The Medical Journal of Tikrit University

Background: COVID-19 pandemic disease had great impact on health
status in Iraq. The pregnant women and their infants might be at higher risk
after infection by COVID-19 disease.
Aim of study: To evaluate the maternal and neonatal characteristics of
pregnant women infected by COVID-19 disease and assessing the maternal
and neonatal outcomes in Iraqi from a sample of pregnant women.
Patients & Methods: A clinical prospective follow up study carried out in
Obstetrics care unit of Al-Jamiaa health care center of Al-Adil Health sector
of Al-Karkh Health Directorate in Baghdad city-Iraq. The duration of the
study was six months through the period from 1st of July to end of
December, 2020. A convenient sample of 132 pregnant women at labour
was selected after eligibility to inclusion and exclusion criteria. The
pregnant women enrolled in the study were tested by COVID-19-Reverse
transcription polymerase chain reaction test at their admission to hospital.
The diagnosis was done by clinical and laboratory investigations including
neutophilia and lymphopenia, very high CRP, elevated D-dimer and
sometimes on extent of lung involvement by x-ray.
Results: The present study showed that 63.6% of pregnant women at labour
room had positive COVID-19 infection, while only 6 (4.5%) fetuses had
positive COVID-19 infection after delivery. There was a highly significant
association between first cesarean section of pregnant women and positive
COVID-19 infection (p<0.001). A significant association was observed
between preterm labour of fetuses and positive maternal COVID-19
infection (p=0.01). There was a significant association between meconium
aspiration of fetuses and positive maternal COVID-19 infection (p=0.001).
Conclusions: The incidence of maternal and fetal COVID-19 infection
among sample of Iraqi pregnant women presented to primary health care
center for antenatal care is high.

Intrоductiоn:,
Tһere аre numerоus situate in tһe uррer limbs in which a nerve becоmes
cоmpressed оr entrapped, between twо оther structures lоcated in the bоdy,
in sequence оtһer neurоlоgical entrарments synḋrоme cаn be seen. The
purpоse оf this survey is tо assessment аn updаte literаtures regarding
entrаpment neurоpаthies in tһe upper extremity аnd tһeir cоrrespоndences
witһ neurоmusculоskeletаl аnаtоmicаl vаriаtiоns аnd certаin clinicаl defect
Metһоds:,
analytical literаture of review's methods survey within diverse
multifariоus organized collection of data. dаtаbаses is used tо cаrfully
define affiliatiоn among nerve entrаpment аnd аnаtоmicаl disparity оf
neurо-musculоskeletаl оrganizatiоn, using an organisedstructure оf key
terms prоjected via “Cochrane Handbook For Systemic Reviews Of
Interventions”
Results:, Assess the detailed research thesis hаs been practically displayed
thаt anatоmical anоmalies оf the upper extremity, interrelated with
entrарment оf the nerve resembling cоmрressiоns regarded as being caused
by sоme tyрe оf extra muscle оr anatоmical deviatiоn in the site оf
muscular attachment. Tһis cоnfirms tһe significance knоwledge оf tһe
оrdinary аnаtоmy tо оbserve tһese structures аnd tһeir роssible disparities,
this impоrtant tо аid in preventing delаyed diаgnоsis аnd treаtment.
Cоnclusiоns: cоmpressiоn neurоpathy аre а medical indicаtiоn fоr a
patient whо attends a neurоlоgical department fоr cоnsultаtiоn. despite the
certain types оf cоmpressiоn аre eаsily diаgnоsed оr quite cоmmоn; fоr
example cаrраl tunnel neurоpаthy аnd ulnаr syndrоme аt the elbоw,
Sоmehоw оthers illnesses result frоm mоre incоmprehensible etiоlоgies
аnd require distinguishing knоwledge оf аll neurоmusculоskeletаl disоrder
which is exact imроrtаnt tо avоid iаtrоgenic impairment due tо
unanticipated аnаtоmic vаriаtiоns.

Background
Pre-eclampsia is a disorder of vascular endothelial dysfunction and
vasospasm that occurs after 20 weeks of pregnancy and may occur up to 4–
6 weeks after pregnancy. It is defined clinically by hypertension and
proteinuria with or without pathological edema. Galectin-3 is expressed in
all types of immune cells and organs in human tissues and plays an
important role in many biological processes such as inflammatory
responses, fibroids, intercellular adhesion, angiogenesis, apoptosis and cell
differentiation.
Aim of study
To evaluate Galectin-3 level in pre-eclampsia and to determine the
association with severity of pre-eclampsia.
Patients and methods
A case-control study was conducted in the department of obstetrics and
gynecology at Azadi Teaching Hospital / Kirkuk/ Iraq. The duration of
study was eight months from 1st of February till 1st of October 2021.The
study involved 90 patients, 60 preeclamptic women, and 30 (control group)
with gestational age (37- 40). Patients were admitted to the hospital for
following up their blood pressure, urine test for albumin, renal function test,
liver function test were done, between 37-40 weeks gestational age of the
pregnancy.
Results
Galectin-3 was significantly higher among pregnant women with severe
preeclampsia in comparison to mild pre-eclampsia and control groups
(p=0.0001), while no significant correlation in the mean Galectin-3
between normal and mild preeclampsia (P=0.92).
Conclusion: Serum Galectin- 3 is a marker for diagnosis of pre-eclampsia
and its severity.

Background: Covid-19 has been one of the affected countries during the
pandemic from February 2020. The majority of published research have
shown the demographic and clinical features of Covid-19 patients in
various parts of Iraq, but not in Al-Dejail district, Salah Alden Governorate.
The baseline and clinical features of hospitalized COVID-19 patients
hospitalized are described below.
Methods: This is a cross-sectional study inِ Al-Dejail Emergency and
Maternity Hospital from February 2020 until July 2020. Review of 100
admitted patients to the emergency unit was done and, the demographic and
clinical manifestations was reported in patients with COVID-19 infection.
The patients in this study were split into two groups: mild to moderate cases
(percent) and severe to critically sick cases (78 percent). In accordance, a
comparative analysis of all reported characteristics is performed.
Results: The patients' mean age was 52.25±13.9 years, with 46-55 years
being the most frequent age group. In terms of gender, smoking, or job,
there was no statistically significant difference between the mild-moderate
and seriously to critically ill groups (p > 0.05). Fever (84 percent), cough
(82 percent), dyspnea (88 percent), and GIT symptoms were the most
prevalent symptoms among the hospitalized patients. Except for obesity,
diabetes, and CT results, there were no significant changes in clinical
characteristics, co morbidities, or clinical outcomes between moderate and
severe patients.
Conclusions:
The majority of COVID-19 patients were symptomatic and were older than
previous reports ranges between 46 and 55 years. Obesity and diabetes
mellitus were discovered to be strongly associated to the progression and
severity of illness.

Malaria is a parasitic infection, caused by parasites of the genus Plasmodium and
transmitted by Anopheles mosquitoes, that leads to an acute life-threatening
disease and poses a notable global health threating . According to the World
Health Organization (WHO) data of 2019, about 228 million cases of malaria and
405,000 deaths were reported worldwide.
Due to the similarity of symptoms between malaria and COVID-19, especially
fever, difficulty in breathing, fatigue and headache of acute onset, a malaria
patient may be misdiagnosed as COVID-19 and vice versa. Moreover,
complications like acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), septic shock, and
multi-organ failure can also happen in both malaria and COVID-19. The first step
to identify a COVID-19 patient is the symptomatic screening, which consists of
shortness of breath, fever, dry cough, sore throat, headache and myalgia in a
high-risk patient like healthcare workers or patients with a history of contact with
a confirmed COVID-19 case.
Some scientists attribute the inverse relationship between COVID 19 and malaria
to the wide use of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), chloroquine (CQ) and other anti-
malarial drugs in countries that are endemic for malaria.
In conclusion, COVID-19 has a variable prevalence among countries which is
lower than expected in malaria-endemic regions. In addition to the possible role of
health infrastructure and mitigation tools adopted, Both hydroxychloroquine
(HCQ) and chloroquine (CQ) may have preventive and curative effects against
SARS-CoV-2 virus through different mechanisms, however, clinical trials are still
investigating the use of these medications as a potential treatment and preventive
measures. The lower than expected number of cases detected in Asia suggests that
the young age structure may be protective of severe and thus detectable cases.

Bckgrownd :Asthma can impair airway development and reduce
maximally attained lung function, and these deficits in lung function can
persist or extend into adulthood without further progressive loss. Asthmatic
patients are more vulnerable to infections and noncommunicable chronic
co-morbidities, which are linked to poorer asthma outcomes.
Aim: The current study aimed to assess the impact of asthma and its
treatment on children's growth parameters.
Pateint and Method: A convenient sample of 200 children in primary
school aged (6-12 years) was enrolled including a case group consisting of
100 patients who were presented with asthma; This group was subdivided
into two subgroups (50 children using steroids as a treatment and 50
children with asthma using non-steroidal therapy) and 100 healthy children
in the control group.
Results: The results of the current study showed that male constitutes the
largest percentage of the sample (56%). There was a difference between the
study groups regarding age, gender, and residency. The parent's asthma,
exposure to smoking, lower respiratory tract infection, and allergy were
confirmed as risk factors for asthma in children. The means of
anthropometric parameters, except height, were higher among asthmatic
patients with regular steroids than those with intermittent steroid use and
healthy child in the control group. The height mean was lower in asthmatic
patients with regular steroid use than those with intermittent steroid use and
healthy children in the control group.
Conclusion : There were associations between childhood asthma and its
treatment and impairment of growth parameters

Background: Preterm birth is a worldwide epidemic with a global incidence of
(5%- 15%). It is important risk factor for perinatal morbidity and mortality.
Calponin 1 is a basic smooth muscle protein that had biological process as
actinomycin structure organization and regulation of contractile function. The
uterus containing the largest volume of smooth muscle, myometrial destruction
occurs when uterine contractions start leading to increased maternal serum
calponin 1 levels.
Aim of study: To investigate the level of serum calponin 1 in maternal blood as
marker for prediction of short onset preterm labor with intact membrane within
one week.
Methods: A prospective observational study that collected in obstetrical
department of the al-yarmouk hospital in cooperation with the laboratory
department of hospital through the period from Feb till Dec 2019. It included 88
pregnant women between 28 – 36+6 gestational weeks admitted to the hospital
diagnosed as threatened preterm labor. Follow up done with each participant
admitted in hospital until the time of delivery to determine the gestational age at
delivery and record the birth interval from blood sampling till delivery, Serum
Calponin 1 level positive and negative predictive values were compared for the
prediction of short onset preterm birth within seven days or more
Results: In this study, 73.9% of the study patients were delivered within one week
after presentation. Mean of calponin 1 was significantly higher in study groups
who delivered within one week than those who delivered after one week. Serum
calponin 1 > 0.6 ng/ml is predictive for short onset preterm birth
Conclusion: Serum calponin 1 may play an important role at pregnancy as non-
invasive predictor for short onset preterm labour in cases diagnosed as threatened
preterm labour
Recommendation Further larger prospective studies are needed larger sample
size and longer duration to: confirm the standard diagnostic level of calponin 1 to
diagnosis short onset preterm labour, perform antenatal checkup and testing by
other modalities, take in consideration researches on the genetics or environmental
factors (smoking) and their role in the development of preterm labour.

Background: Anthropometry is the single most easily available,
universally applicable, does not need expertise, economical, and non-
invasive method of assessing body composition. It reflects both the health
and nutrition of human body and predicts performance, health, and
survival. Aim of the present study evaluating the efficacy of mid-arm
circumference in assessing birth weight and maturity among new born
Methodology: A cross sectional study done in Salah Aldeen general
hospital in the Tikrit city during the period from the (1st November 2021
to 1st April 2022). During the period of the study had a total of 200 neonates
were selected randomly. Each newborn was examined and mid upper arm
circumference was measured, birth weight was measured with a calibrated
digital weighing scale to the nearest 10 g.
Results: Most of the preterm babies had mid upper arm circumference of
≤9.25 cm 47(90.4%) significantly higher than the full-term babies most of
them had mid upper arm circumference of >9.25 cm 126(85.1%). The mid
upper arm circumference is good parameter for diagnosing of prematurity
with sensitivity of 90.4%, specificity (85%) and accuracy of the test was
(87%). The PPV for diagnosing low prematurity was (68%) and the
negative predictive value was (96.2%). Most of the Low birth weight babies
had MUAC of ≤9.25 cm 53(93 %) while the Normal birth weight babies
most of them had MUAC of >9.25 cm 127(88.8%) this relation was
statistically significant.
Conclusions: Mid upper arm circumference could be used as a diagnostic
tool to identify low birth weight and preterm newborns needing extra care
when taken at birth and up to day 7 of life.

Objective:
To study the percentage of success rate of transcanalicular diode LASER
assited Dacryocystorhinostomy TC-DLA-DCR in case of acquired
nasolacrimal duct obstruction(NLDO).
Method:
A thin fiber of 360 micron diameter with 918 nm diode LASER has a very
high energy at LASER tip which help in vaporization of bone and soft tissue
at low LASER power .
In our technique a thin fibro-optic pass through dilated upper or lower
punctum to the lacrimal sac and aiming beam seen through a rigid nasal
endoscope attached to a screen and once the proper position is reached the
laser is fired to ablate the bone and nasal mucosa and appropriate osteotomy
is done.
Results:
Seventy five patients (26male and 49 female)were followed from Jan. 2017
to Aug 2022 with bicanalicular intubation .follow up show absence of
epiphora and a patent nasolacrimal duct on irrigation 73 out of 75 patients.
3out 73 patients had epiphora despite a patent NLD on irrigation.
Conclusion:
980nm diode laser through 360micrometer fiber is very effective in
bone penetration and ablation.It minimally invasive, quick surgery,
can be done under local anesthesia and in patient with coagulopathy
and have a high success rate