Dr. Ali Jabbar Eidan Albu-Seipa

Objective: this study designed to assess self-care of patients’ undergoing hemodialysis with end stage renal disease and to determine out association between self-care of patients with end stage renal disease and their socio-demographic characteristics. Descriptive cross-sectional design is adopted in the recent study to perform the early stated objects. Started the study from (October 1st, 2016 until May, 6th, 2017). A Non-Probability (Accidental Sample) of (61) ESRD patients, those who visit dialysis centers of Al-Sadder Medical City in Al-Najaf Al-Ashraf., are included in the study sample. Analyzed data by descriptive analysis contains (Frequencies & Percentages) and statistical figures (Pie Charts) and Pearson’s Correlation Coefficients. The outcome of the present study that the self-care activities are interdependent and there is a positive relationship between the patients’ self-care with their age, income and marital status. While there is a non-significant difference between self-care activities and their clinical data in all items except there number of admission to emergency is a high significant difference. The study concludes that most patients with ESRD need moderate assistance in performing in dietary, exercise and other activities.

The predominance of bacteria on door handles and computers keyboards in Faculty of Science, University of Kufa in Najaf Governorate was assessed. One hundred samples were collected and cultured for bacterial identification. The occurrence of positive samples was as the following; 95% with both of toilets doors handles and computers keyboards, 90% in laboratories doors handles, 80% in Classrooms doors handles and 75% in offices doors handles. The current study demonstrate a high prevalence rate of aerobic bacteria on different doors handles and computers keyboards in Faculty of Science, University of Kufa. The current study gave a clear view about the microbial contamination of door handles and computer keyboards and the possibility to be one of the main sources of infection in the university environment.

This study tested whether interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interferon-gamma (INF-g) levels, as well as lipid profile, are associated with suicide attempts in adult patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), after controlling for related confounding factors. Plasma levels of IL-6 and INF-g and lipid profile, including total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TGs), low-density lipoproteins (LDLs), and high-density lipoproteins, were measured in 60 patients meeting criteria of the fifth version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders for Major Depression (22 patients who attempted suicide and 38 patients who did not attempt suicide) and 30 healthy controls. Study participants were evaluated using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and the Beck’s Suicidal Ideation Scale. Based on univariate analyses, IL-6, INF-g, and TG plasma levels were significantly higher in both groups of depressed patients than healthy controls (P < 0.05), whereas TC and LDLs of patients who attempted suicide were significantly lower than patients who did not attempt suicide and healthy controls (P < 0.05). After adjusting for potential confounders, TC and LDLs were still significantly lower in patients who attempted suicide. With the exception of TC and LDLs, our findings do not support the hypothesis that IL-6 and INF-g levels and lipid profile are associated with suicide attempts in adult patients with MDD. Identifying effective biological markers in patients who attempt suicide remains a challenge for future research.

Objectives: We tested whether C-reactive protein and lipid profile might be associated with suicide attempts in subjects with major depressive disorder, after controlling for relevant individual characteristics. Design And Method: Plasma levels of C-reactive protein and lipid profile; as well as Total Cholesterol (TC), and Triglyceride (TG), were determined in 60 patients meeting DSM-IV criteria for Major depression (22 suicidal attempters and 38 patients without suicidal behavior), and 30 healthy controls. Study participants were evaluated using Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and the Beck’s Suicidal Ideation Scale. Results: At univariate analyses, plasma level of C-reactive protein was significantly higher in suicide attempters (SA) than non-suicidal attempter depressed patients (NSA) and healthy control (p<0.05), while the plasma level of TC among SA were significantly lower than those NSA or healthy control subjects (p<0.05). Also, TG level was significantly higher in both SA and NSA (p=0.009 and p<0.001 respectively) compared with healthy control. After adjustment of potential confounders, suicide attempters were still had significantly lower levels for TC than NSA. Conclusions: Our findings support the hypothesis that CRP, and TG are associated with suicide attempts in patients with major depressive disorder. The identification of valid and accessible biological markers of suicidal behaviors still represents a challenge for future research.

Background: Suicide is a substantial public health concern and one of the commonest cause of death throughout the world. In Iraq, the suicide rate is a current health problem exacerbated by the fact that it is a country suffered war and destruction in all fields of life. Objectives: We tested whether Tumor necrosis factor-alpha, Interlukin-1β, and lipid profile might be associated with suicide attempts in adult patients with major depression. Methods: Plasma levels of Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha, Interleukin-1β, and lipid profile were analyzed in 60 adult patients with major depression diagnosed according to DSM-V criteria for Major depression (22 suicidal attempters and 38 patients without suicidal ideas), and 30 healthy controls. Results: At univariate analyses, plasma level of Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha and Triglyceride were significantly higher in suicide attempters and non-suicidal attempter depressed patients than those of healthy control (all p<0.05), while the plasma level of Total Cholesterol and Low density lipoprotein among suicide attempters were significantly lower than those non-suicidal attempter depressed patients or healthy control subjects (p<0.05). Conclusions: With exception of TC and LDL, the results of the study do not concomitant with the supposition that pro inflammatory cytokines and lipids levels are associated with suicide attempts in adults with major depression. The effective biological markers identification in suicidal attempters still represents a challenge for future research.

Objective: Cholecystectomy is the surgical removal of the gallbladder. The gallbladder is often colonized by Salmonella during typhoid fever. The association between cytokine and virulence genes of Salmonella is not well known. The current study aims to identify the association between proinflammatory cytokines, TNF-α and IFN-γ, and two virulence genes, InvA and PagC, extracted from S. typhi isolates obtained from patients undergoing cholecystectomy. Materials and Methods: One hundred and fifty clinical specimens, including gallbladder tissues and blood, were collected from patients undergoing cholecystectomy at AL-Sadder Medical City and AL-Furat General Hospital/ Iraq from December 2019 to September 2020. A Monoplex PCR technique was used to detect InvA and PagC, and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure serum levels of TNF-α and IFNγ. Results: From a total of 66 S. typhi isolates, the prevalence of InvA and PagC was (84.8% and 69.6%) respectively. Even after adjusting for potential confounding factors, serum levels of TNF-α and INF-γ were statistically significantly higher in PagC detected in S. typhi isolates compared to PagC not detected (p-value<0.001), but there was no significant difference between InvA detected in S. typhi isolates and InvA not detected (p-value > 0.05). Conclusion: The virulence genes of S. typhi, especially PagC, may be considered a potent inducer of proinflammatory cytokine secretion. Further studies are needed to present the patient‘s additional clinical course according to cytokine level.