Chitinase-3-like 1 protein (YKL-40) is a glycoprotein primarily produced in the arthritic joint and plays a crucial role in inflammatory processes. The aim of the study is to establish the role of YKL-40 as a biomarker for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) compared to proinflammatory biomarkers and disease activity. The study included 58 patients and 18 control. Diseases activity score (DAS-28) and clinical disease activity index (CDAI) were measured. Serum level of YKL-40, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1B (IL-1β), erythrocyte sedimentation (ESR), rheumatoid factor (RF), C-reactive protein (CRP), and anti-citrullinated protein antibody (ACPA) were assessed. The results showed that the median serum YKL-40 level which was 5.42 ng/ml, the TNF-a level which was 123.6 ng/ml, and the IL-1B level which was 204.365 pg/dl were significantly higher in patients compared to control 3.28 (1.58–4.99) ng/ml, 56.47 (9.38–77.01) ng/ml and 67.887 (15.493–122.689)pg/dl respectively. There was no correlation between serum YKL-40 and disease activity, while there were significant associations observed with TNF-α (r=0.5,p =0.0001) and IL-1β (r=0.41, p=0.001). YKL-40 indicating good levels of RA prediction at 2.47 ng/ml, sensitivity 87.9%, specificity 58.6%, accuracy 78.1%, PPV 80.9%, and NPV 70.8%. In conclusion, a higher level of serum YKL-40 is found in RA patients. The findings from our study suggest a strong association between YKL-40 and the proinflammatory biomarkers. As a result, these biomarkers together might play a role in RA pathogenesis, and YKL-40 may be used as a potential diagnostic biomarker for RA.
Objective: Evaluation the national standards for exposure to chemical materials and dusts in The State
Company for Drugs Industry in Samarra.
Methodology: A descriptive evaluation design is employed through the present study from 25th May 2011
to 30th November 2011 in order to evaluate the national standards for exposure chemical materials and dusts
in The State Company for Drugs Industry in Samarra. A purposive (non-probability) sample is selected for the
study which includes (110) workers from the State Company for Drugs Industry in Samarra. Data were
gathered through the workers` interviewed according to the nature of work that they perform. The evaluation
questionnaire comprised of three parts which include the w
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of airways mediated by T-helper 2 (Th2) cells involving complex signaling pathways. Although resveratrol has previously been shown to attenuate allergic asthma, the role of miRNA in this process has not been studied. We investigated the effect of resveratrol on ovalbumin-induced experimental allergic asthma in mice. To that end, BALB/c mice were immunized with ovalbumin (OVA) intraperitoneally followed by oral gavage of vehicle (OVA-veh) or resveratrol (100 mg/kg body) (OVA-res). On day 7, the experimental groups received intranasal challenge of OVA followed by 7 days of additional oral gavage of vehicle or resveratrol. At day 15, all mice were euthanized and bronchioalveolar fluid (BALF), se
... Show MoreThe Fylex extract exert a high inhibition effect against A . flavus growth on PDA medium, as the fungus growth was completely inhibited by 100% at a concentration of 0.2 and 0.3% of studied extract, while the lowest inhibition percentage (71%) was found at a concentration of 0.1%. Whereas magnesium oxide nanoparticles showed the highest inhibition ratio of A. flavus (100%) was detected at 0.2% and the lowest inhibition ratio (81.66%) was at concentration 0.5%. Moreover, the addition of G. lucidum powder to PDA medium with a concentration of 2.5 mg increased the inhibition rate of A. flavus growth which was 54.4%, while the lowest inhibition ration (18.22%) was found at a concentration of 1000 mg. The milky liquid (brocade milk) of Calotropi
... Show MoreGeophysical data interpretation is crucial in characterizing the subsurface structure. The Bouguer gravity map analysis of the W-NW region of Iraq serves as the basis for the current geophysical research. The Bouguer gravity data were processed using the Power Spectrum Analysis method. Four depth slices have been acquired after the PSA process, which are: 390 m, 1300 m, 3040 m, and 12600 m depth. The gravity anomaly depth maps show that shallow-depth anomalies are mainly related to the sedimentary cover layers and structures, while the gravity anomaly of the deeper depth slice of 12600 m is more presented to the basement rocks and mantle uplift. The 2D modeling technique was used for
MRSA is one of the major pathogens in hospitals and the community, which have the ability to produce biofilm as a virulence factor, the impact of chalcone on biofilm formation, the synergism effect of chalcone and antibiotic in both in vitro and in vivo experiments, the gene expression of virulence genes (srtA, fnbA, fnbB) before and after treatment of it on MRSA biofilm cells in vitro, all these were the prime aims of this study. Chalcone at MBIC (20 μg/ml), significantly reduced the biofilm formation to 21.45% and at sub MBIC (15 μg/ml) to 36.58 %. While, Chalcone at MIC(5 μg/ml) reduced MRSA planktonic cells to 49.61%. Susceptibility of MRSA isolates against eight antibiotics showed that all isolates were sensitive to vancomycin and n
... Show MoreThe current study aims to examine the experience of female students with disabilities who studying in university in kingdom of Saudi Arabia. To this end, the researcher used semi-structured interview as an instrument to collect the study data which regards as one of the descriptive approach tools. The sample comprised (12) disabled-female students from multidiscipline within both college of arts and college of education. To analyze the collected data, the author utilized a thematic analysis method following six steps as stated by (Braun and Clark, 2006). The findings revealed that disabled students have a high self-confidence which push them forward to take part in activities that hold on campus. Besides, significant variation were shown
... Show MoreElectronic banking plays a prominent role in providing the best banking services and upgrading the banking sector for the better, so this study aimed to shed light on the most prominent obstacles that prevent the application of electronic banking in banks operating in the city of Nasiriyah, and in order to achieve this goal the researcher used the descriptive analytical approach And through a questionnaire form that was distributed to a group of employees, numbering (60) employees in the upper, middle and operational departments in a number of branches of private banks operating in the city of Nasiriyah, namely (the Iraqi Trade Bank, the Gulf Commercial Bank, the Bank of Baghdad, the Union Bank of Iraq), which represented The stu
... Show More
The linguistic researcher reads a systematic crisis, idiomatic problems within the linguistic term coming to the Arab culture. Where most of them return back to problems of receiving these sciences which are represented by phenomena like the multiplicity linguistic term, disturbance translated idiomatic concept and its duality.
Aims of the research :
1-Initializing new textbooks to form linguistic project and Arabic linguistic theory.
2-Determination adjusted knowledge, concepts of Arabian heritage linguistics subject
3-Observation the causes of disturbance crisis of linguistic term and its relation to
... Show MoreIn the last few years, there have been a lot of changes in the economy, society, and the environment. This has led to much competition between companies, directly and indirectly affecting production and marketing processes. Most companies are trying to cut production and manufacturing costs by using modern cost techniques such as product life cycle costing and Continuous Improvement (Kaizen) technology, in the method of measuring production costs or service costs, and the need for internal control to keep an eye on how these technologies are being used and how well they work. And to find out the effect of internal control on the implementation of costing techniques in Iraqi companies, 64 questionnaires were given to people who work in the i
... Show MoreObjectives: To choose the best mode of delivery
for term, frank or complete, breech presentation
through studying the perinatal outcome of each mode of
delivery decided when managing a group of pregnant
ladies presented with breech delivery in our centre.
Methods: One hundred and fifty pregnant ladies
presented at term with singleton, frank or complete,
breech presentation for delivery in our centre during the
period from May 2004 toAugust 2005.
Mode of delivery, parity, gestational age, maternal age,
maternal medical illness, and birth weight where the
variables that have been tested in each delivery
included in the study to verify their relationship to
perinatal outcome.
Results: No significant