Background Qatar experienced a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) epidemic that disproportionately affected the craft and manual worker (CMW) population who comprise 60% of the total population. This study aimed to assess ever and/or current infection prevalence in this population. Methods A cross-sectional population-based survey was conducted during July 26-September 09, 2020 to assess both anti-SARS-CoV-2 positivity through serological testing and current infection positivity through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing. Associations with antibody and PCR positivity were identified through regression analyses. Results Study included 2,641 participants, 69.3% of whom were <40 years of age. Anti-SARS-CoV-2 positivity was 55.3% (95% CI: 53.3-57.3%) and was significantly associated with nationality, geographic location, educational attainment, occupation, and previous infection diagnosis. PCR positivity was 11.3% (95% CI: 9.9-12.8%) and was significantly associated with nationality, geographic location, occupation, contact with an infected person, and reporting two or more symptoms. Infection positivity (antibody and/or PCR positive) was 60.6% (95% CI: 58.6-62.5%). The proportion of antibody-positive CMWs that had a prior SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis was 9.3% (95% CI: 7.9-11.0%). Only seven infections were ever severe and one was ever critical—an infection severity rate of 0.5% (95% CI: 0.2-1.0%). Conclusions Six in every 10 CMWs have been infected, suggestive of reaching the herd immunity threshold. Infection severity was low with only one in every 200 infections progressing to be severe or critical. Only one in every 10 infections had been previously diagnosed suggestive of mostly asymptomatic or mild infections.

Chemerin is a novel adipokine, suggested to be involved in insulin resistance in obesity and type 2 diabetes and may be an attractive candidate for assessing risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.             The aim of this study was to examine the role of chemerin as a new marker in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus accompanied with obesity and study the effect of age and gender in chemerin concentration.             This study included 53 (24 male and 29 female) newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients who visited the National Diabetic Center, University of AL-Mustansiriyah. Those cases were referred to the Center during the period from November 2013 until the end of August 2014. They were subdivided according to body mass index; their age range was (38-52), and (35) healthy subjects were selected as a control group; they were well matched age with patients group. There was a significant increase in waist, waist/hip ratio, body mass index, fasting blood sugar, glycated hemoglobin, total cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, C-peptide, homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance 2, and chemerin levels in newly diagnosed diabetic patients as compared to the control, (P=0.0001). The results appear there was a significant decrease in high density lipoprotein cholesterol. A significant difference was found in serum chemerin levels among lean, overweight, and obese of newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients, (P=0.01).There was a significant positive correlation between serum chemerin versus fasting blood sugar, glycated hemoglobin, lipid profile except high density lipoprotein cholesterol, C-peptide, and homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance 2, while there was a significant negative correlation between high density lipoprotein cholesterol and chemerin, (P<0.05). It can be concluded that high levels of serum chemerin found in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients suggest that chemerin may play an important role in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Background: Osteoporosis is a frequent disease that is manifested by reduced in mineral density and raised in fracture risk. Recent studies have indicated that osteoporosis is caused by composite connections among local and systemic regulators of bone cell function. Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between interleukin-2, interleukin-4, and some biochemical markers in Iraqi patients with osteoporosis. Patients and Methods: Forty five osteoporotic patients were incorporated in this study (30 women and 15 men). Serum fasting glucose, lipid profile, alkaline phosphatase activity, calcium, magnesium, interleukin-2, and interleukin-4 were measured in osteoporotic patients and compared them with the control group. Results: There was a significant increase in serum fasting glucose, lipid profile except high density lipoprotein cholesterol, and serum alkaline phosphatase activity in osteoporotic patients as compared to the control, (P=0.001). Also, there was a significant increase in interleukin-2 and interleukin-4 in osteoporotic patients as compared to the control, (P= 0.01). While there was a decrease in serum calcium and magnesium levels in osteoporotic patients as compared to the control. Also, there was a significant positive correlation between serum alkaline phosphatase activity with interleukin-2 and interleukin-4 levels in osteoporotic patients, (P= 0.01). Conclusion: Elevated levels of interleukin-2 and interleukin-4 along with some biochemical markers like; serum alkaline phosphatase in osteoporotic patients might include significant functions in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis.

Background: Osteoporosis is a frequent disease that is manifested by reduced in mineral density and raised in fracture risk. Recent studies have indicated that osteoporosis is caused by composite connections among local and systemic regulators of bone cell function.Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between interleukin-2, interleukin-4, and some biochemical markers in Iraqi patients with osteoporosis.Patients and Methods: Forty five osteoporotic patients were incorporated in this study (30 women and 15 men). Serum fasting glucose, lipid profile, alkaline phosphatase activity, calcium, magnesium, interleukin-2, and interleukin-4 were measured in osteoporotic patients and compared them with the control group.Results: There was a significant increase in serum fasting glucose, lipid profile except high density lipoprotein cholesterol, and serum alkaline phosphatase activity in osteoporotic patients as compared to the control, (P=0.001). Also, there was a significant increase in interleukin-2 and interleukin-4 in osteoporotic patients as compared to the control, (P= 0.01). While there was a decrease in serum calcium and magnesium levels in osteoporotic patients as compared to the control. Also, there was a significant positive correlation between serum alkaline phosphatase activity with interleukin-2 and interleukin-4 levels in osteoporotic patients, (P= 0.01).Conclusion: Elevated levels of interleukin-2 and interleukin-4 along with some biochemical markers like; serum alkaline phosphatase in osteoporotic patients might include significant functions in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis.

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