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 research, the study effect of irradiation on structural and optical properties of thin film (CdO) by spray pyrolysis method, which deposited on glasses substrates at a thickness of (350±20)nm , The flow rate of solution was 5 ml/min and the substrate temperature was held constant at 400˚C.The investigation of (XRD) indicates that the (CdO) films are polycrystalline and type of cubic. The results of the measuring of each sample from grain size, micro strain, dislocation density and number of crystals the grain size decreasing after irradiation with gamma ray from(27.41, 26.29 ,23.63)nm . The absorbance and transmittance spectra have been recorded in the wavelength range (300-1100) nm in order to study the optical properties. the op
... Show MoreIntroduction: Nitrofurantoin (NFT) is abroad spectrum bactericidal antibiotic. The bioavailability of NFT is affected by many factors. Samafurantin® tablets containing 50 mg NFT were manufactured by Samarra drug industry. Urinary excretion studies were employed since; the urinary tract is the main site of NFT action and excretion. Objective: The objective of the study was to investigate the effect of Uricol® and food on secondary pharmacokinetic parameters of Samafurantin® tablets with different doses by applying urinary data. Methods: Twelve healthy male volunteers participated in this study. Urine samples were collected from each volunteer after overnight fasting at a specified time intervals which considered as a blank sample for meas
... Show MoreBackground: Orthodontic force is considered to stimulate cells in the periodontium to release many mediators such as cytokines which play a responsible role for periodontal and alveolar bone remodeling, bone resorption and new bone deposition. Aim of this study was carried out to estimate changes of the (interleukin-one beta, tumor necrosis factor – alpha and C-reactive protein) levels in unstimulated whole saliva during the leveling stage of orthodontic tooth movement. Materials and methods: The sample consisted of thirty adult patients (12 males and 18 females) with ages ranges (19-23) years. Each sample had Class I and Class II malocclusion dental classification and required bilateral extraction of their maxillary first premolars, und
... Show MoreLabrotary experiment was conducted to study the effect of different levels of nematode population densities of Meloidogyne spp on seed germination percentage and seedling characteristics of Vigna sinensis, Ahelmoschus esculentus, Cicer arietinum, Helianthus annuus and Rap-hanus sativus. Four different levels of nematode populat-ion densities ranged from 1 to 4 prepared from radish in-fected roots and used as inoculating agent to infect all seed types in the experiment Seed germination percentage of Vigna sinensis and Ablemoschus eseulentus were highly reduced (at 0.01 level of significance) with increased nematode population level from 1 to 4. Seedling length of the remaining seed types were significantly reduced (at 0.01 level of signif
... Show MoreObjective: This in vitro study is aimed to compare and evaluate the cyclic fatigue of four varying NiTi rotary instrumentation systems. Method: In this study, four types of rotary files were used in four groups (10 files for each group), namely, Group A: Wave One Gold; Group B: AF Blue R3; Group C: One Curve; Group D: F6 SkyTaper. These groups were evaluated by a cyclic fatigue apparatus to measure cyclic fatigue resistance within the artificial metallic simulating canal that has a 60 angle of curvature, the curvature radius was 5 mm, whereas the inner diameter of the canal was 1.5 mm. All the files were rotated in artificial canals until they fracture. The resistance to cyclic fatigue was determined by counting the number of cycles to frac
... Show MoreThe current research includes several axes, which determine the basic professional skills among kindergarten teachers and government civil Balraudhat and their relationship to educate kindergarten children with life skills teacher Albaiah.boattabar his career. And this profession imposes upon that possesses special skills, qualify him to do his roles. The teacher experimenter, researcher and owner of philosophy and organizer and director of the positions and educational director of the interactions of classroom and non-classroom. And educational systems that are responsible for the preparation of the emerging needs constant review in order to improve internal Kvaiadtha select the best input consistent with the reality of education, so as
... Show MoreTwo field experiments were conducted during the spring seasons of 2000,2001.The aim was to study the effect of hardening to drought tolerance on moisture percentage in root and stem of sunflower plant during growth stages . Asplit-split plots design was used with three replications.The main plots included irrigation treatments:irrigation to100%(full irrigation),75and50%of available soil water.The sub plots were the cultivars Euroflor and Flame.The sub-sub plots represented four seed soaking treatments :Control(unsoaked),soaking in water ,Paclobutrazol solution(250ppm),and Pix solution(500ppm). The soaking continued for 24 hours then seeds were dried at room temperature until they regained their original weight. Amount of water
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