kufa Journal for Nursing sciences

Background: Psoriasis is an inflammatory skin disorder characterized by activation of lymphocytes, systemic and local over expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines.
Objectives: The study was designed to investigate the level of cytokines in patients with psoriasis and study the correlation of the cytokines with disease severity.
Methodology: Blood samples were collected of seventy patients with psoriasis for measurement of (IFNγ, IL-17 and IL-4) by ELISA technique.
Results: High levels of IFNγ and IL-17 were observed in patients with psoriasis. It was found that the mean levels of IFNγ and IL-17 were significantly correlated to disease severity. Moreover, the mean level of IL-4 in psoriatic patient was found to decrease significantly according to graded severity of the disease. Statistical analysis was done by using SPSS (statistical package for social sciences) in which T-test and ANOVA test were used and chi- square (X2) test for categorical data.
Conclusion: The study concluded that the level of IFNγ and IL-17 may play a key role as an indicator in the immunopathogenesis of psoriasis and markers of disease activity.
Recommendation: Using another cytokines and study effect of these cytokines with disease severity.

Objective: This study aims to estimate Resorcinol (3- hydroxy phenol).
Methodology: The study was through the development of a simple and high sensitivity and selectivity to estimate Resorcinol (3- hydroxy phenol) and The method is based on the reaction of Resorcinol (3-hydroxyphenol) with Thiamine (Vitamin B1) and potassium Dichromate at pH 3.5. So The reactions gave an intense water soluble color products that have maximum absorption at 510 nm.
Results: This study showed that the ε max for 3- hydroxy phenol is (0.145 Χ 104 liter. Mol-1 .cm-1), A linear correlations (1-9 μg ml-1) for 3-hydroxyphenol compound was found between absorbance at λmax and concentration. The accurate (relative error was better than -0.2 %) and precise ( RSD was better than 1.2%). The colored product was found to be 1:1 (3-hydroxyphenol : Thiamine). The stability constant of the reaction under optimized conditions at room temperature was 3.25 Χ 105 L. mole-1 .
Recommendations: The study recommends the appointment of phenolic compounds or other phenolic derivatives are relying on this method any use of thiamine and oxidized worker himself (potassium dichromate).

Objectives: To assess the secondary schools adolescents' daily physical activity & It's Relation to Obesity.
Methodology: A descriptive study is carried out at Secondary Schools in AL-Najaf AL-Ashraf City, of December 1st, 2011 to April 6th, 2012.A multi stage sample of (1350) subjects were selected throughout the use of probability sampling. The data are collected through the use of semi-constructed questionnaire designed for the purpose of the study, which consist of three parts (1) Sociodemographic data of that consist of 14-items (2) daily physical activity Scale that consists of 10-items (3) Anthropometric Measurements which consists of Weight and Height. Reliability of the questionnaire is determined through a pilot study and the validity through a panel of (24) experts.
Results: The finding of the present study indicated that there is significant relationship between the daily physical activity for the study participants' and parents social status while the daily physical activity and the other variables indicated no significant relationship. The results also shows no significant relationship between the daily physical activity and the body mass index.
Conclusion: Present study concluded that most of the secondary schools adolescents have daily physical activity problems.
Recommendation: the study recommends that the students would be given opportunities to participate in students' organizations, conferences, and schools' physical projects to promote their level of daily physical activity, constructing and implementing educational programs for secondary schools teachers about how to decrease obesity among their students. Mass media approach should be used by the Ministry of education to increase students' knowledge and awareness of the obesity as a health problem.

Background: emphysema often cause obstructive pattern on spirometry, but for many reasons, it could cause obstructive and restrictive (mixed) especially in sever emphysema.
Aim of the study: is to determine the prevalence of combined obstructive and restrictive lesion in emphysema.
Methodology: 44 patients with emphysematous changes on CXR were enrolled in this study, in Al-Sader medical city in Al-Najaf, during the period in March to September 2012. All of them performed spirometry to determine the types of changes whether obstructive or mixed (obstructive and restrictive) pattern.
Results: thirty one patients (70.5%) had obstructive and 13 patients (29.5%) had mixed obstructive and restrictive pattern. Patients with severe emphysema, and those with bullae showed mixed types which is significant in regarding to final diagnosis, while those on steroids show no significant differences.
Conclusion: Combined obstructive-restrictive pattern in patients with emphysema is an uncommon entity, but it can occur in severe form of emphysema and in the presence of bullae.
Recommendation: Study pulmonary function tests in all patients with emphysema particularly in the presence of bullae.

Background: Seclusion is used with or without restrain to confined violent clients who do not respond to less restrictive interventions and protect the client himself and others of harm. Understanding nurses' knowledge about seclusion is essential for the success in reducing or limiting its usage and improving the quality of patient care and prevention of work related stress in nurses.
Objective: The study aimed to assess psychiatric nurse's knowledge about using seclusion for hospitalized patients & to establish a guideline for using for seclusion.
Methodology: Semi-structured interview was conducted; the researcher use self- reported questionnaire to collect the data of 20 mentally health nurses. The questionnaire included seven items with multiple-choice options about personal knowledge of nurses throughout the seclusion process. Period of the study was between 8th and 30 of March 2011. Percentages were used primarily in this study to indicate the highest proportion of the proper answer for each question.
Results: shows that half of the studied sample explained that seclusion used to reduce environmental stimuli for agitated patients, and it was very important for nurses. Results also indicated that the concept of seclusion was not so clear to the nurses who working with psychiatric patients.
Conclusion: nurses believe in seclusion to be very necessary even in minor disturbance as a means of power and control.
Recommendations: that using seclusion process and restraint should be used only when there is a risk or danger to the individual or others.

Background: Acute infectious gastroenteritis is one of the most common infectious diseases of human, ranking second to acute respiratory tract infections, and it is a worldwide cause of morbidity with a significance cause of death in children below five years, in developing countries.
Objectives: to evaluate effect of zinc supplementation on children admission duration to hospital and their residency for those who had diarrheal diseases.
Methods: In this study, 50 children were enrolled, having the age between 6mth-5yr, they have been admitted for diarrhea in Al-zahraa teaching hospital in Al-najaf governorate for the period of (March-June) 2011. Those patients are subdivided into two group in regard to zinc supplementation as group one who constitute 25 patients managed without zinc given, while other 25 patients designed as group two who received 20 mg elemental zinc for 14 days of starting day, serum zinc level was recorded for each group, and the duration of their hospital stay was recorded spss and chi square.
Result: the study showed that using zinc tablets has a good effect on the duration of hospital stay, as 52% of those children (group-2) who received zinc were discharged after 3 days of admission in comparison to 3 (12%) of those children (group-1) who have not received zinc tablet.
Conclusion: using zinc tablet for every child admitted to hospital because of diarrhea will shortens patient residency and time of hospital stay.
Recommendation: We recommend; (1) Adding zinc for every child presented with diarrhea whether admitted to hospital or treated as out- patient. (2) Further studies are required to assess the benefit of adding other trace element to the management such as vitamin-A and copper.

Background: Cesarean section accounts for a substantial proportion of total deliveries & is associated with higher rates of maternal & neonatal morbidity.
Objective: to determine the effect of the risk factors on the incidence of intraoperative surgical complications in elective & emergency cesarean sections.
Methods: This study was conducted in AL-Zahra'a Teaching Hospital of Maternity & Pediatrics in Najaf city, of June to December 2011. A total of 600 patients who had lower-segment cesarean section (280 patients with elective cesareans &320 patients with emergency procedures) participated in the study. A comparison was done between major & minor surgical complications & neonatal outcome in both groups with estimation of the effect of maternal age, body mass index, parity, previous C/S & placenta previa on the incidence of intraoperative surgical complications.
Results: Intra-operative surgical complications& poor neonatal outcome were more commonly associated with emergency than with elective procedures (P<0.05). Uterocervical laceration& blood loss requiring blood transfusion were the most frequent complications & they were more commonly associated with increased maternal age, parity, body mass index, placenta previa & abruption, previous cesarean & emergency conditions.
Statistical analysis: The data were analyzed using spss version 15 with the chi-squared test to determine the association between the various factors under investigation.
Conclusion: every effort should be directed to affect planned cesarean section with evaluation of risk factors during the antenatal period if possible, so as to reduce the various problems associated with emergency cesarean section.
Recommendations: owing to the higher incidence of intraoperative complications if C/S is undertaken in the emergency situations, it is recommended to be accomplished as an elective procedure.

Objectives: to identify the causes of the fissure in ano among child bearing age female in Erbil city because it is very common in the Kurdistan.
Methods : This prospective study of evaluation of fissure in ano among female patients in Erbil city and its surrounding for the period between May 2010 and May 2012, Data collected from 500 cases showed that fissure in ano is most common cause of ano-rectal pain in this locality among child bearing age females from clinic, Erbil teaching hospital and Erbil gynecological hospital All the patients were interviewed and clinical data were recorded including; age, occupation, marital state, number of children, types of fissure in ano, sites of fissure, associated symptoms, its treatment and recurrence. Period from first onset of symptoms to first medical consultation were recorded and showed that most of them were delayed.
Results: from 500 cases showed that fissure in ano is most common cause of ano-rectal pain in this locality among child bearing age females from clinic ,Erbil teaching hospital and Erbil gynecological hospital.
Conclusion: the fissure in ano is the most common disease among female childbearing age and usually due to bad post natal care
Recommendation: for prevention of this painful condition I advise the gynaecologist and obstetrician to do peri anal care.

Background: Demands and dental treatment needs were assessed among Children Attending the Clinic of Pedodontics, College of dentistry-Babylon University, for the first time.
Objective: The aim of the present study was to investigate dental demands and needs of group of children attending clinic of Pedodontics in the College of Dentistry, Babylon University.
Methodology: A descriptive clinical study was done for random sample of children. The sample consists of 400 child (200 males and 200 females). The ages of those children were range between 5-15 years. Children were examined in the peadodontic and Preventive Dentistry clinic /College of Dentistry / Babylon University during the period of 1 march 2013 until 1 April 2013. Data were analyzed through using descriptive statistical analysis, which include (Percentage arithmetic mean and standard deviation).
Results: The study showed that toothache 48.8% formed the most frequent demands, followed by dental trauma, orthodontics problems, and then preventive measures. Concerning treatment needs; 98.5% of children needed dental treatment because of dental caries, while 97.8 of children needed periodontal treatment. In addition, 20.8% of children needed treatment because of traumatic dental injuries, as well as 18.0% of children needed orthodontics treatment, while only 6.2% of children needed preventive measures. Furthermore, two or more surface restoration needed in 32.7% of children, while 27.2% of children needed pulp care, then 22.8% of children needed one surface restoration. Data of this study reflect that, the expressed need or demand for dental care falls short of the normative need among Iraqi children.
Conclusions: There is a far distance between the normative requirements and demands for treatment, where that most parents came to visit dental clinic only after their children feel with severe pain. There was a lack of health awareness regarding oral and dental health in children and their parents.
Recommendations: The study recommended the need for collaborative efforts made by the sectors of primary health care, in addition to the faculties of dentistry in order to raise the level of health awareness with regard to the health of the mouth and teeth and by increasing the efficiency of workers in this field through brought into the training courses and increase the efficiency of the quality of services provided, in addition to holding seminars periodically with the participation of media for the purpose of educating the people.

Background: Vital Capacity (VC); Force Expiratory Volume (FEV1) and Force Expiratory Volume percentage (FEV %) are useful adjunctive tool in diagnosis of cardio pulmonary dyspnea in the emergency department. Nurses' role in this department is to assess the psychological and physiological status related to dyspnea in patients with cardiopulmonary disease at an early stage and nursing management according to their conditions.
Objective: to assess the physiological and psychological status related to dyspnea in patients with cardiopulmonary disease.
Methodology: Pulmonary function test was carried out on (60) patients suffering from cardiopulmonary disease referred consecutively to the outpatient clinic for pulmonary function test in Baghdad Teaching Hospital, For every patients participate in this study a proper psychological review was done to know the presence of the psychological problem related to dyspnea.
Results: Results of the study show that there is highly significant difference increased in FEV1% and high level of dyspnea and the results of this study also show that there is significant difference with increasing depression and anxiety status and high level of dyspnea.
Conclusion: Verbal descriptors of dyspnea in cardiopulmonary disease are related to the intensity level of dyspnea, and dyspnea is influenced not only by physiological status but also by psychological status.
Recommendation: The development and implantation of educational instructional program for nurses (theory and practice) for the care of patients with cardiopulmonary are very important.

Objectives: the study aims to assess different urological abnormalities associated with UTI in children & to determine the value of ultrasound in vesicoureteral reflux (VUR).
Methodology: Retrospective study of the ultrasound and micturating cystourethrogram (MCUG) results of 80 children under 5 years of age with clinically labelled cases of first time urinary tract infection (UTI) over a 2 years period. Thirty cases had excretory urography tailored according to the case. The study assesses different renal, uretric and urinary bladder abnormalities associated with first time UTI in children. Ultrasound findings were also assess VUR and suggest its presence if dilatation of the pelvi-calyces, dilatation of the ureters, or dilatation of the collecting system of one or both kidneys was reported. Statistical analysis used include sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value.
Results: A total of 80 patients (20 days-5 years) (median age 18 months), 42 (52% were female), 38 (48% were males). In analysis of US findings: hydronephrosis and urinary bladder mucosa thickenings (cystitis) each 28.7 % were the commonest, renal stones and congenital anomalies: 11.2 % and 10% respectively. The urinary bladder stones were 6.2%. The prevalence of VUR was 25%. Ultrasound findings were positive for VUR in 8 of 20 patients with confirmed VUR on MCUG, and positive in 15 of 60 patients without VUR on MCUG. of 12 patients who had a normal ultrasound but showed VUR on MCUG, 7 had grade II reflux, 3 grade III reflux, and two grade IV reflux. The sensitivity and specificity of ultrasound in suggesting VUR were 40% and 80%, respectively. The positive predictive value of ultrasound in suggesting VUR was 34%; the negative predictive value was 83%.
Conclusions: Uultrasound useful to evaluate children with different urological abnormalities associated with UTI in children but its neither sensitive nor specific for VUR in children with UTI. Clinician should not depend on ultrasound only for diagnosis of VUR and must proceed to other like voiding colour Doppler US with echo enhancement or MCUG

Objectives: to assess the knowledge & attitude of mothers towards breastfeeding.
Methodology: a random sample of 200 mothers was selected of Al-Zahraa teaching hospital & of primary health care centers in Najaf city in the period of 1st of January 2009 to 1st of January 2011. A questionnaire was used in the study, which contain information about the demographic data of the mothers & selected questions about their knowledge regarding breast-feeding .data were analyzed using SPSS 9.15 descriptive statistics.
Results: it was found that 99% of mothers have the desire to breast feed their children. 83% of mothers have received the encouragement & information about breast-feeding of their families. More than half of the mothers know correctly the time of the first feed after birth, benefits of breast-feeding to the mother & the baby, benefits of colostrum, duration of breast-feeding & number of feeds per day. Only 28% of mothers know the age of complementary feeding & 47% of them know the duration of each feed.
Conclusion: the study showed a considerable deficiency of the knowledge of mother about breast feeding & explore some of the practices & believes that interfere with the success of breast feeding.
Recommendations: we recommend education about breast feeding be introduced in the school for learning of girls as they will eventually become future mothers, as well as education of the health professionals at all levels. Providing facilities for breast-feeding in the work place & development of community support to breast feeding mothers.

Objectives: It's known that cigarette smoking affects semen quality. The aim of the present study is to compare the semen of infertile cigarette smokers with infertile non-smokers as well as with healthy men to examine the impact of smoking on the quality of sperm.
Methodology: A case-control study was applied in the present study. For the period of 1st January till the 1st April 2011. The semen quality of men with infertility, smokers (n 150) and nonsmokers (n100), were compared with (n 100) healthy- nonsmokers men. Conventional semen analysis was performed and sperm morphology was assessed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Smoker patients were classified as mild (1-10 cigarettes/d), moderate (10 -20 cigarettes/day), or heavy smokers (more 20 cigarettes/d).data was analyze through inferential statistics.
Results: The study finding showed that sperm parameters quality in smoker men was approximately lower than nonsmoker men and the cigarette smoking and the dose has significant negative effect on sperm parameters.
Conclusion: The results of the present study suggest that smoking negatively affects male fertility.
Recommendation: Smokers should quit smoking for the sense of responsibility for their future generation as tobacco smoke contains numerous mutagenic substances.

Objective: presented study aimed to assess the awareness of healthier lifestyle change among patient with coronary artery disease.
Methodology: descriptive design study was conducted at Coronary Care Unit in Marjan hospital in Hillia city, data was gathered by using a questionnaire in the period (June15. 2012 to August 20.2012) .
Results: the results shows that the higher percentage of the sample (53.7%) were male most of them were smoker 61.1%, and 38% of the sample were hypertensive; most of them didn't applied any change in their lifestyle pattern.
Conclusion: Most of the convenient sample of the study was male, illiterate, housewives and city resident. Most of the sample were overweight, with hypertension, smoker, and related to alcohol consuming they were not alcoholic.
Recommendation: the researchers recommended that there is a serious need to health education, which properly structured to promote patient education in order to enhance their lifestyle pattern, by improving knowledge and bring about a change in attitudes.

Objectives: This study aims to assess the family knowledge about the patients ECT receiving. To identify patients family knowledge about the preparing patients for ECT.
Methodology: A quantitative design, descriptive study with A non- probability purposive sample, 100 patient's family attending the psychiatry services in a major hospital in Sulemani. Was carried out in Sulemani Hospital for the period of November 2011 to April 2012. A questionnaire was developed for this purpose, data was analyzed through percentage and mean.
Results: 90% of the respondents in patient's family consider that ECT is a treatment, and (70 %) of them considered ECT is investigation. 68% answered the ECT has not contraindication and 50% answered ECT has not complication.
Conclusion: the study indicate that most of the patient and their givers they have not enough information about the ECT as a treatment as well as about how they manage and prepare the patient before and after receiving ECT and during the recovery.
Recommendation: psychiatric nurses working in the psychiatric word should be prepared with means and education to help patient's family caregiver with ECT receiving to reach optimum level of functioning they learn how to assume reasonability for themselves and others, establish their independence and interact in socially acceptable way with other patients and staff.

Objective: To assess mother's practice and believes toward treatment of newborns jaundice and to found association between practices and believes of mothers with demographic characteristics.
Methodology: Descriptive design study, purposive samples deals (200) mothers who attending to the Babylon maternal and child hospital. Questionnaire was used to collect the data in the period of 2 October 2011 to 15 March 2012. Data were analyzed by used descriptive and inferential statistical (percentage, frequency, T-test and chi-square).
Results: the study presented that (100%) of mothers used Bendy yellow, the results shows that (100%) of mothers avoid the baby to wear yellows cloths. Also result shows that there are significant relationship between the practices and believes of mothers with age and level of education.
Conclusion: There were association between age of mothers with their practices and believes. There is no significant association between mothers' practice and believes with treatment of newborn jaundice
Recommendation: The research recommended health education programmer by health visitors for mothers and different mass media for mothers, family and community.

Objectives: The aim of study is to discover newly married persons infected with HBV and HCV they are received blood and or having dental manipulation in Najaf city and how to Prevent transmission of these diseases.
Methodology: Total of 200 newly married persons, 100 males and 100 females, with an age ranged between 15-40 years (mean age 21.9 ± 6.1 SD years). The study was conducted in central health laboratory in Al Najaf city. All recruited persons had their ages, sex and case histories recorded on an already prepared data sheet and subjected to virological tests of HBsAg and HCV Abs, also other tests like aspartate transaminase (AST), Alanine transaminase (ALT), and total serum bilirubin. The data analyzed by using methods of descriptive statistics and inferential
Results: The patients with hepatitis B viral infection were 12 patients, two male and ten female. There were increased incidence of seropositive for HBsAg in patients who were female gender 10 (10%), younger than 25 years 7 (7%), history of dental manipulation 9 (22.5%) with personal history of jaundice 5 (19.2%), there were statistically significant (p= 0.01 ,0.01, 0.000 and 0.02 respectively). Also lab finding include raised transaminase 6 (60%), and raised total serum bilirubin 2 (50%) as compared in those with seronegative HBsAg, these differences were statistically significant (p=0.000, 0.000 and 0.000 respectively). The patients with hepatitis C viral infection were three patients, one male and two female. There were increased incidence of seropositive for HCV Abs in patients who had history of blood transfusion 2 (50%) there was statistically significant(p= 0.000 ). Also lab finding include raised transaminase 6 (60%) as compared in those with seronegative HBsAg, these differences were statistically significant (p=0.000 and 0.002 respectively).
Conclusions: The total of 200 newly married couple persons were enrolled in the study. The predictors for developing hepatitis B infection in this study that female, younger than 25 years old, with history of dental manipulation as dental polishing or dental extraction, blood transfusion and who had abnormal liver function tests. While the predictors for developing hepatitis C infection in this study that those who were asymptomatic patients with history of blood transfusion and raised transaminase enzymes.
Recommendation: The study recommend that all newly married peoples should be investigated for hepatitis B and C and if possible other transmissible viruses to diagnose them earlier and prevent transmission

Abstract: Traditional Chinese Acupuncture has a history of over 3,000 years. The World Health Organization recommends the use of acupuncture treatment for many diseases including headaches, migraine, low back pain, sciatica and others. The prevalence of sciatica is about 3% - 5%, and equally common in men and women. In most patients, the prognosis is good, but up to 30% will have pain for one year or longer
Objective: To prove that acupuncture is effective in treating sciatica.
Methodology: This study was carried out on 18 cases of chronic sciatica of both genders, aged 30-60 years. Patients were randomly divided into 2 groups, 9 cases in each group, 1st group received acupuncture treatment while 2nd group received conventional medical treatment like NSAID as diclofenac and muscle relaxant as baclofen in addition to acupuncture, in both groups patients received 10 sessions of real acupuncture for 4 weeks, Those 18 patients were treated in Emam Reza Hospital in Mashhad city in Iran and in private clinic of Dr. Mojtabavi over a period of February 2012 till May 2012. Statistical analysis was done by using SPSS in which independent t-test was used to compute significance.
Result: on comparing the effect of treatment in both groups separately i.e. before and after therapy, show there is significant decrease in the intensity of pain in both groups. But on comparing the effect of treatment between groups found there is no significant difference between them.
Conclusion: acupuncture is effective, in reducing the intensity of the pain, for sciatica.
Recommendation: acupuncture can be used to treat, as least painful symptoms of, sciatica.

Objectives: The study objectives are to identify sleep disorders among children with autism and to identify the association between sleep disorders for children with autism and their demographic characteristics including (age, gender, housing, educational level for mother, occupation status of the mother, and monthly income).
Methodology: A descriptive analytical study. The study was conducted at the Rami Institute for the care of children with autism, Rahman Institute for the care of children with autism, and Noor Institute for the care of children with autism for the period between 2nd Dec. 2011 up to the 6th Feb. 2012.To achieve the objectives of the study, a non-probability (purposive) samples of (80) a child who was registered in the Institutes for the care of children with autism which indicate as above and according to special criteria. Data were collected by mother of the child suffering of autism. Instrument validity was determined through content validity, by a panel of experts. Reliability of the instrument was determined through the use of Pearson correlation coefficient for the test-retest approach, which was (0.85). Analysis of data was performed through the application of descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, and mean of score) and inferential statistics (Chi-square (x2) test).
Results: The study showed that most of the items of sleep disorders own evaluation has got a high level of the arithmetic mean average.
Conclusion: The researcher can conclude most of children with autism have sleep disorder.
Recommendations: The study recommended the need to initialize the routine night to sleep by a health care provider for your child to give the child a bath or reading a story given to the child at night at the same time encourages the child to go to bed to sleep, and to help the child relax before bedtime by reading a book, back massage, or play soothing music, avoid TV and video games, and other stressful activities before bed.

Background: Thalassemia is one of the most common genetic blood disorders in the world.
Objectives: The study aimed to improve mothers' knowledge of Thalassaemic children who using Desferal therapy.
Methods: A quasi-experimental study was carried out at Hawler Thalassemia Center in Erbil City of the 1st of March to the end of May 2010. One hundred mothers were selected and divided into two groups, (50) mothers as control group and another (50) mothers as study group. Educational Health Program was concentrated on several major topics and it was implemented through two sessions, a pre-test was done for both groups before implementing the health education program and the post-test was done after one month for both groups .Data were collected through the use of a questionnaire tool by direct interview techniques which was used as a mean of data collection. Data were analyzed by Excel and SPSS version 17 program me. At ≤ 0.05 was statistically significant and p-value 0.01 was statistically highly significant.
Results: The results revealed that the mothers' knowledge in the study group was improved their knowledge after implementation health education program at p-value 0.000 comparing in control group.
Conclusion: Most of the mothers in the study group had got benefit of implementation of educational programmer about their knowledge concerning who using Desferal therapy.
Recommendation: Health education programmes apply in mass media (TV, radio journal...). As well as screening should be apply for the risk groups (Carrier population screening detection at population level, Pre-marital, Prenatal and suspected family and their children). Also booklet and pamphlet of education programme should be distributed for all mothers who are attending Thalassemia Center. And Specialized nurse or thalassemia nurse should be knowledgeable about Desferal Therapy

Background: Preterm labor is labor that happens too early, before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy. Premature birth is also known as preterm birth (or less than 37 weeks-full term is 40 weeks). Important growth and development occur throughout pregnancy especially in the final months and weeks.
Objectives: To assess preterm birth; and to determine risk factors contributed to preterm birth.
Methodology: A descriptive study was carried out to identify the maternal risk factors which contribute to occurrence of preterm birth. A purposive sample of one hundred ( 100 ) women at age of (14-37) years, were selected with (60) women of preterm birth in Al- Zahra 'a teaching hospital and (40) women of preterm birth in Al- Hakeem general hospital at Al- Najaf Al-Ashraf Province, for the period of 1st February to 31st March, (2012). The sample was collected through interviewed of the involved women with their premature babies. Questionnaire format. Validity of the questionnaire was determined by conducting a pilot study. The data was analyzed through the descriptive statistical method ( frequencies and percentages).
Results: The study revealed that age of mothers was ranged between (20-34) years, and (the highest percentages of the sample were illiterate; most of them were housewives with a moderate socioeconomic status). sexual activity with (2-3) times per week (80%), and medical diseases had also a contributed factor to preterm birth especially anemia (31%).
Conclusion: The passive smoking were more reliable to preterm labor.
Recommendation: The study recommends to emphasize on efforts to prevent preterm births should be focus on reducing modifiable risk factors; improving health education programs for the pregnant women in prenatal and post natal periods as early as possible; and improving the quality of health care services at the primary health care centers to pregnant women. Emphasizing on the importance role of a nurse in reducing the incidence of preterm birth among the pregnant women.

Background: The acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is one of the most common health problems of 21st century and has been pandemic disease that threats the world population .Since AIDS was recognized as distinct new disease entity in (1981), nearly 60 million individuals worldwide have been infected by HIV, of those more than 90% were in developing world . According to international statistic Iraq is still among the low prevalence continues for AIDS.
Objectives: The aim of this study was included to assess knowledge of students in Medical Technical Institute regarding AIDS.
Methods: cross sectional study was conducted in Medical institution for ninety-two of first year students of different specialties. Knowledge of students regarding Aids was evaluated through number of domains. The data were collected in 1/9/2009 - 29/1/2010. An interview technique method was used for data collection.
Results: The study indicated that there was deficient knowledge among study sample about AIDS regardless of different variables such as (age, gender, residency, social factors and economic status.
Conclusion: knowledge about AIDS among students in Medical Technical Institute were poor related to many factors included lack of adequate information in the content of curriculums, lack of self education, and lack of interest of some of students to acquire new information about AIDS
Recommendation: The study recommended that to enhance chapters about Aids knowledge and prevention methods, and to distribute some booklets, and posters to clarify all facts about Aids

Objectives: The main objective of the present study is to assess the mother's attitude toward pacifier habits in their children.
Methodology: A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out in primary health care center in Cherra-suburban Shekhon Sector in Musil Governorate/ Iraq in 30/ November /2011 to 1/May/2012. A convenience sample of 210 mothers with their children under the age of five years old was selected. Data were collected by the mothers' interview and analyzed by using the programmed through the application descriptive statistical frequency and percentage and inferential statistical analysis by Chi-square Test.
Results: The present study shows that the majority of mother's age were between (21-30) years old, most of them were housewives with low educational level. High prevalence using pacifier in this study and majority of themlku (64.4% ,123) were using pacifier for getting quite sleeping to their children. There were highly significant association between (mother`s educational level, socio-economical status) with mother's intervention used to stop sucking of pacifier at p-value ≤ 0.01.
Conclusion: Sucking habits had a high prevalence by mothers' in this study.
Recommendation: The study recommends to provide information about safe and appropriate use of pacifiers with guidance in all primary health care centers to increase parents' awareness toward pacifier.

Background: The presence of a missing or peg shaped lateral incisor is a major concern for the subjects facial esthetics.
Objectives: The objectives are to find the prevalence of peg shaped and missing permanent maxillary lateral incisors in Najaf City.
Methodology: A cross sectional study was constructed and composed of 416 Iraqi students (215 males and 201 females) randomly chosen of 3 colleges of Kufa University in Najaf. Each subject was examined by visual inspection under day light looking for missing or peg shaped permanent maxillary lateral incisors.
Results: The prevalence of missing maxillary lateral incisors was 3.8% (16 subjects) with an insignificant gender difference. There were two unilateral missing maxillary lateral incisor and 14 bilateral cases. Prevalence of peg shaped laterals was 4.3% (17 subjects) with an insignificant gender difference. Maxillary median diastema was found in 15.4% of the sample. Presence of missing lateral incisors showed a significant relationship with the presence of a maxillary median diastema.
Conclusions: The presence of missing or peg shaped lateral incisors was found to be statistically significantly related to the presence of spacing and the presence of peg shaped lateral incisor showed a non-significant relationship with the presence of a maxillary median diastema.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the Toxoplasma antibodies in pregnant women in Babylon, by ELISA method.
Methodology: Blood samples were taken of 398 pregnant women referred to the health centers of Al-Mahaweel City, North Babylon, IgM and IgG titers were primarily evaluated.
Results: The collected data were analyzed with SPSS 12 using Chi-Square test. Anti -Toxoplasma IgG, IgM, mixed IgG and IgM and Overall seropositivity of all antibodies were 18.09%, 9.79%, 1.75% and 29.64% respectively.
Conclusion: significant relationship was found between the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection and gestational age, the total prevalence was more in thirds trimester of pregnancy (42.69%). IgG were more concentration in third trimester (159.61 U/l).
Recommendation: Antibodies determination IgG, IgM, and mixed antibodies during pregnancy is very important in parasite identification.

Objectives: to assess Quality of Life (QoL) for dialysis patients and to predict the correlations among the domains of quality of life.
Methods: A descriptive study was conducted in Kirkuk General Hospital in Kirkuk city. The study was initiated in 15th September 2011 to the 20th August 2012. Purposive sample consists of (94) patients with end-stage renal disease treated by Haemodialysis were selected. In order to collect the study data, such questionnaire was constructed based on World Health Organization (WHO) instrument and literature reviews. It is composed of two parts, part one included (9) items that focused on the client demographic characteristics. Part two is composed of (5) items that covered physical, social, psychological, level of independence and spiritual domains of quality of life. The overall questions included (109) items, 3-likert scale option was used in the rating scale as: (2) for Always, (1) for Sometimes and (0) for Never. Content validity was determined by presenting the questionnaire to a panel of (16) experts. Reliability of the instrument was determined through Internal consistency of the questionnaire that was assessed by calculating Cronbach's Coefficient (r= 0.81) through test-retest on (10) patients for fourteen days in-between.
Results: The findings indicated that the sub-domain of sleep and rest as a part of the physical domain, also the psychological domain of the quality of life for these patients had greatly affected.
Conclusion: The study concluded that there were significant statistical interrelations between physical and psychological domains in addition to spiritual with social domain.
Recommendation: The study recommends to increase the number of specialized health related agencies and dialysis units to enhance the quality of life for hemodialysis patients.

Background: The role of inflammation in atherogenesis would suggest, a great deal of work looking for inflammatory markers that are risk factors for IHD. The most extensively examined markers are fibrinogen, C-reactive protein, IL-6, homocysteine, and fetuin-A.
Objective: The present study is focusing on role of biomarker fetuin-A in the diagnosis of IHD in menopausal female.
Methodology: This study involved 76 menopause women suffering of IHD (42 patients with AMI and 34 with angina) and 20 healthy menopause women as control. Patients were divided into subgroups according to the presence of DM and hypertension. Serum Fetuin-A level is estimated in each group.
Results: There is significant reduction in serum fetuin-A levels in menopausal women with IHD. Diabetes mellitus and hypertension associated with significant decrease in serum fetuin-A levels in menopausal women with IHD.
Conclusion: Serum fetuin-A can be used as biomarker for diagnosis of angina and AMI in menopausal women. Both DM and hypertension have detrimental effect on serum fetuin-A levels.

Background: Resistance to antibiotics arising in Escherichia coli and Klebseilla species isolates may complicate therapeutic management of urinary tract infection(UTI) by this organism.
Objective: The aim of this study was to assess antibiotic activity against UTI isolates of E.coli in Al- Najaf governorate.
Methodology: A total of 81 mid-stream urine samples were collected of patient suspected of UTI and screened for the occurrence of E.coli.
Result: Susceptibility of the isolates to antibiotics was test by standard methods. Highest rate of resistance (100%) was found to ampicillin and amoxicillin, while moderately resistant to cephalothin .
Conclusion: The present study concluded that E.coli resistance to multiple antibiotic were recognized.

Objective: It aims to determine the genes characterization of CP1 and CP5 pathogenic factors of E.histolytica parasitic in stool samples of patients in AL- Najaf Al Ashraf Province
Methodology: This study was carried out for 6 months in the first of December 2012 till the end of June 2013, The samples collected of Al-Sadar teaching hospital, AL-Zahra maternity and children hospital, AL-abasia hospital, AL-Forat hospital, AL-Hakime hospital, AL-Manathera hospital and private clinic in Al- Najaf governorate.
Results: To detect the major virulence factors (V.F.) cysteine proteinase1 (Cp1), cysteine proteinase 5 (CP5) of E.histolytica, Real -Time PCR technique was conducted, by using specific primers for E.histolytica, the results showed that 40 samples out of 162 were positive, out of these positive samples, there were 16 samples positive for C P1, 24 samples were positive for CP5.
Conclusion: CP1 & CP5 is one of the most important virulence factors in E.histolytica such as toxin like activity.
Recommendation: further study development of molecular diagnosis such as real time PCR for other non-pathogenic Entamoeba species which found in human, such as E.moskoviskii in comparison with E.histolytica, because the RT-PCR quantitative and qualitative improved method for the specific diagnosis of E.histolytica infection.

Background: Gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy has now been part of conventional medical practice for over thirty years following the development of useable flexible fiberoptic endoscopes in the early 1970's.
Objectives: The study aim is to assess the gastrointestinal endoscopy outcomes and risk factors associated it's in Al-Salam Teaching Hospital, Mosul City.
Methodology: The samples purposively collected of the patients who referred for gastrointestinal endoscopies unit in Al-Salam Teaching Hospital in Mosul City for period of (20/1/2013) to (20/3/2013). The study sampled consist of (64) participants, (32) males and (32) females, (28.1%) their ages ranged between (46-55) years. The data were arranged for gender, age, locality, and the outcomes of the procedure.
Results: Sixty four gastrointestinal procedure were performed. Of those who had positive endoscopic findings; gastritis (18.8%), duodenitis (12.5%), and esophagitis, gastric ulcer (7.8%).The study also found that highest percentage of the sample were married, primary educational level, housewife, and urban region. Over two third of study patient's habitual status were NSAIDs followed one third of study patients were smoker.
Conclusion: The study showed highest percentage endoscopic finding sited in stomach and esophagus.
Recommendation: The study recommended availability of endoscopic facilities at all hospitals in country and make it accessible to all population and thus enables earlier diagnosis of digestive tract diseases. Providing comprehensive care for the patient when undergoing endoscopic procedures, which are in the nature of the case more important and technically complex and this care is provided through the training of nurses trained specifically for endoscopy.

Objectives: The study aims to assess the needs of the patient for information about coronary artery disease and to find out the relationship between patient needs with the social and the clinical characteristics of the patients.
Methodology: patient coronary artery disease need information not only with regard to the disease, treatment, and prevention of side effects of the drug, but also for other practical problems associated with daily activities, or even with the economic issues. Descriptive study conducted using the evaluation approach for the duration of June 3, 2012 until July 27, 2012 was chosen as a non-probability sample consisting of (30) patients were reviewed or were admitted to the teaching hospital in Baquba diagnosed coronary artery disease. Have been built and develop questionnaire by the researcher based on review literature and previous research to assess the need for the information and created the form of (3) parts included Part I demographic characteristics and included information age, gender, education level, marital status, occupation, monthly income and included the second part of clinical data and the third part contains clauses information relating to the pathogenicity. Reliability was identified through the use of a scale (pre and post test) were identified validity by offering experts with competence data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequency and percentage) and inferential statistical analysis approach (Pearson correlation coefficient and t test).
Results: The results of the study showed that the highest percentage (53.3) is males under age groups (55-64 ) and (36.7%) of them are unable to read and write. The study showed that (73.3%) of the sample are married (26.7%) sample of widows (46.7%) of the sample of female and housewife (63.3%) of the respondents live in the city, and (63.3%) of the sample income was enough to some extent, and (26.7%) of the sample had a monthly income is not enough.
Conclusion: the study show that patients with coronary artery disease need information on their illness, which include anatomy and physiology, psychology and lifestyle information with medicine and nutritional information and deal with the symptoms of the disease.
Recommendations: The study recommended the need to set up a training program for health team of health care providers of the patient for the purpose of guiding and definition of patient illness and related.

Objective: It aims to estimate the level of Erythropoietin hormone at the serum of diabetic patient males with and without nephropathy.
Methodology: the present study was carried out in the center of Diabetes mellitus and Endocrinology in AL-Sader medical city for the period in October-2012 until March-2013. The number of collected samples 73 urine and blood samples of the diabetic patients, were divided in to two groups with and without nephropathy according the albumin and creatinine ratio in urine. The statistical analysis, by using (statistical package for social sciences) SPSS and t-test. The least significant difference was calculated at the level P<0.05.
Results: the results were obtained, there were a significant increase (P<0.05) in the ratio of albumin to creatinine ratio in urine and the concentrations of glycosylated hemoglobin and urea, while the Erythropoietin and hemoglobin concentrations were revealed a significant decrease (P<0.05) at the patients with diabetic nephropathy when compared with patients in the other group. In related with other parameters which included: iron ions, total iron binding capacity, ferritin and red blood corpuscles count were not showed any significant change during the present study.
Conclusion: the diabetes mellitus was affected on the kidney's physiological functions that led to a decrease in the Erythropoietin level at the serum of patients which caused an early anemia.
Recommendation: study the change in the cytokine level at the blood of diabetic patients to know the relation between there concentrations and diabetic nephropathy progression.