Purpose: A case-control study was carried out to elucidate prospectively the sensitivity and specificity of endomysium antibodies by using two substrates in the diagnosis of coeliac disease as a first attempt in an Iraqi population with comparison with histological findings. Methods: The study consisted of 314 patients and 100 normal controls. Oesophago-gastroduodenoscopy was done to each patient and three biopsies from distal duodenum were taken. Venous blood sample was also obtained from each patient and normal subjects. The sera were tested for endomysium antibodies (EMA) by using two substrates; monkey esophagus and human umbilical cord by indirect immunofluorescent technique (IIF). Results: The sensitivity of EMA (monkey oesophagus) test among both children and adults was 93.8% and 100% respectively, while the sensitivity of EMA (umbilical cord) test among children and adults was 96.6% and 100% respectively. Conclusions: The human umbilical cord tissue is better for using as a substrate than the monkey esophagus tissue among Iraqi ceoliac patients. Therefore, the test is suitable as a diagnostic and screening tool for the disease.

Objective- To investigate the myocardial depressant activity of a newly synthesised dihydropyrimidine derivative 5-acyl-6-methyl-4-phenyl-2 -S-ethyl-1,4-dihydropyrimidine (BK - vi) and comparing with nifedipine on Isolated perfused rabbit heart. Material and Methods- Effects of the test compound BK-vi on the amplitude,heart rate and coronary flow on isolated perfused rabbit heart was compared with nifedipine.Observations were made with increasing concentrations of BK-vi and Nifedipine with dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) as the solvent.Six preparations were used for each dose of BK-vi and nifedipine.Heart rate ,amplitude and coronary flow were noted down every minute for five minutes after injection of each drug and control. Results- On comparing the effects of BK-vi and nifedipine, it was found that both had a negative inotropic and negative chronotropic effect. Compound BK -vi did not produce significant effect on heart rate at all the four doses. In comparison, nifedipine produced a significant to highly significant decrease in heart rate.Significant decrease in amplitude with BK-vi was seen at dose of 7.29 X 10-4M and 14.5 X 10-4M by 42% and 56.98% respectively and in coronary flow by 39.95% at dose of 14.5 X 10-4M .Nifedipine significantly decreased heart rate and amplitude at all doses with cardiac arrest at 4.6 X 10-5M.A significant increase in coronary flow was seen with nifedipine by 9.4% and 13% at doses of 0.5 X 10-5M and 1.15 X 10-5M respectively though this property was lost at higher doses.On comparison, BK-vi produced significant myocardial depression at much higher dose than nifedipine. Conclusion- BK-vi has calcium channel blocking activity like nifedipine and produced less potent myocardial depression in comparison with nifedipine.

Aim and Objectives: To measure, calculate, find out variations and finally compare the pattern of talar articular facets of different human calcanei. Materials and Methods: 50 adult human calcanei were obtained irrespective of age and sex and evaluated one by one. Three types of calcaneus that has distinct talar facets as Types A, B and C and sub types were defined. Results: The study reveals the following results; Out of 50 calcanei 13 were of Type A (26%) 37 were of Type B (74%) and None were of Type C. The mean intersecting angle of Type A calcaneum is 121.50 and The mean intersecting angle of Type B calcaneum is 151.60 Conclusion: This study reveals that the talar facet configuration of calcanei and angle between the anterior and middle facet influences the stability of the subtalar joint.

Aim: To know the presence/ absence of infectious agents like: Bacterial Causes: Tuberculosis, Gram positive & Gram negative organisms. Viral Causes: HEPATITIS B&C; HIV in cadavers. Materials & Methods: Samples were collected from 6 medical colleges in and around Tamil Nadu& Andhra Pradesh. A total of 28 cadavers were screened, 3 samples from each body were taken which includes fluid from cranial cavity, thoracic cavity, abdominal cavity, totally constituting 84 samples. The samples were processed for both bacterial and viral etiological agents as per standard lab protocols. Results: All the 84 samples were negative for bacterial agents but 2 cadavers proved to be positive for viral infectious diseases revealing the necessity to screen the samples from the cadavers before it is handed over to the Anatomy dissection hall, to be handled by the teachers and the taught. One cadaver was positive for HIV and another cadaver positive for Hepatitis B infection in all the three samples. Conclusions: The safety of embalmed cadaver was unquestioned till date as it was thought to be infection free!! Our study proved otherwise All the samples were devoid of bacterial infections but two cadavers proved to be positive for viral infections, stressing the importance of screening the cadavers for bacterial & viral infections. Universal precautions are to be followed wherever necessary along with vaccination.