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 MoreThe currency in circulation is a key element of the monetary supply system of the Iraqi economy because itreflects the level of economic activity and the liquidity level in the market. It can be expressed as an important tool when formulating monetary policy. This research aims to analyze and forecast the behavior of the currency in circulation in Iraq using the ARMA-GARCH model for monthly data from 2004 to 2025 to understand the dynamics of monetary liquidity, The sample was divided into two parts: approximately 80% for the training set (2004-2021), and approximately 20% for the testing set (2022-2025). Data were analyzed in Python using many packages. The results showed that the time series was initially non-stationary but became
... Show MoreBackground: Medical students often face substantial psychological stress, which can increase the risk of substance use, professional detriment, and insufficient patient care. However, substance use in medical students remains understudied in Iraq. This study highlights the prevalence, patterns, risk factors, and negative effects of substance use among medical students at the University of Baghdad. A cross-sectional study involving 414 medical students at the University of Baghdad was conducted. The questionnaire included sociodemographic variables and the Alcohol, Smoking, and Substance Involvement Screening Test to screen for psychoactive substance use. The lifetime prevalence of substance use was 38.9%. Among substance users, 42.8
... Show MoreBackground: 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
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
KE Sharquie, AA Noaimi, Journal of the Saudi Society of Dermatology & Dermatologic Surgery, 2012 - Cited by 36
Background: Acute cholecystitis is common surgical
problem, which was treated previously by conservative
treatment .Later early open has been introduced as an
alternative to interval for treatment of acute cholecystitis.
Early open was found to be a safe, successful with
comparable postoperative complication rate. With the
advent of laparoscopy laparoscopic have been used for
chronic cholecystitis and became the first line of
treatment. New reports have shown that laparoscopic can
be used as an alternative to open for surgical treatment of
acute cholecystitis.
Objectives: to compare the success, safety of early
laparoscopic versus early open as a primary treatment of
acute cholecystitis.
Methods:
A new concrete rheometer is introduced including its innovation, actual design, working rules,
calibration, and reliability. A modified design of Tattersall two-point device is created. Some of
components are purchased from local and foreign markets, while other components and the
manufacturing process are locally fabricated. The matching viscosity method of determining the mixer
viscometer constants is demonstrated and followed to relate torque and rotational speed to yield stress
and viscosity (Bingham parameters). The calibration procedures and its calculation are explained.
Water is used as a Newtonian fluid, while; cement paste (cement + water) with w/c ratio equal to
(0.442) is used as a non-Newtonian fluid. Th