A highly effective multi-lingual clinical research specialist and medical doctor. Combines skills of analysis with critical thought and an eye for detail to plan and organise team tasks, and report on findings. Leads with positive pragmatism, and promotes a passion for the task in hand, in order to inspire colleagues to bring new ideas to life Phone: +9647504088666 Address: Apartment A72 - MRF2 TOWERS - ENGLISH VILLAGE ROAD - ERBIL - IRAQ
Hepatitis D virus (HDV) is a small RNA containing virus requiring concomitant infection with hepa... more Hepatitis D virus (HDV) is a small RNA containing virus requiring concomitant infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) for its survival and pathogenicity. The aim of this research was to study the prevalence of HDV in patients with chronic active hepatitis B in Duhok city, Iraq. Cases of chronic active HBV infection were selected retrospectively using case sheets in hepatitis unit in Azadi teaching hospital. Then, using ELISA, the anti-HDV IgM and IgG positivity was studied. Amongst 1500 registered patients, 158 cases met the criteria of chronic active HBV. The majority were male113/158 (71.5%) and from Duhok district105/158 (66.5%). Additionally, the majority of the patients were young with an age average of 30.5±13.8 years. HDV IgM and IgG positivity was studied in 46 randomly selected patients with chronic active HBV. It was found that 3/45 (6.6%) patients were positive for anti-HDV IgM. All these patients were male. None of the tested patients was positive for IgG. The prevalence of HDV in Duhok was lower than that found elsewhere in Iraq. More studies are needed to explore the prevalence of HDV in chronic carriers and in chronic active HBV but with larger sample recruitment.
International Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences and Technology, 2015
The study of the UTI causative pathogens in a region and their susceptibility to antimicrobial ag... more The study of the UTI causative pathogens in a region and their susceptibility to antimicrobial agents is mandatory to determine the empirical therapy. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of microorganisms causing UTI and to study their antimicrobial susceptibility in Duhok. 141 urine samples were collected from UTI patients from January to December 2014. Bacterial isolates were identified and their susceptibility to different antibiotics was determined by the Vitek-2 system. The gender distribution of UTI was 68.79 %(97/141) in women and 31.2%(44/141) in men. The prevalence of Gram-negative bacteria and Gram-positive bacteria were 52.48% (74/141), 47.51% (67/141) respectively. The highest infection was by Escheria. coli 74.32% (55/74), Staphylococcus haemolyticus 23.88%(16/67), and Enterococcus faecalis 23.38%(15/67). Gram-negative isolates were susceptible to Aminoglycosides and Carbapenems. While Gram-positive bacterial isolates showed sensitivity to vancomycin, linezolid, tigecycline and nitrofurans. Most isolates were resistant to penicillin group. Gram-negative isolates showed a heavy resistance to cefuroxime, while Gram-positive isolates were resistant to erythromycin and tetracycline.Therefore, we conclude thatE. coli and Int. J. Pure Appl. Sci. Technol., 30(2) (2015), 54-63 55 Staphylococcus haemolyticus were the most prevalent isolated uropathogens in Duhok. Susceptibility test showed resistance to penicillins, cefuroxime, erythromycin and tetracycline. Such results should be considered before deciding the empirical treatment of bacterial UTI.
Various variables that might influence the rapid and sustained virological response to recombinan... more Various variables that might influence the rapid and sustained virological response to recombinant PEG-IFN-α-2a were explored in Iraqi HCV-infected patients with haemoglobinopathy. Forty-three patients were evaluated for the relationship between rapid virological response (RVR), IL-28B polymorphism, viral load, liver enzyme levels, blood group, ultrasound findings, or HCV genotype and the sustained virological response (SVR) achievement. The overall RVR was 55·81% while the overall SVR was 53·49%. SVR in patients that achieved RVR was 82·61% (P = 0·0004). A significant association was found between initial alanine transaminase levels and viral load with SVR achievement (P = 0·025) and (P = 0·004), respectively. Thirty-two (74%) out of 43 of our samples were host genotyped at the IL-28B locus as CC, a significant association was found between CC group and SVR achievement (P = 0·04). Of our samples, 23/43 (53%) were typed as HCV genotype 4, 10/43 (23%) as genotype 1, 9/43 (20·9%) as genotype 3 and 1/43 (2·3%) as genotype 2. A significant association was found between genotype 3 and SVR achievement (P = 0·006). Multivariate analysis showed that only RVR achievement independently associated with SVR in the Iraqi population (P = 0·00). These results can be used to classify the patients requiring the more expensive new direct-acting antiviral drugs.
Background: The prevalence of blood borne viral infection is escalating worldwide. Screening bloo... more Background: The prevalence of blood borne viral infection is escalating worldwide. Screening blood donors is needed to prevent further spread of such infections. Objectives: The current study aimed to determine the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) among blood donors in Duhok, Northern Iraq. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted on blood donors attending Duhok blood bank. A total of 7900 subjects were included in the study from January to December 2014. Subjects were tested for evidence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and HCV antibody (HCV-Ab). A questionnaire was used to collect demographic and personal data of each positive subject. All HCV-positive samples were assessed by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to confirm the results. Results: Among the studied sample, the prevalence of HBsAg and HCV-Ab were 62/7900 (0.78%) and 16/7900 (0.2%), respectively. The results of RT-PCR for quantitation of HCV showed that only 1/7900 (0.013%) patients was HCV-positive. No significant difference was observed in the positivity of HBV and HCV between donors living in the city and rural areas (P > 0.05). In addition, history of dental procedure was given in 77% and 75% of HBV-and HCV-positive donors, respectively. Conclusions: The prevalence of HBV infection among donors in Duhok was comparable with those of reports from other parts of Iraq. Education and immunization should be initiated to target the high-risk groups. Furthermore, a community-based study is recommended to study the prevalence of HBV and HCV infection in the population.
Hepatitis D virus (HDV) is a small RNA containing virus requiring concomitant infection with hepa... more Hepatitis D virus (HDV) is a small RNA containing virus requiring concomitant infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) for its survival and pathogenicity. The aim of this research was to study the prevalence of HDV in patients with chronic active hepatitis B in Duhok city, Iraq. Cases of chronic active HBV infection were selected retrospectively using case sheets in hepatitis unit in Azadi teaching hospital. Then, using ELISA, the anti-HDV IgM and IgG positivity was studied. Amongst 1500 registered patients, 158 cases met the criteria of chronic active HBV. The majority were male113/158 (71.5%) and from Duhok district105/158 (66.5%). Additionally, the majority of the patients were young with an age average of 30.5±13.8 years. HDV IgM and IgG positivity was studied in 46 randomly selected patients with chronic active HBV. It was found that 3/45 (6.6%) patients were positive for anti-HDV IgM. All these patients were male. None of the tested patients was positive for IgG. The prevalence of HDV in Duhok was lower than that found elsewhere in Iraq. More studies are needed to explore the prevalence of HDV in chronic carriers and in chronic active HBV but with larger sample recruitment.
International Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences and Technology, 2015
The study of the UTI causative pathogens in a region and their susceptibility to antimicrobial ag... more The study of the UTI causative pathogens in a region and their susceptibility to antimicrobial agents is mandatory to determine the empirical therapy. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of microorganisms causing UTI and to study their antimicrobial susceptibility in Duhok. 141 urine samples were collected from UTI patients from January to December 2014. Bacterial isolates were identified and their susceptibility to different antibiotics was determined by the Vitek-2 system. The gender distribution of UTI was 68.79 %(97/141) in women and 31.2%(44/141) in men. The prevalence of Gram-negative bacteria and Gram-positive bacteria were 52.48% (74/141), 47.51% (67/141) respectively. The highest infection was by Escheria. coli 74.32% (55/74), Staphylococcus haemolyticus 23.88%(16/67), and Enterococcus faecalis 23.38%(15/67). Gram-negative isolates were susceptible to Aminoglycosides and Carbapenems. While Gram-positive bacterial isolates showed sensitivity to vancomycin, linezolid, tigecycline and nitrofurans. Most isolates were resistant to penicillin group. Gram-negative isolates showed a heavy resistance to cefuroxime, while Gram-positive isolates were resistant to erythromycin and tetracycline.Therefore, we conclude thatE. coli and Int. J. Pure Appl. Sci. Technol., 30(2) (2015), 54-63 55 Staphylococcus haemolyticus were the most prevalent isolated uropathogens in Duhok. Susceptibility test showed resistance to penicillins, cefuroxime, erythromycin and tetracycline. Such results should be considered before deciding the empirical treatment of bacterial UTI.
Various variables that might influence the rapid and sustained virological response to recombinan... more Various variables that might influence the rapid and sustained virological response to recombinant PEG-IFN-α-2a were explored in Iraqi HCV-infected patients with haemoglobinopathy. Forty-three patients were evaluated for the relationship between rapid virological response (RVR), IL-28B polymorphism, viral load, liver enzyme levels, blood group, ultrasound findings, or HCV genotype and the sustained virological response (SVR) achievement. The overall RVR was 55·81% while the overall SVR was 53·49%. SVR in patients that achieved RVR was 82·61% (P = 0·0004). A significant association was found between initial alanine transaminase levels and viral load with SVR achievement (P = 0·025) and (P = 0·004), respectively. Thirty-two (74%) out of 43 of our samples were host genotyped at the IL-28B locus as CC, a significant association was found between CC group and SVR achievement (P = 0·04). Of our samples, 23/43 (53%) were typed as HCV genotype 4, 10/43 (23%) as genotype 1, 9/43 (20·9%) as genotype 3 and 1/43 (2·3%) as genotype 2. A significant association was found between genotype 3 and SVR achievement (P = 0·006). Multivariate analysis showed that only RVR achievement independently associated with SVR in the Iraqi population (P = 0·00). These results can be used to classify the patients requiring the more expensive new direct-acting antiviral drugs.
Background: The prevalence of blood borne viral infection is escalating worldwide. Screening bloo... more Background: The prevalence of blood borne viral infection is escalating worldwide. Screening blood donors is needed to prevent further spread of such infections. Objectives: The current study aimed to determine the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) among blood donors in Duhok, Northern Iraq. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted on blood donors attending Duhok blood bank. A total of 7900 subjects were included in the study from January to December 2014. Subjects were tested for evidence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and HCV antibody (HCV-Ab). A questionnaire was used to collect demographic and personal data of each positive subject. All HCV-positive samples were assessed by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to confirm the results. Results: Among the studied sample, the prevalence of HBsAg and HCV-Ab were 62/7900 (0.78%) and 16/7900 (0.2%), respectively. The results of RT-PCR for quantitation of HCV showed that only 1/7900 (0.013%) patients was HCV-positive. No significant difference was observed in the positivity of HBV and HCV between donors living in the city and rural areas (P > 0.05). In addition, history of dental procedure was given in 77% and 75% of HBV-and HCV-positive donors, respectively. Conclusions: The prevalence of HBV infection among donors in Duhok was comparable with those of reports from other parts of Iraq. Education and immunization should be initiated to target the high-risk groups. Furthermore, a community-based study is recommended to study the prevalence of HBV and HCV infection in the population.
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