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.
Organizations must interact with the environment around them, so the environment must be suitable for that interaction. These companies are now trying to become Learning Organizations because it try to face that challenges may rise from its environments. The Learning Organization is a concept that is becoming an increasingly widespread philosophy in modern companies, from the largest multinationals to the smallest ventures. What is achieved by this philosophy depends considerably on one's interpretation of it and commitment to it. This study gives a definition that we felt was the true ideology behind the Learning Organization and Group Working. A Learning Organization is one in which people at all levels
... Show MoreThis study deals with segmenting the industrial market as an independent variable and targeting the industrial market as a dependent variable. Since the industrial sector represents one of the most important fundamental pillars to build the economies of countries and their development , the Iraqi industrial sector was chosen as a population for the study . Based on measuring the study variables , identifying them and testing the correlation and effect on each other , the study reached a group of findings:
1- Increasing the level of availability of study variables inside the companies “The study sample”.
2- There is a correlation between the independent v
... Show MoreThe research aims to shed light on the recent experience in the Iraqi business environment, which is the experience of the merger. To evaluate a recent experience in an important sector of the Iraqi business sectors, namely the industrial sector to enable decision-makers to review that experience to judge the extent of its success and address some of the lapses that experience that by measuring synergies can be judged on the success of the merger experience or not. The research community is the governmental industrial sector. The research sample included six cases of merger (14) companies before the merger. The Holt method was used to predict the net sales and total cost values before the merger as if it were not merged. Th
... Show MoreUrea formaldehyde resin was prepared by using basic media by yield 95%. The Remaining of ureaplasts resin were prepared in acetic acid media by high yield. Alkyde resins were prepared by condensation polymerization by react Succinic, Maleic, Phthalic anhydrides with Ethylene glycol or Glycerol. Select samples of the prepared alkyde resins were mixed with Azo dyes in special ratio. The mixtures were used as coatings for wood, and compaised with pure dyes. The Coating that some alkyde resins showed better adhesion from using dyes alone. Preparation of wood coating by mixing ureaplast resins and alkyde resins with Azo dyes in special ratios. The coating showed better adhesion, brighter colors and better resistance to heat from Preceding coat
The solvent free oxidation of benzyl alcohol was conducted employing Au and Pd supported catalysts, while utilizing hydrogen peroxide 35% (H2O2) as the oxidant, H2O2 is very cheap, mild, and an environment friendly reagent, which produced water as the only by-product. Various proportions of Au-Pd catalysts on carbon and titanium oxide activated as supports were synthesized through the use of sol immobilization catalyst synthesis technique. Characterization of the synthesized catalysts was performed using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). It was found that the synthesized Au-Pd/ activated carbon catalyst was benef
... Show MoreThe aim of the present research is to measure the degree of strategic effectiveness (fahs) in the development of grammar skills of high school students in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and to achieve the goal of the researcher the researcher used the semi-experimental approach; On ten arbitrators specializing in grammar, morphology, curricula and methods of teaching the Arabic language. After confirming the validity of the guideline, the researcher prepared an achievement test consisting of (22) paragraphs of the type of short answer and multiple choice. The researcher trained a teacher to apply the strategy to the experimental research sample using the (screening) component of (30) students, and the same parameter taught the control sampl
... Show MoreThe study aimed to reveal the extent of the first intermediate grade science curriculum focus on the national values, health, environmental, economic values, in the light of the education policy in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in addition to present a proposed vision to strengthen it in the science curriculum for the first intermediate grade. The study was applied to the two books student and the two books of activity on the first-second semesters for the academic year 1441 AH. To analyze the curriculum content, the study used a verified card prepared by the researchers and a criterion for interpreting percentages. The study reached the following results: environmental values ranked first with a concentration of (43%), i.e. with an avera
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