Background: Various investigations were done about the relation of infection with atherosclerosis. We will study about the role of one of these infection; helicobacter pylori in atherosclerotic plaque formation in Right and Left Common Carotid Arteries (CCAs) and exteracranial portions of Internal Carotid Arteries (ICAs).Materials and methods: Antibody against Helicobacter Pylori (HP.IgG) was measured in 42 cases that had a plaque in at least one of CCAs or ICAs and 82 control subjects doesn't have any plaque in those arteries.Findings: In this study HP.IgG was positive in 69/5% of control subjects without any plaque and 69% of cases with an atherosclerotic plaque and there wasn't any significant difference (p=1/000). The means of HP.IgG titers were 53/80 in controls group and 45/36 in case subjects without any prominent difference (p=0/438).Results: We compared the means of HP.IgG titers in patients with a plaque with stenotic severity <50%, between 50% and 75% and >75% and there wasn't any significant difference between these 3 groups (p=0/090). Also, similar assessment was done in females and males separately and any association between HP.IgG seropositivity and atherosclerotic plaque or its stenotic severity wasn't seen.Conclusion: HP.IgG isn't a predictor of atherosclerotic plaque formation and its progression in CCAs and ICAs.

Vertebrobasilar insufficiency is the cause of cerebrovascular accidents in 20% of cases. There are few reports regarding spectral Doppler indices (SDIs) of vertebral arteries (VAs) normal blood flow. The objective of this study was to provide basic reference data about SDIs of VAs normal blood flow separately and in comparison with internal carotid arteries (ICAs) and common carotid arteries (CCAs) normal blood flows SDIs. This cross-sectional study performed on 70 normal patients. Color Doppler sonography (CDS) and spectral Doppler sonography (SDS) of right and left VAs (RVA and LVA), right and left CCAs (RCCA and LCCA), right and left ICAs (RICA and LICA), were performed. The mean PSV, EDV, and RI values of RVA blood flow were as 41.60±9.6 cm/s, 14.60±3.7 cm/s and 0.65±0.06, and the mean PSV, EDV and RI values of LVA blood flow were as 42.20±10.2 cm/s, 15.20±4.2 cm/s, and 0.64±0.05, respectively. There was not statistically significant difference between the mean PSV, EDV and RI values of RVA and LVA blood flows. The mean PSV and EDV values of VAs blood flows were significantly lower than the values of CCAs and ICCAs blood flows, respectively. The mean RI value of VAs blood flows was significantly lower than the mean RI Value of CCAs blood flows, but there was not statistically significant difference between the mean RI value of VAs blood flows and the mean RI value of ICAs blood flows.

INTRODUCTION: To evaluate the perioperative complications and long-term restenosis rates following percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting (PTAS) in patients with intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ICAS).METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of 102 ICAS patients (103 cases of stenosis) who underwent PTAS. The perioperative complications and long-term restenosis rates were analyzed.RESULTS: The success rate of PTAS was 100%. Six patients (5.83%, 6/103) had perioperative complications. Six cases (6.52%, 6.92) of restenosis occurred and one patient (1.09%) died. Five of the 6 restenosis cases (5.43%) occurred in the blood-supplying region and were associated with ischemic symptoms and one patient (1.09%) had no ischemic symptom. The postoperative restenosis rates at 6, 6 – 12, and 12 – 74 months were 3.26%, 2.56%, and 2.38%, respectively. The postoperative restenosis rates had a significant difference between the residual stenosis rate ≥ 20% and < 20% (P < 0.05), and between postoperative regular medication and non-regular medication (P < 0.05). The postoperative restenosis risk in patients with age ≥ 60 years was 13.481 times to that in patients with age < 60 years. The postoperative restenosis risk in patients with residual stenosis rate < 20% was 31.25 times to that in patients with residual stenosis rate ≥ 20%. The postoperative restenosis risk in patients with regular medication was 12.65 times to that in patients without regular medication.CONCLUSIONS: The vasospasm, arterial dissection, arterial occlusion and acute thrombosis are common perioperative complications following PTAS in patients with ICAS. The medium- and long-term postoperative restenosis rate is low. Age is the risk factor for postoperative restenosis.

Background: various investigations were done about the relation of infection with atherosclerosis .we will study about the role of one of these infection; helicobacter pylori in atherosclerotic plaque formation in right and left common carotid arteries (CCAs)and extracranial portions of internal carotid arteries(ICA s). Materials & methods: Antibody against Helicobacter pylori (HP.IgG) was measured in 42 cases that had a plaque in at least one of CCAs or ICAs and 82 control subjects doesn't have any plaque in those arteries. Results: In this study HP.IgG was positive in 69.5% of control subjects without any plaque and 69% of cases with an atherosclerotic plaque and there wasn't any significant difference (p=1.000).The means of HP.IgG titers were 53/80 in controls group and 45.36 in case subjects without any prominent difference (p=0.438) we compared the means of HP.IgG titers in patients with a plaque with stenotic severity <50%, between 50% and 75% and >75% and there wasn't any significant difference between these 3 groups (p=0.090). Also, similar assessment was done in females and males separately and any association between HP .IgG seropositivity and atherosclerotic plaque or its stenotic severity wasn't seen.Conclusion: HP.IgG isn't a predictor of atherosclerotic plaque formation and its progression in CCAs and ICAs.

Background: Iron chelating agents (ICAs) may induce changes in the blood and the liver indices. This study aimed to compare the effects of deferasirox (oral) and deferoxamine (parenteral) on the hematological and liver indices. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on patients at the Thalassemia Center in Sulaymaniyah, Iraq. The study included 76 β,-thalassemia major children (37 females and 39 males, with a median age of 6 years). The patients were divided into Group I (n = 51, treated with deferasirox) and Group II (n = 25, treated with deferoxamine). Complete blood count and liver enzymes (alanine [ALT] and aspartate [AST] aminotransferase) were determined,the hemoglobin densities were calculated to differentiate absolute from restrictive iron deficiency,and the fibrosis-4 score (FIB-4, aspartate-to-platelet ratio index (APRI), and (AST/ALT ratio) were calculated. Results: Hemoglobin density indices showed restricted iron deficiency in both treated groups. However, serum ferritin level was higher in Group II than in Group I (1. 9 times higher, p=0. 037). Also, the median value of MCV in Group II was significantly higher than in Group I (79. 8 fL vs. 77. 0 fL, respectively). In contrast, liver fibrosis indices defined with the mean values of AST-to-ALT ratio and FIB-4 score were higher in Group I compared to Group II. A positive and significant correlation was observed between APRI level and serum ferritin in Group I (r = 0. 518, df = 49, p<0. 001). Conclusions: Based on the data, it can be concluded that both deferasirox and deferoxamine affect red blood cells parameters, which may be related to their function as ICAs, leaing to temporary iron deficiency in treated patients. Both drugs may induce inconsistent changes in the liver which are highly associated with circulating ferritin level. However, the destructive effect of deferasirox on the liver is more evident, leading to the induction of fibrosis.

Introduction & Background: Vertebrobasilar insufficiency is the main cause of cerebrovascular accidents (CVAs) in 20% of cases. There are few reports regarding spectral Doppler indices (SDIs) of vertebral arteries (VAs) normal blood flow. The objective of this study is to provide basic reference data about SDIs of VAs nor-mal blood flow separately, and in comparison with internal and common carotid arteries (ICAs and CCAs) normal blood flows SDIs, for better and earlier detection of disordered SDIs of these arteries blood flow. Patients & Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed in Amir Alam hospital by three radiologists ex-perienced in vascular color Doppler sonography (CDS) and spectral Doppler sonography (SDS) from February 2002 till March 2004, on 70 normal patients. CDS and SDS of right and left vertebral arteries (RVA and LVA), right and left common carotid arteries (RCCA and LCCA), and right and left internal carotid arteries (RICA and LICA) were performed. SDIs consisted of peak systolic velocity (PSV), end- diastolic velocity (EDV), and resistive index (RI) values of these arteries blood flows and were assessed and compared with one another. Fi-nally all data was collected in SPSS version 12 software, and analyzed with the Student's T-test. Results: In this study, the mean PSV, EDV, and RI values of RVA blood flow were respectively 41.60 ± 9.6 cm/s, 14.60 ± 3.7 cm/s and 0.65 ± 0.06; the mean PSV, EDV and RI values of LVA blood flow were respectively 42.20 ± 10.2 cm/s, 15.20 ± 4.2 cm/s, and 0.64 ± 0.05. There was not statistically significant difference between the mean PSV, EDV, and RI values of RVA and LVA blood flows (P value > 0.1). The mean PSV and EDV val-ues of VAs blood flows were significantly lower than the mean PSV and EDV values of CCAs and ICCAs blood flows respectively (p-value<0.001). The mean RI value of VAs blood flows was significantly lower than the mean RI Value of CCAs blood flows (p value < 0.001), but there was no statistically significant difference be-tween the mean RI value of VAs blood flows and the mean RI value of ICAs blood flows (P value > 0.05). 

Bilateral internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusion is extremely rare. The risk of stroke in patients with total ICA occlusion is significant. Outcome in patients with symptomatic ICA occlusion has not substantially improved over the years. We report a case of bilateral carotid occlusion in a middle aged woman. She was a healthy woman that was presented with slight numbness in her right hand. Duplex Ultra-sonography demonstrated a homogenous plaque in origin of Right Internal Carotid Artery (RICA) that caused 90% stenosis, and total occlusion of Left Internal Carotid Artery (LICA). Cervical Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA) confirmed occlusion of LICA and 90% stenosis of RICA. Patient was referred for right sided Carotid End Arterectomty(CEA).Unexpectedly in follow up Digital Subtraction Angiography (DSA), one week after surgery; total occlusion of both ICAs was observed.. After 12 months of follow up; despite bilateral ICA occlusion, she is well, active, and productive with completely normal neurological examination.