Evaluation level of serum vitamin B12 in Iraqi patients with diabetes mellitus type 2, who used the metformin drug as a hypoglycemic agent.

Diabetes mellitus type 2 is characterized by insulin resistance, which can be combined with relatively decrease secretion of insulin hormone in the body. Metformin is usually recommended as a first-line treatment for diabetes mellitus-type 2, as it has a significant role in decrease mortality. This study aims to evaluate the B12 levels in Iraqi patients with type 2 diabetes, who were using the metformin drug in short-, medium- and long-term periods. The study included 202 patients, who were classified into four groups, according to their use of the Metformin drug as a hypoglycemic agent, while the fourth group did not use metformin and was termed as 'the standard group'. The results showed that the levels of vitamin B12 in patients using Metformin drugs in short-, medium- and long-term periods were, (444.4±17.21)pg/ml, (403.0±20.34)pg/ml and (261.7±14.70)pg/ml, respectively, compared to the standard group (469.7±26.37)pg/ml. The conclusion of this study was that a significant reduction was seen in the level of vitamin B12 in patients using the Metformin drug for medium- and long-term periods compared to the standard group, who did not use the Metformin drug.

Comparison of some hematological parameters between male and female patients infected with COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 is a highly contagious virus that is rapidly spreading across the world. As the number of COVID-19 patients is quickly rising, and certain nations and areas, such as the third world countries, lack the medical resources, it is critical to track and monitor a patient's status using blood parameters on regular testing. The aim of this study is to compare the serum D-dimer levels, Ferritin, CRP, WBCs, Lymphocytes, and Neutrophils in male and female patients infected with COVID-19. OBJECTIVE AND METHODS: The study procedure includes evaluating the D-dimer level, Ferritin, CRP, WBCs, lymphocytes, and neutrophils in 116 patients infected with COVID-19 (48 Females and 68 Males). RESULT: The result of this study shows a significant increase in the D-dimer level in males 1618 ± 247.7 ng/ml compared to females 684.5 ± 53.69 ng/ml and a significant increase in Ferritin level in males 525.6 ± 69.55 µg/L compared to females 254.1 ± 33.73 µg/L. However, no other significant change is seen in the other parameters (CRP, LDH, and WBCs, L, and N) although all of these parameters are abnormal, compared to the normal reference values. CONCLUSION: This study concludes that there is a significant increase in the D-dimer and Ferritin concentrations in male patients compared to female patients, who were infected with COVID-19. Also there are no significant differences in other parameters (CRP, LDH, WBCs, L, and N) between male and female patients.

Oxygen vacancies in Ru/TiO2 - drivers of low-temperature CO2 methanation assessed by multimodal operando spectroscopy.

Hydrogenation of CO2 is very attractive for transforming this greenhouse gas into valuable high energy density compounds. In this work, we developed a highly active and stable Ru/TiO2 catalyst for CO2 methanation prepared by a solgel method that revealed much higher activity in methanation of CO2 (ca. 4-14 times higher turnover frequencies at 140-210°C) than state-of-the-art Ru/TiO2 catalysts and a control sample prepared by wetness impregnation. This is attributed to a high concentration of O-vacancies, inherent to the solgel methodology, which play a dual role for 1) activation of CO2 and 2) transfer of electrons to interfacial Ru sites as evident from operando DRIFTS and in situ EPR investigations. These results suggest that charge transfer from O-vacancies to interfacial Ru sites and subsequent electron donation from filled metal d-orbitals to antibonding orbitals of adsorbed CO are decisive factors in boosting the CO2 methanation activity.