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.
The investigation of natural convection in an annular space between two concentric cylinders partially filled with metal foam is introduced numerically. The metal foam is inserted with a new suggested design that includes the distribution of metal foam in the annular space, not only in the redial direction, but also with the angular direction. Temperatures of inner and outer cylinders are maintained at constant value in which inner cylinder temperature is higher than the outer one. Naiver Stokes equation with Boussinesq approximation is used for fluid regime while Brinkman-Forchheimer Darcy model used for metal foam. In addition, the local thermal equilibrium condition in the energy e
The research aims to shed light on banking liberalization and explain its impact on attracting customers, especially since Iraq adopted this policy after (2003) due to the changes that occurred, as the Central Bank of Iraq granted flexibility to banks in setting the interest rate on deposits and loans as well as allowing the entry of foreign banks in the local environment. The research relied on the analytical method for the dimensions of banking liberalization represented by (liberating interest rates, liberating credit, legal reserve requirements, entering foreign banks, privatization) as well as the factors affecting the attraction of customers, and a number of Iraqi banks listed in the Iraqi Stock Exchange were selected as a
... Show MoreThis research addresses the employment of public relations for foreign oil corporate social responsibility programs operating in Iraq. It is a study of the programmes of six petroleum companies operating in Basra Governorate, which were selected for research as the highest production of Iraqi oil, as well as its enjoyment of strategic oil stores in Iraq.It contains the largest oil fields operatedby major international companies. This study aims at a number of objectives, notably the following:1)Recognize the most prominent corporate social responsibility projects and initiatives the companies have introduced to the local public.2)Investigate the extent to which the Iraqi publ
... Show MoreThe objective of the study was to identify the effect of the use of the Colb model for the students of the third stage in the College of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, University of Baghdad,As well as to identify the differences between the research groups in the remote tests in learning skills using the model Colb.The researcher used the experimental method and included the sample of the research on the students of the third stage in the College of Physical Education and Sports Science / University of Baghdad by drawing lots, the third division (j) was chosen to represent the experimental group,And the third division (c) to represent the control groupafter the distribution of the sample splitting measure according to the Colb mode
... Show MoreThis study aimed to identidy the role of a professional social worker practice specialist in the field of social care for Corona patients, in light of some demographic variables such as (gender, marital status, economic status,), through a field study at the Iraqi Ministry of Social Affairs. A random sample of (50) social workers in the Iraqi Ministry of Social Affairs in various places affiliated with the ministry was chosen. a questionnaire developed by the researcher about the role of the social worker in the field of social care for Corona patients was administered to the study sample to collect the needed data. The results showed that there is a positive statistically significant correlation relationship at the level (0.01) between
... Show MoreOne of the goals of adding adjuvants to agricultural spray solutions is to enhance the droplet size characteristics of this spray. Droplet size, in turn, has an influence in the deposited spray quality, in addition to the drift and losses of spray to off-target places. The aim of this research was to evaluate the effect of adding adjuvants to two types of water from different sources on the droplet size characteristics. Two types of adjuvants were employed in the tests: the active substance content of the first adjuvant was a 50% aqueous solution of sodium salt of alkylbenzenesulfonic acid—10% (HY), whereas the second was from rapeseed oil (natural origin)—85% (OL). Both adjuvants were tested in two concentrations: the first was
... Show MoreTransparency considered being one of the modern administrational terms which started to be largely used in the last period, because of its political, economical, social and cultural dimensions. As well as, its administrational dimension that helps to create a work environment marked by order and flawless from wrong practices and Transparency provides credibility to the sides that pursue it in their practices, till it became a mean of distinction. The choice of the subject of the research ((Transparency and its effect on Level of Job satisfactions of Workers in General Insurance company)), which aims to measure the effect of Transparency in Level of Job satisfactions of Workers in Insurance company. Came in the time when many countries te
... Show MoreThis research aims to underscore the significance of women's emotional intelligence in enhancing the effectiveness of the Board of Directors, a crucial component of internal governance, particularly during crises. Despite strides made in recent decades in appointing women to senior roles in government, business, and education, challenges persist in improving women's leadership opportunities, especially in developing countries. The study utilizes statistical methods, including Pearson's correlation, to analyze the relationships between variables within a sample of banks listed on the Iraqi securities market, comparing periods before and during the COVID-19 pandemic (2019 and 2020). The goal is to measure the impact of female emotiona
... Show MorePorous silicon (PS) layers were formed on n-type silicon (Si) wafers using Photo- electrochemical Etching technique (PEC) was used to produce porous silicon for n-type with orientation of (111). The effects of current density were investigated at: (10, 20, 30, 40, and50) mA/cm2 with etching time: 10min. X-ray diffraction studies showed distinct variations between the fresh silicon surface and the synthesized porous silicon. The maximum crystal size of Porous Silicon is (33.9nm) and minimum is (2.6nm) The Atomic force microscopy (AFM) analysis and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) were used to study the morphology of porous silicon layer. AFM results showed that root mean square (RMS) of roughness and the grain size of p
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