Objective: To assess the incidence of direct antiglobulin test positivity and to profile severity and demographic parameters of acute transfusion reactions Study Design: Cross sectional descriptive studyPlace and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the Basra Centre for Hereditary Blood Diseases, Basra Southern Iraq, from 15th September 2025 to 15th February 2026. Methodology: 1426 patients were registered. The blood bank electronic real-time database under the supervision of qualified blood bank laboratory technicians was used to obtain the data. The transfusion events monitored were 108 and analysed were ABO/Rh(D) typing, extended Rh phenotyping (D, C, c, E, e antigens), direct antiglobulin test andhemovigilance data. Results: There were 38.43% of peoples have blood group O+ and Rh(D)-positive rate was 92.78%. The most frequent extended Rh phenotype was the R1r (31.41%). The overall percentage of direct antiglobulin test positivitywas 40% and was the highest in β-thalassaemia major (55.6%). Grade B (moderate) transfusion reactions were the most common (67.6%), and 69.5% of the reactions were Grade A (mild) or B (moderate). Conclusion: The transfusion-dependent population extended Rh phenotyping and systematic hemovigilance is necessary. The high DAT positivity and moderate to severe reaction rates highlight the need for antigen matched blood strategies and formal hemovigilance systems.
Objective: To compare balloon-blowing and standard deep-breathing exercises for reducing dyspnea in children with congenital heart disease Study Design: Multicenter, parallel randomized controlled studyPlace and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the Bent Al-Huda Teaching Hospital, Mohammed AlMousawi Children’s Hospital and Nasiriyah Heart Hospital in Al-Naseria City, Iraq, from 15th March 2026 to 14th June 2026. Methodology: Sixty-three children were equally allocated to balloon blowing (n=21), deep breathing (n=21), or control (n=21). Data were collected using a structured questionnaire, clinical assessment, and the Modified Borg Dyspnea Scale. Results: Most participants were aged 3–5 years, with no significant age difference between groups (χ²=0.41, p=0.982). Sex distribution was comparable. Ventricular septal defects occurred in 28.6% of children in both the balloon-blowing and control groups. Baseline dyspnea scores did not differ significantly (χ²=0.18, p=0.914). At 30 minutes post-exercise, a significant difference in dyspnea was observed among the three groups (χ²=10.92, p<0.004). Conclusion: Balloon blowing and deep breathing showed comparable effectiveness in reducing dyspnea, with no significant difference between the two techniques. Both may be incorporated into routine respiratory care for children with congenital heart disease.
Objective: The study aimed to determine serum sodium (Na), potassium (K), and magnesium (Mg) levels in patients with ALL, AML and CML in Thi-Qar Governorate, and to evaluate their variations according to sex, andage. It also aimed to assess the distribution of the studied disease groups by age, sex, and residence and to determine serum Na, K, and Mg concentrations using commercial kits and an atomic absorption analyzer Study Design: Cross-sectional studyPlace and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the Hematology Consultation Unit, Al-Nasiriya Teaching Hospital, Thi-Qar Governorate, Iraq and the "biochemistry Laboratory" at the "College of Science”, University of Thi-Qar, Iraq from November 2025 to April 2026. Methodology: The study included 99 subjects: 20 with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, 22 with acute myeloid leukaemia, 31 with chronic myeloid leukaemia, and 26 healthy controls, aged 20–85 years. Serum sodium, potassium, and magnesium levels were measured using commercial kits and an atomic absorption analyser. The results were analysed according to age, sex, residence, and disease group. Results: The distribution of age and sex varied significantly between the groups (p < 0.01). Serum sodium was significantly higher in males than females in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and acute myeloid leukaemia.Magnesium showed a significant sex-related difference in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, whereas potassium showed no significant difference. Serum sodium increased significantly with age in acute myeloid leukaemia patients. Conclusion: Age and sex may influence serum micro nutrients levels in haematological malignancies, particularly sodium and magnesium, while potassium showed no significant sex-related variation. residence showed no significant difference among the group (p˃0.05).
Objective: To evaluate the relationship between digital device exposure patterns and language delay severity, while examining their association with developmental outcomes in a carefully filtered pediatric cohort Study Design: Retrospective cohort-based analytical studyPlace and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the College of Medicine, Al-Qadisiyah University, Iraq, from 1st December 2025 to 31st March 2026. Methodology: 500 pediatric records were initially assessed. After applying strict inclusion criteria, 95 cases were retained for final analysis. Results: A highly significant increase in daily screen time was observed with increasing language delay severity (P≤0.001), with strong pair-wise differences between mild vs. moderate and mild vs. severe groups (P≤0.001). Screen time showed a strong positive correlation with severity scores (r ≈ 0.70, P≤0.001). Conversely, sleep duration significantly decreased with increasing severity (P≤0.001), demonstrating a negative correlation (r ≈ −0.45, P ≤ 0.001). Early initiation of device use was significantly associated with poorer developmental outcomes (P≤0.001). The significant association between high screen exposure (>4 hours/day) and increased severity of language delay (P≤0.001). Additionally, developmental assessment outcomes were significantly influenced by device exposure patterns and age of initiation (P≤0.01). No significant differences were observed with respect to gender distribution. Conclusion: Excessive screen exposure and early initiation of device use were strongly associated with increased language delay severity and poorer developmental outcomes in children. Reduced sleep duration further amplified these effects.
Objective: To assess and compare the oral health condition, caries experience, traumatic dental injuries, and tooth wear of autism spectrum disorder children with those of the healthy control group Study Design: Comparative cross-sectional studyPlace and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the College of Dentistry, University of Kufa, Iraq, from 1st October 2025 to 28th February 2026. Methodology: The study was conducted on children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and a healthy control group who participated in the study. Oral health examination was done using global oral health indicators. Oral hygiene and periodontal status were assessed using the Plaque index (PI), Gingival index (GI), and Calculus index (CI). Dental caries were assessed using the Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth (DMFT) and Decayed, Missing, and Filled Surfaces (DMFS) indexes. Data concerning traumatic dental injuries and tooth wear were collected. Results: Oral health condition was found to be poor among the autism spectrum disorder group when compared with the healthy control group. The former had a significantly higher plaque, gingival, and calculus index when compared with the latter (P < 0.05). In addition, there was a significant difference in caries experience (DMFT and DMFS) between the two groups, with a higher Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth and Decayed, Missing, and Filled Surfaces being recorded in the autism spectrum disorder group. However, there was no significant difference in caries experience of permanent teeth (DMFT and DMFS) between the two groups; the overall mean Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth was significantly higher in the autism spectrum disorder group. Traumatic dental injuries and tooth wear were significantly higher in the autism spectrum disorder group. Males had a higher prevalence of traumatic dental injuries, whereas females with autism spectrum disorder had a higher prevalence of tooth wear. Conclusion: The oral health condition of children with autism spectrum disorder was found to be poor when compared with that of the healthy control group. The former had poor oral hygiene, higher gingival inflammation indices, poor caries experience of the primary teeth, and a higher prevalence of traumatic dental injuries and tooth wear.
