INVESTIGATION OF THYROIDS DYSFUNCTION AMONG INFERTILE WOMEN IN NASIRIYAH CITY

Objective: Epidemiological studies revealed that 10-15 % of couples in the world experience infertility. Thyroid dysfunction (hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism) possessed adverse effect on reproductive health and resulted in, interference with ovulation, reduced rates of conception, increased early pregnancy loss, and adverse effects on pregnancy and neonatal outcomes. The current study aims to explore the thyroid dysfunction among infertile women in Nasiriyah city-Iraq. Methods: The study was conducted on 60 infertile women (age group 17–45 y) who visited infertility departments in Al-Hussein hospital, Al-Haboubi hospital and Bent AL Huda hospital, in Nasiriyah city, from October 2019 to March 2020. Thirty normal females (age matched) were taken as controls. TSH, T3, T4, LH, FSH, prolactin, progesterone and estradiol levels were determine by using VIDAS® Assay. Results: The prevalence of hyperthyroidism among infertile women was 13.33% and hypothyroidism was 10.00%. Both hyper and hypothyroidism induced adverse changes in the serum levels of LH, FSH, prolactin and gonadal hormones. Conclusion: Thyroid dysfunction was associated with a risk of not getting pregnancy. Women were advised to achieve euthyroidism before planning a pregnancy

Flexural behaviour of RC one-way slabs reinforced using PAN based carbon textile grid

Textile reinforced mortar (TRM) is mainly used for strengthening of existing structural members whereas, on the other hand Textile reinforced concrete (TRC) is a technology implied in construction of new members for enhancing the structural behaviour. Application of TRM on the tension zone of the reinforced concrete (RC) slabs to improve the flexural capacity has been investigated by many researchers in the past. However, the effectiveness of textile fabrics, used as internal reinforcement in the RC slab (TRC technology) needs to be studied. The paper, therefore, presents the experimental research conducted on three one-way RC slabs specimens reinforced using textile grid. An innovative Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) based carbon textile grid was used as internal reinforcement in combination with the steel bars. Two textile-reinforced RC slabs having one and two layers of textile grid (SRC + 1T and SRC + 2T respectively) and one reference slab (SRC) was fabricated to investigate the flexural behaviour under a four-point loading system. The internal textile reinforcement layer(s) was confirmed to be effective, particularly in terms of improving the cracking load, ductility, deformability and toughness. The material ductility of SRC + 1T and SRC + 2T slabs were increased by 41% and 44% compared to SRC slab. Also, the deformability ratio was found to be greater than 4, indicating a ductile failure of textile-reinforced slabs. Further, based on the load-deflection relation, moment-curvature curves were derived. Moreover, these curves were also developed using Eurocode two prediction model. The experimental and the predicted moment-curvature curves showed good agreement

Hybrid Effect of Steel Bars and PAN Textile Reinforcement on Ductility of One-Way Slab Subjected to Bending

Textile reinforced concrete (TRC) has gained attention from the construction industry due to several characteristics such as its lightweight, high tensile strength, design flexibility, corrosion resistance and remarkably long service life. Some structural applications that utilize TRC components include precast panels, structural repairs, waterproofing elements and façades. TRC is produced by incorporating textile fabrics into thin cementitious concrete panels. However, in order to use this strengthening method in construction practice, a design model is required. Investigating the combined effect of conventional steel and textile reinforcement on the ductility behavior of composite TRC/RC one-way slab is vitally important. Therefore, the current study describes the proper methods of calculating the ductility of the composite concrete reinforced by a direct combination of conventional steel and textile reinforcement. Four methods are presented to calculate the ductility of the three considered one-way slab specimens. The three slabs having dimensions 1500 mm × 500 mm × 50 mm were reinforced by steel bars (SRC), by steel with one layer of carbon fabric (SRC + 1T), and by steel with two layers of carbon fabric (SRC + 2T). The three slab specimens were cast by the hand lay-up method, removed from the molds, cured, and then tested in flexure after 28 days using the four-point bending method. The obtained results and calculations revealed the non-reasonability of using the conventional method based on yielding of steel reinforcement as the only criterion in the ductility determination. The results also confirmed the suitability of using the energy-based method over other discussed methods in the calculation of the ductility for the hybrid reinforced members

Global economic burden of unmet surgical need for appendicitis

Background There is a substantial gap in provision of adequate surgical care in many low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to identify the economic burden of unmet surgical need for the common condition of appendicitis. Methods Data on the incidence of appendicitis from 170 countries and two different approaches were used to estimate numbers of patients who do not receive surgery: as a fixed proportion of the total unmet surgical need per country (approach 1); and based on country income status (approach 2). Indirect costs with current levels of access and local quality, and those if quality were at the standards of high-income countries, were estimated. A human capital approach was applied, focusing on the economic burden resulting from premature death and absenteeism. Results Excess mortality was 4185 per 100 000 cases of appendicitis using approach 1 and 3448 per 100 000 using approach 2. The economic burden of continuing current levels of access and local quality was US $92 492 million using approach 1 and$73 141 million using approach 2. The economic burden of not providing surgical care to the standards of high-income countries was $95 004 million using approach 1 and$75 666 million using approach 2. The largest share of these costs resulted from premature death (97.7 per cent) and lack of access (97.0 per cent) in contrast to lack of quality. Conclusion For a comparatively non-complex emergency condition such as appendicitis, increasing access to care should be prioritized. Although improving quality of care should not be neglected, increasing provision of care at current standards could reduce societal costs substantially

Global economic burden of unmet surgical need for appendicitis

Background There is a substantial gap in provision of adequate surgical care in many low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to identify the economic burden of unmet surgical need for the common condition of appendicitis. Methods Data on the incidence of appendicitis from 170 countries and two different approaches were used to estimate numbers of patients who do not receive surgery: as a fixed proportion of the total unmet surgical need per country (approach 1); and based on country income status (approach 2). Indirect costs with current levels of access and local quality, and those if quality were at the standards of high-income countries, were estimated. A human capital approach was applied, focusing on the economic burden resulting from premature death and absenteeism. Results Excess mortality was 4185 per 100 000 cases of appendicitis using approach 1 and 3448 per 100 000 using approach 2. The economic burden of continuing current levels of access and local quality was US $92 492 million using approach 1 and$73 141 million using approach 2. The economic burden of not providing surgical care to the standards of high-income countries was $95 004 million using approach 1 and$75 666 million using approach 2. The largest share of these costs resulted from premature death (97.7 per cent) and lack of access (97.0 per cent) in contrast to lack of quality. Conclusion For a comparatively non-complex emergency condition such as appendicitis, increasing access to care should be prioritized. Although improving quality of care should not be neglected, increasing provision of care at current standards could reduce societal costs substantially