Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a heterogeneous autoimmune disease characterized by elevated levels of circulating anti-nuclear autoantibodies and interferon-alpha (INFs-α). Interferon regulatory factor-5 (IRF5) plays an important role in the induction of type I interferon and pro-inflammatory cytokines, and participates in the SLE pathogenesis. This study aimed to investigate the role of IRF5 gene expression levels in a sample of SLE Iraqi patients and its correlation with disease activity, and to identify its diagnostic ability as a biomarker reflecting disease activity. Blood samples were taken from 45 participants diagnosed with SLE cases classified according to the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria. They were scored via the SLE disease activity index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K) to assess the disease activity and according to it, they were subdivided into “SLE (I) group” (SLEDAI-2k ≤5), and “SLE (II) group” (SLEDAI-2k >5), as well as age and gender matched healthy control group. RNA was isolated from whole blood samples and gene expression levels of IRF5 were determined using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Our results revealed that the expression levels of the IRF5 gene were significantly increased in SLE (I) and SLE (II) patient groups compared with the control group (p<0.05, and p<0.01) respectively, as well as higher in SLE (II) group than the SLE (I) group (p<0.01). Moreover, the expression levels of IRF5 were found to be related positively and significantly to the disease activity index in both SLE patient groups. The analysis of receiver operator curves (ROC) for gene expression levels of IRF5 in SLE (II) group showed a perfect accuracy to distinguish between SLE patients and healthy individuals (AUC=0.989, sensitivity= 95.5%, and specificity= 88.0%). However, in SLE (I) group showed a good accuracy to discriminate between SLE patients and healthy individuals. (AUC=0.769, sensitivity= 69.6%, and specificity= 80.0%). The correlation between gene expression levels of IRF5 with other parameters revealed that a significant positive correlation was found with uric acid and ALP in SLE (I) group, while in SLE (II) group with urea, creatinine, and uric acid. Our conclusion suggests that the up-regulation of IRF5 gene expression levels correlates positively with disease activity in SLE patients reflecting the possibility of using it as an immunological biomarker for diagnosis, and monitoring the disease flare.
In the present work, the behavior of thick-walled cylinder of elasto-plastic material (polymeric material) has been studied analytically. The study is based on modified Von-Mises yield criterion (for non metallic material). The equations of stress distribution are obtained for the cylinder under general cases of elastic expansion, plastic initiation and elastic-plastic expansion.
A computer program is developed for evaluating the stress distribution. The solution is carried out for worst boundary conditions when the cylinder is subjected to the combination of pressure load, inertia load, and temperature gradient.
The results are presente
... Show MoreIn this paper,the homtopy perturbation method (HPM) was applied to obtain the approximate solutions of the fractional order integro-differential equations . The fractional order derivatives and fractional order integral are described in the Caputo and Riemann-Liouville sense respectively. We can easily obtain the solution from convergent the infinite series of HPM . A theorem for convergence and error estimates of the HPM for solving fractional order integro-differential equations was given. Moreover, numerical results show that our theoretical analysis are accurate and the HPM can be considered as a powerful method for solving fractional order integro-diffrential equations.
... Show MoreThis study examines the validity of e-poetry as an acceptable literary genre. The
thematic, stylistic and esthetic features of a selected number of e-poems produced by
poetry generators are analyzed for this purpose. The e-poems are then compared with a
number of works written by Dada poets in order to establish the literary merit of the
former.
In this study, we used Bayesian method to estimate scale parameter for the normal distribution. By considering three different prior distributions such as the square root inverted gamma (SRIG) distribution and the non-informative prior distribution and the natural conjugate family of priors. The Bayesian estimation based on squared error loss function, and compared it with the classical estimation methods to estimate the scale parameter for the normal distribution, such as the maximum likelihood estimation and th
... Show MoreNanocrystal-ZnS-loaded graphene was synthesized by a facile co-precipitation route. The Graphene was affected on the characterization of ZnS which has been investigated. XRD results reveal that ZnS has a cubic system while the hexagonal structure has been observed by loading graphene during preparation ZnS. D.c-conductivity proves that ZnS and ZnS/Gr have semiconductor behavior. The sensing properties of ZnS/Gr against NO2 gas were investigated as a function of operating temperature and time under optimal condition. The sensitivity, response time and recovery time were calculated with different operating temperatures (100, 150, 200)oC.
Total Electron Content measurements derived from Athens station ionograms (ITEC),
located near Iraq, during the ascending phase of solar cycle 24 (July 2009- April 2010),
according to availability of data, are compared with the latest version of the International
Reference Ionosphere model, IRI-2012 (IRI TEC), using two options (NeQuick, IRI01-
Corr) for topside electron density.
The results obtained from both (ITEC and IRI TEC) techniques were similar, where
correlation coefficients between them are very high. Generally, the IRI predictions
overestimate the ITEC values.
The aim of this research work is to evaluate the use of 980 nm diode laser in clotting the blood
in the bone socket after tooth extraction. The objective is to prevent possible clot dislodgement which is
a defect that may lead to possible infection. A number of rabbits were irradiated using 980nm CW mode
diode laser, 0.86W power output for 9s and 15s exposure time. The irradiated groups were studied
histopathologically in comparison with a control group. Results showed that laser photothermal
coagulation was of benefit in minimizing the possibility of the incidence of postoperative complications.
The formation of the clot reduces the possibility of bleeding and infection.
The aim of this study is to the evaluation of the general hydrogeology condition of the Al-Khassa sub-basin area. Pumping test has been done for five wells in the area. The hydrogeological characteristics (transmissivity, hydraulic conductivity and storage coefficient) were determined in the area by input data which obtained from the pumping test process into the (AquiferWin32, Version 5) software program. The data were analyzed using Copper-Jacob, Theis and Hantuosh methods for pumping, the values of hydraulic characteristics range from: transmissivity (0.98 to 19.57) m²/day in (W7-W9-W10-W12) sites and 416 m²/day in W1, hydraulic conductivity (0.051 to 0.305) m/day in (W7-W9-W10-W12) sites and 5.012 m/day in W1, storage coefficie
... Show MoreAbstract
The extremes effects in parameters readings which are BOD (Biological Oxygen Demands) and DO(Dissolved Oxygen) can caused error estimating of the model’s parameters which used to determine the ratio of de oxygenation and re oxygenation of the dissolved oxygen(DO),then that will caused launch big amounts of the sewage pollution water to the rivers and it’s turn is effect in negative form on the ecosystem life and the different types of the water wealth.
As result of what mention before this research came to employees Streeter-Phleps model parameters estimation which are (Kd,Kr) the de oxygenation and re oxygenation ratios on respect
... Show MoreShumblan (SH) is one of the most undesirable aquatic plants widespread in the irrigation channels and water bodies. This work focuses on boosting the biogas potential of shumblan by co-digesting it with other types of wastes without employing any chemical or thermal pretreatments as done in previous studies. A maximum biogas recovery of 378 ml/g VS was reached using shumblan with cow manure as inoculum in a ratio of 1:1. The methane content of the biogas was 55%. Based on volatile solid (VS) and C/N ratios, biogas productions of 518, 434, and 580 ml/g VS were obtained when the shumblan was co-digested with food wastes (SH:F), paper wastes (SH:P), and green wastes (SH:G) respectively. No significant changes of methane contents were observ
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