Muthanna Medical Journal

The objective of this study is to assess the problem of psychological insulin resistant among adults with type 2 diabetes and to identify the attitudinal barriers associated with it. A total of one hundred fifty insulin-naïve-registered patients with type 2 diabetes were involved in this prospective cross-sectional study. Patients’ interview was completed through use of a a pre-tested two parts questionnaire with the national Kurdish language after forward-backward translation from the English language. Cronbach’s alfa test was used for 5 points Likert scale part that involved the attitudinal barriers. A significant P-value considered when P < 0.05. The study depended on SPSS version 22 for data analysis. 56.3 % of patients were unwilling to start insulin when prescribed which represent the prevalence of Psychological Insulin Resistance (PIR) among patients with type 2 diabetes in Duhok. The following socio-demographic characteristics that had significant effects on a patients’ perception towards insulin use in this study were: gender, education level, employment status, and family income. Most of the patients showed a negative attitude towards insulin giving a mean of 3.34 negative beliefs per subject. Of the most commonly expressed negative attitudes were injection fear, the permanent need for insulin therapy, and reduced flexibility or restrictiveness. In conclusion, negative perceptions toward insulin are common among patients with type 2 diabetes, especially for female, illiterate, unemployed and low-income patients. Interventions to raise awareness about such misconceptions are important to reduce PIR and to improve both insulin utilization and diabetes care.

The aimed of this study is prepared porous composites of silicone rubber (SR) and sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3/SR/Chitosan) composites by mixing the medical grade liquid silicone rubber LSR with different ratios of both NaHCO3 and Chitosan (prepared from fish shells) by hand and studied their physical and mechanical properties such as tensile tests, tear resistance, hardness and compression. The results confirmed that NaHCO3/SR/Chitosan blend mechanical properties of the composites were influenced significantly by the blowing effect of sodium bicarbonate.

Kidney damage is a major concern related with Anti-malignancy drugs. It is well established that overproduction of reactive oxygen species plays vital role in progress of the pathogenesis of nephrotoxicity. The aim of this study is investigated the modulatory effect β-sitosterol (BT) on cisplatin (CP) that induced nephrotoxicity by targeting oxidative stress and biochemical parameters for kidney function markers in rats. Following a single dose of cisplatin (CP) an intraperitoneal (7.5 mg/kg BW) at seventh day group II, III and β-sitosterol (BT) 5 ml/kg was administered for 10 days group I,III, IV, after decapitation of the rats, trunk blood was obtained, and the kidney tissue was removed for the measurement of xanthine oxidase, lipid peroxidation, (H2O2) generation and antioxidant enzymes, like, catalase, glutathione reductase and glutathione peroxidase kidney function markers like serum creatinine and BUN, further examination for histopathological changes. Cisplatin (CP) administration group was increased the glutathione depletion, xanthine oxidase and lipid peroxidation activity and decrease in (glutathione reductase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase) and phase-II detoxifying (quinone reductase and glutathione-S- transferase) enzymes activities significantly (p<0.05) when compared with the control, histological findings provide same the protective effects of β-sitosterol (BT) against cisplatin (CP) induced acute nephrotoxicity. In conclusions; the current study revealed β-sitosterol (BT), through its antioxidant actions, alleviates cisplatin-induced oxidative damage, which suggests that β-sitosterol (BT) may be of therapeutic benefit when used with cisplatin.

Hypothyroid is a relatively common disease worldwide. It defined as clinical state resulting from insufficient secretion of thyroid hormone due to structural and or functional impairment of thyroid hormone production. Hypothyroid affect all organ systems including respiratory system although the respiratory manifestations are seldom the major compliant in hypothyroidism. This involvement has been attributed to decrease in both expiratory and inspiratory muscles strength , alveolar hypoventilation and decrease in maximal breathing capacity. The objective of this study is to evaluate the spirometry in patients with hypothyroidism. A case control study was done in the period between February 2016 to March 2017 in the center of endocrinology in Al-Sadr Medical City, Najaf, Iraq. Thirty patients with hypothyroidism and thirty age and sex matched controls were recruited. Simple spirometry, oxygen saturation, anthropometric and thyroid function were performed. Hypothyroid patients showed FVC was significant lower as compared to control group while other parameters SPO2, FEV1, FEV1/FVC were statistically insignificant. Nine (30%) hypothyroid patients had restrictive pulmonary function test. SPO2, FEV1 and FEV1/FVC were significantly associated with T4 level with direct significant correlation. In conclusion, respiratory system can be affected in hypothyroid patients in a restrictive pattern.