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 this work, effects of using different evaporative cooling pads (ECPs) on the energetic and exergetic efficiency of a direct evaporative air cooler (DEAC) have been theoretically and experimentally investigated. Three types of ECPs were used, i.e., honeycomb cellulose cooler pad (HCCP), shading-cloth cooler pad (SCCP), and aspen wood wool cooler pad (AWWCP). For SCCP and AWWCP, a 3-cm pad thickness was used, while for the HCCP, three different values of pad thickness were used, i.e., 3, 5, and 7 cm. Tests were carried out using air velocities of 8, 14, and 19 m/s, measured at the DEAC outlet. Engineering equation solver (EES) used for performing the required calculations of the various parameters affecting the thermal performance of the D
... Show MoreStudied the effect of foliar fertilizers Alaongrin results showed that spraying fertilizer Alaongrin and Fertilizers and Ministry of Agriculture and rack licorice extract every three weeks after thirty days from planting seedlings
The present research aims at identifying the impact of S.N.I.P.S strategy on the achievement of fifth grade students in natural geography
For the purpose of verifying the objective of the research, the researcher put the following zero hypothesis: There is no statistically significant difference at the level of (0.05) between the mean score of experimental group who study according to the (S.N.I.P.S) strategy, and the mean score of control group who study according to the traditional method in the achievement test.
In order to verify the validity of this null hypothesis, the researcher adopted the experimental method. Two groups of (60) fifth grade literary students were collecte
... Show MoreMedia, especially press plays an important role in fighting corruption and tackling this phenomenon, which has become widespread in our society, through its effective role in raising awareness of the seriousness of spreading of corruption of all its forms in society.
All international conventions and agreements stress the necessity of the role of media and its importance in the light of corruption. All countries also commit themselves to the necessity of guaranteeing the freedom of media and the circulation of information and preparing it as a prerequisite for activating the People’s Control Mechanism and supporting measures and means to prevent and combat financial and administrative corruption more actively and effectively.
Co
This century is witnessing changes in various fields,which have become a challenge to the enterprises in the contemporary business environment, the most important of which is the importance of measurement and disclosure of the role of knowledge capital in the transition to the knowledge economy, which is no longer the land and labor and physical capital resources the basic. Knowledge-based capital has emerged that provides the enterprise with an area of excellence and enhances its position to achieve competitive advantage. The research tackled the concept, objectives, components and importance of knowledge capital, which is fundamental in knowledge management, creating value added and enhancing competitiveness, as well as an
... Show MoreTime series is an important statistical method adopted in the analysis of phenomena, practices, and events in all areas during specific time periods and predict future values contribute to give a rough estimate of the status of the study, so the study aimed to adopt the ARIMA models to forecast the volume of cargo handled and achieved in four ports (Umm Qasr Port, Khor Al Zubair Port, Abu Flus Port, and Maqal Port(, Monthly data on the volume of cargo handled for the years (2006-2018) were collected (156) observations. The study found that the most efficient model is ARIMA (1,1,1).
The volume of go
... Show MoreOne of the most important features of American foreign activity during the second half of the 19th century was the encouragement of sending Protestant missionary missions to all countries around the world. The mission of these missions was facilitated by the weakened state of the Ottoman Empire, the increasing influence of European countries, and their interference in its internal affairs. Despite the Ottoman efforts to counter the activities of these missions, the American missionary missions adopted a well-planned strategy that suited the conditions of the region, aimed at achieving their goals through direct and indirect methods, including intervention in the field of education. These missions gave great importance to educational aspects
... Show MoreThe design studies, especially in their contemporary stages, have not been isolated from the subjects that underpin advanced ideas in the field of technical treatments that enrich and improve the social life of users through those technological innovations that have enhanced and changed life styles, Especially in the field of general institutional techniques, including cinemas, as the ideal places for people and visitors to this space, which can contribute to the promotion of cultural, social and technical aspects within this millennium. DONC as reflected on the positive communication and communication between the intellectual and cognitive develop individuals, including cultural and technical side of the individual. The first chapter co
... Show MoreThis research aims to study the radiation concentration distribution of the old District of Najaf (Iraq), where 15 samples were taken from featured sites in the District, which represents archaeological, religious, and heritage sites. Track detector CR-39 was used to calculate the concentration of three different soil weights for each sample site after being exposed for a month. Geographical information systems (GIS) were used to distribute the radioactive concentration on the sites of the samples, where two interpolation methods, namely the inverse distance weight method (IDW) and the triangle irregular network method (NIT), to study the distribution of the radioactivity concentration. The study showed that the western part of the district
... Show MoreThe research aims at benefiting from the technological development and the technical progress. This development necessitated that the educational process take advantage of this progress, and the development of special computer software, especially the design programs, made the two researchers think about how to benefit from these design programs in teaching students the skills of theatrical design.
The current search aims at:
Identifying the effect of 3Ds Max in developing the skill of theatrical decoration design among the students of the Department of Art Education "Third stage / Department of Art Education / Faculty of Fine Arts / University of Diyala for the academic year 2014-2015.
The researchers used the ex
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