Background: Coronary artery disease remains the main cause of death despite several preventive programs. Epicardial adipose tissue is a visceral fat depot of the heart located along the large coronary arteries and on the surface of ventricles and apex. Intima media thickness is commonly recognized as the initial stage in the development of atherosclerosis. The development of ultrasound machines, advances in echocardiographic devices and high resolution transducers facilitate comprehensive analysis of epicardial fat thickness (EFT) and carotid –intima media thickness (C-IMT).
Aim: To investigate the relationship of echocardiographic epicardial fat thickness (EFT) and carotid –intima media thickness (C-IMT) with the severity of coronary artery disease.
Methods: A cross sectional multicenter diagnostic accuracy study carried out at Ibn Al-Nafis Cardiovascular Hospital, Ibn Al- Bitar Cardiology Center and Ghazi Al-Hariri Hospital –Iraqi Center for Cardiology during the period between October 2016 and May 2017 assessing. History regarding demographic data and risk factors was taken. Two dimensional transthoracic echocardiographic measurements were done. EFT was measured from parasternal long axis view perpendicular to the right ventricular free wall. C-IMT was measured according to that recommended by the American society of echocardiography (ASE).
Results: The current study demonstrated that the EFT has a direct and significant correlation with the number of involved vessels (P value ˂ 0.001, r= 0.770). The validity of EFT to discriminate between multiple vessels disease and no vessel involvement is excellent (AUC= 0.984, cut point > 8mm, sensitivity=92.9%, specificity= 93.3%). There is inverse and significant correlation between ejection fraction (EF) and three vessels disease (P value ˂ 0.001, r= -0.507). Also there is a direct and significant correlation between C-IMT and severity of CAD. ROC analysis for validity of C-IMT to discriminate between multiple vessels disease and no vessel involvement is excellent (AUC= 0.961, cut point > 1.04mm, sensitivity=92.9%. specificity=86.7%). C-IMT is fair to discriminate between single vessel disease and no vessel involvement (AUC=0.738, cut point ˃ 0.84mm, sensitivity 100%), so if correlated with age, C-IMT above 0.84 can be used as a cut off point for the prediction of CAD. Finally, EFT and C-IMT are more likely to reflect severity of CAD than their ratio.
Conclusions: C-IMT and EFT are simple and reproducible parameters that can be used as a screening tool for the presence and severity of CAD especially before symptoms appearance in high risk patients
Femtosecond laser pulse propagation in monomode optical fibers is demonstrated and investigated numerically (by simulations) and experimentally in this paper. A passively mode locked Nd:glass laser giving a pulse duration of about 200 fsec at 1053 nm wavelength and 120 mW average optical power with 100 MHz repetition rate is used in the experimental work. Numerical simulations are done by solving the nonlinear Schrödinger equation with the aid of Matlab program. The results show that self phase modulation (SPM) leads to compression of the spectral width from 5 nm to 2.1 nm after propagation of different optical powers (34, 43, 86 and 120 mW) in fibers of different length (5, 15, 35 m). The varying optical powers produced a varying
... Show MoreTwo of the main advantages of segmental construction are economics, as well as the rapid construction technique. One of the forms of segmental construction, for structural elements, is the segmental beams that built-in short sections, which referred to segments. This research aims to exhibit a new technique for the fabrication of short-span segmental beams from wedge-shaped concrete segments and carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRP) in laminate form. The experimental campaign included eight short-span segmental beams. In this study, two selected parameters were considered. These parameters are; the number of layers of CFRP laminates and the adhesive material that used to bond segments to each other, forming short-span segmental be
... Show MoreIn this work, a simulated study was carried out for designing a novel spiral rectangular patch of microstrip antenna that is used in ultra-wideband applications by using a high frequency structure simulator software (HFSS). A substrate with dielectric constant of 4.4 and height 2.10 mm (commercial substrate height available is about 0.8-1.575 mm) has been used for the design of the proposed antenna. The design basis for enhancing bandwidth in the frequency range 6.63 - 10.93 GHz is based on increasing the edge areas that positively affect the antenna's efficiency. This design makes the designed antenna cost less by reducing the area of the patch. It has been noticed that the bandwidth of the antenna under this study is increasing to 4.30
... Show MoreObjective: The evaluation of serum osteocalcin (OSN) for Iraqi infertile patients to see the effect of osteocalcin insufficiency, which may lead to a decreased level of testosterone production in males that may cause infertility. Methods: Forty two newly diagnosed infertile males age range (24–47) years and thirty two apparently healthy males as controls age range (25–58) years. Serum levels of testosterone (TEST), stimulating follicle hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin (PROL), osteocalcin OSN, and fasting blood sugar (FBS) were performed in both patients and controls. Estimation of serum OSN by Immulite1000 auto-analyzer, TEST, FSH, LH, PROL, and FBS by Immulite2000 auto-analyzer. Results: Infertile patients
... Show MoreThis work deals with the preparation of a zeolite/polymer flat sheet membrane with hierarchical porosity and ion-exchange properties. The performance of the prepared membrane was examined by the removal of chromium ions from simulated wastewater. A NaY zeolite (crystal size of 745.8 nm) was prepared by conventional hydrothermal treatment and fabricated with polyethersulfone (15% PES) in dimethylformamide (DMF) to obtain an ion-exchange ultrafiltration membrane. The permeate flux was enhanced by increasing the zeolite content within the membrane texture indicating increasing the hydrophilicity of the prepared membranes and constructing a hierarchically porous system. A membrane contain
The finding of novel pollutants in a multitude of surface water bodies worldwide has recently caused environmentalists to face challenges. Therefore, the development of low-cost, efficient technologies is required to provide a safe, pollution-free water environment. The attapulgite surface was used in this study because it has a good absorbent surface for removing bromocresol purple dye from its aqueous solutions. Because attapulgite has a high absorption capacity, it can be used to remove pollutants in both its normal and modified states. Factors affecting adsorption were studied, such as the weight of the adsorbent surface, the initial concentration of the adsorbent, contact time, and the effect of temperature. Clay was ground, cleaned mu
... Show MoreObjective: This study aimed to assessing new suggested technique of Physical Growth Curves (PGC) charts in
children under two years old of a non-probability sample.
Methodology: A non-probability sample of size (420) children under two years selected from 12 Primary
Health Care Centers in Diyala governorate during the period from 15th Nov. 2010 to 13th Mar. 2011
according to admix of a different properties together in one chart/or growth curve chart included in at least
weight, Height, and Head circumference.
Results: the results showed different properties that can be admix together in one chart/or growth curve
chart included in at least weight, Height, and Head circumference. And to overtake the problem of the norm
The study examines Julia Alvarez's role as a Dominican American author, poet, and essayist. Despite being born in New York City in 1950, she was raised in the Dominican Republic by a family with Dominican heritage. Her residence in her ancestral homeland significantly influenced her subsequent literary works. Upon her father's implication in a conspiracy against Dominican President, he departed from the Dominican Republic. Alvarez encountered the challenge of the English language. They were compelled to acquire proficiency in English due to the prevailing perception that anyone who spoke a language other than English were deemed "un-American" during that period. Alvarez recounted her initial encounters in the United States and the subseque
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