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.
Examination of the blood and the alimentary canal of moorhens in two sites around
Baghdad area in the middle of Iraq showed that 38% of the examined birds were infected with
one or more of the following parasites, Haemoproteus baghdadensis, H. gallinulae
(Protozoa), Cyclocoelum mutbile (Trematoda), Diorchis inflata, Ligula intestinalis (Cestoda),
Amidostomum fulicae and Porrcaecum sp. (Nematoda) .The stomach analysis revealed that
the bird is omnivorous in feeding including wid range of invertebrate animals with some plant
origin food items.
Double drum dryer is operated for producing pregelatinized maize starches using feed starch slurries of different
solids(7, 10 and13 g/100 g )content . Steam pressure (2,3,and 4 bar), the level of pool between the drums (4,7,and 10
cm) , and speed of drums rotation (3,4,and 6 rpm) are varied together with the feed solids content in a practical range of
values. The response of the dryer is registered by measuring several output variables, i.e. external drum temperature,
product moisture content, mass flow rate.
The current study aimed to identify the role of the theatrical technical supervisor in developing and enhancing the skills of middle school students in Baghdad. The sample consisted of 73% of the original community of theatrical technical supervisors, randomly selected from those working in the first, second, and third educational directorates in the Rassafa and Karkh areas. The sample size was 32 theatrical technical supervisors. The study used a questionnaire to collect data on three axes: the cognitive skills developed by the theatrical technical supervisor, the voice and speech skills developed by the supervisor, and the body movement skills developed by the supervisor. The results showed that the theatrical technical supervisor play
... Show MoreThe present study aimed to evaluate the concentration of Malon dialdehyde (MDA) in pregnant women during different stages of pregnancy (stage of pregnancy, abortion, contraceptives and parity number).The study included (120) blood samples from normal pregnant women in age of the procreating were subdivided into three trimesters of pregnancy (40/group), and (40) samples from non-pregnant women as a control group. The results showed a significant increase in MDA in three stages of pregnancy compared with the control group. The concentration of MDA increased significantly in pregnant women with multipregnancy when compared with pregnant women for the first time, and in pregnant women whom was using contraceptions compared with p
... Show MoreThe Histo-mrphology were directed on the pneumonic alveoli of 6 male goats. The respiratory portion is composed of typical cuboidal epithelial cells with Clara cell, however, alveolar ducts are lined by simple squamous epithelium and alveoli were generally circular structures that opened into the alveolar conduits and alveolar sacs or respiratory bronchioles. Alveoli were made out of two kinds of cells for example Type-I pneumocytes and Type-II pneumocytes. Previous framed the mainlining epithelial cells of alveoli which were squamous in sort having noticeable perinuclear territory and central found the core, while the last were cuboidal fit as a fiddle with the midway found core and periodically found among the Sort I cells in the
... Show MoreInvestigating the heavy metals in soil is important to the life of humans and living organisms. Diyala River Lower Reaches was chosen due to the changes in environmental characteristics that took place in recent years. Twelve sediment samples were collected from four different sites. The physical, and chemical properties and the concentrations of nine heavy metals were indicated. The results showed that the average concentrations of arsenic, copper, chromium, cobalt, iron, manganese, nickel, lead, and zinc are 8.5, 45.7, 538.5, 12.2, 5.07, 991.7, 183.5, 16.07, 136.5 ppm, respectively. They reflect contamination with arsenic, chromium, and nickel, while they are free of lead, and zinc contamination, according to the Environmental P
... Show MorePortland cement concrete is the most commonly used construction material in the world for decades. However, the searches in concrete technology are remaining growing to meet particular properties related to its strength, durability, and sustainability issue. Thus, several types of concrete have been developed to enhance concrete performance. Most of the modern concrete types have to contain supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) as a partial replacement of cement. These materials are either by-products of waste such as fly ash, slag, rice husk ash, and silica fume or from a geological resource like natural pozzolans and metakaolin (MK). Ideally, the utilization of SCMs will enhance the concrete performance, minimize
... Show MoreThis research is concerned with documenting and chronicling the art of NFTs art in the Saudi artistic cultural scene, the importance of which stems from the lack of scientific sources that document this field until the preparation of this research and aims to trace historically the emergence of the field of NFTs art in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the arts sector through the experiences of Saudi artists. The most prominent events for the culture, arts and technology sector, and other Saudi sectors. The research dealt with the history of the emergence of the field of NFTs art, which extends from the history of digital arts, and reviewed the most famous works of NFTs art.
As a result of the technical revolution and the artistic move
In this paper, the penetration of the stone column was investigated in order to get the minimum length of the stone column above which the increase in length has little advantage. The effect of using different materials in column are also studied. The material used is granular of different angle of internal friction (). The results of the investigation indicated that the effect of stone column remains constant when the ratio of the thickness of the soft clay layer to the stone column’s diameter is more than 15. The results also indicated that a pronounced effect is obtained when the angle of internal friction of the stone column material is increased.