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.
Urinary Schistosomiasis is one of important diseases that cause irritation and damage of urinary tract and other systems and tissues and can not be expected by doctors when diagnosing urinary tract diseases.The current study is conducted to investigate the prevalence of schistosomiasisin Baghdad / Al-Rusafa. 191urine samples were collected fromresidents ofsome areas of Al-Rusafain Baghdad governarate (Almashtal, Albaladyat, Alameen, Baghdad aljadida and Alnahrawan) for the period from March until the end of September 2010.The samples were examined by the precipitation and examination of micro hematuria by reagent strips. The total infection percentage was 9.42% (18/191) and was significantly higher in males compared tofemales12.64% (11/87)
... Show MoreThe experiment aimed to Manufacture a device for checking the nozzles and testing its efficiency and to study the effect of research factors on the studied traits. The device was manufactured locally through using materials available in the Iraqi market. The system is Both Hydraulic and electronic (ISO 5682-1)1 relay on sensors technology and the test platform was built and designed on a movable trolly at the department of Agricultural Machines and Equipment / College of Agricultural Science / University of Baghdad. The design includes the use of mechanical water pump and electrical AC water pump. The design includes a nozzle holder that can accommodate three nozzles per test. The design also consists of spreading wings and stationa
... Show MoreIncreased interest in the subject of the image because of its great and growing link to the life of the individual and society and its impact on the overall political, economic and cultural conditions. This interest is no longer confined to the images of people or institutions, but has become beyond that to the images of countries and peoples and the impact on bilateral relations between them,
However, we find that the image of the Iraqi abroad remained vague and has not been scientifically recognized and the most that we can generalize are the features of the image of Arabs and Muslims abroad; and assume that the image of the Iraqi applies to them as the Iraqi is in the end an Arab or Muslim.
Based on this, the research
... Show MoreThis study was conducted from February 2010 to December 2010. Water Samples were collected every two months in three stations in Baghdad city. The study involved the assessment of concentrations of some heavy metals such as: Chromium, Cadmium, Copper, Iron, Lead, Manganese, Nickel and Zinc. the values of chromium were undetected for the entire of the study, while the rest of the heavy metal were ranged between 0.001 -0.438 mg / l, ND -0.077 mg / L, ND -0.778 mg / l, 0.36 - 0.011 mg / l, 0.011-0 .08mg/ l, ND - 0.1985 mg / l, ND -0.0416 mg / l, respectively. The results showed that the concentrations of heavy metals were fluctuated during the study period, except Lead which have high concentrations and exceeded the permit limits in all statio
... Show MoreGamma Knife radiosurgery (GKR) has been widely used in the management of a variety of intracranial tumors, including pituitary adenomas. Pituitary prolactinoma (Prs) is one of the most common types of these adenomas.
This prospective study included 50 patients with pituitary Prs over a period from June 2017 to June 2018 at the Neurosciences Hospital, Baghdad/Iraq. The GKR procedure was performed using the Leksell Gamma Knife® Perfexion™, 192 beams of Cobalt 60 radiation were delivered through the intact skull to the pituitary Prs.
An attempt was made to determine the insect parasites of cockroaches in Iraq. As a result of this survey three species of Hymenoptera representing two separate families, which have been reared from ootheca of cockroaches were recovered. These were: Evania dimidiata Fabricius, Evania appendigaster (Linnaeus) (Evaniidae) and Anastatus longicornis sp. n. (Eupelmidae) which described here as a new species from Iraq.
Evil pervades the narrative scene in Tolkien. Hence; his major themes in The Lord of the Rings are shown to be the Evil Nature of Power, the Tyranny of Technology and War as a Destructive Agent. Evil is not as powerful as good. The Boethian conception of evil comes through evil beings such as Melkor Morgoth in The Silmarillion or Sauron ,who cannot do good things but only pervert or mock things; In The Lord of the Rings; Tolkien seems to suggest that there is no absolute evil. The other conception of evil is the Manichaen, a conception which receives more emphasis in Tolkien's trilogy and which sees the world as a battle-ground for warring forces of good and evil. Tolkien frequently personifies the Ring as if it were acting with a will of i
... Show MoreBackground: Chronic periodontitis defined as “an infectious inflammatory disease within supporting tissues of the teeth, progressive attachment loss and bone loss". Aggressive periodontitis is rare which in most cases manifest themselves clinically during youth. It characterized by rapid rate of disease progression .Pro-inflammatory chemokines organized inflammatory responses. Granulocyte chemotactic protein 2 is involved in neutrophil gathering and movement. The purpose of the study is to detect serum of Granulocyte Chemotactic Protein 2 and correlate to periodontal condition in patients with chronic periodontitis, Aggressive periodontitis and Healthy Control subjects and measurement the count of neutrophils for the studied groups. S
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