Anti-C1q Antibodies in Patients with Hepatitis B Virus

Anti-C1q Antibodies in Patients with Hepatitis B Virus Anti-C1q Antibodies in Patients with Hepatitis B Virus Infection Ahmed Elsadek Fakhr1, Emad Abdelhamid Morad1, Marc van Ranst2, and Mahmoud Reza Pourkarim3 Abstract Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is associated with extrahepatic manifestations the mechanism of which is thought to be immune mediated. One of the autoantibodies accused to be associated with tissue injury in immune complex disorders is anti-C1q. This might be attributed to the ability of these autoantibodies to amplify complement activation in situ. To date, there are no data describing the prevalence of anti-C1q in patients with HBV infection. Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of anti-C1q antibodies and analyze possible associations in a population with HBV infection. Materials and Methods: Serum samples were collected from a group of 145 patients with HBV infection and 33 apparently healthy controls. Anti-C1q antibodies were quantified by ELISA. Results: The levels of anti-C1q antibodies showed a highly statistically significant difference between HBV cases and controls as the mean ÂÂ ± SD were 21.28 ÂÂ ± 38.72 and 6.56 ÂÂ ± 5.73, respectively (p Conclusions: Patients with HBV infection exhibit increased production of anti-C1q antibodies. This observation may partially explain the tissue damage associated with the extrahepatic involvements of HBV. Keywords: Anti-C1q antibodies; autoantibodies; Hepatitis; Infection Background: Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of anti-C1q antibodies and analyze possible associations in a population with HBV infection. Patients, Materials, and Methods: Ethical statement: All procedures were conducted in accordance with the ethical principles expressed in the Declaration of Helsinki. Written informed consents were obtained from all subjects enrolled in the study. Study design and population: The study was performed as a case control study on 2 groups. A total of 145 patients with HBV infection were enrolled in the first group. Of the 145 patients, 65, 64, and 16 were living in Iran, Belgium, and Egypt, respectively. Patients were classified into: patients with acute hepatitis B diagnosed by seropositivity for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBs-Ag) and hepatitis B core IgM (HBc-IgM), and patients with chronic hepatitis B characterized by presence of HBs-Ag and HBc-IgG. The second group included 33 apparently healthy volunteers. Patients were excluded if they had systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or co-infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). One mL serum was collected from all enrolled subjects and stored at -20ÂÂ °C till testing. Laboratory assessment: Anti-C1q determination in the collected serum samples was performed using commercial enzyme linked immunosorbent assay kit (QUANTA LiteTM Anti-C1q ELISA, INOVA Diagnostics, Inc., United States of America), as per the manufacturers instructions. The samples were classified as negative, low positive, moderate positive or strong positive if the anti-C1q values were 80 units, respectively. Statistical analysis: Continuous variables were expressed as the mean ÂÂ ± SD median (range), and the categorical variables were expressed as a number. Continuous variables were checked for normality by using Shapiro-Wilk test. Mann Whitney U test was used to compare between two groups of non-normally distributed variables. Kruskal Wallis h test was used to compare between more than two groups of non-normally distributed variables. A p-value

Reaction Plan on Global Warming Essay

Global warming refers to an increase in the average temperature of the Earth as a result of the greenhouse effect, in which gases in the upper atmosphere trap solar radiation close to the planet’s surface instead of allowing it to dissipate into space. Both natural and human-made conditions can contribute to global warming, but human beings can do several things to reduce the effects. The biggest cause of global warming is the carbon dioxide released when fossil fuels — such as oil and coal — are burned for energy. So when you save energy, you fight global warming and save money, too. Here are some easy steps that you can take to help make a difference: 1. Limit Private Vehicle Driving. A very easy way to control ozone depletion would be to limit or reduce the amount of driving as vehicular emissions eventually result in smog which is a culprit in the deterioration of the ozone layer. Walk, bike or take the bus more often. You’ll save one pound of carbon d ioxide for every mile you don’t drive. 2. Use Eco-friendly Household Cleaning Products. Usage of eco-friendly and natural cleaning products for household chores is a great way to prevent ozone depletion. This is because many of these cleaning agents contain toxic chemicals that interfere with the ozone layer. A lot of supermarkets and health stores sell cleaning products that are toxic-free and made out of natural ingredients. 3. Avoid Using Pesticides. Pesticides may be an easy solution for getting rid of weed, but are harmful for the ozone layer. The best solution for this would be to try using natural remedies, rather than heading out for pesticides. You can perhaps try to weed manually or mow your garden consistently so as to avoid weed-growth. 4. Don’t Burn Your Trash. Every burning emits carbon dioxide especially plastic. Instead of burning your waste, segregate them and some things like cans and plastic can be sold while some can be recycled. 5. Plant a Tree. A single tree will absorb one ton of carbon  dioxide over its lifetime. Because carbon dioxide is the most important greenhouse gas, planting trees and other plants can slow or stop global warming. Plants take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen. They use carbon to build their own tissues and return some of it to the soil in a process called sequestration. Deforestation of rain forests is a large contributor to global warming and CO2 emissions, but planting new trees, even in your own backyard, can help to offset this. 6. Turn off Electronic Devices. Simply turning off your television, stereo and computer when you’re not using them will save you thousands of pounds of carbon dioxide a year. 7. Conserve Water. Turn off water immediately whenever you’re not using it, and repair or replace leaky faucets and toilets. 8. Change a Light. Replacing one regular light bulb with a compact fluorescent bulb will save 150 pounds of carbon dioxide a year. Wherever practical, replace regular light bulbs with compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs. CFLs last 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs, use two-thirds less energy, and give off 70 percent less heat. 9. Reduce Fossil Fuel Use. Burning fossil fuels increases the levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. There are two ways to reduce fossil fuel use: Use less energy, or use alternative, nonpolluting energy sources like solar and wind power 1) At home, this translates to saving electricity by using energy-efficient appliances and compact fluorescent light bulbs, as well as reducing gasoline use and buying green power from your electricity provider, if available. 10. Reduce Waste. The production of garbage contributes to global warming both directly and indirectly. Decomposing waste in landfills produces methane and other greenhouse gases. Waste also requires energy to manufacture in the first place. Reducing your consumption patterns and reusing items whenever possible minimizes your carbon footprint, since fewer new items need to be made. Recycling metal, plastic, glass and paper lowers greenhouse gas emissions, since recycled items take far less energy to manufacture than items produced from scratch. 11. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Do your part to reduce waste by choosing reusable products instead of disposables. Buying products with minimal packaging (including the economy size when that makes sense for you) will help to reduce waste. And whenever you can, recycle paper, plastic, newspaper, glass and aluminum cans. If there isn’t a recycling program at your workplace, school, or in your community, ask about starting one. By recycling half of your household  waste, you can save 2,400 pounds of carbon dioxide annually. 12. Tell Others about Global Warming. Many Filipinos are still not aware of this frightening situation of our world. Tell it to your friends, neighbors and to your classmates.

Terrorism And Human Rights Abuses

Terrorism and Human Rights Abuses in the Balkans, Eastern Europe and the Persian Gulf The Balkans, despite being a relatively small area, is home to an expansive assortment of nationalities, cultures and religions (Popescu, 2008). Hence, it is inevitable that any changes in the balance between them will have important political, social and economic consequences that will affect the entire region (Popescu, 2008). Terrorist groups took advantage of the instability brought about by the distrust of Balkan societies in their respective governments (Popescu, 2008).As a result, they easily turned the region into a breeding ground for extremist and fundamentalist groups, as well as a â€Å"transit corridor† for missions in third countries (Popescu, 2008). The war in Bosnia-Herzegovina in the 1990s, for instance, originated from the desire of the Bosniaks (Bosnian Muslims) to establish an Islamic state (Popescu, 2008). They used Islam as a â€Å"nationalistic rhetoric,† equating the survival of their country with the restoration of Muslim national identity (Popescu, 2008).The Bosniaks were supported by Islamic countries such as Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Libya and Iran, providing them with weapons and soldiers (Popescu, 2008). From 1992 to 1995, 6,000 â€Å"Arab-Afghan† rebels came to the country to fight in the hostility (Popescu, 2008). After 9/11, majority of the charitable institutions in Bosnia-Herzegovina were investigated and closed down due to their alleged ties with terrorist organizations like the Al-Qaeda (Popescu, 2008). In March 2002, police raided the BosanskaIdealna Futura-BIF, a Sarajevo-based humanitarian organization (Popescu, 2008). They found military manuals, forged passports, weapons and personal correspondence between Osama bin Laden and BIF founder Enaam Mahmud Arnaout (Popescu, 2008). Human rights abuses by Persian Gulf nations (Saudi Arabia, Iraq, UAE, Kuwait, etc. ) and terrorist attacks against US interests were b oth intended to supress political opposition. Despite publicly denouncing â€Å"American imperialism,† the aforementioned countries are notorious for grossly violating the human rights of their citizens (Simbulan, 2002).Majority of political prisoners in the Persian gulf nations were detained for speaking out against corruption and totalitarianism in their respective countries (Simbulan, 2002). Prominent Omani playwright and human rights activist Abdullah Ryami was imprisoned on July 2005 for vocally criticizing the Omani government's arrest and trial of 31 Omanis belonging to the Ibadi sect for allegedly plotting a coup (Human Rights Watch, 2005). At the time of his incarceration, he had no contact with his family or a legal counsel (Human Rights Watch, 2005).He was also banned from writing in newspapers and producing plays for television (Human Rights Watch, 2005). On December 2007, activists in Bahrain staged a series of demonstrations to â€Å"mark abuses by security for ces during political unrest in the 1990s† (Human Rights Watch, 2008). Dozens of people were arrested in the violent dispersals that ensued, including opposition political activists who protested the Bahraini government's repression of civil liberties (Human Rights Watch, 2008). In January 2008, detainees complained of being subjected to physical and sexual abuse by interrogators and jailers (Human Rights Watch, 2008).The prisoners' request for independent physicians to examine the extent of their injuries was also denied (Human Rights Watch, 2008). The collapse of the Soviet Union contributed to terrorist activities in Eastern Europe by making its newly-formed republics more vulnerable to American military intervention (Howstuffworks, 2008). After the Soviet bloc fell, the US emerged as the world's remaining superpower (Howstuffworks, 2008). The breakup of the Soviet Union granted the US easy access to its natural resources, particularly oil (Howstuffworks, 2008). The paragrap h below summarized the region's potential:Afghanistan occupies the central position in the U. S. strategy for the economic control of the oil and gas resources in the entire Middle East. The U. S. currently imports 51 per cent of its crude oil – 19. 5 million barrels daily. The Energy Information Administration estimates that by 2020, the U. S. will import 64 per cent of its crude – 25. 8 million barrels a day. Caspian region oil reserves might be the third largest in the world (after Western Siberia and the Persian Gulf) and, within the next 15 to 20 years, may be large enough to offset Persian Gulf oil.Caspian Sea oil and gas are not the only hydrocarbon deposits in the region. Turkmenistan's Karakum Desert holds the world's third largest gas reserves – three trillion cubic meters – and has six billion barrels of estimated oil reserves. Current estimates indicate that, in addition to huge gas deposits, the Caspian basin may hold as much as 200 billion b arrels of oil – 33 times the estimated holdings of Alaska's North Slope and a current value of $4 trillion. It is enough to meet the U. S. ‘ energy needs for 30 years or more (Yechury, 2001).Hence, it was no longer surprising if the US declared war against the Taliban regime of Afghanistan. But majority of the extremist and terrorist groups in the former Soviet Bloc and in Eastern Europe are allied with the Taliban, as the Taliban provided them with weapons, training and manpower (Godoy, 2001). Therefore, the US will have to face a bigger threat of terrorism in Eastern Europe. References __________. (2002, October). The Oil Equation in the US Bid against Iraq. Education for Development, 1, 15-16. Capdevila, G. (2002, October).Outgoing UN Human Rights Chief Repeats Criticisms against US. Education for Development, 1, 30-31. Deen, T. (2002, October). UN Credibility at Stake over Iraq, Warn Diplomats. Education for Development, 1, 10-11. Godoy, J. (2001, November 15). US P olicy Towards Taliban Influenced by Oil – Authors. Retrieved February 28, 2008 from http://www. commondreams. org/headlines01/1115-06. htm. Howstuffworks. (2008). The Fall of the Soviet Union and the Rise of Terrorism. Retrieved February 28, 2008 from http://history. howstuffworks. com/cold-war/the-cold-war-timeline4.htm. Human Rights Watch. (2005, July 18). Oman: Critics Subjected to Injustices They Had Exposed. Retrieved February 28, 2008 from http://hrw. org/english/docs/2005/07/18/oman11343. htm. Human Rights Watch. (2008, January 21). Bahrain: Investigate Alleged Torture of Activists. Retrieved February 28, 2008 from http://hrw. org/english/docs/2008/01/21/bahrai17838. htm. Human Rights Watch. (2008, February 16). Bahrain: New Allegations of Detainee Abuse. Retrieved February 28, 2008 from http://hrw. org/english/docs/2008/02/16/bahrai18083.htm. Lobe, J. (2002, October). US Vision of Might and Right. Education for Development, 1, 3-5. Popescu, Teodora. (2008). Tackling T errorism in the Balkans. PDF File. Retrieved February 28, 2008 from sparky. harvard. edu/kokkalis/GSW9/Popescu_paper. pdf. Simbulan, R. (2002, October). Why the UN Must Defend Iraq against the US War of Aggression. Education for Development, 1, 48-50. Yechury, Sitram. (2001). America, Oil and Afghanistan. Retrieved February 28, 2008 from http://www. hinduonnet. com/2001/10/13/stories/05132524. htm.

Was Napoleon Bonaparte a Hero or a Villain Essays

Was Napoleon Bonaparte a hero or a villain? During the Napoleonic Era, from 1799 to 1815, France became a military power gaining and controlling land throughout Europe. While some historians believe Napoleon Bonaparte was a ruthless dictator, his military accomplishments far outweigh any atrocities he committed. He helped France gain stability after the French Revolution and he also abolished the Feudal contract. Napoleon was a brilliant strategist using military tactics to cause fear and to defeat whatever enemies stood in his way. Throughout his rule, Napoleon continually gained ground, and by the end of his reign, his empire encompassed all of Spain, Italy, and a small portion of land by Russia and Austria. (see map) He is one of†¦show more content†¦He knew that regular canons balls would not work but if something that could shoot many projectiles at once would be deadly and effective. He lined up his cannons filled with small pebbles and glass shards. This dispersed the crowd very quickly. This is what would be come to be known as the Famous ``Whiff of Grapeshot.`` For his accomplishment he was awarded the army of Italy. It consisted of 30,000 underfed underpaid and was faced with the task of invading Italy. He won crucial battles that demoralized the Italian army. An example of this is when he faced The Austrians and the Piedmontese. He divided each army and defeated them separately. After the battle was over he said to his troops â€Å"soldiers, we thank you† and gave them their first real money in years. He gained a lot of ground for France and thus increased his national prestige. He made many good changes for France. One of the most important was he brought France out of the chaotic period of the Revolution. Without him the turmoil would have continued and France would be an entirely different country. Another significant thing he did was he created the Napoleonic Code. It was a very basic code of civil laws. This set of laws prevented people from being born into power. It made people work for a high prestige of power not just given to them by birth. The code also allowed freedom of religion. This code helped shaped many laws that are still used today like the constitution of laws that is currently beingShow MoreRelatedNapoleon Bonaparte A Hero Or A Villain?1624 Words   |  7 Pagesthe fact that Napoleon Bonaparte was a significant character in France. However, there have been debates among historians for years around the central question: â€Å"Was Napoleon Bonaparte a hero or a villain?† The answer here relies on how one looks upon the situation. Was Napoleon Bonaparte a savior to the French, or was he a tyrant to the French? Although many historians’ answers do rely deeply onto perspective, their answers also lie within which stage of life Napoleon Bonaparte was in, as well asRead MoreComparison Of Napoleon Bonaparte A Hero Or Villain909 Words   |  4 Pagesthe fact that Napoleon Bonaparte was a significant character in France. However, there have been debates among historians for years around the central question: â€Å"Was Napoleon Bonaparte a hero or a villain?† The answer here relies on how one looks upon the situation. Was Napoleon Bonaparte a savior to the French, or was he a tyrant to the French? Although many historians’ answers do rely deeply onto perspective, their answers also lie within which stage of life Napoleon Bonaparte was in, as well asRead MoreNapoleon Bonaparte : Hero Or Villain1862 Words   |  8 PagesNapoleon: Hero or Villain Essay True heros have consistently been shown to encompass villainous characteristics and Napoleon Bonaparte, although a tyrannical ruler, was no exception to this rule. The term hero at its core refers to an inspiring individual who is idealized for their courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities. This person manages to not only overcome the tragic situation at hand, but conjointly is able to win over the public’s admiration. Contrastingly, a villain is definedRead MoreNapoleon Bonaparte Essay1537 Words   |  7 PagesNapoleon Bonaparte has been called a hero by some and a villain by many others. He was the First Consul of France, then the emperor of France, and finally an outlaw. Napoleon had a meteoric rise to power in the late 18th century, and lasted to the early 19th century. He was able to rise to power through his great military victories and he was able to keep his power by fending off enemies in wars and with some reforms. Napoleon started his life good, but different than many French rulers. NapoleonRead MoreNapoleon Bonaparte - Villain or Hero?889 Words   |  4 PagesNapoleon Bonaparte was inarguably an important figure in the history of France and Europe. However, there has been much controversy over the subject in the past. Would history perceive him as a hero or an enemy of France and the world? Many twentieth-century dictators would later model themselves on Napoleon, more than a hundred years after his death. Napoleon was not the first dictator, so why was he such an important figurehead for future dictators? Some historians may consider that Napoleon wasRead MoreThe Evolution of the Hero1960 Words   |  8 Pagesthink we know a hero when we see one. But pinning down those attributes is a challenge; your hero may not look much like mine. So it s worth asking: Are there certain immutable characteristics that have defined heroism across the ages? The men and women on the following pages are individuals of extraordinary distinction, but how do they stack up ag ainst the legends of the past? Although there are some timeless, universal qualities known as heroic, throughout history the idea of the hero has fluctuatedRead MoreUnited States History Research Project2148 Words   |  9 Pagespositive aspects that occurred in Jesse James’ life. If one knew the general idea of who James was, they would automatically assume he was either a really bad person or an historical hero. Many songs, books, and news articles were written in the context of him being an American hero. On the other hand, some believe that the large amount of crimes he has committed were superior over his good doings in life which was not very much. I have searched through the campus library and scholarly databases findingRead MoreThe Role of Fate in Romeo and Juliet2091 Words   |  9 Pageseither tragedy or comedy, this polarity of themes allowing him to experiment with the full range of human emotions. Typically, an integral part of a Shakespearean tragedy is love, which is frustrated by a breakdown in order, or the character of the hero, due to some human limitation. The play Romeo and Juliet has all these typical characteristics. However, the resultant conclusion of events for the characters in this tragedy is adversely affected by the hands of fate, and not solely the product ofRead MoreThe Role of Fate in Romeo and Juliet2082 Words   |  9 Pageseither tragedy or comedy, this polarity of themes allowing him to experiment with the full range of human emotions. Typically, an integral part of a Shakespearean tragedy is love, which is frustrated by a breakdown in order, or the character of the hero, due to some human limit ation. The play Romeo and Juliet has all these typical characteristics. However, the resultant conclusion of events for the characters in this tragedy is adversely affected by the hands of fate, and not solely the product ofRead MoreAlexander The Great Of The Greatest Military Geniuses2832 Words   |  12 Pagesor more commonly known as Alexander the Great ( Greek: á ¼Ë†ÃŽ »ÃŽ ­ÃŽ ¾ÃŽ ±ÃŽ ½ÃŽ ´Ã ÃŽ ¿Ãâ€š á ½  ÃŽÅ"ÃŽ ­ÃŽ ³ÃŽ ±Ãâ€š) was destined to be a king. Alexander the Great was also considered one of the greatest military geniuses in history. He was the inspiration for many great leaders and warriors in later generations of many different cultures. Hannibal Barca once ranked Alexander as the â€Å"greatest general in all of the world†. Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus, Napolà ©on Bonaparte, and Julius Caesar are just several of the many that were inspired. Even Julius