Background: Since the introduction of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) inhibitors including etanercept, their efficacy and safety in treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have been studied in many randomized controlled clinical trials. However, data regarding predictors of clinical response to anti-TNF therapy are still sparse.
Objective: To assess the predictors of response to etanercept in treatment of Iraqi patients with active RA.
Methods: An open label single group prospective study was conducted over 15 months on 190 Iraqi patients with RA. All the included patients were given etanercept at a dose of 50 mg by subcutaneous injection on
a weeklybases. Each patient was followed at regular intervals of baseline,1, 3 and 6 months for disease activity using Disease Activity Score 28 (DAS28). Also we assess six different patients characteristics (age, gender, disease duration, the presence of rheumatoid factor, smoking status and the concomitant use of methotrexate) as predictors to etanercept response.
Results: Data analysis showed a significant improvement in DAS28 with etanercept use over a period of 6 months. Females were more respondent to treatment than males. The concomitant use of methotrexate showed highly significant correlation with the treatment response. The other variables had no significant effect on response to treatment.
Conclusion: Female gender and concomitant use of methotrexate have a significant correlation with response to etanercept treatment.
Alginate is one of the natural biopolymers that is widely used for drug formulations, combination of alginate with other polymers, such as gum acacia, pectin, and carrageenan can increase mechanical strength, therefore, can reduce leakage of the encapsulated active pharmaceutical ingredient from the polymer matrix. Interaction of alginate and these polymers can occur via intermolecular hydrogen bonds causing synergism, which is determined from the viscosity of polymer mixture.
Alginate was combined with gum acacia/pectin/carrageenan in different blending ratios (100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75, and 0:100) with and without addition of CaCl2. The synergism effect is obtained from the design of experimental (DoE), and calculati
... Show MoreTest results of six half-scale reinforced concrete flat plates connections with an opening in the vicinity of the column are reported. The test specimens represent a portion of a slab bounded by the lines of contraflexure around the column. The tests were designed to study the effect of openings on the punching shear behavior of the slab-column connections. The test parameters were the location and the size of the openings. One specimen had no opening and the remaining five had various arrangements of openings around the column. All specimens were cast with normal density concrete of approximately 30 MPa compressive strength. The openings in the specimens were square, with the sides parallel to the sides of the column. Three sizes of ope
... Show MoreLet M be a weak Nobusawa -ring and γ be a non-zero element of Γ. In this paper, we introduce concept of k-reverse derivation, Jordan k-reverse derivation, generalized k-reverse derivation, and Jordan generalized k-reverse derivation of Γ-ring, and γ-homomorphism, anti-γ-homomorphism of M. Also, we give some commutattivity conditions on γ-prime Γ-ring and γ-semiprime Γ-ring .
Plastic soil exhibits unfavorited geotechnical properties (when saturation), which causes negative defects to engineering structures. Different attempts (included various materials) were conducted to proffer solutions to such defects by experimenting in practical ways. On one hand, these attempts aimed to improve the engineering characteristics of plastic soil, and on the other hand, to use problematic waste materials as a stabilizer, like cement kiln dust, and to reduce environmental hazards. This paper explored the shrinkage, plasticity, and strength behavior of plastic soil enhanced with cement dust. The cement dust contents were 0%, 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% by dry weight of soil. An experimental series of shrinkage and p
... Show MoreIn this work, the behavior of reinforced concrete columns under biaxial bending is studied. This work aims at studying the strengthening of columns by using carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP). The experimental work includes investigation of eight reinforced concrete columns (150*150*500mm) tested under several load conditions. Variables considered in the test program include; effect of eccentricity and effect of longitudinal reinforcement (Ø12mm or Ø6mm). Test results are discussed based on load – lateral deflection behavior, load –longitudinal deflection behavior, ultimate load and failure modes. The CFRP reinforcement permits
a complete change in the failure mode of the columns .The effect of longitudinal reinforcement in
Abstract
Objective(s): To evaluate the nurses` practices for children who diagnosed with febrile convulsion.
Methodology: A quantitative research, descriptive correlational design was used in this study, the study conducted on nurses who work in Al-Diwaniya Pediatrics Teaching Hospital-Iraq for Maternal and Children period from 12th September 2021 to 10th October 2022. A non- probability (convenience) sample has been applied to obtain the study goals. The study sample was (21) nurses who participate in the study. The study tool is composed of two parts: The first part is concerned with collection of nurses socio-demographic data obta
... Show MoreThe aim of this paper is to investigate the theoretical approach for solvability of impulsive abstract Cauchy problem for impulsive nonlinear fractional order partial differential equations with nonlocal conditions, where the nonlinear extensible beam equation is a particular application case of this problem.
In this paper, a mathematical model is proposed and studied to describe the spread of shigellosis disease in the population community. We consider it divided into four classes namely: the 1st class consists of unaware susceptible individuals, 2nd class of infected individuals, 3rd class of aware susceptible individuals and 4th class are people carrying bacteria. The solution existence, uniqueness as well as bounded-ness are discussed for the shigellosis model proposed. Also, the stability analysis has been conducted for all possible equilibrium points. Finally the proposed model is studied numerically to prove the analytic results and discussing the effects of the external sources for dis
... Show MoreMoisture damage is one of the most significant troubles that destroy asphaltic pavement and reduces road serviceability. Recently, academics have noticed a trend to utilize fibers to enhance the efficiency of asphalt pavement. This research explores the effect of low-cost ceramic fiber, which has high tensile strength and a very high thermal insulation coefficient, on the asphalt mixture's characteristics by adding three different proportions (0.75%, 1.5%, and 2.25%). The Marshall test and the Tensile Strength Ratio Test (TSR) were utilized to describe the impact of ceramic fiber on the characteristics of Marshall and the moisture susceptibility of the hot mix asphalt mixture. The Field Emission Scanning Electron Microsc
... Show MoreThe present study was carried out onAl-Saqlawiya poultry farm's soil (Anbar, Iraq) for the period of 8 months (November 2018- June 2019). A total of 75 samples of poultry droppings were collectedrandomly. 552 individuals of mite,belonging to 3 orders and 8 families representing 15 species, were found. These species were: Acarus gracilis, Acarus siro, Caloglyphus berlesi, Androlaelaps casalis, Sejus temperaticus, Parasitus paraconsanguineus, Eugamasus butleri, Macrocheles medarius, Macrocheles glaber, Macrocheles muscaedomesticae, Macrocheles matrius, Kleemannia plumosus, Cheyletus eruditus, Cheyletus malaccensis, and Pyemotes herfsi.
The highest population density belonged to order
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