Background: The gene responsible for encoding the protein of cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) has been found to be associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in different ethnic populations. But the association of +49A/G CTLA-4 polymorphism with susceptibility of RA among Iraqi Arab populations has not yet been determined. Methods: One hundred and seventy-eight patients were examined, 67 of them were males (mean age 54.71 ± 10.4 years), while 167 were examined for the control group, of whom 64 were males and the rest were females. CTLA-4 DNA genotyping was carried on to determine the +49 A/G (rs231775) polymorphism using a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Enzyme-linked immunosor- bent assay (ELISA) was also applied here to measure the antibodies level for cyclic citrullinated peptides (anti- CCP) and Rheumatoid factor (RF). Results: The frequency of AG and GG genotypes in CTLA-4 + 49 were significantly higher among RA patients in comparing with controls (55.61% vs 42.51%, OR=2.18, 95% CI=1.62–3.79, P=0.003) and (20.22% vs 10.77%, OR = 2.61, 95% CI = 1.31–6.46, P = 0.002) respectively. G allele frequency was also significantly higher among RA cases (52.24% vs. 31.73%, OR = 3.02; 95% CI = 1.61–7.39, P = 0.001). The frequencies of the AA genotype and A allele, however, were significantly lower in cases than controls (24.15% vs 46.70%, P = 0.001) and (47.75% vs 68.26%, P = 0.001) respectively. Moreover, the levels of Anti-CCP and RF were raised signifi- cantly among RA patients than controls (P = 0.0001), but none of these parameters were correlated with ge- notypes of CTLA-4. Conclusions: Carries of CTLA-4 + 49 AG and GG alleles were at a high risk of developing functional disability of RA, unlike the AA allele carriers.
This article aims to establish and evaluate standards for critical equipment and materials in highway projects in Iraq. Delphi technique has been used to analyze, explore, and discover the main criteria and sub-criteria that affect equipment and materials in highway construction projects in Iraq. To determine the correct response to the criteria presented in this study, a program (IBM, SPSS/V25) was used to assess the main criteria and sub-criteria using the mean score (MS) and standard deviation (SD) technique, as well as to check reliability using Cronbach's alpha factor (α). The experts' qualifications and the extent to which the person is ready to commit are both important factors in panel selection. The design of a
... Show MoreThe current study aims to demonstrate the role of strategic renewal in enhancing organizational immunity through strategic renewal mechanisms represented by (Reanimating, Rejuvenation, Venturing, and restructuring). The main idea of this study relates to the extent to which organizations’ immunity is achieved through strategic Renewal mechanisms, by measuring these dimensions with Organizational immunity represented by organizational learning, organizational memory, and organizational DNA. The study population was the headquarters of the Iraqi Ministry of Education, and the sample included (330) individuals from the upper, middle, and lower leadership levels. Several statistical methods were used to deal with the results of the questionna
... Show MoreThe research aims to explain the role of cloud computing technology in facilitating the application of international financial reporting standards in Iraqi banks, by preparing a checklist that included a set of paragraphs to measure the level of application of IFRSs. In those banks and then the need to use cloud computing technology, and the researchers reached a set of conclusions, including, that cloud computing technology has a role in facilitating the application of international financial reporting standards in the banks, the research sample, because of the ease it provides in preparing and saving accounting information and the possibility of accessing it in any time and from any place where the Internet service is available. T
... Show MoreAfter restoration of Iraqi marshes during 2003, three locations were chosen, one in each main marsh (Um Al-Naaj site in Al-Hwaizeh marsh; Al-Nagarah site in Al-Hammar marsh and Al-Baghdadia site in Al-Chebaysh marsh) to determine the concentrations of nutrients (Nitrate, Nitrite, Phosphate and Silicate) in water seasonally for the period winter, spring, summer, and autumn at 2007. Five water replicates were collected from each site, seasonally. In the Lab., the samples were analyzed by colorimetric methods; the results showed that Um-Al-Naaj site has the highest nutrients level, while Al-Nagarah site has the lowest level. The statistical program t-test was applied at the significant levels (P-value < 0.01) and (P-value < 0.05) to know
... Show MoreThe current research aims to find out the effect of strategic sensitivity in enhancing organizational immunity at the leadership levels in the Iraqi Ministry of Education, as the strategic sensitivity variable includes two dimensions (strategic foresight and strategic Insight), and the organizational immunity variable addresses three dimensions (organizational learning, organizational memory and organizational DNA). The main purpose of this research was related to the extent to which the Ministry’s immunity was achieved through the role played by strategic sensitivity. A sample of (349) individuals was selected . The questionnaire was relied upon to collect data, and the number of questionnaires suitable for analysis was (330). Re
... Show MoreThis research deals with the role of quantitative (indirect) tools of monetary policy that used by the Central Bank of Iraq in order to control and manage the size of the money supply that intermediate goal through which monetary policy is able to achieve its final goals, foremost among which is to reduce inflation and raise the value of the local currency in front of foreign currency rates. The research is based on a major hypothesis stating that quantitative tools have a direct and strong influence on the money supply, especially under the circumstances of the shift towards a market economy. There has been a branching relationship with this statistically significant relationship between the money supply and the quantitative tools used
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