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.
Background: Fractures of the humeral shaft
accounting for approximately 3% of all
fractures. There is a wide array of good
options for their treatment and controversy
over the best methods. Although good
techniques of osteosynthesis are available, the
aim of this article is toemphasize on the benefit
and good outcome of conservative treatment
for properly selected cases to decrease the cost
and avoid the complications of surgery.
Application of pesticide on vegetables will protect them from pest injury, but in another hand will hold pesticide residues inside vegetables. These residues have harmful effect against all consumers. Detection about pesticide residues has been carried out for some Iraqi vegetables (tomato, cucumber, eggplant, and zucchini) by using Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectroscopy (GC/MS). (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe) QuEChERS method has been applied for extraction pesticide residues from targeted vegetables. The GC/MS has been carried out before the treatment of residues for distinguish the vegetables that are suffering from hyper concentration in pesticide residues more than maximum residues limits (MRLs). Three kinds of solut
... Show MoreBackground: Sub-clinical hypothyroidism (SCTD) is most commonly an early stage of hypothyroidism. Although the condition may resolve or remain unchanged, within a few years in some patients, overt hypothyroidism may develop, with low free T4 levels as well as a raised thyroid stimulating hormone(TSH) level. In general thyroid dysfunction is a condition known to reduce the likelihood of pregnancy and to adversely affect pregnancy outcome. As screening for thyroid disease becomes more common, SCTD is being diagnosed more frequently in clinical practice. The aim of the study is to find out the effect of treating SCTD with thyroxin on the fertility status of the female patient.
Patients and methods: Forty thr
Background: Clubfoot, or talipes equinovarus, is a congenital deformity that consist of; supination and adduction of the forefoot and midfoot; equinus of hindfoot and varus. It was found that more than 100,000 babies are born each year with congenital clubfoot
Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the complications of ponseti method for treatment of children with idiopathic club foot.
Subjects and Methods: 50 children with 74 clubfeet were managed by Ponseti method from May 2019 to July 2020 in Al-Wasity teaching hospital with primary correction of the deformity followed sometimes by elongation of Achilles tendon then the pati
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In the name of God the Merciful
Praise be to God and the Hall and Peace Uncle Prophet Muhammad and blindness Alo and companions
Money is the lifeblood and a reason for living. An individual cannot live without money to make it
It is only through the necessities of life and the state that it can perform its duties and functions only
As money is so important, the state must regulate the balance of revenues
And expenses in order to avoid failure in Mizanitia, but perhaps the country may be exposed to crises
An exception that leads to misappropriation in the general Mizanitia and the Islamic Shari'ah is valid for Makkah
Time and place for all circumstances has created several ways to address the budget defici
Background: Malignant lymphomas represent about 5% of all malignancy of the head and neck region which can involve lymph nodes as well as soft tissue and bone of the maxillofacial region. Apoptosis is considered a vital component of various processes including normal cell turnover, proper development and functioning of the immune system. Inappropriate apoptosis is a factor in many human conditions including neurodegenerative diseases, ischemic damage, autoimmune disorders and many types of cancer. Expression of p53 Proteins in Hodgkin׳s and Non Hodgkin׳s lymphomas suggested that it can help in monitoring of patients and the markers may aid in controlling the progression of lymphoma and detect the degree of aggressiveness of the diseas
... Show MoreBackground: The aim in vitro study was to isolate and identify salivary mutans Streptococci and determine the ability of Green Tea Extracts and Nicotine to inhibit Growth, Biofilm Formation by salivary mutans streptococci. Materials and methods: This study included a convenient sample of 40 Iraqi volunteers aged 18–23 years old from College of Dentistry \University of Baghdad. Commercial green tea and nicotine were prepared in different concentration to use in agar diffusion method for detect the activity of extract, and ELISA reader in MTP was used to determine the ability of salivary mutans Streptococci to form biofilm in the presence / and absent of extracts.to measure the biofilm inhibition rate. Results: Mutans Streptococci were s
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Persistence of antibiotics in the aquatic environment has raised concerns regarding their potential influence on potable water quality and human health. This study analyzes the presence of antibiotics in potable water from two treatment plants in Baghdad City. The collected samples were separated using a solid-phase extraction method with hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) cartridge before being analyzed. The detected antibiotics in the raw and finished drinking water were analyzed and assessed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), with fluorometric detector and UV detector. The results confirmed that different antibiotics including fluoroquinolones and
(92)
(89)
Carbamazepine (CBZ) is an antiepileptic medication (AED) intended to treat epilepsy, although it is also used to treat psychiatric problems and neuropathic pain. CBZ use has been linked to male reproduction problems such as hormonal changes, sexual problems, and sperm quality loss in addition to its effect on the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis. The present study aimed to check the potential consequences of carbamazepine on the histology of the testis. In this experiment, 24 adult males of Swiss albino mice were divided into four groups. The control group was gavaged with distilled water, and the others were treated with carbamazepine orally administered with 0.1 ml of a daily dose of concentrations (2.5, 5 and 10) mg/kg bw for
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