Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disorder that involves autoantibodies attacking and weakening joints. RA is characterized by leukocyte (Monocyte, Lymphocyte mast cell .etc) infiltrations into the synovial compartment leading to inflammation in the synovial membrane. Synovitis leads to the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, matrix metalloproteinases, chemokines, complement proteins, and growth factors. Objective: The current study pointed to verify the diagnostic values of interleukin -17 A and interleukin -18 in Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and the effect of treatment thereon. Study subjects and methods: A total of 88 samples with RA were selected from the health clinics of AL-Yarmouk teaching hospital/rheumatology clinic in Baghdad, with female rheumatoid arthritis patients as the patient group (50) and (38) healthy females as the control group. All patients were exposed to clinical, laboratory, and ultrasound assessments, besides measuring the serum level of both (IL-17A and IL-18) by the method of Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: The results show that there is a significant difference (p≤0.05) in IL-17A levels between patients and controls. The concentration of IL-17A in premenopausal patients is higher when compared to control groups (18.06 ± 3.85 vs 15.71 ± 1.82 pg/ml), so, the concentration in postmenopausal studied groups (17.19 ± 2.91 vs 14.13 ± 1.06 pg/ml). Also, there are significant differences (p≤0.05) in the level of IL-18 between the patients and the control; it is found that the level of IL-18 within the premenopausal patients was higher compared to the control (16.09 ± 9.69 vs 12.52 ± 8.30 pg/ml). Conclusion: A High level of IL-17A in RA patients contributes to the pathogenesis of RA as an inflammatory disease. As well as, the elevated levels of IL-18 suggest its physiological role to induce inflammatory disorder Treatment with (MTX and Etanercept) causes a decrease in the inflammatory markers of this disease RF in patient groups.
Aim To develop a low-density polyethylene–hydroxyapatite (HA-PE) composite with properties tailored to function as a potential root canal filling material. Methodology Hydroxyapatite and polyethylene mixed with strontium oxide as a radiopacifier were extruded from a single screw extruder fitted with an appropriate die to form fibres. The composition of the composite was optimized with clinical handling and placement in the canal being the prime consideration. The fibres were characterized using infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and their thermal properties determined using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The tensile strength and elastic modulus of the composite fibres and gutta-percha were compared, dry and after 1 month storage in
... Show MoreThe aim of the present study was to characterize the Iraqi Tribulus terrestris for the presence of biologically active phyto-chemicals using methanolic extracts of the plant (aerial parts) by Gas Chromatography –Mass spectrometry (GC/MS), while the mass spectra of the compounds found in the extract was matched with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) library , in addition to study the antioxidant activity of plant extract , results confirmed the presence of therapeutically potent compounds in the Iraqi Tribulus terrestris extract predominantly alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins and terpenoids. Antioxidant potential of Iraqi Tribulus terrestris
... Show MoreAbstract
Nano-crystalline ZSM-5 zeolite was synthesized by hydrothermal method using chelating agent and two gel compositions:Compositionɪ:Al2O3:86SiO2:5.5TPA:12.7Na2O:3.4Trien:3320H2O.Compositionɪɪ:Al2O3:68SiO2:5.4TPA:10Na2O:2.6Trien:2626H2O.Study of hydrothermal reaction factors on characteristics of nano- sized zsm-5 has been carried on ,among them are crystallization temperature, crystallization time and concentration of template ( TPAOH ) solution. Synthesis was accomplished in PTFE lined autoclave ( reactor ) . The product were characterized by X-ray diffraction ( XRD ),Atomic force microsc
... Show MoreBiosensor is defined as a device that transforms the interactions between bioreceptors and analytes into a logical signal proportional to the reactants' concentration. Biosensors have different applications that aim primarily to detect diseases, medicines, food safety, the proportion of toxins in water, and other applications that ensure the safety and health of the organism. The main challenge of biosensors is represented in the difficulty of obtaining sensors with accuracy, specific sensitivity, and repeatability for each use of the patient so that they give reliable results. The rapid diversification in biosensors is due to the accuracy of the techniques and materials used in the manufacturing process and the interrelationshi
... Show MoreIn this work, silver (Ag) self-metallization on a polyimide (PI) film was prepared through autocatalytic plating. PI films were prepared through the solution casting method, followed by etching with potassium hydroxide (KOH) solution, sensitization with tin chloride (SnCl2), and the use of palladium chloride (PdCl2) to activate the surface of PI. Energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) showed the highest peak in the (Ag) region and confirmed the presence of AgNPs. The diffraction peaks at 2θ = 38.2°, 44.5°, 64.6°, and 78.2° represented the 111, 200, 220, and 311 planes of Ag, respectively. The FT–IR an
... Show MoreMany clinical isolates of proteus spp. (30 isolates of P
mirabilis and 30 isolates of P. vulgaris) from patients with urinary
tract infections (UTIs) were examined for their ability to produce
proteolytic enzymes and their ability to form swarming growth. Most
(90%) of P. mirabilis and 60% of P. vulgaris isolates secreta
proteolytic enzymes. A strong correlation was found between the
ability of a strain to secreted proteases and it's ability to form
swarming growth. Non- swarming isolates invariably appeared to be
non- proteolytic. However, some isolates (12 isolates of P. vagaries)
were non- proteolytic even when they formed swarming growth
The stanza in the sonnet has been defined as a set of poetic lines followed after proem
and be the same meter as that of proem in complete stanza, but in rhyme scheme different
from that meter. The couplet is defined as set of poetic lines that followed the stanza and be as
the same meter as that of stanza, but with different rhyme scheme. This definition is approved
by all specialized in field of Andalus literature and it was also proven to them that this
construction emptied of indications. This meter has endeavored to prove that that there were a
difference in denotation for meaning between the stanza and couplet. Thus, the sonneteers
have outweighed the sonnet of the blind "Tutaili" to their sonnets as they felt
Mortar of ordinary Portland cement was blended with cockles shell
powder at different weight ratios to investigate the effect of powder
admixture on their strength and thermal conductivity. Results showed
that addition of cockles shell powder at 50% of mortar weight
improves hardness and compressive strength notably and reduces the
thermal conductivity of the end product. Results suggest the
possibility to incorporate cockles shell powders as constituents in
cement mortars for construction and plastering applications.
Lipoxygenase was extracted from the cup of Pleurotus ostreatus ( Jaq : Fr ) oyster mushroom for the first time in Iraq, and purified homogeneously through precipitation with 40% saturation of (NH4)2SO4 as a partial purification then loaded on DEAE-Cellulose (Diethyl amino ethyl Cellulose) ion-exchange chromatography column and then the highly active elution parts have been passed through gel filtration column with Sephacryl S-300 as a final purification with 804 (U/mg protein) specific activity, 11.32 fold of purification and 36.54% yield . The molecular weight of the enzyme was estimated to 74 KDa by gel filtration Sephacryl S-300 column and the isoelectric point for enzyme was 5.3. The optimal pH for lipoxygenase activity and stability
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