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.
The present study identifies the linguistic means used to realize hyperbole in poetry as a rhetorical device that makes readers experience the beauty of poetic language. To achieve the aim of the study, a model of analysis in accordance with Spitzbardt (1963), Norrick (1982), and McCarthy & Carter (2004) is used. The analysis of data under investigation reveals that hyperbole is a crucial aid used by poets to portrait the real world as imaginative. In conclusion, poets prefer using lexico-grammatical repertoires than lexico-grammatical configurations. Keywords
The loss of dental hard tissue as a result of odontoclastic activity is known as root resorption. It is unwanted and pathological in permanent teeth. Root resorption may happen within the root canal called internal root resorption or on the outer surface of the root called external root resorption. Regardless of where it occurs, root resorption is irreparable, can cause pain for the patient, necessitates treatment, and in some circumstances, resulting in the early loss of the affected tooth. It might be challenging to precisely diagnose and treat root resorption. There is limited information within literatures on root resorption therefore this review aims to understand the radiological and clinical characteristics of r
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The use of artificial intelligence (AI) technology is rapidly expanding in nursing and society. However, its use in healthcare comes with a number of challenges and concerns. The authors of this article use the sociotechnical model to consider the expanding use of AI in nursing and healthcare from a global perspective. Select references from the literature are used to support this important discussion for nurses and other healthcare professionals. Artificial intelligence is a major innovation that, if used properly, can reduce errors and improve efficiency and healthcare quality. It has also been shown to increase patient support, healthcare access and patient care. Here the authors address some of the limitations and challenges of
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Background: Lung cancer is responsible for the most
cancer deaths in both men and women throughout the
world. Deaths from lung cancer (160,440 in 2004,
according to the National Cancer Institute) exceed the
number of deaths from four other major cancers combined
(breast, colon, pancreatic and prostate).
Objective: To assess the behavior and the approaches of
lung cancer in a sample of Iraqi patients.
Methods: This descriptive retrospective study was
performed using the records of 390 patients proved to have
lung cancer that had attending the Thoracic Surgery
Department of Surgical Specialties Hospital-Medical City
\Baghdad for the period from January, 1st
, 2001 to
December, 31st
,2002.
Res
The main aim of this research is to introduce financing cost optimization and different financing alternatives. There are many studies about financing cost optimization. All previous studies considering the cost of financing have many shortcomings, some considered only one source of financing as a credit line without taking into account different financing alternatives. Having only one funding alternative powers, restricts contractors and leads to a very specific financing model. Although it is beneficial for the contractor to use a long-term loan to minimize interest charges and prevent a substantial withdrawal from his credit line, none of the existing financial-based planning models have considered long-term loans in
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Triump is a happy end and a positive outcome of any good deed on the part of a human
being, or of any competition or contest in any field. A human being’s life abounds with gain
and loss. If one succeeds one will be happy psychologieally, physieally, etc. if one the other
hard one loses, one wil be in a state. Between loss and gain there are many a step.
However humans work hard to be a great success and a read winner.The life of the world constitutes a huge race-track where people try hard to head towards
the hereafter. Therefore, we find people who succed and gain the Garden, and people whose
habitation is the fire, The Glorious Qur’an has shown us in many a surah the way to success
when Allah mentions ‘great
This study deals with strategic maneuvering in advertisement from a pragmatic point of view found in some commercial advertisements in order to investigate and analyze the pragmatic devices that are used in the strategic maneuvering and stages. The study attempts to shed light on the most fuzzy areas in advertisements that is probably how the language of advertisements employed by advertisers to affect consumers positively. The primary goal of strategic maneuvering is to discover how the pragmatic devices have persuasive techniques that are used to gain a competitive advantage and more sales. This study is a contribution to the field of research in the language used in advertising. In this research, the effectiveness of strategic man
... Show MoreThe purpose of this paper is to develop a hybrid conceptual model for building information modelling (BIM) adoption in facilities management (FM) through the integration of the technology task fit (TTF) and the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) theories. The study also aims to identify the influence factors of BIM adoption and usage in FM and identify gaps in the existing literature and to provide a holistic picture of recent research in technology acceptance and adoption in the construction industry and FM sector.
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