Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is still a major global public health problem worldwide. The global prevalence of Mycobacterium (M tuberculosis) infection has been estimated in 32% of the world population with more than 8 million new cases diagnosed each year.

Materials and Methods: A total of 192 M tuberculosis complex isolates were collected from patients with positive sputum smear who had been treated previously with the four main anti- tuberculosis drugs for more than two months. The isolates were identified by their colonial morphology, pigmentation, shapes on Ziehl-Neelsen smears, growth on Löwenstein-Jenson medium and biochemical tests as niacin and nitrate tests. A propor

Background: Knowledge about the clinical problems during the fast of Ramadan is important in order to opens the way to further research aimed at discovering the significance of Ramadan fasting in patients with heart disease.
Patients and Methods: Eighty-six outpatients with heart disease with intention to fast were studied in the month of Ramadan 2010 (1430 H) at the Ibn Al-bitar Hospital. Detailed clinical and biochemical assessments were performed within 3 days before the start of Ramadan and then on the last day of Ramadan.
Results: There were 54 (62.8%) males and 32 (37.2%) females with a mean age of 56.3 years (range, 17-84 ). Forty-six patients (53%) had coronary artery disease, 23 patients (27%)

Atenolol is one of beta-adrenergic receptor blocking agent. It is widely used for the treatment of hypertension as a selective antihypertensive drug. But long term usage of atenolol may cause one of the cardiovascular diseases like myocardial infarction. To prove the relationship between atenolol and cardiovascular disease, measurement of creatinekinase-MB as a diagnostic indicator in early and long term usage of this drug by hypertensive patients is recommended.  A comparative study was conducted in Al-Yarmouk Teaching Hospital–Emergency Department- on 30 hypertensive patients using atenolol. They were divided into (2) groups A and B according to the duration of the drug usage. Group A- (15) patients with a mean age (56

Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase is a prevalent enzyme that maintains the Na⁺ and K⁺ gradients across the cell membrane by transporting three Na⁺ out and two K⁺ into the cell, the aim of this study  is to provide detailed mechanistic insights, potentially with important effects on physiological regulation of active Na and K transport in tissues of Aerobic Thyroid Patient. Thyroid tissues were obtained from a 35 year old patients, the operation was carried out at the Al-Hadi Specialist Hospital in Samarra city, the sample was stored at -20^ºC until used. The purification protocol included Salt Precipitation, Ion Exchange Chromatography, Gel Filtration and E

Background: EEG recording showed a definite relationship between epileptiform EEG discharges and cognitive impairments (transient cognitive impairment “TCI”), since interictal spikes, which correspond to a large intracellular depolarization with evoked action potentials, in many ways mimic a “miniseizure.” Interictal spikes can result in transitory cognitive impairment with the type of deficit dependent on where in the cortex the spike arises. The interictal spikes, particularly if frequent and widespread, can impair cognitive abilities, through interference with waking learning and memory, and memory consolidation during sleep.
Objectives: the aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of subcli

Background: Patients with an Implantable Cardiovertor Defibrillation (ICD) describe psychological problems such as depression, anxiety, and stress. To achieve the full benefits of the device, patient must maintain their psychological status within good levels.
Objectives: The major objectives of this study were to determine the main psychological problems in adult patients with an ICD and to find out the relationship between Psychological problems in patients with ICD and some demographic characteristics of patients with ICD.
Patients and Methods: A Descriptive analytical study was carried out from January 25, 2011 to March 20, 2012 in order to determine Psychological problems of patients with ICD. The sample was selected by A purp

Background: Hormones have very important role in spermatogenesis and production capacity of testis. Disturbances in their vlevels can be very crucial in dysfunction of testis which results in men infertility. This study carried out to evaluate the hormonal disturbances in men infertility and its correlation with semen parameters and types of infertility.
Patients and Methods: Blood and semen samples were collected from 91 infertile men and 20 healthy and fertile control who attended Al-Kadymiah hospital and some private clinics in Baghdad from January to December 2009.Semen and serum samples were analysed for semen parameter and FSH, LH, Testosterone and prolactin levels.
Results: Fifty one (56%) of in

Background: β-thalassemia major is a genetic disorder characterized by reduced rate of β-globin chain production. Clinically, β-thalassemia major is a severe, transfusion-dependant disorder; repeated blood transfusion will lead eventually to chronic liver disease.
Patients and Methods: One hundred patients ; 56 males and 44 females who were known cases with β-thalassemia major on regular blood transfusion, aged between 6 months and 18 years, were studied in a private pathology laboratory, between January 2002-January 2006.Blood was drawn to estimate serum glutamic pyruvate transaminase (SGPT) and serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) levels.
Results: Sixty-six patients (66%) had elevated S

Background: Indeterminate colitis (IC) originally referred to those 10–15% of cases of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in which there was difficulty distinguishing between ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD) in the colectomy specimen and histopathology examination. However, IC is increasingly used when a definitive diagnosis of UC or CD cannot be made at colonoscopy examination, colonic biopsies or at colectomy. The diagnostic difficulties may explain the variably reported prevalence of IC. Clinically, most patients with IC evolve to a definite diagnosis of UC or CD on follow up.
Patients and methods: PATIENTS GROUP: Consisted of 80 patients with indeterminate colitis (IC), their ag

Background and Objective: Public demand for procedures to rejuvenate photodamaged facial skin have stimulated the use of fractional CO2 laser as a precise and predictable treatment modality. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of fractional CO2 laser system for reducing periorbital rhytids.

Materials and Methods: twenty seven subjects with mild periocular wrinkles, and photoaged skin of the face were prospectively treated two to three times (according to clinical response) in the periorbital area with a fractional CO2 laser device equipped with a scanning hand piece. Improvements in eyelid wrinkles was evaluated clinically and photographically. Subjects also scored satisfaction and