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.
Background: C-reactive protein (CRP) is an acute phase protein that its plasma levels increase after trauma or surgery so it is used as an indicator for the level of inflammation after surgery. The objective of this study is to investigate pre- and post-operative levels of CRP in three types of oral surgical interventions (Apicoectomy, Impaction, and Impacted teeth exposure). Materials and Methods: A total number of (48) healthy individuals aged (20-60) years who needed oral surgical intervention for either (removal of impacted third molars, exposure of an impacted canine, or Apicoectomy). A 4ml venous blood was obtained from each patient at two occasions (pre-operatively at the day of operation and post-operatively after 48 hours), then ce
... Show MoreA numerical method for the calculation of the three-dimensional wake rollup behind symmetric wings with ground effect and its aerodynamic characteristics for steady low subsonic flow have been developed. A non-planar quadrilateral vortex-ring method with vortex wake relaxation iterative scheme for lifting surfaces is obtained. A computer program was build to treat wings with breaks, span wise trailing edge flaps, local dihedral angle, camber, twist and ground effect. Forces and moments are obtained from vector product of local velocity and vortex strength multiplied by density. The program has been validated for a number of configurations for which experimental data is available. Good agreement has been obtained for these configurations. Al
... Show MoreIn the literature, several correlations have been proposed for hold-up prediction in rotating disk contactor. However,
these correlations fail to predict hold-up over wide range of conditions. Based on a databank of around 611
measurements collected from the open literature, a correlation for hold up was derived using Artificial Neiral Network
(ANN) modeling. The dispersed phase hold up was found to be a function of six parameters: N, vc , vd , Dr , c d m / m ,
s . Statistical analysis showed that the proposed correlation has an Average Absolute Relative Error (AARE) of 6.52%
and Standard Deviation (SD) 9.21%. A comparison with selected correlations in the literature showed that the
developed ANN correlation noticeably
In the present paper we report the synthesis of a new ligand [HL][(2-1-[(2-hydroxy-benzylidene)-hydrazono]-ethyl) benzene-1, 3, 5-triol and its complexes with (Mn", Fe", Cd", and Hg") The ligand was prepared in two steps. In the first step a solution of salicylaldehyed in methanol reacted under reflux with hydrazinemonohydrate to give an intermediate compound which reacted in the second step with 2, 4, 6-trihydroxidernonohydrate giving the tientioned ligand. The complexes were synthesis by direct reaction of the corresponding metal chloride with ligand. The ligand and the complexes have been characterized by spectroscopic methods [" H NMR, IR, UV-Vis,, atomic absorption], HPLC microanalysis along with conductivity measurements. From the abo
... Show MoreIn the present work, a d.c. magnetron sputtering system was designed and fabricated. The chamber of this system was includes from two copper coaxial cylinders where the inner one used as a cathode (target) while the outer one used as the anode with Solenoid magnetic coil located on the outer cylinder (anode). The axial profile of magnetic field for various coil current (from 2A to 14 A) are shown. The plasma characteristics in the normal glow discharge region are diagnostics by the 2.2mm diameter Langmuir probe with different length along the cathode and located at different radial positions 1cm and 2cm from the cathode surface. The result of this work shows that, the electron energy distributions at different radial positions along the
... Show MoreThe separation of fluid-fluid mixtures is a major issue in various sectors. The liquid-liquid hydro-cyclone has a wide range of applications in various sectors due to its great efficiency in separating fluid mixtures, ease of installation, and low cost. In crude oil production, high water is consumed following the degrading of production quality, high processing costs, costs, and environmental impacts. Axial hydro cyclone is a tool for Downhole Oil/Water Separation (DOWS) in the petroleum production industry, but it has limitations. The main purpose of this work is to simulate the effect of compacting the conventional inline hydro cyclone with a converging-diverging nozzle on the oil/water dynamic flow and the separation process to
... Show MoreColorectal cancer is the world's 3rd most frequent malignant neoplasm and the 4th most common cancer in Iraq. Leptin and Adiponectin are two major Adipocytokines produced by adipose cells that have opposite effects on the formation of colorectal tumors. Leptin induces tumor growth and metastasis, whereas Adiponectin inhibits it. 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D controls and limits cancer cell proliferation, differentiation, and survival. Vitamin C deficiency, on the other hand, has been regularly detected in cancer tissues and has potent anti-cancer properties. The purpose of this study was to look at the biochemical role of circulatory Adipocytokine levels (Adiponectin and Leptin) as well as the anti-cancer potentials of Vi
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