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.
ABSTRACT Background: Dental anomalies of teeth are major issue that contributes to dental problems encountered in general practice. The aim of this study is to measure the prevalence of dental anomalies and the associated etiological factors among 15 years old students in Basrah city –Iraq. Materials and methods: The total sample composed of 1000 students (435 males and 565 females) from urban area selected randomly from different high schools in the city. Diagnosis of dental anomalies were recorded by present or absent, diagnosis and recording of enamel defects were done according to the criteria of WHO (1997). Results: The prevalence of hypodontia was 4.6%, Females have higher prevalence than males (5.8% females and 3.0% males), ta
... Show MoreBackground: Maxillary first premolar with wide MOD cavity more susceptible to fracture. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of cavity design for cusp coverage on the fracture resistance of weakened maxillary first premolar restored with CAD/CAM hybrid ceramic versus nanohybide composite. Materials and Methods: Fifty six intact maxillary first premolars of approximately comparable sizes were divided into seven groups eight for each: Group A: Intact teeth (control group); Group B: teeth prepared for MOD inlay; Group C: teeth prepared for MOD onlay covering the lingual cusp; Group D: teeth prepared for MOD covering buccal and lingual cusps ,the previous three groups indirectly restored with nanohybrid composite (3M ESPE Z 250 X
... Show MoreFour samples of the Se55S20Sb15Sn10 alloy were prepared using the melting point method. Samples B, C and D were irradiated with (6.04×1010, 12.08×1010 and 18.12×1010 (n.cm-2s -1 ) of thermal neutron beam from a neutron source (241Am-9Be) respectively, while sample A was left not irradiated. The electrical properties were assessed both before and after the radiation. All irradiated and non-irradiated samples show three conduction mechanisms, at low temperatures, electrical conductivity is achieved by electron hopping between local states near the Fermi level. At intermediate temperatures, conduction occurs by the jumping of electrons between local states at band tails. At high temperatures, electrons transfer between extended stat
... Show MoreObjective:Fluorid-containing dental alginate impression materials can exert a considerable reduction in
enamel solubility. The objective was to evaluate the effect of fluoride addition on the setting time and
compressive strength of alginate impression materials.
Methodology: 60 samples were constructed from alginate impression material (30 samples for setting
time test and 30 samples for compressive strength test).Specimens of each test divided into three
subgroup. Group A: 10 specimens of alginate were mixed with distilled water [control], Group B: 10
specimens of alginate were mixed with100-ppm fluoride and Group C:10 specimens of alginate were
mixed with 2%Naf.
Results: the result of setting time test showed t
Previous experimental studies have suggested that hot mixed asphalt (HMA) concrete using hydrated lime (HL) to partially replace the conventional limestone dust filler at 2.5% by the total weight of all aggregates showed an optimum improvement on several key mechanical properties, fatigue life span and moisture susceptibility. However, so far, the knowledge of the thermal response of the modified asphalt concrete and thermal influence on the durability of the pavement constructed are still relatively limited but important to inform pavement design. This paper, at first, reports an experimental study of the tensile fatigue life of HMA concrete mixes designed for wearing layer application. Tests were conducted under three different temperatur
... Show MoreThe organizational culture is considered as an important topic. In this research, this topic was studied in modern paints Industries Company to assess its role in job performance and to show if there is this relationship between them or no. it is, also, attempted to measure this strength of this relationship if any. The 40 cases research sample was chosen. This sample included the chief executive, his assistants, key managers, and their assistants. The questioner consists of two sets of questions : the first set ( concerning the organizational culture) covers six variables (Physical structures , Symbols
... Show MoreThe present paper investigates the role of fear and predator dependent refuge in the prey-predator system. The system describes the interaction between prey and a stage structure of predator that incorporates Holling II functional response. The predator splits into two compartments immature (juvenile) and mature (adult). The mature predators can hunt and reproduce but this capability is not found in the immature predators, the immature depend on their parents. The growth rate of prey decreases due to the existence of mature predators. The existence, uniqueness, and boundedness of the solution of the system are investigated. Three equilibrium points of the system are determined. The local stability of the system is studied. The global stabil
... Show MoreThe Berber tribes in the Islamic Maghreb and Andalusia had a distinct role in the future of states and entities .The Islamic Maghreb in terms of its stability,downfall,political relations and conflicts among them.Among these tribes was the Banu Yafran tribe, which is the subject of the study.
ءأرﻘﻟا ةﺎﯾﺣﺑ ًﺎﻘﯾﺛو ًﻻﺎﺻﺗا لﺻﺗﺗ. نﻣ ﮫﺑﺗﺎﮐﻟﻟ ﻲﺻﺧﺷﻟا ﻊﺑﺎطﻟا ﻲﻔﺣﺻﻟا دوﻣﻌﻟا لﻣﺣﯾ ا فﻟﺗﺧﻣﻟ ﮫﻟوﺎﻧﺗ لﻼﺧ وا ﮫﺋارا وا هرظﻧ ﺔﮭﺟو لﻣﺣﺗ ﻲﺗﻟا ﺔﯾﻣوﯾﻟا ثادﺣﻻاو ﺎﯾﺎﺿﻘﻟ ﺢﺿﻔﺑ موﻘﯾو ثادﺣﻻاو ﺔﯾﺑﻟﺳﻟا رھاوظﻟﻟ ىدﺻﺗﯾ وا، ءيرﺎﻘﻟا ﯽﻟا ﮫﺑرﺎﺟﺗ وا هرﺎﮐﻓا ءﺎطﺧﻻا دﺻرﯾ بﯾﻗرﺑ ﮫﺑﺷا وھو، ءيرﺟﻟا دﻘﻧﻟا نﻋ مﻧﯾ بوﻟﺳﺎﺑ ﺔﺋطﺎﺧﻟا تﺎﺳرﺎﻣﻣﻟا ﺎﮭﺣدﻣﯾو تﺎﯾﺑﺎﺟﯾﻻا ﯽﻟﻋ
... Show More