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: Successful root canal therapy depends on thorough chemo mechanical debridement of pulpal tissue, dentin debris and infective microorganisms. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the antibacterial effect of silver nanoparticles, sodium hypochlorite and chlorhexidine in reducing the bacterial infection of the root canals. Materials and Methods: The root canals of 55 single-rooted teeth were cleaned, shaped, and sterilized. All the teeth samples were inoculated with Enterococcus faecalis and incubated at 37°C for 2 weeks. Then, the teeth were divided into four groups. Group I (n=15): 100 ppm silver nanoparticles, Group II (n=15): 2.5 sodium hypochlorite, Group III (n=15): 2% chlorhexidine, IV (n=10): Normal saline as a contr
... Show MoreCu (In, Ga) Se2 (CIGS) nano ink were synthesized from molecular precursors of CuCl, In Cl3, GaCl3 and Se metal heated to 240 °C for 1 hour in N2-atmosphere to form CIGS nanocrystal ink, Thin films were deposited onto Au/soda-lime glass (SLG) substrates. This work focused on CIGS nanocrystals, including their synthesis and application as the active light absorber layer in photovoltaic devices (PVs). This approach, using spin-coating deposition of the CIGS light absorber layers (75 mg/ml and 150 nm thickness), without high temperature selenization, has enabled up to 1.398 % power conversion efficiency under AM 1.5 solar illumination. X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies show that the structural formation of CIGS chalcopyrite structure. The mo
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Aquatic Oligochaeta is an important group of Macroinvertebrates that has been very remarkable as bioindicators for assessing water pollution and determining its degree in water bodies. Hence, the idea of the current study aims at studying the impact of Baghdad effluents on the Tigris River by using oligochaetes community as bioindicators . For this purpose, four sites along the inside of Baghdad has been chosen. Site S1 has been located upstream, site S2 and S3 has been at midstream and site S4 at the downstream of the River.This investigation has used different types of biological indicators, including the percentage of oligochaeta within benthic invertebrates, which ranged from 49.2-51.28%. The highest percentage of the tubificid w
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This study was performd on 50 serum specimens of patients with type 2 diabetes, in addition, 50 normal specimens were investigated as control group. The activity rate of LAP in patients (560.46 10.504) I.U/L and activity rate of LAP in healthy(10.58 4.39)I.U/L.The results of the study reveal that Leucine aminopeptidase (LAP) activity of type 2 diabetes patient s serum shows a high signifiacant increase (p < 0.001) compare to healthy subjects. Addition preparation leucine amide as substrate of LAP, identification melting point and spectra by FTIR. K
Background: Osteoporosis affects almost all of the bones in the female body; the most important one in the facial bone is mandible. Menopause is defined as an absence of the menses for one year. During this time, estrongen, progesterone and ovarian androgens production are diminished due to adult onset ovarian failure which leads to osteoporosis. This study aimed to evaluate the use of computed tomography mandibular morphometric indices for the assessment of pre and postmenopausal osteoporotic women. Subjects and material: This study conducted on 50 Iraqi females divided into 2 groups 20 -30years old as a control group and over50 years old as a study group attending Al-Karkh hospital, Department of Computed Tomography.(each group25 female).
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The purpose of this research is to find the estimator of the average proportion of defectives based on attribute samples. That have been curtailed either with rejection of a lot finding the kth defective or with acceptance on finding the kth non defective.
The MLE (Maximum likelihood estimator) is derived. And also the ASN in Single Curtailed Sampling has been derived and we obtain a simplified Formula All the Notations needed are explained.
A numerical investigation has been performed to study the effect of eccentricity on unsteady state, laminar aiding mixed convection in a horizontal concentric and eccentric cylindrical annulus. The outer cylinder was kept at a constant temperature
while the inner cylinder was heated with constant heat flux. The study involved numerical solution of transient momentum (Navier-Stokes) and energy equation using finite difference method (FDM), where the body fitted coordinate system (BFC) was
used to generate the grid mesh for computational plane. The governing equations were transformed to the vorticity-stream function formula as for momentum equations and to the temperature and stream function for energy equation.
A computer progra