Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major public health problem worldwide and remains a vital cause of chronic hepatitis. This study was aimed to detect the prevalence of HCV infection among Iraqi people. Four subjects of hemodialysis (HD) patients, thalassemia patients, blood donors and medical staff were enrolled in this study and evaluated for their serum anti-HCV-immunoglobulin G (IgG)-antibodies (Abs). The total frequency % of IgG anti-HCV Abs positivity was 3.2%, in which the highest frequency % was recorded among thalassemia patients followed by HD patients and then medical staff subjects, whereas the lowest frequency rate was reported within blood donors group. The frequencies of IgG anti-HCV Abs positivity were significantly elevated in males compared to females. For age groups, the results revealed higher infection rate of HCV among age group of 1-20 year followed by the age group of 21-40 year and then age group of 41-60 year, whereas the lowest rate of infection was recorded in age group >60 year. In conclusions, the prevalence rate of HCV infection among Iraqi people is similar to those in most of Asian and non-Asian studied populations and the infection rate was higher in males and inversely correlated with age of the patients. Blood transfusion, renal dialysis and health care workers (HCWs) were major sources of HCV infection. Thus, we recommend continuing surveillance of blood donors, HCWs and patients, in addition to HCV markers screening by molecular technique for the diagnosis of HCV during the window period in order to decrease the prevalence of HCV infection.

The aims of this research are three-fold. First, an examination of a pregnant female's information on risks associated with deficiency in vitamin D in pregnancy at the Al-Nasiriyah primary health clinic, second, an evaluation of levels of vitamin D through various times in pregnancy, third, to identify if an association exists between levels of vitamin D in pregnancy and the trimester of pregnancy. Methodology: The following study was run from 27 th December 2018 to the 1 st of April 2019. A descriptive study design was adopted including 100 pregnant females who were selected using purposive (non-probability) sampling. The study location was Al-Nasraniyah; specifically, the Al-Karar primary health care clinic. Data collection was completed through a selfadministrative report and a questionnaire that was split into three sections. The first is the socio-demographic characteristics of the parents including their age, job, income (monthly) and education. The second section included the pregnant female's medical data including gestational age, gravida, para, and exposure to daily sunlight, numbers of abortions and whether they consume vitamin D or multi-vitamin supplements. The final section consisted of ten questions investigating the pregnant female's knowledge of the risk factors associated with vitamin deficiency in pregnant females. Quantification of all participants' vitamin D serum levels was also conducted. Validity testing was performed using both external and internal means. For external validity a panel of experts was employed, while internal validity was established using a pilot study and the alpha correlation coefficient at r=0.870. The Statistical Package for Social Science (IBM SPSS) version 20.0 was used for statistical analysis of the data using both descriptive and inferential methodologies. Results: the study results indicate that the majority that (50.0 %) of the patients within age group (15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25) .Regarding to the level of education, the greater number of them do not read and write and they are accounted for (32.0%) of the sample. In regarding to pregnant women medical sheet information the majority of study sample gestational age found at second semester with percent (56 %) of all study sample, the daily sun light exposure among study sample there are higher percent with less than one hour per day which account for (67%) of study sample.patients have knowledge toward risk factors of Vit D deficiency only at presented as ( pass) in ( 3 and 6) items and presented (failed) in all items ,the high prevalence of Vit D deficiency among study sample with percentage ( 42%) of all which are suffering from Deficiency of Vit D during their pregnancy period . the study results show there is not statistically significant differences Between Vitamin D Level during Pregnancy and first Semester and statistically significant differences Between Vitamin D Level at Semester of Pregnancy by P value < 0.05, While there is highly statistically significant difference Between Vitamin...

The enhanced body activities after taking the nutritional addendum by athletes were observed via fluctuation in the clinical biomarkers. There are some previous evidences recorded that the nutritional supplements have a benefit and side influences, hence current paper was aimed to determine the potential influences of nutritional support compounds on biochemical parameters and kidneys damage among bodybuilders people. Two subjects of sportsmen bodybuilders; first group not take the nutritional supplements (control group), whereas the second group take the nutritional supplements (users group) were included within current study and screened for their serological level of creatinine, urea, total protein and albumin with measuring urine total protein and pH. The results showed that the mean titer of serum creatinine, serum albumin and urine total protein were significantly higher among users group compared to control group, whereas the level of serum urea, serum total protein and urine pH revealed non-significant different between both groups. For subjects aware to the risks and side effects of taking the nutritional supplements, the users group exhibited a significant higher frequency % of unaware to the risks in comparison to control group. In denouement, there is prodromal defect in the kidneys of the nutritional supplements consumers, confirmed by serum creatinine, serum albumin and urine total protein increase. Many of nutritional supplements users not have enough information about the consequences and side effects of the decompounds hence exercising related with abuse of it without consulting a dietitian may be hazardous.

The most frequent pregnancy issue is a miscarriage, which is defined as the spontaneous end of pregnancy before the fetus reaches viability. The current research aims to identify the potential significance of selenium (Se) and vitamin E (VE) as predictive diagnostic biomarkers in recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL). Methods: A case control study that included three study groups; 35 women with RPL, 30 non-aborted pregnant (NAP) women, and 25  healthy women. After rigorously applying the eligibility requirements, patients were chosen from those visiting Bint Al-Huda Teaching Hospital and Suq Al-Shuyukh General Hospital in Thi-Qar Province (Iraq). Serum VE and serum Se levels were determined using the ELISA and atomic absorption spectrophotometer techniques, respectively.  Results: The outcomes showed that the RPL group's serum VE and Se below normal levels were (88.6% and 62.9% respectively) lower than in the healthy control group (28% and 24% respectively). The level of VE was depleted in NAP group (93.3%) compared to HC group (28%) with significant differences, whereas the level of Se was significantly lower in RPL group (62.9%) compared NAP group (13.3%). Conclusions: A significant positive association of VE and Se in RPL and a significant negative association of VE and Se in NAP and HC. 

Background: Infection with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major public health issue worldwide and remains a vital etiology of long-term hepatitis. This study aimed to detect the prevalence of HCV infection among Iraqi people. This research was proposed to detect the frequency of HCV infection in renal failure patients, thalassemia patients, blood donors, and Iraqi medical staff. Such prevalence potentially could assist in the development of a preventive program for this infection and orient future studies. Methods and Results: Cross-sectional research was conducted in Thi-Qar Province (Iraq). The enrolled 1650 individuals (1180 males and 470 females, age range of 1-85 years) were classified into four study groups. Group 1 included 120 patients with renal failure, Group 2 included 220 patients suffering from thalassemia, Group 3 included 1259 blood donor subjects, and Group 4 included 51 subjects from the medical staff. Serum anti-HCV-IgG-Abs were detected qualitatively by a human HCV-IgG-ELISA Kit (MyBioSource, USA). The findings revealed that out of 1650 subjects, only 53(3.2%) were infected with HCV. The highest prevalence was reported among thalassemia patients 34/220(15.45%), followed by renal failure patients 8/120(6.66%) and then the medical staff group 3/51(5.88%), whereas the lowest prevalence was reported among the blood donor group 8/1259(0.64%). The total infection rate of HCV was higher among males [33/53(62.3%)] than females [20/53(37.7%)], with significant differences (P<0.05). We found a significant difference in HCV infection rate according to the age range of the study subjects (P<0.05). The higher infection percentages of 29/53(54.7%) and 15/53(28.3%) were found in age groups of 1-20 years and 21-40 years, respectively, followed by the age group of 41-60 years, which had infection percentages of 7/53(13.2%), while the lowest infection rate was reported in the age group of more than 60 years, which was 2/53(3.8%). Conclusion: The frequency rate of HCV infection among Iraqi people is similar to those in most Asian and non-Asian studied populations, and the infection rate was higher in males and inversely correlated with the age of the subjects. The main routes of HCV infection were blood transfusions, renal dialysis, and HCWs. Thalassemic and hemodialysis patients were potentially vulnerable to HCV infection. Effective screening methods and blood donor screening protocols are likely required to prevent the spread of HCV infection.