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.
Mercifulness is a trait of civilization, humanity, and a moral value in society, because it has an impact on social life and its role in spreading interdependence, joint liability, and solidarity among people. Mercifulness means spreading mercy, synergy, sympathy, and cooperation. Generally, a society that enjoys strong ties tends to have a kind of stability and development, as well as, is able to face the economic, political, and security crises. Conversely, a weak society leads to weak social cohesion and weak community infrastructure that is more vulnerable to social, economic, and political instability. Thus, this is the aim of the research that has used a social survey method applied to a sample of respondents who have reached (300)
... Show MoreThe interest in art for young ages is seen as an obvious breakthrough and as revealing of psychological and health feelings in addition to emotions, and it is a treatment for those who suffer from behavioral disorders. The problem arose with the following question: What is the role of artistic expression in diagnosing behavioral disorders for primary school pupils? The aim of the research is to detect the behavioral disorders in the artistic expression of the female students' paintings from the teachers' point of view. The descriptive analytical approach was adopted as it is the appropriate method for identifying and estimating the characteristics and features related to people, places and things, and analyzing situations or phenomena as a
... Show MoreTo perform a secure evaluation of Indoor Design data, the research introduces a Cyber-Neutrosophic Model, which utilizes AES-256 encryption, Role-Based Access Control, and real-time anomaly detection. It measures the percentage of unpredictability, insecurity, and variance present within model features. Also, it provides reliable data security. Similar features have been identified between the final results of the study, corresponding to the Cyber-Neutrosophic Model analysis, and the cybersecurity layer helped mitigate attacks. It is worth noting that Anomaly Detection successfully achieved response times of less than 2.5 seconds, demonstrating that the model can maintain its integrity while providing privacy. Using neutrosophic sim
... Show MoreThe specimens of Camponotusxerxes Forel, 1904 were collected from different localities in Iraq; the purpose of morphological study of this species in details throughout the present study.
The description was based on major workers belonging to this species, also some notes of polymorphism in workers have been mentioned; the most important of morphological features are illustrated and figured.
Elastic magnetic electron scattering form factors in Ca-41 have been investigated. 1f7/2 subshell has been adopted as a model space with one neutron, and Millinar, Baymann and Zamick 1f7/2 model space effective interaction (F7MBZ) has been used as a model space effective interaction to generate the model space vectors for the M1, M3, M5, M7, and total form factors. Discarded space (core and higher configuration orbits) have been included through the first order perturbation theory to couple the partice-hole pair of excitation with 2ћω excitation energy in the calculation of the form factors and regarding the realistic interaction density dependence M3Y as a core polarization interaction with five sets of modern fitting parameters. Fina
... Show MoreLithology identification plays a crucial role in reservoir characteristics, as it directly influences petrophysical evaluations and informs decisions on permeable zone detection, hydrocarbon reserve estimation, and production optimization. This paper aims to identify lithology and minerals composition within the Mishrif Formation of the Ratawi Oilfield using well log data from five open hole logs of wells RT-2, RT-4, RT-5, RT-6, and RT-42. At this step, the logging lithology identification tasks often involve constructing a lithology identification model based on the assumption that the log data are interconnected. Lithology and minerals were identified using three empirical methods: Neutron-Density cross plots for lithology id
... Show MoreThe research discusses the obstacles that faced the Iraqi strategic performance in achieving sustainable development after the election of the first Iraqi government in 2005 and the most important strategies to overcome these obstacles.