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.
Toxoplasma gondii is an protozoan intracellular coccidian protozoan parasite. Latent toxoplasmosis threat to immunocompetent individuals. Diabetic patients are more susceptible to infect with toxoplasmosis due to their low level of immunity response. The purpose of this research is to define the association between toxoplasmosis and diabetes mellitus and detection serum levels of chemokines (monocyte chemoattractant protien-1 and transforming growth factor-β) in diabetic patients infected with toxoplasmosis. Serum samples were collected from 120 diabetic patients and 50 healthy individuals as a control group from the Imamein Kadhimein Medical City in Baghdad. In order&nbs
... Show MorePsoriasis is a long-lasting autoimmune disease that is characterized by swollen skin patches. Normally, these skin patches are dark, swollen, itchy and scaly. The single application of the innate TLR7/8 ligand Imiquimod (IMQ) in mice easily induces a dermatitis that closely resembles human psoriasis, critically dependent on the axis of IL-23/IL-17. Artemisia dracunculus prepared as an ointment and has been used topically to mice before imiquimod application. The results of the current study showed that A. dracunculus ointment can significantly reduce psoriasis area and severity index in (A. dracunculus ointment + imiquimod group as compared with both control group and (vehicle ointment + imiquimod) group.
Psychological aspects are a major influence and motivation factor in many cinematic and television works such as television series. There are many films that dealt with psychological issues through the personality affected by psychological projections and complexes that lead towards abnormal behavior and actions in most cases, so the researchers chose the title and the research problem was raised through the following question: What is the mechanism that fulfills a psychological role in the narrative film? The objectives of the research were to reveal the mechanism used to instill psychological contents in the feature film? As for the limits of the research, it was an intentional sample, and the researchers adopted the descriptive anal
... Show MoreThe study aims at identifying the morphological and psycho-socio-economic qualities wished to be in a life partner among a sample of Palestinian youth. The total sample was (231) and consisted of (83) male and (148) female students. Each student presented a detailed report on the qualities he/she wished to be in life partner. The study used the descriptive approach and content analysis method. The validity and stability of the analysis were calculated. The results showed eight qualities in both groups: physical, psychological, emotional, social, intellectual, familial, economic and academic. Female students were found to have more variations than male students in terms of the qualities preferable in the life partner. Male students
... Show MoreThe multimetric Phytoplankton Index of Biological Integrity (P-IBI) was applied throughout Rostov on Don city (Russia) on 8 Locations in Don River from April – October 2019. The P-IBI is composed from seven metrics: Species Richness Index (SRI), Density of Phytoplankton and total biomass of phytoplankton and Relative Abundance (RA) for blue-green Algae, Green Algae, Bacillariophyceae and Euglenaphyceae Algae. The average P-IBI values fell within the range of (45.09-52.4). Therefore, water throughout the entire study area was characterized by the equally "poor" quality. Negative points of anthropogenic impact detected at the stations are: Above the city of Rostov-on-Don (1 km, higher duct Aksai) was 38.57 i
... Show MoreAbstract A descriptive (retrospective) (a case-control) study was carried out at Al-Karama Teaching Hospital, Baghdad Teaching Hospital and Surgical Specialties Hospital, and Gastro-Intestinal Tract and Liver (GIT) Hospital for the period of December 1st, 2001 To March 15th 2002. To identify aspects of life-style that may contribute to the occurrence of peptic ulcer (P.U)as risk factors. And to find out the relationship between the demographic characteristic of the group. Non-probability (Purposive) sample of (100) cases who were admitted to the endoscopy department who were later on diagnosed as having
Serum Creatine Kinase (SCK) activity was investigated in hyper
and hypqtbyroidim objects. Estimated Levels were compared with
healty controls.
Optimizat.im of SCK. activity has. been achieved using 0.95 mJ of
the Semtl.l and 25 m mol/L of -the subslratet creatitie phosphate . Reaction mixture was incubated at 37C for 1 0 minutes . Data obtained were r:cflects an elevation in the enzme activity in hyperthyroidism objec. Determination of the physical parameters (Vma-x and Km). were ol-,tained applying lit1eweaver- l3:urk Plot analysis. All detemi
... Show MoreThe present study aimed to assess the potential impact of serum concentration of undercarboxylated osteocalcin (the active form of osteocalcin) and fibroblast growth factor-23 on the incidence of cardiovascular diseases in type 2 diabetics with carotid artery calcification and the possible association with metabolic changes in relation to glucose and minerals homeostasis.
This study included 52 men with carotid artery calcification type 2 diabetes mellitus. These patients were categorized; as follows: group A includes 30 patients who had cardiovascular disease and group B includes 22 patients who had no cardiovascular disease. These groups were compared with 25 apparently healthy control (Group C).
It has been shown
... Show MoreThe aim of the research is to demonstrate the impact of the dimensions of the marketing vigilance represented by (environmental scanning, diagnostic capacity, validity and decision-making) and to attract deposits represented by (customer relationship management strategy, distribution strategy (location), promotion strategy), as the research was applied in each of Banks (Assyria International, Iraqi Middle East Investment, Business Bay, Iraqi Investment, Babel, Al Mansour Investment), and the questionnaire was adopted as a main tool for collecting data and information from a sample of (110) who are in the position (department manager, department manager, assistant Section Director, Division Officer, Unit Officer), and the statistical prog
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