OBJECTIVETo determine the pattern of causalities of Iraqi ballistic missile attacks on Tehran, the capital of Iran, during Iraq-Iran war.

METHODSData were extracted from the Army Staff Headquarters based on daily reports of Iranian army units during the war.

RESULTSDuring 52 days, Tehran was stroked by 118 Al-Hussein missiles (a modified version of Scud missile). Eighty-six missiles landed in populated areas. During Iraqi missile attacks, 422 civilians died and 1 579 injured (4.9 deaths and 18.3 injuries per missile). During 52 days, 8.1 of the civilians died and 30.4 injured daily. Of the cases that died, 101 persons (24%) were excluded due to the lack of information. Among the remainders, 179 (55.8%) were male and 142 (44.2%) were female. The mean age of the victims was 25.3 years+/-19.9 years. Our results show that the high accuracy of modified Scud missiles landed in crowded areas is the major cause of high mortality in Tehran. The presence of suitable warning system and shelters could reduce civilian casualties.

CONCLUSIONThe awareness and readiness of civilian defense forces, rescue services and all medical facilities for dealing with mass casualties caused by ballistic missile attacks are necessary.

Humans ; Iran ; Iraq

Great importance has been attributed to birth weight all over the world because it is considered as one of the best predictors of prenatal survival and a good indicator of quality life. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of low birth weight babies (LBW) and factors related to it in Baghdad city. A cross sectional study was carried out in four general hospitals in Baghdad city, Iraq. A total of 225 newborn babies, alive, singleton and without congenital malformation were selected randomly from these four general hospitals.The result of the study showed the prevalence rate of low birth weights was 21.3%. Mothers’ educational level, monthly family income, mothers with chronic hypertension, mothers with history of previous low birth weight infants and anemic mothers were significantly associated with low birth weight babies (P= 0.03, 0.01, 0.02,<0.01, 0.02) respectively. It is clearly evidenced the lack of equity in populations and disparity in socioeconomic status are common related factors for the low birth weight babies as can be seen as a public and global health problem.
Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Iraq

The unstable living situation in Iraq in the last 10 years after 2003 war affected the daily life of most Iraqis, and especially the children. The objective of this study was to explore the effects of an unstable living environment on children’s health. A community-based qualitative study was done to collect data from 20 mothers of children (age 7 to 8years old) through in-depth interview (IDI). Data was recorded using tape recorders and was later transcribed and analyzed using qualitative thematic analysis techniques. The majority of mothers interviewed said the past nine years of unstable security in the capital had affected their daily life; some mothers also expressed concern about their child’s nutritional status, their eating habits during the school day, and the unhealthy food being sold at school canteens. As a conclusion, the unstable living situations in Baghdad city after the last war had affected the cognitive and nutritional development of children. More precautions should be taken by parents to ensure their children safety in the future.
Economics ; Social Conditions ; Child ; Health ; Iraq

Iraq war, the Korean government established an Iraq Peace and Reconstruction Division, 'Zaytun'. Zaytun division has been dispatched in northern Iraq, since August 3, 2004. As one of our missions, 'Zaytun Hospital' was built to support the demand for the insufficient medical facilities and supplies in Iraq, which was opened on November 27, 2004. Zaytun Hospital, equipped with modern operation room and general ward, has been composed of 12 clinical departments. Although we had many problems, such as difficulty of communication with Iraqis, connection with medical facilities of Iraq and risk of terrorism, we overcame these difficulties and were able to achieve our missions successfully. I wish that our special experience in Iraq are will be the guideline to other oral and maxillofacial surgeons, who want to help those individual in unfortunate areas such as Iraq.]]>
Equipment and Supplies ; Humans ; Iraq ; Missions and Missionaries ; Patients' Rooms ; Terrorism

OBJECTIVESTo review the calendar, mortality and morbidity of Iraq-Iran chemical war among Iranians based on researchers'reports.

METHODSWe used national and international databanks such as PubMed, ISI, Scopus, Irandoc and Iranmedex and studied 350 articles related to chemical agents and their effects on different organs. The main criteria for qualification of articles were relevancy orientation and being published in approved medical journals.

RESULTSThe Iraqi army invaded to west and southwest Iran using chemical weapons such as nerve agents (NAs) and sulfur mustard (SM). Most victims were civilians including women and children. These attacks had imposed more than 150 types of diseases and complications on Iranians and the frequency of death was 2%-3%. Most reports were about respiratory problems and a few were in the domain of socio-economic damages.

CONCLUSIONAt present, 25 years after the end of war, the victims are faced with different complications induced by chemical agents and it is estimated that they will be continuously troubled by these problems in future.

Chemical Warfare ; history ; Child ; Female ; History, 20th Century ; Humans ; Iran ; Iraq

OBJECTIVETo determine the nature and extent of Iranian casualties by ballistic missile attacks during the eight years of the Iraq-Iran war.

METHODSThe data collected about Iraqi missile strikes on Iranian cities included the following: date and time, number and type of missiles, cities targeted, and injuries and deaths resulting from impacts of missiles in civilian areas. The data were extracted from a database that was constructed by the army staff headquarters based on daily reports of Iranian army units during the war.

RESULTSOver a period of eight years (1980-1988), Iraqi army fired 533 ballistic missiles at Iranian territories. From those, 414 missiles (77.7%) landed on Iranian cities. The impacts of these missiles caused the deaths of 2,312 civilians and injured 11,625 others. Three types of ballistic missiles were used: FROG-7, Scud, and Al-Hussein (a modified version of the Scud missile). Twenty-seven cities in Iran were struck by Iraqi ballistic missiles. The highest mortalities from ballistic missiles were in Dezful and Tehran. Iraqi missile attacks continued for 90 months (2,748 days).

CONCLUSIONOur results point to the necessity of investigating the psychological consequences of Iraqi ballistic missile attacks among survivors in 27 Iranian cities during the eight years of the Iraq-Iran war.

Blast Injuries ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Iran ; Iraq ; epidemiology ; Time Factors ; Warfare ; Wounds and Injuries ; epidemiology ; Wounds, Gunshot ; epidemiology

Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Distribution ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Iraq ; epidemiology ; Leukemia ; epidemiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Spinal cord injury is a common neurological problem secondary to car accidents, war injuries and other causes, it may lead to varying degrees of neurological disablement, and apart from physiotherapy there is no available treatment to regain neurological function loss. Our aim is to find a new method using autologous hematopoietic stem cells to gain some of the neurologic functions lost after spinal cord injury. METHODS AND RESULTS: 277 patients suffering from spinal cord injury were submitted to an intrathecally treatment with peripheral stem cells. The cells were harvested from the peripheral blood after a treatment with G-CSF and then concentrated to 4~6 ml. 43% of the patients improved; ASIA score shifted from A to B in 88 and from A to C in 32. The best results were achieved in patients treated within one year from the injury. CONCLUSIONS: Since mesenchymal cells increase in the peripheral blood after G-CSF stimulation, a peripheral blood harvest seems easier and cheaper than mesenchymal cell cultivation prior to injection. It seems reasonable treatment for spinal cord injury.
Asia ; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; Humans ; Iraq ; Spinal Cord ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; Stem Cells ; Stress, Psychological

BACKGROUND: Microcytic anemia, the most common form of anemia in children and adolescents, is a heterogeneous group of diseases that is acquired or inherited. We assessed the frequency and causes of microcytosis in children and adolescents with the sickle cell trait (SCT). METHODS: This descriptive study included 95 subjects (49 males and 46 females) with SCT who attended Basra Center for Hereditary Blood Diseases for evaluation. Investigations included complete blood count, high performance liquid chromatography, capillary electrophoresis, and measurement of serum ferritin and transferrin levels. RESULTS: SCT subjects had a low hemoglobin (Hb) concentration (9.79±1.75 g/dL), low mean corpuscular volume (MCV, 67.43±9.22), low mean corpuscular Hb (21.15±3.64), and a normal red cell distribution width (RDW, 14.00±2.30). Among 95 SCT subjects, 81 (85.26%) had microcytosis, 12 (12.63%) had normal MCV, and 2 (2.11%) exhibited macrocytosis. Sixty-three (77.78%) SCT subjects with microcytosis were iron deficient, and 18 (22.22%) had normal iron levels. The mean serum ferritin and HbA2 levels were significantly lower, while the RDW, sickle Hb, and serum transferrin levels were significantly higher in patients with microcytosis and iron deficiency compared to non-iron deficient subjects (P<0.05). Correlation coefficients did not reveal a significant association between the MCV and iron status of SCT subjects (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Despite the frequent occurrence of iron deficiency in SCT subjects, co-inheritance of alpha-thalassemia seemed to be the cause of low MCV in non-iron deficient individuals with microcytosis. Genetic analysis is required to understand the genetic basis of this phenomenon.
Adolescent ; alpha-Thalassemia ; Anemia ; Blood Cell Count ; Child ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Electrophoresis, Capillary ; Erythrocyte Indices ; Ferritins ; Hematologic Diseases ; Humans ; Iraq ; Iron ; Male ; Sickle Cell Trait ; Transferrin

Brucellosis is a zoonotic infection that is usually transmitted from cattle to humans through ingestion of animal milk, direct contact with animal parts, or inhalation of aerosolized particles. In Korea, brucellosis seem to be transmitted through close contact with blood, fetus, urine, and placenta of domestic cow that has been infected by Brucella abortus, or inhalation of B. arbortus while examining or slaughtering cow. Brucella melitensis infection is rare in Korea and there have been no reported cases of B. melitensis originating from other countries until now. This report details a case of complicated brucellosis with infective spondylitis in a 48-year-old male construction worker recently returned from Iraq. Infection with B. melitensis was confirmed using 16s rRNA sequencing and omp31 gene analysis. The patient was successfully treated using a combination of rifampin, doxycycline, and streptomycin, in accordance with WHO guidelines. This is the first reported case of complicated brucellosis with infective spondylitis in Korea caused by B. melitensis originating from Iraq.
Animals ; Brucella abortus ; Brucella melitensis* ; Brucella* ; Brucellosis ; Cattle ; Doxycycline ; Eating ; Fetus ; Humans ; Inhalation ; Iraq ; Korea* ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Middle East ; Milk ; Placenta ; Rifampin ; Spondylitis ; Streptomycin ; Zoonoses