BACKGROUND: Coronavirus current pandemic (COVID-19) is the striking subject worldwide hitting countries in an unexplained non-universal pattern. Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) vaccine was an adopted recent justification depending on its non-specific immune activation properties. Still the problem of post-vaccine short duration of protection needs to be solved. The same protective mechanism was identified in active or latent tuberculosis (TB). For each single patient of active TB, there are about nine cases of asymptomatic latent TB apparently normal individuals living within the community without restrictions carrying benefits of immune activation and involved in re-infection cycles in an excellent example of repeated immunity training sessions of the whole community. AIM: We aimed to asses the correlation between TB burden and COVID-19 mortality in all affected countries having different BCG vaccination policies. METHODS: Publicly available data were extracted for 191 countries including population size, TB estimations, national BCG vaccination policy, the World Health Organization regions and economic classification, and COVID-19 mortality and number of cases. The analysis was performed using Spearman’s correlation test. RESULTS: Significant large negative correlation (−0.539, p < 0.001) was found between TB prevalence and COVID-19 mortality rate worldwide. Medium negative significant correlations were found between TB cases and COVID-19 mortality in the high and lower middle-income countries, and those having current BCG vaccination programs (−0.395, p = 0.001, −0.365, p = 0.015, and −0.476, p < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: Countries with high TB prevalence have higher chances of protection against COVID-19 mortality through the theory of widely distributed natural immune activation within community. Confounders should be assessed separately.
Improving students’ use of argumentation is front and center in the increasing emphasis on scientific practice in K-12 Science and STEM programs. We explore the construct validity of scenario-based assessments of claim-evidence-reasoning (CER) and the structure of the CER construct with respect to a learning progression framework. We also seek to understand how middle school students progress. Establishing the purpose of an argument is a competency that a majority of middle school students meet, whereas quantitative reasoning is the most difficult, and the Rasch model indicates that the competencies form a unidimensional hierarchy of skills. We also find no evidence of differential item functioning between different scenarios, suggesting
... Show MoreThe study aimed to reach the best rating for the views and variables in the totals characterized by qualities and characteristics common within each group and distinguish them from aggregates other for the purpose of distinguishing between Iraqi provinces which suffer from deprivation, for the purpose of identifying the status of those provinces in the early allowing interested parties and regulators to intervene to take appropriate corrective action in a timely manner. Style has been used cluster analysis Cluster analysis to reach the best rating to those totals from the provinces that suffer from problems, where the provinces were classified, based on the variables (Edu
... Show MoreBackground: Alveolar ridge expansion is proposed when the alveolar crest thickness is ≤5 mm. The screw expansion technique has been utilized for many years to expand narrow alveolar ridges. Recently, the osseodensification technique has been suggested as a reliable technique to expand narrow alveolar ridges with effective width gain and as little surgical operating time as possible. The current study aimed to compare osseodensification and screw expansion in terms of clinical width gain and operating time. Materials and methods: Forty implant osteotomies were performed in deficient horizontal alveolar ridges (3–5 mm). A total of 19 patients aged 21–59 years were randomized into two groups: the screw expansion group, which invo
... Show MoreThe study deals with an analysis of the contents of the publications of the campaign (Together to defeat Corona), which was established by the United Nations Development Program in Iraq in the face of the Covid 19 virus.The research problem raises a main question:What are the implications of the campaign (Together to defeat Corona) of the United Nations Development Program (Iraq office) in addressing the Covid-19 virus in Iraq?From this main question, several sub-questions emerged, which were answered by this study in its chapters and investigations, including regarding the contents of advertisements, photos and videos for the publications of the (Together to Defeat Corona) campaign for the United Nations Iraq Office on their Facebook pageA
... Show MoreB aa cc kk gg r oo uu nn dd : Very low birth weight (VLBW) neonates constitute approximately 4–7 percent of all live births and their mortality is very high. O bb j ee cc t i vv ee: to find out if there is a relationship between Very Low Birth Weight Neonates and increased neonatal mortality for age 0 to 7 days. M ee t hh oo dd ss A retrospective study of VLBW neonates admitted to NICU at Ibn Al- Baladi Pediatrics and Maternity hospital over one year (2012)were studied, study period was from April till August 2013. Exclusion criteria were: (1) neonates weighing less than 700 g and with gestational age less than 24 weeks (abortion) (2) death in the delivery room (3) neonates weighing more than 1500 g. (4) Postnatal age more than 7 days.
... Show MoreBackground: Very low birth weight (VLBW) neonates constitute approximately 4–7 percent of all live births and their mortality is very high.
Objective: to find out if there is a relationship between Very Low Birth Weight Neonates and increased neonatal mortality for age 0 to 7 days.
Methods: A retrospective study of VLBW neonates admitted to NICU at Ibn Al- Baladi Pediatrics and Maternity hospital over one year (2012)were studied, The study period was from April till August 2013. Exclusion criteria were: (1) neonates weighing less than 700 g and with gestational age less than 24 weeks (abortion) (2) death in the delivery room (3) neonates weighing more than 1500 g. (4) Postnatal age more than 7 days. The outcome measure was in-hos
Back ground: In Iraq, after 2003 had more
accidents of the shell, bullet and stab abdominal
wounds, more over colon injuries.
Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate
the most appropriate management of penetrating
colon injuries, comparing the primary repair with
the diversion.
Methods: Eighty patient series with shell, bullet
and stab colonic injuries during 4.5 years period
from June 2006-december 2010 at Al-Yarmouk
teaching hospital. The study compared the use of
primary repair versus diversion, analyzing
variables such as sex, age, severity of injury and
mortality rate.
Results: there were total 80 patients ,62 (77.5%)
male and 18(22.5%) female .male :female ratio
3.4:1. the most
Background: Laparoscopic surgery for
appendicitis is now a well established and
advanced method of performing general surgical
procedures.
Objectives: To compare the outcome of
laparoscopic and open appendectomies in terms
of operative time, analgesic requirement,
postoperative complications, hospital stay, return
to normal activity and condition of scar.
Methods: This prospective study was carried
out from 1stMay 2008-1st January 2010, involving
110 patients (45 male and 65 female) with
features suggestive of acute appendicitis were
divided into 45 patients laparoscopic
appendectomy (LA) group and 65 patients open
appendectomy (OA) group, after taking informed
consent. LA was done with the