International journal of health sciences

The association between serum leptin levels and body mass index in polycystic ovarian syndrome patients

Rusul Adnan Abass — 2025-09-01

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine abnormality in reproductive-age women, which is characterized by hyperandrogenism, anovulation, and polycystic ovaries. Some evidence suggested that leptin also causes PCOS due to its role in the female reproductive system. The physiological function of leptin controls the balance of energy and suppresses the center of appetite. Patients with PCOS may be underweight, normoweight, overweight, and obese, based on their body mass index (BMI), but obesity is a common clinical situation in PCOS. Obesity occurs when the level of leptin increases but cannot decrease appetite, resulting in leptin resistance. This study aimed to discover the connection between body mass index (BMI) and the level of leptin in patients with PCOS. Methods: A case-control sectional study included 100 women, divided between 50 women with polycystic ovary syndrome and 50 healthy women. They're aged from 18 to 40 years old. Samples were collected from Al-Batoul General Hospital and private clinics in Diyala Governorate during the period from December 2024 to end March 2025. Blood samples were collected under fasting conditions from every enrolled participant.

Effectiveness of Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) in abdominal wound dehiscence

Lauve Bhatt — 2025-09-05

Abdominal wound dehiscence, a severe postoperative complication, is the partial or total separation of layers of an abdominal surgical wound. This condition is associated with significant morbidity, prolonged hospital stays, and increased healthcare costs. Traditional management involves moist-to-dry dressings, which can be painful and ineffective in promoting rapid wound closure. Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT), also known as vacuum-assisted closure (VAC), is a modern and effective technique for managing complex wounds. NPWT involves applying controlled sub-atmospheric pressure to the wound bed. This therapy is gaining recognition as a valuable tool for treating abdominal wound dehiscence due to its multiple mechanisms of action. This article reviews the effectiveness of NPWT in managing this challenging condition. NPWT works through several key mechanisms that are particularly beneficial for complex abdominal wounds: Macro-deformation; Micro-deformation; Removal of exudate. Enhanced Blood Flow: Negative Pressure Wound Therapy has emerged as a superior treatment modality for abdominal wound dehiscence. Its ability to mechanically close the wound, promote tissue growth, and control infection makes it a highly effective tool for accelerating the healing process. By improving clinical outcomes and reducing the length of hospital stays.

Study of clinical, laboratory, and radiological predictors for predicting the difficulty level of laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Lauve Bhatt — 2025-09-10

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) has become the gold-standard treatment for symptomatic gallstone disease. While often a routine procedure, its difficulty can vary, with some cases presenting significant technical challenges. A difficult LC is associated with increased operative time, higher rates of conversion to open surgery, and a greater risk of complications such as bile duct injury. Therefore, accurately predicting the difficulty level before surgery is crucial for patient counseling, surgical planning, and improving outcomes. This article explores the key clinical, laboratory, and radiological factors used to predict the difficulty of LC. Preoperative assessment of the patient’s clinical history, laboratory results, and radiological findings is essential for predicting the difficulty of a laparoscopic cholecystectomy. By identifying high-risk patients, surgeons can optimize surgical planning, ensure the availability of experienced staff and appropriate resources, and provide more realistic counseling to the patient. Several studies have developed scoring systems that integrate these factors to provide a more objective prediction of surgical difficulty, thereby enhancing patient safety and improving the overall quality of care.

Functional impairment and disability in euthymic Libyan adults with bipolar disorder: A cross-sectional study

Esraa Ashour Mohamed Abd Alnabi — 2025-09-30

Background: Bipolar disorder is a primary contributor to global disability. A critical gap exists between symptomatic remission and functional recovery, with many patients experiencing persistent impairment even during euthymia. However, empirical data from North African populations, particularly Libya, remain scarce. This study aimed to quantify the extent of this issue in a Libyan clinical sample. Objective: To assess the prevalence and severity of functional impairment and disability in euthymic Libyan patients with BPD and to identify associated socio-demographic and clinical correlates. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 100 outpatients with a DSM-5 diagnosis of BPD were recruited from three psychiatric clinics in Libya. Euthymia was confirmed using cutoff scores of ≤7 on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and ≤6 on the Young Mania Rating Scale. Functional impairment was evaluated using the Functioning Assessment Short Test, and disability was measured with the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule. Associations were analysed using Chi-square tests, with significance set at p < 0.05. Results: The sample comprised 100 participants (97% with Bipolar I Disorder). Despite being in remission, only 44.0% exhibited normal functioning, while 35.0% had mild, 18.0% moderate, and 3.0% severe functional impairment.