Adult asthma in northern Iraq

217 patients attended the out patient department between July 1986-1989 diagnosed to have bronchial asthma depending on clinical history, physical examination and peak flow meter measurement [PEFR]. They included 98 men [45.2%] and 119 women [54.8%]. The age of onset of their first symptoms varied between 13-40 years. The duration of their symptoms ranged between few days to over 20 years. Family history was present in 64 patients [29.5%] and nasal symptoms was present in 60 patients [27.6%%]. The main presenting symptoms were day time and nocturnal dyspnea both indicating moderate to severe air way obstruction with PEFR of 300L/minute or less. The triggering factors precipitating acute attacks in their order of frequency were cigarette smoke, dust, cold weather, respiratory infection and exercise. 106 patients [48.84%] were on no regular medications and only 25 patients [11.5%] were on different types of steroids. Inhalers are underused by our patients. B2 stimulant and steroid inhalers were used in [31.5%] and [3.2%] of our patients respectively

Mineral metabolism in Diabetes mellitus

Inorder to explore mineral levels and their relation to diabetes mellitus, serum concentrations of the principle elements [Macro - elements]: Calcium, Mangesium and the serum concentration of the essential trace elements [Micro-elements]: copper and Zinc were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The subjects for this study comprised two groups: Group I: consisted of 115 maturity onset diabetes [N.I.D.D.M.] randomly taken, first diagnosed and non of them received treatment. These patients were subjected to an oral glucose load, they showed an abnormal glucose tolerance test [O.G.T.T.]. Group II: [Control group] consisted of 125 apparently healthy volunteers. All diabetic patients had significantly lower than normal serum levels of Ca, Mg, and Zn [P<0.01] and a negative correlation with serum glucose. The findings revealed a significant elevation of serum Cu [P<0.01] in diabetic patients. These observations suggest possible risk of disturbance of mineral metabolism in uncontrolled or poorly controlled diabetic patients

Pulmonary aspergilloma form northern Iraq [case report]

A 63 years old male from northern Iraq presented with productive cough, haemoptysis, clubbing of fingers and an opacity in the chest x-ray. Thorocotomy, removal of the mass and histopathological examination proved to be pulmonary aspergilloma

Accidental poisoning of children in Erbil province

This Is a retrospective study of 541 children with accidental poisoning admitted to Erbil Children Hospital in 1986, 448 children [82.8%] were between 1 and 5 years of age. Kerosine poisoning was the commonest [296 cases, 54.7%] followed by food poisoning [123 cases, 22.7%] and drugs and chemicals poisoning [122 cases, 22.6%] The male to female ratio was 1.5. The period of hospitalization was longer in cases of kerosine poisoning than in the others. The mortality rate was 2/541 [0.3%]. 364 cases [67.3%] were discharged with no complications and 175 [32.3%] took their own discharge. No seasonal variation was observed In kerosine poisoning, but 61% of food Poisoning and 34.5% of drug poisoning occurred in the summer