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.
Cognitive radio is observed as a new approach, which could be cope with the spectral limitations. This approach is designed to detect whether a particular segment of the radio spectrum is currently in use and to jump into the temporarily unused spectrum rapidly without interfering with the transmissions of other users. CR is the promising radio technology which aims to detect and utilize the temporally unused spectrum bands by sensing its radio environment in order to improve spectrum utilization. To enhance the sensing performance, cooperative spectrum sensing has been proposed. However, when the number of cognitive user tends to be very large, the bandwidth for reporting sensing results to the common receiver will be very huge. In this pa
... Show MoreExamining the pictures of the scientific miracles in Surat Al-Ra’d revealed to us - as all other verses of miracles revealed - the truth of the prophecy of our noble Messenger (may God bless him and his family and grant him peace) in receiving the verses of the Qur’an from God Almighty through revelation. It is not possible to talk about cosmic phenomena and their secrets in this way. Fourteen centuries ago, when scientific techniques, observational devices, space surveys, and means of science were non-existent, except for what is related to eye observation, transmitted experiences, and even observation is unable to explain many phenomena near as well as distant ones. The interpretations that are tainted by myth in the books
... Show MoreIn this paper, some basic notions and facts in the b-modular space similar to those in the modular spaces as a type of generalization are given. For example, concepts of convergence, best approximate, uniformly convexity etc. And then, two results about relation between semi compactness and approximation are proved which are used to prove a theorem on the existence of best approximation for a semi-compact subset of b-modular space.
Harold Pinter was one of the most important dramatists in the modern and the
contemporary age. Pinter presented his own dramatic realm in which he turns the theatre into
a moral institution. He employed the elements of several schools of drama and manipulated
them in order to deliver his ethical messages emphasizing the necessity to regain and renew
the world's morality in order to face the political and social injustices committed against
humanity. His writings developed over more than fifty years in style, techniques and his
interests. However, his main concern was his social and political satire.
English, like any other language, has a number of such discourse markers including well, yes, surely, on the contrary, so and nevertheless. They are lexical items or grammatical forms typically serve to relate one utterance to another in discourse.
Discourse markers are considered as cues or signals for the reader or the hearer that make cohesion and coherence, In fact, these markers are found in various grammatical forms such as interjections, linking adverbials, greetings and farewells….etc. Discourse markers. Play a very important role, not only in conversation, but in written text as well.
This research aims to identify the following :
- The reading willingness skill to kindergarten children.
- There is no statistical significance difference between average scores of reading willingness skill of the sample individuals as a whole, and the hypothetical average of the scale.
- The difference in reading willingness skill to kindergarten children according to gender variable (male & female).
- There is no statistical significance difference between average scores of reading willingness skill for kindergarten children according to gender variable (male & female).
To achieve the research goals, the researc
... Show MoreIn this study, NaOH dissolution method was applied to dissolve cellulose fibers which extracted from date palm fronds (type Al-Zahdi) taken from Iraqi gardens. In this process, (NaOH)-solution is brought into contact with the cellulose fibers at low temperature. Experiments were conducted with different concentrations of NaOH (4%, 6%, 8% and12%) weight percent at two cooling bath temperatures (-15 oC) and (-20oC). Maximum cellulose dissolution was 23 wt% which obtained at 8 wt% concentration of NaOH and at cooling bath temperature of -20oC. In order to enhance the cellulose fibers dissolution, the sample was pretreated with Fenton's reagent which consists of
... Show MoreBackgroundThe diagnosis and important aspects in treating acute abdomen during pregnancy tend to be delayed due to the peculiar physiological features of pregnancy and the restrictions imposed on imaging diagnostic techniques such as x-ray and CT.Aim of the studyTo identify the most common causes of acute abdomen during pregnancy and identifying the approaches for early diagnosis and to take a correct decision for surgery and assigning the complications that may occur during and/or after surgery for the mother and the fetus.Patients and Methods This is a prospective study that involves data obtained from 91 pregnant patients admitted in the surgical wards in Baghdad teaching hospital during the period from January 2008 to December 2009 .
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