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.
The alfalfa plant, after harvesting, was washed, dried, and grinded to get fine powder used in water treatment. We used the alfalfa plant with ethanol to make the alcoholic extract characterized by using (GC-Mass, FTIR, and UV) spectroscopy to determine active compounds. Alcoholic extract was used to prepare zinc nanoparticles. We characterized Zinc nanoparticles using (FTIR, UV, SEM, EDX Zeta potential, XRD, AFM). Zinc nanoparticle with Alfalfa extract and alfalfa powder were used in the treatment of water polluted with inorganic elements such as Cr, Mn, Fe, Cu, Cd, Ag by (Batch processing). The batch process with using alfalfa powder gets treated with Pb (51.45%), which is the highest percentage of treatment. Mn (13.18%), which is the
... Show MoreNew metal complexes of the ligands 2-benzamido benzothiazole(B1), and 2-actamido benzothiazole(B2) with metal ions Ni(II),and Co(II) were prepared in alcoholic medium. The prepared complexes were characterized by FT-IR and electronic spectroscopy, Magnetic susceptibility, Flame Atomic Absorption technique as well as elemental analysis and conductivity measurement. From the spectral studies, an octahedral monomer structure proposed for Ni(II) complexes, and a tetrahedral monomer structure for Co(II)complexes.Semi-empirical methods (PM3,and ZINDO/1)were carried out to evaluate the heat formation( ?H?f)binding energy(?Eb) and dipole moment(µ)for all metal complexes. Also vibration frequencies, Electrostatic potential, HOMO and LUMO
... Show MoreThe photo-electrochemical etching (PECE) method has been utilized to create pSi samples on n-type silicon wafers (Si). Using the etching time 12 and 22 min while maintaining the other parameters 10 mA/cm2 current density and HF acid at 75% concentration.. The capacitance and resistance variation were studied as the temperature increased and decreased for prepared samples at frequencies 10 and 20 kHz. Using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the bore width, depth, and porosity % were validated. The formation of porous silicon was confirmed by x-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns, the crystal size was decreased, and photoluminescence (PL) spectra revealed that the emission peaks were centered at 2q of 28.5619° and 28.7644° for et
... Show MoreIn this study, two active galaxies (NGC4725, NGC4639) have been chosen to study their morphological and photometric properties, by using the IRAF ISOPHOTE ELLIPS task with griz-filters. Observations are obtained from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) which reaches now to the DATA Release (DR14). The data reduction of all images (bias and flat field) has been done by SDSS Pipeline. The surface photometric investigation was performed like the magnitude. Together with isophotal contour maps, surface brightness profiles and a bulge/disk decomposition of the images of the galaxies, although the disk position angle, ellipticity, and inclination of the galaxies have been done. Also, the color of galaxies was studied, where chromatic distribution
... Show MoreUreteric obstruction is rarely noted in cases of gastric cancer. Its involvement by distant metastasis from gastric adenocarcinoma without direct invasion is an exceptionally unusual occurrence. This is the story of a 58-year-old man who arrived at the emergency department with acute flank pain and fever. He was initially diagnosed with obstructive pyelonephritis after the discovery of a new onset, complete ureteric obstruction on the left side. Subsequent investigations and follow-up revealed the presence of gastric adenocarcinoma with possible ureteric metastasis bilaterally, flank pain and hydronephrosis were the first and only presentations of gastric cancer. The rarity of the condition and the unusual presentation encouraged us to r
... Show MoreDuring the last few years, the greener additives prepared from bio-raw materials with low-cost and multifunctional applications have attracted considerable attention in the field of lubricant industry. In the present work, copolymers derived from sunflower and linseed oils with decyl methacrylate were synthesized by a thermal method using benzoyl peroxide (BPO) as a radical initiator. Direct polymerization of fatty acid double bonds in the presence of a free radical initiator results in the development of environmentally friendly copolymeric additives (Co-1 and Co-2). Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (1H-NMR) were used to characterize the resulting copolymers. Thermal decomposition of copolymers was de
... Show MoreIn this work, lead oxide nanoparticles were prepared by laser ablation of lead target immersed in deionized water by using pulsed Nd:YAG laser with laser energy 400 mJ/pulse and different laser pulses. The chemical bonding of lead oxide nps was investigated by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR); surface morphology and optical properties were investigated by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and UV-Visible spectroscopy respectively, and the size effect of lead oxide nanoparticles was studied on its antibacterial action against two types of bacteria Gram-negitive (Escherichia coli) and Gram-positive (Staphylococcusaurus) by diffusion method. The antibacterial property results show that the antibacterial activity of the Lead oxide NPs was
... Show MoreAbstract
Itraconazole is a triazole antifungal given orally for the treatment of oropharyngeal and vulvovaginal candidiasis, for systemic infections including aspergillosis, candidiasis, and for the prophylaxis of fungal infections in immunocompromised patients.
The study aimed to formulate a practical water-insoluble Itraconazole, with insufficient bioavailability as nanosuspension to increase aqueous solubility and improve its dissolution and oral bioavailability.
Itraconazole nanosuspension was produced by a
... Show More