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.
The media of all kinds have the task of introducing, expressing and objectively representing the cultures of different societies in various types and forms of press and media. The precept of media pluralism is the basis for freedom of expression & the cornerstone of its realization. Therefore, it is linked to the establishment of several conditions and elements in order to establish it as a principle and practice. Issues of cultural diversity in media and cultural pluralism are one of the most important elements and indicators. So, this paper aims to shed light on the concept of media pluralism and related concepts within the framework of cultural diversity and multicultural indicators. Thus, highlighting the feature
... Show MoreIn this paper will be applied to a probability model of inventories periods of multiple stores of raw materials used in the cement industry, cement factory in Samawah and basic materials are limestone, soil normal, iron soil, fuel oil and gypsum. It was built of this model after the test and determine the distribution of demand during the supply period (waiting period) for each subject and independently of the rest of the material as it is not affected by any of the materials above interrelated in the process of supply, this test has been using the Statistical Package of (SPSS) and then was determining the amount of request optimum seeking in each batch and each substance known volume of economic optimization of
... Show MoreAn experiment was carried out by using post in kalar horticulture Station/Sulaimania province on soil taked from once region sields during growing season of 2008-2009. The objective was to study adding increasing levels of urea fertilizer which is (0.0, 0.20, 0.40, 0.80) gm/Pot and superphosphate fertilizer which is (0.0, 0.24, 0.48) gm/pot in some chemical properties of grain for wheat IPA 95. This experiment was carried out by completely randomized design (CR D) with three replications. Results in dictated of clear increase in all the studied characteristics (concentration for each nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium and carbohydrate percentage with increasing levels of fertilizers).
A survey of entomopathogenic and other opportunistic fungi isolated from soil samples collected from insect hibernation sites in different habitats in Kurdistan region of Iraq was carried out during October to December 2009. By using dilution plate method, two entomopathogenic species (Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuill.and Isaria javanica (Friedrichs & Bally) Samson & Hywel-Jones) were detected with isolation percentage (38.46%) each. Other opportunistic fungi such as Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus flavus, A.niger, Penicillium glabrum, P. digitatum, Rhizopus stolonifer and Syncephalastratum racemosum
The pharmacokinetics and bioequivalence of a newly developed extended-released (ER) tablet containing 400 mg pentoxifylline as a test product was compared with the reference brand product Trental® 400 mg ER tablet produced by Sanofi-Aventis. Two separate studies were conducted simultaneously. The first study was conducted under fasting condition, whereas, the second study was conducted under fed condition; using the same batches of the test and reference products in both studies. In each study, both products were administered to 32 healthy male adult volunteers applying a single-dose, two-treatment, two-period, two-sequence, randomized crossover design with one-week washout period between dosing. Twenty two blood samples we
... Show MoreApical periodontitis (AP) is the most prevalent chronic inflammatory disease of the teeth. Bone resorption dynamics in symptomatic and asymptomatic AP are still unrecognized. This study examined different inflammatory markers within gingival crevicular fluid, including matrix metalloproteinases 8 (MMP8), tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases 1 (TIMP1), receptor activator of nuclear factor κB (RANK), its ligand (RANKL), and osteoprotegerin (OPG), to be used in comparing symptomatic apical periodontitis (SAP) and asymptomatic apical periodontitis (AAP) versus healthy teeth. Subjects with SAP, AAP, and a control group were recruited and GCF samples were collected by Periopaper strips. Clinical and radiographical measures were used f
... Show MoreObjective: To establish growth curve for a sample of infertile women and to assess Body Mass Index.
Methodology: Non-probability (purposive sample) of (100) infertile women, who visit Kamal Al-Samaraee
Hospital/ fertility and IVF center . The data are collected through the use of constructed questionnaire, which
consists of two parts. Part 1: consists of (5) items about demographic characteristics, part 2: consists of (4) items
about reproductive status, descriptive statistical analysis procedures (frequency, percentage, Contingency
coefficients, polynomial cube order).
Results: Revealed that the infertile women in the study group had decrease in their Body Mass Index with aging
(with increase of infertility duration