Rheumatoid arthritis is a worldwide inflammatory chronic autoimmune disease with varying severity. Due to no definitive cure for this disease, current therapies aim to decrease the pain and slow further damage. The interleukin (IL)‐36 cytokine was little known for its role in rheumatoid arthritis; this research aimed to evaluate the serum IL36 levels in RA patients compared to healthy controls. This study included 80 patients with rheumatoid arthritis registered at the Rheumatology Clinic in Baghdad teaching hospital. The patients were divided into three groups based on the treatments received. Group 1 included patients treated with biological therapy (etanercept, adalimumab), Group2 patients with non-biological treatment (methotrexate hydroxychloroquine and prednisone), Group3 patients without any treatment and compared with Group 4 healthy control group. Patients is all groups were assessed for their serum IL-36 concentration; the mean IL-36 serum level was significantly higher in three groups of RA patients which include the group of patients treated with biological therapy (Enbrel (etanercept) and Humira (adalimumab) means were (1132.41±475.2,), and group of non-biological therapy patients (Methotrexate hydroxychloroquine and prednisone) (G2) means was 553.95±307, than patients' group without any treatment (G3) means was 1044.01±575.3 compared to the control (341.38±113.1) p-value> 0.00001. The patient's age and BMI were not significantly different between three groups of patient Rheumatoid arthritis. Parameters for this disease also were tested which include RF, CRP, ESR, anti-CCP and disease activity score-28 (DAS 28), there were significant differences when compared with the control group. IL-36 serum level was significantly higher in three groups of rheumatoid arthritis than those in controls, and when compared between three patients groups there was less concentration in the non-biological therapy treatment group means was 553.95±307 than in the rest of the patient groups,biology tratment, without any treatment, means were (1132.41±475.2, 1044.01±575.3) respectively. This study found that Rheumatoid arthritis patients' serum IL36 levels increased, where a non-biologic therapies reduced this cytokine. IL-36's pathogenic involvement in Rheumatoid arthritis needs more study. Keywords: Rheumatoid arthritis, IL-36, IL-1,C‐reactive protein, RF, ESR and anti-CCP.
In this present paper, an experimental study of some plasma characteristics in dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) system using several variables, such as different frequencies and using two different electrodes metals(aluminium (Al) and copper (Cu)), is represented. The discharge plasma was produced by an AC power supply source of 6 and 7 kHz frequencies for the nitrogen gas spectrum and for two different electrodes metals(Al and Cu). Optical emission spectrometer was used to study plasma properties (such as electron temperature ( ), electron number density ( ), Debye length ( ), and plasma frequency ( )). In addition, images were analysed for the plasma emission intensity at atmospheric air pressure.
Abstract Background Infections with helminths are associated with deficient sanitary facilities, unsafe human waste disposal, inadequate and lack of safe drinking water, and low socioeconomic status. Objective To determine the prevalence of some gastrointestinal helminths among Iraqi people, and association of infections with age, sex, and region in Iraq. Method This study is retrospective, including reported cases of infections using an available surveillance database from January 2013 to December 2013 of all provinces of Iraq by the Ministry of Health. Result The overall prevalence of gastrointestinal helminthiasis was 1.39%. Enterobius vermicularis found to be the predominant helminth parasite. No significant (P < 0.05) rel
... Show MoreHeat is one of the most energy forms emitted to atmosphere by industrial processes. Water is considered to be the best material to reduce heat energy since its available in nature in abundance and has the ability to absorb heat efficiently. Cooling towers are ideal alternatives to re-cool hot water instead of throwing it especially in places that lack natural water resources or when there are environmental precautions because water with high temperature would be harmful to the ecosystem when it recycled to natural resources such as rivers and lakes. Also, cooling towers considered economically feasible when using west water. This paper interests with hydraulic characteristics of a counter flow wet cooling tower which was investigated experi
... Show MoreLeishmaniasis is a group of parasitic diseases caused by Leishmania spp., an endemic infectious agent in developing countries, including Iraq. Diagnosis of cutaneous lesion by stained smears, serology or histopathology are inaccurate and unable to detect the species of Leishmania. Here, two molecular typing methods were examined to identify the promastigotes of suspected cutaneous leishmaniasis samples, on a species level. The first was species-specific B6-PCR and the second was ITS1-PCR followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) using restriction enzyme HaeIII. DNA was extracted from in vitro promastigote culture followed by amplification of kDNA by B6 or amplification and digestion of LITSR/L
... Show MoreThe present work deals with the performance of screw piles constructed in gypseous soil of medium relative density; such piles are extensively used in piles foundations supported structures subjected to axial forces. The carrying capacity and settlement of a single screw pile model of several diameters (20, 30, and 40) mm inserted in gypseous soil is investigated in the present study. The gypsum content of soil used in tests was 40%. The bedding soil used in tests was prepared by raining technique with a relative density of 40%. A physical model was manufactured to demonstrate the tests in the laboratory. The model of screw pile has been manufactured of steel with a total length of 50
Abstract
Documentary credits are considered successful means to reduce imports, especially unnecessary imports that lead to the outflow of foreign currency from the country. However, due to the backwardness of the banking methods, the reintroduction of documentary credits after 2003 did not effectively contribute to reducing import rates. This has had a negative impact on the Iraqi economy and made it vulnerable to external markets. Documentary credits are also considered the best way to ensure payment in international trade, providing independent credit support and sufficient security for exporters and importers against commerci
... Show MoreUnderstanding of in-situ stress profiles and orientations plays a vital role in designing a successful hydraulic fracturing treatment. This paper is an attempet to examine the effect of lithology and in situ stress on geometery of hydraulic fractures. A hydraulic fracturing design simulator software called FracproPT with various capabilities for designing most of hydraulic fracture was used for simulate and optimize the hydraulic fracturing. For studying purpose, three different cases of stress gradient contrast between different formations are considered in this study (0.4, 0.5 and 0.75 psi/ft). The results obtained from the simulator showed that lithologies surrounding the pay zone have an effect on the fracture
... Show MoreThis research aims to investigate and improve multi-user free space optic systems (FSO) based on a hybrid subcarrier multiplexing spectral amplitude coding-optical code division multiple access (SCM-SAC-OCDMA) technique using MS code with a direct decoding technique. The performance is observed under different weather conditions including clear, rain, and haze conditions. The investigation includes analyzing the proposed system mathematically using MATLAB and OptiSystem software. The simulation is carried out using a laser diode. Furthermore, the performances of the MS code in terms of angles of bit rate, beam divergence and noise are evaluated based on bit error rate (BER), received