Background: Deficiency in beta cell mass is the hallmark of most forms of diabetes, it is worthwhile understanding pancreatic regeneration in the context of this disease.Of crucial importance in the development of diabetes, both type I and type II, is the insufficient beta cell replication after the onset of disease.This is why we are always in search of new sources of beta cells to be generated by neogenesis to induce beta cells. In this regard, pancreatic stem or progenitor cells may offer a promising therapeutic approach for diabetes.
Methods and Materials: A total of 60 adults swiss albino rats were divided into two groups. Group I, control group (30 animals) were injected with normal saline into the

Background: Estimation of the in situ expression of Fas and Fas ligand (FasL) in aborted women compared with normal human pregnancy .
Patients and Methods: A technique utilizing in situ hybridization(ISH) was performed to detect and determine the in situ expression of Fas and Fas ligand (FasL) mRNA using paraffin embedded sections of curettage samples obtained from 42 women, who were divided into two groups: 30 women with first trimester abortion and 12 women with induced abortion as control.
Results: The levels of the in situ expression of both Fas and Fas ligand (FasL) mRNA were found to be highly significant increased in group 1 as compared with group 2
(p<0.01), with a significant positive correla

Background: Chlamydia trachomatis is one of the most common human pathogens and considered as one of the causative agents of STDs. This organism cause acute and recurrent pelvic infections and infertility.
Patients and Methods: Two hundred and seventy three females were included in the present study, attending infertility department, AL-Elwiya hospital, AL-Jarah private hospital, central public health laboratory and STDs clinic to whom IFAT, ELAF and immunoglobulins concentration were done.
Results: Females were divided into three age groups <20; 20-39 and ≥40 years. Single and repeated abortions were 44.9%, 55.1% respectively. Primary and secondary infertility were 55.6% and 44.4%. Higher abortio

Background: Intestinal parasites are endemic in many developing areas (WHO report 1998), and they considered as one of the most common tropical disease in developing countries ranges between 30-60 % .
Patients and Methods: The present study is a survey to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites in out and in patients of Al-karama hospital during the period from Jan 1999 to Nov. 2000. Stool samples examination was the test in establishing the results of the present study by direct microscopic examination. Q –square statistic test were used for evaluation the results.
Results: Results of the present study reveled that the most affected group of patients’ with intestinal parasites, those with

Background: Cytokines have long been implicated in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diabetes in a number of studies, and playing a role in the initiation of β-cell damaging process. The objective of this study is to gain more understanding about the role of cytokines in initiation of T1DM, through assessment of IFN-γ, IL-10 and IL-6 in diabetic patients.
Patients and methods: A total of 60 patients who were newly diagnosed as having T1DM (diagnosed less than five months) were included in the present study. Fifty apparently healthy control subjects were underwent the measurement of serum IFN-γ, IL-10 and IL-6 by ELISA.
Results: Higher serum levels of IFN-γ, IL-10, and Il-6 were observed in the investigated

Background: To study prevalence and method of diagnosis of acute rubella Infection during early pregnancy in Iraq.
Patients and Methods: Clinical signs and symptoms of acute rubella infection were looked for in (170) pregnant women looked before (12) weeks of gestation .Serial rubella specific IgG and IgM serological testing was done in these (170) women before (12) weeks of pregnancy, after (3) weeks, and again at (18-20) weeks of gestation.
Results: Three woman had clinical signs and symptoms of rubella infection from (26) woman were IgM positive at (9) weeks of pregnancy; (94) were IgG +ve but IgM –ve initially and also on repeat sampling after (3) weeks; while (50) women were nonimmune (IgG and I

Background: The purpose of this study was to compare the parametric measurements of transient otoacoustic (TEOAEs) in normal hearing subjects between two clinical centers in Iraq and to examine the community effect on TEOAEs characteristics.
Patients and Methods: Transient otoacoustic emission (TEOAEs) were obtained from eighty subjects (160 ears)-males and females aged (10-20 years), with Forty (40) subjects in Baghdad audiology center and forty subjects in Sulaimania audiology center (North of Iraq)[ Kurdistan-Iraq], in standard, non-linear “Fast Screen” mode. Hearing thresholds, tympanometric, and TEOAE-parameters were recorded between two clinical center groups.
Results: The cross correlation (

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a major risk factor for coronary artery disease, with a higher incidence of myocardial infarction and sudden death. Left ventricular dysfunction is difficult to diagnose and to differentiate into diastolic and systolic dysfunction on the basis of medical history, physical examination, electrocardiography (ECC) and chest radiography. Two-dimensional, M-mode, and Doppler echocardiography are excellent for diagnosing left ventricular dysfunction. M-mode echocardiography was used for diagnosing left ventricular systolic dysfunction, while Doppler echocardiography has become well accepted as a reliable, reproducible and practical noninvasive method for the diagnosis of left v

Background: several new inflammatory markers have emerged as strong predictors of cardiovascular disease in healthy and non-healthy subjects, one of these markers is hs-CRP, which has been proposed as independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease, and it is positively associated with body weight. Little is known, however, about the utility of hs-CRP and other biomarkers in obese hypertensive Iraqi post menopausal women.The aim of study is to examine the hypothesis that there is a relation between obesity, hypertension and a chronic low-grade inflammatory status (represented by high hs-CRP).
Patients and Methods: A total number of 99 postmenopausal women classified into obese hypertensive group (

BACKGROUND-to explor the infections associated with acute appendicitis in surgically removed appendices in Diyala.

Materials and Methods: this study include 160 surgically removed appendices with acute appendicitis . the patients were 66 fenales and 94 males. the age range was 5-53years with mean age 22.9±7.2 years.the surgically removed appendicitis were submitted for gross inspection and microscopic examination including direct mount, sedimentation and flotation techniques. Additionally specimens from 25 appendices were processed and examined histopathologically.

Results: The rate of parasitic infection in surgically removed appendices was 26.2%. the rate of single parastic infection was 23.1%, while the rate of two pa

B

Background: Hydatid disease remains an important & challenging medical problem.
Case report: A62 year old male patient was admitted complaining of upper abdominal discomfort. Six days earlier he suffered from acute pain in the right upper quadrant, mild systemic allergic manifestation, a fever of 38.5oC and chills. He was managed by a new surgical approach of myoplasty of the right hemidiaphragm combined with preoperative decompression of the bile duct by an endoscopic sphincterotomy. A case search identified study describing rupture of a hydatid cyst of the hepatic dome into biliary tract. The incidence of intrabiliary rupture of hepatic hydatid cysts is 25% in patients treated with external surgical

This article aims to cast a shadow over the history of mental health education and training in Iraq and a projection of Islamic scientific heritage in Baghdad during the seventh century. It also discloses the foundation of first teaching and training centers in psychiatry focusing on the marked contribution of the pioneer psychiatrists. Introduction. Up to our knowledge there is no elaborate published literature focusing on historical role of Iraq in mental health education and training and its current reality apart from scares data about mental health in Mediterranean region as a whole. In this article, we try calling the attention to the outstanding contribution of Iraq in mental health and medical educati

Background: Adenoidal hypertrophy is generally considered a common condition of childhood .When obstructive symptoms or recurrent otitis media (suppurative or non suppurative) occurs, adenoidectomy is generally indicated.A wide range of bacteria could be isolated from the surface and core tissue of the removed adenoid tissue.
Patients and Methods: A prospective study carried out in the ENT Department of AL-DIWANIYAH Teaching Hospital between October 2007 and September 2008.Involved 73 patients between 3 and 7 years, they were 31 male and 42 female .All patients underwent adenoidectomy .Surface and core swabs was taken from all specimens and submitted to bacteriological study.
Results: Pathogens were de

Background: Many workers have described the prevalence of HBV markers and anti-HCV among selected populations including health care personnel in Iraq. The purpose of this study is to describe the demographic characteristics and risk factors of hepatitis B and C in a sample of Iraqi health care workers (HCWs).
Materials and methods: A total of 1656 HCWs selected from Baghdad city was included in this study. A questionnaire form was filled for each HCW by direct interview. The data requested
included demographic characteristics and risk factors of exposure to HBV and HCV. HCWs were screened for the presence of HBsAg, anti-HBs and anti-HCV.
Results: A higher prevalence of HBsAg, anti-HBs and anti-HCV was de

Background: Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) is the most polymorphic genetic system in man. The genes of this region influence susceptibility to certain diseases.
Patients and methods: Immunofixation test is the method used to asses C4 polymorphism of 100 blood samples of 60 AIH patients and 40 healthy normal controls.
Results: An increased frequency of C4A*Q0 was observed for patients group versus control group with P-value (0.003).
Conclusions: This finding demonstrated that C4A*Q0 might play a role in AIH susceptibility.

Background: There is a general acceptance which illustrated that auto antibodies act as a central immunological disturbance in most of the auto immune diseases, among these auto immune diseaselies the SLE
Patients and Methods: Thirty five patients with SLE were compared to twenty age and sex matched, control subjects and studied for the presence of auto antibodies, plus IL-4 and IL-6 using Elisa method and immune fluorescent method (for ANA only)
Results: Data showed that IL-6 detectable levels were statistically significant in patients with positive anti ds-DNA, but not significant statistically in ANA positive patients although it was detected in 24 (70.6%) of positive ANA patients, while there was no sta

Back ground: Visceral leishmaniasis is an endemic protozoan disease in Iraq. Recovery from this disease confers a solid and permanent immunity. Immunological assessment of our patients was carried out and the results showed a significant reduction in the percentage of CD3, CD56 and a significant increase in the percentage of CD19 in the peripheral blood lymphocyte of VL in comparison with control group.
Patients and methods: Indirect immunofluorescence technique analysis was performed to detect the percentage of CD3, CD19and CD56 positive lymphocytes.
Results: Our results in the patients groups showed decrease in the percentage of CD3, CD56 and increase in the percentage of CD19. Follow up of patients after

Background: Shunt operations are performed for different reasons mainly hydrocephalus congenital or acquired. It’s associated with certain morbidity and mortality.
Patients and method: A prospective study from Jan 2004 to Jan 2006, 226 patients under went shunt operation in the specialized surgical hospital in Baghdad. The patients were divided into two groups according to the way of applying the upper end catheter. In group A49 patients where posterior parietal approach was used, and group (B) 174 where parietal or temproprietal approach was used.
Results and discussions: different complications were recorded, but the most frequent was upper end obstruction by choroids plexus or by debris. In group

Background: The removal of an impacted foreign body in the esophagus is still a common practice in the Thoracic Department of the Medical City Hospital .The objective of this study is to cast a light on this rather a common phenomenon in our country , its risks and its management.
Patients and Methods: This is a retrospective study of 120 patients with foreign bodies in the esophagus managed successfully in our department during five years period 1998 – 2002 inclusive .The study included 65 males and 55 females . Their ages range between I year and 75 years. The most common age group was less than 10 years , which constitutes about 30% of our patients .Varieties of foreign bodies were encountered ,their

Background: carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) a relatively common disease affecting ♀ more than ♂, usually at the age between 40 -60 , diagnosed by EMG & NCS, treated when moderate
to severe by surgical decompression of the median nerve.
Objective: To study the role of surgery in the management of CTS.
Patients & method: 124 patients collected from the neuro-surgical departments of the specialized surgical hospital from August 2001 till March 2007, all patients studied thoroughly
regarding age, sex, associated diseases, clinical features, EMG studies, surgery & out come & follow up for at least one year.
Results & discussion: there was around 2:1 ♀:♂ , with age predomena between 40-60

Background: no previous study is done in Iraq about the isolation and the identification of measles virus although the outbreaks were continuous in the previous
years.
Aim of the study: To identify our local strain of measles virus, which had caused measles o utbreak in the year 2004.
Patient and methods: About (55) Urine samples and (80) throat swabs were collected from 88 measles suspected patients all over the country during measles
outbreak of the year 2004. Serological (ELISA) and virological test were used for this purpose.
Results: Measles virus was isolated successfully in 16 patients who had symptoms of measles infection from mid and south of Iraq. These isolates were obtained on B95a
a

Background:
Patients treated for pediatric malignancy are at high risk of parenterally transmitted viral hepatitis.
Objectives:
To detect the seroprevalence of hepatitis B and C viral infections in children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia & identify some variables that could affect its
prevalence in these patients.
Patients and Methods:
One hundred fifty pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients, presented to Children Welfare Teaching Hospital, Baghdad, during the period from March 11th
2007 to July 31st 2007 were enrolled in this study; they were 103 males, 47 females, aged (2.25 months- 16 years). Sera of these patients were investigated for hepatitis
markers including HBsAg and A

Background: Asthma is an inflammatory airway disease; this inflammatory response can be attributed to reduced lymphocyte apoptosis in peripheral blood and in airway tissues.
The mechanism behind this could be attributed to decreased Bcl2 protein and increase Bax protein in peripheral blood lymphocytes of asthmatic patients.
Aim: to explore the mechanism behind decreased lymphocyte apoptosis in peripheral blood of asthmatic patients at cellular level.
Method: Ninety four subjects; (44) control and (50) patients were included in this study during the period from (2003) to (2004). The aspirated lymphocytes for each individual
were prepared and stained by immunocytochemistry to study the percentage of antiapop

Background: Acute renal failure (ARF) in children is a catastrophic, life -threatening event
Aim of the study: the aim of the present study is to find out the etiology and outcome of patients with acute renal failure below two years of age admitted to the hospital.
Patients and methods: A prospective study was carried out on children below 2 years of age (with exclusion of neonatal period) presented with acute renal shut down
admitted to Children Welfare Teaching Hospital during the period from Jan. 1st, 2007tojan30th,2008.
Results: the study group included 100 patients with acute renal failure, 69 males and 31 females with M/F ratio 2.2:1.Age range was between (2 months - 2 years).
Prerenal ARF wa

Background: - Carcinoma of the lung has became the most common type of cancer since 1985 & the most common cause of cancer death in both males & females.
Aim of study: - To assess the diagnostic accuracy of bronchial wash cytology & application of immunocytochemical methods, using two tumor markers (low molecular weight cytokeratin & epithelial membrane antigen) for more accurate & precise diagnosis of lung tumors.
Patients, materials and methods: - Fifty fifes suspected lung cancer cases according to their clinicoradiological examinations were included in this study.
Bronchial wash cytology was performed for all the 55 patients. Smears were stained by conventional cytological stain i

Back ground:Fine needle aspiration (FNA) is indicated in the exploration of superficial and deep masses. The accuracy of this procedure differs in various studies, and according to the organ explored. Palpable mammary masses of concern to the patient or clinician should be aspirated, regardless of imaging findings.
Objective: The present study aimed at evaluation of cytological results of FNA of different palpable breast lesions, using histopathological diagnosis as the gold standard for final diagnosis.
Patients & Methods: This prospective study includes 289 females with palpable breast lesions. FNA aspiration was conducted in a private out patient clinic during the period of 1994-2004. The cytolo

Background: To determine the DNA content in subfertile patients and to correlate it with seminal sperm concentration.
Design: Prospective observational study.
Setting: College of Medicine, Dept. of Physiological chemistry and Institute for embryo Research and infertility treatment-University of Baghdad.The study was conducted
through years 2004-2005.
Methods: A random sample of 61 subfertile male patients undergoing semen evaluation and aged from 20-45 years were studied. Semen samples were assessed for seminal sperm
concentration microscopically and were classified into 3 different groups according to count (million/ml).Then sperm D N A content (μg/ml) was estimated using a microchemical
spectropho

Background: uterine involution is the process by which the postpartum uterus returning to its prepregnant state by the process of autolysis. The aim of the study is to fallow the uterine involution sonographicly during the first two weeks of puerperium and clinical correlation of several puerperal conditions was sought.
Patients and methods: One hundred full term women were delivered in one of Baghdad hospital during a six month period were followed by serial sonogram during the first two weeks of the puerperal period to show the normal process of uterine regression in relation to several condition .The rate of uterine involution were shown as percentage drop in uterine volume at day (7) and day (14)&nbsp

Background: Routine use of nasogastric tubes, after abdominal operations, is intended to hasten the return of bowel function, prevent pulmonary complications, diminish the risk of
anastomotic leakage, increase patient comfort and shorten hospital stay. Aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of routine nasogastric decompression after abdominal surgery, in
achieving each of the above goals.
Patients and methods:Two hundred and twelve patients having abdominal operations of any type, emergency and elective have been followed prospectively over a period of three years (1st December 2004 until end of December 2007) in Baghdad teaching hospital. Patients were randomized into two groups. Group 1 had naso