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.
Equilibrium and rate of mixing of free flowing solid materials are found using gas fluidized bed. The solid materials were sand (size 0.7 mm), sugar (size0.7 mm) and 15% cast iron used as a tracer. The fluidizing gas was air with velocity ranged from 0.45-0.65 m/s while the mixing time was up to 10 minutes. The mixing index for each experiment was calculated by averaging the results of 10 samples taken from different radial and axial positions in fluidized QVF column 150 mm ID and 900 mm height.
The experimental results were used in solving a mathematical model of mixing rate and mixing index at an equilibrium proposed by Rose. The results show that mixing index increases with inc
... Show MorePathogenic microorganisms from hospitals, communities, and the environment remain great threats to human health. The increasing concern about antibiotic resistance has also necessitated the search for robust alternatives. Therefore, this study aims to isolate, screen and evaluate the antibiotic susceptibility of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from a soil sample taken from northern, western and eastern parts of Kelana Jaya Lake against four antibiotics (gentamycin, tetracycline, ampicillin, and penicillin) on a Mueller-Hinton Agar media plate. Pseudomonas identification was done by using API 20 kit. Disc diffusion was employed as well as the oxidase test. From the positive oxidase result, the isolated bacteria were identified as Burkhold
... Show MoreThe increase in population resulted in an increase in the consumption of water. The present work investigates the performance of a recycling solar- powered greywater treatment system for the purposes of irrigation, used to reduce the amount of waste grey water and reduce electricity consumption and reduce the costs of constructing large scale water treatment plants. The system consumes about 3814W per hour and provides water treatment about 1.4 m3 per day. The proposed system is designed to residential, office and governmental buildings application. Tests are conducted in an office building at the Ministry of Science and Technology site in Baghdad. Laboratorial water samples testing analyses are co
... Show MoreThe Shari'a of Islam is the end of the laws revealed by God, including the goodness of the servants in the pension and the restored. They are supported by the enemies of Islam, especially in these days when the Islamic Ummah is subjected to a fierce campaign by its enemy to repel it from its religion through what they claim from the rights of women, including the right to equality with men.
Islam came to announce to all mankind that women are part of life in society without which they can not imagine life for them. Islam did not leave women under the absolute authority of men, but raised their status and worked to liberate them, and these rights are divorced from her husband, does she have the right
The research addressed the problem of widows that increased recently enormously. The researcher also referred to the perspective of Islam that gave a significant attention for both widows and orphans as powerless groups. Some straightforward example were presented to reflect the actual difficulties that encounter these groups as well as the author proposed number of appropriate ways that mitigate their psychological and physical sufferings such as: the provision of convenience jobs, and the legislation of rule that save their rights. Moreover, the researcher addressed the importance of marrying widows and what these challenges that encounter polygamy in Arab societies, the advantages and disadvantages of polygamy, and discussing all the
... Show MoreThis study conducts a systematic comparative critical discourse analysis of news reports from prominent American (CNN) and Russian (RT) media sources covering the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Utilizing the theoretical frameworks of Norman Fairclough's multidimensional model and Teun van Dijk's socio-cognitive approach, the research examines the underlying ideological assumptions and discursive strategies employed by the two contrasting news channels. Quantitative analysis of discursive techniques and linguistic features provides insights into how each channel selectively utilizes language to convey distinct ideological positions. The findings demonstrate how media discourse constructs and normalizes particular ideological representations of pol
... Show MoreAbstract\
Dealing economic units at the present time with an industrial environment characterized by competitiveness and the pace of change and its strength as a result of this changing environment shall be on those who made it to adopt strategies that allow them to confront these variables and work in order to meet the market requirements of quality and price appropriate products to suit and the demand for those products and conditions to maintain
its competitive position and its development.
As a result, it became the subject of competitiveness in recent years and enjoys widespread attention at the global level. And in order to keep up
... Show MoreTurkey Consider Tigris and Euphrates rivers as a national rivers, and not an a International rivers, so that . It insists on its absolute sovereignty on that resources. The block ( levee ) which Turkey established should not create International problems.
The All International agreements and laws in this sect warrant the rights of all the states that located in river stream to use it without any consider to the regional absolute right.
During the 1980s, Turkey construct water projects, started with GAP, project which is one of the greatest project in the world, in spite of the plane of construct of the keep an levee on the Euphrates was pre of that project. The
... Show MoreThe aim of the study is to diagnose the real level of technology usage in teaching and learning EFL at university from teachers and students’ viewpoints, and see if it is possible to achieve something of the researchers’ dream - accessing top universities. Two questionnaires have been used to measure the range of technology usage in Colleges of Education for Women, Baghdad and Iraqi Universities, and College of Basic Education. The results have shown that the reality of using technology is still away from the dream. The results have been ascribed to two reasons: The first is the little knowledge of using technology in teaching, and the second is that technology is not included in the curriculum.
The logistic regression model regarded as the important regression Models ,where of the most interesting subjects in recent studies due to taking character more advanced in the process of statistical analysis .
The ordinary estimating methods is failed in dealing with data that consist of the presence of outlier values and hence on the absence of such that have undesirable effect on the result. &nbs
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