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.
Background: Plants used in folk medicine for
the treatment of peptic ulcer diseases is a very
promising approach to overcome the limitations of
classical medicines.
Aim: To explore the efficacy of medicinal
plants, namely turmeric, garlic and marshmallow,
in eradication of H. pylori.
Methods: This prospective study was carried out
on 225 of well-known dyspeptic patients who were
divided into four groups; a control group (received
classical medical therapy) and three other groups
that received one of the three medicinal plants,
plus the same therapy used in the control group.
The follow up was done by using a questionnaire
form, endoscopic examination, and determination
of serum levels of anti
Rate of zinc consumption during the cathodic protection of copper pipeline which carries saline water was measured by weight loss technique in the absence and presence of bacteria. Variables studied were solution flow rate, temperature, time and NaCl concentration. It was found that within the present range of variables; the rate of zinc consumption increases with the increase of all operating conditions. The presence of bacteria increases the zinc consumption. Fourth order multi-term model and one-term model were suggested to represent the consumption data. Nonlinear regression analysis was used to estimate the coefficients of these models, while statistical analysis was used to determine the effect of each coefficient. Both models were re
... Show MoreThe current research aims to measure Generalized Anxiety Disorder among students of the University of Sulaymaniyah / College of Basic Education, and to identify the significance of differences between sex, scientific specialization and age, and for that reason, the research sample of (102) male and female students was chosen in a random manner, and the researcher used the diagnostic criteria for the generalized anxiety disorder contained He mentioned it in the Statistical and Diagnostic Manual of Psychiatry, and the paragraphs of the scale were formulated according to those standards after they verify the conditions of honesty and consistency, and the use of appropriate statistical means. The results of the research indicated that genera
... Show MoreFor the past few years, the sediment began to accumulate in Al-Gharraf River which reduces the flow capacity of the River. In the present research, a numerical model was developed using Hec-Ras software, version 5.0.4. to simulate the flow and sediment transport in the upper reach of the river. The hydrological and cross-section data measured by the Ministry of Water Resources, for the reach located between Kut and Hai cities and having a length of 58200 m, was used to perform calibration and verification of the model. Moreover, field sampling of suspended and bed loads was gathered for five months starting from 7/2/2019, and laboratory tests of samples were conducted to be used as in
Performance of gas-solid spouted bed benefit from solids uniformity structure (UI).Therefore, the focus of this work is to maximize UI across the bed based on process variables. Hence, UI is to be considered as the objective of the optimization process .Three selected process variables are affecting the objective function. These decision variables are: gas velocity, particle density and particle diameter. Steady-state solids concentration measurements were carried out in a narrow 3-inch cylindrical spouted bed made of Plexiglas that used 60° conical shape base. Radial concentration of particles (glass and steel beads) at various bed heights and different flow patterns were measured using sophisticated optical probes. Stochastic Genetic
... Show MoreThe present study was designed in the aquaculture and fish nutrition research aquarium in the College of Veterinary Medicine/Baghdad University from a period 1/3 to 1/6/2013 to investigate the toxicity of the herbicide glyphosate aqua on Barbus sharpeyi fish. Fish fingerlings were used with average weight between 10 – 15 gm to measure the (LC50), and 200 fingerlings were used to know the acute and chronic toxic effect for the herbicide. The fingerlings were randomly distributed as 10 fish for each aquarium. Fish were divided into four treatments and control group (without addition of herbicide). The first processing with a concentration of 0.415 mg/L for a duration of exposure 90 days, the second processing group with a concentration 0.
... Show MoreThere are many causes for epistaxis but it is mainly idiopathic in type. In Management of epistaxis there are different modality either medical or cautery(chemical or galvanic) recently laser is used in management of epistaxis. The type of laser used in current study was 810 nm diode laser. The aim of the study is to evaluate its efficiency in control of active and non active idiopathic epistaxis; The design of the study is interventional therapeutic trial. The study was performed from December 2011 to December 2012 in Al Yarmouk teaching hospital at otorhinolaryngology department. In current study the diode laser is used in different power with same exposure time in all application; The power density is measured and choose the best one
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