Rawaa Hadi Shareef al-Saabary

Background: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a recently discovered coronavirus. Blood test including complete blood count is crucial in diagnosing of several viral and bacterial infection. Aims: This study aimed to assess the association between lymphocyte ratio and other WBC types and severity of COVID-19 pneumonia. Methods: The design of this study was a cross-sectional study. A complete blood count and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was done for one hundred twenty-six COVID-19 patients (76 males and 50 females; aged 20–70 years). Patients were randomly recruited from multicenter in Al-Najaf Governorate, Iraq. Results: The study had revealed an inverse correlation between severity of COVID-19 infection and both lymphocytes and monocytes ratio even in patients with normal WBC count. Additionally, there was a direct correlation between platelets and leukocyte count. The relation between leukocyte count and ESR level was significant in a patient with elevated WBC only. Conclusion: Lymphocytes and monocyte ratios inpatient with COVID-19 infection can be used as predictors for the severity of infection. Increased leukocyte count resulted in increases in platelets inpatient with COVID-19.

Abstract BACKGROUND: Chronic kidney disease (CKD), also called chronic kidney failure, is described as gradual loss of kidney function. CKD can progress to end-stage kidney failure, which is fatal without artificial filtering (dialysis) or kidney transplant. Peritoneal dialysis (PD) has a widespread renal replacement therapy with great acceptance because of simplicity, flexibility, and independence. AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the complications of continuous ambulatory PD (CAPD) in patients with CKD. METHODS: A cross-sectional study, involved 140 patients, aged between 18 and 80 years old and suffered from CKD under maintenance CAPD in the dialysis unit of the renal center. All data regarding the sociodemographic profile of the patient, vitals, etiological diagnosis, frequency and duration of dialysis, and dialysis-related complications were taken. RESULTS: In the current study, there is a significant difference in the distribution of complications among gender where the female patients had a higher incidence of both infectious and non-infectious complications. The study also reported that there is much lower rate of complications among patients on laparoscope operation in compared with the open operation. In addition, patients with open abdomen PD developed the complications earlier than those with laparoscope maintenance CAPD. CONCLUSION: Peritoneal infection is the most prevalent complication among the other complications in the current study. There is much lower rate of complications among patients on PD in compared with hemodialysis and on laparoscope in compared with the open operation.

Abstract Introduction: Dyslipidemia is one of the most common metabolic disorders. Vitamin D is one of the essential fat soluble vitamins which has many functions in the human body. Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between dyslipidemia and vitamin D deficiency. Materials and methods: This is a cross-sectional study which included 130 participants (58 males and 72 females) aged between 20-70 years and conducted between June 1 and October 30, 2020. The level of vitamin D was determined for each participant; we also measured the serum levels of cholesterol, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein, and low density lipoprotein. Results: There were 79 persons with vitamin D deficiency, 21 persons were vitamin D insufficient, and 10 - vitamin D sufficient. There were significant differences in the level of cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density and low-density lipoproteins according to the level of vitamin D. Conclusions: Deficiency of vitamin D has a negative impact on the levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density and low-density lipoproteins.

Obesity is considered as a public health problem that affects all age groups in the population. Genetic factors are considered as one of the non-modifiable risk factors, causing obesity. Hypertension is a chronic medical condition that is associated with vague symptoms.

Hearing loss is one of the most frequent sensory disorder and it is a chronic condition affect the adults population. Iron is an important elements for almost living organisms, it has essential role in the DNA synthesis, respiration of mitochondria and transporting of oxygen. To evaluate the association between iron deficiency and hearing loss and to find out mechanisms that lead to this association. .

Hearing loss is considered as a public health problem that affects the population at all ages. Hepcidin is an important protein with a crucial role in the homeostasis and metabolism of iron. Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between hepcidin and hearing loss and to find out the mechanisms that lead to this association.