Background: Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) is an inflammatory, systemic rheumatic condition that mostly affects the axial skeleton. Tenascin-C (TN-C) is a hexameric glycoprotein of considerable size, upregulated in many inflammatory conditions, while Interleukin-17 (IL-17) a cytokine that plays an important role in SpA symptoms. Objective: to investigate the upregulation between the serum levels of TN-C and IL-17 in Iraqi axSpA patients and the disease characteristics. Patients and Methods: Seventy-four axSpA patients and 28 matched controls were studied. Fifty-four patients received a tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi) and 20 did not. Serum TN-C and IL-17 concentrations were determined using the ELISA technique. The Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) was assessed. For statistical tests, Chi Square, Mann Whitney, Independent Samples T, and Pearson's correlation tests are used. Results: Patients mean age was 35.6±0.9 years, 65 males and 9 females, and disease duration was 5.18±0.6 years. 47.4% were smokers, 47% had inflammatory low back pain, and HLA-B27 was present in 91%. BASDAI mean was 6.1±0.4 in non-TNFi and 2.6±0.3 in those on TNFi. The serum TN-C concentration was significantly increased in patients, especially those on non-TNFi (79±9.6 pg/mL) compared to those on TNFi (69.1±3.2 pg/mL) and control (53±3.9 pg/mL) (p=0.003). Serum IL-17 was significantly elevated in those receiving TNFi (877.9±257 pg/mL) compared to non-TNFi (487.2±234 pg/mL) and control (182.4±36.6 pg/mL) (p=0.033). The TN-C significantly correlated with erythrocyte sedimentation rate (r=0.27, p=0.02) and with hemoglobin (Hb) concentration (r=0.26, p=0.02). TN-C and IL-17 were non-significantly related (r=0.14, p=0.2). Conclusions: axSpA Patients demonstrated high levels of serum TN-C, particularly in those not receiving TNFi, and high IL-17 levels in those receiving TNFi, suggesting that there is an association with tissue injury from the disease and stimulation of immunological and resident tissue cells. Patients who had not received TNFi showed significantly higher disease activity than others.
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 MoreBackground: To evaluate the ISO depth of cure of bulkfill composites and depth of cure which determined by Vickers microhardness test. Materials and Methods: Bulkfill resin composite specimens (n=150) were prepared of three bulkfill composite materials (TetricEvo Ceram, Quixfil and SDR) and light cured by Flash max p3 for 3, 10, 20 seconds and by wood pecker for 10, 20 seconds respectively, a mold was filled with one of the three bulkfill composites and light cured. The specimens removed from the mold and scraped by plastic spatula and the remaining length (absolute length) was measured which represent the ISO depth of cure. After that the specimens were returned into the mold and a microhardness indentation device applied on the specimen
... Show MoreThis paper presents a brief study undertaken for improving the performance of information and communication management of construction projects through investing in information and communication technologies (ICT). The work aims at first to investigate and diagnose the problems, challenges, weaknesses, and inefficiencies related to information and communication management in projects in the construction industry of Iraq. Studying the diagnosed matters and the different solutions of ICT to improve project management performance is following the investigation process. The research presents a technological system suggested to process a lot of the diagnosed problems, challenges, weakness, and inefficiencies of the construction projects and t
... Show MoreSeasonal variations of the species composition and abundance of Cladocera were studied in two stations at the end of the Tigris River and one station at the confluence of the Tigris with Euphrates area, at the beginning of the Shatt Al-Arab River in Al-Qurnah North of Basrah Province, from October 2015 to August 2016. Samples of zooplankton were collected by plankton net 100-µm. mesh size. The population density of Cladocera ranged between 1 Ind /m³ during summer and 211 Ind./m³ during winter at station 1 (Al-Jewaber Bridge). A total of 16 species of Cladocera belonging to 12 genera were recorded in the study. The average density of Cladocera ranged from 23.2 ind./m3 at Station 2 (Hamayon Bridge) to 53.7 Ind./m3
... Show MoreIn this article, new Schiff base ligand LH-prepared Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II), Cd(II), Hg(II), Pd(II), and Pt(II) materials were analyzed using spectroscopy (1 Metal: 2 LH). The ligand was identified using techniques such as FTIR, UV-vis, 1H-13C-NMR, and mass spectra, and their complexes were identified using CHN microanalysis, UV-vis and FTIR spectral studies, atomic absorption, chloride content, molar conductivity measurements, and magnetic susceptibility. According to the measurements, the ligand was bound to the divalent metal ions as a bidentate through oxygen and nitrogen atoms. The complexes that were created had microbicide activity against two different bacterial species and one type of fungus. DPPH techniques were bei
... Show MoreThis paper was aimed to evaluate the polyurethane (PU) and polyurethane/polyvinyl chloride (90 wt. % / 10 wt. %) as organic coating of carbon steel substrate against marine environment (3.5 wt.% NaCl aqueous solution) as a severe corrosion environment . The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and fitting impedance data by ZsimpWin 3.22 software were used to estimate the physical barrier of the samples for different exposure times. Different equivalent electrical circuits were proposed for the physical barrier at different immersion times to get appropriate fitting .Both PU and PU/PVC coatings showed excellent corrosion protection ability for steel .The PU/PVC coating showed better protection and stability than PU coating against
... Show MoreThe research aimed to compare the performance of the commercial and the Islamic banks listed in the Palestinian's Stock Exchange .To achieve the objectives of the study we selected all the commercial and the Islamic banks listed in the Palestinian Stock Exchange to obtain the necessary data for the analysis process during the period of (2009-2013) .the comparison based on the performance indicators ( liquidity rate, profitability rate ,the activity rate and the market rate).
a statistical method was used to analyze the date to find the performance differences between the commercial banks,
... Show MoreSeparation of Trigonelline, the major alkaloid in fenugreek seeds, is difficult because the extract of these seeds usually contains Trigonelline, choline, mucilage, and steroidal saponins, in addition to some other substances. This study amis to isolate the quaternary ammonium alkaloid (Trigonelline) and choline from fenugreek seeds (Trigonella-foenum graecum L.) which have similar physiochemical properties by modifying of the classical method. Seeds were defatted and then extracted with methanol. The presence of alkaloids was detected by using Mayer's and Dragendorff's reagents. In this work, trigonilline was isolated with traces of choline by subsequent processes of purification using analytical and preparative TLC techniques.
... Show MoreThe aim of this work is to learn the relationship of the stability of (β) emitter isobars with their shape for some isobaric elements with even mass number (A=152 - 162). To reach this goal firstly the most stable isobar have been determined by plotting mass parabola (plotting the binding energy (B.E) as a function of the atomic number (Z)) for each isobaric family. Then three-dimensional representation graphics for each nucleus in these isobaric families have been plotted to illustrate the deformation in the shape of a nucleus. These three-dimensional representation graphics prepared by calculating the values of semi-axis minor (a), major (b) and (c) ellipsoid axis’s. Our results show that the shape of nuclides which is represented the
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