relationship between iron status and thyroid hormone concentration among females [15 - 49] years old attending primary health care centers [PHCC] in Baghdad governorate

Several minerals and trace elements are essential for normal thyroid hormone metabolism, e.g., iodine, iron, and zinc. Coexisting deficiencies of these elements can impair thyroid function. The present study is an attempt to estimate the impact of iron deficiency anemia among women of child birth on thyroid function. The study was conducted during the period from the April to July 2009; the sample was comprised of 300 women who were between 15 to 49 years old attending the antenatal care clinics in Baghdad governorate. Cross - sectional study was carried out in six primary health care centers [PHCC], selected conveniently. The data were collected through direct interview, for each women Serum samples were collected and assayed for serum ferritin, thyroid stimulating hormone [TSH], thyroxin [T4], triiodothyronine [T3] and hemoglobin [Hb], The study showed that 30% of women were anemic; the effect of anemia on thyroid function was not clear as 98% of the studied women have normal thyroxin and only 1% has low thyroxin level while 1% showed high concentration of thyroxin level. "This research did not find any correlation between anemia markers and thyroxin concentrations. These data suggest that anemia does not influence thyroid function in our study population"

Prevalence and risk factors of iron deficiency anemia among under five year's old children attending pediatrics hospitals in Baghdad

Anemia [low hemoglobin concentration] is a late-stage indicator of iron deficiency and has serious negative consequences on health, mental development Iron deficiency anemia, remains one of the most severe and important nutritional deficiencies in the world today. Iron deficiency impairs the cognitive development of children from infancy through to adolescence. This cross-sectional study included 502 under 5 years old children attending 5 different pediatrics hospitals [Ibn Al baladi, Al Eskan, Al Aeloiyah, Al Kathomiyah and Al Mansur] in 3 health directorates [Rusafah, Kurkh and Medical city] from April to June 2009, History of anemia was determined, anthropometric measurements [Weight and height] of the children were recorded and laboratory tests were done for each child. The results show that wasting was [7.4%] and below the national average in Stunting [12.4%] and equal in underweight [9.0%] indicating that malnutrition is still a health problem in Baghdad, Three hundred and three [70.3%] out of [502] children participated in the study had anemia with a mean hemoglobin level of [9.4 gm/dL], a hundred and sixty six [33.1%] had Iron deficiency anemia, Mother's and Father's education have a statistical reliable association with Iron deficiency anemia with p-values = 0.031, 0.021 respectively, Age groups indicate an evidence of association with Iron deficiency anemia with a chi square [x[2] =13.38, df=4 and a p-value <0.05 [P=0.01]. Our definition of iron deficiency included having abnormal values for 2 of 3 tests [ZPP, TS, and SF], with high percentages of Anemia [70.3%] and IDA [33.1%] and with considerations paid to WHO categories of anemia as a public health problem; Anemia stills a ruthless health problem in Iraq that needs to pay a strict attention and multisectorial coordination

Effectiveness of zinc protoporphyrin and hemoglobin concentrations in identifying iron deficiency in a group of fewer than five-aged children

Iron deficiency anemia is known to impair cognitive and psychomotor development. Hemoglobin and zinc protoporphyrin [ZPP] tests are commonly used to screen for iron deficiency. However, little research has been done to systematically evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of these 2 tests. The aim of this study is evaluating the effectiveness of ZPP test in Identifying iron deficiency anemia in under five-year old children. These studies were approved by Nutrition Research Institute, Ministry of Health. The subjects, 195 children [62% males and 38% females], were seen in pediatric clinic during the period from April 2006 to April 2007. The children were all between 1 and 5 years of age. Iron status of the subjects was evaluated as a routine part of patient care at the clinic. Whole blood hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit ratio, and the ZPP/H [Heme] ratio were measured. The ZPP/H ratio was then evaluated as a single indicator of iron status. Ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid-anticoagulant blood had been obtained used to perform the ZPP/H test. The mean Hemoglobin concentration for the study sample size [195] was [9.9 mg/dl] and Hb test was used as the reference test to compare the effectiveness of ZPP in detecting Iron deficiency anemia, with a sensitivity of [80.6%] and a specificity of [93.1%], positive predictive value [93.5%], negative predictive value [79.4%], the ZPP appears to be an excellent test in detecting anemia. ZPP/H ratio measurement alone can detect iron anemic deficiency better than other individual tests. Because the ZPP/H ratio is a functional indicator of long-term iron status, it is an attractive screen test for deficiency. The ZPP/H ratio is a cost-effective test that is performed using as little as one drop of capillary blood

Measurement of bilirubin in the newborns by bilirubinometer

High blood concentrations of bilirubin are toxic to the brain and may cause kernicterus. Therefore, determination of bilirubin levels is performed for many newborns, and several different methods are available. We compared 2 standards used for bilirubin determination among newborns under routine conditions, to define their sequence of use. This study was carried out during the period from March 2003 and December 2006 at the Vaccine and Sera institute / Ministry of Health, Baghdad, Iraq. Bilirubin concentrations were determined with 2 standards: local standard [prepared from chemical compound which has a broad spectral absorption peak at 460 nm, this solution is stable indefinitely], and randox standard [obtained industrially by extraction of either cattle or pig bile, or bovine, and it can be isolated as light-sensitive orange-red crystals with certain "stability" about 24 hours]. A total of 100 samples were obtained. The 2 standards showed very strong correlations [correlation coefficients 0.9999] with each other; and; their means were used as comparison values. In the routine care of newborns, the measurement of total bilirubin by bilirubinometer provides better agreement with local standard than does randox and it is the first choice. Testing specimens based on human serum would provide meaningful information regarding the accuracy and precision of total bilirubin assays. The ability to grade proficiency testing participants for accuracy, using target values determined by the reference method, could become a valuable contribution toward improving the quality of bilirubin assays, which is essential for the management of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. Local standard give accurate information on bilirubin concentrations as do randox standard did, and presented the best results