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.
Background: Autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life. Autism affects the normal development of the brain in the areas of social interaction and communication skills.Objectives: To identify risk factors for Autism among a sample of autistic children in Baghdad city. Type of the study: this is a case – control, study. Methods: This study was conducted during the period of data collection extended from first of November 2010 until the first of April 2011,The total number of children involved was 100children with diagnosis of autism. Handred children who are free from autism were taken as the control sample. Results: there was a significant association between paternal age and
... Show MoreBackground: Insulin resistance (IR) is the primary metabolic disorder associated with obesity. Obesity is a growing worldwide health problem affecting both adults and children. Objectives: To determine the association between leptin and IR, and to identify the ratio of fasting glucose/leptin (G/L) and insulin/leptin (I/L) as a new simple method for the detection of IR in obese children.Methods: This study was done in the National DiabeticCenter/ AL-Mustansiriya University during the period fromMay 2013 until the end of October 2013. Fasting bloodglucose (FBG), serum insulin, leptin, and lipid profile weremeasured in 52 obese children (24 children with IR and 28without IR); their age range was (5-15) years, they werecompared with 38 healt
... Show MoreDue to the impact of industrial companies on the ransformations and developments witnessed by the world in general nd Iraq in particular, especially in the industrial and economic Jonrnal spects, the liberalization of internal and external trade, and the idoption of the open market policy in Iraq, which led to the intensification of competition between industrial companies and heir products and services, and the increase and diversity of the Onumber of alternatives Available to the public on the one hand, and he diversity and change of their desires and needs on the other hand, which was reflected in the reality of those companies and heir products or services, especially in light of the great challenges facing companies and the deteriorat
... Show MoreCognitive radio technology is used to improve spectrum efficiency by having the cognitive radios act as secondary users to access primary frequency bands when they are not currently being used. In general conditions, cognitive secondary users are mobile nodes powered by battery and consuming power is one of the most important problem that facing cognitive networks; therefore, the power consumption is considered as a main constraint. In this paper, we study the performance of cognitive radio networks considering the sensing parameters as well as power constraint. The power constraint is integrated into the objective function named power efficiency which is a combination of the main system parameters of the cognitive network. We prove the exi
... Show MoreThis paper is devoted to the discussion the relationships of connectedness between some types of graphs (resp. digraph) and Gm-closure spaces by using graph closure operators.
This paper examines Gloria Naylor's Mama Day (1988) that shows the mixing of African and American culture. Afro-American authors reject the Eurocentric hypothesis that slavery had ended the Afro-American cultural engagement in Africa. African Americans represent an essential fabric of American society, sharing many traditions, habits, and traits with the American society. Yet, at the same time, Naylor portrays Afro-American individuals in Mama Day as a separate unit with a unique and rich culture. These mannerisms expose a kind of resistance, appreciation to her African identity, history, and roots. A tale of a conjure woman located in Willow Springs' mythical isle, Mama Day, highlights the mystical, storytelling, and folkloristic customs.
... Show MoreThis study evaluates the advantages of employing nano-hydroxyapatite in dentistry, particularly for preventive treatment applications. Only electronically published papers were searched within this review. Sources: "PubMed" website was the only source used to search for data. 92 most relevant papers to the topic were selected, especially the original articles and review papers, from 1990 till the 1st of April 2022. The morphology of nano-hydroxyapatite, as well as the structure of its crystals, are close to that of dental enamel. As a result, hydroxyapatite can biomimetically replace the natural enamel mineral element. Keywords: remineralization of enamel, nanotechnology, nanohydroxyapatite, hypersensitivity.
this research adopts the study of experimentational fiction in the characters for the writer Fadhil Al-Azzawi ,which appear in the miraculous characters that the writer creates in his enumerative paragraphs , and these characters are featured by there reveling on traditions which is prevalent in the formation of these characters, The research also included theoretical beginning foe experimental fiction and miraculous characters, followed by analysis and examination of these characters in the writer`s texts, finishing by an epilogue for the results of the research , giving the references and resources we depended on writing this research .
Pressure ulcer (now called Pressure injury) happens when the bony prominence like the sacrum exposes to pressure for a long period and also can cause soft tissue injury. In order to prevent and cure pressure-induced wounds, continuous and attentive repositioning is necessary. Wound management begins with the identification and aggressive management of the modifiable factors, such as positioning, incontinence, spasticity, diet, devices, and medical comorbidity, which contribute to pressure injury formation. Initial interventions include washing, cleaning, and maintaining the surfaces of the wound. In certain cases, it may be sufficient to debride the non-viable or contaminated tissue; however, operational care in more severe cases
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