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.
The research addressed the ecological impact of the industrial product as one of the basic aesthetic elements in urban design. The research discussed the nature of the overall ecosystems of the industrial product in urban spaces, and the type of impact they have on each other. The discussion of impacts started from the identification of cognitive and non-cognitive viewpoints in the vision of ecological aesthetics, passing through the inputs of cognitive systems that see that the ecosystem made of the urban space with the existence of the industrial product as one of its constituents, are in fact systems based on functional symmetry between urban space design and the design of the industrial prod
... Show MoreA solar updraft tower power plant (solar tower) is a solar thermal power plant that utilizes a combination of solar
air collector and central updraft tube to generate an induced convective flow which drives pressure staged turbines to generate electricity.
This paper presents practical results of a prototype of a solar chimney with thermal mass, where the glass surface is replaced by transparence plastic cover. The study focused on chimney's basements kind effect on collected air temperatures. Three basements were used: concrete, black concrete and black pebbles basements. The study was conducted in Baghdad from August to November 2009.
The results show that the best chimney efficiency attaine
... Show MoreHellenistic architecture represents an important example of the reflection of ancient Greek architecture in the art of oriental architecture in the countries of the ancient world, including those states spread across North Africa that were under the authority of the Ptolemies and who were able to transmit those artistic values and traditions of Greek architecture to those regions. The current research deals with a detailed study of those important transformations of civil and religious architecture, as well as the most important features of that architecture through the constituents of location and geographical location.
Communicative-based textbooks are developed and disseminated throughout the country.
However, it is difficult for teachers who themselves have learnt English through the traditional
approaches to suddenly be familiar with CLT (Communicative Language Teaching) principles
and teach communicatively. Therefore, many teachers remain somewhat confused about what
exactly CLT is and others familiar with CLT but unable to achieve communicative classroom
teaching. Consequently, those teachers need to be introduced to the CLT principles and they need
training in how to put CLT principles into practice. Accordingly, this study aims to find out the
effect of combining video lectures and Kolb experiential learning on EFL student-t
???? ?? ??? ????? ???? ?????? ?????????? ????? ??????? ???? ?????? ????? ??? ??? ????? ?? ???? ??? ????? ????? ???? ????? ????? ?? 0-3cm, 10cm, 20cm, 30cm, 40cm ???????? ????? ?? ???? ????? ???????? ?? ???? ????? ?????? CR-39??????? ?? ??? ??? ?????????? ???????????? ???????? ???? n.cm-2.s-1 5 x 103?? ?????? ?????????? Am241- Be??? ???? ??????? ????????? ??? ?? ???? ????? ?????????? ??? ?? ????? ??????? ?????? 0.881±0.086??? ?? ??????? ????? ??? ????? ??? ?? ????? ????? ??? ???????? ???0.441±0.036 ??? ?? ???????
Background: Wound healing, as a normal biological process in the human body, is achieved through four precisely and highly programmed phases: hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling. Growth factors released in the traumatized area promote cell migration into the wound area (chemotaxis), stimulate the growth of epithelial cells and fibroblasts (mitogenesis), initiate the formulation of new blood vessels (angiogenesis), and stimulate matrix formation and remodeling of the affected region. One of factors that effects on wound healing is a sex hormones and one of these hormones is an estrogen hormone. A wide range of cutaneous cell types (eg, fibroblast, endothelial, epithelial, and inflammatory) expressed estrogen receptors, in
... Show MoreSixteen polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) concentrations were measured in aerosol samples collected for the period from April 2012 to February 2013 at thermal south power station of Baghdad. Fourty one aerosol sample were extracted with (1:1) dichloromethane and methanol using soxhlet for seventeen hour. The extraction solution was analyzed applying GC/MS. The PAH concentrations outside thermal south power station were higher than those inside it, and higher in summer season than in winter. Naphthalene, pyrene, Anthracene, Indeno [1, 2, 3-cd] pyrene and Phenanthrene were the most abundant PAHs detected in all points at the site sampling. The total polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (TPAH) and total suspended particles (TSP) concentrat
... Show MoreThe research work is "The passive voice as a grammatical phenomenon in four selected textbooks". The research deals with the grammatical phenomenon passive in German. The research consists of two parts, the theoretical and the empirical part. The present research work is divided into 3 sections:
The first section includes the definition of passive, passive types, process passive, state passive, passive with modal verbs, and other types of passive. The second section provides illustrations of the four selected textbooks. The third chapter presents the passive voice in textbooks, namely German language teaching for foreigners by Dora Schulz and Heinz Griesbach, Delfin von Aufderstrasse H. and others, Em von Balme, M. and others and
... Show More