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.
Back ground; Selective re-absorption and secretion are the functions of the collecting tubules and ducts, in addition to concentrate urine through ADH-regulated and ADH-independent water channels.Method; twenty four male rats were used, they were divided into two groups of animals: Group (A) included twelve rats of five weeks old age (before puberty) that were divided into three subgroups, four rats in each subgroup. Subgroup I was control one, subgroups II and III were treated orally with melatonin in a dose of 250 & 500 µg/kg body weights subsequently. Group (B) included twelve rats of seventeen weeks old age (after puberty) that were divided into the same subgroups and treated with the doses of melatonin as in the rats of group (
... Show MoreA spectrophotometric reliable, rapid and sensitive method has been developed and validated for the determination Ketotifen fumarate . A method was described for the determination of Ketotifen Fumarate in pure form or pharmaceutical formulations, a colored ion-pair complex formation reaction among ketotifen fumarate and acid-dye bromophenol blue at pH 3.0 was used for the colorimetric determination of the drug. The complex formed was extracted into chloroform and the maximum absorbance of the solution was measured at 413 nm against blank. The calibration curve calculated obey Beer's law over the concentration range of 0.4-16 μg/ml and the regression equation was A=0.069
... Show MoreSwarming is one of the most important virulence factors used by bacteria to invade new sites. This study aimed to test the effects of gentamicin on swarming motility of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, both phenotypically and molecularly. The present results revealed that 11/25 isolates had gentamicin MIC of 1024 µg/ml. However, gentamicin at sub-minimal inhibitory concentration significantly (P< 0.05) reduced the diameter of swarming in all P. aeruginosa isolates. Noticeably the mean and median swarming diameter before treatment with gentamicin 5.557 and 5.816 cm respectively had significantly (P < 0.001) reduced to 0.871 and 0.766 cm respectively. At the molecular level, amrZ (a global regulator
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The current study summarized the construction of a three-dimensional geological model of the Aquitanian sediments age, which represented by the Euphrates and Serikagni formation in Ajeel Oil Field, where Ajeel Oil Field has structural closure towards northwest - southeast. Sedimentary of the current study consist of limestone, dolomitic limestone, dolomite (compose of skeletal grains, non-skeletal grains and cement) and the appearance of some anhydrite rocks.
The petrographic study of the Euphrates Formation were prepared using a thin section of wells (Aj-1, Aj-4, Aj-5, Aj-6 and Aj-7), Previous studies and geological reports, as well as use well logs data in the statistical analysis by Petrel softwa
... Show MoreAluminum doped zinc oxide nanoparticles (AZO) with different doping concentrations were prepared by Nd-YAG laser ablation of target in deionized water. The characterization of these nanoparticles was performed using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and photoluminance spectroscopy (PL). FTIR spectra confirmed the formation of vibrational bonds for ZnO NPs and AZO NPs. SEM images illustrated that the size and shape of the NPs changed with changing the number of laser pulses. Photoluminescence peaks exhibited two emission peaks, one at the UV region and the second in the visible region, which were modified as the number of laser pulses and doping concentration were ch
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CO2 laser (10.6 μm) is the most often used laser in the oral surgery due to its high absorption by water of the oral tissues. Several benefits of the use of CO2 laser have been reported for oral surgical procedures. This study aims to evaluate the effect of CO2 laser on soft and hard oral tissues (in vitro study). This study was done on fresh tissues from sheep’s head. CO2Surgical Laser with different operation modes was used; 0.2 mm spot size using different laser parameters on the tongue, and bone making holes, incisions and cutting. The depths and widths of holes and incisions were measured using endodontic file under magnification. The speed of incisions was calculated and the required time for cutting was measured using sport clo
... Show MoreBackground: Phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5) inhibitorsrestore nitric oxide (NO) signaling and may reducecirculating inflammatory markers, and improve metabolicparameters through a number of mechanisms. Dailyadministration of the PDE-5 inhibitor, tadalafil (TAD) mayattenuate inflammation; improve fasting plasma glucose andtriglyceride levels and body weight. This study aims toevaluate the efficacy of low dose PDE-5 inhibitor, tadalafil(TAD) in controlling dysglycemia and body weight in obesediabetic men.Methods: Forty obese men with type 2 diabetes aged 30-50years incorporated in this study, all with A1c of 7-8.5%,attending obesity unit in AL-Kindy college of medicine.Weight, height, BMI, FPG, A1c, cholesterol, TG, HDL andLDL measured for all
... Show MoreBackground: Hand, foot, and mouth disease is viral disease caused commonly by coxsackie virus A16 virus. It is a mild disease and children usually recover with no specific treatment within 7 to 10 days. Rarely, this illness may be associated with aseptic meningitis were patient may need hospitalization.
Objective: To determine significance of clinical features of hand, foot and mouth disease.
Methods: A cross sectional study of cases with clinical features of hand, foot and mouth disease visiting the dermatological consultation unit of Al Kindy teaching hospital. Sampling was for Zyona and Edressi Quarter patients over the period of 1st December 2017
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This research deals with the topic (the position of women) in the literature literature, and the researcher cites a bouquet of woolen yarn, examples of verses and poems from this fine literature that looks at the woman with respect and appreciation. In their poems.
The research is a comparative search for Arab and Kurdish literature, by selecting six famous poets in the literature, three of them are from Arabic literature, and the other three are from Kurdish literature, and thus the research is divided into two subjects and six demands.
Finally, the researcher tried to set a brick that would be an entry point to find an indicative explanation and a suitable explanation that would break those symbols and signs that caused the exp
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