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.
Maximum likelihood estimation method, uniformly minimum variance unbiased estimation method and minimum mean square error estimation, as classical estimation procedures, are frequently used for parameter estimation in statistics, which assuming the parameter is constant , while Bayes method assuming the parameter is random variable and hence the Bayes estimator is an estimator which minimize the Bayes risk for each value the random observable and for square error lose function the Bayes estimator is the posterior mean. It is well known that the Bayesian estimation is hardly used as a parameter estimation technique due to some difficulties to finding a prior distribution.
The interest of this paper is that
... Show MoreJob stress is considered one of the most important obstacles that may appear in the work field. In order to deal with the obstacles and challenges , the idea to deal with job stress has come to address job stress as one of the most important trends that enable organizations to face those challenges through focusing on the role of job stress and the organizational climate of the organization.
The research deals with two variables: the job stress as an independent variable, and the organizational climate as a dependent one. Each variable includes five sub-dimensions. These dimensions have been involved in an interaction to form
... Show MoreThe article characterizes metaphors and comparisons as a means of rethinking the phenomena of the surrounding world; two directions are named within which metaphors and comparisons are studied: 1) the linguo-classification direction combines several classifications of metaphors and comparisons, which are basically focused on comparing two denotations through the meanings of word forms that are part of the trope; 2) the theoretical and conceptual direction is associated with the concept of conceptual displacement and is the basis of the theoretical and methodological study of metaphor and comparison, i.e. the modern theory of metaphor is being formed; The main attention is focused on the comparative concept of Aristotle, which postul
... Show MoreBackground Idebenone is an extensively metabolized drug with poor water solubility that is used to treat Leiber’s hereditary optical neuropathy.
Objective This study aims to prepare idebenone nanoemulsion as a poloxamer-based nasal gel to overcome the extensive rate of hepatic metabolism for better bioavailability and lower histopathological effect on the nasal mucosa.
Methods The formulation strategy was based on eliciting mutual concentration reduction between the nanoemulsion and the carrier gel by setting their gelation temperature between 30-32°C to overcome the mucociliary dose washout. The o/w nanoemulsions rely on cremophor EL and transcutol as an emulsifying sys
... Show MoreThe research aims to identify the psychological and health risks that a child might be exposed to by playing with hazardous toys such as pellet guns. To this end, the researcher has visited Ibn Al-Haytham Eye Hospital in Baghdad, the emergency department to figure out the rate of injuries in Children for the consecutive years (2017-2018) and the first Month of (2019). The psychological risks as a result of disability are represented by the inability to accommodate the surrounding environment well. Additionally, the child experiences a kind of tension, conflict, and going in psychological crises through introversion, isolation, withdrawal tendencies, and poor conformity with himself and the Society.
An oral bi layer sustained release (SR) strips of Sodium Montelukast SMLT , which is selective leukotriene antagonist , used for patients suffered from mid-night asthma , were prepared successfully ,using different polymers, like guar gum , carrageenan , and xanthan gum , by solvent casting method .
The results obtained by this study revealed ,that best fast dissolving film of SMLT was loaded in carrageenan polymer 57% w\w (30mg.) , with acceptable physical properties, like film thickness , elastic endurance and surface pH .
Besides to that , the disintegration t
... Show MoreAbstract The study aimed at demonstrating the reality of sectarian coexistence in Iraq, which was characterized by the tolerance and coercion caused by the successive government policies to govern Iraq and to this day. The study was based on the hypothesis that coexistence between Islamic sects in Iraq can be achieved as long as there are strong bonds linking its components, and these bonds can produce coexistence between the sects based on peace. The study concluded that the hypothesis is correct, in addition to drawing a set of observations aimed at identifying weaknesses for advancing them through the adoption of mechanisms that address these weaknesses to yield towards a genuine peaceful coexistence among Islamic sects in Iraq.
Samples from tap water were chosen to be examined as one of the possible modes of G. lamblia and other parasites transmission. 144 domestic filter units were randomly distributed to houses in Baghdad in Al-Sadr City and surrounding regions then the suspended materials were examined microscopically by direct wet mount after centrifugal sedimentation method, and after staining with modified Ziehl-Neelsen (acid fast) stain. The results showed that 5/144 (3.47%) samples contained G. lamblia cysts, 3/144 (2.08%) contained E. histolytica/E. dispar cyst, while each of Cryptosporidium spp. and Cyclospora cayetanensis oocysts were observed in two samples (1.38%); also free living amoeba, ciliates and flagellates were detected in all samples. This
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