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.
In the present work the clathrate hydrate dissociation enthalpies of refrigerant R134a+ water system, and R134a + water + salt system were determined. The heat of dissociation of three types of aqueous salts solutions of NaCl, KBr and NaF at three concentrations (0.09, 0.17and 0.26) mol·kg−1 for each salt type, were enthalpy measured. The Clapeyron equation was used tocalculate heat of dissociation of experimental data for binary and ternary system.In order to find the effect of compressibility factor on heat dissociation enthalpy, the study was conducted by using equation of state proposed by Peng and Robinson Stryjek-Vera (PRSV). The obtained results of dissociation enthalpy for binary system were (143.8) kJ.mol-1
... Show MoreA three species food web model involving a stage structure and cannibalism in the top predator species is proposed and studied. It is assumed that the prey species growth logistically in the absence of predator and the predation process occurred according to theLotka-Volterra functional response. The existence, uniqueness and bounded-ness of the solution of the model are investigated. The local and global stability conditions of all possible equilibrium points are established.The persistence conditions of the model are also determined. The local bifurcation near each of the equilibrium points is analyzed. The global dynamics of the model is investigated numerically and compared with the obtained analytical results. It is observed that the p
... Show MoreNowhere is American author Shirley Jackson’s (1916-1965) social and political criticism is so intense than it is in her seminal fictional masterpiece “The Lottery”. Jackson severely denounces injustice through her emphasis on a bizarre social custom in a small American town, in which the winner of the lottery, untraditionally, receives a fatal prize. The readers are left puzzled at the end of the story as Tessie Hutchinson, the unfortunate female winner, is stoned to death by the members of her community, and even by her family. This study aims at investigating the author’s social and political implications that lie behind the story, taking into account the historical era in which the story was published (the aftermath of th
... Show MoreAcid treatment is a widely used stimulation technique in the petroleum industry. Matrix acidizing is regarded as an effective and efficient acidizing technique for carbonate formations that leads to increase the fracture propagation, repair formation damage, and increase the permeability of carbonate rocks. Generally, the injected acid dissolves into the rock minerals and generates wormholes that modify the rock structure and enhance hydrocarbon production. However, one of the key issues is the associated degradation in the mechanical properties of carbonate rocks caused by the generated wormholes, which may significantly reduce the elastic properties and hardness of rocks. There have been several experimental and simulation studies regardi
... Show MoreThe Arab Islamic Manuscripts in the science libraries humanly global heritage in different types of knowledge and science, as they were not confined to a particular flag but extended to include all kinds of science, and to facilitate the knowledge of these types of manuscripts has been necessary to operate them indexed in most libraries , because it is important in determining the size of those manuscripts and set them up and facilitate the work of the investigators, as well as the significance of indexing to know printed manuscripts in order to avoid repetition of the publication of the manuscript more than once, especially if the deployment is to be characterized by accurate scientific integrity and following the origins of the scienti
... Show MorePurpose: The current research attempts to diagnosis the reflection level of Information Technology (IT) Capabilities (Architectural, infrastructure, human resources, relationships resources, and dynamic capabilities) at Baghdad soft drinks Company/Al- Zafaraniya to achieving the competitive superiority represented by indicators (Cost, quality, flexibility, delivery and innovation). Recognizing the importance of the subjects studied, and because of the importance of the expected results of the field under consideration.
Design/Methodology/Approach: The experimental method has been used, the questionnaire used to collect th
... Show MoreThe present study includs the isolation and identification of Keratinophilic fungi in fresh water samples collected from Tigris river in Baghdad, Iraq. Samples were collected from different districts of Baghdad (Al-Rustumia, Madina Al-Teb, Al-Azamia, Al-Kadimia, Al-Dorha and Al-Kanah). The water samples were examined for keratinophilic fungi by the plating method culturing and Hair Baiting Technique. A total number of 18 genera are recorded, in which the Tigris water indicates an impressive diversity of fungi. A variety of fungal strains were isolated from river water, out of 814 fungal colonies, Aspergillus terrus (5.5%) was the most frequent species, followed by Asperg
... Show MoreThe construction sector is considered an important and influential pivot in the national economy of any country. Nations are working to develop this sector, receiving modern and developed techniques. So, this sector can be a carrier or a receiver of modern technologies. The cost of technology transfer between the international companies that sponsor this sector is a matter of great importance, especially since different factors affect the need for this advanced technology. The cost of technology transfer in construction is related to multiple factors presented by Knowledge, equipment, plant, hardware and software. The lack of distinguishing and evaluating the direct and indirect costs in the construction sector during
... Show MoreDue to the significance of hospital drinking water, a study was done to assess the water in three hospitals in Baghdad (Al-Yarmouk Teaching Hospital, Ibn Sina Hospital, and Ibn-Al-Nafis Hospital) for its nature and quality, compare it to other hospitals in terms of its physical, chemical, and bacterial specifications, and compare it to international standards. According to Iraqi standards from 2009 and WHO standards from 2011, Chemical factors were measured, which included pH, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), and Calcium Ion (Ca+2). Reported readings are all within acceptable ranges for drinking water. In contrast, turbidity, total hardness (T.H.), chlorides (Cl-), magnesium (Mg+2), the number of aerobic plates (APC), total coliform (T
... Show MoreThe current study aims to apply the methods of evaluating investment decisions to extract the highest value and reduce the economic and environmental costs of the health sector according to the strategy.In order to achieve the objectives of the study, the researcher relied on the deductive approach in the theoretical aspect by collecting sources and previous studies. He also used the applied practical approach, relying on the data and reports of Amir almuminin Hospital for the period (2017-2031) for the purpose of evaluating investment decisions in the hospital. A set of conclusions, the most important of which is: The failure to apply
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