Journal of Ideas in Health
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Evaluation of salivary IL-10 and IL-8 as predictive biomarker in patient with oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma
Get PDFBackground: The incidence and mortality rates of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) vary globally, yet the cancer continues to pose significant morbidity and mortality risks. This study sought to assess salivary IL-8 and IL-10 as biomarkers for identifying malignant oral lesions.
Methods: Between March 2022 and May 2023, a case-control study at the Dental Center of New Baquba, Diyala, Iraq, collected saliva for IL-8 and IL-10 measurement via ELISA. An independent t-test compared IL-8 and IL-10 means based on age and gender, while ROC analysis gauged specificity and sensitivity.
Results: The prevalence of OSCC was evenly distributed across genders, with a higher occurrence among patients aged over 55 years (87.5%). OSCC distribution in the oral cavity indicated the lips as the most affected area (40.0%), followed by the tongue (37.0%), and the hard and soft palate (12.50%). Statistically significant differences were noted in IL-10 and IL-8 levels between the study and control groups across all age brackets, except for IL-8 in the age ≤55 (p ≤ 0.05). Elevated mean levels of IL-10 and IL-8 were observed in the older age group (>55), with IL-10 showing a greater increase in males (71.99±3.6), while IL-8 levels were higher in females. IL-10 demonstrated higher sensitivity (90%) and specificity (60%) with an optimal cutoff point value of 43.29, whereas IL-8 exhibited a sensitivity of 80% and a specificity of 47.5% with an optimal cutoff point value of 44.48.
Conclusion: Individuals aged over 55 showed higher IL-10 and IL-8 levels, particularly in males for IL-10 and in females for IL-8. Salivary biomarkers hold promise for early OSCC detection
Examining the role of salivary IL-2 and IL-22 in recurrent aphthous stomatitis: a diagnostic approach
Get PDFBackground: Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is a prevalent inflammatory condition, that manifests as mouth ulcers. This study aims to evaluate IL-2 and IL-22 levels in saliva samples of individuals with recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) compared to healthy volunteers.
Methods: A case-control study was conducted between April 1st and September 30th, 2023, at the Dental Center of New Baquba, Diyala, Iraq. Saliva samples were collected from 40 patients diagnosed with recurrent aphthous stomatitis and 40 healthy controls. IL-2 and IL-22 levels were assessed in both groups using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Statistical analysis, employing paired sample ‘t’ test, was conducted with a significance threshold below.
Results: In the case group, the mean age was 53.4 years (SD=1.58), ranging from 26 to 81 years, while in the control group, it was 47.18 years (SD=1.55), ranging from 24 to 78 years. Females predominated in both groups, comprising 62.5% in cases and 52.2% in controls. Most aphthous ulcers (77.5%) were found in the buccal mucosa, with minor aphthous ulcers being the most common (67.5%). Results from paired-samples t-tests revealed significantly higher levels of IL-2 in RAS cases (M=62.090, SD=20.242) compared to controls (M=36.366, SD=14.596), (t(39)=7.101, p < 0.001). Similarly, IL-22 levels were significantly elevated in RAS cases (M=106.537, SD=44.112) compared to controls (M=73.399, SD=32.852), (t(39)=3.553, p=0.001). These results suggest a potential association between RAS and increased IL-2 and IL-22 levels, indicating their involvement in RAS pathophysiology.
Conclusion: In summary, females showed a significant predominance in RAS cases. Significant differences were observed in IL-2 and IL-22 levels between case and control groups
Assessment of factors related to caregivers and children on the IMCI program outcomes in Baghdad City in 2021
Get PDFBackground: The implementation of the Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) program has led to enhancement in outcomes for many treatable childhood diseases. This study aims to assess how implementing IMCI affects child mortality and morbidity in Iraq.
Methods: A cross-sectional study spanning from January to December 2021 was carried out at primary healthcare centers (PHCCs) with IMCI units in Baghdad, Iraq. Using a lottery sampling method, 40 PHCCs were randomly chosen from a total of 235 centers across both sides of the city. A universal sampling technique was adopted to select all children attending these PHCCs regularly. With a p-value below 5%, multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the significant independent predictors at a 95% confidence interval.
Results: The majority of caregivers were mothers (97.8%), aged 20 to 30 years (75.8%), and housewives (59.2%). Sixty percent of children (6 to 35 months) had normal anthropometric measurements. Bottle feeding was common (44.2%), and most children had a normal neonatal history (82.9%). In bivariate analysis, the severity of illness, severe cases of diarrhea, and acute respiratory infection (ARI) showed significant associations with worsened or not improved outcomes (χ2 = 18.900, p < 0.001; χ2 = 6.265, p= 0.016; and χ2 = 7.549, p= 0.003, respectively). However, multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that mild and moderate illness severity (OR = 10.634, 95% CI: 6.985 to 16.192, p < 0.001), strict breastfeeding (OR = 3.307, 95% CI: 1.703 to 6.421, p < 0.001), and completing treatment at home (OR = 6.190, 95% CI: 4.115 to 9.311, p < 0.001) significantly improved outcomes through IMCI services.
Conclusion: Severe illness, especially in diarrhea and ARI, correlates with poorer outcomes. Conversely, exclusive breastfeeding, prompt medical attention within a day of illness onset, and completing home treatment are associated with improved outcomes
Community mental health doulas (CMHD): a novel approach to addressing mental health challenges in America
Get PDFBackground: Mental health challenges in the United States persist, with significant disparities in access to care and outcomes. The Community Mental Health Doulas (CMHD) model emerges as a novel approach to address these issues by providing community-based, culturally competent support.
Methods: A literature review was conducted, synthesizing research on doula care, community health workers, and mental health interventions published between 2018 and 2024.
Results: The CMHD model shows promise in improving continuity of care, enhancing cultural competence, reducing stigma, and increasing community engagement. Implementation considerations include sustainable funding, ethical boundaries, collaboration with existing providers, and technology use. Challenges include potential resistance from traditional providers and ensuring quality across diverse communities.
Conclusion: The CMHD model represents a transformative approach to addressing mental health challenges. While further research and pilot studies are needed, it holds significant potential to improve outcomes and reduce disparities. Future efforts should focus on evaluating long-term impacts and advocating for integration into mainstream mental health services
Prevalence of Leptospira antibodies in cattle, sheep, and goats in Kilwa District, Tanzania: a risk to public health
Get PDFBackground: Leptospirosis is a global zoonotic infection affecting both humans and animals in tropical and subtropical countries, including Tanzania. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of leptospirosis in livestock in Kilwa Southern Tanzania.
Methods: A cross-sectional investigation was undertaken from January to March 2023 to establish the prevalence of leptospirosis in livestock in Kilwa district, southern Tanzania. A total of 100 blood samples from cattle, 120 blood samples from goats, and 20 blood samples from sheep were sampled from different selected sites for serum harvesting. Through a microscopic agglutination test, the collected serum samples were tested against five live leptospiral antigens to detect leptospiral antibodies. Common five reported serovars in Tanzania were used in this study such as leptospiral serovars Sokoine, Pomona, Grippotyphosa, Hebdomadis, and Lora.
Results: The overall prevalence of leptospirosis in cattle was 26.0%=95%CI=0.1774-0.3573, in goats was 27.5%=95%CI=0.1975-0.3640, and in sheep was 30.0%=95%CI=0.1189-0.5428. Both livestock hosts demonstrated high prevalence with serovar Sokoine being the most prevalent serovar over others. Most of the antibody titers obtained suggested prolonged exposures of this livestock to leptospirosis infection and only a few antibody titers especially from goats suggest recent infection of leptospirosis Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the association between different characteristics and disease. A significant (P=0.0086) association was obtained between disease prevalence and different characteristics such as location, sex, host, and serovars.
Conclusion: Increased human-livestock contact raises the risk of disease transmission to both humans and animals. Reducing this disease burden, especially in low-income countries like Tanzania where livestock are key to income and food security, is essential. Vaccinating livestock with locally adapted strains can significantly reduce leptospirosis transmission.
Tracking the 2024 measles outbreak: updates from Iraq
Get PDFThe history of measles spans centuries, marked by devastating outbreaks until the identification of the measles virus in the early 20th century and the subsequent development of a vaccine in 1963. Despite vaccination efforts, measles resurged globally in 2019 after years of decline. The COVID-19 pandemic further disrupted vaccination campaigns, leading to missed doses and heightened risks of outbreaks. By November 2020, over 94 million individuals were at risk of missing vital vaccines. As of May 2024, around 63 countries faced genuine measles outbreaks, with Iraq ranking third, reporting approximately 25,429 cases. Iraq\u27s healthcare system, already strained by decades of crises, struggles to manage the outbreak amidst challenges such as limited access to healthcare, vaccine hesitancy, and the suspension of vaccination campaigns. Urgent interventions are needed to address these challenges and prevent further escalation of the measles outbreak in Iraq
Surgical decision-making: key factors influencing the shift from laparoscopic to open cholecystectomy
Get PDFBackground: Recognizing the preoperatively and intraoperatively factors can aid surgeons in making timely decisions to shift from laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) to open cholecystectomy (OC). This study aims to identify the main factors leading to LC conversion to OC among Iraqi patients.
Methods: One-year prospective research was performed using cross-sectional design between 1st April, 2023, and 3oth March, 2024, at Alkalis General Public Hospital and Al Hayat Private Hospital, Diyala, Iraq. Pre and intraoperative data were collected from the planned LC surgeries including demographics, medical history, laboratory and Ultrasound findings. Descriptive and bivariate analysis was carried out to compare variables between patients undergoing LC and those requiring conversion to OC.
Results: Out of 172 LC patients (mean age 48.28±12.62), 52.9% were female, 55.8% obese, 50.6% aged 49+, 23.3% diabetic, and 19.8% had emergency cholecystectomy; 15 (8.7%) required conversion to open surgery. The conversion group was mainly men (66.7% vs. 46.5%, P = 0.001) and older (73.3% vs. 48.4% aged 49+, P = 0.003). Obesity (60.0% vs. 55.4%, P = 0.005) and diabetes (53.3% vs. 20.4%, P < 0.001) were more common. Public hospital referrals were higher (86.7% vs. 52.2%, P < 0.001). Elevated total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, and alkaline phosphatase levels were significant predictors of conversion to OC. Adhesions in Calot\u27s triangle (20.0% vs. 13.4%, P = 0.021) were more common in the conversion group, along with unclear anatomy, thick gallbladder wall, bleeding, stone and bile spillage, and cystic duct injury.
Conclusion: In conclusion, out of 172 LC patients, 15 (8.7%) required conversion to open surgery, predominantly older men with higher obesity, diabetes, and elevated bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase levels, and more adhesions in Calot\u27s triangle
Seroprevalence and molecular detection of Toxoplasma gondii infecting Rodents and Pigs in Iringa Municipality, Tanzania
Get PDFBackground: Toxoplasma gondii, is an intracellular protozoan parasite that relies on both definitive and intermediate hosts, such as rodents and pigs, for completion of its life cycle. Despite its public health importance, data on its infection in these hosts is limited in Tanzania, notably the Iringa region that had reported human mortalities due to toxoplasmosis. This study was undertaken to determine the seroprevalence and molecular detection of T. gondii in rodents and pigs in Iringa municipal.
Methods: The study employed a cross-section design where 127 rodents and 240 pigs were sampled from selected wards in Iringa municipal from January 2023 to March 2023. For serological analysis, the antibody ELISA method was employed. Seropositive rodents and pigs were subjected to Nested PCR for T. gondii DNA detection using brain and blood samples from rodents and pigs, respectively.
Results: Overall seroprevalence was 1.57% for rodents and 26.25% for pigs. Among the studied wards the highest proportion of Seropositive samples was from Kitwiru (6.25%) and Nduli (40%) for rodents and pigs, respectively. Statistical analysis indicated that Pigs aged 13-24 months were significantly more likely to test positive for anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies (p=0.0006), and antibody detection was strongly linked to hygiene practices in pig management (p < 0.0001). Additionally, in rodents, there was a statistically significant difference in exposure status related to species and collection site, with p-values of 0.043 and < 0.0001, respectively. T. gondii DNA was detected in 100% and 3.17% of seropositive rodents and pigs, respectively. Sequencing yielded one of each for rodents and pigs PCR positive samples respectively which showed about 98.36% to 99.15% similarity with T. gondii DNA from other countries isolated from different animal species.
Conclusion: The detection of antibodies to T. gondii and subsequent identification of T. gondii DNA in samples from rodents and pigs indicate the public health significance of these animal species in the transmission of toxoplasmosis within the study region. Consequently, it is crucial to implement prevention and control measures in the studied animals to mitigate potential human exposure
Role of erythropoietin in anemic children with chronic renal failure in Diyala Governorate, Iraq
Get PDFBackground: Chronic conditions, such as anemia are often attributed to insufficient production of erythropoietin. This study focuses on evaluating the effectiveness and safety of recombinant erythropoietin therapy in managing anemia associated with chronic kidney disease.
Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted on 40 patients diagnosed with anemia due to chronic kidney disease. The study took place from August 1, 2022, to February 30, 2023, at Al-Batool Teaching Hospital in Diyala Province, Iraq. The participants were divided into two groups: the first group comprised 30 patients aged between 80 days and 15 years receiving conservative treatment, while the second group included 10 patients aged 6 to 13 years undergoing hemodialysis. Data analysis, including descriptive and bivariate methods, was performed using SPSS Version 20, with a p-value of less than 0.05 considered statistically significant.
Results: In this study, group I patients had a mean age of 7.1 years, with two-thirds (66.6%) falling within the 1–10 age range and a male-to-female ratio of 1.7:1. In group II, the mean age was 9.5 years, with 60% in the 5–10 age group and a balanced gender ratio (1:1). The primary causes of chronic renal failure (CRF) in Group I were cystinosis and reflux nephropathy (26.7% each), while laboratory findings revealed a mean glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of 72.19 mL/min and severe anemia with hemoglobin (Hb) levels of 4.7 g/dL before treatment. Treatment significantly improved Hb levels in Group I (7.47 to 10.17 g/dL, P < 0.001) but showed limited efficacy in Group II (6.9 to 8.2 g/dL, P = 0.002).
Conclusion: The findings underscore variable treatment responses between groups, emphasizing the need for tailored anemia management strategies
Prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility characterization of Escherichia coli isolated from the intestines of freshwater fish from the Mindu dam in Morogoro, Tanzania
Get PDFBackground: The Mindu dam, an open system, serves as a microbial reservoir, housing uropathogenic microorganisms like Escherichia coli. Morogoro municipality relies on the dam for water and fish. This study aimed to assess the antimicrobial susceptibility of Escherichia coli isolated from fish and water in Mindu dam.
Methods: In May 2019, a cross-sectional study was conducted in Morogoro municipality. Selected antimicrobials, including ampicillin, tetracycline, cefoxitin, erythromycin, trimethoprim, gentamicin, enrofloxacin, and nalidixic acid, were tested using the disc diffusion method. E. coli ATCC 25922 served as a positive control for quality assurance during bacterial isolation. The potential source of antimicrobial contamination was identified through the multiple antibiotic resistance index.
Results: Out of 148 samples, E. coli was found in 24, none in water. E. coli showed high resistance (≥50.0%) to erythromycin (62.5%), nalidixic acid (79.2%), and ampicillin (75%). Additionally, 58.0% of isolates displayed multi-drug resistance across antimicrobial classes, with a multiple antibiotic resistance index ranging from 0.00 to 0.75.
Conclusion: Antimicrobial-resistant E. coli in the food chain may heighten the spread of complex urinary tract infections in the municipality. It underscores the necessity for robust municipal surveillance of antimicrobial resistance and effective antimicrobial stewardship for enhanced infection prevention and control