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.
Fluorescence excitation by Nd:YAG pumped dye laser and single vibrational level fluorescence
spectra of 1,3 benzodioxole in a supersonic jet have been obtained and interpreted. The previous assignment of
the 0 0
0 band was incorrect. In addition, many other bands involving n20 and n19 vibrations of a2 symmetry were
confirmed. As far as a1 totally symmetric vibration is concerned. The n14 was assigned to be located in the fivemembered
ring whereas n13 seem to be located in the benzene ring as a result of the electronic transition in the
benzene ring which affects n13 and not n14 wavenumber.
Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibodies (ANCA) are a heterogeneous group of autoantibodies with a broad spectrum of clinically associated diseases. The diagnostic value is established for Proteinase 3 (PR3)-ANCA as well as Myeloperoxidase (MPO)-ANCA. To estimate the frequency of anti-neutrophile cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) in sera from a group of Iraqi patients with some autoimmune diseases compared with a healthy control group. Serum samples were collected from one hundred patient, 47 males and 53 females; with age range of 16-70 years; 20 specimens from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), 30 from patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), and 50 from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). A group of 40 apparently healthy b
... Show MoreIncreasing requests for modified and personalized pharmaceutics and medical materials makes the implementation of additive manufacturing increased rapidly in recent years. 3D printing has been involved numerous advantages in case of reduction in waste, flexibility in the design, and minimizing the high cost of intended products for bulk production of. Several of 3D printing technologies have been developed to fabricate novel solid dosage forms, including selective laser sintering, binder deposition, stereolithography, inkjet printing, extrusion-based printing, and fused deposition modeling. The selection of 3D printing techniques depends on their compatibility with the printed drug products. This review intent to provide a perspecti
... Show MoreThe rapid increase in the number of older people with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and other forms of dementia represents one of the major challenges to the health and social care systems because of a large number of people affected. Early detection of AD makes it possible for patients to access appropriate services and to benefit from new treatments and therapies, as and when they become available, and to plan for the future. The onset of AD starts many years before the clinical symptoms become clear. A biomarker that can measure the brain changes in this period would be useful for early diagnosis of AD. Potentially, the electroencephalogram (EEG) can play a valuable role in early detection of AD. Damage caused to the brain due to AD leads t
... Show MoreAlkaloids are a group of naturally occurring chemical compounds that contain mostly basic nitrogen atoms . They are a large family of compounds synthesized by plants in addition to the bacteria, fungi, and animals, they often have pharmacological effects. The aim of this study is to isolate and identified alkaloids in a newly studied, wild Iraqi plant named
... Show MoreHeat shock protein 70 (HSP70) is a crucial protein with vital biological tasks in cell continuation of life. The variation of HSP70 activation occurs as a consequence of stress that includes temperature states, toxicity, poisoning with heavy metals, and tumor-related conditions. One of the master jobs of the HSP family is the suppression of caspase-mediated apoptosis signals. A high level of the expression of HSP70 is accountable for tumorigenesis and resistance against chemotherapeutic drugs. For this reason, the detection of HSP70 may help to diagnose cancerous diseases. From the other side, targeting this chaperone might help in treatment by maintaining late caspase-dependent events. This study was conducted to detect the presenc
... Show MoreThis research is an initial attempt to explore the reality of education and its concept in Islam, and to describe the presence of educational practices in the Arab-Islamic heritage. The importance of this research lies in addressing a set of important issues related to the contemporary Islamic educational system. The research revealed the extent of the need for authentic educational values that draw their reference from the origins of Islam, and it emphasized the analysis of the reality of education in the Islamic world and the identification of its problems and the finding of solutions through a quick and comprehensive look at the diverse contributions of Muslimthinkers to Islamic educational thought, and their active ro
... Show MoreIn the absence of environmental regulation, food stays to be contaminated with heavy metals, which is becoming a big worry for human health. The present research focusses on the environmental and health effects of irrigating a number of crops grown in the soils surrounding the Al-Rustamia old plant using treated wastewater generated by the plant. The physicochemical properties, alkalinity, and electrical conductivity of the samples were evaluated, and vegetable samples were tested for Cd, Pb, Ni, and Zn, levels, and even the transfer factor (TF) from soils to crops and crop and multi-targeted risk, daily intake (DIM) of metals, and health risk index (HRI) was calculated. The findings found that the average contents of Zn, Pb, Ni, and Cd in
... Show MoreThe study aimed to identify the self- compassion of the students as well as to identify the differences in the self- compassion according to the variables: sex - the academic specialization - Study level, the sample of the study of (200) students distributed equally by sex (male - female) Specialization (Scientific - Human) compassion. The results showed that there were no differences in the self- compassion according to the variables: gender, academic specialization, and Study level. In light of these results, the researcher Number of the recommendations and proposals