Impact of a Baby-Friendly hospital on breastfeeding indicators in Shaqlawa district in Erbil governorate, Kurdistan region of Iraq

This study aimed to assess the impact of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative on WHO-defined breastfeeding indicators in Shaqlawa district in Kurdistan region of Iraq. A household survey was carried out on a purposive non-probability sample of 200 mothers with a child aged < 30 months. Mothers were interviewed using a structured form to determine demographic data and feeding practices of the most recent child. The rate of early initiation of breastfeeding was 38.1%, exclusive breastfeeding was 15.4% and continued breastfeeding was 61.0% and 39.5% at 1 and 2 years of age respectively. A significant relationship was found between delivery at the Baby- Friendly accredited hospital and early initiation of breastfeeding but not with exclusive or continued breastfeeding. While continued breastfeeding at 1 year and 2 year was good, early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding indicators were not at an acceptable level, which indicates an ineffective role for the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative

Serum Lp [a] insulin levels in chronic renal failure patients

This study included 70 non-diabetic individuals, 20 apparently healthy controls and 50 uremic patients [15 on conservative treatment, 15 on peritoneal dialysis and 20 on hemodialysis]. For each subject, serum cholesterol, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol [HDL-C], low density lipoprotein-cholesterol [LDL-C], triglycerides [TG], insulin and lipoprotein [a] [Lp [a]] levels were estimated. All subjects had normal glucose tolerance curve. The results revealed significant increased levels of TG, LDL-C, insulin and Lp [a] and decreased levels of HDL-C in uremic groups on comparing each group with control group. There were significant increased levels of Lp [a], insulin and decreased level of TG in peritoneal dialysis group compared with group on conservative treatment. Also, there were significant increased levels of TG, insulin and Lp [a] in hemodialysis group compared with group on conservative treatment. The results indicated that there were significant increased levels in Lp [a], TG and significant decreased level in HDL- C in hemodialysis group compared with group on peritoneal dialysis

Tumoral calcinosis, successful medical management

Four patients suffering from tumoral calcinosis were treated by using phosphate binding antacid to lower the intestinal absorption of phosphorus, period of follow up about 16 months. The results were excellent in two cases and good in the other two cases

Study of parasitic infections in pregnant women attending an antenatal clinic in El-Minia

To detect parasitic infections routine urine and stool analysis were done for 1220 pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic of El-Minia University Hospital. Only 41.1 percent of the women were parasite free. The others did have either single or mixed infections. The isolates in a descending frequency were: Entameba histolytica cysts [42.4 percent], Giardia lamblia [14.8 percent], and Schistosoma haematobium [3.4 percent], Ascaris [3.3 percent], Oxyuris [2.9 percent] and Ankylostoma [1 percent]. Forty subjects were randomly chosen from among those having helminthic infestations and 40 women randomly chosen from those who were parasite free. These were furtherly investigated by doing peripheral haemogram and measuring a[1] antitrypsin, a[2] macroglobulin, haptoglobin and transferrin. These proteins are usually considered as acute phase reactants. Haemoglobin was significantly lower, while eosinophils were significantly higher in the parasitic group compared to the controls. There was no difference between both groups regarding acute phase reactants. The study clearly demonstrates the high incidence of parasitic infestation amongst our pregnant population, to the extent that routine urine and stool analysis should be part of antenatal care in a rural area like ours. Moreover, the management of anemia in pregnant women in our rural area should comprise diagnosis and treatment of parasitic infection