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.
Objective: To measure the serum levels of Fetuin-A, ischemia-modified albumin (IMA), and ferritin in hospitalized patients with severe COVID-19in Baghdad, Iraq. Moreover, to determine these biomarkers' cut-off valuesthat differentiate between severely ill patients and control subjects. Methods: This case-control study was done from 15 September to the end of December 2021 and involved a review of the files and collectionof blood samples from patients (n=45, group1) hospitalized in COVID-19 treatment centersbecause of severe symptoms compared tohealthy subjects as controls (n=44, group2). Results: Fetuin-A serum levels were not statistically different between patients and controls. In contrast, IMA and ferritin levels were significan
... Show MoreThe efficiency of attapulgite liners as anti-seepage for crude oil is examined. Consideration is given to the potential use of raw attapulgite and mixture attapulgite with prairie hay and coconut husk as liners to prevent crude oil seepage. Attapulgite clay used in this study was brought from Injana formation /Western Desert of Iraq. Two types of Crude oil brought from Iraqi oil fields were used in experiments; heavy crude oil from East-Baghdad oil field and light crude oil from Nassiriya oil field. Initially the basic properties of attapulgite and crude oils were determined. The attapulgite clay was subjected to mineralogical, chemical and scanning electron microscope analyses. Raw Attapulgite 150µm, 75µm, and 53µm were tested
... Show MoreBackground: “The absolute refractory” period is the time interval during which the nerve fiber is in capable of conducting another impulse after a conditioning stimulus and the determination of the refractory period distribution in a nerve can give a good idea about the characteristics of the conducting fibers constituting that nerve as it reflects their excitability and could be used as a sensitive indicator for the ability of the nerve fiber to conduct pairs of closely spaced impulses.
Methods: The new collision test was used to measure precisely the absolute motor refractory period and the paired shock technique to measure the absolute sensory refractory period in the ulnar nerves of 167 normal in
Background: Nucleosomes are fundamental units of chromatin released by internucleosomal cleavage during cell apoptosis, and nucleosomal material has been demostraded in the surface blebs of opoptotic cells. recent studies have shown the presence of antinucleosome antibodies in systemicc lupus erythematosus (SLE).
There is a correlation between the occurrence of anxiety and the production of inflammatory mediators, and red ginger rhizome is a well-known herbal product with a high content of phenolic and flavonoid compounds that can be used as anti-inflammatories and antioxidants. The aim of study to evaluate the effect of red ginger as antianxiety in mice (Mus musculus) BALB/c strain by measuring levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-10. Anxiety model mice were carried out by giving treatment with the Forced Swimming Test (FST) for 7 days then assessed by carrying out the Elevated Plus Maze for Mice (EPM) test for one day. After the treatment, the anxiety mice model was made, followed by administration of red ginger ethanol extract therapy for 14 days.
... Show MoreToxoplasma gondii is an opportunistic pathogen in which the reactivation of a latent infection can cause death in congenitally infected fetuses, newborns, and immunocompromised patients. This study aimed to determine the seropositivity of toxoplasmosis infection and the possible association with Interleukin-12 (IL-12) and Interleukin-23 (IL-23) cytokines in breast cancer patients. In this study, 190 women were enrolled. All serum samples were tested for T. gondii immunoglobulins (IgG and IgM) antibodies and (IL-12, IL-23) levels using ELISA technique. The result of this study showed that breast cancer patients recorded the highest percentage of toxoplasmosis infection. There were no positivity rates for anti- Toxopl
... Show MoreObjectives: Severe head injury is the most devastating neurosurgical condition and it is only next to cancers as the leading cause of death in developed countries.
Because trace elements (TEs) are involved in most of enzymes that drives the biochemical reactions, so they are considered as a window to the biochemical
environment of the body in general and in brain in specific.
Aim of the Study: This study measured six TEs (Fe, Zn, Mg, Cu, Mn and Co) in 29 patients with severe head injury (GCS Score 3-9); their ages between 5-50 years.
Collection and estimation performed at both Neurosurgical Hospital (NH) in Baghdad and Medical Research Center (MRC) of College of Medicine, Kadhimiyah between Janu
Although severe epistaxis is uncommon, it is serious. The systematic endoscopic nasal examination is an essential step in identifying the bleeding point and aiding electrocauterization. Currently, the S-point, which is located in the superior part of the nasal septum behind the septal body and corresponding to the axilla of the middle concha, is identified in about 30% of cases with severe epistaxis. Cauterization of this point has an excellent rate of controlling the bleeding and preventing its recurrence. We aimed to highlight the significance of the S-point in the management of severe cases of epistaxis.
1,3,4-oxadizole and pyrazole derivatives are very important scaffolds for medicinal chemistry. A literature survey revealed that they possess a wide spectrum of biological activities including anti-inflammatory and antitumor effects.
To describe the synthesis and evaluation of two classes of new niflumic acid (NF) derivatives, the 1,3,4-oxadizole derivatives (compounds 3 and (4A-E) and pyrazole derivatives (compounds 5 and 6), as EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors in silico and in vitro.
The designed compounds were synthesized using convent
To investigate the efficacy of polyether‐ether‐ketone (PEEK) wire as a fixed orthodontic retainer, by comparing its performance to other retainer wires and optimizing its adhesion to composite bonding materials.
Retainer wires of 15 mm segments were used, PEEK wires were prepared in cylindrical form with 0.8 mm diameter, and had two surface treatments namely air‐abrasion and conditioning with adhesive system. Three different metallic retainer wires were used for comparison and three tests were performed; two tests measured debonding force and associated wire deflec