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.
For over a decade, educational technology has been used sparingly in our schools and universities. Online training courses have been used since 2003 to fill the gaps in our learning system and to add extra program besides classroom learning. This paper aims to investigate the Iraqi EFL instructors’ participating in online training courses and its influence on the process of teaching and learning.
The sample of present study consists of 30 instructors from University of Baghdad. The questionnaire of sixteen items was constructed. After ensuring validity and reliability of questionnaire, it was applied on March 2013 and the result shows that most of instructors improve their teaching methods b
... Show MoreBackground: The individual differences in emotional and behavioral style can be examined through personality instruments. These differences may explain the health status of the individuals. The purpose of the present study was to assess the influence of Personality Types on gingival and periodontal health status among teachers in Baghdad city in relation to selected salivary hormone (Dehydroepiandrosterone). Materials and methods: Females teachers 534 of randomly selected schools were subjected to personality questionnaire using The Riso-Hudson Enneagram Type Indicator. Teachers were examined to estimate the periodontal status according to the Community Periodontal Index (CPI). A group of teachers were selected for salivary analysis of Dehy
... Show MoreThis 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
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Through this study, I tried to identify the grammatical efforts of one of the most important authors of the footnotes that were built on the luminous benefits marked with (Explanation of Mulla Jami in Grammar), and he is Sheikh Isamah Allah Al-Bukhari, who died in the eleventh century AH, trying as much as possible to stay away from the path of tradition in repeating the efforts of Those who preceded me in explaining the grammatical efforts of many grammarians, and perhaps what helped me in this is the characteristics that characterize the notes owners that may distinguish them from other owners of grammatical authorship, as a result of what characterized the personality of the notes owners from the predominance of the in
... Show MoreMarketing is one of the most important pillars on which most industrial and commercial sectors depend on evaluating their performance, improving their financial position, development and economic growth. The presence of effective marketing activities in any industrial or commercial organization (which works to meet the requirements of customers in order to ensure the integration of trading and handling rings with consumers and to ensure the growth of the marketing process regularly and not to retreat) effectively contributes to maintaining the company's position between its competitors and its customers. It is necessary to have these marketing activities in order to meet the requirements of the organization on the one hand and to
... Show MoreThe research aims to demonstrate the impact of tax techniques on the quality of services provided to income taxpayers by studying the correlational and influencing relationships between the exploited variable (tax techniques) and the dependent variable (the quality of services provided to income taxpayers), and in line with the research objectives, the main hypothesis of the research was formulated (there is a relationship Significance between tax techniques and the quality of services provided to income taxpayers) a number of sub-hypotheses emerged from this hypothesis that were stated in the research methodology, and a number of conclusions were reached, the most important of which were (through the use of the correlation coeff
... Show MoreIn order to a chive the aim of the research the researcher chose the (Nebras kindergarten) to be the search sample .the member of the sampleFrom(males and fameless)and the researcher chose the class of(butterfly) as experimental group to do the pantomime consist of(15)males and fameless, and put(singles, senses ,double senses and communal senses)in the binging of the experiment the researcher applied the measurement of(AL Kaswany and other)as(pre_ test)which prepare to measure, the movement skills for kindergarten, the measurement have the validity and reliability to knowledge the difference between the two experiment. The experiment continue from(20/1/201to 20/2/2014)in the end of experiment the researcher applied the measurement of(AL
... Show MoreNew vision of Mr. Abdul Mahdi Al-Muttafiqi in the light of unpublished documents