Background: Treatment of resistant alopecia totalis AT is a major problem in general practice. Some studies reported the use of either excimer-308 or intra-muscular triamcinolone acetonide as a monotherapy, with conflicting results. Objective: To evaluate the therapeutic effect of combining 308-excimer phototherapy and intramuscular triamcinolone acetonide for the treatment of alopecia totalis. Methods and Material: Ten patients with alopecia totalis were evaluated in this prospective interventional study. All patients were assigned to receive the thera-peutic regimen that includes monthly IM triamcinolone acetonide (TAC) for a maximum of six pulses and twice-weekly excimer phototherapy for 24 sessions. Results: The overall response rate for this regimen was 90%, with four patients 40% achieving complete regrowth of hair (100%). Three patients have exhibited a satisfactory response (>70% regrowth). Unsatisfactory response ( >10-< 70% regrowth) was reported in two patients . Younger patients responded better, as did those with a shorter history of the disease P < 0.05. At follow-up, which continued for 8–12 months, recurrence was noted in two (22.2%) of the nine responders. Conclusions: Combining excimer phototherapy with triamcinolone acetonide showed a promising effect on resistant AT. This treatment modality was effective and well tolerated particularly in young patients.

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Maintenance of normal glucose metabolism during pregnancy is of particular importance. Prolactin may be a mediator in pathogenesis of impaired glucose metabolism. This study aimed to assess the levels of maternal serum prolactin in pregnant women with gestational Diabetes mellitus (GDM). This prospective observational study was done at AL– Emamain AL- Kadhemain Medical City/ Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in Baghdad/ Iraq during the period from 1st March to 1st October 2018 on 150 pregnant women who were referred for OGTT for different indications. For all included women, maternal serum prolactin level and 75 gm OGTT was performed. The results showed that the mean±SD of maternal serum prolactin levels for all included women was (135.14±22.67) ng/ml and there was significantly negative correlation with (1hr) and (2hr) blood glucose levels of 75 gm OGTT at p value (0.027), (0.003) respectively. Out of 150 women included in the study (52) women diagnosed to have GDM and (98) women to have normal glucose tolerance. The mean±SD of maternal serum prolactin level was (123.6±13.7) ng/ml in GDM group which is significantly lower in comparison with mean ±SD (141.3±24.1) ng/ml in normal group at p value (0.0001). It can be concluded that women with GDM showed significantly lower serum prolactin levels in comparison with levels in women with normal glucose tolerance.

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Background: There is an increased risk of infections in patients with thalassemia compared to general population including urinary tract infections (UTI). The susceptibility to infections in thalassemia arises from iron overload, transfusion therapy, splenectomy, zinc deficiency &disease itself. all these changes inherent to the pathological process which can interfere with the immune systems Aims of study: The study was carried out to determine the frequency of urinary tract infection among thalassemic patients, its correlation to risk factors including vaccination, splenectomy, iron overload, Hb level and to determine microorganism causing urinary tract infection among thalassemic patients and control group . Methods: A case control study was carried out at the Babylon hereditary blood disease center in Babylon Maternity and Children Teaching Hospital in Hilla / Iraq from March to October 2018 among 100 febrile thalassemic patients as patients group , comparison to 100 febrile non thalassemic patients as control group with age ranging between 6 months -15 years. Urine exam & culture, serum ferritin, Hb, C-reactive protein, ESR were sent for all patients. Results: The current study has revealed that 14 % of thalassemic patients developed UTI, in comparison to 5% in non thalassaemic patients .The infection is more among those with low Hb, incomplete vaccination, splenectomized patients but has no relation to gender &type of thalassemia and E. coli was the commonest microorganism among both group. Conclusion: This study revealed that the frequency of UTI among febrile thalassemic patients is 14 %, its increased among splenectomized patients, incomplete vaccination and iron overload.