All major organs may be impacted by the connective disease systemic lupus erythematosus, a separate risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD). Adhesion molecules like intercellular adhesion molecules (ICAM) and vascular cell adhesion molecules (VCAM) can detect endothelial damage and dysfunction, which appear to play a crucial role. This study investigated whether people with SLE had elevated subclinical and clinical atherosclerosis risk factors. Traditional CAD risk factors such as smoking, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia cannot entirely explain this elevation. It is thought that immunological dysfunction also increases CAD risk in SLE patients. The study aimed to assess early endothelial changes in SLE Iraqi female patients without previous coronary artery lesions by exploring a potential relationship between circulating VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 as risk factors for atherosclerosis and the relationship of CAD with SLE disease and its severity; further, the study explained the effect of the hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) on the lipid profile levels of the patients. 92 female SLE patients were divided into mild, moderate, and severe, according to the SLE disease activity index 2000 (SLEDAI-2k), compared with 30 apparently healthy control individuals. All of them need a history of CAD. Serum VCAM-1, ICAM-1 level, VCAM-1/ICAM1 ratio, TC, HDL, LDL levels TC/HDL and LDL/HDL ratios were measured. sVCAM-1, sICAM-1 levels and VCAM-1/ICAM-1 ratio were significantly and gradually increased in patient groups compared with control. Serum TC, HDL and LDL levels were significantly reduced in the SLE patients compared to the control. At the same time, the TC/HDL and LDL/HDL ratios were significantly elevated with the severity of the SLE disease. sVCAM-1, sICAM-1 level and VCAM1/ICAM-1 ratio together with serum TC/HDL and LDL/HDL may improve coronary artery disease risk categorization in SLE patients without acute coronary syndromes. Furthermore, they were more sensitive in severe SLE instances than in moderate and mild ones, suggesting that they may be related to the extent of coronary lesions in SLE patients. VCAM-1 had a higher sensitivity than ICAM-1 in detecting and severity screening for CAD in SLE patients. Keywords: VCAM-1, ICAM-1, SLE, Atherosclerosis
At the end of 2019, a new form of Coronavirus (later dubbed COVID-19) emerged in China and quickly spread to other regions of the globe. Despite the virus’s unique and unknown characteristics, it is a widely distributed infectious illness. Finding the geographical distribution of the virus transmission is therefore critical for epidemiologists and governments in order to respond to the illness epidemic rapidly and effectively. Understanding the dynamics of COVID-19’s spatial distribution can help to understand the pandemic’s scope and effects, as well as decision-making, planning, and community action aimed at preventing transmission. The main focus of this study is to investigate the geographic patterns of COVID-19 disseminat
... Show MoreThe implementation of decentralization in Iraq was asymmetrical, leading to different forms and paces of implementation. Comparing four cases of Basra, Kirkuk, Nineveh, and Sulaymaniyah indicate that these cases differ in their political stability and autonomy in a way that led to a different forms of decentralization. This paper argues that the higher the level of political autonomy from the federal government, the more efficient the governance model, and the more efficient the governance model, the more legitimate the system (trust), and the more legitimate a system, the more accountable elected officials. Therefore, it recommends reforming the institutional setup of decentralization by having districts, instead of provinces, as t
... Show MoreIraq is highly dependent on international markets to provide food for its residents. As imported food prices are highly dependent on crude oil prices in global markets, any shock in oil prices will have an impact on food consumption in the country. As a result, it is essential to study the demand for imported food at every time period. To the best of our knowledge as researchers, as not even a single study is available in the literature, this paper is considered the first to study the demand for imported food groups in Iraq. Therefore, the main objective of this research is to estimate demand elasticities for several imported food categories in Iraq. This study uses an Almost Ideal Demand System model to analyze the demand for imported f
... Show MoreIt is obvious that the constitutional- political structures which has been emerged in Iraq after the occupation in 2003 frame worked by many sectarian, ethnic, tribal and political orientations, pushing forewords to escalating the contradictions between social- political powers, however, these changes unfortunately result not just destroy and taking apart the political regime and his authority, but the state and his institutions as well, although, did not stamped as wise and rational change for better future to new Iraq and its political, civil and military institutions. Finally, as quick as Iraq start to bisects to sectarian, ethnic and national components according to the new political – social components of Iraq. Indeed, what is req
... Show MoreThe implementation of decentralization in Iraq was asymmetrical, leading to different forms and paces of implementation. Comparing four cases of Basra, Kirkuk, Nineveh, and Sulaymaniyah indicate that these cases differ in their political stability and autonomy in a way that led to a different forms of decentralization. This paper argues that the higher the level of political autonomy from the federal government, the more efficient the governance model, and the more efficient the governance model, the more legitimate the system (trust), and the more legitimate a system, the more accountable elected officials. Therefore, it recommends reforming the institutional setup of decentralization by having districts, instead of provinces, as the bu
... Show MoreThe study includes the phytoplankton compositions in Alaaras Lake , in summer 2008 and winter , spring , summer 2009. Samples were collected from three selected sites at north , middle and south of lake. A total of 74 taxa of phytoplankton were identified . The diatoms were the dominated by 44 taxa represented 82.8% of the total indentified species, followed by green algae ( Chlorophyta ) of 20 taxa (8.5%), and blue green algae (Cyanophyta of 7 taxa (7.2%). Tow species were recorded of Pyrrophyta and one species of Euglenophyta .The seasonal variation for Diatoms density showed tow peaks during Autumn and summer. Few species were dominated during the most studied period such as Cocconeis placentula var. euglypta, Synedra fasciculata and
... Show MoreThe aim of this study is to achieve the best distinguishing function of the variables which have common characteristics to distinguish between the groups in order to identify the situation of the governorates that suffer from the problem of deprivation. This allows the parties concerned and the regulatory authorities to intervene to take corrective measures. The main indicators of the deprivation index included (education, health, infrastructure, housing, protection) were based on 2010 data available in the Central Bureau of Statistics
Investment Bases directly and closely to an environment characterized by political, social and economic stability, and through a range of policies and institutions and economic laws that affect investor confidence and convince him directing investments to country without the other, where inter conditions and circumstances affecting the trends of capital and settle in, and political situation of the country and what is characterized of stability or disorder as well as economic conditions that are affected by what is distinguishes the country from geographic and demographic characteristics are reflected on availability of production elements and country's infrastructure.
... Show MoreStudies were conducted from 1980 to 1989 to determine the insect pests infested animal museum collections in Iraq. Twelve species of Coleoptera were recovered, eleven belonged to the Dermestidae, and one to the Tenebrionidae. Of these Anthrenus coloratus Reitt. and Phradonoma nobile (Reitt.) were the most commonest and widely distributed species. Trogoderma bactrianum Zhant. and Orphilus niger (Rossi) were recorded here for the first time in Iraq.