role of urinary N-acetyl beta-D-glucosaminidase in children with urological problems

To assess urinary NAG/ urinary creatinine [NAG/ Cr] ratio in patients with urological abnormalities [normal and abnormal ultrasonography] and compare it with normal healthy children. A prospective study was conducted from November 2012 to April 2013. Urine samples were collected from 70 patients with various urological abnormalities, and from 40 healthy control groups, their age range [1 month-13 years]. Children who were admitted to Emergency Pediatric department, Children Welfare Teaching Hospital / Medical City Complex, Baghdad, Iraq. The Glomerular filtration rate was in normal range in all of them. Urine samples were tested for NAG by [ELISA, Cusabio, China] while, both Serum creatinine [S-Cr] and urine creatinine [U-Cr] were estimated by Jaffe's kinetic method. In this study 29% of the patients had normal ultrasonography and 72% abnormal ultrasonography. The current results revealed that NAG/creatinine index was significantly higher in all patients with [vesicoureteral reflux, hydronephrosis and pyelonephritis] in comparison with cystitis. The assessment of urinary NAG could be considered as a useful marker in prediction of the [vesicoureteral reflux, hydronephrosis] .Urinary NAG is elevated in children with pyelonephritis and it can be considered as a further criterion in the diagnosis of upper urinary tract infection

Orbital retinoblastoma: present status and future challenges-a review

Orbital retinoblastoma is a catastrophic event traditionally carrying a dismal prognosis. Although its incidence is less in the developed countries it continues to be one of the major diagnosis at presentation in the developing world. Orbital retinoblastoma encompasses a wide range of distinct clinical entities with varying tumor load. There are no standard treatment protocols as of now but the current preferred management is multimodal with a combination of initial high-dose chemotherapy, surgery, external beam radiotherapy and prolonged chemotherapy for twelve cycles. In spite of progress on all fronts including surgical, medical, diagnostic, genetic and rehabilitative with improving survival rates, however, lack of access to medical facilities, lack of education about the need for early medical attention and cultural resistance to enucleation continue to contribute to an epidemic of extra ocular disease at diagnosis in the developing world. This review introduces the various terminologies used in the spectrum of orbital retinoblastoma, discusses in details the clinical aspects and management protocols, current status and the future directions

Alterations of biochemical liver function tests in obesity

To assess the effects of obesity on liver function tests, and assess its effects on the fasting lipid profile. This study included 110 [70 obese, 40 normal weight] apparently healthy subjects in Mosul City, Northern of Iraq, aged 20-50 years. The biochemical parameters measured were liver function tests that included measurement of liver enzymes activity aspartate aminotrasferase [AST], alanine aminotrasferase [ALT], alkaline phosphatase [ALP], gamma-glutamyl trasferase [GGT], measurement of serum total, direct and indirect bilirubin, measurement of serum total protein, albumin, globulin and A/G ratio. In addition to measurement of fasting serum lipid profile that included total cholesterol [TC], triglycerides [TG], high density lipoprotein-cholesterol [HDL-C], [Non-HDL-C], low density lipoprotein-cholesterol [LDL-C], atherogenic index. The comparison of obese subjects with normal weight subjects revealed a highly significant increase in serum liver enzymes activity [AST ALT ALP, GGT] among obese subjects with p<0.001, and significant decrease in albumin and A/G ratio among obese subjects with p<0.05, while no significant difference observed in total protein, globulin, bilirubin [total, direct and indirect] between cases and controls. Lipid parameters including [TC, TG, Non-HDL-C, LDL-C and atherogenic index] have also shown highly significant increase in obese subjects with p<0.001, while HDL-C was reduced. Obesity is a major factor that contributes to the raised serum liver enzymes activity and the presence of fatty liver. Obesity is a major cause of increasing lzpid profile levels represented by increasing total cholesterol, triglycerides, Non-HDL-C, LDL-C, and atherogenic index, and reducing HDL-C level. The significant relationship between [ASL ALL GGT with TC, TG, HDL-C] suggests the important relationship between hepatocellular damage and serum lipid profile levels. Periodic checking of liver function tests and fasting lipid profile is very important in the early diagnosis and the prevention of obesity associated-liver and cardiovascular complications

RB1 gene mutations in retinoblastoma and its clinical correlation

To find correlation between the type of mutations observed and the severity of the disease using multiple techniques like polymerase chain reactions [PCR], quantitative multiplex PCR, sequencing and RNA analysis. Prospective, observational study. Patients who had been screened for mutations in the RB1 gene were included in the study. Patient details including demographic data; age and sex, laterality, international classification of intraocular retinoblastoma [ICIOR] staging, modality of management, histopathology high risk factors if the eyes were enucleated and metastasis rate were assessed. Seventy four patients were studied. Fifty three patients had bilateral and 21 unilateral disease. Complete genetic data was analyzed for 74 patients and complete clinical correlation was established for all the 49 patients with mutations. Of the total mutations identified, 11/49 [22.4%] of patients had large deletions, 12/49 [24.5%] had small deletions or insertions, 14/49 [28.6%] had nonsense mutations, 7/49 [14.3%] had splice mutations and 5/49 [10.2%] of patients had missense mutations. Four cases were familial. Group E ICIOR stage at presentation was noted in 40% of patients with large deletions, 33% with small deletions whereas 38.5% with splice mutations and 44.4% of patients with missense mutations presented with Group B ICIOR. Twenty five percentages of eyes with large deletions had high risk features on histopathology and one patient among these developed metastasis. Current laboratory testing of RB1 mutations may be feasible in determining the severity of the disease and patient counseling. The study provides a starting point for looking at correlations

Clinical and biochemical profile of alcohol users in Basra

All psychiatric and general medical male patients referred to 2 hospitals in Basra, Iraq from September 2000 to April 200l were screened using the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test. A total of 189 men were identified as having alcohol-related problems. The majority were aged 30-49 years, and two-thirds had drunk alcohol for over 10 years. About 53% of patients exceeded 1 bottle [750 mL] of spirits daily, and 14.8% reported morning drinking. Elevation of liver enzymes, hepatomegaly, jaundice and cirrhosis were identified in 46.0%. Liver cirrhosis was more common in patients drinking locally made arak. Many of the patients suffered psychiatric disorders, including anxiety disorders, depression and suicide attempts, and 80.9% took other psychoactive drugs

Evaluation of serum vitamin a levels in patients with Rhinitis

The aim of this study is to evaluate serum vitamin A levels in patients with rhinitis. A case control study concerned with 48 patients with rhinitis who underwent serum vitamin A evaluation and compared with the corresponding results of 100 apparently healthy persons as a control group. The study was carried out in Department of ENT in Al-Salam Teaching Hospital in Mosul, from April 2001 to June 2004. Vitamin A evaluation was performed in Department of Biochemistry in Mosul Medical College. The parameters analyzed included age, sex, clinical diagnosis and vitamin A measurement. The average age was 25 years with a range of 3-52 years. It was found that patients with rhinitis had significantly lower serum vitamin A levels than the control subjects. The levels were 0.292 +/- 0.099 [SD] micro mol/liter versus 0.886 +/- 0.199 [SD] micro mol/ liter, respectively. These findings prompted us to suggest a hypothesis that in rhinitis and possibly in other respiratory tract infections, a general derangement in vitamin A handling exists

Effective retrieval of drug information resources and databases for herbal medicines

In today's world, Pharmacist is asked several questions about the safe and effective use of herbal medicines. Therefore relevance and quality of information is of prime importance for health care providers and their patients. This manuscript aims at providing knowledge using databases to retrieve information and answer questions related to herbal medicines. Internet has tens of millions of sites at this point, and to find the relevant information is just like finding a needle in a haystack. In this manuscript, attempt has been made to provide a few, very useful resources which may be used as starting points by the pharmaceutical scientists for finding the desired information. Readers will learn an algorithm that can be used when answering questions relating to herbs and medicines. To find information, researchers must be able to effectively use Internet search engines, directories, subjects-oriented websites, and library catalogs. This manuscript will explain about resources related to herbal medicines, and identify skills to explore their benefits and weaknesses. Considering the high value merits of the Internet, we are sure that this system will help to update and strengthen the herbal system. The only requirement is to know the right oresources and the best way to utilize them

Investigation on the morphologic and morphometric changes in perikaryon and nucleus of spinal neuron during prenatal and postnatal life of male dogs

To study the growth process of perikaryon and nucleus of spinal neurons, 15 domestic male dogs in 5 age groups including 42-day-old fetus, 52-day-old fetus, newborn 6-month-old and adult dogs were studied. After preparation of animals, the spinal cord was dissected and then the spinal segments were studied by light and electron microscopy. The results of the present study showed that the maximum diameter of perikaryon and nucleus in all age groups belonged to the eighth cervical segment and the minimum diameter of nucleus belonged to the first coccygeal segment in 42-day-old fetus, the seventh thoracic segment in 52-day-old fetus, first coccygeal segment in newborn and the fourth thoracic segment in 6-month-old and adult animals, respectively. The minimum diameter of perikaryon in all age groups belonged to the first coccygeal segment except in 42-day-old fetus, which was related to the fourth thoracic segment

Haemolytic potential of three chemotherapeutic agents and aspirin in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency

The potential haemolytic effect of three chemotherapeutic drugs and aspirin was tested in vitro by gluthathione stability tests. Blood was collected from the local population of Basra, Iraq where previous studies had found a high frequency of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase [G6PD] deficiency. Primaquine, chloramphenicol and sulfanilamide caused significant concentration-dependent reductions of glutathione levels in G6PD-deficient red cells when compared to normal red cells. Acetylsalicylic acid had no effect on glutathione level. The G6PD-deficient erythrocytes behaved as previously reported, probably due to similar patterns in the distribution of its variants. Studies on each local variant are warranted and new drugs should be tested for haemolytic potential prior to their introduction in areas where the deficiency is common

Accidental childhood poisoning in Ramadi city

A prospective study of 239 cases of accidental childhood poisoning admitted to Ramadi Maternity and Children Hospital in Ramadi City. Over 75% of cases were within 1-3 year age group with an equal male:female ratio. Kerosene was the most common substance ingested [45.6%], followed in decreasing order by drugs [30.96%], chemicals [12.13%], and unknown [11.3%]. Ingestion occurred with no symptoms in 25.5%, and mild-moderate and server clinical manifestations were 70.5% and 4.0% respectively. Twenty-eight [11.7%] of cases required antidotes. There was 1 fatal case. It is concluded that accidental childhood poisoning is an important cause of morbidity in Ramadi City. Appropriate preventive measures are recommended

Awareness of hypertension in Basrah City: first announcement which needs action

Present study is the first announcement of the prevalence of hypertension among Basrah population and it estimates for the first time the percentage of awareness among the hypertensives to their high blood pressure. The distribution of hypertension was determined by age, Sex and body weight. In addition, risk factors such as smoking and family history were also evaluated. The WHO recommended diagnostic criteria were followed so that hypertension is defined as blood pressure measured greater than or equal to 140/90 mm Hg at the age of 20's and 160/95 mm Hg at the age of 50's or self-reported taking antihypertensive medication. Hypertension in turn was classified into mild, moderate and severe categories. The prevalence of hypertension among the total subjects [750] studied was found to be 32% and it is higher in males than in females [37% vs 27% respectively]. Blood pressure was increased with age and body weight in both males and females. Only 19% of the hypertensives were aware of their high blood pressure and the percentage of awareness correlated positively with age and severity of hypertension and it was higher in females [31%] than in males [12%]. However, only 5% of the aware hypertensives were on regular antihypertensive medications. This study estimates the size of the problem in Basrah which can provide a data base for a further epidemiological studies of hypertension in Basrah

Effect of soluble insulin administered rectally in rabbits

Soluble insulin [10U/Kg] was given rectally to eight rabbits. Blood glucose level was found to be reduced one hour after insulin administration and the maximum reduction occurred after two hours. The blood glucose level started to recover to normal level after three hours. It is recommended that the rectal route of insulin administration should be further evaluated for its potential use especially in diabetic ketoacidosis and in the maintenance therapy of insulin dependent diabetics

Iris colour, skin colour and mydriatic response

Mydriatic response to one drop of 2% homatropine applied locally into the eye was measured in subjects with different iris and skin colours. Maximum mydraisis was detected in subjects with green colour iris [7.9mm], followed by brown [6.9mm] and black [5.9mm] irides respectively. Subjects with white skin showed maximum mydriatic response [7.8mm], followed by dark [6.8mm] and black [5.2mm] skin. The majority of our local population has a dark complexion with heavily pigmented iris, therefore doses of mydriatic drugs should be adjusted according to the response. Further studies with topically applied drugs into the eye is recommebded, as well as the interaction between different drugs applied to the eye simultaneously