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.
Prosthetic hands are compensatory devices for the hand amputees as a result of injury, various accidents or birth deformities, types of prosthetic hand vary depending on the mechanism they operate and how they perform. There are common types in use that are characterized by their complex mechanisms, which are difficult for the amputee to use or exclude use because of their high cost, therefore the aim of this research is to design an artificial hand that is suitable in terms of simplicity of use and low cost and similar to a natural hand with regard to dimensions and shape that operated in the mechanism of links. This research involves Stress and strain analysis of the prosthetic hand and its fingers that modelled from (Petg CR)
... Show MoreNeoechinorhynchus iraqensis sp. n.(Acanthocephala: Neoechinorhynchidae) from the Freshwater Mullet, Liza abu.
The process of selection assure the objective of receiving for chosen ones to high levels more than other ways , and the problem of this research came by these inquires (what is the variables of limits we must considered when first preliminaries selections for mini basket ? and what is the proper test that suits this category ? and is there any standards references it can be depend on it ?) also the aims of this research that knowing the limits variables to basketball mini and their tests as a indicators for preliminaries for mini basketball category in ages (9-12) years and specifies standards (modified standards degrees in following method) to tests results to some limits variables for research sample. Also the researchers depends on (16)
... Show MoreIn this paper, the methods of weighted residuals: Collocation Method (CM), Least Squares Method (LSM) and Galerkin Method (GM) are used to solve the thin film flow (TFF) equation. The weighted residual methods were implemented to get an approximate solution to the TFF equation. The accuracy of the obtained results is checked by calculating the maximum error remainder functions (MER). Moreover, the outcomes were examined in comparison with the 4th-order Runge-Kutta method (RK4) and good agreements have been achieved. All the evaluations have been successfully implemented by using the computer system Mathematica®10.
The unconventional techniques called “the quick look techniques”, have been developed to present well log data calculations, so that they may be scanned easily to identify the zones that warrant a more detailed analysis, these techniques have been generated by service companies at the well site which are among the useful, they provide the elements of information needed for making decisions quickly when time is of essence. The techniques used in this paper are:
- Apparent resistivity Rwa
- Rxo /Rt
The above two methods had been used to evaluate Nasiriyah oil field formations (well-NS-3) to discover the hydrocarbon bearing formations. A compu
... Show MoreThe digital camera which contain light unit inside it is useful with low illumination but not for high. For different intensity; the quality of the image will not stay good but it will have dark or low intensity so we can not change the contrast and the intensity in order to increase the losses information in the bright and the dark regions. . In this search we study the regular illumination on the images using the tungsten light by changing the intensities. The result appears that the tungsten light gives nearly far intensity for the three color bands(RGB) and the illuminated band(L).the result depend on the statistical properties which represented by the voltage ,power and intensities and the effect of this parameter on the digital
... Show Moreلخلاصة Nuclear energy is among the most important discoveries reached by the human terms contributed to the solution of many problems faced by the states. The last of these that are not only utilizing it in a peaceful area, but tended toward the military field and the nuclear weapons industry , Among these countries, we find North Korea, which has openly declared their manufacture of nuclear weapons and thus entry to the club of nuclear countries. International Atomic Energy Agency has worked to resolve the North Korea standoff but has not been able to achieve positive results, prompting the intervention of European countries in order to end the crisis. تعدُّ الطاقة النووية من بين أهم الاستكشافا
... Show MoreRecently, there has been a major trend towards environmental issues and concern for the green product because traditional products cause serious environmental impacts such as reduced resources, global warming, energy consumption, emissions and other environmental damage. Under these developments, economic units are looking for cost-effective technologies that reduce the cost of a green product that has four main dimensions: reducing energy, reducing resource consumption, preventing pollution, and using renewable energy while not compromising quality and satisfying customers in order to enhance competitive advantage.
This research will address one of the most important cost-effective green technologies, Gr
... Show MoreThe study showed flow rates and the interaction between the settlements served by applying the model of gravity theory to measure depending on the number of the population between city Najaf and the rest of the other settlements served and using three functions of disability, time and cost, as recorded an increase in the interaction index with some settlements like them Kufa, Abbasid and Manathira, while the indicator contrast was in other settlements, either when the application of the gravity model depending on trips and socio-economic characteristics accuracy rate was more pronounced.