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.
Actinomycetes are free, spore-forming, high (G+C) ratio (>55%) saprophytic microorganisms that are widely distributed in most soils, colonize plants, and are prevalent in water. This is frequently accompanied by the production of filament airborne mycelium. Actinomycetes are well-known microcolonies for creating antibiotics and other critical bioactive components that are beneficial to humans. Approximately 70% to 80% of commercially available medications and antiviral active compounds have been synthesized so far. Secondary metabolites produced by microbes have the potential to be used in a variety of sectors, including antimicrobial agents, enzyme technology, pigment manufacture, antitumor agents against cancer cells, and toxin pr
... Show MoreThe birth of Multiple Intelligence (MI) theory has revolutionized traditional education since the twentieth century. Howard Gardner, the pioneer of this theory, believed that each learner has a unique way of acquiring information. This paper investigates how the New Headway Plus for Upper-Intermediate-Third Edition, a standard EFL textbook in Iraqi universities, can cater to the diverse MI profiles of Iraqi EFL learners. It evaluates the success or failure of senior undergraduates in actively engaging with different learning styles and activities in the classroom. The study maps the distribution of nine distinct modes of MI theory across all 12 Units_ Logic/Mathematical, Verbal/Linguistic, Musical, Bodily/Kinesthetic, Visual/Spatial, Natura
... Show Moreتسعى المحاسبة الى مسايرة القفزات الهائلة والمتسارعة في تطور العلوم الصرفة والتطبيقية والتقدم التكنولوجي، والتي ادت على ظهور مفاهيم جديدة الغت مسلمات وبديهيات كانت سائدة لمدة طويلة، فعلى سبيل المثال: كان مخزون المواد الاولية والبضاعة التامة في المؤسسات الصناعية او التجارية يشكل العمود الفقري لها بتكاليفه ومشاكله، حتى اذا ما جاء نظام (JIT) الغى بتطبيقاته هذه المفاهيم واعتمد م
... Show MoreABSTRACT Background: The Iraqi hospital witnessed numerous violence incidents against medical staff working in emergency department and range from verbal to physical violence. High frequency of these attacks urged the Iraqi doctors for migration. Aim of study: To identify the prevalence of workplace violence against medical staff and to and study the risk factors related to work place violence. Materials and methods: A descriptive cross sectional study carried out among a sample of 300 medical
KE Sharquie, MM Al-Waiz, AA Al-Nuaimy, Saudi medical journal, 2005 - Cited by 8
The study aims to identify the concept of empowering women from the point of view of experts in the Palestinian society, specifically in Gaza, as well as to explore the foundations of their formation of this concept. Additionally, the study seeks to clarify the most important challenges facing the empowerment of women in Palestinian society. The study used the design of a grounded theory that seeks to build the theory through deep analysis of the data, as qualitative data were collected through holding two focus groups and six in-depth interviews with the study sample, who were selected by the method of targeted sampling. The sample included (16) individuals (9 female experts, 7 male experts) holding academic and community leadership pos
... Show MoreWe live in a world where cultures and visions overlap .. Therefore, every society seeks to create a harmonization that is in line with the data of those special cultures and reproduces those cultures and defines their paths. There are cultures based on historical action and experience and others that work on historical displacement, and art is one of the most important means of transmitting cultures and establishing their aesthetic harmony. This research is concerned with studying (cultural patterns and their representations in contemporary Mexican painting) and it falls into four chapters. The first chapter is devoted to explaining the research problem, its importance, the need for it, the goal of the research, and identifying th
... Show MoreBackground: Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) has enormously affected various healthcare services including the one of community pharmacy. The ramifications of these effects on Iraqi community pharmacies and the measures they have taken to tackle the spread of COVID-19 is yet to be explored. In this cross sectional survey, infection control measures by community pharmacies in Sulaimani city/Iraq has been investigated.
Methods: Community pharmacists were randomly allocated to participate in a cross-sectional survey via visiting their pharmacies and filling up the questionnaire form.
Results and discussion:
... Show MoreAddress the current research study " Symbol Significances in Fakhir Mohammad Paintings " in an attempt to detect signs of the icon in the artist's fee . The research contains four chapters The first chapter of which the methodological framework for the search starting with the problem of the specific research and asking the following: Maaltold semantic code in fees Luxury Muhammad? As well as displaying the importance of research and the need for it and in order to search through ( you know the implications of the code in the fee Luxury Muhammad) and for the period of ( 1980-2010 ) in his works of art as well as identifying the search terms . In the second chapter , such as the theoretical framework , and contained three sections focus o
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