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.
Inflammatory bowel disease includes both Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, is a chronic, progressive relapsing disease of gastrointestinal tract that require long-term treatment or maintenance therapy. Taking patient’s beliefs about the prescribed medication in consideration had been shown to be an important factor that affects compliance of the patient in whom having positive beliefs is a prerequisite for better compliance. The aim of the current study was to investigate and assess beliefs about medicines among a sample of Iraqi patients with inflammatory bowel disease and to determine possible association between these beliefs and some patient-specific factors.
This study is a cross-sectional study carried out o
... Show MoreNew metal complexes of the ligand 4-[5-(2-hydoxy-phenyl)-[1,3,4- oxadiazol -2-ylimino methyl]-1,5-dimethyl-2-phenyl-1,2-dihydro-pyrazol-3-one (L) with the metal ions Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II) were prepared in alcoholic medium. The Schiff base was synthesized through condensate of [4-antipyrincarboxaldehyde] with[2-amino-5-(2-hydroxy-phenyl-1,3,4- oxadiazol] in alcoholic medium . Two tetradentate Schiff base ligand were used for complexation upon two metal ions of Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+ and Zn2+ as dineucler formula M2L2.4H2O. The metal complexes were characterized by FTIR Spectroscopy, electronic Spectroscopy, elemental analysis, magnetic susceptidbility measurements, and also the ligand was characterized by 1H-NMR spectra, and m
... Show MoreThis study describes preparation a new series of tetra-dentate N2O2 dinuclear complexes Cr(III), Co(II)and Cu(II) of the Schiff base 2-[5-(2-hydroxy-phenyl)-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-ylimino]-methyl-naphthalen-1-ol], (LH2) derived from 1-hydroxy-naphthalene-2-carbaldehyde with 2-amino-5-(2-hydroxy-phenyl)-1,3,4-thiadiazole. These ligands were characterized by FT-IR, UV-Vis, Mass spectra, elemental analysis, and 1H-NMR. All prepared complexes have been characterized by conductance measurement, magnetic susceptibility, electronic spectra, infrared spectrum, thermal Analysis (TGA), and metal analysis by atomic absorption. The stoichiometry of metal to ligand, magnetic susceptibility, and electronic spectra measurements show an octahedral geom
... Show MoreIn October 2019, Iraq and Lebanon witnessed widespread protests, which aroused the interest of the media, as they began with demands for the provision of services, then escalated with the overthrow of the political system. The researchers chose a satellite channel that represents a direction for a country accused of entering the line of protests. This paper aims to analyze the main bulletin of Al-Alam channel to find out how it deals with the protests in the news. It is classified descriptively, using the survey method and the method of content analysis. The study community was represented by the main news bulletin of Al-Alam channel. The researchers adopted a deliberate sample for the period from 1/10/2019 to
... Show Morethis research seeks to shed light on the study of the impact of Putinism on the Russian-Ukrainian war that broke out in early 2022, by studying the contents of the speeches of Russian President Vladimir Putin before the start of the war. This research uses the structural approach in analyzing the components of the Russian political regime. The research tools used in this research include case studies, content analysis of Russian speeches, and personal meetings of researchers and specialists in Russian affairs. It sums up a number of important conclusions, most notably are : 1) Putinism is a totalitarian regime that includes the political doctrine during the era of Russian President Vladimir Putin. 2) Duginism represents the totality of t
... Show MoreThe current study is considered a field study to measure the level of satisfaction of the academic programs of Media Masters students. That was accomplished through surveying the attitudes of the students who are enrolled in the faculties of media at the following universities: (Petra University, The Middle East University (MEU), and Al-Yarmouk University). Those students were enrolled in the master’s program within the formal educational system during the second semester of the academic year (2015 – 2016). This survey aims to identify the services, facilities and academic programs provided by the concerned faculties. It, also, aims to identify the public relations, administrative, educational and services aspects of those faculties.
... Show MoreAbstract
Oil is considered a commodity and is still an important and prominent role in drawing and shaping the Iraqi economic scene. The revenues generated from the export of oil are considered the main source of the general budget in cash flows.
Since the revenues consist of quantity and price and the latter is an external factor which is difficult to predict, The effect of any commodity on its price, which is proven in the theory of micro-economic, but it is observed through the research that the response is slow, which means not to take advantage of the rise in prices, by increasing the quantity exported, the result of several facto
... Show MoreIn the present study, thin films of organic semiconductors Nickel PhthalocyanineTetrasulfonic Acid Tetrasodium Salt (NiPcTs) and inorganic semiconductor (CdS) prepared from the mixing of liquids for thesetwomaterials with different size ratios by the spin coating method on pre-patterned (Fluorine-doped Tin Oxide) FTO coated glass substrates and then the manufacture of solar cells. The properties of solar cells the study through the optical properties (absorption spectra, absorption coefficient, power gap) and electrical characteristics (continuous onductivity, Hall Effect and cell efficiency measurements) and Was obtainedThe efficiency of a multiple solar cell ranging from (0.16-13.2 %)
Chemotherapy drugs have a major role in fighting cancer but, that doesn’t mean they are clear
from side effect on human health. One of these drugs is vincristine this study, the
chemopreventive potency of the crude extract ofIn Eruca Sativa Mill Which have a good
reputation as antioxidant and anticancer against chromosomal aberration and suppressed
mitotic index in bonemarrow cells of male albino mice treated with 50µ1 of vincristine
intrapritoneally(ip) have been detected.
Results Showed a Significant increasing in the percentage of the mitotic index nearly to the
control group and a significant decrease in chromosomal aberration after (35) days of
treatment with 250 mg/kg crude extract of Erucas