Outcomes of our surgical team compared to the published data of some other centers. Preoperative ERCP seems to make difficulty in bile duct dissection during PD.

Among Kurdish people in Iraq, the incidence of breast cancer is less than Middle-East and Western countries with higher incidence in younger age group than western society, but similar to Middle-East countries. More than half of Kurdish women with breast cancer are premenopausal.

No abstract

Background: To our knowledge, there is no international publication on association of body mass index (BMI) and breast cancer in the Iraqi Kurdish women. The aims of this study are to identify the correlation of height, weight, and BMI with breast cancer, as well as, the relationship of BMI with pre-and postmenopausal women with breast cancer among Iraqi Kurds. Materials and methods: This retrospective case-control study was performed in Sulaimanyah governorate (North of Iraq). Data were collected on socio-demographic characteristics, anthropometric measures and menopausal status of (454) patients with breast cancer who were seeking medical attention in Hewa Hematology and Oncology Hospital with collection of same information on (430) age-matched controls. Results: There were 454 cases of breast cancer, the mean value of height was 161 ± 6.2 cm compared to controls 159.3 ± 5.1 cm (p < .001), mean weight 68.9 ± 11.8 kg compared to controls 62.1 ± 9.1 kg (p < .001), mean BMI 26.6 ± 4.5 kg/m 2 compared to controls 24.5 ± 3.8 kg/m 2 (p < .001). There was a significant statistical difference between the height of patients and controls in both pre-and postmenopausal Kurdish women. The odds ratios for breast cancer development in premenopausal women with BMI (23-24.9, 25-29.9, and ≥ 30 kg/m 2 ) were (1.4, 1.8, 2.1) (p < .001), respectively. The odds ratios for breast cancer development in postmenopausal women for same BMI categories were (1.7, 3.2, 4.0) (p < .001), respectively. Conclusions: Among Iraqi Kurdish women, height, weight, and BMI are associated with increased risk of breast cancer. There is a positive association between BMI and breast cancer risk for both pre-and postmenopausal women, but the association is stronger among postmenopausal women.

Background Acute appendicitis is one of the most common causes of acute abdomen. Its accurate diagnosis and immediate surgery are important, because the disease itself and its operation carry a potential risk of morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study is to detect the role of Neutrophil/Lymphocyte Ratio in diagnosis of acuteappendicitis and detection of the severity of the inflammation. Objectives The relation between the values of NLR and positive appendectomy and normal appendectomy. The relation between Neutrophil Lymphocyte Ratio and the degree of severity of inflammation in acute appendicitis. Methods This prospective study was performed in Emergency Hospital of Slemani from February, 25th, 2012 to November, 29th, 2012 on 200 patients who were admitted with clinical suspicion of acute appendicitis. Data were collected regarding demographical aspects of patients, presentations, pre operative care, investigations including complete blood counts, histopathological examination of the all specimens after surgery. Results There were 78(39%) males and 122 females (61%). Male: female ratio was 1:1.25. The age ranges from 5 to 67 years. The mean age of acute appendicitis was 25.94±12.4. Histopathological examination revealed normal appendix in 74 patients. The normal appendectomy rate was (36.7%). The rate of normal appendectomy in females was (43.3%), while among males it was (26.9%). In (85%) of patients with acute appendicitis there were elevated Neutrophil Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) ≥ 3.5 with specificity of (72%), and accuracy of (80%), and Neutrophil Lymphocyte Ratio was increased with increasing the degree of inflammation. Conclusion The Neutrophil Lymphocyte Ratio is an easy and applicable investigation which can be helpful in diagnosis of acute appendicitis, and detecting the severity of the inflammation.