Objectives: Dickkopf-1 (DKK-1) is WNT/b-catenin pathway antagonist which plays a detrimental role in the development of diabetic retinopathy (DR). This research aimed to assess serum DKK-1 levels in diabetic patients who have and have not developed DR and, compare them with the control subjects finding out whether we can use it as an indicator for DR early diagnosis and to find out which one of the widely used two groups of antidiabetic treatments had the greater effect on this biomarker and hence on the progression of DR. Methods: The study participants were divided into two subgroups: First, 70 patients (36 male, 34 female) with type 2 diabetes mellitus, among them 35 patients diagnosed with DR and 35 with no evidence of DR, and secondly, non-diabetic controls (11 male, 9 female) were selected from the patients attending Ibn AL-Haitham hospital for ophthalmology and a specialized center for endocrinology and diabetes. Venous blood samples of all participants were drawn after an overnight fast, and serum samples were stored at -20ºC until DKK-1 assay. Results: Serum DKK-1 showed significantly lower levels in diabetic patients with (6.1 ± 2 ng/mL) or without DR (14 ± 6.2 ng/mL) when compared to those of controls (34 ± 12.25 ng/mL) (p 0.05). Furthermore, serum DKK-1 levels were lower in the late stage of DR compared to the early stage 5.6 ± 1.7 and 7 ± 1.9 ng/mL, respectively. Furthermore, DPP-4 inhibitors cause a better increment in DKK-1 levels when compared to SU in the NDR group. Conclusions: Reduced serum levels of DKK-1 are related to the existence and worsening of DR and have the prospect to serve as an indicator for this condition.
Background: Chronic kidney disease is a gradual loss of kidney function with diabetes and hypertension as the leading cause. Chronic kidney disease is one of these systemic diseases that can affect salivary contents. Aims: This study aimed to assess salivary immunoglobulin A, interleukin-6 and C- reactive protein in chronic kidney disease patients on hemodialysis and those on conservative treatment in comparison with control subjects. Materials and methods: Ninety subjects were included in this study divided into three groups: 30 patients with chronic kidney disease on hemodialysis for at least 6 months ago; 30 patients with chronic kidney disease on conservative treatment and 30 healthy control subjects. Secretory immunoglobulin A, inte
... Show MoreThis work provides an analysis of the thermal flow and behavior of the (load-free) refrigerator compartment. The main goal was to compare the thermal behavior inside the refrigerator cavity to the freezer door (home refrigerator) effect and install a fan on the freezer door while neglecting the heat transmitted by thermal radiation. Moreover, the velocity distribution, temperature, and velocity path lines are theoretically studied. This was observed without affecting the shelves inside the cabinet and the egg and butter places on the refrigerator door as they were removed and the aluminum door replaced with a glass door. This study aims to expand our knowledge about the temperature and flow fields of this refrigerator mo
... Show MoreBackground: Klebsiella pneumoniae were considered as normal flora of skin, and intestine. It can cause damage to human lungs; the danger of this bacterium is related to exposure to the hospital surroundings. materials and methods: the detection of Klebsiella pneumoniae on morphological and biochemical tests and then assured with VITEK 2 system. Resistance to antibiotics was determined by Kirby-Baeur method. And genotyping of IMP-1 in isolates was done by PCR technique, then biofilm formation was identified by Micro titer plate method. Results: The present study included a collecting of 50 specimens from different clinical specimens, (blood 40%, urine 30%, sputum 20%, wound infection 10%); 10 isolates were identified as K
... Show MoreABSTRACT: Oxadiazole ring is a heterocyclic molecule with an oxygen and two nitrogen atoms spread throughout its five-membered structure. There are four different isomers that have been discovered, Because of their wide applications in a range of sectors, including medications . Some of these biological activity are; anticonvulsant capacity, anticancer as well, antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, antimalarial, antitubercular, anti-asthmatic, antidepressant, antidiabetic, antioxidant, antiparkinsonian, analgesic and anti-inflammatory, are just some of the therapeutic uses that have drawn attention to drug candidates containing an oxadiazole moiety. This review, we will examine the various methods of oxadiazole synthesis. The mo
... Show MoreThe effects of Internet use on university’s students:The effects of Internet use on university’s students:“A Study on a Sample of Jordanian University’s students "This survey aims to identify the most important effects of Internet use on Jordanian public and private universities’ students by monitoring and analyzing a set of indicators that show the quality of the effects on specific fields such as cultural, social, psychological, moral and political effects .To achieve these goals, the study attempts to answer the following questions:1. What are the effects of Internet’s use on students?2. What is the relationship between the effects and demographic variables such as gender, age, family size an
... Show MoreThis research aims at answering many questions raised by the research problem concerning the view of the organizations under consideration for the concept of smart leadership and its most important dimensions, as well as the view of crisis management and its concept and most important methods through research objectives that define and clarify the smart leadership with its dimensions and methods of crisis management.
For the purpose of reaching the results of the research and testing the assumptions about the relationship between smart leadership and methods of crisis management, the researcher adopted a questionnaire, designed especially to be a criterion for the research, as the main tool for data coll
... Show MoreThe effect of smoking, age and exposure duration in pesticide risk groups were studied > Groups were all men and included farmers (25), pesticide sellers (25), pesticides manufacture workers (Al-Tark factory for agricultural pesticide production) (25), Control group (25) were from Baghdad university staff (living in Baghdad city) > The cytogenetic parameters studied were Chromosomal aberrations (CA), induction of micronuclei (Mn)formation .Results revealed that smoking synergized pesticides exposure in induction of structural CAs in all groups with significant differences (P<0.01) and the worst effect recorded in workers , the increment was more than folds the level of control group (0.68) for the non smokers and was 5.78 times (control gr
... Show MoreThe current research aims to recognize the exploratory and confirmatory factorial structure of the test-wiseness scale on a sample of Hama University students, using the descriptive method. Thus, the sample consists of (472) male and female students from the faculties of the University of Hama. Besides, Abu Hashem’s 50 item test-wiseness scale (2008) has been used. The validity and reliability of the items of the scale have also been verified, and six items have been deleted accordingly. The results of the exploratory factor analysis of the first degree have shown the presence of the following five acceptable factors: (exam preparation, test time management, question paper handling, answer sheet handling, and revision). Moreover,
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