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.
A revision study of the Sphecidae from Iraq is presented. A survey is conducted to collect the specimens from different regions; generally, there were 41 species belonging to 12 genera and 4 subfamilies are revised with synonyms.
The current investigation included the species previously reported in Iraq, which were not collected during the current investigations; the distribution and other information are also provided.
The cinematic medium consists of a group of elements that overlap with each other in balance, giving it its high influential capabilities, and the character is one of the most important of these elements, as it performs a set of important functions, foremost of which is the transmission of the main ideas to the recipient, and since cinema is an art closely related to the intellectual data of the worlds outside it, it is influenced by them and then reproduces them intellectually more deeply and with a higher vitality through its intermediate elements, including the character, to re-broadcast them to society with a retrograde movement, and the character of the prisoner is one of the cinematic characters that achieved this goal, as we can infe
... Show MoreTumours in pets occur naturally and are common in dogs as they are in humans. Tumours of the alimentary system have been reported in animals, although less frequently. Food patterns and specific diet components could have a big role in such tumour occurrence. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the clinical signs and inspect the neoplasm lesions of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract grossly and histopathologically in dogs in Baghdad, Iraq, and to see whether pet diets had any tumourigenic effect. Throughout two years sixteen dogs were referred to Teaching Animal Hospital and private clinics at Baghdad city with masses in (GI) tract. Males and large size breeds were more likely to be affected with GI tumours. Half of the cases a
... Show MoreThe aim of the present study was to investigate the histological structure of the tongue in Mongoose (Herpestes javanicus) and its related to the feeding pattern. Five adult animals were used in this study . The tongues were dissected and fixed in 10% formalin, then prepared by following stages (dehydration, clearing, and embedding).The serial section(5µ) were stained with(H&E) and some special stains.The histological examination showed that the tongue consists of three tunicae (mucosa, submucosa and musclaris) and the lining epithelium of the filiform papillae is composed of keratinized stratified squamous epithelial tissue. The cylindrical papillae are covered with a highly keratinized stratified squamous epithelial tissue, whereas the k
... Show MoreEmily Bronte is born in Yorkshire on 30 July 1818. Her father, Rev. Patrick Bronte, is a man of intelligence and determination which enables him to gain an admission as a sizar to 81. John's Cambridge in 1802. He has six children where Emily is the fifth. The mother is a young beautiful girl who belong to an important family. Both Emily's parents try to teach
Their children well, support them all the time and elevate them to
"-.../
high levels. This causes an eagerness towards reading and writing, but the happiness of the children is affected by the sickness and later on by the death of their mother in 1821. After that things would
... Show MoreBackground: It is well known that oral carriage
of Candida species increase in many situations, like
obesity, debility, leukemia, viral infection, use of
certain drugs in addition to diabetes mellitus.
Objective: find the relation between diabetes and
its control on oral carriage of Candida.
Methods: Thirty four hundred oral swabs from
diabetic patients 67% are females and 33% are
males, 41.7% are type 1 diabetes and 58.3% are type
2.different culture media are used.
Results: we found that 37.9% of diabetics had oral
carriage, older age group had more but the
difference is not significant statistically P>0.05, in
addition females carry more Candida than males
P<0.05, while type of diabetes
In accordance with epidemic COVID-19, the elevated infection rates, disinfectant overuse and antibiotic misuse what led to immune suppression in most of the population in addition to genotypic and phenotypic alterations in the microorganisms, so a great need to reevaluate the genetic determinants that responsible for bacterial community (biofilm) has been raised. A total of 250 clinical specimens were obtained from patients in Baghdad hospitals and streaked on Mannitol salt agar medium. The results revealed that 156 isolates appeared as round yellow colonies, indicating that they were mostly identified as Staphylococcus aureus from 250 specimens. The antibiotic resistance pattern of the isolates for methicillin 37.17% (n=58), Amoxic
... Show MoreThis study is conducted to identify the microbial content of some types of infant milk formula available in the local markets of the city of Baghdad and their conformity microbial limits sited by the Iraqi standard. Seventy samples were collected from trademarks of imported infant milk formula included of five samples of infant milk formula No (1) and five samples of follow-up formula No (2). These samples were collected randomly from shops in the local markets of Baghdad city on both sides of Karkh and Rusafa included the following kinds: Dialac 1, Dialac 2 ,Celia 1, Celia 2 ,Biomil 1, Biomil 2 , Nactalia 1, Nactalia 2, Novalac 1 , Novalac 2 , Similac 1 , imilac 2 , Guigos 1, Guigos 2. Some microbial tests were done which in
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