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.
There is a scarcity of data regarding algal flora of Tigris River in the territory of Baghdad. The present study deals with Tigris River in Al-Dora site in Baghdad province from November 2014 to June 2015 in order to shed light on its epiphytic Algae on (Phragmites australis) and epipelic algae. An amount of 183 and 154 species of epiphytic and epipelic algae are identified respectfully. The Bacillariophyceae (diatoms) are the dominant algal group followed by Cyanophyceae and Chlorophyceae. Moreover, 90 species are shared between two groups of algae (epiphytic and epipelic) and identified at the study site. Additionally, the seasonal variations and diversity of algal species are noticed. The highest number of epiphytic algae is 772.05 x 104
... Show MoreAbstract
The image of the soldier, as a hero who sacrifices everything to defend his
country and values, is no longer depicted in modern drama. With two World Wars
and many regional wars and civil wars, the soldier becomes a victim, not a hero.
Authors present the character of the soldier as a man who suffers a lot as he is
victimized by his own government and its politics that forces him to be in such a
position. Dramatists express their views about race, oppression and war through
their characters, such as the character of the soldier, as in the two selected plays for
this research: The Hostage by Brendan Behan and A Soldier's Play by Charles
Fuller.
The Hostage depicts, through its events, the Irish oppre
The Rwandan author of comfort chests and verse pleasure of the most important historians of the Seljuks in the sixth century AH / twelfth century and belongs to the mostly ethnic scientists family has won favor with the Sultans of the Seljuks until he became the most famous Markhém is his main source of research sources with respect to the political and social history the Seljuks and the relationship of the Seljuk sultans of the Abbasid caliphs in Baghdad.
The book included the history of the Seljuks from the time of statehood in the fifth century AH / atheist century AD until the death of the Sultan Tgrl bin Arslan year 590 AH / 1193 AD and then shed Akhawarzmeyen, and touched the author at the end of the book in separate chapters t
Ternary semiconductors AB5C8 (A = Cu/Ag, B = In and C = S, Se or Te) have been investigated. The CuIn5S8 and AgIn5S8 have been synthesize in cubic spinel structure with space group (Fd3m), whereas CuIn5Se8, AgIn5Se8, CuIn5Te8 and AgIn5Te8 have tetragonal structures with space group P-42m. The relaxed crystal geometry, electrical properties such as electronic band structure and optoelectronic properties are predicted by using full potential method in this work. For the determination of relaxed crystal geometry, the gradient approximation (PBE-GGA) is used. All the studied compounds are semiconductors based on their band structures in agreement with the experimental results, and their bulk moduli are in the range 35 to 69 GPa. Wide absorption
... Show MoreThe problem of job burnout has become one of the main problems for researchers in social welfare organizations (social protection bodies) - one of the formations of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs. Its negative effects increased in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, and in light of the Corona pandemic, the pressures and burdens of workers varied, which resulted in high rates of anxiety, tension, and intellectual and physical exhaustion, and then negatively affected their efficiency in performing work at the individual and organizational level, especially after the increasing tasks of these Bodies in carrying out their role in achieving the general goals and objectives as beingThe general goals are that they are responsible for providi
... Show MorePurpose: The research aims to explore the impact Business Intelligence System (BIS) and Knowledge Conversion Processes (KCP) in the Building Learning Organization (LO) in KOREK Telecom Company in Baghdad city.
Design/methodology/approach: in order to achieve the objectives of the research has been the development of a questionnaire prepared for this purpose and then has tested the search in the telecommunications sector, representatives of one of the telecommunications companies in Baghdad city, has therefore chosen KOREK Telecom company as a sample for research, and the choice was based on the best standard international companies to serve mobile communications in terms o
... Show MoreThe present article discusses the synthesis of tetradentate Schiff base complexes formed by the condensation reaction of 2-hydroxy benzaldehyde and phthalohydrazide. The ligand (LH2) was detected using FT-IR spectra, 1H, 13C-NMR, UV-Vis spectroscopy, elemental microanalysis CHN, and mass spectrometry. The obtained solid complexes have been assessed using physicochemical and spectroscopic techniques, including UV-Vis, FT-IR, nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR, 13C-NMR), mass spectrometry, thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), and atomic absorption, in addition to complex conductivity and magnetic moment measurements. The infrared results demonstrated that ligands functioning as tetradentate ligands are chelated to metal ions via the ph
... Show MoreDuring the course of fixed orthodontic therapy, patients should be instructed to eat specific food stuffs and beverages in order to maintain good health for the dentition and supporting structures and prevent frequent attachment debonding that prolong the treatment duration. After searching and collecting articles from 1930 till July 2021, the current review was prepared to emphasize various types of foods that should be taken during the course of fixed orthodontic therapy and to explain the effect of various food stuffs and beverages on the growth and development of craniofacial structures, tooth surfaces, root resorption, tooth movement, retention and stability after orthodontic treatment and the effect on the components of fixed ortho
... Show MoreThe aim of this study is to find a relationship between oxidative stress and adiponectin in Iraqi patients with acromegaly. The present study included 30 patients with acromegaly disease attending at Al-Yarmuk teaching hospital , and 30 healthy individuals as a control group.The two groups with ages ranging (30-55) years. The results revealed a highly significant elevation in all parameters (GH,IGF-1 , adiponectin , malondialdehyde , and peroxynitrite ) levels in sera of patients when compared with healthy control .It can be concluded that oxidative stress (malondialdehyde and peroxynitrite ) may be valuable in detecting of endocrine diseases like acromegaly .