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.
This study includes design and synthesis of new non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDs) with expected cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) selective inhibition to achieve better activity and low gastric side effects. Two series of compounds have been designed and synthesized as potential NSAIDs,these are: Salicylamide derivatives (compounds 3,4,5 ) and Diflunisal derivatives (compounds 10&11). In vivo acute anti-inflammatory effect of one of the synthesized agents (compound 3) was evaluated in the rat using egg-white induced paw edema model of inflammation. Preliminary pharmacological study revealed that compound 3 exhibited less anti-inflammatory effect compared to that of aspirin after
... Show MoreMost dental works require a diagnostic impression; alginate is contemplated as the most popular material used for this purpose. Titanium dioxide nanoparticles show evidence of antimicrobial activity in the recent era, for this purpose, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of adding Titanium dioxide nanoparticles on antimicrobial activity and surface detail reproduction of alginate impression material. Materials and methods: Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (purity = 99%, size= 20nm) was added to alginate at three different concentrations (2%, 3% and 5%). 84 samples were prepared in total. Samples were tested for antimicrobial activity using a disc diffusion test, and surface detail reproduction was done using (ISO 21563:2021). One-way A
... Show MoreThis research mainly aims to analyze local development strategy in Baghdad Governance, build the Strategic Model based on the study area's spatial interaction, and achieve the Trinity of Excellence based on the global model of excellence.
This research applied SWOT strategic analysis for the strengths and weaknesses of the internal environment and opportunities and threats of the external environment for the provincial council. In conclusion, the research specifies appropriate alternatives and choosing the best in line with the reality of the Baghdad Provincial Council. Also, the strategic goals in the national plan and the spatial interaction of the development goals,
... Show MoreKE Sharquie, AA Noaimi, GA Ibrahim, AS Al-Husseiny, Our Dermatology Online, 2016 - Cited by 3
This study aims to calculate the percentage of loss and its causes of the horticultural crops tangerines and Seville oranges in Baghdad governorate for the 2020 agricultural season and estimate the economic impacts of losses both crops tangerines and Seville oranges at the study samples level. The research followed both methods descriptive and the quantitative mathematical in estimating the loss of horticultural crops from tangerines and Seville oranges trees and calculating the economic impact of this loss. The results showed that the percentage of losses of tangerines and Seville oranges crops on the level of wholesalers was about 12% and 13% respectively; causing economic losses estimated at about 3184.41 Euro. The results also displayed
... Show MoreThis research dealt with the subject of negotiation skills of employees in public relations departments which is one of many skills supposed to be available to these employees. These skills combined help in the success of the job of public relations departments; and give them an important and vital role within the roles distributed in the departments of any government institution wither is governmental or non-governmental.
Negotiation is a skill that requires intelligence, tact, culture, information, intuition, and knowing to use the means of communication to access the information that is useful in reaching satisfactory results
... Show MoreMicrofibers released by synthetic clothes have a significant negative effect on the environment. Several solutions have been proposed and evaluated for their effectiveness, but studies have failed to address the human-centered aspects of these products. In this research, the possibilities and needs from a consumer perspective for a new filtering system for domestic washing machines were examined. First, a quantitative (questionnaire) and a qualitative (interviews and observations) exploration were done to understand the desired requirements from a user perspective. Next, the acceptance of various existing solutions for microfiber catching was investigated. To verify these requirements, a new concept was designed and evaluated with a
... Show MoreConsiderable amounts of domestic and industrial wastewater that should be treated before reuse are discharged into the environment annually. Electrocoagulation is an electrochemical technology in which electrical current is conducted through electrodes, it is mainly used to remove several types of wastewater pollutants, such as dyes, toxic materials, oil content, chemical oxygen demand, and salinity, individually or in combination with other processes. Electrocoagulation technology used in hybrid systems along with other technologies for wastewater treatment are reviewed in this work, and the articles reviewed herein were published from 2018 to 2021. Electrocoagulation is widely employed in integrated systems with other electrochemical tech
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