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.
Oxygen therapy (OT) is considered an essential process for
survival for the i nfants with bronchiolitis > However, it may reach the status of being harmful when using it for along beriod . We , here, attempted to shed a light on relations between oxygen therapy duration(OTD) and each of serum malondialdehyde (MDA) that is used as index for free radical generation , and serum albumin level , in infants with bronchiolitis . Our results confirmed that (OTD) from (1-48) hr. was non effective, while from 49 was very effective where a grave in crease in serum (MDA)level and a decrease in serum albumin concentration were observed during that time . The relation between age a
... Show MoreThis study investigated the potential of bacterial culture in bioremediation of gasoline pollutant soils. Klebsiella pneumoniae has shown a tremendous ability in bioremediation of gasoline. K.pneumoniae was isolated from three electrical generator pollutant soils with gasoline in different regions from Baghdad (Abu-Graib, Al-Khadra quarter and Al-Seleikh region. Bacteria was isolated and identified according to biochemical tests, with optimum temperature at 35°C and pH=5.
FTIR spectrum was tested the ability of the K.pneumoniae to biodegrade the gasoline according to the peak areas, which appeared and referred to degrade amino compounds at wave number 3000 cm-1 (2955.23, 2923.47) which refer to the C-H with amines compounds and decre
Forty six Iraqi women with PCOS were involved in this study . They were treated with metformin alone and with antioxidant agents (vitamin E or C).It was found that all patients who treated with metformin or with combination of metformin with antioxidant agents showed significant decrease in hirsutism score. The treatment of metformin with antioxidant agents is of great benefit in treatment of hirsutism in PCOS due to that there was no worsening effect after treatment. This may indicate that antioxidant agents may participate in alleviation of hirsutism so it can be said that oxidative stress may play an important role in developing of hirsutism in PCOS.
Foreign direct investment (FDI) is one of the most practical types of foreign investment. FDI contributes to job creation, foreign exchange earnings and national income escalation, improving semi-skill and skilled labor. Based on our knowledge, this paper is the first study attempting to investigate the effect of political stability on the FDI in Turkey using an econometric approach. Achieving this objective, a co-integration analysis was conducted between the FDI and its determinants in the short-run and long-run including “macroeconomic indicators” and “Political Stability (PS)” in Turkey. Using annual data from 1974 to 2017 via Auto-Regressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model. The results confirm the positive correlation betwe
... Show MoreThe role of university in awareness of Social and Cultural Human Rights to Students
still at the beginnings . the irritable secure of Iraqi environment is the most challenges that
cease any work that may raise the human rights in university . in spite of obstacles the same
society of university like conferences and meetings that related to this subject . as well as the
luck of professional teachers.
This study raises a group of important questions, perhaps the most :
The contribution of university in educates their students of the social and cultural human
rights? What are the most challenges that facing these students? Does the university
responsible of this luck of understanding these human rights?
This Study
Three sites, selected on the Great Garraf Drain Channel (GGDC) demonstrated the first ever study dealing with rotifers biodiversity features from August 2019 till July 2020. Seventy-two taxonomic units were identified. The high densities of rotifera ranged from 733.32 - 32300 Ind./m3. Brachionus urceolaris, Keratella quadrata (long spin), Keratella quadrata (short spin) and Syncheta obloga were the most common relative abundance recorded in the index. In contrast the results of the constant index showed that there were nine constant taxonomic units. The species richness index was recorded from 1.489- 6.900. Jaccard presence similarity index revealed a strong link between stations 2
... Show MoreThe aim of this study is to evaluate the seasonal variations of Mosul dam lake by measuring the temperature, dissolved oxygen (DO) and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) during the period from July 2018 to April 2019. Twenty two sites were selected within the studied lake. The obtained results were integrated with the geographical information system (GIS) using spatial images to create maps utilizing Arc map software. These maps were used to demonstrate the concentrations of the investigated parameters during the study period. The results show that all parameters were within the accepted levels, indicating the good status of the lake.
One of the most common forms of diabetes is Type-2 that occurs due to the failure of cells in recognizing and responding to insulin if not accurately treated. The aim of this work is to evaluate the relations of thyroid hormones, vitamins, and lipid peroxidation with the glycemic index in patients experiencing Type-2 diabetes. Some tests of biochemical parameters and vitamins were conducted on 35 patients experiencing Diabetes Mellitus (DM) and 35 healthy subjects. The results indicated the increase in the levels of MDA (3.86 ± 0.97 µmol/L), HbA1c (8.27 ± 1.66 %), FBS (198.34 ± 32.41 mg/dl) and TSH (5.67 ±0.34 mIU/L) in the blood of diabetic subjects in comparison to the controls at a P value lower than 0.05. These incr
... Show MoreBackground: Preeclampsia is most common medical disordersduring pregnancy, and the rate of hypertension ranges from 5 – 8 % f or all types of pregnancy. There was a significant difference between cancer antigen -125, plasma fibrinogen and C- reactive protein to the severity of preeclampsia.
Objective: To determine the level ofserum CA-125 level, C-reactive protein and plasma fibrinogen in preeclampsia and their association with the severity of disease and progression of mild preeclampsia to severe type.
Patients and method: A prospective case-control studywhich was carried out in the department of gynecology and obstetric at Baghdad teaching hospital from 1st ofJanuary 2015 to 1st of July 2015.One hundred forty pregnant women wer