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.
Heterogeneous organic compounds play an important role in our daily life as they contribute in many medical and industrial fields and are in continuous development as a result of the preparation of new derivatives with different properties. From this premise, the goal of this work appears, which is preparation of (four, five, six, and seven) membered ring systems derived from furfural, by its reaction with different aromatic aldehydes, and record their antioxidant activity by using free radical scavenging method of DPPH radicals. The new ring systems are synthesized by reacting the prepared Schiff-bases with different ring closure agents (chloroacetyl chloride, mercaptoaceticacid, anthranilic acid, and phthalic anhydride), the prep
... Show MoreIn this study the new azo compounds (3compounds) for nitrogen bases (Adenine and Cytosine) are synthesized through two reaction steps (formation of diazonium salt and coupling reaction). The compounds have been characterized by FTIR, melting point, and ultra-violate (UV) spectra. All synthesized compounds have been estimated in vitro for their antimicrobial activities against two species of bacteria(E.coli, S.aureus)and one kind of fungi ( Aspergillus flavus) .The results show that these compounds have very good antibacterial and antifungal activities especially compounds 1 and 3.To study the effect of these compounds were making some physiological tests on rats are made ,the results of hematological study showed decreasing level of
... Show MoreIn this work , the effect of chlorinated rubber (additive I), zeolite 3A with chlorinated rubber (additive II), zeolite 4A with chlorinated rubber (additiveIII), and zeolite 5A with chlorinated rubber (additive IV), on flammability for epoxy resin studied, in the weight ratios of (2, 4, 7,10 & 12%) by preparing films of (130x130x3) mm in diameters, three standard test methods used to measure the flame retardation which are ; ASTM : D-2863 , ASTM : D-635 & ASTM : D-3014. Results obtained from these tests indicated that all of them are effective and the additive IV has the highest efficiency as a flame retardant.
Small molecules drug conjugate mutual prodrug design (SMDC) composed of folate and lethal agent conjugate, rigidly bonded via hydrophilic bridge and self immolative disulfide bond ; represent new interesting approaches for cancer treatment , the component of SMDC intended for targeting folate receptor , along with greater conservation of component until reaching the target tumor tissue . The designing and synthesis of compound VI and VIII derived from 6-Mercaptopurine (6-MP) and Methotrexate ( MTX) conjugate altogether as mutual prodrugs were processed forward successfully by multistep reaction procedures , and by Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) for
... Show MoreThis research studies the possibility of producing Bone China with available local and geological substitutes and other manufactured ones since it’s traditionally produced by Bone ash, Cornish stone, and China clay, while the substitutes are Kaolin instead of China clay and Feldspar potash instead of Cornish stone. Because of the unavailability of Feldspar in Iraq, it was substituted with the manufactured alternative Feldspar. Bone ash was prepared from cow bones with heating treatments, grinding and sifting. The alternative Feldspar was prepared by chemical analysis of the natural Feldspar potash with local materials that include Dwaikhla Kaolin, Urdhuma Silica sand, Potassium Carbonate, and Sodium Carbonate. The mixture was burned at
... Show MoreBromocriptine mesylate is a semisynthetic ergot alkaloid derivative with potent dopaminergic activity, used in the treatment of pituitary tumors, Parkinson's disease (PD), hyperprolactinaemia, neuroleptic malignant syndrome, and type 2 diabetes ,the oral bioavailability is approximately 6%, therefore aim its prepare and evaluate bromocriptine mesylate as liquid self nano emulsifying drug delivery system to enhance its solubility , dissolution and stability . Solubility study was made in different vehicles to select the best excipients for dissolving bromocriptine mesylate. Pseudo-ternary phase diagrams were constructed at 1:1, 2:1, 3:1 and 4:1 ratios of surfactant and co-surfactant, four formulations were pre
... Show MoreGold, silver and nickel used as electrodes in the fabrication of perovskite solar cell by using thermal evaporation deposition method with direct structure FTO\ TiO2\ MAPbI3\ spiro-MeOTAD\ metal electrode. The cell efficiency was compared between the electrodes material as a function of time to explaining the effect of these metals electrode on cell performance, X-ray diffraction pattern showed that the samples that contain gold and nickel do not contain a compound indicating the interaction of the metal with the components of the cell or the formation of a new compound, while in the cell containing silver it was found that silver iodide is fo
Atorvastatin have problem of very slightly aqueous solubility (0.1-1 mg/ml). Nano-suspension is used to enhance it’s of solubility and dissolution profile. The aim of this study is to formulate Atorvastatin as a nano-suspension to enhance its solubility due to increased surface area of exposed for dissolution medium, according to Noyes-Whitney equation.
Thirty one formulae were prepared to evaluate the effect of ; Type of polymer, polymer: drug ratio, speed of homogenization, temperature of preparation and inclusion of co-stabilizer in addition to the primary one; using solvent-anti-solvent precipitation method under high power of ultra-sonication.
... Show MoreThe study aims to demonstrate the importance of instructional methods in teaching Arabic language as a second language or teaching the Arabic language to non-native speakers. The study is in line with the tremendous development in the field of knowledge, especially in the field of technology and communication, and the emergence of many electronic media in education in general and language teaching in particular. It employs an image in teaching vocabulary and presenting the experience of the Arabic Language Institute for Non-Speakers-King Abdul-Aziz University. The study follows the descriptive approach to solve the problem represented by the lack of interest in the educational methods when teaching Arabic as a second language. Accordingl
... Show More