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.
Lead has toxic effects on reproduction of both male and female. It can cause decreased sex drive , infertility and abnormal menstrual cycle in women. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of exposure to lead in batteries female workers on sex hormones level in the serum.Thirty nine (39) female workers (volunteers) in Iraqi Batteries Manufacturing Plants, Al-Waziriya / Baghdad were participated in this study. They are classified into 3 groups, first group included fourteen (14) female that have been employed for 1-7 years , second group included thirteen (13) female that have been employed for 8-14 years , third grou
... Show MoreEuphemisms are advantageous in people’s social life by turning sensitive into a more acceptable ones so that resentful feelings and embarrassment can be avoided. This study investigates the ability of Iraqi English learners in using euphemistic expressions, meanwhile, raising their awareness and the faculty members in English teaching faculties regarding the relevance of discussing the topics that demand euphemisation. This study comprised three stages: initial test, explicit instruction with activities, and a final test for the students’ development in this domain. A test has been distributed among 50 respondents, who are at the fourth year of their undergraduate study at the University of Babylon/ College of Basic Education. The lo
... Show MoreThe research aims to demonstrate the impact of governance mechanisms on the quality of financial reports in the light of the accounting disclosure for sustainable development represented in (accounting disclosure for economic development, accounting disclosure for environmental development, and accounting disclosure for social development) in a sample of banks listed in the Iraq Stock Exchange.
Governance mechanisms were measured by evaluating and analyzing the mechanisms in banks for the research sample consisting of (15) banks, based on the governance guide issued by the Central Bank, as well as the banks’ financial reports for the years 2016 -2018, and the dimensions of accounting disclosure for sust
... Show MoreThe settlement rate and pore water pressure dissipation rate are mainly controlled by the permeability of soil. Both laboratory and field tests show that the permeability is varied during the loading and consolidation process. It is known that consolidation process is accompanied by decrease in void ratio which leads to decrease in the coefficient of permeability. The importance of the decrease of the coefficient of permeability on the time rate of settlement and pore water pressure needs to be investigated.
This paper takes into account the change in coefficient of permeability during consolidation and studies its effect on consolidation characteristics of a clay layer. The finite element method is used in the analysis and the packag
Some new heterocyclic compounds containing, cyclohexenone, indazole, isoxazoline, pyrmidine and pyrazoline ring system were prepared from chalcones (1a,b). The starting chalcones (1a,b) were obtained by a base catalyzed condensation of appropriately substituted benzaldehydes and 2-acetylbenzofuran. The reaction of the prepared chalcones with ethylacetoacetate/hydrazine hydrate, hydroxylamine hydrochloride, urea, thiourea, hydrazine hydrate, phenyl hydrazine or hydrazide derivatives gave the mentioned heterocycles. All synthesized compounds have been characterized by physical and spectral methods.