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.
Aim: The Aim of the study is to compare between Er,Cr:YSGG 2780 nm laser and carbide fissure bur in root-end resection regarding the morphological variations, temperature changes and the duration of resection process.
Settings and Design: 5 W, 25 Hz, 50% water, 80% air,25.47 J/cm2 .
Material and method: twenty-one extracted single rooted teeth endodontically were treated, twenty teeth were obturated and divided into two groups according to method of resection. Group 1 root-end resected using cross cut carbide bur while group 2 root-end resected using laser with MGG6 sapphire tip of 600 μm diameter. Temperature on external root surface and duration of resection were recor
... Show MoreHuman herpes virus-8 (HHV-8) infection has increased recently in Arabic countries. HHV-8 in healthy persons does not necessarily cause life-threatening infection, and however, it causes a more severe infection among immunocompromised patients. The distribution of HHV-8 genotypes varies according to ethnicity and depends on the geographic region prior rapid development of global travel. A cross sectional prospective study included a hundred healthy blood donor samples with a mean age of (36.60±10.381), 81% were positive for molecular detection of HHV-8 DNA. PCR results for HHV-8 were strongly related with risk factors such as the number of sexual relations, previous surgeries, blood transfusion, dental operation, and the number of b
... Show MoreThe irony pushes us to inquire about what is in the text of contradiction, irony, suspense, and other acts of paradox, as well as a departure from what is logical, or familiar, that attracts the attention of the addressee, and this is what drives us to introspect the text and interrogate it in order to get to know the intended product of the text or its real or metaphorical intent. On the other hand, the irony is more in the literary text than in the scientific texts. Therefore, critics add the word literature to it in their definition.
As it is represented by the paradox, we will seek to study the paradox of the title and the problematic that it may pose as the beginning of the text, and i
... Show MoreAfter completion of the artistic production, the artist plays the echo of this production upon the recipient. Whether this recipient is from the public, art connoisseurs, or private artists, critics and academics. In the past, the boundaries of Time and place had a great effect in limiting this echo or its quality, as the views of the recipients were largely influenced by the prevailing thought or the artistic trends that dominate the artistic scene in the surrounding environment in which the artist created. In order for the artist to show works for the widest segment of the recipient, he bears the burden of the costs of transporting the work, a keeper of damage on the move, and the material amounts that may hinder the publication of the
... Show MorePenetrating cardiac injuries caused by nail guns are exceedingly rare but often life-threatening, with reports showing an increasing trend. We described the case of an adolescent male who sustained accidental cardiac penetration by an iron nail while performing carpentry work. Rapid referral to a specialized cardiac center enabled timely surgical intervention, illustrating the pivotal role of early recognition, expedited transfer, and expert management in optimizing outcomes. This case also highlights the grave risks associated with the employment of minors in hazardous occupational settings, where exposure to unsafe environments may lead to catastrophic consequences.
Background: Intralesional injections of vitamin D and bleomycin have gained growing clinical interest in the treatment of recalcitrant plantar warts, with pain as a major limitation associated with their use. Objective: To assess the clinical outcomes of vitamin D and bleomycin in managing treatment-resistant plantar warts. Methods: An interventional comparative study conducted on patients diagnosed with recalcitrant plantar warts over 9 months and not treated for two months. Patients were divided randomly into two groups: group A (24 patients received intralesional vitamin D) and group B (24 patients received intralesional bleomycin). The clearance rate and pain score were estimated by visual analogue scale (VAS). Results: 48 patie
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