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.
In the current research, multiple mixing ratios of gamma -transitions of the energy levels 60𝑁𝑑 142−150 isotopes populated in 𝑁𝑑(𝑛, 𝑛 ˊ 60 142−150 ) 60𝑁𝑑 142−150 interaction are calculated using the constant statistical tensor (CST) method. The results obtained are, in general, in good agreement or consistent, within the experimental error, with the results published in the previously researches. Existing discrepancies result from inaccuracies in the experimental results of previous works. The current results confirm the validity of the constant statistical tenser method of calculating the values of mixing ratios and its predictability of errors in experimental results
Metal complexes chrome(III), manganese(II), iron(III), cobalt(II), nickel(II), cupper(II) and zinc(II) with diazonium of 3-amino-2-chloropyridine of general formula [2-Cl-C5H3N≡N]n[MXm], where n=2 or 3 for divalent and trivalent metal, m= 4 or 6 were synthesized. The complexes have been characterized by flame atomic absorption, (C.H.N), molar conductance, magnetic susceptibility UV-vis spectra, infrared spectra,1H-NMR spectroscopy and thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA and DTA). The measurements showed that the divalent metal ion complexes (M2+) have (1:2) M:L ratio with tetrahedral geometry around metal ions while the trivalent metal ions (M3+) formed (1:3) m
... Show MoreIn this paper, a procedure to establish the different performance measures in terms of crisp value is proposed for two classes of arrivals and multiple channel queueing models, where both arrival and service rate are fuzzy numbers. The main idea is to convert the arrival rates and service rates under fuzzy queues into crisp queues by using graded mean integration approach, which can be represented as median rule number. Hence, we apply the crisp values obtained to establish the performance measure of conventional multiple queueing models. This procedure has shown its effectiveness when incorporated with many types of membership functions in solving queuing problems. Two numerical illustrations are presented to determine the validity of the
... Show MoreResumen
El Ultraísmo es un movimiento literario que comenzó en España a finales de 1918 y continuó hasta el año 1922. Este movimiento, que representó la contribución de España al Vanguardismo literario, que en la primera parte del siglo XX surgió en toda Europa, se desarrolló no tanto a través de los libros, cuanta a través de las revistas literarias de la época.
La creacionista es, sin duda, la escuela que dio a Ultra mayores aportes. Por esta razón, en las literaturas de Vanguardia se funden, y a veces también se confunden, con frecuencia, Ultraísmo y Creacionismo. Los dos movimientos eran como una revo
... Show MoreBackground: Type two diabetic patients have higher risk of cardiovascular and periodontal disease. Furthermore, patients with more severe periodontal disease have higher incidence of cardiovascular disease. This study aimed to assess the association between periodontal health status and the risk of vascular disease in type 2 diabetic patients. Materials and Methods: One hundred type 2 diabetes mellitus patients and fifty apparently healthy males were enrolled in this study. Oral examinations conducted were; plaque Index, calculus index, gingival index, probing pocket depth, and clinical attachment level. For the assessment of vascular risk, arterial stiffness index was used. Results: According to arterial stiffness index, type 2 diabetic p
... Show MoreGender and culture are among the factors that influence the process of understanding and interpreting different types of communication, especially images. The current study, which is a part of a master’s thesis, aims at investigating the role of gender and culture in interpreting and understanding the caricatures that deal with women’s issues in Arab societies. To this end, the researchers adopted Barthes’ (1957) concepts of denotation and connotation in his theory of mythologies in addition to Langacker’s (1987) theory of (Domains). The research concludes that the female subjects have better cognitive abilities in investing the signs within the selected caricatures. The other factor the study reached to is that the respondents
... Show MoreThis study was designed to show the inhibitory effect of different concentrations of alcoholic extract of Borage officinalis on the Monoamine oxidase (MAO) and Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) enzymes in human serum. The results obtained from the study exhibited that alcoholic extract of Borage officinalis caused inhibition to enzymes activity with all concentrations of the extract. The results also showed that when the concentration of the extract was (0.001 mg/ml), the percentage of inhibition was (4.3% with MAO and 15.2% with AChE) and this percentage increases until reaching up to (74.7% with MAO and 84.18% with AChE) when the concentration of the extract was (0.1 mg/ml). From the kinetic parameters, studies found that alcoholic extract o
... Show MoreThis study tries to clear the correlation and association between asthma, obesity and leptin levels. Also it will work to indicate the main risk factors which play role in the elevation of leptin level within asthmatic patients. This is a case control study conducted on (38) asthmatic patients and (20) healthy control who were closely similar by age, gender and BMI. The main statistical tests used were student t test, linear regression test and correlation test. Significance was set at P < 0.05. Sampling method used for this study was convenience sampling method. The main results of this study show a significant association and positive correlation between age (old age ≥ 40 ye
... Show MoreThe efficiency of Nd:YAG laser radiation in removing debris and smear layer from prepared root
canal walls was studied. Fifty-seven human extracted single rooted anterior teeth were divided into three
groups. A group that was not lased is considered as a control group. The remaining teeth were exposed to
different laser parameters regarding laser energy, repetition rate and exposure time. For the case of the set of
parameters of 7 mJ laser energy, the cleaning was maximum at 3 p.p.s. repetition rate for 3 seconds exposure
time for, the coronal, middle and apical thirds. Above and below this energy level, there was an overdose
(melting) or under dose (no effect). Nevertheless for 10mJ laser energy case, the cleaning effi