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.
We consider the outflow of water from the peak of a triangular ridge into a channel of finite depth. Solutions are computed for different flow rates and bottom angles. A numerical method is used to compute the flow from the source for small values of flow rate and it is found that there is a maximum flow rate beyond which steady solutions do not seem to exist. Limiting flows are computed for each geometrical configuration. One application of this work is as a model of saline water being returned to the ocean after desalination. References Craya, A. ''Theoretical research on the flow of nonhomogeneous fluids''. La Houille Blanche, (1):22–55, 1949. doi:10.1051/lhb/1949017 Dun, C. R. and Hocking, G. C. ''Withdrawal of fluid through
... Show More<span lang="EN-US">In the last years, the self-balancing platform has become one of the most common candidates to use in many applications such as flight, biomedical fields, and industry. In this paper, the physical prototype of a proposed self-balancing platform that described the self-balancing attitude in the (X-axis, Y-axis, or biaxial) under the influence of road disturbance has been introduced. In the physical prototype, the inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensor will sense the disturbance in (X-axis, Y-axis, and biaxial). With the determined error, the corresponding electronic circuit, DC servo motors, and the Arduino software, the platform overcame the tilt angle(disturbance). Optimization of the proportional-integral-
... Show MoreThe purpose of this research is to identify the youth issues in Talk Shows in the Iraqi satellite channels via monitoring a sample of episodes of the Talk Shows episodes which are concerned and analyzed the youth issues in the Iraqi satellite channels, namely, «Hala Shabab Program» at Al-Iraqia satellite Channel and «Shabab wa Banat Program» at Al-Sumaria satellite Channel by recording and re-watching them again. This research is classified as one of descriptive researches. The survey method was adopted in this study.
For this purpose, the researcher prepared an analysis form. The researcher de
... Show MoreWith the increasing rates of cancer worldwide, a great deal of scientific discourse is devoted to arguments and statements about cancer and its causes. Scientists from different fields try to seize any available chance to warn people of the risk of consuming and exposing to carcinogens that have, unfortunately, become essential parts of modern life. The present paper attempts to investigate the proximization strategy through which scientists construct carcinogen risk to enhance people’s preventive actions against these carcinogens. The paper targets the construction which depends on producing the conflict between the values of the people themselves and the contrasting values assigned to carcinogens. To achieve this aim, Cap’s (2
... Show Morehe study aims to build a model that revolves around the main question of the role of strategic agility (SA) in enhancing organizational excellence (OE). For the purpose of achieving OE and to determine the extent of interest and knowledge of managers at the Midwest Refineries Company (MRC) on the theoretical and practical implications, and on the performance foundations of these two vital variables with the aim of continuous improvement. A questionnaire was used and distributed to a random sample of 54 managers in this important energy production company. The study followed the descriptive analytical approach to answer the questions raised. The study model and dimensions were built according to reference models, most notably the models (Al-
... Show MoreThis study deals with an important area in the field of linguistics, namely person deixis.
The study aims at: (1) Describing the notion of deixis, its importance, and its place in the field
of linguistics, (2) Presenting a detailed illustration of person deixis, and (3) Conducting an
analysis of person deixis in one of Synge‟s plays Riders to The Sea according to Levinson‟s
model. The most important aim of these three is the third one (the analysis). To achieve this
aim, the researcher depends on Levinson‟s (1983) descriptive approach. According to the
descriptive approach of deixis, the category of person deixis can be defined as the encoding of
the participant roles in the speech situation. This encoding is r
In The Name of Allah Most Gracious Most Merciful
This is a study dedicated to explaining the conditions of the end of heaven, stage by stage; And to draw the final picture of it, through the facts of the Qur’an, and to make the contextual integration of the verses of the end of heaven, and their arrangement in an intentional arrangement, a path that guides us to knowing the integrated picture of it on the Day of Resurrection, according to scientific interpretation.
The importance and usefulness of the research lies in:
Extracting the order of the stages of the end of heaven, from its first state to its last, which came in separate verses of the Qur’an, each one of which was placed in a surah that was consistent w
... Show MoreBackground: It was stated in scientific literatures that the entire craniofacial complex is influenced by the growth of the cranial base structures. Nevertheless, many times this is not the case, and this point is subject to great controversy so the aim of this study is to evaluate the possible differences in cranial base shape and flexure between different skeletal classes for both genders and to investigate any possible correlation between cranial base variables and other skeletal base variables. Materials and Methods: The sample include 75 lateral cephalometric radiographs of Iraqi adults aged between 18-25 years (39 males, 36 females), collected from patients and undergraduate students in the orthodontic department of College of Dentist
... Show MoreThe research aims to indicate the relationship between lean production tools included seven {constant improvement , and Just in time (JIT), and the production smoothing , and quality at the source, and standardized work, Visual management, and activities 5S } and Mass Customization strategy for the model (Pine & Gilomer, 1997) {collaborative, adaptive, cosmetic, transparent}, as well as providing a conceptual framework and applied for variables search to clarify how they will choose a Mass Customization strategy through the lean production tools, , and recognize the reality of the practices of Iraqi industries in such a field. Moreover, aims to highlight the positive aspects that accrue to companies a
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