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 the 1970s, the world knew the long-tailed nesokia Nesokia bunnii (Khajuria, 1981) (Rodentia, Muridae) from the Mesopotamian marshes of Garden of Eden in Southern Iraq. This distinct rodent was known from only five voucher specimens collected at the confluence of Tigris and Euphrates Rivers in southern Iraq while its occurrence in Southwestern Iran had
never been reported. In the 1990s, a large extent of its natural habitat was catastrophically desiccated and the animal was last seen in the 1970s. Since then, the status of this elusive rodent was shrouded in mystery. In 2007, an extraordinary photograph of a carcass of this species came to the light from Hawizeh Marsh which was interpreted as concrete evidence of the species’ pers
Background: This study evaluated the influence of different fiber formulations incorporation in resin composite on cuspal deflection (CD) of endodontically-treated teeth with mesio-occluso-distal (MOD) cavities. Materials and Methods: Thirty-two freshly extracted maxillary premolar teeth received MOD cavity preparation followed by endodontic treatment using single cone obturation technique, and divided into: Group I: direct composite resin only using a centripetal technique, Group II: direct composite resin with short fiber-reinforced composite (everX Flow), Group III: direct composite resin with leno wave ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (LWUHMWPE) fibers placed on the cavity floor, and Group IV: direct composite resin with LWUHMWP
... Show MoreCoupling reaction of 4-amino antipyrene with 4-amino benzoic acid gave bidentate azo ligand. The prepared ligand was identified by Microelemental Analysis, 1HNMR, FT-IR and UV-Vis spectroscopic techniques. Treatment of the prepared ligand with the following metal ions (CoII, NiII, CuII and ZnII) in aqueous ethanol with a 1:2 M:L ratio and at optimum pH, yielded a series of neutral complexes of the general formula [M(L)2]Cl2 . The prepared complexes were characterized using flame atomic absorption, (C.H.N) Analysis, FT-IR and UV-Vis spectroscopic methods as well as magnetic susceptibility and conductivity measurements. Chloride ion content was also evaluated by (Mohr method). The nature of the complexes formed were studied following the mol
... Show MoreHighly-fluorescent Carbon Quantum Dots (CQDs) are synthesized in simple step by hydrothermal carbonization method of natural precursor such as orange juice as a carbon source. Hydrothermal method for synthesized CQDs requires simple and inexpensive equipment and raw materials, thus this method are now common synthesis method. The prepared CQDs have ultrafine size up to few nanometers and several features such as high solubility in water, low toxicity, high biocompatibility, photo-bleaching resistant, Chemical inertness and ease of functionalization which qualifies it for use in many applications such as bio-imaging, photo-labeling and photo-catalysis.
This research demonstrates the
... Show MoreThis paper is based on the Sentinel-2 satellite data: the thermal, red, and NIR bands. The Babylon city was chosen in this study for different reasons: its location in the middle of Iraq and it represents the largest capitals of the Mesopotamia civilization in the word. The Land Surface Temperature (LST) was determined using a method that incorporates remote sensing, geographic information systems, and statistics. This process has made it possible to monitor the relationship between land usage and the land surface temperature for four seasons in the year 2021. The mapswere processed and analyzed by using ArcGIS software. Five maps of the LST were constructed. Each map represents diffe
The new bidentate Schiff base ligand namely [(E)-N1-(4-methoxy benzylidene) benzene-1, 2-diamine] was prepared from condensation of 4-Methoxy benzaldehyde with O-Phenylene diamine at 1:1 molar ratio in ethanol as a solvent in presence of drops of 48% HBr. The structure of ligand (L) was characterized by, FT-IR, U.V-Vis., 1H-, 13C- NMR spectrophotometer, melting point and elemental microanalysis C.H.N. Metal complexes of the ligand (L) in general molecular formula [M(L)3], where M= Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II),Cu(II) and Hg(II); L=(C14H14N2O) in ratio (1:3)(Metal:Ligand) were synthesized and characterized by Atomic absorption, FT- IR, U.V-Vis. spectra, molar conductivity, chloride content, melting point and magnetic susceptibility from the above d
... Show MoreThis study reports the fabrication of tin oxide (SnO2) thin films using pulsed laser deposition (PLD). The effect of 60Co (300, 900, and 1200 Gy) gamma radiation on the structural, morphological, and optical features is systematically demonstrated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and ultraviolet-visible light analysis (UV-Vis), respectively In XRD tests, the size of the crystallites decreased from 45.5 to 40.8 nm for the control samples and from 1200 Gy to 60Co for the irradiated samples. Using FESEM analysis, the particle diameter revealed a similar trend to that attained using XRD; in particular, the average diameters were 93.8 and
... Show MoreAbstract
This research aims to study the reflection of accounting for contingent assets and liabilities and provisions on Faithful Representation characteristic of accounting information, To achieve this goal has been questionnaire design has been distributed to research sample, which consists of (50) li
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