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 quality of groundwater should be improved by keeping safe water sources from contaminants in protective way by doing regular measuring and checkup before it supplied for usage. Private Wells do not receive the same services that wells supplying the public do. Well owners are responsible for protecting their drinking water. This work was carried out in Badra city, Iraq from December 2017 to May 2018, six wells water were investigated to determine the general characteristics of wells as well as studying the effect of environmental factors on the quality of water. The average of six wells were eleven parameters that is out of permissible limits were EC, Sal., Alk., TH, TDS, Na, Ca, Cl, SO4, Fe, Zn (4402-5183 /cm, 2.76-3.9 ppt
... Show MoreBackground: Cerebral ventricular enlargement has been associated with many neurological disorders. Whether this enlargement is primary or secondary to these pathological conditions remains controversial. To define such enlargement, one must have measurements in normal subjects (controls).
Patients and methods: One hundred-twelve (66 male and 46 females) apparently healthy normal subjects, with age ranging between 10-69 years were subjected to C. T scans as part of routine diagnostic workup for complaint of headache or recent minor motor-vehichle accident The ratio (measured as percent) of the ventricular-cross area of the lateral ventricle The maximum width (MTW) of the third ventricle was also deter
Background: acute abdominal pain is one of the most common presentations in surgical wards. Ultrasound has been grown in popularity as an easy, quick and non-invasive imaging the abdomen. US is very useful means of non-invasively, modality for assessment of acute abdominal pain.
Objective: Study of the most common acute none traumatic abdominal diseases in adult patients admitted to Baghdad Teaching Hospital in department of surgery .Correlate the operative findings with sonographic features as to make the initial diagnosis of the diseases included in this study. Compare the diagnostic yield of abdominal ultrasound with that of computed tomography (CT).
Methods :The present study included eighty nine consec
Background: Characterization of the ovarian masses preoperatively is important to inform the surgeon about the possible management strategies. MRI may be of great help in identifying malignant lesion before surgery. Diffusion Weighted Imaging (DWI) is a sensitive method for changes in proton of water mobility caused by pathological alteration of tissue cellularity, cellular membrane integrity, extracellular space perfusion, and fluid viscosity.
Objective: to study the diagnostic accuracy of DWI in differentiation between benign and malignant ovarian masses.
Type of the study:Cross-sectional study.
Methods: this study included 53with complex
... Show MoreThe global oil market is one of the most important markets in the world and occupies especially for countries consuming and producing countries, and the status of understanding of the mechanism for determining prices in the market help to stand on many factors affecting oil demand and supply of oil and geopolitical factors, climate and alternative sources of energy .. etc. factors, and that the main objective of the research is to study the causes and results left behind by the oil price shocks in the world market, and the movement of these factors be through a cycle of energy that explain the strength of competition between these factors and their effects on prices, when demand increases evolution Large image leads to significan
... Show MoreBackground: Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is one of the largest causes of mortality worldwide. Clopidogrel, antiplatelet drug, has been widely used for management of CAD. The current study aimed to investigate the effect of clopidogrel on the oxidative stress in CAD patients. Methods: One hundred CAD patients, who were followed-up for 5 days after receiving clopidogrel, and 50 healthy volunteers were included in this study. Parameters include catalase (CAT), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total oxidant capacity (TOC), total protein, albumin, and globulins were determined before and after treatment with clopidogrel. Results: CAT, TAC, and Tp were significantly decreased (P<0.0001) in CAD patients compared to healthy control and
... Show MoreForeign trade receives a good deal of economists' attention for its active contribution to economic growth, and imports of goods and services that could not be produced locally constitute an important share of the local economy. Agricultural imports constitute an important share of the total imports due to their role in fulfilling the needs of local markets; however, the agricultural sector in Iraq contributes no more than a limited share of the country's need, which has encouraged the import of a variety of fruits, vegetables and strategic crops and different types of red and white meat. For the sake of identifying the factors affecting the demand on agricultural imports in Iraq, the following factors has been analyzed: th
... Show MoreThe current research studies the innovative thinking system in the field of the interior design, and the extent of the possibility of activating its work mechanisms as a strategy for the redesigning principle according the variables of the contemporary social thinking. The research aims at revealing the nature of the thinking criteria and requirements that provide strategic values that guide the interior designer and the architect to organize the mechanism the act of designing. It also contributes in dealing with the design product through activating its ability in innovation and redesigning.
The research consists of the concept of innovation, the&nbs
... Show MoreThe present study aimed to investigate the morphological description and histological structure of thyroid gland in Herpestes javanicus . The results revealed that thyroid gland in adult Herpestes javanicus is located in the neck region just below the larynx and attached to the trachea . Histological study revealed that thyroid gland in H. javanicus surrounded by a capsule of losse connective tissue and the thyroid gland mainly formed from follicles within different sizes. The results showed that the follicle consists of three compenets represented by follicular lining cells, basal parafollicular cells and the colloid. Microscopical examination revealed that the follicular lining tissue is either to be simpl
... Show MoreQuantum mechanical computations is conducted using DFT (Density Functional Theory) and PM3 (Parameterized Model 3), also, using DFT of (B3LYP) with a 6-311++G (d, p) with G09 application. These molecular three components include structure, electronic charge density and energetic characteristics of chosen phytomedicine compounds. The impact of functional groups on physical characteristics were studied using myricetin, linebacker, and flavone because of their chemical structures. For phytomedicine compounds, we utilized quantum mechanical simulations to estimate bond length, energy, vibration(vib.) modes, charge density and mechanical properties (cruelty, strength, stiffness, for the measurements of the lengths and energy of the
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