Iraqi National journal of Medicine

Background. The impairment of the T-lymphocyte system leads to reduced viral clearance, resulting in intensified disease and the possibility of prolonged infection.(2) The poor functioning of B lymphocytes makes the host susceptible to bacterial and viral infections, especially in cases of malignant disease.


Aim of the study. The present study set out to determine the frequency of human astrovirus infection among patients who suffered from malignancies who were being treated in the Oncology Center of the Basrah Children’s Specialty Hospital.


Patients and Method. A cross-sectional study was approved for a population of children with cancers during the period from October 1, 2015 through the end of January, 2016. Forty-five children (24 females and 21 males), all with cancers, were admitted to the Oncology Center of Basrah Children’s Specialty Hospital. Their ages ranged from under 1 year to 15 years. According to the results of a specially designed questionnaire, data were obtained from patients who were either symptomatic or asymptomatic for human astrovirus infections, including 3 newly diagnosed cases (before chemotherapy) and 38 cases (during chemotherapy), with the remaining 4 cases admitted after chemotherapy. Ninety stool samples were collected at day 0 and day 4 after admission, and all were tested using astrovirus antigen enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay (ELISA) kits (EIA-4456).


Results. On both days, the rate of astrovirus infections was 15.6% in the hospitalized children with cancers, and there were no statically significant differences between hematological malignancies and solid tumors (P value was 0.857). Among hematological malignancies, astrovirus was detected at a significant rate (the P value was 0.0001) in patients with acute myeloblastic leukemia, while patients with solid tumors exhibited significant expression of rhabdomyosarcoma (the P value was 0.001).


Astrovirus infection was more prevalent in females (85.8%) than in males (the P-value was 0.001). Infection was most prevalent in the age group of >1–5 years (57%), and most of the infected patients (85.8%) were from rural areas (the P-value was 0.012). In most of the symptomatic infected cases (71.4%) the symptom was acute diarrhea (the P-value was 0.05), and this was typical during chemotherapy.


Conclusion. Astrovirus infections occur at significant rates in acute myeloblastic leukemia, among hematological malignancies, and in patients with rhabdomyosarcoma, in the solid-tumor category. Therefore, astrovirus screening should be done for all children with cancers, and especially for patients with acute myeloblastic leukemia or rhabdomyosarcoma.

Background. Working far from urban domains exposes workers to harsh environmental hazards like air pollutants and harmful byproduct emissions. Site workers often are exposed to harmful agents and may suffer from dangerous health disorders. The aim of this study is to estimate the hazard level posed by these conditions through clinical examination of assays taken at the State Company of Fertilizers, Southern Region, in the Basra governorate of the city of Iraq.


Methods. A study was conducted on 35 workers from both the State Company of Fertilizers (Southern Region) and Basrah University. The study involved an inquiry into the occupational history, chronic illnesses, and smoking habits of participants, along with a physical examination of arterial blood pressure, heart rate, body temperature, and oxygen saturation (SpO2). A complete blood picture (CBP) test was given to all study participants to obtain WBCs, while serum was assessed for liver (ALT) and (AST).


Results. The study showed a higher incidence of hypertension and diabetes among urban workers than among industrial workers, while 14% more industrial workers underwent surgical operations and 29% had fillings of dental caries and showed a non-significant rise in body temperature when compared with urban workers. Industrial employees had a highly significant increase (P≤0.001) in systolic blood pressure. Both groups of workers had uniformly decreased monocyte levels, while total WBCs and granulocytes were non-uniformly distributed, except for lymphocytes. Data showed a highly significant decrease (p≤0.005) in the monocytes of industrial workers, while a general decrease was present in all other WBC parameters, though with no statistical significance (P≥0.05). Liver function tests showed abnormalities in 42% of the industrial workers (ALT 36 U/L), while 92.8% were suggestive of chronic hepatitis or steatosis due to a ratio of less than 1 in AST: ALT levels.


Conclusion. Decreased WBCs (leukopenia) and health problems, along with markers of liver dysfunction, are potential health hazards faced by workers in the fertilizer industry. Maintenance and site equipment engineers had recurrent long-term exposure to ammonia gases and toxic environmental agents. The findings of this clinical surveillance are significant; however, studying the etiological factors and subsequent pathogenicity remains necessary.

Background. Gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) is found to be present endogenously in mammalian brains. It has been abused increasingly in recent years, particularly in date rape sexual assaults. Metabolism of GHB happens very rapidly; it disappears within 12 hours, making its detection in criminal cases very complicated.


Aim. This study intended to determine whether PEA-15 gene expression in human cell lines can be used as a marker for expanding the window of GHB detection beyond 12 hours.


Methods. The effects of GHB on cell viability was determined by use of the MTT assay. Quantitative real-time PCR and western blots were used to assess the effect of GHB exposure on PEA-15 mRNA and protein levels respectively in human brain and blood cells.


Results. The viability of human brain cells was decreased as GHB concentrations increased. PEA-15 mRNA levels increased in 1321N1 and SH-SY5Y cells by 4.2- and 3.7-fold respectively, after a 100 µM GHB treatment (p<0.01 both), but with no change at 1µM GHB. However, PEA-15 mRNA levels were increased significantly in THP-1 cells by 40.8-fold after a 10 µM GHB treatment (p<0.01), but with no change at 900 µM GHB. PEA-15 protein expression levels were increased in THP-1 cells by 1.9- and 1.6-fold (p<0.001) after 10µM and 900µM GHB treatments respectively, and increased in SH-SY5Y cells by 1.6-fold (p<0.05) after a 100 µM GHB treatment. However, there were no changes in PEA-15 protein levels in SH-SY5Y cells after 24 hours of GHB exposure.


Conclusion. The results of this study on human cell lines support the previous study in mice, which suggests PEA-15 levels as a possible surrogate marker for GHB administration beyond 12 hours. Additional studies are required.

Background. The hand is the most frequently injured body part. Injuries to the fingertips are among the most common hand injuries. In this article, an anterograde pedicle flap based on the dorsal branches of proper digital artery from the dorsum of the middle phalanx was used to reconstruct the fingertip defect as described by Peng Wei MD in a single stage to provide a durable, sensate coverage with the least possible complications.


Aim of the study. To introduce and assess the result and long-term follow-up of using an anterograde pedicle flap based on the dorsal branches of proper digital artery from the dorsum of the middle phalanx.


Patients and method. A total of twelve male patients were presented to us between November 2016 and January 2018. All of them had a history of fingertip injuries and had undergone reconstruction using anterograde pedicle flap based on the dorsal branches of proper digital artery from the dorsum of the middle phalanx” the period of follow up ranged from one month to six months with an average of three months.


Result. In this study, 12 patients presented with a fingertip defects were surgically treated by using an anterograde pedicle flap based on the dorsal perforator. All the patients had a satisfactory results with good pliable contour coverage of their injured fingertip with no restriction of finger movements.


Conclusion. The use of anterograde island flap based on the dorsal branches of proper digital artery from the dorsum of middle phalanx is suitable for reconstruction of fingertip defects of various amputation planes, it provided good contour texture with preservation of digital artery and nerve, it also provides patient with acceptable fingertip appearance. One of the major drawbacks of this procedure is that it requires tedious and meticulous dissection and that the donor site requires a full-thickness skin graft, which leads to donor site morbidity and scarring.

Background: This prospective descriptive study was carried out in the Basra Public Health Department fromAugust 2017 to August 2018 on all patients registered at the Communicable Disease Control unit.
Aim of the study. is to detect the prevalence rate of hepatitis c virus among risky group and to determined the most common risk factors.
Patients and method.A total of 162137 (97283 male and 64854 female) people were screened and 355 (205 male and 150 female) people were found to be infected. The laboratory investigation included a blood sample to detect anti-hepatitis C virus antibodies by using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test, which is a confirmatory test for those with positive results found using the HCV RNA genotype.
Result. In this study, we found that the prevalence rate of the hepatitis C virus in Basra city among the screening group was 2% in comparison with the global population affected by this diseasebeing a little more than 3%. The most common risk factor for infection with the hepatitis C virus is dentinal interference (83 patients) with 23% affected cases, while the lowest risk factor is in prisoners. Among patients with cancer, the most common age group at the risk of infection with hepatitis C is 15 to less than 45 years and 0.5%. The number of infected people in rural areas is greater than in the center with a prevalence rate of 0.22% in Al-Qurna. The most common risky group exposed to infection are hemodialysis patient( prevalence rate 84.5%).
Conclusion. It’s important to apply a screening program of hepatitis C to all population to have a more quorate prevalence rate; population health education about the risk factor of infection with hepatitis C and how to prevent it; a strict follow-up of all dentinal clinics by the health directorate and insure the use of sterilized instrument for every patient; use of disposable instrument in dentinal clinic if possible; early screening for renal disease is necessary to prevent the development of renal failure and its complication.