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.
Laser shock peening (LSP) is deemed as a deep-rooted technology for stimulating compressive residual stresses below the surface of metallic elements. As a result, fatigue lifespan is improved, and the substance properties become further resistant to wear and corrosion. The LSP provides more unfailing surface treatment and a potential decrease in microstructural damage. Laser shock peening is a well-organized method measured up to the mechanical shoot peening. This kind of surface handling can be fulfilled via an intense laser pulse focused on a substantial surface in extremely shorter intervals. In this work, Hydrofluoric Acid (HF) and pure water as a coating layer were utilized as a new technique to improve the properti
... Show MoreIn Iraq, government contributions to the public companies have become a very important aspect which contributes to the survival and sustainability of these institutions as it consider one of the main sources of funding, if not it consider the basis of funding.
According to the vital roles assigned to these institutions to follow up, which usually include important activities in the national economy, the research focused on studying the field reality of the method used in evaluating the stock of total production and purchases of goods for the purpose of selling the strategic commodities of the General Company for Grain Trade. As a result, the aim of this study came to came to highlight&n
... Show MoreBackground:The effects of contraception on Trichomonas vaginalis have important implications for women who suffer from infections associated with disruptions in the vaginal ecology, such as bacterial vaginitis and urinary tract infections.
Objective: To find the association of the common types of contraceptions with the Trichomonasvaginalis infection in women admitted to the Al-BatoolTeaching Hospital for Maternity and Children in Baqubah city.
Type of study: Cross-sectional study
Methods: This study consist of 75 women with contraception use and71 apparently healthy non contraception user women admitted to outpatient in Al
... Show MoreExcerption and inclusion are two terms in Arabic rhetoric. The excerption is defined as a taking a part of text from Holly Quran or Hadith and put it in a poem, verse line, or put it in a prose text. But the linguistics expand the concept of this term to include taking from another sciences and knowledge, like Grammar, Philology, and Prosody.
Inclusion is defined as taking a verse line or part of verse line from another poet to put it in a new poem, it is necessary that the poet who take the text should declare it, and if he hides it, it will be plagiarism.
This search is use these two terms in architecture, we have now new two terms in architecture, first one; architectural excerption, it means the designer takes a part of religio
Azo dyes are the most common and widely used dyes, accounting for more than half of each year's dyes. In this work, a complete description of a new innovative series of compounds with the elements [Ag (I), Zn (II)] generated from the guanine azo dye ligand (GAB) 8-[1-(3-carboxy) azo] guanine has been studied. The structural formula was studied using several physicochemical analyses and spectroscopic techniques (FT-IR spectra, UV-Vis). The FTIR spectrum of the ligand (GAB) was compared to the spectra of the metal ion complexes formed to determine its identity. Chelating caused some changes in the spectra of the complexes to appear to demonstrate that they could be linked to the ligand. The complexes have a tetrahedral geometry shape, the
... Show MoreBackground: The treatment of schizophrenia typically involves the use of olanzapine (OLZ), a typical antipsychotic drug that has poor oral bioavailability due to its low solubility and first-pass effect. Objective: To prepare and optimize OLZ as nanoparticles for transdermal delivery to avoid problems with oral administration. Methods: The nanoprecipitation technique was applied for the preparation of eight OLZ nanoparticles by using different polymers with various ratios. Nanoparticles were evaluated using different methods, including particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), entrapment efficiency (EE%), zeta potential and an in vitro release study. The morphology was evaluated by a field emission scanning electron microscope (F
... Show MoreThe aim of present study was to develop gel formulation of microsponges of poorly soluble drug meloxicam (MLX) in order to enhance the release and dissolution of MLX which is the limitation for preparation in topical forms. Also skin delivery is an alternative administration for MLX that can minimize gastrointestinal (GI) side effects and improve patient compliance. The microsponges of MLX were prepared by quasi-emulsion solvent diffusion method. The effects of drug:polymer ratio, stirring time and Eudragit polymer type on the physical characteristics of microsponges were investigated and characterized for production yield, loading efficiency, particle size, surface morphology, and in vitro drug release from microsponges. The selec
... Show MoreAs possible mutual prodrug had been synthesized that contain metronidazole and dexamethazone conjugated through phosphodiester linkage. The rationale for this type of conjugate is to get a prodrug with possible site – specific delivery of its active constituents into the lower parts of the G.I.T.
This compound was synthesized by the reaction of dexamethzone – 21 – phosphate with metronidazole to form:(1 – (dexamethazone – 21 – phosphoryl) – metronidazole)
This conjugate was performed using dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC) as a condensing agent. The identity of the prepared compound had been confirmed using T.L.C., U.V. spectroscopy, IR spectrosco
... Show MoreAbstract :
The research aims to diagnose some of the negative phenomena
( Counterfiting , Pettifogging , Embezzlement ) that have been detected over the past ( 2010 – 2014 ), a fixed-term part of the national strategy for the fight against corruption launched by the Joint Council for the fight against corruption in Iraq and measuring the application of government control according to the American standard GAO standards and identifying the potential for the application of those standards gap. It has been collecting data and information of special issues of corruption reports and meeting with (42) employees and the use of a checklist has been prepared for thi