Long-term health complications of chemical weapon exposure: a study on Halabja chemical attack survivors (Iraqi Kurds).

OBJECTIVE: In 1988, the Iraqi government used a range of chemical weapons (CWs) against the Iraqi Kurds of Halabja. Here, we aim to investigate the long-term health consequences in exposed survivors as they are not sufficiently studied. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective study conducted from November 2019 to May 2020 assessing the health status of all exposed Halabja chemical attack survivors compared to non-exposed people from the same area. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Two hundred thirty survivors and 240 non-exposed participants were enrolled in this study, with control participants matched to age, gender, and occupation. Among the survivors, females were more prevalent. The respiratory system was the most common single exposure route (83, 36.1%), with 138 (60%) of the survivors being exposed by multiple routes. The vast majority (88.7%) of survivors had activities of daily living (ADL) impairment. There was female predominance in mild and moderate cases, with more males in severe cases (p < 0.01). Respiratory and cardiac diseases were significantly more common in the survivors compared to the controls (p < 0.001). Survivors with multiple CW exposure routes had significantly higher rates of ADL impairment (p < 0.001) and cardiac disease, respiratory diseases, and miscarriage (p < 0.01), than those with a single exposure route. CONCLUSION: In this study comparing CW survivors with a local control population, a single, high-dose exposure to CWs was associated with significant increases in chronic respiratory and cardiac conditions, in addition to high rates of ADL impairment. Similar studies are needed in other, more recent CW survivor cohorts.

Identification of the Intron 22 and Intron 1 Inversions of the Factor VIII Gene in Iraqi Kurdish Patients With Hemophilia A.

Hemophilia A (HA) is a severe coagulation disorder affecting 1 in 5000 to 10 000 male births. In severe cases, the most deleterious large DNA rearrangements are inversions of intron 22 (Inv22) and intron 1 (Inv1) of the factor VIII (FVIII) gene. These account for 40% to 50% and 1% to 5% of all causative mutations, respectively. Nevertheless, no genetic analysis to identify the actual causative mutation of FVIII, particularly Inv22 and Inv1, among Iraqi Kurdish hemophiliacs has been performed. In this study, we aimed to genotype Inv22 and Inv1 of the FVIII gene in our patients with HA and reveal the genotype/phenotype correlation with the inversion mutations and their role as a risk factor for the development of inhibitors. Analyses of the Inv22 and Inv1 mutations in 80 Iraqi Kurdish patients with HA (60 severe, 18 moderate, and 2 mild) were performed using the inverse shifting-polymerase chain reaction (IS-PCR) method. In severe cases, 46.7% (28/60) had Inv22 and 3.3% (2/60) had Inv1. The genotype/phenotype relation of Inv22 and Inv1 illustrated a statistically significant association (P = .012) between disease severity and inversion mutations. Slightly more patients with Inv22 (39%) developed inhibitors than those without Inv22 (28%; odds ratio = 1.65, 95% confidence interval = 0.56-4.87, P = .361). Inv22 is a major cause of severe HA in Iraqi Kurdish patients, and IS-PCR is a rapid, robust, and effective method that can be applied for carrier detection and prenatal diagnosis of HA in developing countries.

The association of HBG2, BCL11A, and HMIP polymorphisms with fetal hemoglobin and clinical phenotype in Iraqi Kurds with sickle cell disease.

INTRODUCTION: Fetal hemoglobin (HbF) is the major modifier for sickle cell disease (SCD) severity. HbF is modulated mainly by three major quantitative trait loci (QTL) on chromosomes 2, 6, and 11. METHODS: Five SNPs in the three QTLs (HBG2, rs7482144; BCL11A, rs1427407 and rs10189857; and HBS1L-MYB intergenic region, rs28384513 and rs9399137) were investigated by multiplex PCR and reverse hybridization, and their roles in HbF and clinical phenotype variability in Iraqi Kurds with SCD were assessed. RESULTS: HBG2 rs7482144 with minor allele frequency (MAF) of 0.133 was the most significant contributor to HbF variability, contributing 18.1%, followed by rs1427407 (MAF of 0.266) and rs9399137 (MAF of 0.137) at 14.3% and 8.8%, respectively. The other two SNPs were not significant contributors. Furthermore, when the cumulative numbers of minor alleles in the three contributing SNPs were assessed, HbF% and hemoglobin concentration increased with increasing number of minor alleles (P < 0.0005 and 0.001, respectively), while serum lactic dehydrogenase, reticulocytes, leukocytes, transfusion, and pain frequencies decreased (P = 0.003, 0.004, <0.0005, <0.0005, and 0.017, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: It was demonstrated that SNPs in all three major HbF QTLs contribute significantly to HbF and clinical variability in Iraqi Kurds with SCD and that the cumulative number of minor alleles at contributing SNPs may serve as a better predictor of such variability in this population.

Prevalence of impacted mandibular third molars and its association with distal caries in mandibular second molars using cone beam computed tomography / Prevalencia de terceros molares mandibulares impactados y su asociación con caries distales en segundos molares mandibulares mediante tomografía computarizada de haz cónico

This study evaluated the prevalence and eruption's pattern of impacted mandibular third molars (IMTM) and the influence of their eruption status on the distal caries of mandibular second molars (MSM) using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Material and methods: CBCT images taken for different purposes in private dental practices were analyzed retrospectively. Radiographic assessment included: prevalence of IMTM, degree of angulation, level of impaction and type of IMTM. Furthermore, the distance between the cement-enamel junctions (CEJ) of second and third molars and the occurrence of caries lesion on the distal surface of MSM was also evaluated. Data were analyzed by chi square test and logistic regression was used to find the association between distal caries of MSM and eruption status of IMTM. Results: Three hundred and eight CBCTs were screened, the prevalence of IMTM was 36.88% and their angulation degree were mostly less than 90º (mesioangular). Amongst those with impaction, 58 subjects (43%) had distal caries on MSM, 29.6% in females and 30.4% in the age group 19-27 years. Caries on the distal side of MSM were significantly associated with age, level and type of impaction, angulation degree and CEJ distances (p<0.05). Conclusions: The prevalence of IMTM is high (36.88%) and there are significant relationships between angulation degree, level and type of impaction, and CEJ distances with caries on the distal side of MSM.

Introducción: Este estudio evaluó la prevalencia y el patrón de erupción de terceros molares mandibulares impactados (TMMI), y la influencia de su estado de erupción en la caries distal de los segundos molares mandibulares (SMM) mediante tomografía computarizada de haz cónico (TCHC). Material y métodos: se analizaron retrospectivamente las imágenes de TCHC tomadas para diferentes fines en prácticas dentales privadas. La evaluación radiográfica incluyó: prevalencia de TMMI, grado de angulación, nivel de impacto y tipo de TMMI. Además, también se evaluó la distancia entre la unión amelocementaria (UAC) de los segundos y terceros molares y la aparición de lesión de caries en la superficie distal de SMM. Los datos se analizaron mediante la prueba de chi cuadrado y se usó la regresión logística para evaluar asociaciones entre la caries distal de SMM y el estado de erupción de TMMI. Resultados: Se examinaron 308 TCHC, la prevalencia de TMMI fue de 36.88% y su grado de angulación fue mayoritariamente menor a 90º (mesioangular). Entre aquellos con impacto, 58 sujetos (43%) tenían caries distales en los SMM, 29.6% eran mujeres y 30.4% pertenecieron al grupo de edad de 19-27 años. Las caries en el lado distal de MSM se asociaron significativamente con la edad, el nivel y el tipo de impactación, el grado de angulación y las distancias UAC (p<0.05). Conclusiones: la prevalencia de TMMI es alta (36.88%) y existen relaciones significativas entre el grado de angulación, el nivel y el tipo de impacto, y las distancias UAC con presencia de caries en el lado distal de los SMM.