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.
Data generated from modern applications and the internet in healthcare is extensive and rapidly expanding. Therefore, one of the significant success factors for any application is understanding and extracting meaningful information using digital analytics tools. These tools will positively impact the application's performance and handle the challenges that can be faced to create highly consistent, logical, and information-rich summaries. This paper contains three main objectives: First, it provides several analytics methodologies that help to analyze datasets and extract useful information from them as preprocessing steps in any classification model to determine the dataset characteristics. Also, this paper provides a comparative st
... Show MoreThe use of external posttensioning technique for strengthening reinforced concrete girders has been considerably studied by many researchers worldwide. However, no available data are seen regarding strengthening full-scale composite prestressed concrete girders with external posttensioned technique under static and repeated loading. In this research, four full-scale composite prestressed I-shape girders of 16 m span were fabricated and tested under static and repeated loading up to failure. Accordingly, two girders were externally strengthened with posttensioned strands, while the other two girders were left without strengthening. The experimental tests include deflection, cracking load, ultimate strength and strains at midspan, a
... Show MoreThe researchers wanted to make a new azo imidazole as a follow-up to their previous work. The ligand 4-[(2-Amino-4-phenylazo)-methyl]-cyclohexane carboxylic acid as a derivative of trans-4- (aminomethyl) cyclohexane carboxylic acid diazonium salt, and synthesis a series of its chelate complexes with metalions, characterized these compounds using a variety technique, including elemental analysis, FTIR, LC-Mass, 1H-NMRand UV-Vis spectral process as well TGA, conductivity and magnetic quantifications. Analytical data showed that the Co (II) complex out to 1:1 metal-ligand ratio with square planner and tetrahedral geometry, respectively while 1:2 metal-ligand ratio in the Cu(II), Cr(III), Mn(II), Zn(II), Ru(III)and Rh(III)complexes with octahed
... Show MorePiroxicam (PIR) is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug of oxicam category, used in gout, arthritis, as well as other inflammatory conditions (topically and orally). PIR is practically insoluble in water, therefore the aim is prepare and evaluate piroxicam as liquid self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system to enhance its dispersibility and stability. The Dispersibilty and Stability study have been conducted in Oil, Surfactant and Co-surfactant for choosing the best materials to dissolve piroxicam. The pseudo ternary phase diagrams have been set at 1:1, 2:1, 3:1 as well as 4:1 ratio of surfactants and co-surfactants, also there are 4 formulations were prepared by using various concentrations of transcutol HP, cremophore EL and triacetin
... Show MoreThis study was carried out to evaluate the antioxidant activity of Iraqi sumac seeds (Rhus coriaria. L) (Anacardiaceae). Total phenolic compounds and flavoniods were determined in three different sumac seed extracts (SSE) (aqueous,ethanolic and methanolic extract). For extraction Antioxidant activity of SSE were evaluated by various antioxidant assays, including total antioxidant capacity, reducing power,by using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging, nitric oxide scavenging, Hydroxyl radical scavenging, and metal ion chelating activities. These various antioxidant activities were compared with ascorbic acid as a standard antioxidant.The results showed that the three(SSE), contained large amounts of phenolic and flavonio
... Show MoreRetinopathy of prematurity (ROP) can cause blindness in premature neonates. It is diagnosed when new blood vessels form abnormally in the retina. However, people at high risk of ROP might benefit significantly from early detection and treatment. Therefore, early diagnosis of ROP is vital in averting visual impairment. However, due to a lack of medical experience in detecting this condition, many people refuse treatment; this is especially troublesome given the rising cases of ROP. To deal with this problem, we trained three transfer learning models (VGG-19, ResNet-50, and EfficientNetB5) and a convolutional neural network (CNN) to identify the zones of ROP in preterm newborns. The dataset to train th
Concentrated research topic in addressing variable vital to the work of offices of inspectors general, construction and scale effectiveness and efficiency is the organizational structure, which are important as is obvious to any researcher in the management and organization and this variable would affect the exercise task supervision and inspection of financial and administrative corruption and combat efficiently, Thus this effect will be placed in the fold ability to achieve goals. That the creation of the organizational structure and requirements to achieve harmony between its properties is creating step towards success. This research aims to analyze the characteristics and style o
In this paper flotation method experiments were performed to investigate the removal of lead and zinc. Various parameters such as pH, air flow rate, collector concentrations, collector type and initial metal concentrations were tested in a bubble column of 6 cm inside diameter. High recoveries of the two metals have been obtained by applying the foam flotation process, and at relatively short time 45 minutes . The results show that the best removal of lead about 95% was achieved at pH value of 8 and the best removal of zinc about 93% was achieved
at pH value of 10 by using 100 mg/l of Sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) as a collector and 1% ethanol as a frother. The results show that the removal efficiency increased with increasing initial m
A new ligand N-(methylcarbamothioyl) acetamide (AMP) was synthesized by reaction of acetyl chloride with adenine. The ligand was characterized by FT-IR, NMR spectra and the elemental analysis. The transition metal complexes of this ligand where synthesize and characterized by UV-Visible spectra, FT-IR, magnetic suscepility, conductively measurement. The general formula [M(AMP)2Cl2], where M+2 = (Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Hg).