Background: Lumbar disc degeneration (LDD) is a common musculoskeletal disorder that frequently causes low back pain (LBP). In addition to the discomfort of lower back pain, it can accompany pain in one or both legs. The lumbar spine and sacrum, consisting of five vertebrae and one bone, determine the spine's balance. Microelements are essential in bone metabolism and are associated with the prevention of osteoporosis and the alleviation of musculoskeletal pain. Objectives: To examine the correlation between lumbar spinal surgery and the concentrations of microelements, namely zinc and copper. Methods: A case-control study was conducted in Ghazi Al-Hariri Hospital in Baghdad, Iraq, during the period from October 2023 to January 2024. The study included 120 participants ranging in age from 18 to 70 years. Sixty participants underwent lumbar spine surgery and were diagnosed using X-rays or MRI scans. The other 60 were healthy controls. The zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) levels in the blood were determined using an atomic absorption spectrometer. The body mass index (BMI) was determined using the formula: BMIg/m2 = weight/height2. Results: The patients had a lower mean zinc level (57.3 ± 14.56 Mmol/L) and a higher mean copper level (106.6 ± 39.41 Mmol/L) in comparison to healthy controls (96.4 ± 17.38 Mmol/L) and (61.0 ± 9.53 Mmol/L), respectively There was a weak relationship and a significant correlation between copper and zinc (r = -0.2). A very strong relationship and a significant correlation between copper and Cu / Zn ratio (r = 0.85) while zinc had a significant very strong correlation relationship with Cu / Zn ratio (r = -0.7) in patients. Conclusion: The present study underscores the noteworthy association between microelements (Cu, Zn) and degenerative lumbar discs, underscoring the significance of pre-operative evaluation in achieving the best possible surgical results. The study has demonstrated the utility of measuring serum zinc level and copper level, especially their link with lumbar disc degeneration (LDD) markers of patients undergoing lumbar spinal surgery.
International relations scholars have increasingly debated the evolving landscape of actors that challenge the traditional state-centric world order. A key element of this transformation is the rise of sub-state actors, which engages in alternative diplomacy parallel to the state, transcending traditional state-centric frameworks. This paper explores the significant shifts in international actorness over the late 20th century, focusing on the emergence and implications of sub-state diplomacy, or "paradiplomacy." First, the study introduces sub-state actors and their role in challenging the dominant state-centric discourse. It then examines the dynamic evolution of paradiplomacy, highlighting how sub-states have expanded their global
... Show MoreThe researcher seeks to know the extent of applying the concept of design by Iraqi electronic press sites to provide media product with the acceptance of their browsers and ensure their repeated visits to such sites in the framework of the guiding rules for laser browsing. The researcher uses analytical study on a sample of six Iraqi electronic newspaper sites to identify the general features of their design and the methods of distribution of the structural elements of the pages. The researcher also conducts a field study on a sample of the surfers of electronic newspaper sites to see the extent of their evaluation to their design and the degree of their satisfaction.
The purpose of this study is to assess the performance of government units (Iraqi hospitals) by trying to determine the possibility of the current governmental accounting system to provide information on the performance reports of government units. In order to improve the efficiency of hospital resources management, the services provided by the hospital should be subject to performance measurement and evaluation The importance of the health sector in the provision of services, in order to raise the efficiency of the performance of services provided by government units has reached the researcher a set of conclusions, the most important
- The financial reports produced by the accounting s
This study examines the impact of Digital Transformation (DT) on the Financial Reporting Quality (FRQ), taking into account the moderating role of the Trust Services Framework (TSF), in the context of rapid developments in the digital business environment and the resulting challenges and opportunities for accounting and financial systems. To achieve the study objectives, a descriptive–analytical approach was adopted, and a questionnaire was used as the primary data collection instrument. The study sample comprised 87 professionals working in accounting and financial functions. DT was measured through four dimensions: cloud computing, automation, data analytics, and systems integration. FRQ was assessed using the dimensions of accuracy and
... Show MoreThe current research seeks to identify the role of the marketing intelligence system in its dimensions (customer intelligence, market intelligence, competitor intelligence, insurance product intelligence, sales representatives) and its reflection on improving the quality of the insurance service provided by the National Insurance Company represented in its dimensions (reliability, response, tangibility, Safety, the spirit of empathy, communication) adopted in the current research, and based on that, the research came as an attempt to find out the extent to which the research sample company can apply the approach of the marketing intelligence system and its impact on improving the quality of the insurance service provided to custo
... Show MoreNew developments imposed different patterns of interactions between major international powers and Iran during 2018, ranging to varying degrees between cooperation and tension, the most important of which is the new measures taken by the United States to withdraw from the nuclear agreement and impose new US sanctions on Iran, which in turn insisted on not responding to pressure to which they are exposed to make changes in their policies and to negotiate again about the main contentious files, especially the nuclear program and ballistic missiles, and the roles they play for crisis countries, especially supporting some armed organizations in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq and Yemen. These differences have put the international forces before difficult
... Show MoreRecently, Malaysia has been recognized as one of the most popular destinations for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Southeast Asia. But how do these FDI inflows affect Malaysia economy? This paper aims to identify the role of FDI inflows in Malaysia economic growth through a proposed endogenous growth model. Annual data covers from 1975 to 2010. Unit root test and Johansen Co-integration test are adopted to respectively verify the time series data is stable and the linear combination of the variables is stationary. Hierarchical Multiple Regressions (HMR) Analysis is then conducted to find out the momentum of the Malaysia economic growth including FDI inflows. The results show that the FDI inflows together with the human capital deve
... Show MoreInhaled corticosteroids are the most effective controllers of asthma, although asthmatics vary in their response. FKBP51 is a major component of the glucocorticoid receptor which regulates its responses to corticosteroids. Therefore, the present study aims to identify the role of FKBP5 gene polymorphism in asthma susceptibility and corticosteroid resistance.
DNA was extracted from the blood of 68 asthmatic