A vascular necrosis (AVN) is defined as cellular death of bone components due to interruption of the blood supply; the bone structures then collapse, resulting in bone destruction, pain, and loss of joint function. AVN is associated with numerous conditions and usually involves the epiphysis of long bones, such as the femoral head. In clinical practice, AVN is most commonly encountered in the hip. Early diagnosis and appropriate intervention can delay the need for joint replacement. However, most patients present late in the disease course. Without treatment, the process is almost always progressive, leading to joint destruction within 5 years. Treatment of a vascular necrosis depends mainly on early diagnosis which mainly based on clinical findings, x-ray finding & MRI.A variety of non-vascularized bone grafting techniques have been proposed with varying degrees of success as treatment alternatives for osteonecrosis of the femoral head. The success of these procedures may be enhanced using ancillary growth and differentiation factors. Patients & Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 37 patients (44 hips) with osteonecrosis of the femoral head between May 2007, and March 2011, divided into two groups. Group A include 17 patients (22 hips) with osteonecrosis of the femoral head who had non vascularized bone grafting procedures done for them. Minimum follow-up was 12 months. We compared the outcomes in this cohort to similar hip number (22 hips) in 20 patients treated with core decompression only (group B). We used Phemister technique to make a window at the posterior aspect of greater trochanter to remove necrotic bone and packed the excavated area with autogenous cancellous bone graft taken from ipsilateral iliac crest or leave it without bone graft (decompression only). Results: We report the result of treatment for femoral head avascular necrosis depending on Ficat classification stage I, II, & III. The minimum follow up was 12 months (12m-36m).The success percentage of hips in our cohort of patients with non-vascularized bone grafting group A are 86% (19 of 22 hips), which is higher than group B 63% (14 of 22 hips) with core decompression alone. Conclusion: These procedures (core decompression and autogenous cancellous bone graft) effectively reduce donor site morbidity and may defer joint arthroplasty in selected patients & it is more effective than core decompression alone in treating early stages of femoral head osteonecrosis.
Ocular drug delivery is challenging due to the presence of anatomical and physiological barriers. These barriers can affect drug entry into the eye following multiple routes of administration (e.g., topical, systemic, and injectable). Topical administration in the form of eye drops is preferred for treating anterior segment diseases, as it is convenient and provides local delivery of drugs. Major concerns with topical delivery include poor drug absorption and low bioavailability. To improve the bioavailability of topically administered drugs, novel drug delivery systems are being investigated. Nanocarrier delivery systems demonstrate enhanced drug permeation and prolonged drug release. This review provides an overview of ocular barr
... Show More
(410)
(383)
Stuck pipe is a prevalent and costly issue in drilling operations, with the potential to cost the petroleum industry billions of dollars annually. To reduce the likelihood of this issue, efforts have been made to identify the causes of stuck pipes. The main mechanisms that cause stuck pipes include drill cutting of the formation, inappropriate hole-cleaning, wellbore instability, and differential sticking forces, particularly in highly deviated wellbores. The significant consequences of a stuck pipe include an increase in well costs and Non-Productive Time (NPT), and in the worst-case scenario, the loss of a wellbore section and down-hole equipment, or the need to sidetrack, plug, or abandon the well. This paper provides a comprehensive
... Show More
(7)
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). Dire
... Show More
An environmentally friendly technique was used to prepare titanium dioxide@ silver (core shell) (TiO₂@Ag NPs) using chard leaf extract, a natural stabilizer and reductant. A nanocomposite (NCs) of TiO₂@Ag supported by halloysite nanotubes (HNTs), TiO2@Ag/HNT NCs, was prepared under microwave irradiation. The microwave technique is used to accelerate the reaction and enhance the homogeneity of nanoparticle distribution. Spectroscopic and structural analyses were performed on the resulting nanocomposite. X-ray diffraction (XRD) revealed a clear crystalline structure with grain sizes ranging from 7 to 15 nm, with an average of ~11 nm, the transmission electron microscope (TEM) revealed that the size of nanoparticles in the TiO₂@Ag/HNT N
... Show More
Background: Prolonged use of low-dose estrogen ''20 micrograms or less" Combined oral contraceptive pill (that have estrogen and progesterone steroid hormone) had an effect on bone turnover .Bone mineral density is used in clinical medicine as an indirect indicator of osteoporosis and fracture risk. The aim of the study: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of low dose oral contraceptive pill on the cortical thickness (in millimeter) and bone mineral density at the mandibular cortex of mental and gonial regions in Hounsfield unit(HU) using spiral computed tomography. Material and method: This prospective study was conducted on computed tomographic image of 100 women aged between (20-40) years .The collected sample includes
... Show More
Background: Recurrent aphthous ulcer is a chronic inflammatory disease of the oral mucosa. Substance P has activity in the inflammatory response. Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) as immune-modulators regulates the immune response and has anti-inflammatory, pro-inflammatory effects. Pistacia lentiscus (mastic) of Anacardiaceae family have pharmacological activities like anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and used in treatment of wound and repair. The aim of this study is to find the safety and efficacy of a new product mastic orabase; experimentally and clinically. Methods: This research studied two parts: first; experimentally for assessment of mastic orabase effects on rabbit dermal irritation, efficacy of mastic orabase on the indu
... Show More
(1)
This study investigates the treatment of used lubricating oils from AL-Mussaib Gas Power Station Company-Iraq, which was treated with different extractive solvents (heptane and 2-propanol). The performance activity of these solvents in the extraction process was examined and evaluated experimentally. Operating parameters were solvent to oil ratios of (1:2, 1:4, 1:6, and 1:8), mixing time (20, 35, 50, and 65 min), temperatures (30, 40, 50, and 60 ºC), and mixing speed (500 rpm). These parameters were studied and analyzed. The quality is determined by the measuring and assessment of important characteristics specially viscosity, viscosity index, specific gravity, pour point, flash point, and ash content. The results confirm that the solve
... Show More
(6)
Al-Rustamiya sewage treatment plant (WWTP) serves the east side of Baghdad city (Rusafa) and is considered one of the largest projects.It consists of three parts (old project F0, first extension F1, and second extension F2) that treat wastewater and the
effluent is discharged into Diyala river and thus into the Tigris River. These plants are designed and constructed with an aim to manage wastewater to reachIraqi effluent standard for BOD5, COD, TSS and chloride concentrations of 40, 100, 60 and 600
mg/L respectively. The data recordedfrom March till December 2011 provided from Al-RustamiyaWWTP, were considered in this study to evaluate the performance of the plant. The results indicated that the strength of the wastewater enterin
(9)
This work deals with thermal cracking of slack wax produced as a byproduct from solvent dewaxing process of medium lubricating oil fraction in AL-Dura refinery. The thermal cracking process was carried out at a temperature ranges 480-540 ºC and atmospheric pressure. The liquid hourly space velocity (LHSV) for thermal cracking was varied between 1.0-2.5 . It was found that the conversion increased (61 - 83) with the increasing of reaction temperature (480 - 540) and decreased (83 - 63) with the increasing of liquid hourly space velocity (1.0 - 2.5).
The maximum gasoline yield obtained by thermal cracking process (48.52 wt. % of feed) was obtained at 500 ºC and liquid hour space velocity 1 . The obtaining liquid product at the best op