bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of intralesional platelets-rich plasma injections on oral lichen planus lesions and salivary interleukin-8
Authors: Asal Haider A , Diajil Ameena Ryhan , Al-Asady Furqan Mohammed
Published: May 2024

Background:

Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic inflammatory disease of oral mucosal surfaces.

Objective:

The aim of this study was to determine if salivary IL-8 levels changed after autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy and to assess its therapeutic effects on OLP.

Materials and Methods:

For each patient, demography, social, medical, and medication history was recorded. Before receiving 0.5 mL of PRP for each square centimeter of lesion, each patient was examined for phenotype, color, size, and site of OLP lesions. Patient’s salivary samples were taken between 8 and 11 AM. Three to four milliliters of saliva was obtained from each patient. ELISA kit for IL-8 using a sandwich-ELISA technique, to measure salivary IL-8 before and after PRP injections. Each patient had signed a consent form to participate in this study.

Results:

Thirteen OLP patients took part in this study, six males (46.2%) and seven females (53.8%). Patients were between 32 and 79 years of age, with a mean age of 60.2 ± 13.9 years. Mean salivary IL-8 was (459.94 ± 233.74 pg/mL) before PRP injections and (465.68 ± 158.30 pg/mL) after PRP injections with no significant difference; however, IL-8 was higher after PRP injections. No association was found in salivary IL-8 level in relation to color changes, signs, and symptoms; pain and burning sensation, lesion phenotype, size, and location.

Conclusion:

Majority of OLP lesions showed an increased salivary IL-8 level after PRP treatment. PRP injections relieved OLP lesions’ signs and symptoms, and turned hyperemic lesions into normal mucosal color, but lesions’ dimensions were resistant to change.
Strengthening Rural Medical Education in the Undergraduate Training Period
Authors: Shrivastava Saurabh RamBihariLal , Shrivastava Prateek Saurabh
Published: May 2024

The equal distribution of the health workforce has been identified as one of the key determinants for the attainment of health-related goals. The purpose of the current review is to identify the existing practices of rural medical education and to recommend strategies for the strengthening of the same. An extensive search of all materials related to the topic was carried out on the PubMed search engine. Keywords used in the search include rural medical education and undergraduate medical curriculum in the title alone (viz. rural medical education [ti]; rural [ti] AND undergraduate medical curriculum [ti]). Relevant research articles focusing on rural medical education and undergraduate medical curriculum published in the period 2002–2020 were included in the review. A total of 21 studies similar to the current study objectives were identified initially, and those were screened for eligibility. However, two articles were excluded owing to the unavailability of the complete version of the articles. In the current review, the articles published in only the English language were enrolled for the review. Overall, 19 articles were selected based on the suitability with the current review objectives. In general, the people living in rural settings are a vulnerable section, as they have access to the limited resources and health-care facilities. Thus, from the perspective of the rural population, the exposure of medical students to rural settings simultaneously enhances their accessibility to health-care services, which, in turn, takes us forward toward the attainment of universal health coverage. In conclusion, the provision of medical education to the undergraduate students in rural settings is the need of the hour both for producing a competent medical graduate and for meeting the health-related needs of the vulnerable rural population. It becomes the responsibility of the medical institutions to ensure that all the medical students are posted in rural settings as a part of their training and are encouraged to serve the rural population.
Personal Protective Equipment for Frontline Health-Care Workers During COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Swain Santosh Kumar , Jena Pragnya Paramaita
Published: May 2024

The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has thrown health systems indiscriminately across the globe into turmoil. The important route for the spread of COVID-19 is through aerosolized droplets that are expelled at the time of coughing, sneezing, or breathing, but there are also concerns for possible airborne transmission. COVID-19 pandemic has placed an unprecedented stress on the health-care system. Sudden increase in demand and limited availability of personal protective equipment (PPE) is making risks on health-care workers, which hamper their ability for effective management of the patients. Several health-care workers are dying in this global outbreak because of the improper protective measures during performing the high-risk procedures. Limited availability of the vaccine to health-care workers in all parts of the world and inadequate supply of proper therapeutic agents, such as personal protective measures, among health-care workers for restricting the COVID-19 spread are an important requirement. Regardless of the debate among the medical community for the use of PPE, a greater number of countries in the world are moving ahead with recommendations or mandates for using PPE in clinical interventions or caring for the COVID-19 patients. Some have attributed the death of health-care workers to inadequate supply of the PPE. However, there are some concerns about the improper use of PPE by the health-care workers. Policy makers, government, and health experts have increased the importance of manufacturing more PPE for the safety of the health-care professionals particularly frontline workers for COVID-19 patients. This review article provides an overview of PPE for frontline health-care workers in the COVID-19 pandemic.
Determine school principals’ satisfaction toward school health services provided by primary health care centers in Al-Numaniyah District, Iraq
Authors: Washi Ghassan Abdameer , Saadoon Naji Yasser
Published: May 2024

Background:

The delivery of school health services (SHS) is commonly considered to be one of the more crucial parts of the health program in schools, and they are responsible for the students’ overall health.

Objectives:

To determine satisfaction of elementary school principals toward school health services provided by primary health care centers (PHCCs). Also, to identify the relationship between satisfaction of elementary school principals their socio-demographic characteristics.

Materials and Methods:

A cross-sectional study design consisting of 133 school principals selected by convenient sample distributed on six main PHCCs at Al-Numaniya District from July 5, 2022 to January 25, 2023. Questionnaire was created and prepared to be used for the study’s aim after having revised the literature and comparable research data were collected by interviewing school principals.

Results:

The study showed 64.7% of the school principals expressed a moderately satisfied and 26.3% of the school principals expressed satisfied while only 9.0% expressed unsatisfied regarding elementary school health services in PHCCs.

Conclusions:

The study concludes that overall satisfaction of school principals were moderate regarding school health services in PHCCs and there is a significant relationship between satisfaction of school principals and their socio-demographic characteristics (age and training).
Severe Systemic Allergic Reaction after Topical Application of Mupirocin
Authors: Mishra Adesh , Mishra Mithilesh
Published: May 2024

Mupirocin (MUP) is a natural derivative of crotonic acid extracted from Pseudomonas fluorescens. This antibiotic has a unique chemical structure and mechanism of action.It is often used topically for the treatment of cutaneous infections to prevent skin and soft tissue infections caused by S. aureus isolates and where the MRSA isolates are epidemic. Furthermore, MUP may be used as a choice drug for nasal decolonization.Despite some side effects, mupiro¬cin has been reported to be safe and to cause allergic reactions in only extremely rare cases. This paper is a report on a rare case of severe systemic allergic reaction resulting from treatment with mupirocin ointment in a 39 year old male patient who had a history of burn injury.
Implementation of AETCOM Module in Indian Settings
Authors: Shrivastava Saurabh RamBihariLal , Shrivastava Prateek Saurabh
Published: May 2024

The making of a medical professional is a complex task and essentially requires a combination of a number of activities. The present review was carried out to explore the implementation of attitude, ethics and communication (AETCOM) module related teaching and assessment in medical colleges in Indian settings. An extensive search of all materials related to the topic was carried out in the PubMed search engine, and a total of 28 articles were selected based on the suitability with the current review objectives and analyzed. Keywords used in the search include attitude, ethics communication, medical students, and medical education in the title alone. In order to bridge this gap, the regulatory body has introduced the AETCOM module in the undergraduate curriculum. The topics in the AETCOM have been divided into different modules, which gradually becomes complex as the students move from the first phase to the subsequent phases. The assessment of the AETCOM competencies can be done through the use of a wide range of methods. However, the successful implementation of the same will immensely depend on the faculty development programs. To conclude, in order to accomplish the national vision to produce a competent graduate who can meet the health-care needs of the society, the phase-wise introduction of AETCOM module is a significant step. This calls for the need to adopt a systematic approach to effectively schedule and cover the assigned topics, thereby guiding the students on the path toward becoming community physicians.
The Experience of a Middle Eastern Smoking Cessation Program
Authors: Koubaissi Salwa A. , Jawhar Sarah , Romani Maya , Honein Gladys , Degheili Jad A. , Kanj Nadim
Published: May 2024

Introduction:

Almost one-third of the Lebanese population are active smokers, with limited knowledge about their attitudes toward existing smoking cessation interventions. This study aims at exploring the facilitators and barriers facing a smoking cessation program (SCP) in a Lebanese tertiary referral center from the providers’ perspective.

Materials and Methods:

This is a qualitative study comprising a focus group discussion (FGD) among five practitioners from the SCP. The data collected were then transcribed and summarized by coding, simplifying, and transforming the raw data into major themes and subthemes as per the Miles and Huberman method of organization.

Results:

Facilitators and barriers fell under three subthemes: (1) participant factors, (2) provider factors, and (3) system factors. Facilitators included motivation and concerns about health among patients, in addition to increased behavioral support from providers. Meanwhile, barriers were much predominant and included stress factors and nicotine addiction among patients, time constraints among providers, lack of an effective referral system, inaccessibility, and unavailability of pharmacotherapy as well as a pro-smoking environment with weakly enforced tobacco legislation.

Conclusion:

Our findings implicate the need for multilevel strategies to help improve smoking cessation interventions. Addressing identified barriers is of paramount importance to help develop effective, accessible, and culturally specific tobacco treatment.
Medical, Pharmaceutical, and Biomedical Applications of Chitosan
Authors: Jasim Rasha A. F.
Published: May 2024

Chitosan is a biopolymer chitin derivative discovered in 1811 by Henri Braconnot, and it was first used in 1985 by Charles Rouget. It is produced via the deacetylation of chitin (the natural component of the arthropods exoskeletons and the fungal cell wall). The unique solubility and the chemical and biological characterization of chitosan attracted more scientific and industrial attention, specifically in the past 20 years. Its properties depend on the degree of deacetylation and its molecular weight. Therefore, recently, different forms of chitosan (solutions, suspension, gels/hydrogels, sponges, microparticles/nanoparticles, membranes and films, fibers/nanofibers) and its derivatives have been used in many fields. It has a wide range of applications in various fields, such as medicine, industry, agriculture, and commercial research. Medicinally, because of its biocompatibility, biodegradability, nontoxicity, natural origin, and similarity with human macromolecules, chitosan is widely used in pharmaceutical applications, antimicrobial applications, gene delivery, gene therapy, wound healing and burns, regenerative medicine, tissue engineering, cancer applications, dermatology, ophthalmology, dentistry, biosensors, as well as bioimaging, support for immobilized enzymes, and veterinary medicine. In this review, some medicinal applications of chitosan will be highlighted.
The incidence of ulnar nerve subluxation in patients with ulnar neuropathy at the elbow and healthy control: A clinical, electrodiagnostic, and ultrasonographic study
Authors: Kadhim Zahid Mohammad , Edan Ban Jabir
Published: May 2024

Background:

Ulnar neuropathy at the elbow is a common presenting disorder in neuromuscular medicine. Patients suffer from paresthesia in the 4/5 finger, pain at the elbow, and weakness and atrophy in advanced cases.

Objective:

This study aimed to find the incidence of ulnar nerve subluxation in patients with ulnar neuropathy at the elbow.

Materials and Methods:

This is a case-control study conducted in Al-Sadiq teaching hospital at the period of January 2018–August 2022. It included 84 patients diagnosed with ulnar neuropathy at the elbow by history, clinical examination and electrodiagnostic testing. All patients and control undergo ultrasonographic examination by high-resolution ultrasound looking for ulnar nerve cross-sectional area at 3 points: (1) 7 cm proximal to medial epicondyle, (2) at the medial epicondyle, and (3) at the cubital tunnel 2-3 cm distal to medial epicondyle. Also, dynamic ultrasonographic examination were done looking for subluxation of ulnar nerve behind medial epicondyle during elbow flexion. If ulnar nerve move on the top of medial epicondyle it is considered partial and when it dislocates anteriorly beyond the tip of medial epicondyle it is considered complete subluxation.
Evaluation of Glycated Hemoglobin Results in Different Anticoagulant Materials and Methods
Authors: Abdullateef Ammar Hatem , Saleh Basil O. M.
Published: May 2024

Background:

Samples for glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) measurements should be collected in ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) tubes, and only a few studies were available for the assessment of its measurements by another anticoagulant tube. There are different methods with different principles for the measurement of HbA1c in addition to high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) standard method, and one of these methods is ion exchange chromatography (IEC) which depends on the charge differences principle.

Aim of the study:

The aim is to compare the effect of different anticoagulant additives (EDTA, lithium heparin, and sodium citrate) on HbA1c value and to compare the results of HbA1c obtained by the IEC method with those by the HPLC method.

Materials and Methods:

This case methodology study investigated the effect of different anticoagulant additives on HbA1c values on 40 diabetic patients and compared the results of HbA1c values between HPLC method and IEC method on another 40 diabetic patients.

Results:

The study showed that there were non-significant differences in HbA1c mean values among different types of these anticoagulant materials and non-significant differences in glycated hemoglobin mean values between the methods of HPLC and IEC, and sensitivity and specificity for these techniques were 97.3% and 100% and 97.1% and 100%, respectively.

Conclusion:

This study showed that HbA1c can be tested with lithium heparin or sodium citrate as an alternative to EDTA tube, and the IEC method can be used as one of the main methods for the assessment of HbA1c.
Flowcytometry Aiding Morphological Diagnosis of Mature B-Cell Neoplasm in Patients with Lymphocytosis
Authors: Abbas Husham Raad , Al-Mashta Mohammed Abdul Rassoul
Published: May 2024

Background:

Mature B-cell neoplasms (MBCNs) are a category of disorders with a broad range of clinical manifestations, pathologic features, and outcomes that share common characteristics. They originate from the B-cell lineage, are clonal, and have the immunophenotypic and genetic features of mature B-cells. Flow cytometry (FC) is a widely used method for diagnosing suspected lymphoproliferative disorders in patients with lymphocytosis, lymphadenopathy, and other lymphoproliferative disorders.

Aim:

To evaluate the role of FC in confirming the provisional morphologic diagnosis in patients with MBCNs.

Materials and Methods:

This is a retrospective; descriptive study conducted on 193 adult patients newly diagnosed with MBCNs; immunophenotypic findings of the patients were reviewed. The B lymphocytes were identified according to their Side-Scattered/CD19 distribution.

Results:

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) was the most common subtype (127, 65.9%). Splenomegaly was noted more frequently in hairy cell leukemia variant cases (85.7%) and hairy cell leukemia cases (75%). The anemia at presentation was the least frequent in CLL (20%). The CD5+/CD23+ phenotype of CLL was seen in 114 cases (90%); negativity for FMC7 showed high sensitivity (93.7%) and sufficient specificity (60%) in the diagnosis of CLL.

Conclusions:

It is difficult to diagnose B-chronic lymphoproliferative disorders solely based on morphologic findings. Consequently, FC findings combined with clinical, hematologic, and morphologic features can confidently result in a precise diagnosis.
Detection of exopolysaccharides (algD, pelF, and pslD) genes in burn wound Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates
Authors: Alwan Zeena Hadi Obaid , Lilo Rafal Ahmed , Al-Taee Zahraa M , Mohsen Liqaa Y , Al-Alaq Farah Tareq
Published: May 2024

Background:

Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm is an essential component of virulence that plays a significant role in antimicrobial resistance and chronic burn wound infections.

Objective:

This study aimed to investigate the biofilm formation capacity of P. aeruginosa isolated from chronic burn wound from January to May 2022 by biochemical and molecular techniques.

Materials and Methods:

Quantification of biofilm was performed based on tube method for local isolates of P. aeruginosa after growing on brain heart Broth. The genes encoding exopolysaccharides (algD, pelF, and pslD) were targeted by using conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Results:

The results showed that 92.6% of isolates were biofilm former, interestingly 68% of isolates were considered as strong former comparing with other biofilm categories. Gel electrophoresis result of PCR products presented clear bands for algD and psID genes with percentages (96%) and (3.7%) respectively. However, there was no PCR product for pelf gene among all isolates.

Conclusion:

The prevalence of algD, the large operon necessary for alginate production, was high among P. aeruginosa biofilm producer in this study and it can be an essential agent in the pathogenicity of P. aeruginosa burn wound infections comparing with other biofilm genes (pelF and pslD) of exopolysaccharide structure.
Causes and Treatment of Complete Denture Staining
Authors: Al-Jammali Zainab Mahmood , Murshidy Hanan Ali Al , Al-Yasiry Anas Moez
Published: May 2024

Complete dentures are constructed for elderly patients commonly and are specific for patients who are young but have deformed teeth congenitally. Loss of teeth may occur due to trauma, dental diseases, or pathology. The denture hygiene can be improved by polishing of denture's tissue surface, but this polishing should not affect the prosthesis retentions. If the dentures are not washed regularly, they will have a tendency to accumulate plaque and stains. In this review article, we explan about causes of staining of complete denture and some of methods that are used to clean the denture. The purpose of this article was to review various methods and the materials used for cleaning dentures for geriatric denture wearers.
Association of Tuberculosis with Diabetes and Anemia
Authors: Rathi Anurag , Patil Bharat Umakant , Raut Abhishek
Published: May 2024

Background:

According to the World Health Organization, there were 10.4 million cases of tuberculosis (TB) in 2017 and 1.8 million deaths. The highest prevalence is in Asia, where China, India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Pakistan collectively make up over 50% of the global burden. India ranks second in the total number of patients who have diabetes. While the national prevalence of diabetes mellitus in India is estimated at 7.3%, it is higher at 11.2% in urban regions.

Objectives:

The aim is to determine the association of pulmonary TB with diabetes and anemia.

Materials and Methods:

A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary care rural hospital in central India. The study population was recruited from the DOTS center in the hospital. Complete blood count and blood sugar were carried out.

Results:

Among 162 patients, 31 were TB-positive. Anemic patients were more significantly at higher odds (odds ratio [OR]=15.18, 95% confidence interval [CI]=3.5, 66.2) of having TB than non-anemic patients. Similarly, diabetic individuals had higher odds (OR=2.3, 95% CI=0.64, 8.1) than non-diabetic individuals for TB, but this association was not statistically significant.

Conclusion:

In this study, we found a significant association between anemia and TB. Also, there is a probable association between diabetes and TB. So, we suggest that every TB patient be screened for anemia and diabetes.
Evaluation and Challenges of a Smoking Cessation Program in the Eastern Mediterranean Region
Authors: Koubaissi Salwa A. , Jawhar Sarah , Romani Maya , Honein Gladys , Degheili Jad A. , Kanj Nadim
Published: May 2024

Introduction:

Given the lack of studies on tobacco cessation interventions in the Eastern Mediterranean region, this paper presents findings from a smoking cessation program (SCP) in a tertiary referral center. The aim is to evaluate the predictors, facilitators, and barriers associated with successful smoking cessation from both participant and provider perspectives.

Materials and Methods:

A mixed-method approach was used. Part 1 was a retrospective cross-sectional quantitative study with a telephone-based survey conducted on a sample of 47 patients enrolled in the SCP between March 2014 and August 2017. Part 2 was a qualitative study comprising a focus group discussion among five practitioners from the SCP.

Results:

Only 37% reported being adherent to the prescribed treatment and 74.5% reported receiving behavioral counseling. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, adhering to pharmacotherapy increased the odds of being a quitter at 1 and 6 months after quit date (QD), whereas completing behavioral counseling increased the odds of being a quitter at 1, 6, and 12 months after QD. Point prevalence abstinence at 1 month and prolonged abstinence at 6 and 12 months after QD were 42.2%, 32.6%, and 24.4%, respectively. The overall relapse rate reached 62.5%. Facilitators and barriers fell under three subthemes: (1) participant factors; (2) provider factors; and (3) system factors. The most common barriers for non-compliance to the program were stress factors, nicotine addiction, accessibility and availability of pharmacotherapy, cost of the program and medications, and time restrictions.

Conclusion:

Adherence to pharmacotherapy and receiving behavioral counseling increase the odds of smoking abstinence maintenance. Success or failed cessation is influenced by several underlying factors operating on multiple levels and understanding them might help improve tobacco cessation interventions.
Impact of Different Surface Treatments on Zirconia Strength
Authors: Azeez Sazan M. , Salih Shatha A.
Published: May 2024

Background:

Intraoral polishing of zirconia surfaces had led to a significant increase in the surface smoothness and flexural strength of zirconia after surface modifications in the try-in procedure; this is a straightforward procedure and does not need any laboratory interventions.

Objectives:

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different surface treatments on yttrium-stabilized zirconia restorations.

Materials and Methods:

In this study, 36 disk-shaped specimens from zirconia blocks were milled using a CAD-CAM machine with 12 mm diameter and 1.4 mm thickness for 27 disks; however, 12 mm diameter and 1.2 mm thickness were used for nine disks as a control group. They were sintered and glazed according to the manufacturer's instructions. The control group (GA) remained untouched, whereas the other specimens were ground with a diamond rotary instrument. The final dimension was 12 mm in diameter and 1.2 ± 0.1 mm in thickness. The disks were divided into three groups: Grinded group (GB) without any additional surface treatment; reglazed group (GC) by adding glaze material; and polished group (GD), polished with an intraoral polishing kit. The specimens were subjected to a biaxial flexural strength (BFS) test. Data were statistically analyzed using one-way analysis of variance and least significant difference (LSD) significant difference tests (a = 0.05).

Results:

Descriptive statistics shows that the highest BFS was recorded for the GD followed by GB, and both GA and GC show nearly similar values. The LSD tests revealed that there was a statistically significant difference between GD and GA (P < 0.05), GD had significantly increased the BFS value after being polished compared with other groups, and there was a statistically significant difference between GB and GA (P < 0.05). However, there was no statistically significant difference between GC and GA (P = 0.494).

Conclusion:

Grinding and polishing techniques significantly increased the flexural strength of full-contoured zirconia, whereas reglazing significantly decreased it.
Impact of COVID-19 on Maternal and Child Health Services
Authors: Pareek Shatrughan , Kaur Hardeep
Published: May 2024

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreaks caused a significant mortality and morbidity at a global level. Maternal and child health (MCH) services are one of the most affected services during the pandemic. Maternal health is an essential component of high-quality maternal care, according to the WHO framework for the quality care for pregnant women and newborns. The aim of this study was to provide a review of COVID-19 impact on MCH services. The Web of Science, Scopus, Google Scholar, and PubMed databases were systematically searched. Articles reporting MCH services, COVID-19, and coronavirus were included for assessment. The initial search resulted in 106 records. After the primary screening of titles, abstracts, and full texts and removing duplicates, 11 articles were selected and included in this review study. The findings revealed that the range of projected maternal mortality and child mortality was 1.3%–38.6% and 9.8%–44.7%, respectively. Additionally, the review highlighted that there is a huge impact of COVID-19 on the utilization of reproductive, maternal, and newborn health services. Moreover, the study also reported huge increases in maternal mental health issues, such as clinically relevant anxiety and depression. There is a need to identify the factors and the prompt management of maternal health services during COVID-19. Hence, clinicians should maintain reproductive and maternal care and MCH during any pandemic.
Seroprevalence of Hepatitis C Virus in Voluntary Blood Donors at a Tertiary Care Hospital, Ahmedabad, India
Authors: Tahiliani Henisha Tulsidas , Purohit Asha Poonamchand , Prajapati Vipul Bachubhai , Jarwani Puja Bhavesh
Published: May 2024

Background:

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the most common cause of post transfusion non-A, non-B hepatitis worldwide. The prevalence of HCV in blood donors in high-income countries ranges from 0.002% to 0.05%, in middle-income countries ranges from 0.03% to 0.80%, and in low-income countries, prevalence varies from 0.50% to 2.23%.

Objectives:

The objectives of this study are to assess the seroprevalence and the trend of HCV in healthy voluntary blood donors at a tertiary care hospital in Ahmedabad over a period of 3 years.

Settings and Design:

Observational, retrospective study.

Materials and Methods:

During January 2017 to December 2019, 9477 voluntary blood donors were tested for the presence of anti-HCV antibody by using a 3rd-generation enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test.

Statistical Analysis Used:

Data were statistically analyzed by using the Chi-square test, and Chi-Square test for linear trends using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software trial version 19.

Results:

Out of 9477 voluntary blood donors, 9229 (97.38%) donors were male and 248 (2.62%) were female. Ten donors (0.11%) were positive for anti-HCV. All seropositive donors were male. Out of total 0.11% seropositive donors, maximum (0.07%) were within the age group of 21–30 years. Seroprevalence of HCV showed a statistically significant decreasing trend over 3 years.

Conclusion:

Hepatitis C is a common cause of transfusion-related hepatitis. Early identification of persons with chronic HCV infection would enable infected persons to receive the necessary care and treatment to prevent or delay the onset of liver disease.
Contamination of Fresh Vegetables with Protozoan Parasites, in Duhok City, Kurdistan Region of Iraq
Authors: Abdullah Arshad Mohammad
Published: May 2024

Background:

Vegetables are essential for the human body and they constitute the main daily consumed diet. However, vegetable consumption is one of the main routes of transmission of intestinal parasites in humans.

Objective:

This study aimed to investigate parasites that caused vegetable contamination in Duhok city, Kurdistan region of Iraq.

Materials and Methods:

In the current study, from June 2021 through August 2021, a total of 166 samples of fresh vegetables were collected from several markets in different places of Duhok city. Samples were examined microscopically for parasitic investigation.

Results:

It was shown that 10.2% of vegetables were contaminated with parasites, but with no significant margin between contaminated and non-contaminated vegetables (P value = 0.81). The parasitic contamination was detected in lettuce (15%), parsley (14.3%), and radish (14.3%), with no parasitic contamination in both carrot and cucumber. Three types of parasites were detected in vegetable samples; they were in the order of 5.4% for Entamoeba spp., 4.2% Giardia lamblia, and 1.2% Balantidium coli.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, the present study identified fresh vegetable contamination with protozoan parasites in moderate rate, which can play an important role in the transmission of pathogenic intestinal parasites.
Bridging the Gap in the Delivery of Cancer Care in Low- and Middle-Income Nations
Authors: Shrivastava Saurabh RamBihariLal , Shrivastava Prateek Saurabh
Published: May 2024

Cancer continues to be one of the global causes of concern, as each year the number of reported cases continues to rise. The available global trends of cancer are a clear indicator of the fact that people are deprived of cancer care and it is predominantly because of the inequality and inequity, which has become an undeniable aspect. Acknowledging the impact of cancer on the individual, family, and the community in terms of impairment in the quality of life and financial load, it is the responsibility of the policy makers to improve the delivery of cancer care. This calls for the need that international welfare agencies and funding partners should join their hands together with an aim to strengthen the prevention, care, and research and development domain of cancer care, especially in low-resource settings. To conclude, despite being a global cause of concern, the care offered to cancer care patients has not been uniform worldwide and a wide range of disparities have been observed. There arises the need to take concerted actions to ensure the delivery of comprehensive care to cancer patients with an intention to minimize their suffering and improve their prognosis.
Single-fiber Electromyography in Patients with Diabetic Neuropathy
Authors: Kadhim Zahid Mohammad , Ajeena Ihsan Abood , Al-Maamory Moahmmed Jaber
Published: May 2024

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is the most common microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus. Clinically, it affects the most distal extremities, first resulting in a stock and glove pattern of sensory loss. It affects both small fibers (myelinated and unmyelinated) and large myelinated nerve fibers. However, the earliest manifestations might be due to small fiber dysfunction. The diagnosis of DPN relies largely on typical history and physical examination and supported by the conventional nerve conduction study (NCS) and electromyography (EMG). However, a large number of cases might be missed from diagnosis due to small fiber involvement that manifests before large fibers. This necessitates the use of other diagnostic strategies such as single-fiber EMG, which is helpful in deciphering small fiber dysfunction and DPN earlier than NCS.
A comparison of suprapubic percutaneous versus transurethral approach for the treatment of vesical stone in male patients: prospective clinical trial
Authors: Almarzooq Wadhah A , Yahya Salam Abd Elameer , Al-Humairi Ameer Kadhim , Shubbar Abdulridha Mohammed-Ali
Published: May 2024

Background:

Urolithiasis can affect all parts of the urinary tract (kidneys, ureter, urinary bladder, urethra, and even the prostate). The disease is usually symptomatic; however, a symptomatic disease can occur in some cases; vesical stones account for approximately 5% of urinary tract calculi.

Objectives:

In the present study, we try to compare two different techniques for endoscopic surgical treatment of vesical stone (transurethral versus percutaneous).

Materials and Methods:

This work involved 37 male patients with vesical stones; those patients split into two groups, the first treated by transurethral vesicolithotripsy while Group 2 (G2) treated by suprapubic vesicolithotripsy using pneumatic lithoclast system in both groups. Patients in both groups have been compared regarding operative time, stone clearance, postoperative hematuria, hospital stay, and some other parameters.

Results:

There was no clinical significance regarding the sizes and the number of vesical stones between the two groups of patients. The study showed the operative time was significantly shorter in G2 than in Group (G1); in addition to that postoperative hematuria was little in G2 than in G1. Stone clearance was also significantly higher in G2 than G1.

Conclusion:

We conclude that the suprapubic approach is better than transurethral approach for the treatment of vesical stones in male patients due to its higher efficacy and shorter operative time.
Choice of Rotary Instrument Usage among Endodontists and General Practitioners—A Questionnaire Survey
Authors: Azeez Sazan M.
Published: May 2024

Objectives:

The aim of this article is to evaluate attitude among dental practitioners in Erbil/Iraq toward the use of hand and rotary endodontic instruments and to evaluate whether there is any relation regarding the preference in using a specific type of instrument with the level of specialization and clinical practice when performing root canal treatments (RCTs).

Materials and Methods:

It was a cross-sectional questionnaire study conducted in Erbil, Iraq. A total of 111 dentists participated in this study; data regarding the information about demographic details of dental professionals, years of experience, and number of RCTs done per week by dental professionals were obtained. The use of rotary and hand instruments by dental professionals was inquired. Procedural problems with rotary instruments faced by dental professionals and reasons for not using the rotary instruments if any were also recorded. The data were submitted to descriptive analysis, and associations were tested with χ2 test and Fisher's exact test using SPSS software version 23. P-value was set as <0.05.

Results:

Forty-four (39.6%) of the total study samples used both rotary and hand instruments, whereas 25 (22.5%) of them used only rotary instruments for RCTs. Dentists who were using rotary instruments are facing the procedural problems of file fracture [74 (66.7%)] and those dental professionals using hand instruments are facing the procedural problems of ledge formations [55 (49.5%)]. There was no significant relationship between using a specific type of instrument and the level of specializations (P = 0.941).

Conclusion:

In conclusion, the results of this study showed that dentists preferred using both rotary and hand endodontic instruments for RCTs with no significant relation with the level of specialization regarding using specific types of instruments, and dentists experienced some procedure errors regarding both types of instruments while using them for RCTs.
Prevalence of Dysmenorrhea and its Impact on Daily Activities among Women in Babylon City
Authors: Hassan Shaimaa Alaa , Moussa Ban Amer
Published: May 2024

Background:

Dysmenorrhea is an essentially menstruation-connected problem among menstruating women worldwide and it negatively affects the quality of life. It evaluates by means of prevalence determination. These factors are not scientifically evaluated yet. Statistical studies about prevalence of dysmenorrhea, symptoms, and relieving treatments are too scant in Iraq.

Objectives:

The main objective of this study was to identify the prevalence of dysmenorrhea among menstruating women in Babylon city, Iraq, to estimate the impact of dysmenorrhea on women’s lifestyle, and to examine the coping mechanisms based on the women’s experience to reduce dysmenorrhea’s density.

Materials and Methods:

A cross-sectional study was carried out to select a random sample of 270 women in Babylon city. The mean age of the participants was 30.02 ± 8.29 years. Several questionnaires were designed to collect the data including sociodemographic characteristics, menstrual characteristics, habits and emotional factors, and relieving factors. Data were analyzed byusing the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software program, version 26.0 with P < 0.05 being considered statistically significant. All ethical procedures were taken into account.

Results:

The prevalence of dysmenorrhea was 85.9% (n = 232) after considering that it defines as abdominal pain. The finding shows that dysmenorrhea was significantly associated with duration of menstruation (P = 0.05), dizziness (P = 0.046), nausea and vomiting (P = 0.015), and fatigue (P = 0.008), skipping breakfast (0.012), and mood change (0.006). Regarding the relieving factors, the significance was reported with mostly ignoring the pain (0.001), practicing self-medication (0.022), and using home remedies to reduce the pain (0.001). However, the association with effects on daily life (P = 0.150) was reported to be insignificant.

Conclusions:

The proportion of dysmenorrhea among Babylonian women is very high and attracts attention. Skipping breakfast, ignoring the pain, never caring for a medical consult, and lacking of regular physical exercise were specified as the most active predictors of dysmenorrhea. Increasing awareness among women regarding dysmenorrhea, associated symptoms, risk factors, and relieving mechanisms were highly recommended.
Puberty and Growth Parameters of Iraqi Type 1 Diabetic Adolescents
Authors: Abdoun Dawood S. , Alabedi Rihab F. , Al-Shuwailli Sajjad H. Kadhim
Published: May 2024

Background:

Diabetes and other chronic diseases can affect linear growth and pubertal development. Poor glucose control, long duration, and younger age at onset negatively affect growth and pubertal development.

Objectives:

This study was designed to describe height, body mass index, and sexual maturation of Iraqi type 1 diabetic adolescents, and their relation to the age at diagnosis, duration of disease, and insulin dose.

Materials and Methods:

Seventy type 1 diabetic patients were involved in this cross-sectional study. Their ages ranged between 10 and 18 years with diabetes for more than 2 years. Height, weight, body mass index, and pubertal stage were assessed. Then they were correlated with insulin dose, age at diagnosis, and duration of diabetes.

Results:

There was no significant difference between male and female mean height Z score, whereas the mean body mass index Z score was significantly higher for females than for males. Most of the patients had normal height and body mass index, and only 14.3% and 4.3% were short and underweight, respectively, and there was a significant inverse correlation between duration of diabetes and height SD. Twenty-seven females had menarche. Its age ranged from 10 to 16 years, with a mean of 13.5 ± 1.44 years. Three males and three females (8.6%) had delayed puberty, and no patient had precocious, with a significant positive correlation between pubertal development and height SD.

Conclusion:

Although there is an improvement in growth parameters for Iraqi diabetic children, they are still abnormal, especially with long diabetes duration.
Analysis of Injury Impact among Peshmerga Forces during ISIS War in Duhok, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
Authors: Yousif Othman Sami , Mohammed Haval Faris , Alsheikh Dilshad D.
Published: May 2024

Background:

War with ISIS (Daesh) is plaguing the Middle East region since 2014. It had a major regional and global impact on the lives of many. Peshmerga forces are the most active and effective ground force against ISIS. The major western forces and the international communities including the United Nations back up these forces. Although the war started 4 years, till now, little is known about the injuries these forces suffer from the explosive materials on the battlefield, and even less is known about the first aid and paramedic activities on the frontlines.

Material and Methods:

Reports estimate that 8,610 peshmerga were injured and 1,466 have died since the war with ISIS started. In this study, we randomly sampled the Medical records of 100 peshmerga injuries during the 3 years ISIS war(2014 o 2017) from Duhok Emergency Hospital.

Objectives:

This study aims to provide the descriptive analyses for the injuries suffered by Peshmerga forces in Duhok region, near Mosul, ISIS's largest captured city in Iraq where the heart of the Battlefield was located.

Results:

This study also provides the information about the management lines and the outcome of these injuries. The main focus of this study is on blast and explosion injuries. It sheds the light on the line of the medical management on the battlefield and also highlights the availability of medical staff/equipment both at the frontlines and also at Duhok Emergency hospital which took care of the injured Peshmerga forces near Mosul.

Conclusion:

This study assessed the medical services and the outcome performance of wounded Peshmerga from blast injuries during the ISIS war.
Effect of levothyroxine treatment on depression among newly diagnosed cases of hypothyroidism in adolescents at a tertiary care center
Authors: Bellamkonda Mamatha , Raj D. V. Anil , Thejas Saai Ram
Published: May 2024

Background:

Depression in hypothyroidism has been studied in detail for the better part of two centuries now. The conditions share a lot of common symptoms and thus the term “brain hypothyroidism” has been used to understand the relationship better.

Objective:

The objective of this study was to study the effect of levothyroxine treatment on depression among newly diagnosed cases of hypothyroidism in adolescents.

Materials and Methods:

For this interventional study conducted between January 2021 and June 2022, cases were taken from the departments of general medicine, otorhinolaryngology, pediatrics, and psychiatry. Ninety-one individuals with diagnosed clinical hypothyroidism and no organomegaly with elevated thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) were taken and were asked to fill out the Hamilton Depression (HAM-D) Scale. The sample size came down to 64 after the initial assessment. They were treated with 25–50 μg of levothyroxine based on the body mass index and also given psychotherapy. The supplement of levothyroxine was weaned off after 12 weeks and the patients were asked to review after 4 weeks.

Results:

The average HAM-D score was found to be 21.81 before treatment and 9.71 after treatment. The average value of TSH before treatment was found to be 7.93 mIU/L and 4.32 mIU/L after treatment (P < 0.05). Depression associated with hypothyroidism in our study stood at 70.32%. After 12 weeks, the symptom score of HAM-D improved by 55.47%. In 41 out of 64 individuals, the signs of depression vanished.

Conclusion:

Depression is common in newly diagnosed cases of hypothyroidism and can be effectively managed without invasive medical intervention.
Role of point of care hemoglobin tests to get the diagnostic accuracy of anemia among the adolescent population of Jabalpur district, Madhya Pradesh, India
Authors: Singh Tej Pratap , Tomar Akanksha , Mishra Ranu Tiwari , Kasar Pradeep Kumar , Tiwari Rajesh
Published: May 2024

Background:

Public health issues involving anemia affect people of all ages. To prevent incorrect diagnosis classification, point-of-care-tests (POCTs) that are accessible in community settings must be accurate.

Objectives:

The purpose of this study was to quantify the prevalence of anemia among teenagers and to assess the accuracy and reliability of two point-of-care assays, the World Health Organization hemoglobin color scale (HCS) and the Sahli’s Method.

Methodology:

In the Jabalpur district, 600 urban and rural teenagers participated in a community-based cross-sectional survey. Both Strip and Sahli’s approaches were administered to participants at the same time. After that, a venous sample was taken for autoanalyzer testing. Statistics for accuracy and reliability were computed. The level of agreement between the POCTs and the gold standard was determined using the Altmann Bland plot and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis indicated revised cut-offs for the HCS approach.

Results:

The actual prevalence of anemia was found to be 20.5%. Sahli’s technique had the highest specificity, whereas HCS had the lowest sensitivity (52.0% and 72.9%, respectively) (86.4%). Despite the fact that the color scale is a cheap and portable approach for field studies, it has been determined that anemics are overreported. However, ROC analysis indicated specific cutoffs for various age groups that can be used for disease burden estimation studies in contexts with limited resources.

Conclusion:

For estimating hemoglobin, HCS is less effective than Sahli’s and autoanalyzer methods. We established that the HCS technique overreported anemia, while Sahli’s method had poorer levels of agreement.