Medical Journal of Babylon

Background: Aortic valve sclerosis (AVS) is an important clinical disorder that often presented asymptomatically in many adult peoples.It carries an adverse outcome for cardiovascular system. It is an early stage of aortic valve stenosis as well as being a marker for cardiovascular disease.
Objectives: The study aims to determine relationships and its levels between AVS and some echocardiographic parameters that associated with this important acquired valvular disorder.
Materials & Methods: The study was carried out on 93 patients with aortic valve sclerosis (cases group) and 97 patients without AVS (control group) , patients were attended to Marjan Teaching Hospital from 1st of December 2010 to 30 of May 2011, echocardiographic study had been done for each one of them.
Results: The study results revealed that there was a high significant decrease (p<0.01) in ejection fraction(EF%) in patients of AVS compared with the non AVS group as well as very high significant increase (p<0.001) in each of pressure gradient (PG) and blood flow velocity across aortic valve in patients of AVS compared with the non AVS group.
In addition, the study showed that there was high significant increase (p<0.01) in left atrial dimension(LAD),significant increase (p<0.05) in interventricular septum thickness (IVS) and significant increase (p<0.05) in posterior wall thickness (PWT) of AVS group of patients compared with the non AVS group, besides to high significant difference (p<0.01)in aortic valve regurgitation, mitral annular ring calcification and aortic root calcification between the two groups.
Conclusion:In adult with aortic valve sclerosis (AVS) is associated with echocardiographic findings of preclinical CVD: increase in pressure gradient and blood flow velocity across aortic valve, decrease in ejection fraction% with abnormal left ventricular geometry (increase interventricular septum thickness, posterior wall thickness), increase left atrial size, aortic valve regurgitation, mitral annular ring calcification and aortic root calcification that may contribute to the adverse prognosis associated with aortic valve sclerosis.

Background: Smoking is related to many diseases, and the relapse to smoking after cessation in Iraq is noticeable. We examined the attitudes of Iraqi male smokers regarding smoking cessation and reasons for relapse.
Objective: The aim of this study is to asses the ability of Iraqi male smokers to stop smoking and factors that lead to relapse after cessation.
Method: We interviewed 200 male smokers in Babylon town, Najaf town, Iraq who had tried to quit smoking at least once in order to identify reasons for quitting and situations triggering relapse.
Results: The most significant reported reasons for quitting included personal health (37.5%), the advice and example from other (22.5%), and family pressures to quit (12.5%). The most common factors triggering relapse were social situations (27.5%), feeling negative or down (17.5%) and times of being alone (10.0%).
Conclusion: Health and family concerns, personal factors, the influence of others and a lack of cessation resources were cited as salient factors concerning smoking cessation among male smokers in this study. Effective smoking control efforts in Iraq will require attention to these influences if Iraq is to curb its current smoking epidemic.
Keywords: Smoking, Social, Quit, Health, Family.

Background: In Iraq, Bullet injuries are one of the most surgical interests in emergency practice, especially nowadays. Many rarities and complications had been managed in a very restricted media of facilities and investigation tools.
Patient Presentation: A 30 years old male awakened from sleep at early morning complaining from sudden dyspnoea, hemoptysis and hematemesis. The patient was sleeping on the roof of his house exposed to the sky, which is a usual habit at Iraq at summer time.
After presentation, early emergency measures and admission, the patient developed right sided lower limb ischemia. Exploration of right femoral artery with removal of embolized bullet was done next day
Results : No residual chest complications with smooth postoperative period and the patient discharged from hospital improving with still paretic limb with sensory deficit .
After one month follow up, plantar flexors were improved with better sensory responses.
Conclusion: In serious presentations we should not accept simple explanations, ischemia is such a serious matter that should not wait investigative measures to start management.

Background: Lactose, a disaccharide that comprises the monosaccharaides glucose and galactose, is the primary carbohydrate found exclusively in mammalian milk. Lactose intolerance can occur among infants and young children with acute diarrheal disease, although the clinical significance of this is limited except in more severely affected children.
Aim: to assess the frequency of carbohydrate malabsorption in a group of patients presenting with acute diarrhea.
Patients and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study , included 100 patients between 2 -36 months of age who were randomly selected from patients presenting with acute diarrhea to the Babylon Gynecology and Children Teaching Hospital. All those patients were screened for carbohydrate malabsorption by determination of stool pH and reducing substance. Further investigation by microscopy for fat, parasites, leukocytes and screening for rotavirus were performed in their stools.
Results: The study included 100 children 2- 36 months of age with acute diarrhea. Fifty six of them were males. The frequency of carbohydrate malabsorption was 41% and was highest among infants below one year, Mean± SD (10.25± 13.78) months. There was no significant difference regarding baseline and diarrhea characteristics of the study population and carbohydrate malabsorption apart from vomiting.
Conclusion: The frequency of carbohydrate malabsorption is common in infants and children with acute diarrhea

Breast cancer, is the most common cancer and most common cause of death in middle aged women. This was a descriptive study conducted over period of four years ,from July 2005 to July 2009, in surgical unit, Al-Sadder general hospital, Missan , south of Iraq. A total 144 patients were included in this study , 143 female and 1 male patient. The most common age group was above 50 years with 54 cases (37.5%) followed by40-49 years age group with 43 cases (29.9%), 15 patients ( 10.5)% have family history of malignant disease. Ten patient have history of breast cancer, while the other 5 (3.5)% have positive family history of other malignancy. 128 were married (119 have history of pregnancy and 9 patients were nulliparous). 15 of cases were single. 83 patients (57.6) % were living in the urban while 61(43.4%) were living in the rural area, statistically there was no significant difference between these groups (p >0.05). Most of our patients were of low socio-economic state, with low level of education. Breast lump is the common presenting symptom of breast cancer( 84% ), Infiltrating ductal carcinoma was the commonest pathological type, found in 123 patients (91.6%) . 70% of the patients were in stage III &IV.

A total of 325 fecal specimens were collected from children with diarrhea. 28 E. coli isolates (8.6%) were recovered and serotypically identified as EPEC. Results found that the highest numbers of the EPEC isolates were belonging to polyvalent I, with the following serotypes, O111: k58(B4) (54%), O55:k59(B5) (14%).
The antibiotic susceptibility phenotypes of the EPEC isolates were also determined. All isolates (100%) were multi-drug resistants. None of the isolates were found to be resistant to imipenem. All isolates have been found resistant to at least one β-lactam antibiotic and 27 isolates (96.4%) were able to produce extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs). This study showed that the prevalence of ESBL among EPEC producers is higher than previous studies in Iraq.
Key words: Enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC), Prevalence, Detection, ESBLs

Background: Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a chronic systemic inflammatory disease characterized by chronic symmetrical and erosive arthritis with various extra articular manifestations. Of main neurological manifestations of RA is carpal tunnel syndrome CTS.
Objective: To explore the frequency of asymptomatic CTS in patients with RA and relationships to various RA-related factors.
Methods: In this cross sectional case controlled study, fifty consecutive patients with Rheumatoid arthritis were studied at Rheumatologic−Rehabilitation and Neurophysiological departments in Marjan teaching hospital in Hilla city. The study was conducted in the period from January to August 2011. Thirty two healthy individuals, age and gender matched, were included in the study as control. Both patients and control groups had no clinical evidence of carpal tunnel syndrome. Thorough medical history, comprehensive physical examination and nerve conduction study(NCS) of median nerve for CTS were done for both patients and control. Serologic, acute inflammatory response tests, radiographic studies were done for patients.
Results: Seventeen patients (34%) all of them were females, were found to have electrophysiological evidence for CTS, versus one female in control group (3%). Asymptomatic CTS was found more prevalent in patients with positive family history of RA, prolonged morning stiffness and duration of the disease, polyarticular joint involvement, wrist swelling and deformity, restriction of wrist movement, prolonged delay in the initiation of Disease Modifying Anti Rheumatic Drugs (DMARDs) therapy, patients with severe RA according to DAS -28, positive CRP, high ESR , positive RF and positive Anti-CCP antibodies and joint erosion.
Conclusion: Asymptomatic CTS is a common neurological manifestations of RA (34%), exclusively in female gender with severe disease profiles. Therefore, NCS is essential in RA for detection of asymptomatic CTS.
Key words: Rheumatoid Arthritis, Asymptomatic Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, nerve conduction study.

Background: Peyronie's disease is an acquired disorder of the tunica albuginea characterized by the formation of a plaque of fibrous tissue that may be associated with erectile dysfunction and pain on erection. There may be difficulty of penetration as a result of the curvature. The aim of the study is to evaluate the effectiveness of extracorporeal shock waves in the treatment of patients with stable Peyronie's disease .
Methods: A total of 30 male patients were included in the study from December , 2007 till October, 2010. The mean age ±SD was 42.77 years ±9.38. Detailed medical and sexual history was obtained. Five patients ( 16.66 % ) were diabetics and other 5 patients ( 16.66 % ) had hypertension as well as diabetes mellitus. Thorough physical examination including local examination was performed. All the patients had dorsal plaques. Twenty patients (66.7 %) were presented with dorsal plaques , curvature and erectile dysfunction . The remaining 10 patients ( 33.3 % ) had pain in addition to these features. Extracorporeal shock wave therapy was performed in all cases with low energy shock waves using Wolf lithotripsy machine in Basrah General Hospital.
Results: No serious complications occurred . The average decrease of the plaque length was ( 0. 14 centimeters ) . Pain relief obtained in 6 out of 10 patients who were presented with pain ( 60% ) . Improvement in the sexual function occurred in 15 out of 30 patients ( 50 % ). Improvement in the psychological status obtained in 20 out of 30 patients ( 66.7 % ). No definite cure occurred in the current study in terms of disappearance of the plaque and symptoms.
Conclusion :Extracorporeal shock wave therapy in Peyronie's disease seems to be a safe procedure without severe side effects. It seems to have an effect on penile pain during erection , sexual function and the psychological status of patients with no statistically significant decrease in the plaque length.
Key words: Peyronie's disease ( PD ), extracorporeal shock wave therapy ( ESWT ), plaque.

Background: sudden cardiac death (SCD) is defined as death due to any cardiac disease that occurs within one hour after the onset of symptoms. Estimation of the prevalence of QRS prolongation in the population with heart failure (HF) ranges between 20-50%, especially with Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) patients with LVEF< 30%. Intra-ventricular conduction delay (IVCD) or LBBB (but not RBBB) had a 50% increase in the risk of cardiac arrest and total mortality.
Aim of study: to test the viability of the following: a cardiac patient who acquires a special clinical triplet is at increasing risk of SCD. , if combined, in a sequence, with IVCD presence).
Study design: retrospective study.
Patients and methods: 53 consecutive patients, have been studied , for whom ICD. were implanted for various indications from 9\2000 - 9\2006 at AL Kadhimiah teaching hospital
Males constituted 41\53 (77.35%), compared to females 12\53 (22.64%) were >46<75 years of age (mean: 60y). All males are > 40<65 years of age. (mean 52ys.)
For all these patients who sustained cardiac death & recovered wither spontaneously or through medical intervention & the event responsible for the syncope were well established by continuous ECG monitoring, full history & full clinical examination along with ECG & ECHO study were done.
Results: Most common ECG findings were Q waves (either due to MI or DCM),while LBBB\ IVCD were relatively uncommon Most common Echo findings were ischemic HF (segmental hypokinesia\akinesia)- especially old anterior akinesia. Sub-group I (StHD in males) constituted 35/53,and.Sub-group II (LVS Dysfunction<40%>30%, StHD and male sex) constituted 30/53 Lastly the sub-group III (IVCD, LVS dysfunction, StHD, and male sex) constituted 9/53,
Conclusions: *20.45% increment in the probability in predicting SCD in the presence of combined IVCD, LVS dysfunction ( LVEF<40%>30%), StHD, and male sex ; indicating a significant role of the presence of these combined 4 clinical criteria (IVCD, and LVEF<40%>30%, StHD, and male sex) , as potential predictors of SCD.
Recommendations: the presence of 4 clinical criteria in a patient is associated with higher probability of SCD. ; neccessating close and watchful surveillance.
Key wards: SCD.; Males; St HD.; LVS Dysfunction ; IVCD.

The gut compartment, the common mucosal immune system was attempted as a model for providing the immunological opinion that mucosal immunization induces mucosal as well as systemic immune responses specific to the stimulating antigen.

Prospective study of seventy eight patient presented with signs and symptoms of nasal septal deviation; treated in the department of E.N.T-Hilla teaching and private hospitals from January 2005 to January 2010.
The age of patient is between 18-40 years.
18 female and 60 male were assessed by complete ENT examination including anterior rhinoscopy
Fiber optic nasoendoscopy and radiological examination of nasal sinuses ,septal deviation was corrected by septoplasty.Follow up was upto six months.

Objective: evaluate the treatment and prognosis of the bladder mass in young patients less than 20 years old
Patients and methods: twenty patients with bladder tumors (papilloma and transitional cell carcinoma)18 male and 2 female underwent this study from 2001-2011 all evaluated by abdominal ultrasound and cystoscopy.
Results: the age of the patients between 18 months to 20 years, 18 male and 2 female. Hematuria is presenting symptoms in 15 patients, lower abdominal pain in 3 patients and irritative voiding symptoms in 2 patients.
Histopathology was papilloma in one patient transitional cell carcinoma grade I in 16 patients, grade II in 2 patients and grade III in one patient.
All patients treated by TUR of the tumor except 2 patients treated by open excision and fulguration and one patient by total cystectomy.
Follow up period between 6 months to 10 years, mortality reported in one patient only.
Conclusion: the bladder tumor in young patient carry good prognosis with low grade and stage at time of presentation

The risk of ischemic heart disease increases in women after menopause, Women with type 2 diabetes showed versatile changes in antioxidant status and lipid profile patterns, these changes differ according to environmental and dietary habits.
The aim of this study is to investigate lipid profile changes and antioxidants status in postmenopausal women with and without diabetes, also to evaluate the association of diabetes mellitus (DM) as a risk factor for coronary artery disease. The study involved diabetic type 2 in postmenopausal women matched for age and body mass index ( BMI) with healthy postmenopausal women (control).
In comparison with the control group, the results of the present study showed that postmenopausal women with diabetes had significantly higher serum levels of HbA1c (p<0.001), triglyceride(TG) concentrations(p<0.001) and a significant increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) (p<0.001) as oxidative stress marker , with elevation of extracellular-superoxide dismutase ( EC-SOD) concentrations (p<0.001), also a significant decrease in catalase activity ,,uric acid, zinc concentrations(p<0.001) and HDL-C (p<0.05),
On the other hand there were no significant changes in total cholesterol(TC) ,LDL-cholesterol, calcium ,total protein, albumin and ionized calcium concentrations(p>0.05), may be attributed to the fact that hormonal changes occurring during menopause has much greater effect than the effect of diabetes mellitus.
Finally , we can conclude that EC-SOD can be considered as a good marker of the effects of oxidative stress and dyslipidemia in diabetic post-menopausal women particularly in cases related to coronary artery disease, since EC-SOD was positively correlated with the incidence of heart disease by some previous studies .

Bachground: Chronic renal failure (CRF) is a pathological syndrome developed due to a progressive destruction of renal structures by chronic nephropathies. It is characterized by gradually increasing renal functions impairment. peripheral neuropathy is one of the most common neurological complications of CRF , the mechanism of production of neuropathy is that accumulation of slowly dialyzable middle molecules (500- 2000 Daltons) which may include methylguanidine, parathyroid hormones, β2 microglobulin and myoinositol, can be correlated with the degree of neurotoxicity.
Objective: This study aims to estimate the variations in the peripheral nerve via electrophysiological changes in patients suffering from CRF on continuous hemodialysis with uremic peripheral neuropathy and without uremic peripheral neuropathy since the changes in these parameters are important in detecting, quantifying, identifying some possible risk factors and assessing patient’s response to treatment.
Method: The study lasted from November/2010 to April /2011 in Marjan Teaching Hospital.. The study was carried out on 100 persons ( 70 patients and 30 healthy persons as a control group) . The patients and controls were classified into four age groups. Also the patients suffering from CRF on continuous hemodialysis classified into patients with uremic peripheral neuropathy and without uremic peripheral neuropathy .
The patients and controls enrolled in the study had undergone full assessment that included:- electrophysiological assessment for the following nerves ( median ,ulnar ,peroneal ,tibial and sural nerve ) that involved the sensory and motor nerve conduction studies.
Results: Regarding electrophysiological changes patients had shown significant increase in latency for sensory and motor nerves and significant decrease in amplitude and conduction velocity for sensory and motor nerves in patients with peripheral neuropathy than that of the controls and patients without peripheral neuropathy .
Conclusion: The results of this study supports the hypothesis that CRF is a critical disease that results in a multi-systemic disorders The incidence of uremic peripheral neuropathy present to be very high in this study . Therefore, a good attention should be directed to study this problem and seriously creates the suitable solutions.

Hyperprolactinemia is the most common endocrine disorder. It occurs more frequently in women than in men. The clinical symptoms of hyperprolactinemia are amenorrhea, oligomenorrhea infertility, and galactorrhea in women; decreased libido and impotence in men.
The aims of the study are to estimate some possible risk factors for hyperprolactinemic infertile women and to assess some hormonal and hematological changes to these women. And also to reveal the role of two types of dopamine agonist drugs(cabergoline and bromocriptine) in treatment of hyperprolactinemia and restoring normal ovulation.
This study consists of a total number of 100 married women in the reproductive age(their age ranged between 18 and 42years), seventy women were in patient's groups and thirty healthy women were regarded as a control group. Thirty five from seventy patients were given cabergoline and other thirty five of patients were given bromocriptine drug .
The results were obtained from the study found that most age group was 28-32 years. The percentage of patients who had positive family history of hyperprolactinemia was significantly more than those in control group. the percentage of patients and control who living in urban areas were significantly more than those living in rural areas. In addition to that, The percentage of patients who had primary infertility more than those who had secondary infertility.
Regarding the percentage of pre-treatment patients who had irregular menstrual cycle and galactorrhea, there was highly significant increase compared with control group and post- treatment patients while there was less significant decrease in patients after cabergoline drug therapy compared with patients treated with bromocriptine drug regarding the presence of these signs and symptoms.
Regarding hormonal assay ,the study showed highly significant increase in serum prolactin hormone and testosterone hormone levels and high significant decrease in serum FSH,LH, and progesterone hormone levels in pre-treated patients compared with control group. Furthermore; there was high significant decrease in serum prolactin hormone level, and less significant decrease in serum testosterone hormone level, and high significant increase in serum FSH,LH and progesterone hormone levels in post-treatment patients in compared with pre-treated patient's groups.
Additionally; there was highly significant decrease in serum prolactin, low significant increase in LH and progesterone , and there was no significant difference in serum FSH and testosterone level in post- treated patients with cabergoline drug compared with post- treated patients with bromocriptine drug.
To conclude, hyperprolactinemia associated with increased and decreased in some hormonal parameters and the dopamine agonist agents are effective in correcting the disturbance in these parameters.

A case report of a big lateral branchial cyst growing for one year and presented as sixty three year old female is described. The diagnosis was based on ultrasonography with aspiration biopsy, computed tomography and histopathological findings. Successful surgical treatment was performed in Al-Karama teaching hospital. There is no recurrence after a period of follow up for about eighteen months postoperatively. Rarity of big size and strange presentation in the terms of old age and the site of the cyst is emphasisized.

During 5 years period (2005 – 2010) sixty six salivary gland biopsies done for patients from babil, male : female ration was 1.4:1. Those lesions dividing into (inflammatory 24 case, benign tumor 35 case, and malignant tumors 7 cases), the most benign lesion was pleomorphic adenoma with 68.8% of all salivary gland tumors, while both mucoepidermoid and adenoid cystic carcinoma rank first sharing same percentage (4.76 %) among all salivary gland tumors. Parotid gland was the most common site for salivary gland biopsies 63.6%, and the 3rd – 4th decade of life was the most affected age for both inflammatory and benign salivary gland lesions while the 5th – 6th decade of life was the common age group for malignant tumors. All those figures were comparable to other Iraqi studies done for same field, and also to the most published reports from other countries.

Enteric Bifidobacterium isolates were screened for bacteriocins production against food – born Listeria monocytogenes by agar – well diffusion assay. Bifidobacterium longum B1 and Bifidobacterium bifidum B2 was potent producer of antilisterial bacteriocins. Maximum bacteriocins production was achieved using MRS broth medium. The antilisterial activity appeared to be pronounced in mid logarithmic growth phase after 6h, 9h in B1 and B2 respectively. The optimum temperature and initial pH for bacteriocins production was 35°C and 6.5 respectively. Bacteriocin production decreased by the addition of NaCl to MRS broth. Glucose as a carbon source stimulated bacteriocin production in isolate B1 (12.8 mm inhibition zone), while supplementation of MRS with fructose doubled bacteriocin production in isolate B2 (13 mm inhibition zone). Inclusion of peptone to MRS broth clearly enhanced bacteriocins production in the two tested isolates, comparison to other tested nitrogen sources

The aim of this study is to determine the importance of simultaneous blood αFP and CEA in 60 patients with GIT, thyroid ,ovary diseases .The positive value of αFP and CEA tumor markers in female were 14(23%), 18(30%) respectively and male 4(6.66%),13(21.66%) respectively and diagnosed as age ≤ 25 years 2(3.33%),1(1.66%) and ≥25years were 16 (26.66%),30(50%) respectively. The αFP, CEA in GIT were 6(10%),20(33.33%) respectively ,in thyroid malignancy were 4(6.66%),5(8.33%) respectively and in ovary tumor were 8(13.33%),6(10%) respectively. It is important to use more than one tumor marker to determined tumors in the patients and αFP,CEA levels showed no significant correlation between αFP and CEA in the patients with GIT, significant at thyroid, ovary diseases according gender, age, GIT, thyroid malignancy and ovary tumors.

Purpose: Comparing nitroglycerin ointment and other modalities of treatment like anal dilatation by four fingers under general anaesthesia, lateral sphincterotomy of the internal anal sphincter muscle, botulinum toxin injection, calcium channel blockers ,....etc in regard to patients compliance, healing rate, symptomatic relief, side effects and cost .
Methods: 48 patients , 29(60%) were males and 19(40%) were females had been studied prospectively after receiving a two weeks course of 0.2% nitroglycerin ointment every 6 hours, stool softeners and simple analgesia. The patients had been followed up in the outpatient clinic and the response to the treatment, regarding healing of fissures and relief of symptoms has been recorded.
Results: 28(58%) of the patients had symptomatic relief and good healing of their fissures and 20(42%) had poor healing. 10(50%) of the poor healers had symptomatic relief 36(75%) of the patients needed no subsequent surgery. None of the patients had side effects to the treatment.
Conclusion: Nitroglycerin ointment is a safe and effective method for the treatment of
anal fissures with high healing rate and symptomatic relief together with low cost and minimal side effects leading to the high level of compliance of the patients.

The aim of this study is evaluated the levels of testosterone hormone (total and free) and insulin hormone in women that suffering with hirsutism; which is defined as the presence of excessive terminal hair in androgen-dependent areas of a woman's body. It may result from various causes including polycystic ovarian syndrome, nonclassic congenital adrenal hyperplasia, adrenal or ovarian tumors. Serum samples were taken from forty women with hirsutism with [mean age± SD ( 29 ± 7.4 )years; body mass index (BMI) 26.95 ± 6.8 kg/m2] as well as fifteen healthy women with (mean age± SD (30 ± 6.1 ); BMI, 24.14± 2.2 kg/m2) as a control group. The results showed that the total testosterone hormone and free testosterone are increased significantly (P<0.00 ) in the female patients with hirsutism compared to control group. Also, basal insulin found to be significantly increased in patients with hirsutism (p<0.05) when compared with control group.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is similar to type 1 and other forms of diabetes in that it is defined by high levels of plasma glucose and is associated with many long-term complications caused or enhanced by hyperglycemia and related metabolic abnormalities.
Levels of glucose,glycohemoglobin(HbA1c),insulin, insulin resistance, ,creatinine , urea, eGFR, microalbominurea ,β2-microglobulin concentraions in sera ,blood, and urine of 298 patients diabetes mellitus treated with daonil(149) , glucophage (149) and 83 apparently healthy who served as control.
The results showed a highly significant increase p<0.001 in glucose, HbA1c, insulin, insulin resistance , albumin , creatinine ,microalbominurea, concentrations in patient with diabetes mellitus treatment with daonil and glucophage (less and more than 5y) when compared to control group.
Also a highly significant increase p<0.001 of urea, eGFR, β2-microglobulin concentrations(more than 5y).β2-microglobulin concentrations a significant increase p<0.05 in the urine(≤ 5y).

Introduction: Depleted uranium (DU) (as uranyl acetate) is a byproduct of the uranium enrichment process used to generate fuel for nuclear power plants. About 96% of the byproduct from the enrichment is (DU) [1], which can be used by the armed forces to increase the density of munitions to help them penetrate enemy armored vehicles and is also used as armor in some parts of military tanks [2,3].
Aim of the study: To estimate the LOEL (lowest observed effective level) dose of uranyl acetate.
Material and methods: 30 healthy young adult male albino Sprague Dawley rats were used. They were divided into 5 groups (6 animals in each group), all animals supplied with standard food during the experiment with water). Control group (1 ml/kg of normal saline i.p.), uranyl acetate treated groups (5, 10, 15, 20 mg/kg, i.p. single dose). Blood samples were collected and used to determine the serum urea, creatinine and total antioxidant status (TAS) levels.
Results: There are no significant changes in the serum urea, creatinine and total antioxidant status (TAS) levels at doses of (5, 10, 15 mg/kg) uranyl acetate treated group, while a significant changes are seen at 20 mg/kg uranyl acetate treated group.
Conclusion: These data show that the LOEL dose of uranyl acetate is 20 mg/kg.
Key wards: Depleted uranium, LOEL dose of uranyl acetate, urea, creatinine, total antioxidant.

Background: Cerebral palsy is a group of non-progressive neurological disorders appearing in infancy or early childhood which permanently affect body movements and muscle coordination. It is due to abnormal development of the cerebral motor cortex during fetal growth or due to brain injury either before, during or after birth. Spastic cerebral palsy being the most prevalent of its various forms. There is scanty information about the neurophysiologic investigations in children diagnosed as having spastic cerebral palsy.
Aims: To investigate the relationship between abnormal visual evoked potential findings with different clinical parameters in children with spastic cerebral palsy.
Patients and Methods: Twenty four children with spastic cerebral palsy in the age range 1 to 10 years participated in this study. Evaluation of visual evoked potentials, were performed in all study patients as well as 24 healthy children as controls.
Results: A significant difference was found in the visual evoked potential latencies and amplitudes between the children with cerebral palsy and controls. Abnormal visual evoked potentials in children with bilateral spastic cerebral palsy demonstrated a correlation with the presence of moderate to severe developmental delay.
Conclusions: It is concluded that visual evoked potentials of the patient group revealed a marked differences with that of the control group and that it demonstrate a statistically significant correlation with the presence of neurological deficits. Further to conclude, since visual evoked potentials s is non-invasive neurophysiological investigations; they can serve as important tool in the diagnostic work up of spastic cerebral palsy.
Abbreviations: VEP-visual evoked potential , CP-cerebral palsy.