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.
ABSTRACT
Background: Al-Najaf province , Iraq , has experienced an outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19). Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of (Covid-19) infection have been reported but a detailed clinical course and risk factors for mortality including medical comorbidities and severity of illness at time of presentation , have not been well described.
Methods: From February 24 to April 7, 2020, a case series study done on 123 PCR-confirmed cases of (Covid-19) admitted to Al-Hakeem Hospital And Quarantine Center (AHQC), in Al-Najaf Province, Iraq. Demographics, clinical and laboratory data gathered from a local database at (AHQC). SPSS(statist
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Background: The primary goal of this study is to perceive the immunological differences in mean level of IFN- and IL-12 in persons who have positive results for anti-toxoplasma gondii antibodies compared to persons who gave negative results for these antibodies. The secondary goal is to inspect the endocrineimmune interaction in thesepersons by detecting the effect of testosterone hormone level on cellular immune response namely, IL-12& IFN- . This study also detect the effect of Toxoplasma gondii on the level of testosterone hormone in those persons compared with healthy control.
Objective: Investigate the relationship between T. gondii and serum IL-12,IFN- and testosterone hormone levels in asymptom
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Background: Most adolescent girls experience some degree of dysmenorrhea, which can impact on their daily activities. It is responsible for school absenteeism or interruption of social activities. Therefore, investigating dysmenorrhea among secondary school students is important to provide caregivers with data necessary for interventions
Objectives: This study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of dysmenorrhea among secondary school students in Basra, Iraq and to study its impact on their daily activities.
Materials & methods: A cross sectional study was conducted from Jan. 2011 to May 2011 among 350 secondary school students using a semi-structured questionnair
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Background: Background: Diabetes mellitus is a life-threatening disease. Global prevalence of diabetes mellitus is increasing rapidly providing a worrying indication and major threat to global health unless interventions are created through community awareness and knowledge regarding different aspect of DM.
Aims: To assess the level of awareness regarding diabetes risk factors, prevention and management among community members in Baqubah city and to identify any association between awareness level and some variables.
Methods: Across sectional study was carried out from the 1st of January - 30th of November 2019 in all primary health care centers (six centers) in center of Baqubah city. A convenien
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The article attempts to provide the theoretical fundamentals for the semiotic component of lacunae in a language. The definitions of the following notions have been represented: 1) lacunarity as a complex phenomenon that works in the modes of language, speech and speech behaviour; 2) lacuna as a gap, an empty space, which lacks something, which may be characteristic of a written work. The author of the article considers the main classes of lacunae, among which are: 1) generic lacunae, which reflect the absence of a common name for a class of objects; 2) species lacunae are the absence of specific names, names of individual types of objects or phenomena; 3) intralingual lacunae are found within the paradigms of one language; 4) interlanguage
... Show MoreBackground: Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) is the most polymorphic genetic system in main.
An investigation was conducted to suggest relations for estimating yield and properties of the improved light lubricating oil fraction produced from furfural extraction process by using specified regression.
Mass transfer in mixer-settler has been studied. Mass transfer coefficient of continuous phase, mass transfer coefficient of dispersed phase and the overall mass transfer coefficient extraction of light lubes oil distillate fraction by furfural are calculated in addition to all physical properties of individual components and the extraction mixtures.
The effect of extraction variables were studied such as extraction temperature which ranges from 70 to 110°C and solvent to oil ratio which ranges from 1:1 to 4:1 (wt/wt
... Show MoreBreast cancer (BC) is the most prevalent tract cancer in the world, including Iraq. The classified breast tumors to benign, malignant, and radiotherapy. Cancer treatment depends on certain stages such as mastectomy then chemotherapy alone or with radiation therapy or endocrine therapy according to the prognostic features obtained from the pathology report. The present study included 100 females. The women were split into two groups, control group that consisted of 50 apparently healthy females and 50 patients with BC group who undergo the radiotherapy. The current study highlighted on some of the anthropometric measurements, including the oxidative stress index malondialdehyde (MDA), the concentrations of total antioxidant capacity (TAC), s
... Show MoreSIFCON is characterized as a construction material of high ductility and very high strength. It is suitable for concrete structures used for special applications. However, the density of SIFCON is much higher than that of Fiber Reinforced Concrete (FRC) due to the need for a large amount of high-density steel fibers. This work examines the split tensile behavior of modified weight slurry infiltrated fiber concrete utilizing a mixture of two types of fibers, steel fiber, and polyolefin fiber. For the investigation, 30 cylinders and 15 cubes were poured. The used volume fraction (V.F) is (6 %) and the use of five series once as each type separately and once a hybrid in proportions of 2/3 polyolefin with 1/3 steel fiber and
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The objective of this study was to investigate the morphological description and histological structure of adrenal gland in Iraqi black partridge Francolinus francolinus from Iraqi environment. Twenty adult healthy birds (male and female) were used in present study. They were measured and adrenal glands were removed, measured and fixed by 10% formalin and formalin and chromate fixative then stained with rotein histochemical stain (Harris hematoxylin and eosin stain (H&E), periodic acid Schiff (PAS), Azan and Mallory stain). The partridge had a small couple of adrenal glands of yellow colour they are located in abdominal cavity nearby the margin of superior kidney lobe. These are small, ovoid glands lying just cranial to the kidneys a
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