Risk factors for asthma among primary school children in Baghdad, Iraq

Asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases of children. To fill the gap in data concerning this disease in Iraq, we investigated the socio-demographic and other risk factors related to asthma occurrence among primary school children. A case control study was conducted in Baghdad, Iraq among primary school children aged 6-12 years, for the period between October 2000 and June 2002. Six hundred and forty-four children with asthma were investigated with a control group of 1618 children without asthma. Well-constructed standardized modified questionnaires of International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood were completed by the parents of the chosen children. From the studied risk factors, the following were found as significant risk factors for asthma development: crowding rate of >/= 5 [odds ratio [OR]=1.65, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.1 - 2.4], lower educational level of parents, prematurity [OR=1.61, 95% CI=1.003-2.59], low birth weight [OR=2.41, 95% CI=1.87-3.09], family history of asthma whether father [OR=3.86, 95% CI=2.54-5.87], or mother [OR=8.27, 95% CI=5.21-13.15] or sibling [OR=4.33, 95% CI=3.24-5.8] and environmental exposure to tobacco smoking during pregnancy or currently from both parents. On the contrary, our study failed to detect significant association for the following factors: gender, residency, type of birth, breast feeding and duration. Crowding, low parental education, prematurity, low birth weight, family history of asthma and smoking are significant risk factors for asthma development among our primary school children. Efforts must be concentrated for hygienic environment, good antenatal care and quitting smoking habits in order to overcome this health problem

Serum alanine aminotransferase level among thalassemic children infected with hepatitis C virus

Hepatitis C virus is responsible for a majority of post-transfusion hepatitis in thalassemic patients. Serum aminotransferase level is a method to assess hepatitis C virus infected patients. To determine and correlate serum alanine aminotransferase level with hepatitis C virus specific antibody, RNA positivity and genotyping among children with thalassemia major. The study was performed on 269 patients with thalassemia major. All sera were tested for Hepatitis C virus specific antibody using third generation enzyme immunoassay EIA-3 Kit. Positive sera were retested using third generation immuno blot confirmatory test Lia-Tek-III Kit. RT-PCR and DNA enzyme immunoassay DIA were performed on 78 sera to determine HCV-RNA positivity with subsequent genotyping. All sera were submitted for serum Alanine Aminotransferase level measurement. Of the 269 thalassemic children. 18167.3% were positive for Hepatitis C virus specific antibody. No significant different in mean serum Alanine Aminotransferase level were seen between anti Hepatitis C virus sero-positive 15.43 +/- 19.89 IU/L and seronegative 11.23 +/- 13.79 IU/L children [t =1.79, p>0.05]. The mean serum Alanine Aminoiransferase level among HCV-RNA positive and HCV-RNA negative samples was 40.11 +/- 24.66 IU/L and 5.95 +/- 4.46 IU/L respectively showing a significant difference [t = 6.43. p=0.0001]. Three Hepatitis C virus genotypes were detected 1a, 1b and 4 with predominance of type 4. Significant difference in the mean of serum ALT level was demonstrated among various types of Hepatitis C virus especially among those with genotype 1b [F=11.74, p =0.0001]. No significant elevation in serum transaminase level among Hepatitis C virus seropositive children with thalassemia major compared with seronegative ones. There was a significant rise in serum transaminase level among HCV-RNA positive patients especially among those with genotype 1b

Sero -prevalence of hepatitis C virus specific antibody among Iraqi hemophilia patients infected with HIV

Blood transfusion is a risk factor for acquiring Human immune deficiency virus and Hepatitis C virus infections. To estimate the sero-prevalence of Hepatitis C Virus infection among hemophilic patients infected with HIV and to demonstrate the most prevalent Hepatitis C Virus genotype. A sample of 47 HIV infected hemophilic patients was screened for anti-Hepatitis C Virus specific antibodies using a third generation enzyme immunoassay. Positive results were then confirmed by third generation immunoblot assay. Polymerase chain reaction and DNA enzyme immunoassay were performed to detect Hepatitis C Virus RNA positivity and subsequent genotyping. The sero-prevalence of anti Hepatitis C Virus - specific antibodies was 65.96%. Out of 31 HCV/HIV co infected patients, 21 [67.7%] were lacking history of blood transfusion. Four Hepatitis C Virus genotypes were detected [1a, 1b, 3a and mixed 3a and 4] with prevalence of 15.38%, 61.53%, 15.38% and 7.69% respectively. Hepatitis C Virus -1b was found to be the most frequent detected genotype among Hepatitis C Virus positive Iraqi hemophilic co-infected with HIV. Contaminated factor VIII was found to be responsible for disease acquisition

Metastatic carcinoma of unknown origin treatment with vinorelbine; gemcetabine and methotrexate

cancer of unknown primary site [UPS] is a common clinical entity; account for 5-10% of all cancer patients. Purpose: to evaluate the natural history; results of systemic treatment in patients with metastatic carcinoma of unknown origin. Patients and methods: Sample of 30 patients with metastatic carcinoma of unknown primary site [UPS] treated between March 2001 and February 2002 in Saddam University Hospital with the following regimen; administrated every 2 weeks: vinorelbine 50 mg/m2 on day I and 7; gemcetabine 1000 mg/m2 on day I and methotrexate 50 mg/m2 on day 1 and 7; the treatment continue for a total of six courses in responding patients. most of 30 patients of the study group were in middle age; with male to female 1.3:1 and adenocarcinoma were forming 66.6% of the histological types. The major site of tumor involvement was intraabdominal [liver and peritoneum], [50%]. Peritoneal aspiration was yielding in 43.3%. Partial, complete and overall response were 43,3%, 17% and 60% respectively. In general, this regimen was well tolerated. Although the sample size was small this study shows that the patients with metastatic UPS had good overall response to the combination of vinerelbine; gemcetabine and methotrexate