Cytokines are signaling molecules between inflammatory cells that play a significant role in the pathogenesis of a disease. Among these cytokines are interleukins (ILs) 17A and 33, and accordingly, the current case-control study sought to investigate the role of each of the two cytokines in the risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS). Sixty-eight relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) Iraqi patients and twenty healthy individuals (control group) were enrolled. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits were used to determine serum levels of IL-17A and IL-33. Results revealed that IL-17A and IL-33 levels were significantly higher in MS patients than in controls (14.1 ± 4.5 vs. 7.5 ± 3.8 pg/mL; p < 0.001 and 65.3 ± 16.3 vs. 49.3 ± 20.0 pg/mL; p < 0.001, respectively). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis demonstrated that IL-17A was a very good predictor of MS (area under curve [AUC] = 0.869; 95% CI = 0.779 - 0.960; p < 0.001; cut-off value = 10.2 pg/mL; sensitivity = 80.8%; specificity = 75.0%). A similar prediction was presented by IL-33, but the AUC value was lower (AUC = 0.762; 95% CI = 0.63 - 0.89; p < 0.001; cut-off value = 56.4 pg/mL; sensitivity = 70.6%; specificity = 70.0%). Multinomial logistic regression analysis confirmed the significance of IL-17A and IL-33 in MS risk, and under three models of analysis, the estimated odds ratios for IL-17A (1.50, 1.49 and 1.50, respectively) and IL-33 (1.05, 1.05 and 1.06) were above 1.0. Patients stratified by gender (male and female), expanded disability status scale (EDSS: < 3 and ≥ 3) or medication (pre- and post-medication) showed no significant differences in serum levels of IL-17A and IL-33 for each stratum. However, with regard to response to medication, it was found that responding patients showed significantly higher levels of IL-33 than non-responders (70.9 ± 12.2 vs. 57.2 ± 18.2 pg/mL; p = 0.018). This difference was not observed when considering IL-17A. Pearson correlation analysis between IL-17A and IL-33 revealed that both cytokines were not significantly correlated. In conclusion, the study indicated that IL-17A and IL-33 were up-regulated in serum of MS patients, and this up-regulation was not influenced by age, gender, EDSS or medication status, but the elevated level of IL-33 was more pronounced in patients who responded to medication.
The concept of environmental debt, which has several dimensions, emerged in the nineties. One of these dimensions is spatial, referring to the debts that southern countries sustain due to the extraction of natural resources and environmental damage inflicted upon northern countries. Another dimension, the temporal dimension, concerns the environmental debts that current generations owe to their predecessors. That means past generations are culpable for overuse of natural resources and mismanagement. The debt issue is complex, despite many mechanisms to resolve it. Most important are the recently introduced environmental bonds, an important step forward in the field of sustainable financing of environmental debts.
Circular data (circular sightings) are periodic data and are measured on the unit's circle by radian or grades. They are fundamentally different from those linear data compatible with the mathematical representation of the usual linear regression model due to their cyclical nature. Circular data originate in a wide variety of fields of scientific, medical, economic and social life. One of the most important statistical methods that represents this data, and there are several methods of estimating angular regression, including teachers and non-educationalists, so the letter included the use of three models of angular regression, two of which are teaching models and one of which is a model of educators. ) (DM) (MLE) and circular shrinkage mod
... Show MoreBackground: Poly (methyl methacrylate) has several disadvantages (poor mechanical properties) like impact and transverse strength. In order to overcome these disadvantages, several methods were used to strengthen the acrylic resin by using different fibers or fillers. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of Plasma treatment of the fiber on mechanical properties Poly (methyl methacrylate) denture base material. Materials and methods: Specimens were prepared from poly methyl metha acrylic (PMMA) divided according to present of fiber into 4 groups (first group without fiber as control group, second group with Plasma treated polyester fibers, third group with Plasma treated polyamide fibers and fourth group Plasma treated combination
... Show MoreABSTRACT Porous silicon has been produced in this work by photochemical etching process (PC). The irradiation has been achieved using ordinary light source (150250 W) power and (875 nm) wavelength. The influence of various irradiation times and HF concentration on porosity of PSi material was investigated by depending on gravimetric measurements. The I-V and C-V characteristics for CdS/PSi structure have been investigated in this work too.
The research amid to find out the extent of Iraqi oil companies commitment to implement internal control procedures in accordance with the updated COSO framework. As the research problem was represented in the fact that many of the internal control procedures applied in the Iraqi oil companies are incompatible with most modern international frameworks for internal control, including the integrated COSO framework, issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Tradeway Committee. The research followed the quantitative approach to handling and analysing data by designing a checklist to represent the research tool for collecting data. The study population was represented in the Iraqi oil companies, while the study sample
... Show MoreInvesting in renewable energies, including biomass, is an important topic in Iraq. Research indicates that there is great potential for renewable energy in Iraq, including biomass, but achieving this great potential requires clear strategies and significant investments. This research sought to determine the amount of biomass energy that can be produced by the residues of eight Iraqi crops: wheat, barley, oats, corn, rice (straw), rice (husk), cotton, and sugar beets. could produce. Calorific value and accessible residue amount were considered to determine the residue's potential for energy. Estimates for 2021 showed that 1,308,516 tons of agricultural residue would be available overall for the eight crops. The two crop
... Show MoreA new spectrophotometric method for the determination of allopurinol drug was investigated. The proposed method was based on the reaction of the intended drug with catechol and Fe(II) to form a blue soluble complex which was measured at λmax 580 nm. A graph of absorbance versus concentration shown that Beer’s law was obeyed over the concentration range of 2–10 μg ml–1 with molar absorptivity of 9.4 x 103 l mol–1 cm–1 and Sandell sensitivity of 1.4 x 10–2 μg cm–2. A recovery percentage of 100% with RSD of 1.0%–1.3% was obtained. The proposed method was applied successfully for the determination of allopurinol drug in tablets with a good accuracy and