Mustansiriya Medical Journal

Nasal mucociliary clearance (NMCC) is one of the most important host defense mechanisms of the airway system, which largely depends on the coordinated ciliary beats that transfers the mucus and particles to the oropharynx. Environmental factors as well as infections, allergy and cancer may affect NMCC, a variety of inflammatory mediators and pharmaceuticals also have different effects on NMMC. It is possible to measure NMCC by the saccharine test as a simple quantitative reliable method, which can be used to measure the effects of different substances on this important function.
The Aim of this double-blind, placebo controlled, randomized balanced study, is to examine the effects of captopril and ketotifin in single oral doses on NMMC in healthy human volunteers. The settings are the laboratories of the pharmacology department at the college of medicine, Al-Mustansiriya University.
Group A (8 subjects) of volunteers were given single oral doses of captopril 12.5mg, while group B (8 subjects) were given single oral doses of ketotifin 1 mg, and group C (7 subjects) were given placebo. The age range for the subjects was between 19 and 20years, six females and seventeen males. Saccharin transient time (STT) in minutes, was measured by the saccharine test before the drug intake (day 1), and three hours after drug intake (day 2) at the same time of the day and under the same conditions. The study showed reduction in the STT after captopril, and increase in the STT after ketotifin, but these changes did not reach statistical significance in comparison with placebo.
This study could be regarded as a base for further future studies, with the use of more frequent doses of captopril and ketotifin to discover their true effects on NMCC, and the relationship of these properties on the side effects of captopril (particularly cough), and the therapeutic effect of ketotifin.

Blood culture is the single most important procedure to detect systemic infection due to bacteria, it provides valuable information for management of febrile. In this study trying to use Buffy coat smear methods and culture by using unclotted peripheral blood in haematocrite capillary tube, which may yield important early diagnosis procedure in bacterimic and septicemic baby especially in critically ill and low birth weight infant.
Among sample of Iraqi childhood a study done on 280 babies patients clinically diagnosed to had bacterimia and septicemia. the frequency among male babies was higher than that of female, the ratio 1.5: 1 , the occurrence was more noticeable under one year age group represent 58.9% and decline among other age group in which positive culture showed in 75%(210/280) were male represent 60% of the isolate while female represent 40%. As a conclusion from this study Eshericha coli considered the main organism isolated represent 16.7% (35/210), Pseudomonase spp represent 15.2%(32/210), Streptococci spp 14.8%(18/210), Klebsiella spp 13.3%928/210), Eterobacter spp 11.4%(25/210), Salmonella 8.6%(18/210), finally staph-albus isolated from 6.2% immuncompromised patients.
Associated disease status as arise factor for bacterimia and septicemia including meningitis 18.6%, urinary tract infection 17.6% , chest infection 13.4%, intestinal obstruction 12.4% , jaundice 11.9%, pneumonia 9%. Kal-azar and galactecemia represent 5.2% respectively.

In pulmonary function tests (PFT), the selection of prediction equation for lung diffusing capacity for carbonmonoxide (DLco), remains a problem. If a single equation is selected and used by all laboratories, the variation in percent predicted values would be large enough to cause numerous diagnostic errors.
The present study involved 36 healthy adolescents (20 boys and 16 girls aged 13-19 years) with body height (157-170 cm) and body weight (38-63 Kg). Normal values were reported for lung volumes, ventilation and diffusing capacity using spirographic, helium dilution and carbon monoxide single-breath techniques.
Values observed in the present study were comparable to Asians studies but lower than those of Westerns. All pulmonary function parameters were significantly higher in boys, mainly due to larger lung volume, in addition to differences in the level of physical activity and social patterns of life. Regardless to sex, indices of lung volume and diffusion increased with age, body height, and surface area, however, best correlation was observed with body height. Gender specific prediction equations were generated for lung diffusing capacity. Lung diffusion corrected for volume (DLco/VA) seemed independent to sex or body size.
In conclusion, it is not appropriate to rely on prediction equations derived from western populations who had higher levels of normality for DLco. Furthermore, height was the best single predictor for lung diffusion in adolescence age group.

The study was designed to show the effect of X-Ray on the level of antioxidants in normal
healthy subjects and those with a habits mellitus. It was done in the department of physiology
and medical physics in the Medical College of Al-Mustansiriyah University. The study was
Design as Prospective, randomized, case control study. Antioxidant measurements include the
estimation of erythrocyte glutathione and malandialdehyde levels.
Data showed that erythrocyte glutathione (GSH) is lower in diabetic subjects them in healthy
individuals while the mulondialdehyde (MDA) is significantly higher in diabetics them in
normal subjects. X-Ray irradiation caused significant increase in GSH level in both groups
while it dose significantly lowered the level of MDA in diabetics and healthy subjects.
We concluded that Hyperglycemia is the major source of producing free radicals in diabetic
subjects and ionizing radiations have great effects in the production of free radicals in both,
healthy subject and diabetic individuals.

Background: The findings of previous research on the status of trace elements in diabetic
patients have been controversial.
A comparative study of serum copper in diabetic patients and healthy Iraqi controls is
becoming important, particularly after the dietary shortage, as sequel of 13 years of
sanctions.
Objective: To study the difference of serum copper between the diabetic patients and
healthy Iraqi people.
Method: This is an outpatient-based study; it was carried out in AL-Rhasid Military Teaching
Hospital during a period from March 2002 till February 2003 the study included seventy
four non insulin dependent diabetic patient (NIDDM) aged (40-62) year, forty – four from
which have retinopathy and twenty – four have albuminuria (>50 mg/day) other seventy
normal healthy control with comparable age (38-65) year. Blood samples were drowning
fasting and the blood was left at room temperature for 10 minuets. Centrifuged 3000 rpm for
10 minuets, then serum was separated and stored at –20c0. The urine sample taken freshly,
randomly on early morning and urine albumin was measured quantitatively by Lowry
method, data were analyzed and compared with previous study result
Conclusion: The clinical significance of serum copper in diabetes mellitus remain conflicting
as well as controversial and many questions still remain unanswered but the decreased
serum copper found in NIDDM in our study may merit further investigation of the
relationship between copper and non-insulin dependent diabetes.

Background: The prone position is required for many surgical procedures and
maintaining and securing the airway in that position is a major concern for the
anesthesiologists. The present study was conducted to evaluate the use of the Laryngeal
mask airway (LMA) during anaesthesia in prone position in spontaneously breathing
patients.
Methods: We describe a prospective study of 40 patients, who ranked in ASA physical
status class one and two and required general anaesthesia for surgery in prone position
and LMA was used to maintain the airway. Different induction techniques were used
and different methods of LMA insertion was used.
Results: In 37 patients the LMA was inserted successfully from the first attempt, while
in the other three patients there were malpositioned and reposition done successfully.
Additional propofol was given to two patients who required deepening of anaesthesia
after the LMA could be inserted. No laryngospasm or bleeding from the mouth was
recorded. Only one patient vomited once 5 minutes after Extubation, after the
protective reflexes had returned well.
Conclusions: With experience, appropriate patient selection and good preparations, it is
possible to induce and maintain anaesthesia using LMA in spontaneously breathing
patients in the prone position.

Aim: To discuss the significance of EEG as a routine clinical diagnostic tool in first recording
of newly discovered or suspected cases of epilepsy.
Method: The study has included 246 patient referred for the first time in year 1992 by
neurologist and psychiatrist to a private EEG clinic with good description suggesting the
diagnosis of epilepsy, the cases were 124 females and 122 males. The positive specific +
nonspecific and the negative recording results were correlated according to the type of
seizures, sex and age of the patients and then compared with other studies to see how much
EEG recording is précised in confirming the clinical diagnosis of epilepsy.
Result: The EEG recording for the 1st time of 246 patient showed 141 (57.4%) cases had
positive findings including specific and non-specific abnormality while 105 patients (42.6%)
had no evidence suggestive of epilepsy similar result of 60 % had been found by Kugler 1964.
Conclusion: Although EEG has an important rule in confirming the clinical diagnosis of
epilepsy it has failed in many ways to satisfy early expectation as a diagnostic aid but it can
merely serve to diminish the probability of its existence.

This study was designed to show the hazards of hyperglycemia on antioxidants level in
diabetic subjects (type 2) and put lights on the importance of uric acid as scavenging
compound in diabetic subjects.
The study was conducted at the Department of Physiology, College of Medicine in Al
Mustansyria University. A total of 30 healthy individuals were enrolled as a control group in
this study with 33 diabetic subjects of type 2 DM.
Uric acid and catalase enzymes were measured in both groups. The level of catalase was
significantly lower in diabetic subjects than in control p < 0.01. Also the uric acid was
significantly lower in diabetic subjects than the controls P < 0.05.
It has been regarded that hyperglycemia is the principle factor in reducing the level of uric acid
and catalase enzyme in the plasma of our diabetic subjects which both are regarded as part of
defense mechanism against the increase in oxidative stress associated with hyperglycemia.

The causes of most childhood cancer are largely unknown. The causal mechanisms for cancer
in childhood as in adult involve an interaction of exposure with inherent genetic
susceptibility. Prevention of cancer could avoid 80% of new cases. Immune system plays an
important role in the defense mechanism against disease including cancer. BCG scar can be a
good indicator for immune response. It is so important to determine the state of immunity in
children prior to development of cancer as indicated by their response to BCG vaccination
and to determine the nutritional background and their relation to BCG scar size. A case
control study was designed for these objectives. The total patient numbers were 120 cancer
cases. Their controls were randomly selected from their neighbors matched for age and sex.
The study shows that negative BCG scars (diameters<1mm) are significantly more detected
among cancer cases. And risk of cancer is more in children who are born with body weight of
more than 4 kg Delayed introduction of complementary diet and delayed weaning are
associated with reduction in risk of cancer. A significant reverse linear correlation is found
between weight at birth and the diameter of BCG scars. While significant positive correlation
is found between age at diet introduction and diameters of BCG scars.
So it is advisable to avoid early introduction of complementary diet within the first year of
age and to delay weaning to the age of 2 years. The BCG scar can be a good indicator for the
integrity of the immune system. It may be a worthy trial to revaccinate individuals for
enhancement of immunity in children.

Glucosamine is an amino monosaccharide derived from cellular glucose metabolis and it is a simple component or \"building block\" of more complex molecules. Glucosamine was considered to be an effective treatment for many joint diseases especially osteoarthritis.
It is believed that glucosamine maintain healthy joint functions and rebuild damaged joint cartilage, tendons, ligaments and other connective tissue. It does this by stimulating the production of glycosaminoglycans (GAG’s) which are the structural components of cartilage and connective tissue else where in the body.
Twenty male and twenty females adult mice (weighting between 23.3gm to 27.2gm), were divided into two equal subgroups (control and experimental); the drug was given at noon three hours after starvation it had been grinded and mixed with food and given as a single oral dose of 350mg/kg body weight per day for 35 successive days. Histological examination and statistical analysis of multiple sections of ventral and dorsal skin of male and female mice and of both subgroups were done by using hemotoxyline and eosin stain.
The results reveal that there was increment in the number of fibroblast which was more obviously seen in the ventral skin of the treated animals. This study confirms practically that glucosamine sulphate induces significant structural changes in the skin of mice.
Using glucosamine sulphate clinically for medical conditions rather than arthritic diseases is now the target of most recent researches, its ability to decrease wrinkles in the aged skin and promotion of wound healing with less scar tissue is consider to be a light for dermatologist and plastic doctors, plus its effect to rebuild any aged, injured and diseased tissue in the body.