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.
In this study, a novel application of lab-scale dual chambered air-cathode microbial fuel cell (MFC) has been developed for simultaneous bio-treatment of real pharmaceutical wastewater and renewable electricity generation. The microbial fuel cell (MFC) was provided with zeolite-packed anodic compartment and a cation exchange membrane (CEM) to separate the anode and cathode. The performance of the proposed MFC was evaluated in terms of COD removal and power generation based on the activity of the bacterial consortium in the biofilm mobilized on zeolite bearer. The MFC was fueled with real pharmaceutical wastewater having an initial COD concentration equal to 800 mg/L and inoculated with anaerobic aged sludge. Results demo
... Show MoreThe study aims mainly to evaluate the performance of Sharq Dijila water treatment plant in removing turbidity for the period of 1-4-2001 to 31-3-2004. Daily data for turbidity of raw, clarified, filtered, and supplied water were analyzed. The results of the study showed that there is a wide variation in turbidity levels of raw water fluctuating between 10-1000 NTU with mean value of 41.3 NTU. Turbidity values of the clarified water varied between 1.4-77 NTU. Based on the turbidity value of 10 NTU and 20 NTU (the design maximum turbidity) the readings gave an acceptable percentage of 32.4% and 86% respectively. The turbidity of filtered water ranged between 0.2-4.5 NTU which are completely in compliance with Iraqi and WHO standards. In ac
... Show MoreWhen laser light incident on biological tissue, it is either reflected from the
surface of the tissue (e.g. the skin) or scattered inside the tissue or absorbed .The laser light will be
absorbed by water, hemoglobin and melanin. Absorption is also highly dependent on wave-length of
laser radiation. The absorbed light is converted into kinetic energy leading to laser effect that when
appropriately applied can produce reaction ranging from incision, vaporization to coagulation. Aim of
the study: To evaluate the efficiency of diode Laser 810 ± 20nm in treatment of oral lesions. Methods:
6 patients (2 females and 4 males) with different oral lesions were treated in the hospital of specialized
surgeries by the use of dio
KE Sharquie, AA Khorsheed, AA Al-Nuaimy, Saudi Medical Journal, 2007 - Cited by 91
Large quantities of contaminated carwash wastewater are produced per day from carwash places. Extensively it contains large quantities of chemicals from detergents, oil, grease, heavy metals, suspended solids, types of hydrocarbons, and biological contents. A novel electrocoagulation treatment by foil electrodes was conducted to remove COD, turbidity, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) from contaminated carwash wastewater and decrease its Electrical Conductivity (EC). A thin layer of aluminum foil is used as an electrode in this treatment process. The effects of different voltage and treatment times were studied. The best result was found at a voltage of 30 volts and treatment time 90 minute where the removal efficiency of COD
... Show MoreIn the present study, advanced oxidation process / heterogeneous photocatalytic process (UV/TiO2/Fenton) system was investigated to the treatment of oily wastewater. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of hydrogen peroxide concentration H2O2, initial amount of the iron catalyst Fe+2, pH, temperature, amount of TiO2 and the concentration of oil in the wastewater. The removal efficiency for the system UV/TiO2/Fenton at optimal conditions and dosage (H2O2 = 400mg/L, Fe+2 = 40mg/L, pH=5, temperature =30oC, TiO2=75mg/L) for 1000mg/L load was found to be 77%.
Aluminum foil cover around the re
... Show MoreIn this work, electrodialysis (ED) has been demonstrated to be appropriate technique for reducing the electrical conductivity of real wastewater from fuel washing unit, which has been previously treated by other electrochemical technology (electrocoagulation and electrooxidation). A five cell electrodialysis stack, with an active membrane area of 60 cm2 per cell was employed. During a batch recirculation mode ED system, the effects of parameters such as electrical potential applied (6-18 V) and flow rate of streams (0.5-1.7 L/min.) on the performance of the total dissolved solids (TDS) separation and specific power consumption (SPC) were studied. The results indicate that the process of ED under potential (15 V) and flow
... Show MorePetroleum is one of the most important substances consumed by man at present times, a major energy source in this century, petroleum oils can cause environmental pollution during various stages of production, transportation, refining and use, petroleum hydrocarbons pollutions ranging from soil, ground water to marine environment, become an inevitable problem in the modern life, current study focused on bioremediation process of hydrocarbons contaminants that remaining in the bottom of gas cylinders and discharged to the soil. Twenty-four bacterial isolates were isolated from contaminated soils all of them gram negative bacteria, bacterial isolates screening to investigate the ability of biodegradation of hydrocarbons, these isolates
... Show MoreThe zirconia ceramic restoration (ZCR) is used as substitutes for the metal-ceramic restoration. Clinical studies demonstrating of ZCRs showed a high fracture incidence of veneering layer than metal-ceramic restorations. This attributed to the low bond strength of zirconia to veneering ceramic as a result of lacking of glass content in its matrix. Surface treatment was proposed to improve the bonding strength between zirconia and veneering ceramic. Several studies revealed that some treatment such as airborne particle abrasion (APA) is responsible for generating chipping of veneering ceramic. The study aimed to develop a new zirconia coatings to increase bonding strength between zirconia substrate and veneering porcelain. Three groups of 15
... Show MoreObjectives: Teenage pregnancy with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) offers a real challenge to the health system and needs a special care. We aimed to evaluate possible obstetrical and neonatal adverse events of different treatment protocols in adolescent GDM including lifestyle, metformin (MTF), and insulin. Methods: All teen pregnant women ≤ 19 years old visiting Baghdad Teaching Hospital throughout four years (from June 1, 2016 till May 31, 2020) diagnosed with GDM were included in this cohort study and followed-up closely throughout pregnancy and after delivery. Included adolescents were put on lifestyle alone during the first week of presentation. Adolescents who reached target glucose measurements were categorized i
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