Objective: Bioelectric impedance analysis (BIA) and dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) are two commonly used techniques, but each has its own pros and cons. To assess the accuracy of BIA in comparison with DEXA in the assessment of total and segmental fat mass and fat percentage. Material and Methods: Fifty-four healthy adults (24 men and 30 women) participated in this study. The total fat mass, extremity fat mass, and trunk fat mass with the respective percentages were assessed by both DEXA and BIA techniques. Results: BIA technique significantly underestimated total and segmental fat masses and percentages (p<0.0001) in comparison with DEXA. The average differences were as follows: total fat mass, 5.76±1.04 kg; total fat mass percentage, 10.56±1.43; extremity fat mass, 3.28±0.54 kg; extremity fat mass percentage, 10.72±1.85; trunk fat mass, 3.04±0.62 kg; and trunk fat mass percentage, 9.83±1.24. The highest correlation between BIA and DEXA was in the estimation of total fat mass percentage (0.93) and the lowest was in the estimation of extremity fat mass (0.72). Conclusion: BIA underestimates fat composition, thus the difference should be considered during the evaluation of a client.

Objectives: To estimate the difference in total serum IgE level between patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) and healthy control subjects and to correlate age and gender of patients, and severity of AD with total serum IgE level. Patients and methods: This is a case-series study on 52 patients with AD, recruited from dermatology clinic at Al-Jumhoori teaching hospital in Mosul, during the first half of 2010. Twenty five healthy non-atopic subjects were recruited from same clinic as a control group. Results: The total serum IgE level in patients with AD was 286.0 (SD 83.1) IU/ml; corresponding value in control group was 47.8 (SD 38.1) IU/ml. Thus, total serum IgE level was significantly higher in patients with AD than in control group (p = 0.007). The highest concentration of total serum IgE level was found among females (p = 0.04), age group 11-15 year (p = 0.09), and severe cases of AD (p = 0.007). Conclusion: Majority of patients with AD have a raised total serum IgE level, which in turn correlates well with female gender, age group 11-15 year, and severity of disease.

Background and objective: Validity of continuous variable test like total serum IgE is performed by constructing Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve. ROC curve is a technique for visualizing, organizing and selecting classifiers based on their performance. The study aims to determine the performance and validity of total serum IgE in various allergic diseases, age groups and gender. To select the optimal cut off value that has the best discriminative capability. To assess the sensitivity, specificity, predictive value and likelihood ratio of the selected cut-off points. Materials and method: A diagnostic Receiver Operator Characteristic ROC curvestudy was conducted at Allergy Clinic, Al-Jamhouri Teaching Hospital in Mosul, Iraq on 751 individuals (561 patients with various allergic disorders and 190 healthy non-allergic subjects) ranged in age from 10 to 59 years. Classification of study samples into allergic or healthy groups was done by a committee panel of two qualified and expert allergiologist. A blood sample was taken for estimating total serum IgE by ELISA. Results: The constructed ROC curve of overall sample showed that total serum IgE has moderate accuracy in allergic diseases and the AUC ± SE was 0.730±0.022 with 95% confidence interval (0.686-0.773). Urticaria ROC curve had the maximum AUC (0.742±0.030) and asthma had the minimum AUC (0.720± 0.027). The maximum AUC was detected in the age group 10-19 years and the least one was in age 50-59 years. No difference was found in the estimated AUC in both gender. The optimal cut-off point of total serum IgE was 96 IU/ml in the overall allergic patients and varies between 95 IU/ml (in urticaria) and 115 IU/ml (in rhinitis). Assessment of selected overall cutoff point of total serum IgE reveals the following: sensitivity (79.3%), specificity (61.0%), validity (74.7%), PPV (50.0%), NPV (85.7%), LH+ (2.03), LH-(0.34). Conclusion: Total serum IgE has moderate accuracy in diagnosis of various allergic diseases. Its accuracy is much better in younger patients in comparison to elderly. A cut offpoint of total serum IgE(100±5 IU/ml) was the best classifier. Total IgE is a useful screening rather than a confirmatory test.

Objectives:To identify causative microorganisms of nongonococcal (NGU) urethritis in men. Methods: A descriptive comparative study included 240 male patients with urethritis and 40 agematched males free from urethritis was carried out. The urethral swabs were inoculated on different culture media and incubated both aerobically and anaerobically. Results: A 153 patients were considered as NGU cases. From them, 18 genera of aerobic and anaerobic microorganisms were isolated. Aerobic bacterial isolates were two times the anaerobic bacterial isolates. The type of growth was heavy among patients in comparison to scanty growth among controls. The most common microorganism in each group were Staph. epidermidis, Gardnerella vaginalis, and Bacteroides species. Conclusion: Aerobic and anaerobic microorganisms are associated with urethritis in men. The confluent growth and dramatic response after treatment by appropriate antibiotics confirm the roles of the isolated bacteria in development of NGU in men.

In this research, we discussed bone density for women taking into consideration the method of research, we measure the total body mass of women in premenopausal and comparing it with postmenopausal, since the amount of the bone mineral content and bone mineral density, fat mass and lean mass.A cross sectional study conducted at DXA laboratory, Physiology Department, College of Medicine, University of Ninevah, Mosul-Iraq from Jan. 1 - Dec. 31, 2013. Since 174 healthy women recruited from reviewing of college medical academic center. They were divided into two groups: pre menopause group (n = 42) and post menopause group (n= 130). Detailed anthropometric data were gathered from study subjects. The mean age SD of pre-menopause group was (43.37 7.49) year while the mean age SD postmenopausal group (63.63 9.23) years .The T-score, Z-score, Bone Mineral Density (BMD), Bone Mineral Content (BMC), Fat Mass and Lean Mass were measured in the supine position by the use of DXA bone densitometer scanner type (STRATOS) from (DMS) group, France.Bone Mineral Content (BMC) was significantly lower in arm, rib, and thoracic spines. Bone Mineral Density (BMD) in arm, rib, leg and total were significantly low in postmenopausal women. Non-significant differences were noticed between both groups for lean mass. Postmenopausal women having more fat mass than pre menopause group. Both T-score and Z-score for pre menopause and post menopause groups were from class of osteopenia, but it was significantly lower in post menopause group (p-value =0.001, 0.008 respectively).Postmenopausal women were at higher risk of osteoporosis due to lowered Bone Mineral Density , T & Z scores.