Serum IgE level was predictive in asthma, and it may be used to differentiate between asthmatic and non-asthmatic individuals in conjunction with other biomarkers. Specific immunotherapy reduced serum total IgE level in 36% of patients with asthma.

We sought to determine the prevalence of skin diseases in Iraq. Most such studies performed in Iraq have been hospital based. One community based study was performed in the southern area of Iraq but involved only an urban population. Our study was carried out in two Iraqi governorates, Tikrit and Kirkuk, and involved 1545 randomly selected households, 829 from urban areas and 716 from rural areas. The total sample size was 8000 individuals representing a wide range of ages, 3735 (47%) males and 4268 (53%) females. The overall prevalence of skin diseases was 27%. The rate was similar in males (27%) and females (27%), and in rural (28%) compared with urban (26%) areas. Dermatitis was the most common disease category (33%) in the community based population, and skin infections (32%) in the hospital based group. Community and hospital based studies demonstrate that skin diseases represent a major public health problem which may confer significant personal and financial burdens on Iraq.

BackgroundSerum and sputum eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) levels are correlated with asthma disease severity.ObjectiveTo establish a diagnostic accuracy of ECP and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in serum (indirectly) and sputum (directly) as inflammatory markers in asthma.Patients and MethodsIn a cross sectional study, 76 asthmatic patients with exacerbation were enrolled in the study. ECP was determined using enzyme linked immuno-assay.ResultsAsthmatic patients compared with control subjects, had a significant higher levels of ECP and LDH in sputum. Both sputum and serum ECP and LDH were reduced significantly with prednisolone treatment. FEV1 was inversely correlated with sputum ECP, serum ECP, and sputum LDH. A significant positive correlation was noted between sputum ECP and sputum LDH. Serum LDH does not demonstrate any significant correlations with other variables. The area under receiver operating characteristic curve showed that sputum ECP (0.92) was a significantly an accurate marker more than serum ECP (0.81), sputum (0.80) LDH, and serum (0.65) LDH. Furthermore, the area under curve was lower for serum ECP (0.81) than that for sputum ECP (0.92). However, serum ECP (0.81) was more accurate marker than serum LDH (0.65).ConclusionSerum and sputum ECP as eosinophilic inflammatory markers are associated with poor asthma control. Sputum ECP and LDH were significantly an accurate markers more than serum ECP and LDH.

Amaç: Yapılan çalışmalar sistemik inflamasyon belirteçleri ve akciğer fonksiyonları arasında ters bir orantı olduğunu göstermekte-dir. Bu çalışmada C-reaktif proteinin (CRP) serum düzeyi, vücut kitle indeksi ve astım arasındaki ilişkiyi belirlemeyi hedefledik. Gereç ve Yöntem:Bu çalışmada 178 astım hastasında ve 50 sağlıklı kontrol grubunda CRP düzeyi belirlendi. Astım hastaları-nın 126'sı stabil evrede ve 52'si ise atak dönemindeydi. Bulgular:Astım hastalarında kontrol grubuna göre CRP düzeyi-nin istatistiksel düzeyde anlamlı derecede (p<0.05) daha yüksek olduğu görüldü. Atak dönemindeki astım hastalarında ise serum CRP düzeylerinin stabil devredeki astım hastalarından anlamlı derecede daha yüksek olduğu görüldü (p<0.05). Astım hastalarında FEV1 değeri serum CRP düzeyi ile ters bir orantı gösteri-yordu. Astım hastalarında, serum CRP düzeyi ve vücut kitle indeksi arasında istatistiksel düzeyde anlamlı bir ilişki vardı (p<0.0001). Ayrıca ortalama vücut kitle indeksinin astım hastalarında kontrol gruba göre daha yüksek olduğu görüldü. Material and Method:In the present study, CRP was determined in 178 patients with asthma and 50 healthy control subjects. Of all asthmatics, 126 had stable asthma and 52 had asthma during exacerbation.Results: CRP was significantly higher (p<0.05) in asthmatic patients as compared to the control group. In asthmatics with exacerbation, serum CRP was significantly higher than in stable asthmatic patients and control subjects. FEV1 was significantly inversely correlated with serum CRP in asthmatic patients. In asthmatic patients there was a significant (p<0.0001) association between serum level of CRP and body mass index. Furthermore, the mean BMI was significantly higher in asthmatic patients than that in control subjects. Conclusion:Serum CRP may be a non specific marker of asthma and its exacerbation. In addition, obesity could be a risk factor for asthma. (Tur Toraks Der 2010; 11: 98-104)