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.
Near surface mounted (NSM) carbon fibers reinforced polymer (CFRP) reinforcement is one of the techniques for reinforcing masonry structures and is considered to provide significant advantages. This paper is composed of two parts. The first part presents the experimental study of brick masonry walls reinforced with NSM CFRP strips under combined shear-compression loads. Masonry walls have been tested under vertical compression, with different bed joint orientations 90° and 45° relative to the loading direction. Different reinforcement orientations were used including vertical, horizontal, and a combination of both sides of the wall. The second part of this paper comprises a numerical analysis of unreinforced brick masonry (URM) wa
... Show MoreThe Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused an unprecedented disruption in medical education and healthcare systems worldwide. The disease can cause life-threatening conditions and it presents challenges for medical education, as instructors must deliver lectures safely, while ensuring the integrity and continuity of the medical education process. It is therefore important to assess the usability of online learning methods, and to determine their feasibility and adequacy for medical students. We aimed to provide an overview of the situation experienced by medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to determine the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of medical students regarding electronic medical education.
... Show Moreγ-Al2O3–NPs were synthesized by a green synthesis process based on Boswellia carterii resin extract and aluminum sulphate in an alkaline medium. Boswellia carterii resin extract is a significant reducing and stabilizing agent for synthesizing γ-Al2O3–NPs.Several techniques, including Fourier–transform infrared (FT-IR), UV–visible spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction, electron microscopy (XRD), energy dispersive x-ray (EDX), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM), were utilized to investigate the final product. XRD and SEM confirmed a plate-like crystalline structure with an average size of 17.5 nm. FT-IR analysis identified aluminum oxide stretching vibrations (655,
... Show MoreWe have synthesized many metal (II) complexes using curcumin L1 as the major ligand and 2-(1H-Benzimidazol-2-yl) aniline L2 as a supporting ligand. The complexes were characterized by spectroscopy methods such as; molar conductivity, elements microanalysis, Fourier-transform spectroscopy (FT-IR), UV-vis, and mass spectroscopy. Both curcumin ligands and L2 were found to be capable of binding to M(II) and metal ions via their two N atoms, according to the data. The formula for the complexes is the same. [M (L1)(L2)H2OCl], where M is Ni(II), Co(II), Cu(II), Cd(II), and Hg(II) (II). Octahedral complexes are proposed for the prepared compounds. The bio-actives suggested that the complexes are effective against bacteria and fungus on a mi
... Show MoreIn Iraq, the risk of soil pollution by petroleum products increases with the growth of oil exploration, production and shipping large quantities of oil through pipelines over thousands of kilometers. Numerous oil spills have been documented recently in many sites due to damage in the oil industry infrastructures, which have led to soil contamination causing serious environmental hazards and deterioration to the soil and its engineering properties. So, it is essential to investigate the impact of oil leakage through the soil stratum consequently, assessing the eligibility of the contaminated soil for construction projects or identifying the appropriate treatment method. The paper investigates the general behaviour and the associated variatio
... Show MoreMicrobial activity of Ellagic acid when mixed with some types of candy toward Streptococcus mutans microorganism was studied. The main purpose of carrying out this study is to produce a new type of candy that contains Ellagic acid in addition to xylitol instead of sucrose to prevent dental caries. The results show that the inhibitory action of Ellagic acid was more effective when mixed with this type of candy for the purpose of reducing Streptococcus mutans microorganisms, while sensory evaluation was applied in this study to 20 volunteers to that candy sample evaluated which contain (5 mg/ml) Ellagic acid with 100g xylitol to determine consumers acceptability of this sample of candy. The results were expressed as mean value, slandered d
... Show MoreThis study aims to Statement of the relationship between Total Quality Management philosophy and Organizational performance from the point of view of the internal customer. A comparison has been made between two companies, one of which applies the requirements of TQM well and the other does not apply these requirements as the (General Company for Electrical Industries/ Diyala) and (General Company for Electrical Industries/ Baghdad) to conduct the search, During the questionnaire prepared for this purpose and distributed to a sample of 30 employees in the General Company for Electric Industries/ Diyala and (20) employees of the General Company for Electrical Industries/ Baghdad. Their answers were analyzed using a simple correlation coef
... Show MoreA field experiment was carried out at the research station of the College of Agriculture - Wasit University / Kut, during the fall season 2021 in soil with texture (sandy mixture) using the RCBD design in the arrangement of splintered plates and with three replications, to study the effect of spraying different combinations of organic emulsion (Appetizer) and NPK nano fertilizer with urea fertilizer on the growth of synthetic cultivars of yellow corn. The main panels included three synthetic varieties of yellow corn (Fajr1, Sumer and Baghdad3), which symbolized by (V1,V2,V3) in sequence, while the secondary panels included five fertilization treatments in which mineral fertilizer (urea) was used 46% nitrogen with the full recomme
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