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.
This paper deals with testing defected model piles in the soil in order to study their behavior. In this respect, the results of model pile tests are discussed either geotechnically or structurally according to the type of failure. Two parameters were studied in order to evaluate the general behavior of defective piles. These parameters include the defect location and the defect type for floating and end bearing pile. The results of the experimental work indicated that the critical case for floating pile is seen to be when the defect of (5%) at the first third of the pile length at which the decrease in the bearing capacity is about (21%), while the decrease in the bearing capacity is found to be (14%) and (10%), when
... Show MoreIslamic periodicals are defined as: publications issued periodically, and containing articles, research, or studies that convey Islamic thought and culture. Islamic periodicals have a prominent place among other types of sources of documentary and non-documentary Islamic information, because they are characterized by the speed of their issuance and the modernity and diversity of their Islamic information. This study aims to explain the reality of Islamic periodicals published in Iraq, graphically analyze their bibliographic characteristics and emphasize the importance of their issuance, as well as give a historical overview of the issuance and publication of Islamic periodicals in the Arab world and the world, while presenting examples of I
... 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
BN Rashid, Ajes: Asian Journal of English Studies, 2013
The aim of this study is to determine the organic and inorganic components of bile and gallstones in Iraqi patients. Forty seven patients were included in this study with mean age (53+7) years and BMI (30.82+4.18) Kg/m2. Bile was classified according to its corresponding stones into: Bile of Mixed stones and Bile of pigment stones. IR spectra were studied for both types of stones and their bile in addition to biochemical analysis for organic and inorganic components. The organic components include: (cholesterol, bilirubin, bile salts, and phospholipids), while inorganic components include salts of: (calcium, phosphorus, iron, cupper and magnesium). The results reveal to there was significant low levels (p<0.005) of bile salts and phospholi
... Show MoreIn this paper, we give the concept of N-open set in bitopological spaces, where N is the first letter of the name of one of the authors, then we used this concept to define a new kind of compactness, namely N-compactness and we define the N-continuous function in bitopological spaces. We study some properties of N-compact spaces, and the relationships between this kind and two other known kinds which are S-compactness and pair-wise compactness.
This paper deals with testing defected model piles in the soil in order to study their behavior. In this respect, the results of model pile tests are discussed either geotechnically or structurally according to the type of failure.
Two parameters were studied in order to evaluate the general behavior of defective piles. These parameters include the defect location and the defect type for floating and end bearing pile. The results of the experimental work indicated that the critical case for floating pile is seen to be when the defect of (5%) at the first third of the pile length at which the decrease in the bearing capacity is about (21%), while the decrease in the bearing capacity is found to be (
... Show MoreThis research was aimed to study the pollen morphology for the genus Pterocephalus(Vaill) from Dipsacaceae family in Iraq, and to utilize these feathers in isolating the species as valuable taxonomic traits for enriching Iraqi flora. The study included characteristics of the type, shape, size, sculpturing and apertures, as well as determining the full dimensions using light microscopy as well as numerical analysis of this species and draw polygonal shapes and denderogram convergence between species. The results of the study of pollen and polygonal forms showed significant differences in the characteristics at the level of each species, which helps to identification the genus species, as it was found that the pollen was a tricolp
... Show MoreThe population density witnessed by the capital, Baghdad, due to successive wars and unemployment, is linked to the phenomenon of urbanization, which is a global phenomenon that means the increasing tendency of the rural population to reside in cities (urban), especially concentration in the capital, Baghdad. Therefore, the phenomenon of urbanization is associated with 3 terms: migration, countryside, and city. Migration is when a person or a group leaves their place of residence to move to live in another place with the intention of staying in the new place for a long time. As for the countryside: they are the areas surrounding cities usually, and the countryside is characterized by natural and agricultural areas and is considered an outle
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