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Background: Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease that affects people of all ages. It's caused by deficiencies in insulin action and secretion, leading to long-term hyperglycemia. This can harm key organs such as the kidneys, heart, eyes, nerves, and blood vessels. Managing diabetes requires significant lifestyle changes and can impact both the patient and their family. Small and bone-specific, osteocalcin (OCN) is a non-collagen protein that is mostly present in bone. It is a sensitive marker of bone formation and primarily attaches to the extracellular matrix of bone after being carboxylated. Small amounts of OCN are also released into the bloodstream, where it aids in glucose and fat metabolism. Objective: Our study aimed to examine the effect of Osteocalcin, Parathyroid hormone, Estrogen and HbA1c on middle-aged women who had type 2 diabetes compared to those who did not. Patients and Methods: The study involved 90 middle-aged women, including 60 with type 2 diabetes, and 30 healthy women. The Sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure OCN, PTH, and E2 hormone levels in women with and without type 2 diabetes. HbA1c levels were measured using the Cobos system. The statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software. Results: In T2DM women, serum OCN, PTH, E2, and HbA1c levels were compared with non-diabetic women. T2DM women had significantly lower levels of serum OCN and PTH, and significantly higher levels of HbA1c than healthy women. Serum E2 levels were also significantly lower in T2DM women. OCN had a positive correlation with HbA1c and negative correlations with PTH and E2. Conclusion: Significant change was detected in this study in the level of OCN, PTH and E2 between patients and controls. Investigations of serum OCN can be participated in the future as predictive marker for osteoporosis in diabetic women. Keywords: Osteocalcin, parathyroid hormone, estrogen, Type2 diabetes mellitus.

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a metabolic liver disease characterized by a broad range of liver pathology, including simple steatosis, steatohepatitis (NASH), fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocarcinoma. NAFLD has emerged as a public health concern in the world within the last 20 years, it is linked to metabolic syndrome (MetS), type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), obesity, and dyslipidemia. Increased visceral adipose tissue in obese people can cause insulin resistance (IR) and hyperinsulinemia, which will speed up the lipolysis of adipose tissue, Lipo-toxicity-related chronic low-grade inflammation is involved in the development of NAFLD. Objective: Determine the correlation between lipid profile and liver function in patients with NAFLD. Patients and Methods: A study was conducted at Tikrit Teaching Hospital from 28 November to 28 December 2023. The study involved 90 participants, 60 with NAFLD and 30 healthy subjects. The study used a spectrophotometer (Model NO. HV-2800EX) and a colorimetric kit from Spain linear chemicals to determine various parameters, such as Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), Alanine aminotransferase(ALT), Gamma-glutamyl transferase(GGT), High-density lipoprotein(HDL), Low-density lipoprotein(LDL), Very low-density lipoprotein(VLDL), Triglyceride(TG), and cholesterol. Results: The mean age of patients in the group was 40.93 years, with ages ranging from 20 to 50 years. Serum levels of liver function enzymes (GGT, AST, ALT) and lipid profile (TG, HDL, LDL, VLDL, cholesterol) were measured and compared to the control groups. Patients with NAFLD had significantly higher serum liver function enzymes and increased serum lipid profile (TG, VLDL, LDL, and cholesterol) while showing a significant decrease in HDL concentration when compared to the control group. Conclusion: The patients showed an increase in liver function enzymes (AST, ALT, GGT) and lipid profile (LDL, VLDL, TG, cholesterol) with reduced HDL as compared to healthy individuals. Keywords: Nonalcoholic fatty liver, liver function enzymes, lipid profile.

We recently showed that the post-ischemic induction of matrix metalloproteinase-12 (MMP-12) in the brain degrades tight junction proteins, increases MMP-9 and TNFα expression, and contributes to the blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption, apoptosis, demyelination, and infarct volume development. The objectives of this study were to (1) determine the effect of MMP-12 suppression by shRNA-mediated gene silencing on neurological/functional recovery, (2) establish the optimal timing of MMP-12shRNA treatment that provides maximum therapeutic benefit, (3) compare the effectiveness of acute versus chronic MMP-12 suppression, and (4) evaluate potential sex-related differences in treatment outcomes. Young male and female Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to transient middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion. Cohorts of rats were administered either MMP-12shRNA or scrambled shRNA sequence (control) expressing plasmids (1 mg/kg; i.v.) formulated as nanoparticles. At designated time points after reperfusion, rats from various groups were subjected to a battery of neurological tests to assess their reflex, balance, sensory, and motor functions. Suppression of MMP-12 promoted the neurological recovery of stroke-induced male and female rats, although the effect was less apparent in females. Immediate treatment after reperfusion resulted in a better recovery of sensory and motor function than delayed treatments. Chronic MMP-12 suppression neither enhanced nor diminished the therapeutic effects of acute MMP-12 suppression, indicating that a single dose of plasmid may be sufficient. We conclude that suppressing MMP-12 after an ischemic stroke is a promising therapeutic strategy for promoting the recovery of neurological function.

Permanent deformation (rutting) is considered one of the most important factors that reduces pavement life in roads network and highways in Iraq. In this paper, a laboratory investigation has been conducted to evaluate the effect of external factors on rutting of asphaltic mixture. The study was carried out using local materials for the surface layer. Three levels of temperature were examined namely, 40, 50, and 60 °C, in addition to three stresses intensities are 700N, 900N, and 1100N were investigated for wheel track test, and 10, 20, and 30 psi of repeated load were also tested. The results have cleared that the temperature and stress have a significant effect on the permanent deformation. Where mixtures resistance to rutting increases about 57.65% when temperature degree increases from 40 °C to 50 °C. Also, increasing load intensity from 700 to 900 N resulted in higher rutting values (about 40.75% increase has observed in term of WTT). Additionally, increasing temperature from 40 °C to 50 °C resulted in permanent strain and resilient strain increase by 84.49 % and 11.27 %, respectively. Also, increasing load intensity from 10 to 20 psi resulted in higher permanent strain and resilient strain values about 5.44 % and 27.94 %, respectively, for wearing layer. In term of uniaxial repeated load test, it has concluded that temperatures and stresses employed for design are relative high to reproduce the most unfavorable pavement conditions.

Les patients atteints de rhumatismes inflammatoires chroniques (RIC) sont reconnus comme des acteurs actifs dans la gestion de leur maladie [1]. Toutefois, une fausse croyance et interprétation par les patients peut compliquer ce processus. Notre objectif était d'évaluer les croyances et les préjugés des patients atteints de RIC. Il s'agit d'une étude transversale ayant inclus 22 patients atteints d'une polyarthrite rhumatoïde (PR) répondant aux critères ACR/EULAR 2010 et 32 patients atteints d'une spondyloarthrite ankylosante (SpA) répondant aux critères ASAS 2009. La perception des patients a été évaluée à l'aide du questionnaire QuAD (Questionnaire for Arthritis Dialogue) ; comportant 21 questions, chacune évaluée sur une échelle de 0 (totalement en désaccord) à 10 (totalement d'accord) couvrant sept domaines qualitatifs : les facteurs psychologiques, génétiques, alimentaires, physiques, le rythme de vie et des facteurs divers. Un score de 7 ou plus indiquait une forte adhésion à la croyance. Cinquante-quatre patients, 23 femmes et 29 hommes, âgés en moyenne de 47 ans [26–80] ont été inclus dans l'étude. Vingt-cinq pour cent des participants étaient analphabètes, 26 % avaient un niveau primaire, 32 % un niveau secondaire et 17 % un niveau universitaire. Le RIC évoluait en moyenne depuis 6 ans [1–25]. Vingt-sept patients (52 %) recevaient uniquement un traitement conventionnel synthétique et 25 patients (48 %) recevaient un traitement biologique. Les scores moyens DAS28VS pour les PR et ASDASCRP pour les SpA étaient de 3,7 ± 1,6 et 1,8 ± 0,9 respectivement. Le déclenchement de la maladie par une surcharge physique et l'aggravation des symptômes par la fatigue étaient les croyances le plus répandues chez les patients atteints de SpA avec une égale fréquence de 77,3 % pour chacune de ces croyances. La survenue des poussées suite à l'activité sportive était la croyance la plus fréquente chez les patients atteints de PR (84,4 %). L'idée qu'un choc émotionnel aurait déclenché le RIC était significativement plus répandue chez les patients atteints de PR que ceux souffrant de SpA (56 % et 28,2 % respectivement ; p = 0,036). À l'inverse, la croyance que le RIC est de cause génétique était significativement plus répandue chez les patients atteints de SpA que ceux atteints de PR (62,5 % et 40,9 % respectivement ; p = 0,013). Vingt-trois pour cent des patients atteints de PR estiment que certains aliments, comme les fruits et les légumes frais, soulagent les symptômes de la maladie, contre seulement 0,06 % des patients atteints de SpA (p = 0,05). Notre étude révèle l'existence de certaines incompréhensions chez les patients atteints de RIC concernant leur maladie. Il est donc essentiel d'accorder plus d'attention à l'éducation des patients afin de rectifier certaines croyances susceptibles d'influencer les décisions thérapeutiques partagées avec le médecin traitant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]