The Potential Risk of Reduced Serum Cholinesterase Activity in COVID-19 Patients Suffering From Cytokine Storm.

Background and objective Several blood biochemical parameters are used to biomonitor coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Reduced serum cholinesterase (ChE) has been suggested to be a predictive indicator of the severity and outcome of COVID-19 infection. This study aimed to examine serum ChE activity in hospitalized and terminally ill COVID-19 patients with cytokine storm and evaluate the enzyme for the in vitro ChE-inhibitory activity of the organophosphate dichlorvos.

Polypharmacy and the In Silico Prediction of Potential Body Proteins Targeted by These Drugs Among Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients With Cytokine Storm.

Background and objective Polypharmacy is prevalent in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients with severe disease. However, information on polypharmacy among COVID-19 patients who also suffer from cytokine storm is scarce. In light of this, the purpose of the present study was to assess the incidence of polypharmacy and in silico prediction of potential body proteins targeted by these drugs among hospitalized COVID-19 patients who were identified to have the additional burden of cytokine storm in the city of Duhok, Kurdistan Region, Iraq.

Phylogenetic, Sequencing, and Mutation Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron (BA.1) and Its Subvariants (BA.1.1, BA.2) During the Fifth Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region.

Introduction In December 2019, a global outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 occurred in Wuhan, China, resulting in the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, the virus has spread to all countries, necessitating a worldwide initiative to create effective treatments and vaccines. Methods The RNA of samples QIAamp Viral RNA Mini Kit (Qiagen, MD).

Immediate and Long-Term Adverse Events of COVID-19 Vaccines: A One-Year Follow-Up Study From the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

Background The administration of COVID-19 vaccines has been critical in controlling the spread of the virus. However, understanding the potential adverse events (AEs) associated with these vaccines is crucial for public health. While most previous studies observed only short-term AEs, this study aimed to investigate the immediate and long-term AEs following the first and second doses of Pfizer, AstraZeneca, and Sinopharm vaccines, providing valuable long-term insights.

Screening the Drug-Drug Interactions Between Antimicrobials and Other Prescribed Medications Using Google Bard and Lexicomp® Online™ Database.

Aim This study aimed to critically appraise the drug-drug interaction (DDI) screening performance of Google Bard (Google AI, Mountain View, California, United States) by comparing it with the authorized Lexicomp® Online™ database (Wolters Kluwer Health, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States). Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted between April 2023 and August 2023, and enrolled 414 prescriptions that had been collected randomly between April 2023 and June 2023. These prescriptions were processed individually by Lexicomp online and Google Bard to screen for DDIs between antimicrobials and other prescribed medications.

Memory impairment among recovered COVID-19 patients: The prevalence and risk factors, a retrospective cohort study.

The aim of this study is to demonstrate the prevalence of the long-term side effects of COVID-19, namely memory impairment among recovered patients, and obtaining the associated factors that link with memory impairment. It is a cross-sectional retrospective cohort study, that has been conducted from September to November 2022 in Iraq. People who were previously infected with COVID-19 were included.

COVID-19 vaccine breakthrough infection among fully vaccinated healthcare workers in Duhok governorate, Iraqi Kurdistan: A retrospective cohort study.

The aims of this study were: to determine the incidence of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection among vaccinated healthcare workers (HCWs), assess risk factors associated with the vaccine breakthrough (BT), and compare the effectiveness of vaccine manufacturers against SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern among HCWs in Duhok governorate. It is a multicenter retrospective cohort study, which enrolled 944 HCWs through March 2022. COVID-19 vaccinated HCWs aging 18 and above were included.

Clinical and epidemiological characteristics and outcomes of Coronavirus disease-19 patients in a large longitudinal study.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the clinical and epidemiological characteristics and outcomes of Coronavirus disease (COVID)-19 patients.

Methods: In this large cohort study, 15,409 confirmed patients with the COVID-19 of different severities were followed-up from three specialized COVID-19 hospitals between March 18 and October 11, 2020 in Iraqi Kurdistan. The predictors of mortality and severity were examined in binary logistic regression analysis.

Potential adverse effects of COVID19 vaccines among Iraqi population; a comparison between the three available vaccines in Iraq; a retrospective cross-sectional study.

Aims: the objectives of this study are to reveal the potential side effects after taking the covid19 vaccines, associated risk factors with severe side effects, and to compare the three COVID-19 vaccines available in Iraq (Sinopharm, AstraZeneca-Oxford and Pfizer- BioNTech).

Methods: a randomized cross-sectional study was conducted in April 2021. A standardized questionnaire platform was utilized to collect information about the Iraqi population.

A 5-year experience characterizing the demographic and clinical profile and directly observed treatment short-course treatment outcome in National Tuberculosis Center of Duhok province, Iraqi Kurdistan.

Background: The objectives were to describe the demographic and clinical profile and treatment outcomes in the National Tuberculosis Program Center of Duhok governorate.

Methods: This was a descriptive retrospective study of all forms of drug-susceptible tuberculosis cases in the National Tuberculosis Program Center of Duhok. The Electronic Nominal Recording Reporting System data of tuberculosis cases were reviewed during 2014-2018.

COVID-19 outbreak in Iraqi Kurdistan: The first report characterizing epidemiological, clinical, laboratory, and radiological findings of the disease.

Introduction: On March 11, 2020, the novel coronavirus was declared a global pandemic. The disease was named COVID-19 standing for coronavirus disease 2019. The objectives were to determine the epidemiological, clinical, laboratory, and radiological characteristics of COVID-19 patients.

Seroprevalence and risk factors of hepatitis B and C viruses among diabetes mellitus patients in Duhok province, Iraqi Kurdistan.

Context: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections are major public health issues as they may progress into chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Aims: to identify the prevalence and risk factors of HBV and HCV among diabetic patients in Duhok province.

Patients And Methods: It is a prospective study conducted in Shilan private hospital from June 2016 until December 2018.

First insight into latent tuberculosis infection among household contacts of tuberculosis patients in Duhok, Iraqi Kurdistan: using tuberculin skin test and QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus test.

Background: The objectives were to estimate the prevalence of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) among household contacts (HHCs) with active TB patients, and to identify their risk factors.

Methods: A prospective, cross sectional study was conducted from May to October 2018. All HHCs with active TB cases were included.

Latent Tuberculosis Infection among Healthcare Workers in Duhok Province: From Screening to Prophylactic Treatment.

Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at increased risk of infection with () and, hence, of developing tuberculosis (TB) disease. The aims of this study are to identify the prevalence and determinants of latent TB infection (LTBI) among HCWs in Duhok Province. This is a cross-sectional prospective study conducted during April-July 2018 in different health care facilities of Duhok province.

Low prevalence of hepatitis B and C among tuberculosis patients in Duhok Province, Kurdistan: Are HBsAg and anti-HCV prerequisite screening parameters in tuberculosis control program?

Objective/background: Viral hepatitis, particularly hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV), infections and tuberculosis (TB) are a global public health concern. Co-infection with HBV or HCV among TB patients may potentiate the risk of hepatotoxicity induced by anti-TB drugs. Hence, the aim of this study was to identify the prevalence of HBV and HCV among TB patients included in the Duhok National Tuberculosis Program (NTP).

Multiple intracranial tuberculomas in a post-kidney transplant patient.

Tuberculosis (TB) is a serious public health problem worldwide, particularly in developing countries. The most common presentation of TB is the pulmonary form; however, extrapulmonary manifestations are not uncommon, particularly in the immunocompromised patients. TB of the central nervous system is the most severe extrapulmonary presentation.

Seroclearance of Hbsag in Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Patients on Lamivudine Therapy: A 10 Year Experience.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to determine hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) seroclearance rate among patients treated with lamivudine at a specialized tertiary care referral hospital in Tehran, Iran.

Methods: All patients on lamivudine (biovudin®) therapy at a dose of 100 mg/day, who showed seroclearnace between March 2001 and September 2011 were recruited. The main evaluation parameters were duration of HBsAg seroclearance and duration of HBsAg seroconversion.

Can serum level of HBsAg differentiate HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B from inactive carrier state?

Hepatitis B envelope antigen (HBeAg)-negative hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection exerts both inactive carrier (IC) state and chronic hepatitis B (CHB), which are sometimes difficult to be differentiated. We aimed to assess the role of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) level in differentiation of CHB and IC among a group of chronic HBeAg-negative HBV-infected patients. A total of 251 HBeAg-negative HBV-infected patients were enrolled.

A rare case presentation of oral actinomycosis.

Actinomycosis is an infectious disease caused by a gram-positive anaerobic or microaerophilic Actinomyces species that causes both chronic suppurative and granulomatous inflammation. The following study reports a 48-year-old Iranian woman presenting with a spontaneous discharging sinus on the hard palate for 8months. The patient has no past medical history of note.

Infection with Helicobacter pylori strains carrying babA2 and cagA is associated with an increased risk of peptic ulcer disease development in Iraq.

Background And Study Aim: Several genes of Helicobacter pylori, such as vacA, cagA, iceA and babA, have been reported to significantly increase the risk of gastrointestinal diseases. The aim of this study was to study the relationship between H. pylori virulence factors and clinical outcomes and identify the independent markers of peptic ulcer disease in Iraq.

Drug resistance-related mutations in multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates from diverse geographical regions.

Background: Drug resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis is associated with chromosomal mutations in selected genes. These mutations can be screened for an early warning system for drug-resistant tuberculosis. The prevalence of individual mutations differs geographically, which must be considered in developing globally applicable screening tests.

Intestinal obstruction secondary to primary ileocecal tuberculosis: A case report.

A 22-year-old Iraqi male presented with a case of intestinal obstruction secondary to primary ileocecal tuberculosis (TB). The presumptive diagnosis of either Crohn's disease or neoplasm was expected. A right hemicolectomy was performed.