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.
The limited availability of the two-circle diffractometer to collect intensity measurements down to the monoclinic system has been extended in a novel procedure to collect intensities for the triclinic system. The procedure involves the derivation of matrix elements from graphical representation of the reciprocal lattice. Offset of the origins of the upper layers from that of the zero-layer - characteristic of triclinic system - is determined and the 3 x 3 matrix elements are evaluated accordingly. Details of crystal alignment by X-rays for the triclinic system utilizing the intensities of equivalent reflections is described
In this work, a functional nanocomposite consisting of multi walled carbon nanotubes combined with nanoparticles of silver and Pomegranate peel extract (MWCNTs- SNPs -NPGPE) was successfully synthesized using ultra sonic technique. The nanocomposite has been characterized using Transmission electron microscope (TEM), XRD, Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) UV-Vis and FTIR. The obtained results reveal that the MWCNTs-SNPs-NPGPE nanocomposite exhibits form of nanotubes with rough surfaces and containing black spots, which are the silver nanoparticles. The dimensions of this tube are 161 nm in length and 60 nm in width with nanoparticles of silver not exceeding 20 nm. The XRD pattern of the prepared MWCNTs-SNPs-NPGPE nanocomposite s
... Show MoreThe study included selection six species of the fungi related to Pleurotus genus were evaluated for their ability to production of Pleurotin, one of them, Pleurotus ostreatus (P.11) was isolated and identified in the present study. Pleurotin was extracted with screening by Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) and quantification High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Cytotoxicity of Pleurotin extracted from P. ostreatus (P.11) grown in different sugar sources (galactose, mannitol, sucrose, dextrose and lactose) liquid media was test against three selected cancer cell lines, CaSki, MCF-7 and A549 addition to Human Non Cancer Fibroblast Cell Line (MRC-5). Pleurotin of P. ostreatus (P.11) grown in galactose induced the significant highest
... Show MoreDiagnosis of cystic echinococcosis is complex and has to be confirmed by the combination of immunological tests and imaging techniques. In this study heat shock proteins were induced and their immunoreactivity was assessed by ELISA.
Sera were collected from 34 hydatid patients who were admitted to the Rizgary Teaching Hospital through October 2013 to July 2017, in addition to 29 healthy donors and 18 non-hydatid cases. For heat shock response, two batches of 25000 protoscoleces (Ps) were incubated separately at 42°C and 45 °C for 4 hours. Heat treated and normal Ps were disrupted and the extracts were divided into two parts. One part was directly used as source of antigens (PE, PE42 and PE45) and the other one was par
... Show MoreObjective(s): To determine the quality of life for adults with a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Methodology: A descriptive study was carried out on (80) patients with a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease from
December 2008 through October 2009 with special inclusion criteria (adult paƟents from 18 years and above exclude
the patients who suffer complication related of disease and from psychological problems and other chronic illnesses.
The data were analyzed through the application of descriptive data analysis approach and inferential data approach.
Result: The study indicated that the determination of QoL for COPD depended on the level of effect .The grades
according to R.S are: "high" effect of disease in
Background: celiac disease, is an autoimmune inflammatory disease of the small intestine that is precipitated by the ingestion of gluten, a component of wheat protein, in genetically susceptible persons. Serologic tests for antibodies against Endomysium, Reticulin, and Gliadin identify most patients with the disease. Early diagnosis and management are important to forestall serious consequences of malabsorption, such as osteoporosis and anemia
Aims of the study: This study compared the sensitivity, specificity, and predictive value of, anti-reticulin and anti-gliadin antibodies according to anti endomysium antibodies , in consecutive patients investigated for celiac disease antibodies.
Patient& Methods: Total 509 patients (236
Background: Left ventricular function and volumes have major diagnostic and prognostic importance in patients with various cardiac diseases, such as ischemic heart disease which is a life-threatening heart disease condition characterized by systolic dysfunction and a decrease in cardiac output.
According to left ventricular ejection fraction, the degree of ischemic heart disease was classified as mild, moderate, and severe. To determine cardiac function and hemodynamics, the echocardiography technique is used, which is a noninvasive diagnostic method.
Patients and Methods: The study included 216 patients between 25 and 75 years old; 121 males and 95 females; 265 normal individuals (age range: 25 to 75 years ol
... Show MoreHeart disease is a non-communicable disease and the number 1 cause of death in Indonesia. According to WHO predictions, heart disease will cause 11 million deaths in 2020. Bad lifestyle and unhealthy consumption patterns of modern society are the causes of this disease experienced by many people. Lack of knowledge about heart conditions and the potential dangers cause heart disease attacks before any preventive measures are taken. This study aims to produce a system for Predicting Heart Disease, which benefits to prevent and reduce the number of deaths caused by heart disease. The use of technology in the health sector has been widely practiced in various places and one of the advanced technologies is machine lea
... Show MoreBackground: Diabetes mellitus is a major health issue that is one of the leading causes of cardiovascular disease. Recent studies have found a link between uncontrolled diabetes and cardiovascular disease, with dyslipidaemia predicting glycated-hemoglobin (HbA1c), which could be a major contributor to type 2 diabetes complications and etiology.
Objectives: The objective of present study was estimate lipid profiles among control and uncontrolled type 2 diabetic patients.
Subjects and Methods: Analytical case control based study, One hundred twenty participate were included in study, 70 patients with DM as case group refer to Abuagala Center and difference follow up diabetic center and 50 non diabetic subjects taken as
... Show MoreLongitudinal data is becoming increasingly common, especially in the medical and economic fields, and various methods have been analyzed and developed to analyze this type of data.
In this research, the focus was on compiling and analyzing this data, as cluster analysis plays an important role in identifying and grouping co-expressed subfiles over time and employing them on the nonparametric smoothing cubic B-spline model, which is characterized by providing continuous first and second derivatives, resulting in a smoother curve with fewer abrupt changes in slope. It is also more flexible and can pick up on more complex patterns and fluctuations in the data.
The longitudinal balanced data profile was compiled into subgroup
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