Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a common, highly heritable inflammatory arthritis affecting primarily the spine and pelvis. This study was aimed to investigate the relationship between the rs27044 polymorphism in Endoplasmic reticulum aminopeptidase-1 (ERAP-1) with the susceptibility and severity of AS correlated with some biochemical markers such as hematological parameter (Erythrocytes sedimentation rate (ESR)) and immunological parameters (C-reactive protein (CRP), Human leukocyte antigen-B27 (HLA-B27), Interlukin-6 (IL-6) and Interlukin-23 (IL-23)), and oxidative stress parameters (Glutathione (GSH) and Malondialdehyde (MDA)) in a sample of Iraqi population. A total of 60 blood samples were collected from AS patients requited Rheumatology Consultation Clinic in Baghdad Teaching Hospital in Baghdad Governorate. Those patients are males and females with age ranged between 26- 32 years for early diagnosed patients (10 samples) and other medically treated patients with age ranged between 22-52 years (50 samples). The rest (30 blood samples) were collected from healthy controls with age ranged between 16-68 years. Results showed that there is a significant increase in Erythrocytes Sedimentation Rate (ESR) as a hematological parameter in newly diagnosed and medically treated patients. For the immunological parameters, results showed that C-reactive protein (CRP) was detected in all serum samples taken from newly diagnosed patients, and 80% positive were detected in medically treated patients in comparison with 100% negative results in healthy controls. On the other hand, Human leukocyte antigen-B27 (HLA-B27) was also detected in all serum samples taken from newly diagnosed patients and 76% positive were recorded in medically treated patients as compared with negatively resulted in healthy controls. For the Interleukins (IL-6 and IL-23), results showed that there is a significant increase in levels of both interleukins in serum samples of newly diagnosed patients compared with healthy controls and medically treated patients, in which any significant difference was recorded. Results of oxidative stress parameters showed that there is a significant decrease in Glutathione (GSH) levels in serum samples of newly diagnosed patients compared with its level in serum sample of controls and medically treated patients, in which significantly not different. Results also showed that there is a significant increase in Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in serum samples of newly diagnosed patients compared with its levels in healthy controls and medically treated patients, in which no significant difference in MDA levels in serum samples of both groups. Genetic polymorphism of ERAP-1 gene (rs27044 SNP) in exon15 within chromosome 5 was studied. The genomic DNA was extracted from blood samples for controls and AS patients at concentrations of extracted DNA was ranged between 100-200 ng/μl with purity of 1.8-2.0. Exon 15 was amplified by using specific primers results showed that a single band of 298 bp was obtained after electrophoresis on agarose gel (2%) represents the complete nucleotide sequence of exon 15. Results showed that the single nucleotide polymorphism (rs27044) was cSNP in all controls, while gSNP was found in 64% of polymorphic AS patients with a significant difference than non-polymorphic AS patients (36%).
One of the most important parameters determining structural members' durability and strength is the fire flame's influence and hazard. Some engineers have advocated using advanced analytical models to predict fire spread impact within a compartment and considering finite element models of structural components to estimate the temperatures within a component using heat transfer analysis. This paper presented a numerical simulation for a reinforced concrete beam’s structural response in a case containing Water Absorbing Polymer Spheres (WAPS) subjected to fire flame effect. The commercial finite element package ABAQUS was considered. The relevant geometrical and material parameters of the reinforced concrete beam model at elevated t
... Show MoreThis study is a complementary one to an extended series of research work that aims to produce a thermodynamiclly stable asphalt –sulfur blend. Asphalt was physically modified wiht different percentages of asphaltenes , oxidized asphaltenes and then mixed with sulfur as an attempt to obtaine a stable compatible asphalt-sulfur blend. The homogeneneity of asphalt-asphaltenes[oxidized asphaltenes]-sulfur blends were studied microscopically and the results are prsented as photomicrographs. Generally more stable and compatible asphalt-sulfur blends were obtained by this treatment.
Z-scan has been utilized for studying the non-linear properties and optical limiting behaviors of the dye Copper Phthalocyanine thin films. The refractive index is negative, which indicates a self-defocusing behavior and non-linear absorption coefficient (
Complexes of Au(III) ,Pd (II) , Pt (IV ) and Rh(III) with S – propynyle -2- thiobenzimidazole (BENZA) have been prepared and characterized by IR and UV- Visible spectral methods in addition to magnetic and conductivity measurements and micro – elemental analysis (CHN).The probable structures of the new complexes have been suggested.
A large number of natural or synthetic dyes have been removed from both national and international lists of permitted food colors because of their mutagenic or carcinogenic activity. Therefore, this study aimed to use the Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA-Based Polymerase Chain Reaction (RAPD-PCR) assay as a feasible method to evaluate the ability of some food colors as genotoxin-induced DNA damage and mutations. Lactiplantibacillus plantarum was used as a bioindicator to determine the genotoxic effects by RAPD-PCR using M13 primer after treatment with some synthetic dyes currently used as food color additives, including Sunset Yellow, Carmoisine, and Tartrazine. Besides qualitative analysis, the bioinformatic GelJ software was used for clus
... Show MoreBackground: Malnutrition during human growth affects the size of the tissues at different stages of life, body proportions, body chemistry, as well as quality and texture of tissues. Teeth are particularly sensitive to malnutrition. Malnutrition may affect odontometric measurement involving tooth size dimensions. The aim of this study was to estimate the effect of nutrition on teeth size dimension measurements among students aged 15 years old. Materials and methods: This study was conducted among malnourished group in comparison to well-nourished group matching with age and gender. The present study included 167 students aged 15 years (83 malnourished and 84 well-nourished). The assessment of nutritional status was done by using body mass
... Show MoreThin films of (CdO)x (CuO)1-x (where x = 0.0, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5) were prepared by the pulsed laser deposition. The CuO addition caused an increase in diffraction peaks intensity at (111) and a decrease in diffraction peaks intensity at (200). As CuO content increases, the band gap increases to a maximum of 3.51 eV, maximum resistivity of 8.251x 104 Ω.cm with mobility of 199.5 cm2 / V.s, when x= 0.5. The results show that the conductivity is ntype when x value was changed in the range (0 to 0.4) but further addition of CuO converted the samples to p-type.