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 high cost of chemical analysis of water has necessitated various researches into finding alternative method of determining portable water quality. This paper is aimed at modelling the turbidity value as a water quality parameter. Mathematical models for turbidity removal were developed based on the relationships between water turbidity and other water criteria. Results showed that the turbidity of water is the cumulative effect of the individual parameters/factors affecting the system. A model equation for the evaluation and prediction of a clarifier’s performance was developed:
Model: T = T0(-1.36729 + 0.037101∙10λpH + 0.048928t + 0.00741387∙alk)
The developed model will aid the predictiv
... Show MoreEight patients (3 male and 5 female) were treated in this study by Endovenous Laser Ablation (EVLA); Mathematical models are proposed to estimate the applied laser power and to assess the recovery period. The estimations of the applied laser power and recovery period in these models will be depended mainly on the diameter of the incompetent vein. In addition, Excel Program was utilized to find the proposed models. A 1470 nm diode laser up to 15W continuous power (CW) was used in the treatment of venous ulcers by EVLA procedure. Following up by duplex ultrasound was started in the 1st week after the first session until the vein is completely closed. The present study concluded that the relationship both between
... Show MoreBackground: There is controversy among neurosurgeons whether double Burr Hole craniostomy is better than single Burr Hole, craniostomy in the management of chronic subdural hematoma in terms of lower recurrence rate and complications.
Objective: To assess the outcome and complications including revision rate using Single Burr Hole Craniostomy in the treatment of chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH).
Patients and Methods: This is a retrospective study of 42 cases of chronic subdural hematoma who underwent Single Burr Hole Craniostomy(SBHC) from jan.2012 to jan.2014, preoperative,intraoperative and postoperative data were collected including neurological status ,Brain CT-scan findings, postoperative complications ,recurrent rate and neur
Background: Plane warts represent a common dermatological problem encountered in daily practice with no uniformly effective treatment modality.<br />Patients and methods: This study was conducted at the Department of Dermatology and Venereology of Baghdad Teaching Hospital / Medical City from April 2005 to June 2006. Fifty patients enrolled in the study and 36 completed it. Patients were instructed to apply isotretinoin gel once daily and keep on regular follow up every 2 weeks for one month to assess the esponse and side effects. At the end of the first month those with complete cure were instructed to stop therapy and keep on regular follow up to detect any recurrence.Patients with no response were divided into 2 groups. One grou
... Show MoreAbdominal fat synthesizes a variety of adipokines, including vaspin and chemerin, that affect the resistance to insulin. This research was conducted to demonstrate the effect of pioglitazone, one insulin sensitizer used to decrease insulin resistance, on these adipokines in obese patients with polycystic ovary (PCOS). Twenty-five obese women with PCOS were treated with pioglitazone 15mg/bid for 12 weeks. Modifications in fasting blood glucose (FBG), serum fasting insulin (FSI), chemerin and vaspin serum levels, follicle stimulation hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone (T), and in baseline and post-therapy were assessed. Body mass index decreased without any substantial variance after 12 weeks of piogl
... Show MoreOut of Hundred clinical samples, taken from different sources include burn, blood , wound and nasal swabs infections ; 90 isolates developed growth on mannitol salt agar. Among these, 40 (44.4%) were Coagulase positive (Staphylococcus aureus) isolates and 50 (55.5%)belong to coagulase negative staphylococci, in which the last Staphylococcus epidermidis isolates were 30(60%).Antibiotic susceptibility of Staphylococcus epidermidis isolates to 12 antibiotics were determined using disc diffusion method . The results revealed that high resistance to Penecillin G10 and Amoxiclav (Amoxicillin- clavulanic acid) ( 100%) and the high sensitivity to Imipenim (95%). The pattern of minimum inhibitory concentration of S.epidermidis isolates to vancomy
... Show MoreBackground:: Infertility is a very common condition affecting approximately 13-14% of couples in the reproductive age. In general population; about 85% of couples have achieved conception within a year. Intrauterine insemination is one of the procedure which have a role in the treatment of infertile couple.Objectives:is to confirm that the use of ovulation induction in the course of intrauterine insemination elevates the pregnancy success rate.Method:This study had been conducted between December 2013 till December 2014 in AL-Elwiyah maternity hospital and AL-Samaraii hospital / Baghdad.On history and clinical examination; the chosen couple had the following criteria; primary infertility for more than one year, no previous IUI trials, hu
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