Purpose To evaluate the frequencies of angiotensin-converting enzyme gene ‎polymorphism in ‎Iraqi hemodialysis patients and to examine the association ‎between this polymorphism and ‎serum erythropoietin and hemoglobin levels.‎ Methods In this study, 70 chronic renal failure Iraqi patients on ‎maintenance ‎hemodialysis (patient group) and 20 healthy subjects (control ‎group) were genotyped for ‎ angiotensin-converting enzyme gene polymorphism. The distribution of genotype and allele ‎frequencies of this polymorphism in ‎these subjects were also evaluated.‎ Results The distribution of angiotensin-converting enzyme genotypes between ‎groups was ‎similar, and the ID genotype was the most frequent, followed by DD and II ‎genotypes (‎50%‎, ‎37%‎, and ‎13%). The control group ‎had a nonsignificant difference in serum ‎erythropoietin levels among different angiotensin-converting enzyme genotypes, ‎while patients with ID and DD genotypes displayed significant ‎elevation in ‎serum erythropoietin with time. No significant differences in hemoglobin ‎levels ‎were observed in patient and control groups. A significant positive correlation ‎was ‎observed between serum erythropoietin and hemoglobin in the control group ‎with different ‎angiotensin-converting enzyme genotypes, while a nonsignificant ‎negative correlation was ‎observed in the patient group throughout the study. ‎ Conclusions Chronic kidney disease did not significantly alter angiotensin-converting enzyme ‎genotypes, and angiotensin-converting enzyme gene ‎polymorphism had a significant effect on ‎serum erythropoietin levels and a non‎significant effect on hemoglobin levels. ‎

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BACKGROUND: In most families around the world, medicines can be used to treat chronic or acute diseases. Simple access to medicines at home has led to high drug consumption rates for self-limiting diseases. Incorrect use of these home-stocked medications may also contribute to severe health risks, increase pathogens’ tolerance, prolonged distress, increased adversity, medication reactions, and delays in seeking adequate care if misdiagnosis occurs. Nothing is known about how Iraqi people store their medicines at home. AIM: The purpose of this study is to obtain data on the prevalence and related factors of drug storage in Diyala Governorate, Iraq. METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in Diyala Province, Iraq in July 2019. A total of 200 students participated in this study. A pre-tested standardized questionnaire was used to collect data and the analysis was performed using descriptive statistical methods. All the participants (100%) enrolled reported to keep medicines at their homes. RESULTS: The average number of drug users per household is 12.32%. Refrigerators are the main storage location (65%), followed by kitchen counters (33%). The majority of stored drugs were prescribed by physicians (78.5%) and the leading source of those drugs is a private pharmacy (55.71%). The most popular medicinal products stored were analgesics (23.1%), followed by antimicrobials (antibiotics, antibacterial, and antifungal) (19.44%). Among all medicines, currently used drugs accounted for 43.34%, remaining drugs accounted for 29.78%, and reserved drugs accounted for 26.87% for future use. The most common dosage forms of these drugs are tablets (21.16%) and capsules (20.95%). Most participants (82.5%) revealed that they always check the expiration date before use, and (37%) admitted to sharing drugs with others. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of drug storage in households in the Diyala Governorate of Iraq is high because all participants keep drugs at home. Regardless of the method used, these drugs should be retained, and proper storage procedures and conditions are rarely observed.

BACKGROUND: Post-operative nausea and vomiting (PONV) and pain are a common complications of adult patients undergoing anesthesia, but the incidence of these complications in patients go through laparoscopic cholecystectomy or open appendectomy is unknown. AIM: We conduct this study for comparing the effect of dexamethasone administration with normal saline and with metoclopramide for reducing these undesirable effects. DESIGN: This was a three-armed, parallel-group, double-blind, and randomized controlled clinical trial. METHODS: Seventy-two patients of both genders underwent elective surgeries (laparoscopic cholecystectomy or open appendectomy), randomly assigned to three groups: A dexamethasone-treated (8 mg) group (Group 1) (n = 24), normal saline-treated (100 ml) group (Group 2) (n = 24), and metoclopramide-treated (10 mg) group (Group 3) (n = 24). All nausea, vomiting, and pain episodes were recorded during 24 h after anesthesia in three time periods: 0–4, 4–12, and 12–24 h post-anesthesia. Results: Nausea and vomiting grading scale shows no significant difference when compare dexamethasone (Group 1) with normal saline (Group 2), significant difference when compare dexamethasone (Group 1) with metoclopramide (Group 3), and also significant difference when compare normal saline (Group 2) with metoclopramide (Group 3). Group 1 showed a lower pain score (p < 0.01 and p < 0.0001) compared with pain score recorded by patients of Groups 2 and 3, respectively. Besides that, Group 2 also showed a lower pain score (p < 0.0001) compared with pain score recorded by Group 3 patients. CONCLUSION: Dexamethasone has unimportant effect when compare with normal saline, more effectiveness than metoclopramide in reducing PONV. However, dexamethasone more effective in reducing pain when comparing with normal saline and metoclopramide for patients they underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy or open appendectomy surgery under general anesthesia.

Atrial fibrillation is associates with elevated risk of stroke. The simplest stroke risk assessment schemes are CHADS2 and CHA2DS2-VASc score. Aspirin and oral anticoagulants are recommended for stroke prevention in such patients. The aim of this study was to  assess status of CHADS2 and CHA2DS2-VASc scores in Iraqi atrial fibrillation patients and to report current status of stroke prevention in these patients with either warfarin or aspirin in relation to these scores. This prospective cross-sectional study was carried out at Tikrit, Samarra, Sharqat, Baquba, and AL-Numaan hospitals from July 2017 to October 2017. CHADS2 and CHA2DS2-VASc scores were manually calculated. One hundred patients were participated, 48 were men and 52 were women. Their mean age was 62.56 ± 14.36 years. Permanent type of atrial fibrillation, palpitation, and hypertension were the most diagnosed type, symptom and comorbidity recorded in this study respectively. Average scores of CHADS2 and CHA2DS2-VASc were 2.34 ± 1.39 and 4.1 ± 2.05, respectively. These scores were not calculated for these patients in hospital setting. Aspirin and warfarin were prescribed regardless to these scores. The result of this study indicated that CHADS2 and CHA2DS2-VASc scores were often neglected in hospitals; and aspirin is still widely used as a strategy to minimize the risk of stroke. Keywords: Atrial fibrillation, CHADS2, CHA2DS2-VASc, aspirin, warfarin.