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.
Abstract Liver cancer with hepatocellular carcinoma a serious clinical illness that progresses quickly and has a bad prognosis because to increased malignancy. Fibrosis is the precursor of liver cancer, which progresses to cirrhosis and carcinoma Diethylnitrosamine (DEN) is a chemical molecule that has been used as a carcinogenic agent to promote cancer in test animals because of its strong carcinogenic potential. Herbal plants have long been used as inexpensive, effective alternatives to pharmaceuticals in various liver-associated complications, since they contain many bioactive compounds useful in liver disorders. Hibiscus tiliaceus L. (Malvaceae) contain various phytochemicals in the plant extracts such as Flavonoids, phe
... Show MoreAccurate description of thermodynamic, structural, and electronic properties for bulk and surfaces of ceria (CeO2) necessitates the inclusion of the Hubbard parameter (U) in the density functional theory (DFT) calculations to precisely account for the strongly correlated 4f electrons. Such treatment is a daunting task when attempting to draw a potential energy surface for CeO2-catalyzed reaction. This is due to the inconsistent change in thermo-kinetics parameters of the reaction in reference to the variation in the U values. As an illustrative example, we investigate herein the discrepancy in activation and reaction energies for steps underlying the partial and full hydrogenation of acetyl
... Show MoreIn this paper, three tool paths strategies; iso-planar, helical and adaptive have been implemented to investigates their effect on the mechanical properties of Brass 65-35 formed by single point incremental sheet metal forming process. To response this task, a fully digital integrated system from CAD modeling to finished part (CAD/CAM) for SPIF process has been developed in this paper.
The photo-micrographs shows an identical grain formation due to the plastic deformation of the incremental forming process, change in the grain shape and size was observed. It's found that the adaptive tool path play a significant role to increase the hardness of the formed specimen from (48 to 90 HV) and the grain texture of the formed specimen found a
The article presents the results of studies of the species composition of phytopathogens of winter soft wheat grain affected by ear fusarium. For the first time, studies were conducted using a complex of electron microscopic, molecular genetics, and mycological methods. The species F. graminearum dominated in all samples (frequency of occurrence 42.8%). The species F. avenaceum (23.3%), F. sporotrichioides and F. equiseti (8.8% each) were noted with high frequency. Next in descending order of frequency of occurrence: F. oxysporum, F. boothii, F. poae, F. proliferatum, F. accumatum, F. incarnatum, F. vorosii, F. tricinctum, F. cerealis, F. sambuticum. For the first time, 7 species were found for the plain zone of the Pre-Caucasus: F.
... Show MoreThe research deals with solar energy as one of the sources of renewable energies available in Iraq, which can be utilized. The research aims to identify the design pillars of the use of solar energy in street furniture and its relationship to formal variables. The research limits included street furniture manufactured by JCDecaux in Boston during the period 2015-2016, and included the theoretical framework which consists of two sections: solar energy (its beginnings and uses), and solar energy and its uses in Street furniture design.
As far as the research procedures and methodology are concerned, it adopted the descriptive approach in describing and analyzing the sample models in addition to describing and analyzing the sample i
... Show Moret: - Sports training in itself is a means, not an end. It is the core process that involves using exercises to provide an opportunity for athletes to perform their duties with the highest level of efficiency by developing and enhancing their capabilities and potential, using them to gain the greatest benefit for themselves and, consequently, for their team. This requires the selection of various methods and different means of training, focusing on specific physical and skill-related aspects. Therefore, training plans should take into account individual differences between players. Many researchers and experts in the field of sports in general, and combat sports in particular, emphasize the importance of having a holistic approach in the tra
... Show MoreCu-Al-Ni shape memory alloy specimens has been fabricated using powder metallurgy technique with tube furnace and vacuum sintering environment , three range of Nb powder weight percentage (0.3,0.6,0.9)% has been added. Micro hardness and sliding wear resist has been tested followed by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscope (EDX) for micro structure observation. The experimental test for the samples has showed that the increase of Nb powder weight percentage in the master alloy has a significant effect on increasing the hardness and decreasing the wear resist therefore it will enhance the mechanical properties for this alloy.
Complexes of 1-phenyl-3-(2(-5-(phenyl amino)-1,3,4- thiadiazole-2-yl)phenyl) thiourea have been prepared and characteized by elemental analysis, Ff-[R, and u.v./ visible spectra moreover, determination of metal content M%o by flame atomic absorption spectroscopy, molar conductance in DMSO solution and magnetic moments (peffl. The result showed that the ligand (L) was coordinated to Mn*2, Ni*2, Ct*2,2n*2,Cd*2, and Hg*2 ions through the nitrogen atoms and sulpher atoms. From the result obtained, rhe following general formula [MLClz] has been given for the prepared complexes with an octahedral geometry around the metal ions for all complexes. where M= Mn*2, Ni*2, cu*2, zn*z, cd*z, and Hg*2 l= l-phenyl-3-(2-(5-(phenyl amino)-1, 3,
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