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.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is one of the autoimmune diseases characterized by the synovial inflammation which causes organs and tissues damage especially synovial tissues and joints. The study included 50 serum samples from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) when compared with 50 serum samples from healthy individuals as control with age range 35 – 60 years (41.3 ± 2.4 years vs. 41.0 ± 2.0 years, respectively). ELISA technique was used to assess the Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide IgG antibody (anti-CCP IgG Ab) level, anti-rheumatoid factor IgG antibody (anti-RF IgG) and anti-Cytomegalovirus (anti-CMV IgG) antibodies frequencies in the studied groups. The present findings demonstrated that all RA patients have 100% seropositive fr
... Show MoreThis paper deals with testing defected model piles in the soil in order to study their behavior. In this respect, the results of model pile tests are discussed either geotechnically or structurally according to the type of failure.
Two parameters were studied in order to evaluate the general behavior of defective piles. These parameters include the defect location and the defect type for floating and end bearing pile. The results of the experimental work indicated that the critical case for floating pile is seen to be when the defect of (5%) at the first third of the pile length at which the decrease in the bearing capacity is about (21%), while the decrease in the bearing capacity is found to be (
... Show MoreA new spectrophotometric method for the determination of allopurinol drug was investigated. The proposed method was based on the reaction of the intended drug with catechol and Fe(II) to form a blue soluble complex which was measured at λmax 580 nm. A graph of absorbance versus concentration shown that Beer’s law was obeyed over the concentration range of 2–10 μg ml–1 with molar absorptivity of 9.4 x 103 l mol–1 cm–1 and Sandell sensitivity of 1.4 x 10–2 μg cm–2. A recovery percentage of 100% with RSD of 1.0%–1.3% was obtained. The proposed method was applied successfully for the determination of allopurinol drug in tablets with a good accuracy and
Drug misuse is defined as using of drugs for a non-therapeutic or non-medical purpose. In Iraq drug misuse is a major problem because almost any drug can be easily obtained from pharmacies. Appetite- stimulant drugs are example of drugs that are widely used without a prescription. The study included 230 patients who use these drugs in Babylon. A questionnaire included the following questions ; age, sex, marital state, the reason for use the drug , whether the drug is prescribed by physician or not , type of drug used , the frequency of daily dose and lastly the extent of side effects of the drugs used. The results showed that the age range of 35% of subjects were (17-21) years old and 70% of participants were females. The study also show
... Show MoreInvesting in renewable energies, including biomass, is an important topic in Iraq. Research indicates that there is great potential for renewable energy in Iraq, including biomass, but achieving this great potential requires clear strategies and significant investments. This research sought to determine the amount of biomass energy that can be produced by the residues of eight Iraqi crops: wheat, barley, oats, corn, rice (straw), rice (husk), cotton, and sugar beets. could produce. Calorific value and accessible residue amount were considered to determine the residue's potential for energy. Estimates for 2021 showed that 1,308,516 tons of agricultural residue would be available overall for the eight crops. The two crop
... Show MoreVoice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is important technology that’s rapidly growing in the wireless networks. The Quality of Service (QoS) and Capacity are two of the most important issues that still need to be researched on wireless VoIP. The main aim of this paper is to analysis the performance of the VoIP application in wireless networks, with respect to different transport layer protocols and audio codec. Two scenarios used in the simulation stage. In the first scenario VoIP with codec G.711 transmitted over User Datagram Protocol (UDP), Stream Control Transmission Protocol (SCTP), and Real-Time Transport Protocol (RTP). While, in the second scenario VoIP with codec G.726 transmitted over UDP, SCTP, and RTP protocols. Network simulator
... Show MoreBackground: Metabolic syndrome MS a cluster of disorders comprising obesity (central and abdominal), dyslipidaemias, glucose intolerance, insulin resistance (or hyperinsulinaemia) and hypertension – is highly predictive of type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease. It should be emphasized that the metabolic syndrome is a syndrome and not a disease. The aim of this study is to evaluate the levels of serum phosphate in different levels in subjects with metabolic syndrome MS and Correlation between serum phosphate levels with metabolic syndrome components. The study was carried out at the National diabetes Center (NDC) /AL-Mustansiryia University ,the period from (Desmber.2011 – May 2012) One hundred forty (140) Iraqi indivi
... Show MoreBN Rashid, Ajes: Asian Journal of English Studies, 2013
Background: Silymarin is a polyphenolic flavonoid
derived from milk thistle (Silybum marianum) that has
anti-inflammatory, cytoprotective, anticarcinogenic
and antioxidant effects. It has been used medicinally
to treat liver disorders including acute and chronic
viral hepatitis, toxin/drug induced hepatitis, and
alcoholic liver disease.
Objective: To evaluate the antinociceptive effect of
silymarin in experimental animal model of pain.
Methods: The efficacy and dose response effect of
silymarin (125, 250, and 500mg/kg) were assessed
against control using tail flick test in mice as a model
of nociceptive pain. In this model, all doses of
silymarin were given intraperitoneally 15 min before
immersi
The Present investigation includes the isolation and identification of Pseudomonas aeruginosa for different cases of hospital contamination from 1/ 6/2003 to 30/9/2004, the identification of bacteria depended on morphological , cultural and biochemical characters, 37 of isolates were diagnosed from 70 smears from wounds and burns beside 25 isolates were identified from 200 smears taken from operation theater and hospital wards including the floors , walls , sources of light and operation equipment the sensitivity of all isolates to antibiotic were done , which exhibited complete sensitivity to Ciprofloxacin , Ceftraixon, Tobromycin and Gentamysin ,while they were complete resist to Amoxcillin , Tetracyclin , Nitrofurantion , Clindamycin C
... Show More