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: Under high-excitation irradiance conditions to induce fluorescence, the dependence of photobleaching of Coumarin 307 (C307) and acriflavine (ACF) laser dyes in liquid and solid phases have been studied. A cw LD laser source of 1 mW and 407 nm wavelength was used as an exciting source. For one hour exposure time, it was found that the solid dye samples suffer photobleaching more than the liquid dye samples. This is because in liquid solutions the dye molecules can circulate during the irradiation, while the photobleaching is a serious problem when the dye is incorporated into solid matrix and cannot circulate.
Background: Transplantation has revolutionized
treatment of end- stage renal disease (ESRD) by proving
more cost effective than hemodialysis, with a lower
morbidity and improved quality of life.
Objective: To evaluate the development of these
complications in the first month postoperatively and
correlate their development to the type of donation
whether related or unrelated.
Methods: Fifty (50) patients aged (15-62) years, with a
mean age (34.46 ± 12.4 SD) years with (ESRD), who
underwent renal transplantation from September 2000 to
October 2002, were followed-up for one month
postoperatively clinically and by assessment of renal
function tests, sonographic and Doppler examinations.
Ureteral obs
PDBNRSIA Asst, International Journal of Research in Social Sciences and Humanities, 2018
Background: Various studies conducted in many parts of the world suggest that there is lack of public awareness and knowledge of various aspects related to diabetes. With proper education, awareness, earlier detection and better care, many complications and co-morbidities can be reduced in diabetic population.Objectives: to evaluate the level of awareness of diabetes mellitus type 2 patients regarding their disease and its' complications.Methods: Cross – sectional survey was conducted during November and December 2011, in the Medical centers of Al Baladiat, Mustansyria and Zuafranya, including 145 type 2 diabetic patients (58.6 % males, 41.4% females) who were subjected to self–structured questionnaires regarding different aspects of
... Show MoreThe need to constantly and consistently improve the quality and quantity of the educational system is essential. E-learning has emerged from the rapid cycle of change and the expansion of new technologies. Advances in information technology have increased network bandwidth, data access speed, and reduced data storage costs. In recent years, the implementation of cloud computing in educational settings has garnered the interest of major companies, leading to substantial investments in this area. Cloud computing improves engineering education by providing an environment that can be accessed from anywhere and allowing access to educational resources on demand. Cloud computing is a term used to describe the provision of hosting services
... Show MoreThis review delves deep into the intricate relationship between urban planning and flood risk management, tracing its historical trajectory and the evolution of methodologies over time. Traditionally, urban centers prioritized defensive measures, like dikes and levees, with an emphasis on immediate solutions over long-term resilience. These practices, though effective in the short term, often overlooked broader environmental implications and the necessity for holistic planning. However, as urban areas burgeoned and climate change introduced new challenges, there has been a marked shift in approach. Modern urban planning now emphasizes integrated blue-green infrastructure, aiming to harmonize human habitation with water cycles. Resil
... Show MoreThe research aims to analysis of the current financial crisis in Iraq through knowing its causes and then propose some solutions that help in remedy the crisis and that on the level of expenditures and revenues, and has been relying on the Federal general budget law of the Republic of Iraq for the fiscal year 2016 to obtain the necessary data in respect of the current expenditures and revenues which necessary to achieve the objective of the research , and through the research results has been reached to a set of conclusions which the most important of them that causes of the current financial crisis in Iraq , mainly belonging to increased expenditures and especially the current ones and the lack of revenues , especially non-oil o
... Show MoreIn this study, the water treatment plants located on the Tigris River within Baghdad city were subjected to qualitative and quantitative assessments. Based on location, the plants from upstream to downstream are Al-Karkh, East Tigris, Al-Karamah, Al-Wathbah, Al-Wehdah, Al-Kadiseyah, Al-Dora, and Al-Rashid. Data from 2009 to 2020 on the turbidity, total dissolved solids, Alkalinity, hardness, chloride, calcium, and temperature were used in the qualitative assessment while data on the treated water production and population served were used in the quantitative assessment. The above Data was acquired from the Municipality of Baghdad. The turbidity was mainly used as a fair gauge to assess the performance of the water treatment plants in Baghda
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