Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease with polymorphic expression. B cells have an essential contribution in immune system activation via the production of different cytokines and functioning as potent antigen-presenting cells. Therefore, a drug that particularly targets B cells may represent an ideal therapeutic approach for SLE. Rituximab (RTX), an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody causing transient B-cell depletion, has been used to manage SLE. This study aims to assess Rituximab effects on lupus nephritis (LN) patients when added to conventional immunosuppressants. Twenty four patients, 15-32 years old, with class III/IV/V LN were involved in this study. All were on steroids before lupus nephritis occurrence. They were given rituximab induction therapy and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) maintenance therapy. RTX was indicated for refractory and relapsing SLE. Several investigations done before and after RTX treatment and in the last follow up (done one year after starting Rituximab). Those included protein in urine, serum creatinine, double stranded DNA, C3, C4, and Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR). Proteinuria decreased significantly after RTX treatment and in the last measurement (P=0.01 and P=0.001, respectively). Serum creatinine significantly decreased only in the last measurement (P=0.02). Double stranded DNA decreased remarkably after treatment (P=0.01) with a further decrease in the last measurement (P=0.006). C3 and C4 increased after treatment but the increase was significant only for C3 (P=0.002) and this increase continues till the last measurement (P=0.0006). Active urine sediments found in fifteen patients and disappeared after RTX treatment. Rituximab can be promising in treating lupus nephritis when used along with traditional immunosuppressants. It can reduce disease activity and improve renal function in such patients.
Throughout history, artists have played many important roles in society.
Generally speaking, the role of the artist is defined by the society he is part of.
Indeed, there are as many ideas as to the role of the artist and, ultimately the purpose
of art in society, as there are types of art. This is, as a matter of fact, neither a new
question- the dialogue has been present within art for centuries- nor probably one
that will ever fully be answered.
Tom Stoppard came to prominence in the mid-sixties, when art and politics
were closely linked, and theatre sought to change the world. Stoppard would have
none of that: his work has no overt message, no political program. In fact,
... Show MoreB3LYP density functional is utilized for probing the effect of decorating Al, Ga, and In on the sensing performance of a boron phosphide nanotube (BPNT) in detecting the 2-chloroethanol (CHE) molecule. We predict that the interaction of pure BPNT with CHE is physisorption, and the sensing response (SR) of BPNT is approximately 6.3. The adsorption energy of CHE is about − 26.3 to − 91.1, − 96.6, and − 100.3 kJ/mol, when the Al, Ga, and In metals are decorated on the BPNT surface, respectively. This indicates that the decorated metals significantly strength the interaction. Also, the corresponding SR meaningfully rises to 19.4, 41.0, and 93.4, indicating that by increasing the atomic number of metals, the sensitivity i
... Show MorePhysiological status and litter size can indeed have a significant impact on ewes' hematological parameters, which are essential indicators of their health. Therefore, this study examined the hematological profiles of ewes during pregnancy with single and twins in the Awassi ewes. The present study involved 232 ewes in good health and at sexual maturity. Among them, 123 ewes had single pregnancies, while 109 ewes had twin pregnancies. The age range of the ewes included in the study was between 3.5 and 4.5 years. Hematological tests were conducted on the sheep's blood samples promptly following collection. The findings demonstrated variations in hematological parameters among pregnant
... Show MoreIn spite of increasing clinical cases which caused by enteroviruses transferred by water and no documents about entericviruses in the Iraqi water standards. The use of coliphages as an indicator of enteroviruses and fecal pollution were suggested two procedures were applied . The first is Two-Step Enrichment Method and the second is Single Agar Layer Method. Both methods gives good results in Identification of coliphages through testing fifty different water samples (Tap water, Surface water and Bottled water) the study shows the presence of coliphages in fourteen samples.
Objective: The aim of this study was to formulate and in vitro evaluate fast dissolving oral film of practically insoluble bromocriptine mesylate to enhance its solubility and to improve its oral bioavailability by avoiding first pass effect as well as to produce an immediate release action of the drug from the film for an efficient management of diabetes mellitus type II in addition to an improvement of the patient compliance to this patient- friendly dosage form. Methods: The films were prepared by the solvent casting method using hydroxypropyl methylcellulose of grades (E3, E5, E15), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), pectin and gelatin as film-forming polymers in addition to polyethene glycol 400 (PEG400), propylene glycol (PG) and glycerin were
... Show MoreThis paper aims to study the chemical degradation of Brilliant Green in water via photo-Fenton (H2O2/Fe2+/UV) and Fenton (H2O2/Fe2+) reaction. Fe- B nano particles are applied as incrustation in the inner wall surface of reactor. The data form X- Ray diffraction (XRD) analysis that Fe- B nanocomposite catalyst consist mainly of SiO2 (quartz) and Fe2O3 (hematite) crystallites. B.G dye degradation is estimated to discover the catalytic action of Fe- B synthesized surface in the presence of UVC light and hydrogen peroxide. B.G dye solution with 10 ppm primary concentration is reduced by 99.9% under the later parameter 2ml H2O2, pH= 7, temperature =25°C within 10 min. It is clear that pH of the solution affects the photo- catalytic degradation
... Show MoreThe aim of the current study was to develop a nanostructured double-layer for hydrophobic molecules delivery system. The developed double-layer consisted of polyethylene glycol-based polymeric (PEG) followed by gelatin sub coating of the core hydrophobic molecules containing sodium citrate. The polymeric composition ratio of PEG and the amount of the sub coating gelatin were optimized using the two-level fractional method. The nanoparticles were characterized using AFM and FT-IR techniques. The size of these nano capsules was in the range of 39-76 nm depending on drug loading concentration. The drug was effectively loaded into PEG-Gelatin nanoparticles (≈47%). The hydrophobic molecules-release characteristics in terms of controlled-releas
... Show MoreThis research paper studies the use of an environmentally and not expensive method to degrade Orange G dye (OG) from the aqueous solution, where the extract of ficus leaves has been used to fabricate the green bimetallic iron/copper nanoparticles (G-Fe/Cu-NPs). The fabricated G‑Fe/Cu-NPs were characterized utilizing scanning electron microscopy, BET, atomic force microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and zeta potential. The rounded and shaped as like spherical nanoparticles were found for G-Fe/Cu‑NPs with the size ranged 32-59 nm and the surface area was 4.452 m2/g. Then the resultant nanoparticles were utilized as a Fenton-like oxidation catalyst. The degradation efficiency of
... Show MoreObjective(s): Biocompatibility, non-toxicity, minimal allergenicity, and biodegradability are all characteristics of chitosan. Other biological properties of chitosan have been reported, including antitumor, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. This research aim is the synthesis of drug compounds by preparation and characterization of polymer chitosan Schiff base and chitosan Schiff base / Poly vinyl alcohol / poly vinyl pyrrolidone Nanocomposite and study applications (anticancer cell line, antimicrobial agents). Methods: Chitosan Schiff base was prepared from the reaction of chitosan with carbonyl group of 4-nitro benzaldehyde. Polymer blend have been prepared by solution casting method. Chitosan Schiff base mixing with PVA and PVP
... Show MoreApple vinegar has many uses that include burn and wound healing and as an antimicrobial agent against different microorganisms, but not as a solvent. Therefore, this study aimed to use commercial apple vinegar as solvent to the plants of roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa), green tea (Camellia sinensis), and clove (Syzygium aromaticum). The effects of apple-vinegar extracts of these plants were compared with those of aqueous and ethanolic extracts against biofilm formation by Candida genus. Clove vinegar extract demonstrated antibiofilm activity against C. albicans, alone (2.4907± 0.382) or in combination with the antifungal agents fluconazole (1.689±0.33), nystati
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