BACKGROUND: HLA-B27 can effect clinical presentation and course of ankylosing spondylitis. Different detection techniques of HLA-B27 are available with variable sensitivities and specificities. OBJECTIVE: To compare serologic and molecular diagnostic techniques of detecting HLA-B27 status and to correlate it with some clinical variables among ankylosing spondylitis patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 83 Iraqi patients with ankylosing spondylitis. Clinical and laboratory evaluations were reported. HLA-B27 status was determined in all patients by real-time PCR using HLA-B27 RealFast™ kit; ELISA method was used as well to detect soluble serum HLA-B27 antigens using Human Leukocyte Antigen® kit. RESULTS: The mean age of patients ± SD was (38.4±9.8) years. Male to female ratio was 9:1. Disease onset occurred <30 years in 78% of cases. All (100%) cases had lower back pain, 44 (54%) patients had enthesitis, 14 (16.9%) had peripheral arthritis, 12 (14.5%) had eye involvement, whil
ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Left ventricular hypertrophy is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular complications such as ischemic heart disease, heart failure, sudden death, atrial fibrillation, and stroke. A proper non-expensive tool is required for detection of this pathology. Different electrocardiographic (ECG) criteria were investigated; however, the results were conflicting regarding the accuracy of these criteria. OBJECTIVE: To assess the accuracy of three electrocardiographic criteria in diagnosis of left ventricular hypertrophy in adult patients with hypertension using echocardiography as a reference test. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a hospital-based cross sectional observational study which included 340 adult patients with a his
... Show MoreTo investigate the effects of losartan and enalapril on serum uric acid in hypertensive patients with metabolic syndrome, one hundred and twenty six newly diagnosed mild hypertensive patients, having markers of metabolic syndrome included in the study. The patients were divided into two groups. Group 1 (60 patients) was given losartan (50 mg/ day) and group 2 (66 patients) enalapril (20 mg/ day) for a duration of 2 months. A control group of seventy apparently healthy individuals were included. Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed according to diagnostic criteria of metabolic syndrome related to the American National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel III. Serum uric acid levels were measured bef
... Show MoreFor aspirin estimated, a molecularly imprinted polymer MIP-ASP electrodes were generated by electro-polymerization process, the electrodes were prepared by combining the template (aspirin) with (vinyl acetate (VA), 1-vinylimidizole (VIZ) as a functional monomer and N, N-methylene bisacrylamide (MBAA) as crosslinkers using benzoyl peroxide (BPO) as an initiator. The efficiency of the membrane electrodes was analyzed by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). Four electrodes were synthesized using two different plasticizers, di-butyl sebacate (DBS), di-octyl phthalate (DOP) in PVC matrix. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to describe the generated MIP, studying the electrodes properties, the slope, detection limit, and life
... Show MoreThe target of this study was to study the natural phytochemical components of the head (capsule) of Cynara scolymus cultivated in Iraq. The head (capsule) of plant was extracted by maceration in70% ethanol for 72 hours, and fractioned by hexane, chloroform and ethyl acetate. Preliminary qualitative phytochemical screening was performed on the ethyl acetate fraction for capsule was revealed the presence of flavonoid and aromatic acids. These were examined by (high -performance liquid chromatography) (HPLC diodarray), (high- performance thin-layer chromatography)(HPTLC).
Flavonoids were isolated by preparative layer chromatography and aromatic acid was isolated by preparative high-
... Show MoreTriticale is a hybrid of wheat and rye grown for use as animal feed. In Florida, due to its soft coat, triticale is highly vulnerable to Sitophilus oryzae L. (rice weevil) and there is interest in development of methods to detect early-instar larvae so that infestations can be targeted before they become economically damaging. The objective of this study was to develop prediction models of the infestation degree for triticale seed infested with rice weevils of different growth stages. Spectral signatures were tested as a method to detect rice weevils in triticale seed. Groups of seeds at 11 different levels (degrees) of infestation, 0–62%, were obtained by combining different ratios of infested and uninfested seeds. A spectrophotometer wa
... Show MoreThis study was attempted to determine optimum conditions, for Glutathione s-Transferase enzyme, in sera of three groups diabetic patients type1 depending on duration of disease without complications compared with control group. The aim of this study was to find optimum conditions were determined such as (pH, Substrate Concentration, Temperature, Incubation time, Enzyme concentration, and effect of(0.15M)(0.25M) of mono divalent compounds). And to find the kinetics parameters in the three groups of diabetic patients when compared with control. It was found optimum pH(8.5,4.5,2.5,6.5).Temperatures(20cº,40cº,50cº,30cº). Incubation times (7min, 4min, 4min, 5min) substrate concentrations (12µl, 10µl, 5µl, 10µl) enzyme concentra
... Show MoreSchizophrenic patients who are at great risk of relapse are characterized by non-compliance,
denial of illness and need for treatment and no contact with family. So, the prevention of relapse
and readmission to hospital are crucial in mental health practice.
The present study is a descriptive-analytical study that was carried out from November 2nd
2006 through the end of 20 of April 2008.
Objectives: To assess the associated factors with the risk of relapse in schizophrenic patients at
psychiatric hospitals in Baghdad city.
Methodology: A purposive "non-probability" sample of (50) schizophrenic patient who hasd
relapsed was involved in the present study. Data were collected through the use of the constructed
qu