Search Results

Abstract : This study aimed to investigate the anti-HB antibody levels in different groups of healthcare workers (HCWs) in Sulaimani city in comparison to the vaccine cycle and duration of vaccination. 250 HBs Ag negative individuals (mean age 36.61±912 years) of HCWs were studied at Shar teaching hospital and Shorsh general hospital from May 2019 to September 2019. Blood samples were obtained to investigate the titer of HBs Ab among each participant with surface antigen and anti-core antibody study. The females recorded a significantly higher protective rate (80.7%) than males (64%) (P=0.003). No significant difference was recorded between the protection against HBV in the age groups (P=0.98). Notably, senior physicians recorded the highest HBs antibody (87.9%) compared to the other groups (P< 0.001). The total proportion of vaccinated and non-vaccinated individuals in HCWs was 80.8% and 19.2%, respectively. Those whose vaccination history <5 years recorded the highest protective rate (89.7%), followed by 5-10 years (84%), >10 years (78.6%) (P<0.001). Completed vaccination revealed the highest protective rate (91.7%). In vaccinated groups, the titer was increased dramatically by increasing the doses of vaccination, while the protection rate was declined as the years of vaccination were prolonged.

Abstract : To observe and prospectively investigate the impairment of exocrine and endocrine pancreatic function in patients after first episode of acute pancreatitis as well as establishment of predictors for new onset diabetes in such patients. 1. To assess the proportion of early new onset diabetes mellitus after first episode of acute pancreatitis, 2. To identify and predict the etiopathological characteristics that account for development of early new onset diabetes mellitus after first episode of acute pancreatitis, 3. To possibly develop a predictor scoring system for predicting new onset diabetes at time of admission for first episode of acute pancreatitis. Patients were selected as per the inclusion criteria, all non-diabetic with first episode of acute pancreatitis. An observational, prospective and longitudinal study was conducted. All patients were followed up after 3 months. In the present study we found that acute pancreatitis is a major risk factor for diabetes mellitus. Cholesterol, LDL and triglycerides, blood urea nitrogen, hemoglobin, WBC, PCV, platelet count, organ failure and severe acute pancreatitis could be the crucial factors in predicting the development of diabetes mellitus following acute pancreatitis. These findings are important for setting up adequate follow-up strategies after acute pancreatitis, in order to diagnose diabetes. Our findings strongly highlight the importance of regular long-term follow-up for endocrine function in patients after acute pancreatitis, the early diagnosis and treatment of endocrine impairment can also help the population prevent deterioration of pancreatic exocrine function.

Abstract : COVID-19 drastically affected routine healthcare services worldwide. Patients with chronic diseases were at higher risk of missed care due to the pandemic. We aimed to assess burden of missed appointments of routine care among chronic disease patients in Qassim Saudi Arabia. A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among patients with chronic diseases visiting randomly selected primary healthcare centers in Buraidah, Saudi Arabia. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire in Arabic which collected information regarding the socio-demographic and care-seeking during the pandemic. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 21.0. A total of 347 participants were included in the study with a mean age of 58 (±11.4) years. About a quarter, 29.7% reported experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. About 38% had Diabetes Mellitus, 23.6% had hypertension (HTN) and 37.8% had both. The proportion of patients who missed an appointment in the last six months preceding the survey was 44.7%. Common reasons for missing the appointment were; the facility was working but they were not able to get the usual care fear of getting COVID-19 infection, and because of the lockdown. A large proportion of patients with diabetes mellitus and hypertension had their appointment missed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The common reasons were related to the pandemic and its response. This calls for healthcare leaders and managers to plan emergency responses such as for pandemics in such a way as to avoid interruption of care for patients with the need for continued care.

Abstract : Cancer is one of the polygenic diseases and the main idea includes characterizing the main gene within different genes, which they are implicated in the cancer pathogenesis. In this direction, MPP8 has a substantial function in gene transcription during cell division and implicated in numerous cellular functions, and has the potential to cause cancer. Thus, the main aim of current project is to estimate MPP8 gene expression in various kinds of cancer as well as to highlight which type of cancer expressed high level of target gene and evaluate its role in development this type of cancer in the following studies. MPP8 expression assessed using qPCR. MPP8 gene in the blood samples of cancer cases are significantly expressed (2.619±0.2848) compared with its expression in control group (1.446±0.2163) the higher level of MPP8 expression demonstrated in bone cancer while the cervical cancer was less expression of MPP8. Prostate cancer significantly expressed MPP8 gene (p≤0.001). The current assay considers the first assay to study the association between MPP8 expression level and various types of cancer in Iraq .as well as, there is little research regarding the association between MPP8 gene expression and digestive system tumors. However, rectal, colon, stomach and pancreatic cancers included in present study and they are significantly expressed MPP8 gene. Thus, additional studies are required to evaluate whether MPP8 a useful biomarker to predict aggressive behavior in digestive system carcinomas.

Abstract : In this study, common oral lesions were identified and examined from patients who visited the Oral medicine clinic in Sulaimani, 2021. Case sheet reports were collected from the Oral Medicine Clinic at the Diagnosis Department / College of Dentistry / Sulaimani University in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The cases were subdivided into two groups: intra- and extra-oral lesions. The intra-oral lesion was collected and studied specifically. Then data were analyzed by applying the techniques of statistics. In this study, 15 lesion types were observed; Minor aphthous ulcers were the most common lesion (17% of the cases), then Herpes labialis and Developmental geographic tongue (13%). Based on gender specification, most male patients had not definitely diagnosed lesions (Differentially diagnosed 19%), while most female patients had Mucocele, Pericoronitis, and Petechiae (2- 4 %). Results of this study demonstrate that Minor aphthous ulcers, Herpes labialis, dentures stomatitis were the most common lesions among our patients.