Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), is an autoimmune, and inflammatory disease that is closely related to the destruction of cartilage and bone. DC-SIGN are important types of C-type lectin receptors (CLRs), expressed on dendritic cells and macrophages, and have a central role in regulating innate and adaptive immunity, function as pattern recognition receptors, and as cell adhesion molecules. Recent evidence has demonstrated that DC-SIGN is involved in the pathophysiological of chronic inflammation, so DC-SIGN has been linked to several autoimmune and may play an essential indicator in the pathogenesis and progression of RA. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to determine the serum level of DC-SIGN in RA patients, as well as the level of DC-SIGN based on demographic characteristics. Fifty Iraqi RA patients were enrolled in the study, and a control sample of 38 healthy individuals (ascertain by laboratory and clinical tests) were included and matched by gender, age, and ethnicity with the patients. The DC-SIGN concentration was calculated in the patients’ serum and compared to control using the ELISA assay and the results revealed significantly increased serum level of DC-SIGN (12.047 ± 1.114 vs. 6.863 ± 0.806 ng/ml) was recorded in RA patients compared to controls. When correlating results, it was shown that the concentration of DC-SIGN in the serum did not record a significant difference between gender and age, as well as the blood groups. To determine the impact of the therapeutic status in RA patients on the DC-SIGN level, it was found that the concentration of DC-SIGN level was higher in untreated patients compared to treated patients. Regarding viral infection, when an investigation was conducted in RA patients infected with SARS-CoV-2, the serum level of DC-SIGN in RA patients with COVID-19 showed no change in concentrations compared to uninfected RA patients.
Background: fixed orthodontic appliances deleterious influence on gingival health is well documented. Association between weight status and gingival health is presented in many studies. This study aimed to evaluate how early the impact of fixed orthodontic therapy on patients` gingival health, and if there are differences of that impact among different weight status groups. Materials and Methods: Sample consisted of 54 patients (25 males, 29 females; age limits are 16 -18 years) going under the course of treatment with fixed orthodontic appliance. Patients were categorized according to their Body Mass Index (BMI) into 3 weight status groups considering WHO charts in 2007 (underweight, normal weight, overweight and obese), then determinat
... Show MoreThe reticuloendothelial system (RES) play an important role in immunity against bacterial infection and Klebsiella pneumoniae one of the most common causes of hospital-acquired infections. Dextran70 (D70), a polysaccharide, may alter functions of this system through changing many biological activities in the tissues.
The mutagenic effect of some crucifers widely consumed Lepiduim sativum (Garden cress) and Arugula (Eruca sativa) was studied in comparison to carrot (Daucus carota), using bacterial mutagenic system composed of three bacterial isolates; (Bacillus spp)G3 (Arthrobacter spp)G12, and (Brevibacterium spp)G27 ,. Treatment of isolates with plant extracts led to reduction in survival fraction (Sx)at different levels except that Aurgula extract did not show any inhibitory effect in isolates G12 and G27. Crucifers extracts induced streptomycin resistant mutants in G12 at higher level than G3 , but not in G27. No resistance to rifimpacin was detected in all isolates.
This research aimed to predict the permanent deformation (rutting) in conventional and rubberized asphalt mixes under repeated load conditions using the Finite Element Method (FEM). A three-dimensional (3D) model was developed to simulate the Wheel Track Testing (WTT) loading. The study was conducted using the Abaqus/Standard finite element software. The pavement slab was simulated using a nonlinear creep (time-hardening) model at 40°C. The responses of the viscoplastic model under the influence of the trapezoidal amplitude of moving wheel loadings were determined for different speeds and numbers of cycles. The results indicated that a wheel speed increase from 0.5Km/h to 1.0Km/h decreased the rut depth by about 22% and 24% in conv
... Show MoreOBJECTIVE: To determine the preferred specialties of graduated medical doctors working in Basra, and determine the factors behind their preferences. METHODS: The study was conducted in 38 primary health care centres and seven hospitals in Basra from January-June 2014. A cross-sectional study was adopted with the use of a self-administered questionnaire form. Two hundred ninety six graduated doctors were agreed to participate. Chisquare test and logistic regression were used to test the association between deciding a future speciality and influencing factors. RESULTS: The most preferred specialties were radiology and ultrasound, gynaecology and obstetrics, surgery, internal medicine, dermatology and paediatrics. Clinical specialties were sta
... Show MoreBackground: Osteoporosis (OP) is a systemic disease characterized by low bone mass and micro architectural deterioration of bone tissue, resulting in an increased risk of fractures and has touched rampant proportions. Osteocalcin, one of the osteoblast-specific proteins, showed that its functions as a hormone improves glucose metabolism and reduces fat mass ratio. This study is aimed to estimate the osteocalcin and glucose level in blood serum of osteoporotic postmenopausal Women with and without Type 2 Diabetes.Materials and methods: 60 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis divided into two groups depending on with or without T2DM, 30 patients for each. Serum samples of 30 healthy postmenopausal women were collected as control group. Ost
... Show MoreWe studied in this research how to find a method of estimating the quantity (Kinetically) of three kinds of Insecticide and their mixture, which are used in agriculture. The extracted insecticide from the polluted samples with these insect from air, soil, and the leaves of trees, have be used into the reaction with H2O2 and benzedine. The kinetic study of this reaction was formed in basic medium,( pH= 8.6), using UV. Spectra at (?= 420nm). The study showed that the reaction is the first order, and the speed of the reaction was used to estimate the concentration of insecticide in solution and mixture. The experiments of this study indicated that this method has the speed and efficiency for quantitatively estimating these
... Show MoreThe activity of the aqueous extract of Olea europaea was tested at concentrations of 8, 15 or 20 mg/kg of body weight on lipid profile in twenty female local rabbits. These animals were randomly divided into four groups (five animals in each group). Three groups were dosed orally with the concentrations mentioned above, while the last was administered with distilled water and considered as a control group. These animals were orally dosed by aqueous extract using a micropipette for 30 days. The results showed that there was a significant (P<0.05) decrease in cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoprotein (LDL-cholesterol), very low density lipoprotein (VLDL-cholesterol) concentrations and atherosclerosis index means for the three trea
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