eight women were involved in this st

Background: Studies show that diabetic patients have a higher incidence of ischemic stroke than non-diabetic patients. In the Framingham study the incidence of thrombotic stroke was 25 times higher in diabetic men and 36 times higher in diabetic women than in those without diabetes

Objectives: aim of this study to analyze topography in diabetic patients.

Type of study:  Cross sectional study.

Methods: 48 patients with acute stroke were classified into 4 groups: euglycemic, stress hyperglycemia, newly diagnosed diabetics, and known diabetics.

Results:no significant differences were found in the type, site or size of st

   A simple, accurate and precise spectrophotometric method has been developed for the analysis of sulfamethoxazole (SMZ) in pure form and pharmaceutical preparation. The method involves a direct charge transfer complexation of sulfamethoxazole (SMZ) with sodium nitroprusside (SNP) in alkaline medium and the presence of hydroxyl amine hydrochloride. Variables affecting the formation of the formed orange colored complex were optimized following two approaches univariate and central composite experimental design (CCD) multivariate. Under optimum recommended conditions, the formed complex exhibits λmax at 512 nm and the method conforms Beer's law for SMZ concentration in the range of 5.0-150.0 (µg.mL-1) with molar absorptivi

Background: Nephrotic syndrome is an immune mediated disorder of the kidney associated with T cell dysfunction and secondary disturbance of B cell with changes in levels of immunoglobulin.
Objectives: The objectives of this study were to compare immunoglobulin levels in children with nephrotic syndrome in relapse and healthy children, and to assess relationship between the degree of albuminuria and the mean concentrations of immunoglobulin.
Methods: We studied 60 children with nephrotic syndrome during January 2008 to January 2011 in the Pediatric Nephrology consultation clinic, Children Welfare Teaching Hospital –Baghdad Medical Complex –Iraq. Urine protein and blood samples were collected from the 60

Background: Acne vulgaris is a common skin problem. It affects areas of high density of sebaceous glands like the face, chest and back. The penile skin is no exception, also can be affected with acne, however little was written on this subject.<br />Patients & Methods: This is a clinical epidemiological study conducted at the Department of Dermatology & Venereology- Baghdad Teaching Hospital, during the period between December 2007 and May 2008. Seventy six male patients with facial acne vulgaris were enrolled in the study. A full history includes age, age of onset of facial acne and any penile lesion observed by the patient Examination of the face was done for the severity of acne and grading it into mild, moderate, severe

In this study, aluminum nanoparticles (Al NPs) were prepared using explosive strips method in double-distilled deionized water (DDDW), where the effect of five different currents (25, 50, 75, 100 and 125 A) on particle size and distribution was studied. Also, the explosive strips method was used to decorate zinc oxide particles with Al particles, where Al particles were prepared in suspended from zinc oxide with DDDW. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV-visible absorption spectroscopy, and x-ray diffraction are used to characterize the nanoparticles. XRD pattern were examined for three samples of aluminum particles and DDDW prepared with three current values (25, 75 and 125 A) and three samples prepared with the same currents for zin