Background: Osteoporosis is a common systemic skeletal disease characterized by reduced bone mineral density (BMD) and deterioration of bone microarchitecture, resulting in an increased risk of fragility fractures. Although the disease affects both sexes, women, particularly after menopause, are at substantially greater risk. Data describing gender-related differences in osteoporosis among the Iraqi population remain limited. Objective: To investigate the associations of age, sex, body mass index (BMI), and fracture history with bone mineral density among patients in Kirkuk City, Iraq, and to compare the prevalence of osteoporosis between women and men, with particular emphasis on postmenopausal women. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 5,696 participants aged 10–100 years who attended two major hospitals in Kirkuk City, Iraq. Bone mineral density of the lumbar spine and femoral neck was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). Bone status was classified according to the World Health Organization T-score criteria. Demographic characteristics, anthropometric measurements, BMI, and fracture history were recorded. Associations between demographic variables and bone status were evaluated using appropriate statistical analyses. Results: Women comprised 90.66% of the study population, whereas men accounted for 9.34%. Participants older than 45 years demonstrated significantly higher rates of osteoporosis in both females (p = 0.013) and males (p = 0.049). Postmenopausal women exhibited the greatest burden of osteoporosis. BMI greater than 25 kg/m² was significantly associated with bone status (p = 0.0137). Osteoporotic fractures occurred significantly more frequently in women than in men (p<0.01). Conclusion: Osteoporosis was substantially more prevalent among women than men in Kirkuk City, with postmenopausal women representing the highest-risk group. Increasing age was the strongest factor associated with reduced bone mineral density in both sexes. These findings support the implementation of early osteoporosis screening and preventive interventions, particularly for women approaching menopause.

Background: The relationship between bilateral tubal ligation (BTL) and subsequent menstrual abnormalities remains controversial. While Post-Tubal Ligation Syndrome (PTLS) has been proposed to include abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB), dysmenorrhea and cycle irregularities, existing evidence is inconsistent and many reported associations may be confounded by underlying gynecologic or systemic conditions. Aim: The aim of this study is to compare menstrual patterns and associated clinical, ultrasonographic and histopathological findings between women with and without bilateral tubal ligation. Methods: A hospital-based case–control study was conducted at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Al-Imamein Al-Kadhimaein Medical City, Baghdad, Iraq, between 1^st December 2024 and 31^st October 2025. Two hundred women aged 30–50 years attending outpatient gynecology clinics were recruited and equally allocated into a post-BTL group (n = 100) and a non-BTL control group (n = 100). Each group was further stratified into women with and without abnormal uterine bleeding based on FIGO definitions. Eligible participants had a history of regular cycles prior to sterilization and no recent hormonal contraceptive use. Women with pregnancy, lactation, known thyroid disease, coagulopathies, uterine malignancy, or significant systemic illness were excluded. Results: No significant differences were observed between post-BTL and non-BTL women regarding age distribution (p = 0.312), parity (p = 0.186), types of menstrual disorders (p = 0.842), dysmenorrhea severity (p = 0.520), or endometrial thickness (p = 0.901). Histopathological findings were comparable between groups (p = 0.761) and neither the timing nor duration since tubal ligation was associated with AUB occurrence (p = 0.634 and p = 0.733, respectively). Although cycle irregularity was more frequent among post-BTL women (46% vs. 37%), the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.184). Thyroid dysfunction showed a significant association with AUB overall (p = 0.041). Ultrasonographic abnormalities—such as endometrial polyps, adenomyosis, hyperplasia and ovarian cysts—were significantly more prevalent among women with AUB, independent of tubal ligation status (p = 01). Conclusion: Bilateral tubal ligation was not associated with abnormal uterine bleeding, menstrual cycle disturbances, dysmenorrhea severity, endometrial thickness, or histopathological abnormalities. Structural gynecologic pathology and thyroid dysfunction were the primary contributors to AUB in this population. These findings do not support the existence of a distinct Post-Tubal Ligation Syndrome and emphasize the importance of comprehensive evaluation for alternative causes of menstrual abnormalities before attributing symptoms to tubal ligation.

Background: Suicide represents a complex public health challenge arising from the interaction of psychological, social, economic, biological, and environmental factors; therefore, it cannot be attributed to a single cause. This study aimed to describe the demographic characteristics, patterns, and documented circumstances of suicide deaths referred to the Department of Forensic Medicine in Kirkuk during 2025. Methods: A retrospective descriptive study was conducted involving all deaths officially recorded and medicolegally confirmed as suicide between January 1 and December 31, 2025. Data concerning sex, age, marital status, educational attainment, occupation, method of death, and documented motive or associated circumstance were extracted from the official records. Categorical data were summarized using frequencies and percentages. Results: The study included 43 cases: 26 males (60.47%) and 17 females (39.53%). The mean age was 25.2 ± 8.8 years, with an age range of 13-49 years. Individuals aged 20–29 years constituted the largest age group, accounting for 23 cases (53.49%). Hanging was the most frequently recorded method of death (18 cases; 41.86%), followed by burning (14 cases; 32.56%) and firearm injury (10 cases; 23.26%).%). Burning was particularly prevalent among females (10/17; 58.82%), whereas hanging predominated among males (13/26; 50.00%). The motive or associated circumstance was undocumented in 22 cases (51.16%). Among the documented circumstances, psychological factors or mental illness were the most frequently reported (9 cases; 20.93%), followed by family-related problems (7 cases; 16.28%). Conclusion: Suicide deaths were concentrated predominantly among young individuals, with a notable sex-related difference in the methods used and a substantial deficiency in the documentation of underlying motives and circumstances. These findings support the establishment of a standardized surveillance system, early mental health assessment, and multisectoral preventive interventions tailored to age- and sex-specific patterns, together with appropriate measures to restrict access to highly lethal means.

Background: Congenital pulmonary airway malformation (CPAM), formerly congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation, is a developmental lung lesion increasingly detected antenatally. Prenatal recognition can facilitate fetal surveillance, delivery planning, postnatal imaging, and coordinated multidisciplinary care. Case presentation: A right-lung lesion was first detected on February 28, 2026, at 17 weeks 5 days of gestation. Ultrasonography demonstrated a 41 x 27 mm lesion containing multiple 4-9 mm cystic spaces within hyperechoic parenchyma, with inversion of the right hemidiaphragm and leftward displacement of the heart and mediastinum. The prenatal appearance was considered suggestive of CPAM/CCAM type II. At 31 weeks 5 days, the lesion measured 56 x 35 mm; the contralateral lung remained preserved, fetal Doppler studies were normal, and no hydrops was reported. A female infant was delivered at term on July 21, 2026, weighing 2.9 kg, with Apgar scores of 7 and 9 at 1 and 5 minutes. Postnatal chest radiography and computed tomography confirmed a predominantly right lower-lobe lesion without aberrant systemic arterial supply. Open right thoracotomy and anatomical right lower lobectomy were performed on July 22, within approximately 24 hours of birth. Postoperative course: The infant underwent structured respiratory, chest-tube, wound, laboratory, infection, and feeding surveillance. The chest tube was removed after 7 days. She was transferred to the Pediatric Ward on day 10 and discharged on day 12, clinically stable on room air with oxygen saturation of 98-99%. She remained clinically well approximately 2 weeks after discharge and at 40 days of age. Conclusion: Prenatal recognition of CPAM enabled planned postnatal assessment and coordinated neonatal management. Very early lobectomy was feasible in this selected infant and was followed by a favorable short-term outcome. This case demonstrates feasibility rather than superiority of immediate neonatal surgery; the optimal timing of resection in clinically stable infants remains unsettled.

The present work focuses on using flaxseed husk biomass as an inexpensive, environmentally acceptable biosorbent to remove Mercury ions from aqueous solutions using ultrasonic irradiation. The batch adsorption experiment was conducted to examine the influence of temperature, starting Mercury concentration, and contact duration on adsorption efficacy. The maximal adsorption capacity was 6.385 mg g⁻¹, and the removal efficiency reached 83% at equilibrium for the 90–100 minute research period. The adsorption capacity augmented with prolonged contact time. The adsorption kinetics were analysed using pseudo-first and pseudo-second order models. The pseudo-second-order model (R2 = 0.982) accurately characterised the adsorption process, indicating that the rate-limiting phase was chemisorption. Equilibrium investigations indicated that the Freundlich isotherm model (R2 = 0.909) more accurately represented the adsorption behaviour compared to the Langmuir model (R2 = 0.048), implying adsorption on a heterogeneous surface. Thermodynamic study revealed that the adsorption process was endothermic, characterised by positive changes in enthalpy and entropy. Ultrasonic irradiation improved Mercury removal by augmenting the availability of active sites for adsorption and enhancing mass transfer. The findings demonstrated the efficacy of ultrasonic-assisted adsorption in enhancing the process using flaxseed husk biomass as a sustainable adsorbent for Mercury extraction from polluted water.

Background: Pregnancy leads to major physiological changes, which can cause complications like intrauterine fetal death, hypertensive disorders. Changes in placental leucine aminopeptidase serum levels may indicate placental dysfunction and associated risks for maternal health.

Aim of the study: To evaluate the relationship between maternal serum placental leucine aminopeptidase levels and pregnancy outcomes.

Patients and Methods: A case-control study involving 150 pregnant women was conducted in the Obstetrics and Gynecology department of Al- Khansaa and Al Batool Maternity teaching hospitals from January 1 to June 30, 2025. Participants were divided into three groups: Group 1 (25 cases of intrauterine fetal death), Group 2 (25 cases of hypertensive disorders)  and Group 3 (100 healthy controls). Serum placental leucine aminopeptidase levels were measured to compare between cases and controls, adjusting for gestational age differences.

Results: Maternal serum placental leucine aminopeptidase levels were significantly lower in  case groups compared with the control group (p < 0.001). The intrauterine fetal death group demonstrated the lowest of maternal serum placental leucine aminopeptidase levels. Significant differences were also observed in maternal age, body mass index, gravidity, and parity. Receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed excellent discriminative ability of  maternal serum placental leucine aminopeptidase as a predictor of adverse pregnancy outcomes, with an area under the curve of 0.999 and cut-off points 812.7566.

Conclusion: Lower maternal serum placental leucine aminopeptidase levels were showed in  complicated pregnancies, which may indicate negative pregnancy outcomes.

Background: Varicocele is one of the most common surgically correctable causes of male infertility, affecting approximately 15% of the general male population. It is detected in nearly 35% of men with primary infertility and up to 81% of those with secondary infertility. Several operative techniques are currently available for varicocele repair, including open and laparoscopic approaches.Aim: To compare open bilateral subinguinal varicocelectomy and laparoscopic bilateral varicocelectomy regarding operative time, clinical outcome, seminal fluid analysis, postoperative complications, operation-related pain, hospital stay, and return to normal activity.Patients and Methods: This prospective comparative study was conducted at the Urology Department of Al-Imamain Al-Kadhymain Medical City from January 2015 to August 2016. A total of 63 male patients with bilateral varicocele were enrolled and divided into two groups. Group I included 30 patients who underwent open bilateral subinguinal varicocelectomy, whereas Group II included 33 patients treated with laparoscopic bilateral varicocelectomy. Clinical assessment, semen analysis, operative time, postoperative complications, pain score, hospital stay, and return to normal activity were evaluated and statistically analyzed.Results: The mean age was 28 ± 8 years in the open surgery group and 25 ± 7 years in the laparoscopic group. Operative time was significantly shorter in the laparoscopic group (45 ± 9 minutes) compared with the open group (50 ± 20 minutes) (P < 0.05). Operation-related pain was significantly lower in the open surgery group (2.8 ± 1.2) compared with the laparoscopic group (4.1 ± 1.3) (P < 0.05). Improvement in semen analysis was observed in both groups without statistically significant differences (P > 0.05). Most patients had no postoperative complications. The mean hospital stay was one day in both groups, and no significant difference was found regarding return to normal activity.Conclusion:Both open bilateral subinguinal varicocelectomy and laparoscopic bilateral varicocelectomy are effective and safe techniques for bilateral varicocele treatment. Laparoscopic surgery offers shorter operative time and faster recovery, whereas open surgery is associated with lower postoperative pain.