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.
Enticed by the present scenario of infectious diseases, four new Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), and Cd(II) complexes of Schiff base ligand were synthesized from 6,6′-((1E-1′E)(phenazine-2,3-dielbis(azanylidene)-bis-(methanylidene)-bis-(3-(diethylamino)phenol)) (
This research explores the use of solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) as a conductive medium for sodium ions in sodium‐ion batteries, presenting a possible alternative to traditional lithium‐ion battery technology. The researchers prepare SPEs with varying molecular weight ratios of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and sodium tetrafluoroborate (NaBF4) using a solution casting method with dimethyl formamide as the solvent. Through optical absorbance measurements, we identified the PAN:NaBF4 (80:20) SPE composition as having the lowest energy band gap value (4.48 eV). This composition also exhibits high thermal stability based on thermogravimetric analysis results.
Consumer protection requires seeking one official entity to accomplish its tasks. The large number of devices control and implementation in it, return to several ministries, and executive bodies lose coordination and cooperation, and unite efforts to eliminate the types of fraud and control the quality of production within the approved standards. This is in addition to the seriousness of the existence of administrative and legal corruption which hinders the role of inspection committees and representatives of official bodies with the relationship and prevents them from carrying out their duties entrusted to them or presenting them with administrative complications to thwart their duties in consumer protection. This is despite the
... Show MoreThe present article discusses innovative word-formation processes in Internet texts, the emergence of new derivative words, new affixes, word-formation models, and word-formation methods. Using several neologisms as an example, the article shows both the possibilities of Internet word-making process and the possibilities of studying a newly established work through Internet communication. The words selected for analysis can be attributed to the keywords of the current time. (In particular, the words included in the list of "Words of 2019") there are number of words formed by the suffix method, which is the traditional method of the Russian word formation. A negation of these words is usually made thro
... Show MoreThis study was conducted for the purpose of exploring the relationship between positive thinking and academic achievement in art history. And it relates to the student’s personality, intelligence, abilities and economic and social level. The sample of the study consisted of (40) male and female students from the first stage students - Department of Art Education in the Faculty of Fine Arts / Morning Study, A positive thinking questionnaire was applied to them, and the study found that there is no positive relationship between positive thinking and academic achievement in art history.
DC glow discharges were generated between a thin cylindrical anode and a flat cathode, streamers are thought to propagate by photo-ionization; the parameters of photo-ionization depend on the He: CO ratio. Therefore we study streamers in He ( 90%, 80% and 70% ) with (10%, 20% and 30%) CO respectively. The streamer diameter is essentially the change by increase for similar voltage and pressure in all He-CO mixtures.
An analytical method and a two-dimensional finite element model for treating the problem of laser heating and melting has been applied to aluminum 2519T87and stainless steel 304. The time needed to melt and vaporize and the effects of laser power density on the melt depth for two metals are also obtained. In addition, the depth profile and time evolution of the temperature before melting and after melting are given, in which a discontinuity in the temperature gradient is obviously observed due to the latent heat of fusion and the increment in thermal conductivity in solid phase. The analytical results that induced by laser irradiation is in good agreement with numerical results.
This research aims to analyse the problem of organizations in general and universities in particular, in dealing with �quality subjects� in a world where these organizations face the risks of becoming side lined and possibly vanished without looking for solutions that allow them to move in an open arena where change becomes the key to those solutions. Change here must be strategic and planning must adopts a way for organizations to develop mechanisms to manage change itself. Management leaders play a central role in achieving the principle required to chart new trends for universities in dealing with quality as a strategy that allows excellence and competition in light of the success of the processes of change. Change through reengineer
... Show MoreDramatic wonders at children's theatre shows Search summary The importance of the current study is to present an important concept, from the point of view of those interested in the field of literature and the theater of the child, namely (miraculous) because it represents an innate tendency immersed in the child's mind, and therefore it is easy to impress him when attracting him with a text and a presentation addressed to him, to achieve the aesthetic and intellectual vision, so the problem of research was in the following question: (dramatic wonders in children's theater performances) and the importance of research lies in the importance of the importance of the role of wonder for dramatic discourse in children's theatre performances,
... Show MoreNumerous research studies have been conducted on why some learners acquire a second language more easily and quickly than others. Most of these studies have demonstrated that acquiring a second language does not depend only on learners’ cognitive ability or professional teaching strategies. The learning language process is more complicated than that. It is affected by crucial factors that are beyond the control of learners and teachers. These factors are known as sociolinguistic factors. These factors include culture, age, motivation, socio-economic status, and gender. This research paper mainly concentrates on the role of motivation in second language acquisition.