Introduction: In 2019, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the agent of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), spread all over the world. This global pandemic spread rapidly to more than 195 countries and caused over 200 million infections with a mortality rate of 2%. This study aimed to detect seropositivity against the SARS-CoV-2 virus among outpatients, symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals. Methodology: A total of 489 individuals of age 5-70 years (mean 38.0 ± 17 SD) were enrolled for a cross-sectional study. They were tested for presence of SARS‐CoV‐2 IgM/IgG antibodies in serum samples using Enzyme-linked Immunofluorescent Assay (ALFA). Results: A higher seroprevalence was recorded for IgM among females (34.96%) than males (28.83%). In the case of IgG, and IgG + IgM, both males and females had similar values. A significant correlation was identified between seropositivity and age; higher seropositivity (IgG, IgM, and IgG + IgM) was recorded in age groups 51-60 and ≥ 61 years, relative to the younger age groups. No significant correlation was found between symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals. No significant correlation was detected between seropositivity and RT-PCR positive and negative cases. Conclusions: COVID-19 is spreading rapidly and there is a high percentage of asymptomatic carriers. The sensitivity of RT-PCR tests is not uniform and may not be able to detect all cases. On the other hand, serology can be used for large scale testing to detect the real extent to which the disease has spread.

Introduction: There are limited published data regarding the recent incidence trends of cancer in Iraqi Kurdistan. Methods: The present study assessed the epidemiological estimates of cancer incidence, as well providing a projection of future cancer trends in the upcoming decade by analysing the population-based cancer registry between 2013 and 2019, in both the Erbil and Duhok governorates. A retrospective analysis was performed on data retrieved from the Medical Statistics Department at the Ministry of Health, Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). Results: The total number of female cancer patients was higher in both governorates, and the total incidence of patients with cancer increased by over 2x between 2013 and 2019 in Erbil and Duhok, from 73 to 174 patients/100,000 individuals for women, and 36 to 85 patients/100,000 individuals for men. Analysis indicated that the percentage of patients with cancer is projected to increase by >2x in the current decade, from 3,457 cases to 4,547 and 4,449 cases in the Erbil governorate; and from 1,365 to 2,633 and 2,737 cases in 2028 based on LSTM and bi-LTSM analysis in the Duhok governorate. Lung cancer (LC) and female breast cancer (BC) were the most prominent types of cancers diagnosed since 2013 in both the Erbil and Duhok governorates. Conclusion: The striking pattern of trends for both present and future cancer incidence rates require urgent solutions and comprehensive efforts to control risk factors that promote the increasing incidence of cancer in these two KRG governorates.

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There is limited published data on recent cancer incidence trends in Iraqi Kurdistan. Therefore, this study assesses epidemiological estimates of cancer incidence as well as the projection of future cancer trends in the upcoming decade by analysing the population-based cancer registry from 2013 to 2019 in both Erbil and Duhok governorates. A retrospective study was conducted on data retrieved from the Medical Statistics Department at the Ministry of Health, KRG. The total number of female cancer patients was higher in both governorates, and the total number of patients more than doubled from 2013 to 2019 in Erbil and Duhok, from 73 to 174 patients/100,000 population for women, and 36 to 85 patients/100,000 population for men. Data analysis indicates that the percentage of cancer patients is projected to increase in the decade from 2020-2030 from 107.4% to 234.3% in 2030 in Erbil governorate; and from 106% to 163% in Duhok governorate. Female breast cancer and lung cancer are the most prominent types of cancers since 2013 in Erbil and Duhok governorates. The striking pattern of trends for both present and future cancer incidence rates require the urgent solutions and comprehensive efforts to control risk factors that promote the continuity of cancer diseases in these two KRG governorates.

Introduction: Genotyping and evaluation of genetic variation and polymorphic information content of the locally cultivated pear (Pyrus communis L.) might play an important role in building the genetic bank. These are also immensely important for present and future pear breeding program in the region. Methods: In the current study, AFLP markers have been employed to estimate the level of genetic diversity and to assess the phylogeny among the seven most popular pear cultivars in Duhok city. Results: Eight selective primer combinations generated a total of 653 AFLP fragments from which 445 (68.2%) fragments were polymorphic. The number of visible amplified products per primer combination were varied and ranged from 66 to 96 bands. The highest percentage of polymorphism (78.4%) was observed by the primer pair P174/M182, while the lowest percentage of polymorphism (58.6%) was observed by the primer pair P174/M100. The highest PIC (0.85) was obtained with the primer combination P174/ M182, while, the lowest PIC (0.49) was obtained by the primer combination P174/M307. The genetic distance was ranged from 0.1348 (between Danimarki and Amreki cultivars) to 0.3131 (between Italy and Zaafaran2 cultivars). Based on the AFLP data, all the seven pear genotypes were successfully clustered into two separate clusters (C1 and C2) with an out-group of Itali cultivar. Conclusions: Overall, it can be concluded that there was high polymorphism among the studied genotypes. Also, it can be stated that the AFLP was a reliable and a powerful technique in genotyping and discriminating of respective pear cultivars.Evaluación de variantes genéticas y filogenia de la pera común (Pyrus communis L.) cultivada en la ciudad Duhok empleando AFLP como marcadores moleculares Check for updatesHow to cite this paper: Ali S H., Othman H E., Zibari P A A., Jubrael J M S. Evaluation of genetic variations and phylogeny of the most popular pear (Pyrus communis L.) cultivars in Duhok city using AFLP markers, Duhok, Iraq. Innovaciencia. 2018; 6(1): 1-10.