Prevalence of childhood maltreatment among college students in Erbil, Iraq

Child maltreatment has not been adequately researched in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. In a cross sectional study to measure the frequency of different forms of maltreatment in childhood and its related factors, 275 college students from Erbil, Iraq were assessed for a history of childhood abuse using a questionnaire adapted from the Childhood Maltreatment Interview Schedule-Short Form. Of the students, 20.0% had a history of exposure to at least 1 type of childhood maltreatment in the form of physical [6.5%], emotional [16.4%] and/or sexual [2.9%] abuse. Neglect of their basic needs during childhood was reported by 19.0% of students. Childhood abuse was significantly more common among students coming from homes with domestic violence. Male students were significantly more likely to be left alone at home 4 times or more during childhood than were females [26.4% versus 18.8%]. Childhood physical and emotional abuse and neglect is a problem in this community and there are significant correlates with the occurrence of intimate partner violence

Comparative study between trans vaginal sonography, saline infusion sonography and hysterosalpingography in diagnosis of uterine cavity diseases as compared to diagnostic hysteroscopy in infertile women

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of hysterosalpingography, saline infusion sonography and transvaginal sonography as compared to hysteroscopy in diagnosis of uterine cavity abnormalities in infertile women of more than one year. This study included 60 infertile patients with no malefactor, all patients were subjected to hysterosalpingography, saline infusion sonography, transvaginal sonography and hysteroscopic examinations post-mentsturally to evaluate the uterine cavity. Zagazig University Hospital and Cytogenetic unit. Eight patients were excluded from this study due to different causes and only 52 patients continued in this study. As regard to the polypoid lesions, hysterosalpingography [HSG] showed low diagnostic value 51% sensitivity with 28.7% positive predictive value [ppv], transvaginal sonography had intermediate diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity 75.3% and ppv was 75.3%, while saline infusion sonography had sensitivity and PPV of 100% .In cases with intrauterine adhesions poor results were obtained with transvaginal sonography, however the best results were obtained by saline infusion sonography as the sensitivity and ppv were 76.1% and 43.2% respectively. As Regard to uterine malformation, hysterosalpingography had low sensitivity 43.3% and high specificity 96.2%, while transvaginal sonography and saline infusion sonography demonstrated 100% specificity and 100% ppv. Saline infusion sonography had a diagnostic accuracy of 100% for endometrial hyperplasia while HSG had a poor value. Transvaginal sonoogaphy had sensitivity of 67.6% with PPV of 67.1% in diagnosis of endometrial hyperplasia. Saline infusion sonography was the most accurate diagnostic method for polypoid lesions and endometrial hyperplasia as compared to hysterosalpingography and transvaginal sonography. Its diagnostic accuracy was the same as that of hysteroscopy, but with limitted value in diagnosis of intrauterine adhesions

Evaluation of selective oestrogen receptor modulators [raloxifene] on bone mineral density, serum lipids and uterine endometrium in early postmenopausal women

This study was to evaluate the effect of the second generation selective oestrogen receptor modulator [SERMs], raloxifene, on bone mineral density, serum lipid concentrations, and endometrial thickness in 100 postmenopausal women. The women were divided into two equal groups of 50 women each, and were randomly assigned to receive 60 mg of raloxifene or placebo daily for 24 months. This study revealed that women receiving [SERMs], raloxifene had significant increases from base-line values in bone mineral density of the lumbar spine, hip, and. total body, whereas those receiving placebo had decreases in bone mineral density. Serum concentrations of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol decreased in the raloxifene group, whereas serum concentrations of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides did not change. Endometrial thickness were comparable in the raloxifene and placebo groups at all times during the study. The proportion of women receiving raloxifene who reported hot flashes or vaginal bleeding were not different from that in women receiving placebo. Selective oestrogen receptor modulator [SERMs] Raloxifen at a dose 60mg per/day increases bone mineral density, lowers serum concentration of total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, while has no effect on the endometrium or the breast