INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MEDICAL SCIENCES

Effect of Isoflurane and Sevoflurane on Women Undergoing Cesarean Section

Mohamed Almoustafa Alsamarai — 2025-08-01

Background: The anesthetic drugs should be used with caution since a lot of them were with side effect induction.

Aim: To investigate the comparative effects of two commonly used volatile anesthetic agents, isoflurane and sevoflurane, on women undergoing cesarean section under general anesthesia.

Methods: A hospital-based descriptive cross-sectional observational study was conducted in two general hospitals in Kirkuk. A total of 172 women attend for cesarean section were included in the study. Informed consent was taken from each woman before her enrollment in the study. The data was gathered using a structured questionnaire. The data analyzed using IBM SPSS (version 25). A p-value of <0.05 is regarded as significant.

Results: A rate of 68.6% of the participants experienced psychological effects following anesthesia. While 61.3% of the participants experienced sleeping difficulty. In addition, 72.1% developed breathing difficulty after surgery. The rate of pain severity was that 51.7% of the participants were with moderate pain, while 30.2% experienced severe pain. 56.4% of the participants do not get information or get an inadequate explanation regarding anesthesia side effects. Unfortunately, 59.3% of the participants experienced not good team cooperation or no cooperation at all. Isoflurane used in 89%, while sevoflurane used in 11% of women undergoing CS. The wake-up time after surgery was 20–40 minutes in 79.7%, while it was 41–50 minutes in 20.3%. There were significant differences between isoflurane and sevoflurane perioperative levels of glucose, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure. However, there was no significant difference between the two drugs use in regard to blood loss. In addition, there were significant differences between the two drugs when the analysis was performed on diabetic or hypertensive and non-diabetic or non-hypertensive strata.

Conclusion: Isoflurane had more effect on systolic and diastolic blood pressure than sevoflurane during surgery. Additionally, after surgery there was a significant difference in systolic and diastolic blood pressure between women who received isoflurane and those who received sevoflurane. Both drugs induce significant reduction in systolic blood pressure, while there was no significant effect on diastolic blood pressure and blood glucose levels after their use.

Effect of Cladosporium herbarum Extracts on Some Bacterial Species

Saja Jamal Noman — 2025-08-01

Background: The results of the chemical detection showed that the active groups in the Cladosporium herbarum extracts are Sumiki’s acid and Acetyl Sumiki’s acid, and knowing its biological effectiveness against bacteria

Aim: To evaluate the effect of Cladosporium herbarum extracts on some bacterial species (E. coli & Staph. aureus)

Materials and methods: The fungal extract of Cladosporium herbarum was prepared and tested for its inhibitory effect on Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Three concentrations were tested (50, 100, 250 mg/ml). The active compounds of the extract were then identified.

Results: The fungus producing the fungal extract was isolated from various soil samples and was found to be C. herbarum. After growing on the production medium for seven days at 30°C and chemically identifying the active components in the extracts, the presence of sumiki's acid and acetyl sumiki's acid35 in the Cladosporium herbarum fungal extract was found at concentrations of 0.32 and 0.97 mg per 100 ml, respectively. The inhibitory capacity was tested at concentrations of 50, 100, and 250 mg/ml against Staph. aureus and E. coli bacteria. The results showed that the fungal extract varied in its inhibitory effect on the isolated bacteria at a concentration of 50 mg/ml, with an average diameter of inhibition of 13 mm. The average diameter of inhibition at a concentration of 100 mg/ml was 17 and 20 mm, respectively

Examining Sociodemographic Influences on Pain Medication During the Initial Orthopedic Postoperative Day in Kirkuk City (Azadi, Kirkuk Teaching Hospital)

Nibras AbdulKareem Al-Ogaidi — 2025-08-01

Introduction: This dissertation investigates pain from a neurobiological perspective, categorizing it into three distinct types: nociceptive pain, inflammatory pain, and the psychosocial factors influencing pain perception. Nociceptive pain serves as an early-warning mechanism, alerting individuals to harmful stimuli, while inflammatory pain enhances sensitivity after tissue damage, promoting healing. Despite their protective roles, both types of pain require effective management to prevent chronic issues.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at Kirkuk Teaching Hospital and Azadi Teaching Hospital involving 195 patients who underwent emergency orthopedic surgery. Data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire and a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) to assess pain intensity at 2-, 12-, and 24-hours post-surgery. The study examined various sociodemographic factors, surgical details, and pain management strategies to identify their influence on postoperative pain perception.

Results: The study revealed that a significant proportion of patients reported high pain levels (8/10) on the VAS, with males showing higher satisfaction levels with pain management compared to females. The most commonly used analgesics were acetaminophen and nefopam, often in combination. The duration of surgery correlated with the number of pain medications used, indicating that longer procedures necessitate more intensive pain management. Notably, sociodemographic factors did not significantly influence pain perception among the patient population.

Conclusion: The findings underscore the necessity for tailored pain management strategies in orthopedic settings, considering the unique demographics of patients in Kirkuk. Effective pain management protocols that utilize simpler analgesics may enhance patient satisfaction and recovery outcomes. Future research should focus on the long-term effects of these strategies and explore the reasons behind the lack of significant sociodemographic influences on pain perception.

Assessment of Pre-and Post Operative Anxiety Among Elective Major Surgery Patient in Kirkuk General Hospital.

Omer Abdulla Abd — 2025-08-01

Background: Preoperative anxiety is the most common problem associated with a number of postoperative complications, such as increased postoperative pain, delayed recovery, and prolonged hospital stay. Low levels of anxiety are commonly an expected reaction to unexpected, potentially life-threatening circumstances, especially during a patient's first surgical experience. It is a response to external or internal stimuli that may cause behavioral, emotional, cognitive, and physical symptoms. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of anxiety among preoperative and postoperative patients attending the hospital in Kirkuk and its associated factors.

Objectives: To assess the anxiety level and identify the association between sociodemographic characteristics and patients’ anxiety.

Method: A cross-sectional hospital-based study was conducted on 100 patients arranged for surgery at governmental hospitals of Kirkuk City by using a systematic random sampling procedure. Collecting data was performed from the 7th of January to the end of March 2025 by direct interview after informed consent was taken, and a proper questionnaire was used for the study. The data entry and analysis were done by using SPSS version 23 (IBM STATA). Frequency percentage was used, and Chi-square was performed to assess the effect of association of variables. A p-value ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: The study cohort (N = 100) consisted of elective major surgery patients with a mean age of 44.2±16.8 years (range: 18–45 years). Assessment using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-S) revealed a mean preoperative anxiety score of 52.4±8.7, significantly exceeding the normal range threshold of 39 (p < 0.001). Severe anxiety (scores ≥60) was present in 28% of patients, moderate levels (40–59) in 56%, and only 16% scored within the normal ranges. Patients undergoing surgery for the first time scored an average of 7.3 points higher than those with prior surgical experience (p = 0.012). The highest specialty-specific scores occurred in gynecology (58.1±6.8) and general surgery patients (54.9±7.2), possibly reflecting procedure-specific fears.

Conclusion: Integrating psychological support into perioperative care is crucial. While surgery can reduce preoperative anxiety, managing postoperative stress is essential for better recovery and patient satisfaction. Anxiety is linked to education level, fear of death, awareness during surgery, and postoperative pain. Therefore, routine preoperative anxiety screening and targeted interventions are recommended for all hospitals.

POSTGRADUATE RESEARCH PROPOSAL

Abdulghani Alsamarai — 2025-08-01

Asthma is a common worldwide disease with a prevalence of 5 to 10% [1]. A health condition that is characterized by chronic course of remission and exacerbation. Asthma is a heterogeneous respiratory inflammatory disease driven by immune responses and with different phenotypes and endotypes [2, 3]. Asthma is not a single entity and it is a heterogenic syndrome [4].Although, an extensive studies performed to illustrate the role of different cytokines and chemokines in induction of asthma pathogenesis; however, still there is uncovered sites in asthma pathogenesis. The outcomes of previous studies indicated that a large network of cytokines and chemokines are involved in inflammatory and immunologic responses [5, 6] in asthma with subsequent airway remodeling [7].

Instructions for Authors

Abdulghani Alsamarai — 2025-08-01

The International Journal of Medical Sciences [IJMS], ISSN 2522-7386, is a peer-reviewed, 3 issues published annually. Authors are invited to submit for publication articles with a wide spectrum of coverage reporting original work, in the fields of medicine, nursery, dentistry, and pharmacy sciences. Review articles are usually by invitation only. However, Review articles of current interest and high standard will be considered. Prospective work should not be back dated. There are also sections for Case Reports, Brief Communication, correspondence and medical news items. Authors should read the editorial policy and publication ethics before submitting their manuscripts. Authors should also use the appropriate reporting guidelines in preparing their manuscripts.