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.
AbstractBackgroundLeishmaniasis is endemic in Iraq, where both cutaneous and visceral forms of the disease are reported.ObjectivesTo determine the prevalence of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) and to identify associations of CL with age, sex, season, and provinces depending on some demographic and climatic aspects.MethodsThis study is retrospective and includes reported cases of infections using the available surveillance database taken from the Iraqi Ministry of Health for the years 2011, 2012, and 2013 for all provinces of Iraq.ResultsMen and boys were found to be at higher risk for CL compared with women and girls. The majority of cases were recorded among those in age groups 5–14 and 15–45 years old. Most cases were recorded from lowla
... Show MoreThis article is devoted to the stylistic and educational characteristics of the language of Russian diplomacy. The article describes the stylistic and educational aspect of the appearance of the Russian protocol, its relation to universal diplomacy, the relationship between the diplomatic language and the business sub-style. Here the semantic features of the diplomatic vocabulary are determined and the factors influencing its formation and the emergence of new terms in the language of Russian diplomacy are considered. The article also examines the national and cultural identity of the language of Russian diplomacy, provides rules for drafting diplomatic documents and conducting negotiations, defines the concept of a document as a whole, giv
... Show MoreAutoimmunity is a philosophical term that enhances the fields of life-sciences, and links out to the unnatural behaviour of an individual. It is caused by the defenses of an organism that deceive its own tissues. Obviously, the immune system should protect the body against invading cells with types of white blood cells called antibodies. Nevertheless, when an autoimmune disease attacks, it causes perilous actions like suicide. Psychologically, Jacques Derrida (1930-2004) calls autoimmunity a double suicide, because it harms the self and the other. In this case, the organ disarms betraying cells, as the immune system cannot provide protection. From a literary perspective, Derrida has called autoimmunity as deconstruction for over forty years
... Show MoreBackground: Excessive crying in early
infancy is a common condition that causes a
great deal of concern to the parents and
physician.
Objective: The aim of this study is to find
the underlying etiology of excessive crying in
infancy and to determine how the history,
physical examination, and laboratory
investigations contribute to the final diagnosis.
Method: A prospective study done on 150
afebrile infants less than 4 months of age
visited Al-Elwia hospital for children
complaining of excessive crying of more than
two hours.
The study done over a one year period from
the first of January 2009 to the end of
December 2009.
All febrile infants and those with acute illness
preceding the
This study aimed to know the attitudes and practice of pharmacists regarding the management of minor ailments in Iraqi community pharmacies. A cross-sectional study for 320 community pharmacists was conducted during February 2020 using a newly developed and validated questionnaire. Only 4.4% of pharmacists prefer not to deal with minor ailment cases. Minority (15.6%) of participated pharmacists refer more than half of minor ailment cases they face to the physician. Regarding the assessment of minor ailments using WWHAM technique, what are the symptoms are the most commonly asked questions by pharmacists. Only 49.1% mentioned that they ask all WWHAM questions. On the other hand, most pharmacists (90%) educate their patients about the dosi
... Show MoreInvestment in Human is one of the best and most important investments as it is renewed and developed resource over time in comparison with depleted material resources. Human resources is considered the part of the population that could be employed economically to contribute in increasing production energies as it is the support pillar of the society and have great energies that construct the society and raise of nations as well as he is distinguished with characteristics of ambitions to freedom.
Iraq is one of the countries that has large number of population in age of work and production and reduce in age dependent classes (children and old people).This dynamic in population led to step
... Show MoreThe research aims to study the extent of the influence of the dimensions of sensory marketing on the perceptual mental image of customers, knowing the type of relationships that link the dimensions of sensory marketing with each other, no one from the researcher mentioned (as far as the researcher knows) the link between sensory marketing and mental image, from this point of view the main goal is determined, the effect of sensory marketing on the mental image taken from customers, as the research was conducted on a number of first-class restaurants represented (Chef City, Chili House, Mado, Fried Chicken Saj Alreef) and the research community was represented by the customers of the aforementioned restaurants, a
... Show MoreConcentrated research topic in the study of variables key to the work of offices of inspectors Amyin ، a (re- design function، and performance Organisational ) and took this message to know the nature of the relationship and the impact of the dimensions of the re- design function as a variable interpretative through its dimensions، is ( the diversity of skill، selecting the task ، the importance of task، autonomy، feedback )، and performance Organisational variable responsive through two dimensions are ( effectiveness ، efficiency )، and in order to test the research hypotheses were absorbed variables in the form of a questionnaire and were questionnaire primary means of gatheri
... Show MoreThe phenomenon of informal building Spread recently in Iraqi residential areas, in general, and in Baghdad, in particular, due to the urgent housing need, on the one hand, and lack of commitment to building controls, on the other hand, to highlight the phenomenon of uncommitted building to controls and housing governing legislation in Iraq, leading to heterogeneity in both building densities and plot areas, and disorder in the urban fabric and urban escape of those areas. Research problem identified as the absence of a clear vision about the General aspects of the phenomenon of informal building in residential street scene, and the role of designed housing projects as a substitute for informal building in built residential areas. The des
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