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.
Objective: To determine the correlation between the second derivative of digital pulse wave and the QT variability index. Method: The cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2021 to May 2022 at the Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, University of Mustansiriyah, Baghdad, Iraq, and comprised healthy women. Samples were raised by simple random technique. Digital pulse waves were captured using a fingertip pulse wave transducer. Lab Chart Pro version 7.2 was used to automatically detect and quantify the amplitude of A, B, C, D and E waves expressed by the second derivative. QT interval of each beat was recorded by electrocardiogram, and was calculated automatically via Lab chart Pro version 7.2 without averaging. D
... Show MoreIn Australia, most of the existing buildings were designed before the release of the Australian standard for earthquake actions in 2007. Therefore, many existing buildings in Australia lack adequate seismic design, and their seismic performance must be assessed. The recent earthquake that struck Mansfield, Victoria near Melbourne elevated the need to produce fragility curves for existing reinforced concrete (RC) buildings in Australia. Fragility curves are frequently utilized to assess buildings’ seismic performance and it is defined as the demand probability surpassing capacity at a given intensity level. Numerous factors can influence the results of the fragility assessment of RC buildings. Among the most important factors that can affe
... Show MoreThe research includes the preparation of several complexes of the internal transition elements lanthanide (Ln = La, Nd, Er, Gd, and Dy) containing the 4f shell, with Schiff bases resulting from condensation reactions between 4-antipyrinecarboxaldehyde and 2-aminobenzothiazoles. Schiff's base was identified using FTIR spectra, UV-vis spectroscopy, elemental microanalysis CHNSO, nuclear magnetic resonance, mass spectrometry, and TGA thermal analysis. The complexes were studied and identified with elemental microanalysis CHNSO, FTIR spectroscopy, UV-vis spectroscopy, TGA thermal analysis, conductivity measurement, and magnetic sensitivity. The result showed that these complexes were classified as homogeneous bidentate complexes with th
... Show MoreThis study aimed to assess the possible association of oxytocin (OXT) gene with reproductive traits in two groups of Awassi ewes that differ in their reproductive potentials. Sheep were genotyped using PCR—single-stranded conformation polymorphism approach. Three genotypes were detected in exon 2, CC, CA, and AA, and a novel SNP was identified with a missense effect on oxytocin (c.188C > A → p.Arg55Leu). A significant (p < 0.01) association of p.Arg55Leu with the twinning rate was found as ewes with AA and CA genotypes exhibited, respectively a lower twinning ratio than those with the wild-type CC genotype. The deleterious impact of p.Arg55Leu was demonstrated by all in silico tools that were utilized to assess the effect of this varian
... Show MoreThe importance of social exclusion lies in the psychological problems that cause problems in social relations and mental-physical health. For this reason, the researcher set three goals for the current research: identifying the level of social exclusion among people infected with the Coronavirus. The incubation period of the virus. Social exclusion and its relationship to the duration of incubation of the disease among people infected with the Coronavirus. The result showed that the research sample does not suffer from social exclusion. The mean value for the period from
(8-14) days is the highest value followed by the period (1-7) days and the period
(14 days or more) comes at the end. There is no statistically sig
... Show MoreRoads irrespective of the type have specific standard horizontal distance measured at 90 degrees from a lot boundary to a development known as a setback. Non-observance of the recommended setbacks accommodated in any urban center’s master plan creates noise hazard to the public health and safety as the movement of vehicular traffic is not without the attendant noise. This study assessed noise intrusion level in shops along a section of Ibadan-Abeokuta road with due consideration to compliance with the recommended building structure setback. Analysis of noise descriptors evaluated in this study gave A-weighted equivalent sound pressure level average of 91.3 dBA, the daytime average sound level (LD) 92.27 dBA,
... Show MoreTwo new nonsymmetrical mesogenic homologous series of terminal substituent ether (series [Vn]) and carboxy (series [VIn]) incorporating azobenzene and 1,3,4-oxadiazole group were synthesized. Both series have been All compounds thus isolated were purified and characterized by elemental analysis, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, 1H NMR, along with thermal analysis and texture observation using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Polarizing Optical Microscopy (POM), respectively. All compounds of the first series exhibited liquid crystalline properties. The homologues [V1]-[V3] display a nematic mesophase, the compounds [V4]-[V7] exhibit a dimorphism behavior, nematic (N) and smectic A (SmA) mesophases, the compounds [V8] and
... Show MoreThis article discusses how women have significant abilities to cope with the difficulties of war times. They are not the weak and vulnerable victims who are thought to be. On the contrary, they have the power to control over many-sided fronts, like participating in the battlefield as nurses or activists for peace, or even fighters, as well as through the tasks and responsibilities assigned to them to protect and support their families during wartime. The researcher will examine the impact of war upon women. Like men, women suffer during wartime. They are being injured, tortured and killed. Yet, they are able to give examples of love and courage even in the difficult times of war. Hana is one of those women who lived during wartimes,
... Show MoreThis study aims to know how and what is the media processing presented by the television talk shows for the religious extremism topics in terms of topics, hosted personalities, and ways to address this global phenomenon.
The study is based on descriptive research, and the researcher used the analytical-survey method, analyzing the episodes of (Awkar Al Dhalam) T.V Show which was presented on Al-Iraqiya News Channel, and (Islam Hur) T.V Show which was presented on Al-Hurra in 2019 with 25 episodes from each Show, The sample and research community was chosen with the intent to cover the research problem and its
The study reached several conclusions, including:
- The various dialogs in the episo
The research aims to diagnose the shortcomings and weaknesses in applying the dimensions of the quality of work life and the extent of their impact on employees’ attitudes and behaviors, and thus their relationship to enhancing their core competencies. The scientific value of the research stems from highlighting the importance of the dimensions of the quality of professional life in improving the productive efficiency of workers in the public sector and raising the level of organizational performance. Because the quality of working life plays an important role in enhancing the core competencies of employees in the public sector, it can also be an incentive or a disincentive for any employee by adapting to the economic and social condition
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