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.
This study was aimed to explore the impact of a practical program on supporting and reducing
symptoms of school bulling victims in a sample of student in the sixth grade. The study sample consisted of (18)
students that have been chosen from two schools (Al-Abass and Alataa’) it was an intended sample, because
there were enough student with high scores in bulling victims diagnostics test, the sample was divided into two
groups: the control group of (9) student from (Alataa’) school, and the experimental group consisted of (9)
student from Alabass) school keeping in mind to keep the two groups equivalent in maintaining equal controls.
The researcher applied the practical program which is based on cognitive behavioral
Sera samples were collected from 60 children aged 4-60 months, all were clinically and serologically proven cases of visceral leishmaniasis, as well as from 10 healthy children, all were seronegative with no history of parasitic infection who serve as a control during the study. Serum total protein and albumin were measured and compared between the control and visceral leishmaniasis patients. Serum protein profiles have been investigated using the conventional sodium dodecyl sulphate – polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Serum of control group showed the specific protein pattern with five protein bands, while serum protein profile in visceral leishmaniasis pat
... Show MoreThe present study aims to study the content and spatial distribution of lead (Pb) contamination in the soils of some Baghdad cities (Middle of Iraq). Twenty soil samples were randomly collected from different land-use in the studied area at a depth between 5 to 30 cm. Ten samples are collected from Al-Rissafa side areas (Adhamiya, Al-Wazeeria (Battery Manufacturer), Shikh Omer, Ziyouna, Karada, Shaab, Sadr city, Al-Za’franiya, Al-Dora expressway, and Alselikh ) and other ten samples are collected from Al-Krakh side areas Al-Dora, Al-Masafi junction, Al-Dora, Sayidia, Al-Salam university college, Al-Bayaa (Industrial District), Jehad, Amirya, Abu Ghraib, Al-hurriya, and Kadhimiya. The soil samples have been analyzed for the lead (P
... Show MoreIn this study new derivatives of Schiff bases 5-8, 1, 3-oxazepine 9-16 and tetrazoles 17-19 have been synthesized from the new starting material 1 which has synthesized the reaction of one mole of dichloro acetic acid and two moles of thiophenol, the esters 2-3 were synthesized from the reaction of compound 1 with methanol or ethanol respectively in the presence of H2SO4 as catalyst then 2, 2-dithiophenylaceto Hydrazide 4 were synthesized from the reaction of 2 or 3 with hydrazine hydrate 80%, Schiff bases 5-8 were synthesized from the reaction of 4 with appropriate aldehyde or ketone. Treatment of Schiff bases with maleic and phathalic anhydride in dry benzene to give 1, 3-oxazepen derivatives 9-16 and with sodium azide in tetrahydrofuran
... Show MoreThe objective of investigating some biochemical parameters like urea, creatinine, Hb and other parameters as CRP and leptin in the serum of ESRD patients on hemodialysis pre-dialysis. Method: Sample of 250 cases which consists of the patient with ESRD, their mean ages were 52.66 ± 12.55 years with ranged from 18-83. Moreover, under hemodialysis treatment not less than three months. Apparently, 20 healthy subjects were selected as (control) for comparison. Results: The results showed that there was a significant increase (p<0.01) in the serum urea, creatinine, CRP, and leptin. While, revealed significant (p< 0.05) decrease in the levels of uric acid, serum glucose, albumin, inorganic phosphorus, potassium, Hb and platelet in patien
... Show MoreAdhesion (type 1 fimbriae) and host defense avoidance mechanisms (capsule or lipopolysaccharide) have been shown to be prevalent in Escherichia coli isolates associated with urinary tract infections. In this work, 50 uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) isolated from children with urinary tract infections were genotypically characterized by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. We used two genes; fimH and kpsMTII, both of them previously identified in uropathogenic E.coli (UPEC) isolates. The PCR assay results identified fimH (90.0)% and kpsMTII (72.0)% isolates. In the present study, was also demonstrated that these genes may be included in both or one of them within a single isolate.
Abstract A descriptive study was conducted in Al-Bashir teaching hospital in Amman city from 15th May 2004 to 15th August 2004 , in order to "Assess the adult asthmatic patients’ quality of life (QOL). Objective: This study aimed at identifying the domains of (Environmental, Physical, Daily Living Activity, Drug and Medication, Psychological , and Social), Methodology : A Purposive (Non-Probability) sample of (100) adult asthmatic patients visited the emergency department and outpatient clinic of chest department in Al-bashir hospital .A Questionnaire was constructed for the purpose of the study, and compris