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:
The internal control is the tool through which it is possible to verify and ensure the implementation of tasks in accordance with the established plans and programs and to evaluate the level of performance that is implemented within the different companies.
A guarantee from the supplier with the absence of a specialized technical committee that follows up the stages of implementing the contract and disbursing all amounts of financial dues to the supplier before completing the implementation of the contract and overlooking the non-implementation of some clauses of the contract by the committee in charge of
... Show MoreThe child realize that the meals time provide golden opportunities to get the attention the child needs. However, many difficulties that may appear about eating food can be avoided, if the family used the right way in dealing with this problem. The study aims, in this case, at searching for the reasons that lies behind the child's obstinacy in eating his food and the attempt to study some variables that is related to the research topic.
The results are summed up as follows:
- The number of the sample children is 3 of both sexes between the ages of 3 to 6 years
Aims: The present study aims at assessing mothers’ knowledge of breastfeeding in Kirkuk governorate,
besides determining the relationship between mothers’ knowledge and some of their demographic
attributes.
Methodolgy: A descriptive study was used the assessment approach and applied on mothers in Kirkuk
governorate from January 15th 2011 to July 25th
, 2011. Non-probability sampling a convenience sample of
(72) mothers, attending pediatric general hospital in Kirkuk governorate for following up the health status
of their children, was selected for the purpose of the study. A questionnaire was developed for the
purpose of the study. It was comprised of two parts; the first part includes the mothers' demographic
This study aims at discussing how gender differences might affect communication among people. For this purpose, several TV interviews are selected and examined on the discourse level. Developing a model of analysis ,is found that certain linguistics have been used by male speakers ,whereas different aspects have been utilized my female speakers like deictic expressions and lexical items of emotion and delicacy .
Suggestive ambiguity is a strategy of defense and maneuvering as it provides the speaker both protection and function. To put it differently, it helps the speaker to say whatever he likes and at the same time gives his opponents and friends the interpretation they desire. This is possible due to the flexibility of the linguistic expressions that the speaker uses. To be more clear, the context of situation, peoples' background and world knowledge interact with the significance of the linguistic expressions reaching an allusive situation where two interpretations, positive and negative, are available to the addressees. Such situation enables the addressers to implicate different ideas or messages, accusations, inciting violence, etc. The pres
... Show MoreBack ground: The innervations of the pineal
gland from the superior cervical ganglion have
shown some form of a chromatolysis reaction.
Objective:
1-Tracing the innervations of the pineal gland by
removing the target tissue (the pineal gland in
this study) i.e. (pinealoctomy) and removal of the
superior cervical ganglion i.e. (ganglionectomy).
2- The localization and total number of the
neurons which project into the rat pineal gland
3-The effect of pinealoctomy on the SCG after a
different time interval.
Methods: Twenty five albino rats were used in
this study, Pinealoctomy was done, then after a
different time interval ganglionectomy was done,
in order to study the Chromatolysis in their cel
The general crisis of research methods in the social sciences
Research methodology: philosophy and techniques, founded by philosophers and applied by scientists, and no accurate application of techniques except with a deep understanding of philosophy, as a prerequisite. This fact is almost completely absent from the Iraqi and Arab academic mentality. This constituted one of the dimensions of the double crisis - theoretical and applied - of research methods in the social sciences. As first, there is no philosophy of science, neither as an independent material nor as an introductory subject, but not even an oral confirmation. Secondly, the advancement of quantitative research methods are presented without a background philosophy, as sol
Catalytic wet air oxidation of aqueous phenol solution was studied in a pilot plant trickle bed reactor using copperoxide catalyst supported on alumina and silica. Catalysts were prepared by impregnating method. Effect of feed solutionpH (5.9, 7.3, and 9.2), gas flow rate (20%, 50%, 80%, and 100%), WHSV (1, 2, and 3 h-1), temperature (120°C, 140°C,and 160°C), oxygen partial pressure (6, 9, 12 bar), and initial phenol concentration (1, 2, and 4 g/l).Generally, theperformance of the catalysts was better when the pH of feed solution was increased. The catalysts deactivation is relatedto the dissolution of the metal oxides from the catalyst surface due to the acidic conditions. Phenol oxidation reactionwas strongly affected by WHSV,
... Show MoreA Factorial Study for separation anxiety in students, of Baghdad City