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.
Background: Staphylococcus aureus is a Gram-positive, spherical, grape like clusters arrangment
bacterium, non-spore forming. Is a genus that causes many hard diseases such as food poisoning,
gastroenteritis with severe symptoms. S. aureus is commonly found in the wide environment (soil, air and
water) and is importantly found in the nose and skin in the humans. And can causes ear infection by
entering the ear. The diagnosis of Otitis externa is usually made clinically and bacterial tests.
Objective: To detection and isolation of the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus from pus specimens of ear
swab, among Iraqi children with Otitis externa.
Patients and methods: Eighty ear swab specimens from suspected cases of Otitis ex
This paper and research paper analyzes the critical methodology of "Ali Khan Joommal “ about the Bible , directed in most of the textual criticism of the Torah, and its highest criticism is directed to both the Old and New Testaments.
Joommal was distinguished by the mental methods and examples accompanying his era, while maintaining the general context in which Muslim scholars had previously followed, and he was distinguished from them by his many citations to the Western literature of Jews or Christians, in short it is a critical phenomenon worthy of study and evaluation.
The performance of a synergistic combination of electrocoagulation (EC) and electro-oxidation (EO) for oilfield wastewater treatment has been studied. The effect of operative variables such as current density, pH, and electrolyte concentration on the reduction of chemical oxygen demand (COD) was studied and optimized based on Response Surface Methodology (RSM). The results showed that the current density had the highest impact on the COD removal with a contribution of 64.07% while pH, NaCl addition and other interactions affects account for only 34.67%. The optimized operating parameters were a current density of 26.77 mA/cm2 and a pH of 7.6 with no addition of NaCl which results in a COD removal efficiency of 93.43% and a specific energy c
... Show MoreOne of the most important problems in concrete production in Iraq and other country is the high sulfate content in sand that led to damage of concrete and hence reduces its compressive strength and may leads to cracking due to internal sulfate attack and delay ettringite formation. The magnetic water treatment process is adopted in this study. Many samples with different SO3 content are treated with magnetic water (12, 8, 4 and 2)L that needed for each 1kg of sand with the magnetic intensity (9000 and 5000) Gaus. The magnetic water needed is reduced with less SO3 content in sand. The ACI 211.1-91 concrete mix design was used in this research with slump range (75- 100) mm and the specified compressive strength (35MPa). The compressive streng
... Show MoreBackground: Fractures of the humeral shaft accounting for approximately 3% of all fractures. There is a wide array of good options for their treatment and controversy over the best methods. Although good techniques of osteosynthesis are available, the aim of this article is toemphasize on the benefit and good outcome of conservative treatment for properly selected cases to decrease the cost and avoid the complications of surgery. Method : During the period from February 2011 to June 2012 fifty-five fractures of humeral shaft were treated at orthopedicdepartment in the ALKindyteaching hospital. 22 fractures considered suitable for the study. The patients treatedconservatively by using the‘U’ shaped coaptation slab. Then we shift to POP c
... Show MoreBackground: Fractures of the humeral shaft
accounting for approximately 3% of all
fractures. There is a wide array of good
options for their treatment and controversy
over the best methods. Although good
techniques of osteosynthesis are available, the
aim of this article is toemphasize on the benefit
and good outcome of conservative treatment
for properly selected cases to decrease the cost
and avoid the complications of surgery.
Application of pesticide on vegetables will protect them from pest injury, but in another hand will hold pesticide residues inside vegetables. These residues have harmful effect against all consumers. Detection about pesticide residues has been carried out for some Iraqi vegetables (tomato, cucumber, eggplant, and zucchini) by using Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectroscopy (GC/MS). (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe) QuEChERS method has been applied for extraction pesticide residues from targeted vegetables. The GC/MS has been carried out before the treatment of residues for distinguish the vegetables that are suffering from hyper concentration in pesticide residues more than maximum residues limits (MRLs). Three kinds of solut
... Show MoreBackground: Sub-clinical hypothyroidism (SCTD) is most commonly an early stage of hypothyroidism. Although the condition may resolve or remain unchanged, within a few years in some patients, overt hypothyroidism may develop, with low free T4 levels as well as a raised thyroid stimulating hormone(TSH) level. In general thyroid dysfunction is a condition known to reduce the likelihood of pregnancy and to adversely affect pregnancy outcome. As screening for thyroid disease becomes more common, SCTD is being diagnosed more frequently in clinical practice. The aim of the study is to find out the effect of treating SCTD with thyroxin on the fertility status of the female patient.
Patients and methods: Forty thr