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.
Prostate cancer is the commonest male cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related death in men. Over many decades, prostate cancer detection represented a continuous challenge to urologists. Although all urologists and pathologists agree that tissue diagnosis is essential especially before commencing active surgical or radiation treatment, the best way to obtain the biopsy was always the big hurdle. The heterogenicity of the tumor pathology is very well seen in its radiological appearance. Ultrasound has been proven to be of limited sensitivity and specificity in detecting prostate cancer. However, it was the only available targeting technique for years and was used to guide biopsy needle passed transrectally or transperineally
... Show MoreThe performance of photovoltaic (PV) panel having staggered metal foam fins was examined experimentally in Baghdad, Iraq. Three staggered metal foam fin configurations attached to the backside of the PV panel were studied. The measured parameters were front and back surfaces temperature, open voltage and current circuits, maximum power, and PV efficiency. It was noted that the maximum electrical efficiency enhancement was 4.7% for staggered metal foam fins (case III) than the reference PV panel. The operating temperature of the cell was increased when the value of solar intensity was high. Thereby, the electrical efficiency was decreased. It was found that the metal foam fins decreased the PV temperature by 2-3 o
... Show MoreThe digital revolution had greatly affected the methods through which we communicate, starting from the basic concepts of the internet technology and the web content in addition to the important issues that concern the culture of the digital media, the internet governance and the variation in the digital age in general and the graphic and internal design in particular.
This research addresses an important topic that goes along with the scientific development in the field of the digital design, especially in the internal and graphic designs. This study consists of two sections: the first includes the problem of the study and the need for it. Starting from the problem of the research, there is no clear perception of the formal characte
The study relied on data about the health sector in Iraq in 2006 in cooperation with the Ministry of Health and the Central Bureau of Statistics and Information Technology in 2007 Included the estimates of the population distribution of the Baghdad province and the country depending on the population distribution for 1997,evaluate the health sector which included health institutions, and health staff, and other health services. The research Aimis; Measurement an amount and size of the growth of health services (increase and decrease) and the compare of verified in Iraq and Baghdad, and evaluate the effectiveness of the distribution of supplies and health services (physical and human) of the size of the population distribution and
... Show MoreAtomic Force Microscope is an efficient tool to study the topography of precipitate. A study using Continuous Flow Injection via the use of Ayah 6SX1-T-2D Solar cell CFI Analyser . It was found that Cyproheptadine –HCl form precipitates of different quality using a precipitating agent's potassium hexacyanoferrate (III) and sodium nitroprusside. The formed precipitates are collected as they are formed in the usual sequence of forming the precipitate via the continuous flow .The precipitates are collected and dried under normal atmospheric pressure. The precipitates are subjected to atomic force microscope scanning to study the variation and differences of these precipitates relating them to the kind of response to both precipitates give
... Show MoreThe research aimed to identify and build two specialized scales for cognitive load and mental stress and to identify the level of each of them among 110-meter steeplechase runners among youth, and to prepare a psychological counseling approach to reduce the level of cognitive load and mental stress among 110-meter steeplechase runners among youth, so that the two research hypotheses are that there are differences. There are statistically significant differences between the results of the pre- and post-tests of the experimental group in measuring cognitive load. There are statistically significant differences between the results of the pre- and post-tests of the experimental group in measuring mental stress. The experimental method w
... Show MoreBACKGROUND: The rapidly growing knowledge regarding factors controlling tumour growth, with the new modalities of therapy acting on the biological activity of the tumours draw the attention of most cancer researches nowadays and represent a major focus for clinical oncology practice. For the detection of HER2/neu protein overexpression and gene amplification, immunohistochemistry (IHC) and in-situ hybridisation (ISH) is the recommended techniques, respectively, with high concordance between the two techniques. The current United Kingdom recommendations for HER2/neu testing are either for a two-tier system using IHC with reflex ISH testing in equivocal positive cases, or a one-tier ISH strategy. AIM: To compare the results of HER2/neu gene s
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