Background: Rituximab is a chimeric IgG1 kappa immunoglobulin that has been genetically modified to incorporate human constant region sequences together with murine light- and heavy-chain variable region sequences. People use it to treat rheumatoid arthritis and certain malignancies. Objective: The study aimed to assess the potential association between the serum levels of Factor I, CD59, interleukins (IL)-6, and interferon-gamma (IFN)-γ and the response to Rituximab treatment in Iraqi rheumatoid arthritis patients. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the rheumatology center at Baghdad Teaching Hospital. Ninety adult patients who have been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and are receiving Rituximab intravenous infusions were included. The enrolled patients were divided into a responder group (45 patients) and a non-responder group (45 patients). The response to Rituximab was assessed according to the 28-joint Disease Activity Score (DAS28). Results: The serum levels of Factor I and CD59 were significantly higher in the non-responders group in comparison to the responders group. In addition, the serum IL-6 and IFN-γ levels were significantly elevated in the non-responders group in comparison to the responders group. The estimated marker serum levels showed a strong, significant correlation with the 6-month change in DAS28. Conclusions: In Rituximab nonresponder RA patients, serum levels of Factor I, CD59, Factor H, IL-6, and IFN-γ are higher, and they have good potential to be used in the assessment of the response to Rituximab therapy.
Thyroid hemiagenesis (THA) is a rare congenital anomaly in which one lobe of thyroid gland fails to develop during embryological stage. Agenesis may be unilateral, total or isthmic. Left thyroid lobe is more commonly involved than right lobe in hemiagenesis. Agenesis of the isthmus was seen in 50% of cases. Left sided hemiagenesis is more common than right sided hemiagenesis with a Left to right ratio of 4:1. Clinically patients can be euthyroid, hypothyroid or hyperthyroid. Often it is diagnosed as an incidental finding during ultrasonography (USG) study of neck, which can easily diagnose this condition.
Actual incidence of THA is unknown; most cases are diagnosed in patients admitted for thyroid scan or thyroid surgery because
... Show MoreSerum Creatine Kinase (SCK) activity was investigated in hyper
and hypqtbyroidim objects. Estimated Levels were compared with
healty controls.
Optimizat.im of SCK. activity has. been achieved using 0.95 mJ of
the Semtl.l and 25 m mol/L of -the subslratet creatitie phosphate . Reaction mixture was incubated at 37C for 1 0 minutes . Data obtained were r:cflects an elevation in the enzme activity in hyperthyroidism objec. Determination of the physical parameters (Vma-x and Km). were ol-,tained applying lit1eweaver- l3:urk Plot analysis. All detemi
... Show MoreA laboratory investigation of six different tests were conducted on silty clay soil spiked with lead in concentrations of 1500 mg/kg. A constant DC voltage gradient of 1 V/cm was applied for all these tests with duration of 7 days remediation process for each test. Different purging solutions and addition configurations, i.e. injection wells, were investigated experimentally to enhance the removal of lead from Iraqi soil during electro-kinetic remediation process. The experimental results showed that the overall removal efficiency of lead for tests conducted with distilled water, 0.1 M acetic acid, 0.2 M EDTA and 1 M ammonium citrate as the purging solutions were equal to 18 %, 37 %, 42 %, and 29 %, respectively. H
... Show MoreThe Local manufacturing scanning gamma system designed in Tuwaitha site for nondestructive assay method of radioactive waste drums, where it consist of two main parts with their belongings for controlling the of detector and drum movements up-down and rotation respectively. The volume of the used drum is 220 L with 85 cm height. The drum filled with Portland cement. Six cylindrical holes were made within cement drum and distributed in radial arrangement.The152Eu source inserted in these holes individually, to measure the average angular count rate of gamma radiation. The full energy efficiency value for geometry of drum and detector is computed for thirteen photo peaks. The average efficiency represented by the curve of these peaks indic
... Show MoreThe aims of this study the infection with parasites Entamoeba histolytica and Giardia lamblia and prevalence rates and their relationship with gende , age group , the number of family members and source of drinking water among the patients at attending the Bint Al Huda and Al- Hussin Teaching hospital in Nassriyia city in Thi- Qar province , it was noticed that the percentage of parasitic infection at females was 38.55% and at males was 61.45% and the percentage of parasitic infection with Entamoeba histolytica 97% was higher than the percentage of parasitic infection with Giardia lamblia 3%,and the reduction of percentage of infection is associated with increasing of the number of family member ,the percentage of infection was 49% at the
... Show MoreAdenosine deaminase (ADA) and lipid profile may be associated with some diseases. Parasitic diseases have also been reported to be associated with ADA and lipid profiles. This study aimed to evaluate ADA, lipid profile, and total protein among children infected with E.vermicularis. This research was carried out in Baghdad province from October 2021 to the end of March 2022. One hundred samples were collected from both sexes, ranging in age from (3-16) years. They all underwent examination for ADA, cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and total protein levels. Results showed no significant differences between E.vermicularis positive group and E.vermicularis negative group regarding ADA, LDL, and trig
... Show MoreThe present study was conducted on sixty five pregnant women that infected with acute toxoplasmosis, serum samples were tested for detection specific anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgM using the rapid Toxo IgG/IgM Chromatographic immune assay test cassette and ELISA, and fifty healthy married women (not pregnant) as was considered as control group. The level of serum IL-6, IL-8, IL-12, TNF-α, TGF-β1, IP-10, MIP-1, MIG and ICAM were significantly increased (P <0.005) in pregnant patients infected with acute toxoplasmosis, while serum level of MCP-1(14.46 ± 1.38pg/ml) was not significantly increased when compared to controls(11.25 ± 0.24pg/ml) , these levels can be used as i
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