Objective : Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a common neurological disease deeply linked with the immune-inflammatory disorders whereas the term (multiple) mostly refers to the multi-focal zones of Inflammation caused by lymphocytes and macrophages infiltration besides oligodendrocytes death. Accordingly , the dysfunctional immune system able to damage myelin ( a pivotal component of the central nervous system ) which responsible for communication among neurons. The aim of the present study is to innovate a biochemical relationship between MS and thyroid hormones (THs) by highlighting immunological responses and also to examine the action of Interferon beta (IFNβ) drug on thyroid hormone (THs) and thyroid stimulation hormone (TSH). Materials and methods: Sixty (60) Iraqi women in the age ranged (36-43) years were enrolled in the present study, (30) of them were MS patients and the other (30) were healthy. Anyway, the protocol of the study involved four groups: G1 is a healthy control group, G2 involved untreated MS patients, G3 included the MS patients treated with IFNβ for (6) weeks and G4 composed of the same patients treated with IFNβ for (12) weeks. THs (T4 and T3) and TSH levels were determined in sera of all groups. Results: Data of the present study have reported that T4 level was highly significant increase in sera of G2 compared with G1 while it was significant and highly significant decreased in G3 and G4 respectively compared with G2, the difference between G4 and G1 and also between G4 and G3 was significant. T3 level was highly significant increase in sera of G2 compared with G1 but it was highly significant decreased in G3 and G4 compared with G2, the difference between G4 and G1 was non-significant while the difference between G4 and G3 was significant. Conversely, TSH level was highly significant decreased in G2 compared with G1 but it was highly significant increase in G3 and G4 compared with G2, the difference between G4 and G1 and also between G4 and G3 was highly significant. Conclusions : Interestingly , the present study is the first in Iraq reporting that MS may be a key risk factor for hyperthyroidism and also the first suggesting that IFNβ regulates THs biosynthesis via novel immuno-neuro-enzymological mechanisms regarding thyroid peroxidase (TPO) and iodothyronine deiodinase 1 (D1), meanwhile the present study indicates that IFNβ has an indirect antioxidant activity. Moreover, the present study provides a definite clarification for the changed NF kappa B level in MS. Remarkably, the present study reveals that IFNβ is more potent on T3 than T4 while it has less action on TSH.
The objectives of the study were to identify the incidence rate and characteristics of adverse drug events (ADEs) in nursing homes (NHs) using the ADE trigger tool and to evaluate the relationships between resident and facility work system factors and incidence of ADEs using the System Engineering Initiative for Patient Safety (SEIPS) model. The study used 2 observational quantitative methods, retrospective resident chart extraction, and surveys. The participating staff included Directors of nursing, registered nurses, certified nurse assistants (CNAs). Data were collected from fall 2016 to spring 2017 from 11 NHs in 9 cities in Iowa. Binary logistic regression with generalized estimated equations was used to measure the association
... Show More
(27)
(29)
(5)
(6)
Objective Thalassemic patients present with multiple immune abnormalities that may predispose them to oral Candida, however this has not been investigated. The aim of this study was to assess oral candidal colonization in a group of patients with β-thalassemia major both qualitatively and quantitatively. Study design The oral mycologic flora of 50 β-thalassemia major patients and 50 age- and sex-matched control subjects was assessed using the concentrated oral rinse technique. Candida species were identified using the germ tube test and the Vitek yeast identification system. Results Oral Candida was isolated from 37 patients (74%) and 28 healthy subjects (56%; P = .04). The mean candidal count was significantly higher in thalassemic patie
... Show More
(9)
(8)
This study concerns the removal of a trihydrate antibiotic (Amoxicillin) from synthetically contaminated water by adsorption on modified bentonite. The bentonite was modified using hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (HTAB), which turned it from a hydrophilic to a hydrophobic material. The effects of different parameters were studied in batch experiments. These parameters were contact time, solution pH, agitation speed, initial concentration (C0) of the contaminant, and adsorbent dosage. Maximum removal of amoxicillin (93 %) was achieved at contact time = 240 min, pH = 10, agitation speed = 200 rpm, initial concentration = 30 ppm, and adsorbent dosage = 3 g bentonite per 1L of pollutant solution. The characterization of the adsorbent, modi
... Show More
(16)
(18)
To investigate the efficacy of polyether‐ether‐ketone (PEEK) wire as a fixed orthodontic retainer, by comparing its performance to other retainer wires and optimizing its adhesion to composite bonding materials.
Retainer wires of 15 mm segments were used, PEEK wires were prepared in cylindrical form with 0.8 mm diameter, and had two surface treatments namely air‐abrasion and conditioning with adhesive system. Three different metallic retainer wires were used for comparison and three tests were performed; two tests measured debonding force and associated wire deflec
(20)
(17)
(3)
(4)
Understanding, promoting, and teaching media literacy is an important societal challenge. STEM educators are increasingly looking to incorporate 21st century skills such as media literacy into core subject education. In this paper we investigate how undergraduate Computer Science (CS) students can learn media literacy as a by-product of collaborative video tutorial production. The paper presents a study of 34 third-year CS undergraduates who, as part of their learning, were each asked to produce three video tutorials on Raspberry Pi programming, using a collaborative video production tool for mobile phones (Bootlegger). We provide results of both quantitative and qualitative analysis of the production process and resulting video tutorials,
... Show More
(19)
(16)
Abstract This study aims to discover the ways that adopted by extremism to expand to new geographical areas, in order to spread out its ideology, which led to create new geo-strategic zone, aims to recognize ISIS’s strategy to move towards new geographic locations and the motivations behind these transformations, the study also analyses all aspects of this strategy, the group’s relationship with other terrorist groups in these areas and limits of the competition between them. The study also highlights the factors that have led ISIS to move to new geographical areas and its techniques to control them.
The study aimed to identify the treatment of the press image of the Great Return Marches in the French international news agency AFP by knowing the most important issues, their direction and the degree of interest in them. The study belongs to the descriptive research, and used the survey method, within the context of the content analysis method, and the researcher relied on the content analysis form tool and the interview tool to collect data. The study population is represented in the photos published by the French News Agency about the Great Return Marches during the period (end of March / 2018 until the end of November / 2019. The researcher chose an intentional sample using the Complete Census method. The study material represented
... Show More
Focusing of Gaussian laser beam through nonlinear media can induce spatial self- phase modulation which forms a far field intensity pattern of concentric rings. The nonlinear refractive index change of material depends on the number of pattern rings. In this paper, a formation of tunable nonlinear refractive index change of hybrid functionalized carbon nanotubes/silver nanoparticles acetone suspensions (F-MWCNTs/Ag-NPs) at weight mixing ratio of 1:3 and volume fraction of 6x10-6 , 9x10-6 , and 18x10-6 using laser beam at wavelength of 473nm was investigated experimentally. The results showed that tunable nonlinear refractive indices were obtained and increasing of incident laser power density led to increase the nonlinear refractive inde
... Show More