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.
Reading and analyzing Paula Vogel’s plays, the readers can attest that she achieves success in drama or theater because she is passionate about theater. Vogel is a modern American playwright who won the 1998 Pulitzer Prize for drama. Her success and insight in playwriting or in adapting do not come all of a sudden; she is influenced by many writers. Vogel is influenced by many American dramatists, including Eugene O’ Neill, Arthur Miller, Tennessee Williams, and Edward Albee, and by other non-American writers, including August Strindberg, Anton Chekhove, and Bertolt Brecht. Certainly, there were female playwrights who wrote preeminent plays and they influence Vogel as well. Nevertheless, dramas by female
... Show MoreThis study aimed at analyzing and studying the strategic and geopolitical importance of the Sahel region, which increased the regional competition for the resources of the region, especially the energy resources that have been and continue to be one of the axes of conflict and competition between these forces.
The researcher tried to review the competition between the international force, France, the United States of America, China, Algeria and Libya, and the African coast. We note that there is a positive correlation between the severity of the conflict and the intensity of the competition of the major powers to control the countries of the region and the extent of political and economic stability These countries are directly affecte
Electromechanical actuators are used in a wide variety of aerospace applications such as missiles, aircrafts and spy-fly etc. In this work a linear and nonlinear fin actuator mathematical model has been developed and its response is investigated by developing an algorithm for the system using MATLAB. The algorithm used to the linear model is the state space algorithm while the algorithm used to the nonlinear model is the discrete algorithm. The huge moment constant is varied from (-3000 to 3000) and the damping ratio is varied from (0.4 to 0.8).
The comparison between linear and nonlinear fin actuator response results shows that for linear model, the maximum overshoot is about 10%,
... Show MoreGrain size and shape are important yield indicators. A hint for reexamining the visual markers of grain weight can be found in the wheat grain width. A digital vernier caliper is used to measure length, width, and thickness. The data consisted of 1296 wheat grains, with measurements for each grain. In this data set, the average weight (We) of the twenty-four grains was measured and recorded. To determine measure of the length (L), width (W), thickness (T), weight (We), and volume(V). These features were manipulated to develop two mathematical models that were passed on to the multiple regression models. The results of the weight model demonstrated that the length and width of the grai
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.
Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds and peace and blessings on the honest and trustworthy (Muhammad) and his family and his divine good companions.
The Islamic clothing is one of the requirements of the common and original innateness to humans; the innateness that is created by God to all people, Allah says, (So set thou thy face steadily and truly to the Faith: [establish] Allah's handiwork according to the pattern on which He has made mankind: no change [let there be] in the work [wrought] by Allah: that is the standard Religion: but most among mankind understand not) (1). Islam as a natural religion has ordered the Muslims to wear decently, Allah says, ( O Children of Adam!
Introduction: Biliary atresia (BA) is a disease characterized by a biliary obstruction of unknown origin. Viral agents have been proposed in the aetiology of BA such as cytomegalovirus (CMV). This virus also considered as a one of agents that can infect the liver and cause hepatitis. The aim of this study was to determine the role of CMV in children with both chronic hepatitis (negative for hepatitis B and C) and have biliary atresia in the same time.Material and Methods: A retrospective study done on 13 liver tissue paraffin blocks of children with chronic hepatitis (negative for hepatitis B and C) and biliary atresia (extra and intra). The diagnosis was based on the presence of HCMV protein (pp65) by using immunohistochemistry.Res
... Show MoreThe research aims to investigate the relationship and impact of e-governance as an independent variable in achieving creative performance as a dependent variable. These variables have been studied in the Directorate of Passports Affairs, and seek to come up with a set of recommendations that help in promoting e-governance in the researched organization, and the researcher adopted the descriptive-analytical approach, included The sample (122) of the total (194) individuals distributed in several administrative levels (officers, associates, and administrative staff). By adopting the questionnaire, which included (49) paragraphs as the main tool for the collection of data and information, as well as personal interviews and field obs
... Show MoreAbstract
The research aims to shed light on the extent to which the practices of performance management in achieving organizational excellence in one of the formations and the Ministry of Finance (GCT). The importance of the selection of these organizations is that they occupies a large and exceptional importance in the national economy through income redistribution add it to cover a large part of the state budget revenues, these organizations possess functionally diverse cadre of them pregnant initial certification and other senior and he fairly stable To meet this target, and on the basis of the data search exploratory researcher built model hypothesis for the search included variable impressionist and
... Show MoreObjective(s): to assess the effectiveness of educational program on improving diabetic foot self-efficacy concerning managing their feet. Methodology: A descriptive analytic (quasi – experimental) design study was carried out at Diabetic and Endocrinology Center in Baghdad- Rusafa Sector from 2nd of May 2017, to27th June 2018. Non-probability sample of (80) male and female diabetic patients were selected. The study instruments consisted of two major parts: first