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.
Testing is a vital phase in software development, and having the right amount of test data is an important aspect in speeding up the process. As a result of the integrationist optimization challenge, extensive testing may not always be practicable. There is also a shortage of resources, expenses, and schedules that impede the testing process. One way to explain combinational testing (CT) is as a basic strategy for creating new test cases. CT has been discussed by several scholars while establishing alternative tactics depending on the interactions between parameters. Thus, an investigation into current CT methods was started in order to better understand their capabilities and limitations. In this study, 97 publications were evalua
... Show MoreA new concrete rheometer is introduced including its innovation, actual design, working rules,
calibration, and reliability. A modified design of Tattersall two-point device is created. Some of
components are purchased from local and foreign markets, while other components and the
manufacturing process are locally fabricated. The matching viscosity method of determining the mixer
viscometer constants is demonstrated and followed to relate torque and rotational speed to yield stress
and viscosity (Bingham parameters). The calibration procedures and its calculation are explained.
Water is used as a Newtonian fluid, while; cement paste (cement + water) with w/c ratio equal to
(0.442) is used as a non-Newtonian fluid. Th
The aim of this paper is to study the Zariski topology of a commutative KU-algebra. Firstly, we introduce new concepts of a KU-algebra, such as KU-lattice, involutory ideal and prime ideal and investigate some basic properties of these concepts. Secondly, the notion of the topology spectrum of a commutative KU-algebra is studied and several properties of this topology are provided. Also, we study the continuous map of this topological space.
With the high usage of computers and networks in the current time, the amount of security threats is increased. The study of intrusion detection systems (IDS) has received much attention throughout the computer science field. The main objective of this study is to examine the existing literature on various approaches for Intrusion Detection. This paper presents an overview of different intrusion detection systems and a detailed analysis of multiple techniques for these systems, including their advantages and disadvantages. These techniques include artificial neural networks, bio-inspired computing, evolutionary techniques, machine learning, and pattern recognition.
This research is a theoretical study that deals with the presentation of the literature of statistical analysis from the perspective of gender or what is called Engendering Statistics. The researcher relied on a number of UN reports as well as some foreign sources to conduct the current study. Gender statistics are defined as statistics that reflect the differences and inequality of the status of women and men overall domains of life, and their importance stems from the fact that it is an important tool in promoting equality as a necessity for the process of sustainable development and the formulation of national and effective development policies and programs. The empowerment of women and the achievement of equality between men and wome
... Show MoreThe concept of the order sum graph associated with a finite group based on the order of the group and order of group elements is introduced. Some of the properties and characteristics such as size, chromatic number, domination number, diameter, circumference, independence number, clique number, vertex connectivity, spectra, and Laplacian spectra of the order sum graph are determined. Characterizations of the order sum graph to be complete, perfect, etc. are also obtained.
Systems on Chips (SoCs) architecture complexity is result of integrating a large numbers of cores in a single chip. The approaches should address the systems particular challenges such as reliability, performance, and power constraints. Monitoring became a necessary part for testing, debugging and performance evaluations of SoCs at run time, as On-chip monitoring is employed to provide environmental information, such as temperature, voltage, and error data. Real-time system validation is done by exploiting the monitoring to determine the proper operation of a system within the designed parameters. The paper explains the common monitoring operations in SoCs, showing the functionality of thermal, voltage and soft error monitors. The different
... Show MoreA 20 year-old male was admitted with a history of recurrent palpitations from 5 years. Baseline ECG revealed premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) with delta waves. Stress ECG showed short non-sustained Ventricular tachycardia (VT). Echocardiography showed moderate dilation of the left ventricle with mild reduced systolic function and Ejection fraction was estimated to be 42%. Right ventricle was mildly dilated and hypokinetic. Both atria were mildly dilated. The patient referred to CVC for EP study with possible ablation. The ablation of the focus led to complete suppression of the ectopy. Post-procedure ECG and echocardiography showed normalized rhythm and systolic function.
This research which is entitled (Devine Beauty), aims at studying the philosophical and literary extensive visions of Andalusian poets in search of pleasure in the beauty of divine self and its impact on the formation of a philosophical frame of mind. It also attempts to investigate the aesthetic aspects that highlight the prestige and greatness and majesty of that absolute beauty.
The most important conclusion of the reach is the Bany Ahmar poets use the beauty of women and the pleasure of wine as cods to reach divine beauty and get the happiness desired with the reflection of absolute beauty in a clear philosophy and thinking of the kingdom of God Almighty.