Cytokines are signaling molecules between inflammatory cells that play a significant role in the pathogenesis of a disease. Among these cytokines are interleukins (ILs) 17A and 33, and accordingly, the current case-control study sought to investigate the role of each of the two cytokines in the risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS). Sixty-eight relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) Iraqi patients and twenty healthy individuals (control group) were enrolled. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits were used to determine serum levels of IL-17A and IL-33. Results revealed that IL-17A and IL-33 levels were significantly higher in MS patients than in controls (14.1 ± 4.5 vs. 7.5 ± 3.8 pg/mL; p < 0.001 and 65.3 ± 16.3 vs. 49.3 ± 20.0 pg/mL; p < 0.001, respectively). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis demonstrated that IL-17A was a very good predictor of MS (area under curve [AUC] = 0.869; 95% CI = 0.779 - 0.960; p < 0.001; cut-off value = 10.2 pg/mL; sensitivity = 80.8%; specificity = 75.0%). A similar prediction was presented by IL-33, but the AUC value was lower (AUC = 0.762; 95% CI = 0.63 - 0.89; p < 0.001; cut-off value = 56.4 pg/mL; sensitivity = 70.6%; specificity = 70.0%). Multinomial logistic regression analysis confirmed the significance of IL-17A and IL-33 in MS risk, and under three models of analysis, the estimated odds ratios for IL-17A (1.50, 1.49 and 1.50, respectively) and IL-33 (1.05, 1.05 and 1.06) were above 1.0. Patients stratified by gender (male and female), expanded disability status scale (EDSS: < 3 and ≥ 3) or medication (pre- and post-medication) showed no significant differences in serum levels of IL-17A and IL-33 for each stratum. However, with regard to response to medication, it was found that responding patients showed significantly higher levels of IL-33 than non-responders (70.9 ± 12.2 vs. 57.2 ± 18.2 pg/mL; p = 0.018). This difference was not observed when considering IL-17A. Pearson correlation analysis between IL-17A and IL-33 revealed that both cytokines were not significantly correlated. In conclusion, the study indicated that IL-17A and IL-33 were up-regulated in serum of MS patients, and this up-regulation was not influenced by age, gender, EDSS or medication status, but the elevated level of IL-33 was more pronounced in patients who responded to medication.
Abstract
Objective(s): To evaluate blended learning in nursing education at the Middle Region in Iraq.
Methodology: A descriptive study, using evaluation approach, is conducted to evaluate blended learning in nursing education in Middle Region in Iraq from September 26th, 2021 to March 22nd, 2022. The study is carried out at two Colleges of Nursing at the University of Baghdad and University of Tikrit in Iraq. A convenient, non-probability, sample of (60) undergraduate nursing students is selected. The sample is comprised of (30) student from each college of nursing, Self-report questionnaire is constructed from the literature, for e
... Show MoreObjective(s): To assess women’s knowledge about health promotion after a cesarean delivery and to determine the association between women’s knowledge and their demographic data of age, level of education, and monthly income.
Methodology: A descriptive design is carried out to assess women’s knowledge about health promotion after cesarean delivery at Maternity and Pediatric Hospital in Al-Samawa City. This study starts from 26th of September 2020 up to 16th March 2021. Sample of (100) woman who are at reproductive age, pregnant (prime or multipara) who have planned to have birth by elective cesarean section or had previous elective caesarian section without medical indication or women who had cesarean section with medical indicat
For cleaner air and unpolluted continue assessment study air pollution the city of
Baghdad by measuring the concentrations of air pollutants, which included TSP, Pb, where
the adoption of three stations (Andalus Square, Jadiriya, Allawi) are distributed in the city of
Baghdad in order to compare the concentrations of these pollutants with previous studies.
Study pointed out that the city's air contaminant, especially in minutes outstanding after
deducting the amount of atmospheric dust thick mechanism city this year where the highest
concentration of minutes outstanding (9895) micrograms / m 3 at the station Alawi and lower
concentration of 157 micrograms / m 3 at the station Alawi and this was higher than the
det
The present study is carried out to identify the algae in the groundwater of the three areas of Tikrit city, including (the center of Tikrit , the region of AL-Jazira , Awainat village) by nine wells, a depths ranged between 9 meter at well 8 and 110 meter at wells 3 and 5 . And examined the environmental characteristics of physical, chemical and biological factors during the study period from September 2009 to June 2010. It is obtained that wells in the study area is lower alkalinity, average it ranged (6.448-7.418). It was noted that the values of the dissolved oxygen are few and almost non-existent in some cases it ranged between (6.5-6.3)mg/l , analysis of biological oxygen demand refers to wells water (clean- very clean) average
... Show Moreantimicrobial solutions against Coliforms, E. coli O157: H7, yeasts and molds were evaluated by agar well diffusion method. Chitosan (CH) exhibited best antimicrobial activity against the treated microorganisms at concentration of (5%) with contact time for 6hrs at refrigeration temperature (4ÚC), zones of inhibition for (GA) and (CH) for each solution alone ranging from (0 to 10 mm), chitosan solution (CH) exhibited both antibacterial and antifungal activities, Gum Arabic washing solution showed significant antibacterial activity (P < 0.05) against the microorganisms at concentration (15%), without inhibitory effect against E. coli O157:H7 at concentration (10%), in the current study the results confirmed that (15%) (w/v) of GA and 5%
... Show MoreThe present research was carried out to assess the toxic effect of oral administration of the aqueous extract of Nerium oleander leaves and flowers daily at doses of (25) mg/kg body weight for four weeks in mice. The toxicity of this plant parts was determined after two and four weeks by measuring the parameters of cytogenetic (mitotic index, micronucleus %), and serum levels of the hematological (RBC, Hb, WBC) and biochemical (GOT, GPT, ALT, AST) indexes in comparison with that of the control (normal saline), also clinical signs were determined. The results showed a significant decrease in mitotic index while an obvious raise was seen in micronucleus percentage in comparison with that of the control after the two periods of admini
... Show MoreBackground: Even the wide use of dental implants, still there is a proportion of implants are failed due to infection. Much considerable attention has been paid to modify the implant surface. Coating of dental implant with a biocomposite material of suitable properties can improve osseointegration. And this is the main concern of this study. The aim of present study was to evaluate the use of a biocomposite coating of dental implant with (ceramic nano Al2O3 and metalic AgNo3) on the bond strength at bone – implant interface and tissue reaction. Materials and methods: A total number of forty-eight screws, CpTi dental implant used in this study. Half of these screws were coated with a biocomposite material of nano (Al2O3and AgNo3), thi
... Show MoreMany critics suggest that Beckett’s early plays are comic because they focus their analyses on the use comic elements. Waiting for Godot is one of Beckett’s early plays, and it has been heavily analyzed and read as a comic text partly because its subtitle is “a tragicomedy in two acts” and also because of the comic techniques used in the play. The present paper, however, attempts to read the play as a piece in which comedy fails to produce any effects on the characters who remain apparently very desperate and frustrated throughout the play. The characters perform different comic acts, but they do not really feel amused or entertained. The paper suggests that the acts these characters put on stage are only means to pass t
... Show MoreAccounting changes have taken place in either the local or international level has led to more disclosure from companies, and that many of the economic units in order to attract investors to negotiate on its shares price in the stock market require amendments with respect to the information disclosed, Thus, the objective of this research is to analyze whether companies were research sample disclose contingent assets and liabilities and provisions in their annual financial reports with what brought him International Accounting Standards. It has been used descriptive analysis of annual financial reports for a sample of (50) listed company on the Iraq Stock Exchange were identified companies that disclose contingent assets and liabi
... Show MoreThe study aimed to reveal the extent of the first intermediate grade science curriculum focus on the national values, health, environmental, economic values, in the light of the education policy in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in addition to present a proposed vision to strengthen it in the science curriculum for the first intermediate grade. The study was applied to the two books student and the two books of activity on the first-second semesters for the academic year 1441 AH. To analyze the curriculum content, the study used a verified card prepared by the researchers and a criterion for interpreting percentages. The study reached the following results: environmental values ranked first with a concentration of (43%), i.e. with an avera
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