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: Among many possible causes, CD14, CD 56, were implicated in immune mechanisms and might be involved in pregnancy loss. However the role of these Immunological factors has not been clearly elucidated. Some authors have shown that women with reproductive failure (such as spontaneous miscarriage) have increased CD14, uNK cells numbers; where as other authors reported no difference or even reduced numbers.
Objective: The aim of this study was to have an insight in a panel of the immunological factors shared in the placental microenvironment in an attempt to find a close relationships of these markers to the state of abortions.
Methods: Immunohistochemistry technique assay was used to detect CD14 and CD56 in 40 women with sp
Background: Respiratory distress is one of interesting presentation of elective caesarean delivery, the presence of labor before elective caesarean delivery decrease the risk of Respiratory distress. adverse respiratory problem in neonate delivered before 39 weeks of gestation are increased.
Objective: To evaluate the association between gestational age at delivery and neonatal respiratory outcomes after elective caesarean delivery between 37 and 41completed weeks.
Patients and Methods: Descriptive study with prospectively collected data from Baghdad teaching hospital/Medical city at neonatal care unit. All infants of gestational age from 37 to 41 completed weeks, with uncomplicate
problems with its unobvious effect on scientific creativity and information. Problem solving is one of main goals of researchers because it develops their right logical thinking methods. The present study aims at measuring logical thinking among female it structures in the university mea swing problem solving among them ,identifying statically differences significance in logical thinking among female instructors in the university according to (Specialization Variable), identifying differences significance in problem Solving among female instructions in the university according to ( Specialization Variable) and identifying the Correlation between logical thinking and problem solving among female instructors in the university. The sample c
... Show MoreThe present study conducted to study epipelic algae in the Tigris River within Baghdad city for one year from September 2011 to August 2012 due to the importance role of benthic algae in lotic ecosystems. Five sites have been chosen along the river. A total of 154 species of epipelic algae was recorded belongs to 45 genera, where Bacillariophyceae (Diatoms) was the dominant groups followed by Cyanophyceae and Chlorophyceae. The numbers of common types in three sites were 47 species. Bacillariophyceae accounted 88.31% of the total number of epipelic algae, followed by Cyanophyceae 7.14 % and Chlorophyceae 4.55%. A 85 species (29 genera) recorded in site 1, 103 species (34 genera) in site2, 112 species (35 genera) in site3, 96 species
... Show MoreThat the structural changes in the environment, business and finance and the spread of business and the diversity of transactions between economic organizations and breadth of a commercial scale in the world have left their clear on the need to keep up with the accounting for these variables as one of the social sciences affect and are affected by the surrounding environment because of the various economic and social factors, technical, legal and others.
As a result of these variables emerged a new field of accounting called Forensic Accounting, which involves the use of expertise of multiple pour in the end to the accounting profession, where the Forensic Accounting cover a large area of disciplines including strengthening
... Show MoreCytokines are signaling molecules between inflammatory cells that play a significant role in the pathogenesis of a disease. Among these cytokines are interleukins (ILs) 17A and 33, and accordingly, the current case-control study sought to investigate the role of each of the two cytokines in the risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS). Sixty-eight relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) Iraqi patients and twenty healthy individuals (control group) were enrolled. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits were used to determine serum levels of IL-17A and IL-33. Results revealed that IL-17A and IL-33 levels were significantly higher in MS patients than in controls (14.1 ± 4.5 vs. 7.5 ± 3.8 pg/mL; p < 0.001 and 65.3 ± 16
... Show MoreThe superconductor compound (YBa2Cu2.8Zn0.2O7+δ) is prepared by solid state reaction (SSR), Sol-gel (SG) and laser Pulse deposition (PLD) methods. We used the X-ray diffraction technique, which shows an orthorhombic crystalline system for all the samples, and increase in the high-phase (Y-123) and decrease in low-phase and vary in proportion according to the method of preparation with the emergence of some impurities. The behavior of the samples in terms of electrical resistance and critical temperature was investigated all samples showed superconducting behavior. The properties of the dielectric (real dielectric constant, imaginary dielectric constant, loss tangent, alternating electrical conductivity) were s
... Show MoreObjective To detect the changes in serum Lipids among Iraqi patients with active Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and the effects of drug therapy.
Patients and methods Fifty Iraqi patients with untreated active Rheumatoid Arthritis and 50 matched healthy control were studied with concentration on estimation of fasting serum Lipid profile which is repeated after 3month treatment with different disease modifying anti Rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) regimens.
Results Fifty Iraqi patients were included in this prospective study 47 females (94%) and 3 males (6%). The mean age of patients was (45±3.20).
fifty healthy individuals were included in this study as a control group 45 females (90%) and 5 males (10%) the mean age of the control group was
Chlopheniramine maleate ( CPM ) , is one of the H- receptor antagonist , widely used in allergic diseases ,like skin rash and pruritis .CPM 3%w/w was successfully loaded in 2%w/w sodium alginate (SA) as a gel base , and to be considered as a selected formula .It was found that the diffusion of CPM through the skin of albino rat was increased as the concentration of CPM increased from 2 %w/w sodium alginate , More
... Show More