Background: Pleural effusion is a common clinical
problem.
Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the
diagnostic utility of Carcino embryonic antigen
(CEA), CA 15- 3, and alpha-feto protein ( AFP ) as
a tumor markers in serum and pleural effusion and
evaluate the value of combining them as a diagnostic
tools that are complementary to cytology in the
diagnosis of malignancies .
Methods: Forty patients (18 malignant and 22 benign
pleural effusion) were included in this study .The
serum and effusion levels of CEA, CA 15 – 3 and
AFP were measured using immunoradiometric assay
Results: from the 40 effusions studied 26 were
exudates and 14 were transudates. The level of
pleural effusions of CEA, CA 15 – 3 and AFP were
increased above the cutoffs in 72.5%, 94.4 % and 5.5
% of tested samples with malignancies respectively.
A direct strong significant correlation between serum
and pleural fluid CEA, CA 15 – 3 and AFP was
noted.
Conclusion: Pleural effusion CEA is the most
accurate marker for the diagnostic separation of
malignant and benign. The combination of both CEA,
CA 15 – 3 improves the sensitivity by up to 11 %.
AFP has no role in the process
There are many techniques that can be used to estimate the spray quality traits such as the spray coverage, droplet density, droplet count, and droplet diameter. One of the most common techniques is to use water sensitive papers (WSP) as a spray collector on field conditions and analyzing them using several software. However, possible merger of some droplets could occur after they deposit on WSP, and this could affect the accuracy of the results. In this research, image processing technique was used for better estimation of the spray traits, and to overcome the problem of droplet merger. The droplets were classified as non-merged and merged droplets based on their roundness, then the merged droplets were separated based on the average non-m
... Show MoreThis research includes synthesis of new heterocyclic derivatives of N-benzyl-5-bromoisatin. New 1, 2, 4-triazole, oxazoline and thiazoline derivatives of [N-benzyl-5-bromo-3-(Ethyliminoacetate)-indole-2-one] (2) have been synthesized. The preparation process started by the reaction of 5-bromoisatin with sodium hydride in dimethylformamide (DMF) at 0°C, gave suspension of sodium salt of 5-bromoisatin and subsequent reaction with benzylchloride to give N-benzyl-5-bromoisatin (1). Compound (1) reacted with ethylglycinate (Schiff base) obtained the intermediate compound (2) which reacted with different reagents in two ways. The first way, compound (2) reacted with (hydrazine hydrate, semicarbazide, phenylsemicarbazide and thiosemicarbazide)
... Show MoreWhen the number of confirmed coronavirus disease cases rose in Iraq in the middle of February 2021, the Iraqi government performed a closure approach to constrain mobility and factory operations and enforce social distancing. In this research, the concentrations of air components (PM2.5, PM10, nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and ozone (O3)), which represent herein the degree of air quality index, were recorded, drawn and evaluated over central (Baghdad, the capital), northern (Kirkuk Province) and southern (Basra Province) Iraq before and during the closure. The experimental duration of this research was 6 months (from 1 January 2021 to 30 June 2021), which
... Show MoreThis work investigates the effect of the gas nitriding process on the surface layer microstructure and mechanical properties for steel 37, tool steel X155CrVMo12-1 and stainless steel 316L. Nitriding was conducted at a temperature of 550 °C for 2 hours during the first stage and at 750 °C for 4 hours during the second stage. SEM and X-ray diffraction tests were performed to evaluate the microstructural features and the major phases formed after surface treatment. SEM and X-ray diffraction tests were performed to assess the microstructural features and the primary phases formed after surface treatment. The new secondary precipitates were identified as γ′-Fe4N, ε (Fe2–3N), and α-Fe, exhibiting an uneven chain-like pattern wit
... Show More
CD-nanosponges were prepared by crosslinking B-CD with diphenylcarbonate (DPC) using ultrasound assisted technique. 5-FU was incorporated with NS by freeze drying, and the phase solubility study, complexation efficiency (CE) entrapment efficiency were performed. Also, the particle morphology was studied using SEM and AFM. The in-vitro release of 5-FU from the prepared nanosponges was carried out in 0.1N HCl.
5-FU nanosponges particle size was in the nano size. The optimum formula showed a particle size of (405.46±30) nm, with a polydispersity index (PDI) (0.328±0.002) and a negative zeta potential (-18.75±1.8). Also the drug entrapment efficiency varied with the CD: DPC molar ratio from 15.6 % to 30%. The SEM an
... Show MoreLaue back reflection patterns for quartz crystal are indexed by using Orient Express- program to simulate orientation of single crystals from assignment of principle zones. An oriented quartz single crystal was used as a substrate to deposit Zn metal by controlled thermal evaporation to achieve single crystal films of Zn that are subsequently evaluated by x-ray powder diffraction.
The aim: Infection with the hepatitis B virus (HBV) caused by blood transfusion is a big problem throughout the world. The aim of study is to determine the faster and more accurate methods for detection of hepatitis B infections by serological screening and PCR- amplification. Materials and methods: A total of 140528 donors were tested for HBsAg and total anti-HBc from January to October 2021 in Iraq’s National Blood Transfusion Center; however, only 100 samples with HBsAg (-) and anti-HBc (+) were collected and tested for HBV DNA using quantitative real-time PCR. Results: From 2015 to 2021, the percentage of HBsAg positive donors was 0.33 percent in 2015, 0.32 percent in 2016, 0.30 percent in 2017, 0.28 percent in 2018, 0.23 pe
... Show MoreA significant amount of apiaries is destroyed in most areas of Iraq by attacking of the hornet
Diesel engine oil was subjected to thermal oxidization (TO) for six periods of time (0 h, 24 h, 48 h, 72 h, 96 h, and 120 h) and was subsequently characterized by terahertz time domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS). The THz refractive index generally increased with oxidation time. The measurement method illustrated the potential of THz-TDS when a fixed setup with a single cuvette is used. A future miniaturized setup installed in an engine would be an example of a fixed setup. For the refractive index, there were highly significant differences among the oxidation times across most of the 0.3–1.7 THz range.