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.
There is no doubt that complexities and ambiguities exist in the human minds. The need to unravel and solve those mysteries and the foggy actualities of life’s existence has been one of Paulo Coelho’s (1947-present) biggest concern. In almost all his novels, Coelho shows how people should dig deep into the mysteries of life in order to find a true understanding to their existence. In doing so, a true kind of enlightenment and purification is reached and the quest for self-discovery or self-realization is attained.
The paper tackles one of Paulo Coelho’s novels Aleph (2011) which is considered as an autobiographical reading to signify the connection between himself and God. It was a phase
... Show MoreSource, sedimentation, coagulation, flocculation, filter, and tank are parts of a water treatment plant. As a result, some issues threaten the process and affect the drinking water quality, which is required to provide clean drinking water according to special standards and international and local specifications, determined by laboratory results from physical, chemical, and biological tests. In order to keep the water safe for drinking, it is necessary to analyze the risks and assess the pollution that occurs in every part of the plant. The method is carried out in a common way, which is monitoring through laboratory tests, and it is among the standards of the global and local health regulators
The research aims to identify the predominant habits and behaviors promoted by American action films frequently streamed on Cinemana website—a specialized platform for streaming films and series as the most followed platform. This platform offers a range of film genres, including the latest releases, free of charge. Using a simple random sampling method, twenty action films were selected for the study. Consequently, the researcher opted for a descriptive-analytical approach, deemed most appropriate for achieving the research objectives, employing content analysis as a tool to scrutinize these films. The findings highlighted that behavioral habits associated with scenes of violence, destruction, sabotage, revenge
... Show MoreThe art of pantomime mime is one of the arts that has taken a wide space in theater performances, and because it is one of the spectacle shows that relies on an acting performance that is unique from the traditional acting performance, because of the peculiarity of pantomime art in that it is a silent performance that assumes the clarity of meaning, and for the purpose of clarifying the actor’s work in such kind of performances, the art of pantomime must be We have to know the skills that the actor can possess in order to produce a silent show that has the elements of a successful presentation, so there was a need to study the skills of the actor in this type of acting performance. The researchers divided this study into an introd
... Show MoreMelatonin, a hormone synthesized mainly by the pineal gland, has been found in extra-pineal organs as well. It’s known as an organizer of circadian rhythms and more recently as an anti-oxidant. In addition to its role in maintaining immunity, pathophysiology of cardiovascular and neurological diseases, and as an anti-cancer agent, evidence has demonstrated that melatonin exerts a positive impact on male and female fertility primarily through oxygen scavenging effects. In In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) programs, supplementation of melatonin may be associated with better outcomes in terms of sperm quality, oocyte quality, embryo quality and pregnancy rates. This review summarizes various actions of melatonin on the body focusing on male an
... Show MoreThe development issue is considered as one of the most important matters of concern to governments, intellectuals and specialists in the contemporary world, especially in developing countries that are trying hard to move out of the afflicting underdevelopment domain to a brighter future and achieve the aspirations of those countries through organized planning which take advantage of available resources, whether material or humanitarian, in the best way possible.
The development process are taking place at multiple levels ranging from national to regional to local where the community is stimulated and excited for the cooperation, participation and preparation to perform planned change in the methods of thinking, acting and production.<
Providing stress of poetry on the syllable-, the foot-, and the phonological word- levels is one of the essential objectives of Metrical Phonology Theory. The subsumed number and types of syllables, feet, and meters are steady in poetry compared to other literary texts that is why its analysis demonstrates one of the most outstanding and debatable metrical issues. The roots of Metrical Phonology Theory are derived from prosody which studies poetic meters and versification. In Arabic, the starting point of metrical analysis is prosodic analysis which can be attributed to يديهارفلا in the second half of the eighth century (A.D.). This study aims at pinpointing the values of two metrical parameters in modern Arabic poetry. To
... Show MoreCensure in poetry is a pattern of poetic construction, in which the poet evokes a voice other than his own voice or creates out of his own self another self and engages with him in dialogue in the traditional artistic style whose origin remains unknown. Example of the same may be found in the classical Arabic poets’ stopping over the ruins, crying over separation and departure and speaking with stones and andirons; all in the traditional technical mould. Censure confronting the poet usually emanates from the women as blaming, censure and cursing is closer to woman’s hearts than to the man’ hearts. Censure revolves around some social issues, such as the habit of over drinking wine and extravagant generosity taking risks, traveling,
... Show Moreالثقافة هي النظرية حول العالم والناسواساليب توزيع خبراته عليهم . انها الكل المعقد والتي تشمل المعرفةوالمعتقدات والفن والاخلاق والقوانين والعادات واية امكانيات وعادات يكتسبها الانسان كونه احد اعضاء المجتمع . ان ادراك ثقافة اللغة الاجنبية ينبغي ان يُنظرلها كمكونمهم في عملية تعليم / تعلم اللغة الانكليزية بوصفها لغةاجنبية وتتضمن الثقافة فهم داخلي وتدريجي للمساواة بين الثقافات ، ومنهن متزايد لثقافة الفرد
... Show MoreConstructional Efficiency in architecture in general is one of the most important standard success for any structure and a measure of its continuity and relevance across time and space. Given the importance of Al-Ahwaar environment that owned the spatial, environmental, economic and social elements had a prominent impact in creation of architecture patterns form to create special architectural and structural environment, which had many qualities and ingredients that contributed to its continuity and existence over the years. From the premise that man and his environment is the main goal to any architectural style,
Thus the research problem focusing on the lack of clarity of the previous literatures in its st
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