Relationship between Snow and Temperature over Some Iraqi Meteorological Stations

Background: Snow forms when tiny ice crystals in clouds stick together to become snowflakes. If enough crystals stick together, they become heavy enough to fall to the ground. Where background includes Precipitation falls as snow when the air temperature is below 2 °C (275.15 K). The falling snow does begin to melt as soon as the temperature rises above freezing, but as the melting process begins, the air around the snowflake is cold. Objective: It is a myth that it needs to be below 0 °C (273.15) K to snow. In Iraq, the heaviest snowfalls tend to occur when the air temperature is between (273.15-275.15) K (0-2) °C. Methods: The data for this study, which includes Temperature (T), Snow Albedo (SA), and Snow Density (SD) as monthly-daily mean, taken from the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) for fifteen years from 2008 to 2022 for several selected stations over northern Iraq. The method was to take the monthly rates of snow density, snow albedo, and temperature for the stations of Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, Zakho, Dohuk, and Amadiyah, and the type of relationship and strength of the connection between them was also known. Results: The study found an inverse relationship between snow albedo and snow density across the selected stations, indicating that an increase in snow density leads to a decrease in snow albedo. Notably, Duhok City exhibited the strongest relationship between snow albedo and density, with a regression coefficient of 0.9699 compared to other regions. Conclusions: This study highlights the complex relationship between snow albedo and density in northern Iraq. The strong correlation observed in Duhok City suggests the importance of further research to understand the factors influencing snow properties in this region

Analysis of the convective available potential energy by precipitation over Iraq using ECMWF data for the period of 1989–2018

The Convective Available Potential Energy (CAPE) represents the amount of energy for a sample of air. The sample departs vertically within the atmosphere and through these values the potential energy to predict the extreme weather conditions such as storms, hurricanes, lightning and thunder. Data are taken by CAPE, convective precipitation (Cp) and total precipitation (Tp) from satellites recorded by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF). The choice of 30 years (1989–2018) over Iraq station between two latitudes (29.5°–37.22° N) and two longitudes (48.45°–38.45° E). Otherwise, we have studied total yearly mean of CAPE, Cp and Tp over Iraq, the total monthly mean of CAPE, Cp and Tp for the selected station, as well as the relationship between of CAPE, Cp and Tp for the selected station. The results showed that the highest total yearly mean of CAPE, Cp and Tp over Iraq was included northern stations and lowest was included central and southern stations. The highest total monthly mean of CAPE, Cp and Tp for Zakho station. The relationship between the CAPE and Cp is positive and the relationship between CAPE and Tp is positive too at five stations but Mosul station represents very high correlation while Zakho station represents the low correlation

CYP2D6 Genotype in Relation to Liver Toxicity Due to Tetrabenazine in Iraqi Patients with Hyperkinetic Movement Disorders

Abstract The  common types of movement disorders are ; dystonia which is a syndrome  of  repetitive muscle contractions. While , Huntington disease is autosomal dominant progressive neurodegenerative disorder, which is characterized by involuntary movements (“chorea”). Tetrabenazine therapy has been shown to effectively control this movements compared with placebo. Design the proper dosing approach for patients treated with tetrabenazine with genotype polymorphisms and their hepatic effect on patients. A prospective case controlled study was carried on 50 patients whom    divided into 2 groups :first group involved 25 patients who had chorea, and group 2 included  patients with dystonia, whom treated with (tetrabenazine) for three months. In addition to control group involved 25 healthy subjects . Blood samples were collected at the beginning and after three months  to assess  liver function  in relation to genetic polymorphism of CYP 450 2D6 enzyme for both groups and measuring the plasma concentration of tetrabenazine , alpha and beta  dyhdrotetrabenazine. The results show a significant CYP 450 2D6 enzyme polymorphism. And elevations of liver enzymes in the patient indicate hepatotoxicity of tetrabenazine and its metabolites, Determination a genotype of the CYP 450 2D6  genes in Iraqi patients, in relation  to the safety and efficacy of tetrabenazine 

Amlodipine downregulates gene expression that involved in the signaling pathways of coagulation process in COVID-19 patients: An observational clinical study

The SARS-CoV-2 virus has the property of activating the coagulation process, which is responsible for producing thrombotic events which is considered as one of the most serious COVID-19 complications. Hypertension is a hazard factor for COVID-19 complications, and people who are treated with calcium entry blockers may halt the occurrence of thrombotic events. to evaluate the effect of amlodipine on some genes involved in the activation of the coagulation procedure in COVID-19 patients with hypertensive. observational, cross-sectional study. This study was carried out in the Department of Pharmacy at Al-Kut University College in Wasit, Iraq, in conjunction with Al Zahraa Hospital from June 2021 to March 2022. A total of 45 COVID-19 patients participated in this study who were grouped into as follows: Group I (n = 23) who had no previous history of hypertension and Group II (n = 22) who had previous hypertension and were treated with amlodipine. Expression of the calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR), coagulation factor V (F5), and methylenetetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase (NADP+ dependent) 1 Like (MTHFD1L) genes was determined. P values were calculated by Chi-square test for categorized facts and the Mann–Whitney test for incessant data. P ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Group II patients had significantly lower levels of CaSR, F5, and MTHFD1L gene expression compared with the corresponding levels in Group I patients. The expression level of MTHFD1L was elevated significantly in patients who had currently high blood pressure compared with normotensive patients in both the groups. Amlodipine is preferred in hypertensive patients who have COVID-19 because it attenuates the levels of gene expression that have an impact on the coagulation process

Determination of the Dynamics of Thunderstorms Through the Dry Adiabatic Lapse Rate and Environmental Lapse Rate

This research aims to determine the types of thunderstorms formed in the thickness of the cloud (determine the Dry adiabatic lapse rate (DALR) and Environmental lapse rate (ELR)) in the case of precipitation during the day. Data were taken by Temperature, Dew point, Atmospheric Pressure, and Height from re-analysis by the (ECMWF) for the heights (0-18000) m, the levels of pressure (1000-100) mbar, low cloud cover data, and the characteristic days ((18, 24, 27) February, 28 April, and 25 November) of the year 2018 for Baghdad station were chosen to obtain the largest possible number of clouds and their diversity to use them in calculating the cloud cover and weather stability in terms of calculating the daily change, temperature, dew point in addition to calculating the low cloud cover with altitude and atmospheric instability. The Sigma Plot program was used in this research to determine the base of clouds and thunderstorms. The change in temperature, Dew point, clouds base, and altitude was determined, then the cloud thickness, types, and classification were calculated. The clouds found are strong thunderstorm clouds characterized by thickness and height, such as the clouds of Nimbostratus (Ns) and Cumulonimbus (Cb)

Pancreatic surgery outcomes: multicentre prospective snapshot study in 67 countries

Background: Pancreatic surgery remains associated with high morbidity rates. Although postoperative mortality appears to have improved with specialization, the outcomes reported in the literature reflect the activity of highly specialized centres. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes following pancreatic surgery worldwide.Methods: This was an international, prospective, multicentre, cross-sectional snapshot study of consecutive patients undergoing pancreatic operations worldwide in a 3-month interval in 2021. The primary outcome was postoperative mortality within 90 days of surgery. Multivariable logistic regression was used to explore relationships with Human Development Index (HDI) and other parameters.Results: A total of 4223 patients from 67 countries were analysed. A complication of any severity was detected in 68.7 percent of patients (2901 of 4223). Major complication rates (Clavien-Dindo grade at least IIIa) were 24, 18, and 27 percent, and mortality rates were 10, 5, and 5 per cent in low-to-middle-, high-, and very high-HDI countries respectively. The 90-day postoperative mortality rate was 5.4 per cent (229 of 4223) overall, but was significantly higher in the low-to-middle-HDI group (adjusted OR 2.88, 95 per cent c.i. 1.80 to 4.48). The overall failure-to-rescue rate was 21 percent; however, it was 41 per cent in low-to-middle-compared with 19 per cent in very high-HDI countries.Conclusion: Excess mortality in low-to-middle-HDI countries could be attributable to failure to rescue of patients from severe complications. The authors call for a collaborative response from international and regional associations of pancreatic surgeons to address management related to death from postoperative complications to tackle the global disparities in the outcomes of pancreatic surgery (NCT04652271; ISRCTN95140761)