Aim: Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder which affects communication and social interaction of children. It is a heterogeneous disease with various clinical presentations. Some genes are involved in its pathogenesis. It has been suggested that environmental exposure to lead can increase the risk of autism. The aim of our study was to compare blood lead levels among autistic and non-autistic children. Material and Method: This retrospective study included 107 children (60 with autism and 47 without autism) referred from the different Iraqi provinces, in the years 2015, 2016 and 2017, to the poisoning consultation center in Baghdad. Data collection including age, gender, residence, referral source, family history and blood lead levels was taken from their medical records. Results: No significant differences were noticed between the prevalence of autism and both of age (P=0.843) and gender (P=0.699). The majority of children have no family history of autism (85%). Mean blood lead level for all participants was 16.01 μg/dl. The statistically significant difference in lead level was found between autistic and non-autistic children (17.38± 1.86 μg/dl in autism group versus 14.27± 1.57 μg/dl in non-autism group) with a P value of 0.001. Discussion: Mean blood lead level was high in all participants, compared to the international values, which might indicate a high level of lead exposure in Iraqi children due to environmental pollution. Autistic children have higher lead levels than non-autistic ones and this might explain the role of lead in the etiology of autism.

Objectives: To explore the correlation between maternal and cord blood prolactin, the correlation between cord prolactin and birth weight, and to compare cord blood prolactin in new-borns of women with normal pregnancy and women with pregnancy complications namely; gestational hypertension, gestational diabetes and preterm labour.Methods: This study was performed from September to December 2018. Thirty-two women, delivered at Baghdad teaching hospital, and their newborns (32) were included. Maternal blood (5 ml) was taken before labour and cord blood (5 ml) was collected after placenta expulsion. Maternal and cord blood prolactin were analysed using fluorescence immunoassay. Results: Cord blood prolactin was higher in babies born to hypertensive women (405.28±77.52 ng/ml) than normal pregnancy women (244.80±60.80 ng/ml), P=0.000. Also, cord prolactin in gestational hypertension group was significantly higher than diabetic (P=0.006) and preterm labour (P=0.000) groups. No significant difference was noticed in cord blood prolactin in newborns of diabetic and normal pregnancy women (299.28±37.01, 244.80±60.80 ng/ml respectively, P=0.053). Preterm babies had lower cord prolactin (204.57±22.90 ng/ml) than normal pregnancy babies (244.80±60.80 ng/ml), however the difference was non-significant, P=0.118. Positive correlation was found between cord and maternal prolactin (P=0.000) and between cord prolactin and birth weight (P=0.018). Conclusion: Cord blood prolactin is high in newborns of hypertensive women, low in preterm neonates. Diabetes has no effect on cord prolactin level. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.35.4.558 How to cite this:Alawad ZM, Al-Omary HL. Maternal and cord blood prolactin level and pregnancy complications. Pak J Med Sci. 2019;35(4):---------. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.35.4.558 This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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Background: Assessment is an important part of the learning cascade in education. Students realize it as an influential motivator to direct and guide their learning. The method of assessment determines the way the students reach high levels of learning. It has been documented that one of factor affecting students’ choice of learning approach is the way how assessment is being performed. Many methods of assessment namely multiple choice questions, essay questions and others are mainly used to assess basic science knowledge in undergraduate education. Objectives: The aim of this study is to compare multiple choice questions (MCQ) and essay questions (EQ) (record the success and failure rate of multiple choice questions (MCQ) and essay questions (EQ)) in regards to the Physiology questions.Methods: A retrospective study was done in which the results of the physiology exams -held in the medical college in Baghdad University -in 2010 are recorded. The number of students underwent the exam was 255. A total of 100 essay questions (EQs) and 100 multiple choice questions (MCQs) were evaluated from the written examinations delivered to second year medical students questions belonged to final examination.Results: Regarding essay questions that have been answered, 33.5% of the questions were not answered as a total. 188 students out of 255 had succeeded which represent 73.7% of the students. Out of 78 marks for MCQ, 46.33 had been achieved, and out of 22 marks for essay 12.9 have been achieved. the success in MCQ questions was 82.9% while in the Essay questions was 67.7% and the failure in both types was 12.5%. Out of 100 questions for both MCQ and Essay questions 55.1±7.9 questions were answered for the MCQ and 51.1±15.3 Essay questions were answered. In general the percentage of the succeeded students was 73. 7% and that of failed students was 26.3%.Conclusion: There is no significant difference in the success rate between MCQs and EQs. الخلفية: يعد التقييم عنصرا هاما في سلسلة التعلم في التعليم. يدرك الطلاب أنها حافز مؤثر لتوجيه تعلمهم. ويحدد أسلوب التقييم طريقة وصول الطلبة إلى مستويات عالية من التعلم. وقد تم توثيق أن أحد العوامل التي تؤثر على اختيار الطلاب لموقف التعلم هو طريقة تقييمهم. يتم تطبيق العديد من أساليب التقييم وهي أسئلة الاختيار من متعدد، أسئلة مقالة وغيرها أساسا لفحص العلوم الأساسية الفهم في التعليم الجامعي. الهدف: الهدف من هذه الدراسة هو مقارنة أسئلة الاختيار من متعدد وأسئلة مقال (تقييم نجاح وفشل معدل أسئلة الاختيار من متعدد وأسئلة مقال) فيما يتعلق باسئلة علم وظائف الأعضاء. الطريقة: أجريت دراسة بأثر رجعي تم فيها تسجيل نتائج امتحانات علم وظائف الأعضاء - التي تم تسجيلها في الكلية الطبية لجامعة بغداد - في عام 2010. وبلغ عدد الطلاب الذين خضعوا للامتحان 255. تم تقييم مجموعه 100 أسئلة مقالة و 100 أسئلة الاختيار من متعدد من الامتحانات المكتوبة التي تدار لطلاب الطب السنة الثانية (الأسئلة تنتمي إلى الامتحان النهائي) النتائج: فيما يتعلق بأسئلة المقالات التي تم الرد عليها، لم يتم الإجابة على 33.5٪ من الأسئلة في المجموع. وقد نجح 188 طالبا من أصل 255 طالبا يمثلون 73.7 في المائة من الطلاب. ومن أصل 78 علامة ل سؤال متعدد الاختيارات، تم تحقيق 46.33، ومن أصل 22 علامة للمقالة 12.9 قد تحققت. وكان النجاح في الأسئلة متعدد الاختيارات، 82.9٪ في حين كان في أسئلة المقال 67.7٪ والفشل في كلا النوعين كان 12.5٪. من أصل 100 سؤال لكل من الأسئلة متعدد الاختيارات و اسئلة المقال، تم الرد على 55.07 ± 7.99 من الأسئلة متعدد الاختيارات و 51.13 ± 15.28 للمقالة. وبشكل عام بلغت نسبة الطلبة الناجحين 73.7٪، وبلغت نسبة الطلبة الفاشلين 26.3٪ الخلاصة: كان معدل النجاح لكل من الأسئلة متعدد الاختيارات وأسئلة المقال نفسه تقريبا مما أدى إلى معدل نجاح إجمالي 73.7٪ الذي يلبي نتائج الدراسات الأخرى التي أجريت مقارنة نوعي الأسئلة.