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.
Excess alcohol consumption is associated with numerous metabolic changes and homeostasis disturbances of many macro- and micro-elements in the body. It has been associated with multiple pathologies at all levels. In the digestive apparatus, alcohol has generally been related to its toxic effects upon the liver. Alpha-1 antitrypsin (α-1 AT or AAT) plays an important role in controlling inflammation, coagulation and repair mechanisms in the body and most α-1 AT in the body is produced by the liver; from the other hand, Intrinsic factor (IF), which is a glycoprotein produced by the parietal cells of the stomach is necessary for the absorption of vitamin B12 in the small intestine. This study was designed to assess serum levels of α-1 AT and
... Show MoreOver the last 40 years, rate of cesarean delivery has risen from less than10% to over 30% around the world, and almost simultaneously a 10-foldraise in the incidence of placenta accrete spectrum. Fine coordinationamong vascular endothelial growth factor, soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase1 and placental growth factor is important for normal placentaldevelopment and trophoblast invasion. To measure and compare the levelsof circulating vascular endothelial growth factor, placental growth factorand soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 in pregnant women with placentaaccreta to a control group. A case control study which involved one hundredpregnant females were recruited from the Obstetric ward in BaghdadTeaching Hospital who were pregnant with 28
... Show MoreBeen investigating a Pfyrus antigen hepatitis pattern J and Virus-positive rubella viral hepatitis antibodies pattern J. declaration followed by the percentage rate-positive patients of measles Allmana antibodies
To determine the relationship between Helicobacter pylori infection and Multiple Sclerosis (MS) disorder, 20 patients with MS aged (25-60) years have been investigated from the period of 2016/12/1 to 2017/3/1 and compared to 15 apparently healthy individuals. All study groups were carried out to measure anti H.pylori IgA and H.pylori IgG antibodies by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. There was a significant elevation (p<0.05) in the concentration of anti H.pylori IgG and IgA antibodies (Abs) compared to control group, and there was no significant difference (p>0.05) in the concentration of IgA and IgG (Abs) of H.pylori according to gender, and there was no significant difference (p>0.05) in the concentration of IgA and I
... Show More57 isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium bovis were identified; they were isolated from different clinical sources which included sputum, bronchial wash, abscess, pleural fluid, gastric fluid, eye fluid, and CSF, also urine and ear swab. This investigation was carried out on 198 patient attended National Reference Laboratory for T.B during September 2009. Also the study declared that the ratio of separation of this bacterium from male was (67.6%) and it’s higher than the ratio of separation this bacterium from females which was (32.3%). The susceptibility of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to melatonin was evaluated. Many concentrati
... Show Moreلم تعد ظاهرة غسل الأموال ظاهرةً محلیة أو إقلیمیة، فكل دولة معرضة لهذه الظاهرة لانتأثیراتها تستهدف الإنسان أینما كان باستهدافها الأوضاع الاقتصادیة والمالیة والاجتماعیة وحتىالأخلاقیة، سواء على المستوى الوطني أم على المستوي الدولي، فضلاً عن استغلال الاندماج الحاصلفي أسواق المال الدولیة والتطور التقني في الأنظمة المالیة لنقل الأموال المراد غسلها وتحریكها إلى إيمكان في العالم، وهو ما
Characteristic of money laundering phenomenon is a compound and complex nature like the style of regular crimes . These operations are planned and excuted with those who have high quality experiences to hide the evidences of their deeds so They ask the help of financials ,economicals and legists to plan for money laundering. Banks are important and suitable places for illegal circulation of money because of the different types of accounts , rapidity and overlap which emphasis of its main duty to dislocate illegal money which comes from illegal sources without adding legal characteristic to it . Here we should explain the important role of banks in striving the phenomenon –Bank should try to show and analyze inward proced
... Show MoreThe hero traditionally has such admirable traits as courage, fortitude,
chivalry and patriotism. In the literary works, the hero is the leading
character and the pivot around which all the characters and the events
revolve. The characteristics of the hero usually reflect the cultural values
of his time. Because, in each age, Man's attitudes towards himself and the
world change, different images of the hero emerge.
In Greek Mythology, the hero is frequently favoured by the gods;
therefore, he is himself semi-divine. The Greek hero is of princely birth
and is endowed with good physique, exceptional strength, skill in
athletics and battle, energy and eloquence, like Odysseus who is the hero
of the Odyssey, long
This study aimed to statement jet stream and its impact in the anti-cyclone affecting the climate of Iraq. Through the use of simple correlation coefficient ( Pearson ) that there is a very strong relationship between high- Siberian and both of the jet stream especially during the winter or over the stations of North . Therefore we, observe the relationship be significant in most of the winter months , spring and autumn . Statistically significant , but are different between station and another station , while the study come to another Anti-ciyclon have a real ,significant and statistically relationship corrclation . But this relationship is less than which found in are much less it with the Siberian high , it depends on the type of stat
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