Back ground: Visceral leishmaniasis is endemic in the
middle and south of Iraq, it involves mostly infants. The
disease is observed mainly among rural areas that are far
from equipped medical centers. Therefore, there is a need
for anon- invasive, cost- effective, reliable, easily
available and fast method of diagnosis of this dngerous
disease.
Objective: The aim was to compare the validity and
predictive values of the recombinant K39 antigen (rK39)
test with that of the indirect fluorescent antibody test
(IFAT) test (the usual laboratory method) in the detection
of visceral leishmaniasis.
Methods: A Cross-sectional study was done in ALMansour Pediatric Hospital (in AL-Rusafa), and Central
Pediatric

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease with an increasing prevalence worldwide and characterized by an increase in oxidative stress and inflammation. The most important factor that is responsible for oxidative stress and production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is hyperglycemia. The major targets of ROS are proteins. The most common and widely used biomarker of severe oxidative protein damage is protein carbonyl content.

The study was designed to assess the serum level of protein carbonyl as a marker of protein oxidation in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and to evaluate the effect of age, body weight, waist circumference, diabetic control and disease duration on the level

Background: Ejection fraction have been used frequently
for assessment of the left ventricular function, but can be
associated with errors in which myocardial performance
index have been used as another parameter to measure the
left ventricular function.
Objective: selecting another echocardiography parameter
for the assessment of myocardial in function instead of the
ejection fraction.
Methods: 160 patients referred to the echocardiogram unit
from the period december 2007 to august 2008 requesting
assessment of left ventricular function. After clinical
examination, routine blood tests; chest x-ray and
electrocardiographic recording have been completed. All
patients informed to come for this unit af

Background: For various reasons, inguinal hernia repair under local anaesthesia is not well accepted to both patients and surgeons. The patients fear from pain and surgeons need full relaxation and co-operation to do successful hernia repairMethods: purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of local anaesthesia in inguinal hernia repair.prospective study was made from January 2011-0ctober 2013 , on a total of 50 patients with inguinal hernia operated on under local anaesthesia. Patients were selected primarily on the basis of their willingness to accept the procedure after the technique was described to them.Results: In this study 50 patient and 58 herniorrhaphies done for them during a period of about 34months were evaluate

Background: The prevalence of both obesity & diabetes are increasing all over the world & more in women.  They have a negative impact not only on morbidity & mortality but also on quality of life.

Objectives: To assess the HRQoL with a specific comparison between obese & normal weight among wo

Background: Non-atherosclerotic spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is defined as a non-traumatic and non-iatrogenic separation of the coronary arterial wall. SCAD is a highly uncommon cause of myocardial infarction (0.1 to 0.4 %).

Case presentation: 40-year-old African American woman, G1T1P0A0L2, with a past medical history of tobacco abuse and obesity who had uncomplicated cesarean section delivery for healthy twins two weeks prior presented with substernal, sudden onset chest pain. The pain radiated to left arm and back, pressure-like, and is associated with nausea, vomiting, and dyspnea.

On examination she was within normal limits except for a well-healed C-section wound. An electrocardiogr

Background: In the present study used device jet plasma needle with atmospheric pressure which  generates non thermal plasma jet to measure treatment potent with plasma against pathogenic bacteria  founded  in UTI  was inactivated with plasma at 10 sec,

Objective:. This work included the application of the plasma produced from the system in the field of bacterial sterilization , where sample of Gram- negative bacteria (Escherichia coli) were exposed to intervals (1-10)second . Midstream Urine samples swabs were obtained from patients with urinary tract infections.

Type of the study: Cross -sectional study.

Methods: The work were used i

Back ground : Fever is a common medical problem in
children. parents have been shown unrealistic fears of
harmful effects of fever in their children. Resulting in
inappropriate management of fever in their children.
Objective: the objective of this study was to survey
parents about their knowledge andattitude concerning fever
in their children.
Methods : The study involved random selection of
parents who brought their febrile children to emergency
department or out-patient clinics of five teaching and non
teaching hospitals in Baghdad from first of October to end
of December 2002.
Parents of 400 febrile children were interviewed using a
standard questionnaire to obtain sociodemographic
informatio

Objective: the objective of this study was to compare the intraoperative blood loss, intraoperative time, postoperative pain and secondary hemorrhage between electrodissection and cold steel dissection tonsillectomy.

Methods: One hundred and six patients were enrolled in this study, the patients were randomly allocated into electrodissection group A (n=51) and cold steel dissection tonsillectomy group B (n=53). All patients are above 7 years and had history of recurrent tonsillitis and/or tonsillar hypertrophy with obstructive symptoms. Intraoperative parameters and postoperative outcome were assessed.

Results: In group A patients had statically significa

Thyroid hemiagenesis (THA) is a rare congenital anomaly in which one lobe of thyroid gland fails to develop during embryological stage. Agenesis may be unilateral, total or isthmic. Left thyroid lobe is more commonly involved than right lobe in hemiagenesis. Agenesis of the isthmus was seen in 50% of cases. Left sided hemiagenesis is more common than right sided hemiagenesis with a Left to right ratio of 4:1. Clinically patients can be euthyroid, hypothyroid or hyperthyroid. Often it is diagnosed as an incidental finding during ultrasonography (USG) study of neck, which can easily diagnose this condition.

Actual incidence of THA is unknown; most cases are diagnosed in patients admitted for thyroid scan or thyroid surgery because

Background: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) has become the treatment of choice for elective cholecystectomy.Objectives: To evaluate the safety and feasibility of early LC for AC and to compare the results with delayed LC.Methods: A prospective study done from April 2011 to October 2013, 88 patients with diagnosis of AC were divided randomly into two groups according to the mode of treatment; (early group n=40) treated by early LC within first 72 hours or (delayed group, n=48) initial conservative treatment for 4-6 weeks, followed by delayed LC.Results: There was no difference between the two groups (early & delayed LC), operating time (early 80min, delayed70min), conversion rate (early 7.5%, delayed 6.25%),postoperative complicatio

Back ground: The innervations of the pineal
gland from the superior cervical ganglion have
shown some form of a chromatolysis reaction.
Objective:
1-Tracing the innervations of the pineal gland by
removing the target tissue (the pineal gland in
this study) i.e. (pinealoctomy) and removal of the
superior cervical ganglion i.e. (ganglionectomy).
2- The localization and total number of the
neurons which project into the rat pineal gland
3-The effect of pinealoctomy on the SCG after a
different time interval.
Methods: Twenty five albino rats were used in
this study, Pinealoctomy was done, then after a
different time interval ganglionectomy was done,
in order to study the Chromatolysis in their cel

Background: To elucidate the possible role of human cytomegalovirus in pregnancy loss through induction of certain pro-inflammatory adhesion molecules.
Methods: Paraffin embedded sections of curate samples were obtained from 34 women had spontaneous abortion, and 5 women had elective termination of pregnancy (as control), and then subjected for immunohistochemistry analysis to detect human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) early protein and VCAM-1 molecule.
Results: Nine out of 34 women with spontaneous abortion were positive for HCMV early protein, with a
significantly higher expression of VCAM-1 in HCMV positive cases as compared with HCMV negative and the control groups (p = 0.05, 0.001 respectively).
Conclusion: HCMV infection may p

backround: job satisfaction greatly determines the productivity and efficiency of human resorces for health job satisfaction in said to be linked with employees work environment 

job resposibilties and time pressure among various health professionals

As dedicated readers of Al-Kindy College Medical Journal, we are writing to highlight a critical and profoundly concerning matter that requires urgent research attention: the alarming surge in suicidal ideation among users of Iraqi crystal methamphetamine. Expert psychiatrists at Baghdad Medical City and Ibn-Rushd Psychiatry Teaching Hospital have observed this worrisome trend. In tandem, previous studies regarding suicidal ideation among Iraqi medical students have revealed an unexpectedly high prevalence (64.9%). The escalating global trend in amphetamine-type stimulant (ATS) abuse and the distinct challenges posed by crystal meth addiction necessitate comprehensive investigation into the resultant psychological toll.
According to t

Background: It is important to achieve good glycemic control to avoid long-term diabetic complications. It has been largely debated about the role of correct way of insulin administration to get the desired glycemic control.
Objective: To evaluate the effect of teaching diabetic patients who are on insulin therapy the correct way of injecting insulin and its effect on glycemic control.
Methods: A non randomized clinical trial with 820 diabetic patients on insulin therapy on whom A1 c estimation was performed before and after three months of teaching them the right injection technique.
Results : Sixty seven patients (8.17%) had A1 c 6.5% before they were enrolled in the study while the majority (753 patents, 91.82%) had A1 c 6.5%

Background: occult blood loss must be considered as a
possible cause in every case of iron deficiency anemia.
Objective: to evaluate upper gastrointestinal endoscopy
in finding a potential cause for iron deficiency anemia
among children in Al-Anbar governorate.
Methods: Twenty five children aged 2-14 years, referred
to the gastroenterology unit in Al-Ramadi General Hospital
for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy had iron deficiency
anemia. Fiberoptic endoscopy was used under general
anesthesia and endoscopic tissue biopsies were taken from
22 patients for histopathological examination.
Results: The main presenting signs and symptoms were
pallor, abdominal pain, and stunting. The upper
gastrointestinal

Babesiosis is a tick-borne disease caused by Babesia microti. We present a case of false positive HIV in the setting of confirmed babesiosis infection. An understanding that patients with babesiosis can have a false positive HIV test result is important in management decisions.

Background: Patients with decompensated cirrhosis are often given therapeutic and prophylactic drugs. Polypharmacy raises both the likelihood of prescription errors and the complications associated with drugs. Clinical pharmacists are excellent at recognizing, addressing, and preventing clinically significant drug-related problems.

Objectives: Identification types of pharmacist interventions to address drug-related problems in patients with decompensated cirrhosis and assess the acceptance/implementation of these recommendations. And identify patient factors associated with accepting pharmacist recommend

Background: War represents a major human crisis; it destroys communities and results in ingrained consequences for public health and well-being

Objective: We set this study to shed light on the public health status in Iraq after the successive wars, sanctions, sectarian conflicts, and terrorism, in light of certain health indicators.

Design: The primary source of data for this analysis comes from the Iraqi Ministry of Health, and The World Health Organization disease surveillance.

Results: Most of the morbidity indicators are high, even those that are relatively declining recently, are still higher than those repor

Background:Parkinson’disease(PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder of the central nervous system characterized by resting tremor, bradykinesia, cogwheel rigidity, and impairment of postural reflexes; the frequency of PD increases with aging.Clinically Parkinson's disease characterized by two groups of symptoms: motor and non-motor symptoms.Non-motor symptoms can be categorized as autonomic, cognitive/psychiatric (may include depression, dementia, anxiety, hallucinations), sensory and rapid eye movements (REM) sleep behavior disorder (RBD).

Objectives:The objectives of this study are to find out the frequency of the non-motor symptoms of idiopathic Parkinson disease in a group of patients in Baghd

Background: psychiatric and behavioral side effects
are common in patients with epilepsy and it may
represent an intrinsic feature of the disease itself or a
side effect of the antiepileptic use. Our aim in the
present study is to assess the psychiatric side effects of
Sodium Valproate and Carbamazipine .as these drugs
are the most commonly used antiepileptic drugs in Iraq.
Methods: 80 patients with primary generalized
epilepsy on Carbamazipine and 50 patients on Sodium
Valproate were enrolled in the present study; all the
patients were assessed for any psychological
disturbances using semi-structural interview based on
the tenth edition of the international classification of
the diseases(ICD 10) ad

Background: There is plenty of evidence
suggesting that involvement of several groups of
viruses in the development and / or acceleration of
Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM).
Objective: To analyze the T- cell proliferation in
the presence of Coxsackie virus B5 (CVB5), Polio
and Adenovirus antigens in addition to assessment
of Interferon- gamma (IFN-γ), Interleukins (IL-10
and IL-6).
Methods: In 60 Iraqi T1DM children with recent
onset of T1DM, Lymphocyte proliferation was
analyzed using Methylthiazol tetrazolium (MTT)
assay by culturing Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes
(PBLs) with Coxsackie Virus B5 (CVB5),
Adenovirus, and Polio vaccine. Serum Interferon-γ,
IL-10 and IL-6 were quantified by sandw

Background: The obesity epidemic is affecting worldwide health, increasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases such hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. this gave an impetus to study the new variables Insulin-like peptide 5, Phosphodiesterase 9 and their relationship as a cause or effect factors

Objective: To validate any associations between Phosphodiesterase 9 (PDE9) and, Insulin-like peptide 5 (INSL5), specific factors and obesity, and to explore how they might integrate with other established agents to combat obesity and improve metabolism.

Subjects and Methods: The study was based analytical cross-sectio

Background:

Trigeminal neuralgia (TN), or Tic Douloureux, is one of the most common neuropathic pains. Gamma knife stereotactic radiosurgery (GNSRS) has been considered one of the procedures for treating primary TN.

Objective:

This study evaluates the effectiveness of GNSRS in treating primary TN in patients who are unresponsive to medical treatment in a single-center experience.

Subjects and Methods:

This study was conducted on 180 patients from January 2018 to October 2021. The study utilized the Barrow Neurological Institute (BNI) pain intensity score to assess pain before and after GNSRS treatment.

Results:

A total of 180 patients with primary TN were included in this study, 108 female

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an emerging zoonotic disease caused by the new respiratory virus SARS-CoV2. It has a tropism in the lung tissues where excess target receptors exist. Periostin plays a role in subepithelial fibrosis associated with bronchial asthma. Since the Coronavirus's target is the human respiratory system, Periostin has been recently described as a valuable new biomarker in the diagnosis and evaluation of disease in patients with COVID-19 lung involvement.

Objectives: To assess the level of Periostin in the serum of COVID-19 patients and to correlate its role in disease severity and prognosis.

Subjects and Methods: Periostin serum le

Tuberculosis continues to be the leading cause of morbidity and mortality, with an estimated annual incidence of 10.4 million worldwide. It has been estimated that 10% of patients with extrapulmonary tuberculosis have musculoskeletal involvement, with the spine being the most common. Spinal tuberculosis (TB) accounts for 50% of cases of musculoskeletal tuberculosis.

Spinal tuberculosis is the result of infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It is a secondary infection, the primary lesion of which is in the lungs, genitourinary system, or gastrointestinal tract and can be active or latent. Involvement of the vertebral segment is the result of hematogenous spread of infection along the arterial pathway or Batson's vei

Background: Lowering the amount of iodinated contrast material and tube voltage may increase pulmonary artery opacification and thrombus identification without compromising picture quality.

Objectives: To explore the efficiency of using lower tube voltage and a lower contrast medium dose for conducting computed tomography for pulmonary angiography (CTPA) aiming to increase its accuracy in detecting pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE).

Subjects and Methods:100 patients scheduled for CTPA with a preoperative diagnosis of PTE were grouped into two: group A, (50 patients) got 1 mL/kg at 120 kV and group B, (50 patients) received 0.5 mL/kg at 80 kV.The tec