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: Debonding orthodontic brackets and removal of residual bonding material from the enamel surface include critical steps that may cause enamel damage. The aim of the present study was to evaluate and compare the site of bond failure and enamel surface damage after debonding of three types of esthetic brackets (composite, ceramic, sapphire) bonded with light cure composite and resin-modified glass ionomer adhesive. Materials and methods: Seventy two maxillary premolars teeth were divided into three groups each group consisted of 24 teeth according to the type of brackets. Each group was subdivided into two subgroups (12 teeth for each) according to the bonding material that was used. After 7 days of bonding procedure, the brackets
... Show MoreThe aim of the research is to:. Preparation and implementation of special educational units using multimedia to learn the skill of scrolling from below. 2 to recognize the impact of the use of multimedia in learning the skill of scrolling from below. 3 to identify the differences between the tests after the two groups research in learning the skill of passing from the bottom volleyball. The research represented the students of the first stage and the sample of the research was drawn randomly and the number of (50) students were divided into two experimental and control groups and each group (25) students were used standardized tests and conducting pre-tests and the implementation of the main exp
... Show More This is a contribution to study the complex effect of rainfall on the incidence of cutaneous leishmaniasis in an endemic area (AL-Mohalabiya) in Ninava province in the north region of Iraq.
The research aims to assess the claystone exposed in the Nfayil Formation (Middle Miocene) for Portland cement (P.C.) manufacturing based on mineralogy and geochemistry. The importance of the study is to avoid the miming of the agricultural soils that are mining now for the cement industry. Claystones of Nfayil Formation and the limestone of the Euphrates Formation were used to design the raw mixture as clay to limestone (1:3). The chemical composition (%) of the designed mixture was calculated using the Alligation Alternative Method (A.A.M.) as CaO (65.52), MgO (1.05), SiO2 (21.65), Al2O3 (7.43), Fe2O3 (2.62), Na2O3+K2O (1.52) and SO3 (0.26), which are suitable for P.C. The lime saturation factor (LSF = 92.8), silica saturation fac
... Show MoreFor the first time in Iraq, the crustacean Ergasilus ogawai Kabata,
1992 was recorded from the gills of Silurus triostegus, Mastacembelus mastacembelus, Mystus pelusius and Acanthopagrus latus out of 12 fish species caught from Garmat Ali river north of Basrah city during the period from September 1999 till August 2000. The percentage incidence of infestations of these four fish species were 98.9%, 100%,
49.6% and 71.4% while the intensity of infestations were 417, 81.8,
3.4 and 2, respectively. No significant differences in infestations of
male and female hosts with this crustacean were detected.
Methotrexate (MTX) is widely used chemotherapeutic agent with different side effects including germ cells toxicities. Silibinin is one of the structural isomers of silymarin, with different phytotherapeutic applications, and its possible protective effects against MTX induced germ cells damage were investigated in this work. Twenty five male mice were divided into five groups (n=5) allocated as follows: Group 1 received buffer for five days given by single intraperitoneal (IP) injection per day; Group 2 in addition to buffer for five days, animals received at day five single dose of 20mg/kg of MTX IP. Groups (3, 4, and 5) received respectively, (50, 100, or 150mg/kg body weight) of silibinin IP single daily dose for five days then at day fi
... Show More2-amino-5-mercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazole [I] were prepared by the cyclization of thiosemecarbazide with carbon disulphide and anhydrous sodium carbonate in ethanol as a solvent. The reaction of compound [I] with alkyl halides yielded 2- amino-5-thioalkyl-1,3,4- thiadiazole [II] and [III] . Compound [II] and [III] were reacted with different aromatic aldehydes to yieled 2-[(substituted benzyliden ) amino] -5- thioalkyl-1,3,4- thiadiazole [IV]a-c , [V]a-d and [VI]a-d . Schiff ,s bases [IV]a-c , [V]a-d and [VI]a-d were found to react with 2mercapto benzoic acid in the triethyl amine to give 3-[ 5-( alkylthio) -1,3,4- thiadiazol-2-yl] 2,3- dihydro- 2- (aryl) benzo [e] [1,3] thiazine -4-one [VII]a-
... Show MoreThe [2-aminobenzothiazole]was reacted with [2,4,6 triyhydroxy-acetophenon monohydrate] to give a new ligand [2-N-2,4,6-trihydroxyacetophenonyliden benzothiazole] [H3L]. This ligand was reacted with metal ions ( CoII, NiII,CuII and ZnII) in methanol as solvent with ( 1:2 ) metal : ligand ratio to give a series of new complexes with general formula [ M(H2L)2],(where:M= CoII, NiII ,CuIIand, ZnII).All compounds were characterized by spectroscopic methods ( I.R , U.V – vis,HPLC) atomic absorption, along with chloride content and conductivity measurements. According to the data of these measurements we suggested a tetrahedral