Diyala Journal of Medicine

Background: Thyroid cancer is a common endocrine neoplasm in all parts
of the world and the commonest histologic type is PTC. The Treatment of
choice for this pathology is surgery and it has associated complications
commonly hypocalcaemia and RLNP with specific survival rates.
Objective: To find out the incidence of associated complications of
thyroid surgery with their survival rates.
Patients and Methods: We analysed data from 574 patients diagnosed
with TC from 2018 to 2021, using the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank
test to determine complications of thyroid surgery and overall survival.
Results: The mean age of the patients was 41.3 (±14.1) years, there were
92(16%) patients aged >55 years and 482(84%) patients ≤ 55 years old at the
time of diagnosis. Females were more affected by the female: male ratio
(3.9: 1); 456 cases occurred in females (79.4%) and 118 in males (20.6%).
The most common modes of presentation were neck lump in 492 (85.7%)
patients and tumor size ≤4 cm in 495(86.3) patients. The commonest stage at
diagnosis is stage I 494(86.1%), of the cases confined to the thyroid gland.
The main surgical procedure was total thyroidectomy for 470(81.9%)
patients. The common complications are hypocalcemia 70(12.6%) and
46(8.3%) developed RLN damage. The mean survival time was (55.87)
months (CI = 54.86-56.88 months), but varies according to age < 55 years
(58.02 months) and ≥ 55 years (44.426 months). Sex female has a better
prognosis (56.540 months) while males (52.40 months). stage I mean
survival was (58.79months) while a decrease in stage IV mean survival was
(23.36 months).
Conclusion: The incidence of complications associated with TC surgery
in our study is close to what was published elsewhere in the world with
slight differences in percentages of each complication. The survival rate
drops within the available ranges

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic continues, causing
considerable morbidity and mortality worldwide. Real-time reverse
transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) diagnostic assays are a
goal standard for case ascertainment and diagnosis. Comparing to PCR,
serological testing is advantageous with faster turn-around time, high-
throughput and less workload. However, the clinical value of antibodies
largely depends on the understanding of host antibody responses during
infection.
Objective: To investigate the dynamics of (Immunoglobulin M (IgM) and
Immunoglobulin G (IgG)) in response to SARS-CoV-2 in patients newly
recovered from different severity Covid-19 infection in Baquba-Iraq.
Patients and Methods: In this cross sectional study a (93) patients with
recent covid-19 infection who came to the central blood bank of Diyala for
convalescent plasma donation for the period from the 1st June 2020 till 1st
August 2020 were enrolled. The questionnaire form were filled regarding
the time of infection, clinical manifestations, severity and polymerase
chain reaction (PCR) results. While blood were taken for antibody titer
measurement using the SARS-CoV-2 IgM and IgG VIDAS test.
Results: Male constitute about 91% of the study population. About 74% of
the cases were below 40 years old. Fifty four of the patients had mild
disease, 28% had moderate severity while the other 18% had severe type of
the disease. fatigue and fever were the most common symptoms and seen in
87%,84% respectively. IgM Antibodies start to be positive before 21 days
post infection mainly in mild and moderate cases 100%, While 0% of severe
cases were positive at this time. After 49 day from the time of the infection
67%and 75% of the mild and moderate cases where IgM positive
respectively and 100% of the severe cases where IgM positive. IgG
Antibodies were positive in 100%, 0% of the mild and severe cases
respectively at 21 day post infection but it's positive in 100% of both mild
and severe cases after 49 day post infection.
Conclusion: Although the serological response for SARS-CoV-2 appears
in the first three weeks from the disease onset this response differs from
patient to another according to the time from the infection and the severity
of the infection.

Background: since acute appendicitis is the most common presenting
diseases in the surgical emergency departments, Appendectomy regarded
as a common emergency surgical procedure that is done by the surgeons in
the general surgery specialty. The complication of an incisional hernia
development after open appendectomy is rare, found in about 0.12% of the
appendectomy operations; interstitial type of incisional hernia
complication following open appendectomy surgery is extremely rare
condition, small number of reports found to deal with the incisional hernia
development at the site of appendectomy in a range of (0.4-0.7%).
Objective: To assess the incidence of incisional hernia following open
appendectomy in Erbil province – Kurdistan region- Iraq.
Patients and Methods: This retrospective study involved 598 cases
between the period of first of July 2015 to 30th of April 2020, the cases
presented with features of acute appendicitis, after admission and
complete history taking, surgical intervention (open appendectomy) has
been done for all of them, follow up for the diagnosis of the post
appendectomy incisional hernia development done throughout revising the
files and ID s of the patients and contacting them or their close relatives
via personal mobile numbers, others re-consulted us for any operation site
discomforts, any patient with suspicion of operation site problems asked to
return to the outpatient surgical room for follow up and excluding or
confirmation of operation site incisional hernia. The patients followed up
for about 2-3 years after the operation days and contacting period with the
patients or their close relatives to exclude incisional hernia development at
open appendectomy site took about 6 months.
Results: Out of 598 cases included in this retrospective study, 286 cases
were male and 312 cases were female, the ages ranged between 5 and 91
years old with a mean and Standard Deviation (SD) 24.13, the age group of
up to 10 years old included 13 cases, 2nd decade age group included 258
cases, while the third age group (21 – 30 years old) was included 167 cases.
Risk factors for development of incisional hernia assessed among all cases,
56.85% of all cases had at least one of the risk factors and the remaining
43.15% devoid of any risk factors, the risk factors distributed among
constipation (19.4%), pregnancy among female patients (18.9%), followed
by diabetes mellitus, chronic cough and heavy working occupations (4.85%
,4.52% and 3.34% respectively), and BPH and anemia with other

Background: Pleurotus genus or oyster mushroom is the richest of all
edible mushroom because of Its medicinal and therapeutic value for
human health, their medicinal importance due to their active compounds
and enzymes that have been classified as biologically active, antitumor,
anticancer, antihypersensitivity and antiaging, and in the treatment of HIV
and high blood pressure.
Objective: To testing the cytotoxic effects of aqueous and alcoholic
extracts of an Iraqi strain of edible mushroom Pleurotus osteratus in the
presence of the positive control represented by the toxic drug methotrexate
and measuring the percentage of free radical scavenging of these extracts.
Patients and Methods: The dried powder of fruiting bodies of Iraqi strain
Pleurotus ostreatus was prepared aqueous (hot and cold) and ethanol 96%
extracts at three different concentrations (100, 200, 300) µg/ml, the
cytotoxic effects of theses extracts was investigated using peripheral blood
lymphocytes (PBLs) and (0.65) µg/ml of methotrexate (MTX) drug was
counted as positive control. The slides were microscopically examined
(10X), and at least 1000 cells were inspected to determine the Blastogenic
Index BI), Mitotic Index MI and chromosomal aberration (TCA) and
Antioxidant Test of the theses extracts s were evaluated byDPPH radical-
scavenging activity assay (2,2- diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazylhydrate ).
Results: the results of toxic effects of hot , cold aqueous and ethanol
extracts on peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) showed no significant
differences in ( TCA) % with negative control in comparison with positive
control .,While , There has been a noticeable change in (MI) %and (BI)
%with negative control , likewise, Scavenging activity was the highest for
aqueous and ethanol extracts with increasing the concentrations when
compared with the control ascorpic acid .
Conclusion: Aqueous and ethanol extracts of Pleurotus ostreatus are free
of any toxic effect on lymphocytes of the peripheral blood , which can be
considered a mitogenic agent

Background: BK polyomavirus that is acquired in early childhood as
BKPyV is near ubiquitous in adults with a seroprevalence of >80%, it has
been found as the main cause of hemorrhagic cystitis in hematopoietic
stem cell transplantation patients, due to immunosuppression regimen that
lead to the activation of the virus from the latency status and lead to
increased viral shedding in urine (viuria).
Objective: To investigate the frequency of BK Polyomavirus antigen
excretion in urine of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia with and
without chemotherapy and compare it with normal controls.
Patients and Methods: A case-control study conducted from December
2021 to May 2022 in Baghdad, Iraq on leukemia patients of Central
Pediatrics Hospital (Al-Eskan ). Urine samples and urine sediment smears
were collected from 60 acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients. And
compared with 60 apparently healthy age and sex-matched children, BK
polyomavirus antigen in urine was detected using Enzyme-linked
Immunosorbent Assay and urine cytology were Pap stained for the
detection of decoy cells (DCs).
Results: Positive BKPyV antigen in urine was seen in 55 (91.7%) of Acute
lymphoblastic leukemia patients and 39 (65.0%) in controls (p=<0.001) and
all the patients were decoy negative. There was no significant effect of the
positivity of antigenuria on neither leukocytes level nor on the occurance of
relapse in leukemia patients.
Conclusion: The very high frequency of BKPyV in the urine signifies the
importance of reactivation of this virus in ALL patients with and without
chemotherapy.

Background: Heart rate metrics including the average heart rate,
maximum heart rate, and minimum heart rate reflect the physiological
condition of the heart. Clinically, determining the impact of ventricular
and atrial ectopic beats on those three metrics is important because they
indicate how hard the heart is working.
Objective: To investigate the changes in heart rates of ventricular and
atrial ectopic patients.
Patients and Methods: In this study, data from 90 persons (30 with
ventricular ectopic beats, 30 with atrial ectopic beats, and 30 healthy
people) were gathered and analyzed to see what changes in heart rate
metrics may occur in patients with ectopic beats.
Results: According to our results, the three heart rate metrics in almost all
three groups are statistically insignificant (p-value > 0.05). The average heart
rate was significantly higher (p<0.05) in ventricular ectopic patients than in
atrial ectopic patients. The effect of age and gender on heart rate metrics
were statistically assessed.
Conclusion: Despite the fact that no significant differences were found in
all groups, there were certain differences that require further examination.
One of the long-term objectives is to expand this study to incorporate
electrocardiography (ECG) analysis in order to complete the comparison
between the three groups.

Background: Proper information about the anatomy of the maxillary sinus
is required to avoid any unexpected complications that may arise due to
the close relation between the maxillary sinus and posterior superior
alveolar artery.
Objective: To the current study used cone beam computed tomography
CBCT imaging to assess the position of the posterior superior alveolar
artery (PSAA) in relationship to the alveolar ridge and the flour of
maxillary sinus.
Patients and Methods: A number of 95 Iraqi patients participated in this
prospective study (53 females, 42 males; age range 20-49 years). From
January 2021 to February 2022, attended a 2nd specialised dentistry
institution in Baquba city for CBCT scanning for numerous diagnostic and
management purposes.
Results: According to our study, we detected the presences of artery in
(83.68%) of the sample. females showed higher PSAA prevalence than men
on both sides, and the difference was significant overall, Also, the existence
of artery for each side and total in the intramembranous locating in females is
greater than that in males, which may demonstrate that the probability of
Bleeding and other side effects is higher in males, since the existence of
artery in the intramembranous area in females will reduce the likelihood of
traumatic injury throughout any surgical treatment.
Conclusion: This research used CBCT to determine the precise location of
PSAA in the Iraqi population. This data could assist in decreasing the
likelihood of hemorrhage as well as other complications which may
happen throughout any surgical treatment, such as dental implant
placement, ridge expansion.As well as other surgical interventions in this
regio

Cervical spondylosis, Multilevel ACDF, ACDF without plating,
Subsidence, Migrati on.

Background: Athlete's foot (tinea pedis) is by far the commonest fungal
infections of the integument in the developed world that usually begins
between the toes. Multiple drugs were used for the treatment of athlete's
foot and including both; topical and systemic agents.Zinc sulphate has
been used as topical antifungal agent.
Objective: Comparison the efficacy of 15% zinc sulphate solution
topically in the management of tinea pedis with topical clotrimazole
solution.
Patients and Methods: A therapeutic, single blind, comparative, study of
Zinc Sulphate solution (15%) in the management of tinea pedis in
comparison with clotrimazole solution (both topically), that conducted in
the Unit of Dermatology and Venereology ,Baquba Teaching Hospital,
extended from March 2020- July 2021 . Fifty patients, 31 males and 19
females with tinea pedis were registered in this study. Divided to 2 groups
of patients included in the study:
Group A: Use the topical zinc sulphate solution 15% .
Group B: Use the topical 1% Clotrimazole solution.
A complete history with examination clinically were done for all patients
with tinea pedis involving all the relevant points. All patients were used
the medicine twice daily for 30 days, and follow there to be seen every
14 days during the course of treatment and then follow up for two months.
The patients were examined clinically; also the scoring of feet odor was
done at each visit.
Results: Group A: Twenty five patients 9 (36%) females and 16 (64%)
males were included in this group were treated by Zinc Sulphate solution ,
and their ages ranged between 27-73(47.8±12.18) years. and the duration of
that illness was ranged from 1-120(43±46.61) months. Clinical response
after one month of the treatment was 10(40%) patients with complete
clearance, 5(20%) patients had partial clearance while 10(40%) patients
showed no response.
Group B: Twenty five patients treated by clotrimazole solution, and their
ages ranged from 24-65(43.2±11.83) years, and the duration of the illness
was ranged from 1-180(30.24±44.9) months. Clinical response after four
weeks of treatment was 19(76%) patients with complete response, 2(8%)
patients had partial response, while 4(16%) patients have no response.

Background: Ankle Foot Orthoses (AFO) is mostly advised for a stroke
patient who is complicated with plantarflexion deformity, to support and
improve the alignments of the feet for reducing knee joint extension and
promoting hip joint extension through stance-phase.
Objective: To provide deeper knowledge using software gait analysis for
the biomechanical effects of PLS AFO for stroke patients.
Patients and Methods: We divided 42 participants into 3 groups (the first
and second groups were 28 stroke participants that used AFO and with
OUT-AFO and the third group was 14 normal participants without
deformity. All participants walk 10 meters in a straight line for the same
time their gait was captured at Comfortable Walking Speed (CWS).
Temporal-spatial and kinematic parameters of the knee joint were
compared in the study.
Results: The PLS AFO showed improvement in knee ROM in the AFO
condition that has better knee flexion in the early stance (from 8.16 to 16.24
degrees in the AFO condition), a huge increase in the late stance of knee
extension (from 0.16 to 3.82 degrees) and better knee flexion than the
barefoot condition in the swing flexion (from 26.1 to 39.78 degrees). Also,
the mean Time Up and Go (TUG) identically decreased in stroke participants
(from 36.04 s in OUT-AFO to 22.6 s in AFO condition).
Conclusion: In this study, we showed that using a PLS AFO can be
beneficial for improving knee ROM and progress walking speed, gait
symmetry, balance, and reducing the risk of falls.

Background: Lymphadenopathy refers to the enlargement of lymph nodes
due to various causes, and its appropriate management is crucial for
optimal patient outcomes.
Objective: To analyze the onset of lymphadenopathy (LAP) in children in
terms of gender and age, explore its clinical manifestations and the
specific lymph node areas affected, identify prevalent causes, and assess
the outcomes of various treatment approaches.
Patients and Methods: This cross-sectional study conducted between
October 2021 and March 2023 at Rapareen Teaching Hospital for Children
in Erbil City, which examined the lymphadenopathy in 40 children . The
study included children aged 0-15 years with a lymphadenopathy
diagnosis. Data collection involved recording demographic information,
lymphadenopathy site and characteristics, clinical symptoms, antibiotic
usage and response, reactive diagnoses, and treatment outcomes.
Additional laboratory measurements were also taken. The collected data
were analyzed using descriptive statistics, statistical tests, and logistic
regression analysis. The study adhered to ethical principles, obtained
informed consent, and ensured data confidentiality.
Results: The mean age of the children was 3.397 ± (2.192) years. 23 (59%)
children had a single lymphadenopathy, and 16 (41%) had multiple
lymphadenopathies. The most common site of lymphadenopathy with a
frequency of 10 (25%) was in the posterior cervical region, while 7 (17.5%)
was observed in the submental area. 38 (95%) children received antibiotic
treatment. Out of this number, 23 (60.5%) responded positively to the
treatment, while 15 (39.5.5%) did not respond.
Conclusion: The results of this study showed that in the patients who
were treated with antibiotics, the drug was able to lead to some degree of
recovery

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third common diagnosed.
cancer in the world, so that colonic polyp detection is important because
colonic polyp is a precursor to CRC.
Objective: To detect the prevalence of polyp and adenoma.
Patients and Methods: A retrospective study was done using reports of
endoscopic examination done previously for patients seen at
gasteroenterology and hepatology hospital in Baghdad.
Results: The study included 924 examination of colon, mean age of patients
was 48.1 years. Polyps was detected in 128 colonoscopies. (PDR) was 16.7
%. The PDR was higher in patients ≥ 60 years old (25 %), while polyp
detection rate was ( 17.7 % ) in those 50 – 59 years age group. Adenoma was
found in 7.9 % of those with completed colonoscopies. It was higher in male
patients (9.2 % ) than female patients (6.2%). It was highest in age group ≥
60 years old (15.9%), while adenoma was found in (8.2 %) of those with age
group of 50 – 59 years old.
Conclusion: This study highlight on the prevalence of polyp (16.7%) and
adenomas (7.9%) in patients underwent endoscopy for different
indications, and give us an idea about screening for CRC in Iraq and at
which age it should be started.

Background: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) has recently been
identified as a common complication in patients with end-stage renal
disease (ESRD) who are undergoing hemodialysis (HD) or peritoneal
dialysis (PD). The risk factors for the development of PAH in those
patients are not well understood.
Objective: To investigate the risk factors for the development of PAH in
patients with ESRD on HD.
Patients and Methods: This is a hospital-based cross-sectional study of
50 ESRD patients undergoing HD. The pulmonary artery systolic pressure
(PASP) was measured using echocardiography. PASP ˃ 25 mmHg at rest
was defined as PAH. As a result, patients were divided into two groups:
those who had PAH and those who did not. Each patient's demographic,
biochemical, and echographic findings were documented.
Results: Out of 50 patients, 19 (38%) had PAH, while the remaining 31
(62%) had normal PASP. In multivariate analysis, HD duration > 3.4 years
(OR= 2.13, 95%CI=1.45-31.38, p= 0.025), hypertension as a cause of ESRD
(OR=6.12, 95%CI=1.4-26.77, p=0.031), hemoglobin (Hb) ≤ 10.0 g/dl (OR=
4.35, 95%CI=1.88-9.84, p= 0.018), and left ventricular ejection fraction
(LVEF)≤ 55% (OR= 6.75, 95%CI=1.87-23.74, p=0.021) were independent
factors associated with PAH. PASP had a significant positive correlation
with the rate of fistula flow (r= 0.295, p= 0.038) and E/A ratio (r= 0.368, p=
0.008), but a significant negative correlation with LVEF (r= -0.345, p=
0.014). PASP had a positive significant correlation with each of rate of
fistula flow (r= 0.295, p= 0.038) and E/A ratio (r= 0.368, p= 0.008), while it
has a negative significant correlation with LVEF (r= -0.345, p= 0.014).
Conclusion: Longer duration of HD, hypertensive nephropathy as a cause
of ESRD, Hb≤ 10 g/dl, and LVEF ≤55% are among the demographic,
biochemical, and clinical factors associated with the development of PAH
in patients with ESRD under HD. The PASP has a positive correlation
with fistula flow rate and E/A ratio and a negative correlation with LVEF

Background: Medical education and training differ substantially
throughout the world. Several teaching approaches have been used in
medical education, which is a dynamic area of educational research.
Objective: To assess the process of medical education, its development,
and related obstacles to having proper and enhanced medical education, as
well as improvement in various aspects related to medical education.
Conclusion: Medical educational programs play a critical role in
preparing individuals for careers in medicine. These programs offer an
organized curriculum that comprises preclinical & clinical education,
electives and specialized training, professional development, and research.

Background: Evaluate the surface roughness and hardness of tooth
enamel and dental resin composite restoration immersed into saliva
collected from leukemia patient.
Objective: To evaluate the surface roughness and hardness of tooth
enamel and dental resin composite restoration immersed on to saliva
collected from 4 types of leukemia patient.
Patients and Methods: 30 patients with 4 types of leukemia (Acute
lymphoblastic leukemia ALL, Acute myeloid leukemia AML, Chronic
lymphocytic leukemia CLL, and Chronic myeloid leukemia CML) were
included for taking saliva separately. A total number of 50 enamel
specimen and 50 of composite resin disk were prepared and randomly
divided into 5 groups of enamel (1,2,3,4, and 5) and 5 groups of composite
resin disk (A,B,C,D, and E), surface roughness and hardness were
measured and data collected, group A and 1 were immersed in artificial
saliva for 7 days as control, group B and 2 immersed into saliva collected
from patient with ALL, group C and 3 immersed into saliva collected from
patient with AML, group D and 4 immersed into saliva collected from
patient with CLL and group E and 5 immersed into saliva collected from
patient with CML all group for 7 days then surface roughness and
hardness were measured data collected and analyzed and statistically
significant regarded at p<0.05.
Results: In group A and 1 artificial saliva there were no significant effect on
surface roughness and hardness of both enamel and composite resin disk,
while surface roughness and hardness of enamel and composite resin
significantly changed after immersing in saliva of ALL, AML, CLL, patients
and surface roughness of composite resin highly significantly increased after
immersing in saliva of CML patients.
Conclusion: Saliva of ALL, AML, CLL, and CML seems to significantly
changes in mechanical properties of enamel and composite, however
saliva of CML

Background: Osteoporosis is an illness that may be categorized as a
"silent pandemic" because of its worldwide incidence. The essential
characteristics of osteoporosis are bone mass reduction and degeneration
in bone tissue's micro-architecture. Postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMO)
seems to be the most prevalent skeletal disorder.
Objective: To study investigates the influence of practicing exercise and
physical activity as the most critical contributing factors of osteoporosis in
postmenopausal women.
Patients and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted at
Baghdad Teaching Hospital from July 1, 2021, to December 31, 2021.
Data were collected directly through interviews using a special
questionnaire. One hundred and fifty postmenopausal women with
osteoporosis participated in this study. A rheumatologist clinically
diagnosed all participants using a bone density screening (DEXA).
Results: the current study's results indicate the prevalence of osteoporosis
among postmenopausal women, with a higher percentage of 69.3% in the age
group (≥50 years). 60.7% of all participants were overweight and obese
according to body mass index (BMI). Calcium deficiency was found in
87.3% of the subjects, more than two third (76%) of them were not
practicing exercises, and 86.7% suffered from vitamin D deficiency.
Reclassifying the actual and wrong percentile demonstrates the accurate
percentile (overall percentage = 78.7), 32 individuals were wrongly
classified, and the probability of total error was reported at around 21.3%.
The most important finding was that postmenopausal women with
osteoporosis who exercised and participated in physical activity regularly
were 13.7 times in better health than those who did not exercise.
Conclusion: Exercising and physical activity lower risk factors for
postmenopausal women. It is becoming more necessary to reconsider the

Background: Congenital heart defects and preterm birth are two
important causes of neonatal and infant mortality. However, the
relationship between them has not yet been fully clarified.
Objective: To find the association of congenital heart disease with
premature delivery.
Patients and Methods: The study is an observational cross sectional
study, done in Al-Batool teaching hospital for maternity and children from
July 2022 to January 2023. A self-prepared questionnaire was used to
gather data. Gestational age was calculated mainly on postnatal gestational
assessment by Dubowitz/Ballard method by a pediatrician.
Echocardiography was done by Echocardiography specialist doctor to
identify the presence and types of congenital heart defects. SPSS version
25 was used for statistical analysis.
Results: Total number of births (term and preterm) was 1616, congenital
heart diseases were detected in 60(3.71%) of them, most of them were
isolated heart defect. In preterm babies, the congenital heart diseases were
detected in 8% (p value was <0.001), they were of different types as
followings: patent ductus arteriosus (n=10,26%), atrial septal defect
(n=8,21%), ventricular septal defect (n=7,18%), transposition of the great
arteries (n=4,10%), tetralogy of Fallot (n=2,5%), and complex of congenital
heart disease (n=7,18%), while in full term babies, the rate of congenital
heart diseases was only 1.9%.
Conclusion: The incidence of congenital heart disease was higher in
preterm than full term delivered babies, mostly in the group of
transposition of the great arteries, ventricular septal defect, complex heart
defects, followed by atrial septal defect.

Background: Miscarriage and stillbirth are among the most common
pregnancy complications, and could be caused by several factors, among
these factors are viral infections some of them are obvious teratogenic and
others are associated with fetal defects like severe anemia in the case of
Parvovirus B19 which could be transmitted vertically causing fetal
infection and miscarriage or stillbirth.
Objective: To investigate the seroprevalence of Parvovirus B19 among
women with miscarriage and stillbirth and compare them with normal
pregnant women in the city of Mosul-Iraq.
Patients and Methods: A case-control study conducted on pregnant aged
16-45 years with miscarriage and stillbirth admitted to Al-Khansa
Teaching Hospital in Mousl city. The samples were collected during the
period from November 2022 and January 2023 from 160 from pregnant
women, 80 of them had miscarriage or stillbirth, and the other 80 had
normal uneventfull pregnancy (control). Serum samples were subjected for
ELISA Study of anti-B19V IgG and IgM antibodies.
Results: This study showed that the seroprevalence rate of anti-B19V IgG
among pregnant women was about 23% (37 out of 160), subdivided into
(40%) 32 out of 80 patients, and (6.2%) 5 out of 80 controls had positive
anti-B19V IgG antibody which is significantly different. And IgM
seroprevalence was about 22% (35 out of 160), in which (38.8%) 31 out of
80 patients, and (5%) 4 out of 80 controls had positive anti-B19V IgM
antibody. Both anti-B19V IgG and IgM were higher among patients who had
stillbirth than those who had miscarriage both qualitatively and
quantitatively. On the other hand, there is a highly significant association of
anti-B19V IgM positivity with maternal anemia.
Conclusion: The study found high association between B19V and
miscarriage or stillbirth as compared to normal pregnancy, and this was
more common among patients who had stillbirth than those who had
miscarriage, with obvious association with maternal ane

Background: Malocclusion and fixed orthodontic appliance convoluted
the ordinary oral hygiene measures, which may lead to accumulation and
prolonged retention of dental plaque on tooth surfaces particularly around
the orthodontic brackets and auxiliaries of the fixed orthodontic appliance.
Objective: To evaluate the oral health status among a group of
orthodontic patients by evaluating the plaque, gingival, calculus, and
Enamel Decalcification indices.
Patients and Methods: This study was conducted among 128 persons (64
with fixed orthodontic appliance as a study group and 64 without fixed
orthodontic appliance as a control group. An assessment of related clinical
parameters as plaque, gingival, as well as enamel decalcification indices
were done.
Results: The present study revealed that the mean plaque, gingival, as well
as enamel decalcification indices for the total sample were (1.182±0.356),
(1.230±0.269), and (1.329±0.413) respectively. Additionally, all of these
indices were higher among study group (fixed orthodontic patient) than
among control group (persons without orthodontic appliance) with
statistically significant difference among groups for each.
Conclusion: Fixed orthodontic appliance is an effective plaque retentive
factor that accumulate dental plaque which is the main causative fac

Background: Tuberculosis (TB), an infectious disease caused by
Mycobacterium tuberculosis, is the leading cause of death worldwide. It
can be both prevented and treated. There are two types of tuberculosis
(pulmonary TB and extrapulmonary TB).
Objective: To describe the prevalence of TB cases in PHCCs that covers
health services in Ba’qhuba second health sector.
Patients and Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in
Ba’qhuba second health sector by using Data of all patients (61 cases)
registered in the tuberculosis unit from 1st of Jan 2021 to 1st of Jan 2023,
regarding their prevalence and relapse status. The data has been analyzed
using Microsoft Excel version 2019.
Results: The findings revealed 57% of patients lived in urban areas, the
gender ratio was 1:2 male to female, and 26% of cases were among the 45–
54 age group. The Incidence of the disease during the two years was 16.1
cases per 100,000 persons while the prevalence was 18.2 cases per 100,000
person-year, TB prevalence regarding the PHHCs was (AL-Yarmouk, Al-
Gatton, Bani Saad, and Hay Al-Mustafa) was (5, 4, 2.4, and 0.32 cases per
10,000 person-year, respectively). In terms of TB type, 51% were pulmonary
TB (PTB). Regarding EPTB patients 67% had symptoms. According to the
sites of infection of EPTB (bones and vertebrae, other, lymph node, pleural
effusion, meningitis), they were 33%, 30%, 20%, 13%, and 3%, respectively.
And 85% of all patients were in category I of treatment and 15% were in
category II due to relapses and 44%of them were laboratory- confirmed and
66% of relapses were pulmonary TB.
Conclusion: The prevalence of Al-Yarmouk PHCCs was the highest,
almost half of the patients were suffering from Extra-pulmonary TB, while
according to relapsed c