Medical Journal of Babylon

This is an introductory pilot study for a more detailed one on the symptom profile of dry eye
syndrome in Hilla. It aims at determinating the approximate figure of prevalence of the condition as
well as an attempt of finding its seasonal and age difference.
Patients and methods:
The patients are those attending the Ophthalmic Consultation Clinic in Hilla Teaching General
Hospital after being examined by the same specialist; the case history and examination results were
registered after the preliminary diagosis.
The overall prevalence is 50.31%; it was the greatest in summer 67.07%, for the rest of
seasons the difference in prevalence was not statistically significant (winter 50%, spring 48.24%,
autumn 35.44%).
This very high prevalence points to the importance of making a detailed study of the symptom
profile to clarify the clinical picture of the disease and its position in the differential diagnosis of a
large number of ophthalmic diseases.

This study has been done to compare the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of azithromycin and
amoxicillin-clavulanate in the treatment of patients with infectious exacerbation of chronic
bronchitis(AECB).This study was conducted at Al-Diwaniya Teaching Hospital and included 108
patients from 32 to 80 years of age. Those patients were randomized to receive either azithromycin
(500 mg/day for three days, n = 56) or amoxicillin-clavulanate (625 mg two tablets twice daily for
seven days, n = 52). The patients were evaluated at the study outset, on day 3-5, on day 7 and at longterm follow-up, day 28 . Based on the clinical evaluation of the signs and symptoms there were no
differences between the groups treated with azithromycin or amoxicillin-clavulanate in terms of the
percentages of cases in which the outcomes were classified as cure or improvement: 75% vs. 73.2% (p
= >0.05) on day ten seven. The results of the present study confirm the efficacy and tolerability of
azithromycin for the outpatient treatment of episodes of infectious exacerbation of COPD. In this
context, it can be expected that the treatment with azithromycin will promote cure or clinical
improvement in most patients, with acceptable toxicity and costs with no significant difference to the
amoxicillin-clavulanate.

One handred swabs were collected from 100 patients with otitis media (OM) (54 females and
46 males) referred to Hilla Teaching Hospital (ENT unit) during the period (from November 2006
through March 2007). The collected samples were investigated for bacterial isolation. The ages of the
patients ranged from 7 months to 70 years .
Bacterial cultures were positive in (95%) patients versus (5%) patients revealed negative
bacterial culture . The most common type of bacterial isolated were Moraxella catarrhalis (20.83%),
followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (20%). Besides, uronic acid was detected in most samples of ear
discharge.The virulence factors were detected and found to be capsule, colonization factor antigens,
hemolysin, siderophores, and extracellular proteases.

Water extract of leaves from Thymus vulgaris L.was tested in vitro for its antifungal activity
against pathogenic Candida albicans , using well diffusion method . Extract of T. vulgaris revealed a
potent antifungal activity against C. albicans at 20% concentration . An experimentally – disseminated
candidiasis was induced into a group of BALB/c rats by intravenous inoculum of C. albicans (0.2 ml of
3×105 cell / ml) and observations were made and recorded for a period of 30 days . Shivering, dullness
, ataxia with a progressive decrease in body weight were observed in all the infected rats. White
nodular abscesses were seen in kidney after 3 days of injection. Treatment of infected rats with the
plant extract (0.5 ml administered orally for 14 days) caused an increase in the weights of the rats
when compared with control animals.

This study was carried out for the isolation and identification of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from 260
patients who were suffering from: burns, chronic otitis media and urinary tract infections (UTI).
Detection of the isolates susceptibility for 23 antibiotics was also studied. Moreover, chemical
substance like ethylene diamine tetra acetate (EDTA) was added to some antibiotics in an attempt to
enhance their effects.
The total number of P.aeruginosa isolates accounted for 30 of 260 samples, the distribution of
those isolates were: 10 from 32 burn samples,10 from 58 otitis samples and 10 from 170 UTI samples.
The results showed high degree of resistance for most antibiotics being used in this study. Also
results were indicated for extended-spectrum beta-lactamases production by this bacteria by using
EDTA as indicator and the positive results were observed in 9(30%) isolates with ampicillin and
12(40%) isolates with cefixime.

Introduction: I am presenting my clinical experience of human infestation by Oestrus ovis
ophthalmomyiasis externa in detail, as far as the records I am keeping of the cases permit me.
Patients and Methods: Those are patients who came under my care in military and civil service at the
place of work in 4 mid and southern Iraqi provinces. I used slit lamp biomicrscope, but sometimes just
a head-mouted binocular loup for diagnosis. I treated all cases.
Results: The total number was 204 cases, The mean age of highest incidence was 12.32 SD 6.5 years.
The highest seasonal incidence was on May every year. The mean larval count was 5.36 SD 4.24.
Conclusion: The standard clinical picture is that of a young boy with a history of being near to sheep
or countryside or in open air and was hit on the eye by a foreign body or an insect. Ideally within a few
hours he suddenly developes a feeling of foreign body, redness, swelling, tearing and photophobia. On
examination, you see excessive mucus, pale diffuse conjunctival swelling and hyperaemia,
subconjunctival haemorrhage, may be chemosis and curds of yellow mucopurulent floccules. This is
almost invariably unilateral. Usually it is possible to find at least one larva (a spindle shaped cylindrical
transparently white actively moving worm of about 1-5 mm length and black oral hooks connected to a
white cephalopharyngeal skeleton).

Extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy (ESWL) has proved to be an optimal therapy for renal and
ureteric calculi.
We report on 226 patients (17-75 years old) treated with the Siemens Modularis lithotriptor. There
were 157 males and 69 females. 218 calculi were located in the kidneys while only 28 calculi were in
the ureters.
In situ treatment was performed in 205 cases without instrumentation and in 21 after placement of
a ureteral catheter. All ESWL treatments were performed with the patient under conscious sedation and
on an outpatient basis.
The overall success rate of initial treatment with ESWL for small calculi ≤ 1cm was 86% versus
43% success rate for calculi larger than 1cm which necessitate 1-2 re-treatments.
Ureteric stenting during treatment had no influence on the stone free rate in our patients.
Complications were infrequent with the most common being renal colic in 8.8% of the cases all of
which were managed conservatively.
In conclusion extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy is a safe and highly effective method of
treating urinary calculi particularly those less than 1 cm in size.

A study had been carried out to determine the distribution of ABO and Rh phenotypes in the
population of Babylon Governorate. The study group included a total of 7317 donors, who were
registered in the central blood banks at Al-Hilla General Teaching hospital during the period (February
2007 to May 2007). 7184(98.2%) were males and 133(1.8%) were females.
The highest prevalence was that of blood group O (35.5 %) followed by blood groups A and B
(27.7% and 28.3 % respectively) and the lowest of blood group AB (8.3%). The Rh phenotypes
distribution also varies among the ABO blood groups. The total percentage of Rh positive was 90.1%
and that of Rh negative was found to be 9.9%. The current study provides the estimation of the
distribution of the proportion of ABO blood groups and Rh for the population of Babylon
governorate.

Aim: To determine if there is any association between lymphopenia and clinical features, disease
activity and damage in systemic lupus Erythematosus (SLE).
Methods: The study group consists of 50 Iraqi patients with SLE mostly from Babylon Governorate
who were diagnosed depending on the American College of Rheumatology revised criteria (ACR) for
SLE; they were attending Marjan Teaching Hospital during the period from 1st Jan. 2007 to 1st Jul.
2008.
The clinical manifestations were obtained by detailed medical history and physical examination.
The disease activity was assessed with the systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index
(SLEDAI) and the Physician's Global Assessment (PGA).
The disease damage was determined with the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics
Damage Index (SLICC-DI).
Lymphocytes count was expressed in two categories: normal (more than 1500/cmm) and
lymphopenia (less than 1500/cmm); the count of less than 500/cmm was considered as marked
lymphopenia.
The relationship of lymphopenia with clinical, pharmacologic treatment variables, SLEDAI, PGA
and SLICC-DI scores was examined.
Results: Lymphopenia was found to be positively associated with skin manifestations, renal
involvement, serositis and the use of steroids.
Marked lymphopenia was associated with even higher SLEDAI, PGA and SLICC-DI scores.
Conclusion: Lymphopenia was associated with some clinical manifestations of SLE and with more
disease activity and damage. Marked lymphopenia was associated with even higher disease activity
and damage .

The study included dissection of the lower limbs of 10 cadavers to rule out the gross anatomy of
the great saphenous vein together with any possible anatomical variations.
The vein aroused anatomically as a continuation of the dorsal venous arch at proximal part of the
metatarsal bones in 14 limbs (70%) and in the rest 6 limbs (30%); it started as a continuation of the
first common metatarsal vein on the medial side of the big toe and received communications from the
dorsal digital veins.
The great saphenous vein was found to be duplicated in 4 limbs (20%), of these, 2 limbs (10%)
below the knee and 2 limbs (10%) above the knee. Both the main vein and the accessory uein joined
their own perforators.

Apoptosis is an evolutionarily conserved form of cell death .In this respect, molecular characterization of the mechanisms involved in the regulation and execution of apoptosis could provide crucial information for understanding the pathogenesis of nasal polyps. The aims were as follow: 1. To study the percentage of apoptotic cells of nasal polyp by TUNEL assays (the recognized DNA fragmentation within the cells). 2. To study the role of versus reactions between anti apoptotic Bcl2 and pro apoptotic Bax proteins in surviving cells of nasal polyp. Polypectomy for 42 patient with recurrent nasal polypoidal masses was taken with a small piece of normal inferior turbinate as a control tissue & kept separately as biopsy for TUNEL assay for detection of percentage of apoptosis & for the detection of the percentage of Bcl2 & Bax protein immunohistochemical study. The Results showed that. the percentage of apoptotic cells in non nasal polyp tissue were significantly higher than the percentage of apoptotic cells in nasal polyp tissue (73.94±15.12, 18.86±6.56), with P-value<0.001). The percentage of Bcl2 protein in non nasal polyp tissue was significantly lower than the percentage of Bcl2 protein in nasal polyp tissue (20.25±4.46.12, 71.27±17.26) respectively with P-value <0.001) while the percentage of Bax protein in non nasal polyp tissue was significantly higher than the percentage of Bax protein in nasal polyp tissue (85.78.±5.42, 33.14±10.13) respectively, with P-value <0.001. The apoptotic mechanism is lower in the recurrent nasal polyp tissue than in the normal (inferior turbinate) tissue. this may have a rule in the aetiopathology of the recurrence of nasal polyps

S.K is a 14-year old girl referred to ENT Department
of our hospital from a primary health care unit as persistent tonsillitis in spite of several courses of
antibiotics.
The patient complained chiefly of persistent throat discomfort difficulty in swallowing and feeling of
a lump obstructing the throat for the last several months. The patient also suffered from nasal
obstruction and rhinorrhea mainly of the left side.

Thirty five breast cancer women (BCW) and fifteen normal subject women (WSW) were investigated for total leucocytes count, total lymphocyte count, CD4 and CD8 markers, as well as for the tumor marker carcinoma-embryonic antigen (CEA) and breast cancer antigen 15-3 (Ca15-3). Subnormal CD4 counts was noted in 9: 35 (25.7%). Likewise subnormal CD4/CD8 ratios was noted in 24: 35 (68.5%) of BCW. For tumor markers, however, CEA 9:35 (25.7%) and Ca15- 3 11:35(31.14%) showed abnormal high concentrations among BCW in contrast to normal values noted among NSW. A battery of CD4/CD8 ratio, CEA and Ca-15-3 is recommended as diagnostic battery for BCW.

Cheiroarthropathy was assessed in 100 diabetics (50 Type I DM , 50 Type II DM) and (50 non diabetic control ) matched for age and sex, according to clinical examination (sign and symptoms).
The are to study the prevalence of cheiroarthropathy in diabetic patients (both TYPE I DM and TYPE II DM) and evaluate association between this sequel and the duration of the disease.
Prevalence of Cheiroarthropathy in TYPE I DM vs. TYPE II DM was (56% vs. 36%)
There was significant statistical difference (P< 0.05) between TYPE I DM and TYPE II DM regarding this sequel. In which it is higher in TYPE I DM.
Cheiroarthropathy occurs more frequently in both TYPE I DM and TYPE II DM than in the control group (P<0.05); its occuance appeared to be direcly related to disease duration

We made a clinical study on 52 patients with acute diarrhea illness during the Epidemic of Cholera that was anticipated in the city of Hilla, Babylon Governorate, during the years 1998 and 1999 and a plan was made to manage these cases . During the period of epidemic any patient with acute diarrhea admitted to Merjan Teaching hospital,was screened by stool culture using alkaline sea water, TCBS media, confirmatory biochemical and serological tests using monovalent diagnostic antiserum of specific substrains including Ogawa, Inaba; any patient with negative culture excluded from the study. The result of the study showed that 20% of cases were sever at presentation, also the complications of sever cases were described including metabolic acidosis, renal failure and hypotension and case fatality was 1.9%. The study may conclude that: Cholera is still present in our country, the predominant strain 01, El-Tor, Ogawa . Early planning to control dehydration & management of complications will greatly reduce mortality.

Background: Tonsillectomy is the most frequent operation done in our specialty; many methods have been applied like the dissection method, the guillotine, the coblation method, tonsillectomy by the use of laser and other methods .
Objectives: To evaluate laser excision of tonsillectomy versus the standard excision, the parameters monitored were post-operative pain and healing and intra-operative blood loss.
Patients and method: This prospective study was carried out on 50 patients. One tonsil was removed with Co2 laser and the other was excised with conventional dissection and tie technique. The patients did not know which tonsil was removed with laser. Pain, healing and the intraoperative blood loss were assessed and a comparison between both sides was done.
Results: On the evening of surgery 80% of patients select the site that underwent dissection method as the most painful, at mid week: 80% select the laser side as the most painful and about 70% of patients at day 10 also select the laser side as the most painful. Intraoperative blood loss was significantly less with CO2 laser tonsillectomy but healing was not accelerated.

Varicocele is the most common correctable cause of male infertility. It is found in 35 and 80% of patients with primary and secondary infertility respectively. The most effective treatment for varicocele is surgery. Varicocelectomy is associated with a lot of complications, hydrocele is the most common of which, and it affects about 20% of patients. Many techniques have been done to reduce the incidence of postvaricocelectomy hydrocele which is difficult to be done here nowadays. In this study we decided to do Jaboulay's operation (the operation for hydrocele) at the same time of varicocelectomy .We applied this maneuver for 76 patients and of course and we got no postoperative hydrocele. So we recommend combining Jaboulay's operation with varicocelectomy for all patients with varicocele to avoid the occurrence of hydrocele and the need for a second surgery.

Objective: To evaluate the value of plain film radiography in a prospective investigation of patients with clinical suspicion of sinusitis, in comparison with computed tomography findings .
Methods: Between October 2007 and January 2009, 100 patients with signs and or symptoms of sinusitis and did not respond to classical treatment were selected , age range 5-30years; 60 male and 40 female; each patient underwent conventional X-ray and standard dose CT examinations during the same visit. The sensitivity and specificity of the plain film and computed tomography examination were calculated
Results: The false negative results of plain x-ray was 30%in diagnosis of sinusitis ,the specificity of the plain film examination was 33%, but the sensitivity was 45% except for the maxillary sinus (sensitivity 80%). Thus, for maxillary sinusitis, plain film examination was reasonably accurate. A negative finding in the other sinuses could not be relied upon.
While the false negative results of computed tomography was 2% for maxillary sinus and 5% for ethmoid sinus which was confirmed by endoscopy of sinus surgery, the sensitivity of computed tomography 96% in diagnosis of sinusitis of and specificity 90%.
Conclusions: The sensitivity of plain film in the diagnosis of sinus disease, particularly of the ethmoidal and sphenoidal sinuses is low and shows limitation for use in directing endoscopic surgery, therefore should be replaced by coronal CT scan especially of the patients subjected as candidates for endoscopic sinus surgery to see middle meatal complex and this contents.

This study was done to test the effect of human colostrums on Entamoeba histolytica trophozoite in culture media. Concentration of 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% of human colostrums were added to liver infusion agar containing E. histolytica trophozoites then incubated at 37ºC for (60, 120, 180, 240 and 300) minutes. At the end of incubation periods the number of trophozoites was recorded, the results showed an inhibitory effect of human colostrums on E. histolytica trophozoites especially in high concentration which resulted in killing all trophozoites in culture media

Aim of the Study: To determine factors affecting the repair of the two stage repair for severe type of hypospadius
Patients and Methods: Forty male patients age between 2-12 with mean 5 years, operated for penoscrotal(20) patients, scrotal(12) patients and perineal(8) patients hypospadius in Hilla teaching Hospital between 2003-2008. All patients underwent two stage repair including correction chordee in the first stage and neourethra formation with meatal advancement in second stage.
Results: Twenty patients(50%) had penoscrotal, 12(30%) had scrotal and 8(20%) had perineal hypospadius. Twelve patients(30%) had undescended testis and 7(17.5%) had inguinal hernia.The chromosomal analysis was XY in 35(87.5%),3 patients(7.5%) had XYlXX mosiasim and 2(5%) patients had XYlXO while UlS result, 2(5%) had female internal organ (uterus). Androgen in form of testoteron given in 15(37.5%) patients for lengthening the phallus in dose of 100 mg single dose in 7 patients, two doses in 5 patients and three doses in 3 patients.The most common complications were local edema occuring in all patients,local hematoma in 6(15%) patients,urethrocutaneous fistula in18 (45%), meatal stenosis in 8(20%) and local infection in 3(7.5%).
Conclusions: The main factors which help in getting optimal result of hypospadius repair include the preparation of the phallus with testosterone therapy in selected cases, use of water proof dressing, refined suture material and above all, tissue respect and meticulous surgical technique inspite of these precaution still the incidence of urethrocutaneous fistula carry high incidence in our patients because all our patients had severe type of hypospadius which expected to carry this incidence of fistula.

Forty - five patients with Bell's palsy attending the Department of Physical Medicine and
Rehabilitation in Baghdad Teaching Hospital
These patients were divided into three groups :
The first group consisted of 15 patients and were treated with steroid ( 20 mg prednisolone /day for the
first 10 days ) and physiotherapy ( galvanic stimulation , Facial exercises and massage ). The second
group consisted of 15 patients and were treated by steroid only ( 20 mg prednisolone /day for the first
10 days). The third group consisted of an other 15 patients who were treated by physiotherapy only in
the from of galvanic stimulation , facial exercises and facial message.
All these groups were re- examined after 2 weeks , 1 month and 2 months and their responses to
the treatment assessed clinically according to House-Breckmann grading system.
The responses to the treatment were more evident in the first group than the second group and
followed by third group.

Objective: To determine whether sonography could help accurately distinguish benign solid breast
masses from malignant ones and whether its role can be improved .
Patients and Methods: Between November 2007 and January 2009 , 243 female patients with breast
lesions diagnosed by their managing surgeons, were sonographically assessed .Those who had solid
lesions were selected for a prospective study through comparison with the histopathological finding
of the open biopsies taken from the lesions . US features that most reliably characterize masses as
benign or malignant had been strictly applied for diagnosing these cases. Sonographic classifications
were compared with histopathological reports of the biopsies . The sensitivity, specificity, and negative
and positive predictive values of the sonography were calculated.
Results: Sonographically, 108(44%) cases were classified as benign and 135(56%) were malignant .
12 (11%) lesions classified as benign sonographically, were found to be malignant histopathologically.
33 (24%) lesion classified as malignant were found to be benign histopathologically. Thus, the
classification scheme had a negative predictive value of 89% and positive predictive value 75%.
Conclusion: Sonography can be used to identify most benign solid lesions for follow up through
imaging. Making use of FNA cytology and True-cut needle biopsy, in addition to including
mammography will eliminate son graphic mishaps.

For the last forty years, the first line of treatment for anovulation in infertile women has been
clomiphene citrate; the choice of clomiphene was appropriate because the drug was highly effective in
inducing ovulation in selected patients with the advantage of being orally administered, relatively safe
and inexpensive. In contrast alternative treatment usually involved parenteral gonadotropins that were
significantly more complicated and uncomfortable to administer. However clomiphene was also found
to have adverse effects, especially in the form of common antiestrogenic, endometrial and cervical
mucous changes. The aim of this study is to identify whether there is a relation between recurrent
administration of clomiphene (as ovulation induction) and serum concentration of total protein, total
cholesterol and triglyceride
Thirty women were involved in this study, twenty with infertility and ten as control group. The
twenty infertile female patients undergo ovulation induction by clomiphene citrate as treatment to their
condition.
The results show a significant difference in the serum level of total protein, total cholesterol and
triglyceride between infertile patients (primary and secondary) and control group in the third month of
clomiphene treatment The total protein was significantly higher in the control group than infertile
patients; this is the same for total cholesterol while for triglyceride it was significantly higher in
infertile patients than in the control group.

It was found that 0.2g of Ortho-Aminophenylmercury(II)chloride (OAPMC) dissolved in HCl/water
added in to Muller-Hinton Agar medium, inhibited the growth of three reference strains bacteria
[Escherichia coli ATCC25922, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ,ATCC27853 and Staphylococcus aureus,
ATCC25923] in addition to five clinical isolates (Staphylococcus aureus , Streptococcus Pyogenes,
Pseudomonas-aeruginosa, Escherichia-coli and Klebsiella aerogenes). Higher concentrations of
(OAPMC) solution into the medium inhibited growth of bacteria under study was more strongly. The
minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the cytotoxicity of (OAPMC) were studied against human
blood and it was found that it had no hemolytic effects at different concentrations. Antibiotic
sensitivity was tested for (OAPMC) and the results were evaluated: a susceptible intermediate and
resistant respectively.

The great saphenous vein is a part of the superficial venous system of the lower limb which runs at the
dorsum of the foot, anterior to the medial malleolus, at the medial side of the leg, on the anterior
surface of the thigh then joins the femoral vein at the saphenous opening.
The study was done at the Surgical Outpatient clinic of Hilla Teaching hospital. It included the
examination of 72 patients (11 males and 61 females) with varicose veins
The study objective was to find out the gender and age distribution of varicose veins among
patients attending the Hilla Teaching Hospital
The study revealed that :-
1- varicose veins were more common in females (85%) than males (15%).
2- The majority of patients were in the young age group
3- The commonest predisposing factors were pregnancy, obesity and heredity.
4- The highest age frequency was (30-39). This could be explained by the fact that the majority of
cases were females having pregnancy as a predisposing factor.
5- There was no significant difference between the right and left limbs regarding their involvement by
varicose veins.

Objective: We tested the hypothesis that the serum Malondialdehyde (MDA) total cholesterol (TC)
high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and vitamin C concentration are affected in welder
workers relative to non-welder subjects, and to clarify the relationship of MDA as marker of oxidative
stress with these lipoproteins and vitamin C as antioxidant.
Study design: A prospective case control study conducted at Basrah Province through a period of two
months from the first of March till the end of April 2005.Venous blood samples were collected for
sixty welder workers, who were classified into 3 groups according to their age and to another 3 groups
related to their duration of working, and another sixty non welders workers saved as a control group
whose aged range (20 - 60) years.
Serum was analyzed for concentrations of MDA, TC, HDL – C and vitamin C using standard
methods.
Result: The results of the study showed significant increase in the concentrations of serum MDA, TC
and HDL- C levels and significant decreases in the concentration of vitamin C (P<0.05) with advancing
age in welders relative to non welder workers. Further more, there were significant gradual increase
p<0.05 in the concentration of MDA and TC levels and significant gradual decrease p<0.05 in the
concentration of vitamin C with increase the duration of working in the welder group.
The effect of fruits and vegetable intakes and smoking habits on the above biochemical
parameters in each group revealed significant decreases in the concentrations of MDA and TC and
significant increases in the concentration of HDL-C and vitamin C p<0.05 with the increase the intake
of both fruits and vegetables and give the adverse effect on both parameters due to the smoking habit in
welder workers related to control subjects and to those having negative smoking habit.
Conclusion: The increase in the concentrations of MDA and TC levels and the decreases in the
concentration of vitamin C in welder workers with advancing age or with the increase of duration
revealed that those subjects were at high risk of oxidative stress which might lead to increase the
incidence of many cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases. This effect had not been seen as soon as
possible due to the increased in HDL-C level.

This study aimed to know the levels of serum ceruloplasmin (Cp), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) and
Cu/Zn ratio concentrations in different type of malignancy and to clarify the relation ships of those
parameters when used as a markers for detection the severity of malignancy.
Study design: A prospective case-control study, conducted through a period of 8 months, from
October 2000 to May 2001, during which 184 patients admitted to the Surgical Ward of Basrah
General and Teaching Hospitals.There were 100 patients with different types of malignancy including
43 patients with gastro intestinal tract cancer (GIT), 18 females having breast cancer, 18 patients with
urinary system malignancy and the reminder 21 patients having other types of malignancy. The other
84 patients suffered from surgical ailments other than malignancy serve as a control group.
Venous blood sample was collected from each patient for measurement Cp, Cu, Zn, and Cu\Zn ratio
by using standard methods.
Results: Serum (Cp) level was significantly elevated (P‹0.05) in all types of malignang with respect to
age (less than 45 years and between 45-65 years olds), sex, smoking and nutritional habit when
compared with non malignant patients.
Serum Cu concentrations not-significantly elevated (p>0.05) in all types of malignant patients in
comparison with non malignant subjects. There was significant increase in its levels in specific type of
malignant and within specific limits including age mainly less than 45 years, smoking and nutritional
habit, particularly among those consuming fruits and vegetables 3-5\week.
Serum Zn levels showed significant decrease (p>0.05) in malignant patients according to age,
sex, smoking and nutritional habits mainly in patients characterized by less frequent intake of fruits and
vegetables less than 3 times per week.
Serum Cu\Zn ratio was highly significantly elevated (p>0.05) in all types of malignancy with
respect to age, sex, smoking and nutritional habit particularly those consuming fruits and vegetables
frequency >3 times and 3-5 times per week.
Conclusion: On the basis of this study, it can be concluded that, substantial differences in those
parameters studied in malignant and-non malignant patients and in different types of malignancy were
important and useful for the measurement of the severity of malignancy.

Objectives: (a) To determine the differences in lipid profile parameters between thalassemia major
(TM) patients not taking desferroxamine (DFO) who show signs of iron overload (IOL) and those wellcontrolled TM patients on DFO therapy.
(b) To determine the effects of age and BMI on measured parameters in both groups.
Subjects and Methods: The study was conducted in Thalassemia Center at Ibn-Al-Atheer Pediatric
Hospital in Mosul from October 2007 to April 2008. Twenty patients with TM were selected as follows:
Ten patients on DFO therapy with no signs of IOL and ten TM patients not on DFO therapy and
showing signs of IOL. Data were presented as mean ± SD; independent samples t-test was used in
comparing both groups, while effects of age and BMI on measured parameters were determined by
using Pearson correlation.
Results: Total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), Very low density lipoprotein (VLDL-C), low density
lipoprotein (LDL-C) and atherogenic index (AI) showed significant increase in IOL group, while serum
high density lipoprotein (HDL-C) showed significant reduction in IOL group, when compared to the
second group. Age and BMI show no significant correlation with measured parameters in wellcontrolled group, while in IOL group, BMI showed positive correlation with LDL-C and AI.
Conclusion: Significant changes in lipid profile parameters were seen in TM patients not taking DFO
therapy and showing signs of IOL compared to those well-controlled patients on DFO therapy.