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 current study is considered a field study to measure the level of satisfaction of the academic programs of Media Masters students. That was accomplished through surveying the attitudes of the students who are enrolled in the faculties of media at the following universities: (Petra University, The Middle East University (MEU), and Al-Yarmouk University). Those students were enrolled in the master’s program within the formal educational system during the second semester of the academic year (2015 – 2016). This survey aims to identify the services, facilities and academic programs provided by the concerned faculties. It, also, aims to identify the public relations, administrative, educational and services aspects of those faculties.
... Show MoreInflammatory bowel disease includes both Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, is a chronic, progressive relapsing disease of gastrointestinal tract that require long-term treatment or maintenance therapy. Taking patient’s beliefs about the prescribed medication in consideration had been shown to be an important factor that affects compliance of the patient in whom having positive beliefs is a prerequisite for better compliance. The aim of the current study was to investigate and assess beliefs about medicines among a sample of Iraqi patients with inflammatory bowel disease and to determine possible association between these beliefs and some patient-specific factors.
This study is a cross-sectional study carried out o
... Show MoreThis study describes preparation a new series of tetra-dentate N2O2 dinuclear complexes Cr(III), Co(II)and Cu(II) of the Schiff base 2-[5-(2-hydroxy-phenyl)-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-ylimino]-methyl-naphthalen-1-ol], (LH2) derived from 1-hydroxy-naphthalene-2-carbaldehyde with 2-amino-5-(2-hydroxy-phenyl)-1,3,4-thiadiazole. These ligands were characterized by FT-IR, UV-Vis, Mass spectra, elemental analysis, and 1H-NMR. All prepared complexes have been characterized by conductance measurement, magnetic susceptibility, electronic spectra, infrared spectrum, thermal Analysis (TGA), and metal analysis by atomic absorption. The stoichiometry of metal to ligand, magnetic susceptibility, and electronic spectra measurements show an octahedral geom
... Show MoreIn October 2019, Iraq and Lebanon witnessed widespread protests, which aroused the interest of the media, as they began with demands for the provision of services, then escalated with the overthrow of the political system. The researchers chose a satellite channel that represents a direction for a country accused of entering the line of protests. This paper aims to analyze the main bulletin of Al-Alam channel to find out how it deals with the protests in the news. It is classified descriptively, using the survey method and the method of content analysis. The study community was represented by the main news bulletin of Al-Alam channel. The researchers adopted a deliberate sample for the period from 1/10/2019 to
... Show MoreNew metal complexes of the ligand 4-[5-(2-hydoxy-phenyl)-[1,3,4- oxadiazol -2-ylimino methyl]-1,5-dimethyl-2-phenyl-1,2-dihydro-pyrazol-3-one (L) with the metal ions Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II) were prepared in alcoholic medium. The Schiff base was synthesized through condensate of [4-antipyrincarboxaldehyde] with[2-amino-5-(2-hydroxy-phenyl-1,3,4- oxadiazol] in alcoholic medium . Two tetradentate Schiff base ligand were used for complexation upon two metal ions of Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+ and Zn2+ as dineucler formula M2L2.4H2O. The metal complexes were characterized by FTIR Spectroscopy, electronic Spectroscopy, elemental analysis, magnetic susceptidbility measurements, and also the ligand was characterized by 1H-NMR spectra, and m
... Show MoreIn the present study, thin films of organic semiconductors Nickel PhthalocyanineTetrasulfonic Acid Tetrasodium Salt (NiPcTs) and inorganic semiconductor (CdS) prepared from the mixing of liquids for thesetwomaterials with different size ratios by the spin coating method on pre-patterned (Fluorine-doped Tin Oxide) FTO coated glass substrates and then the manufacture of solar cells. The properties of solar cells the study through the optical properties (absorption spectra, absorption coefficient, power gap) and electrical characteristics (continuous onductivity, Hall Effect and cell efficiency measurements) and Was obtainedThe efficiency of a multiple solar cell ranging from (0.16-13.2 %)
The analytic solution for the unsteady flow of generalized Oldroyd- B fluid on oscillating rectangular duct is studied. In the absence of the frequency of oscillations, we obtain the problem for the flow of generalized Oldroyd- B fluid in a duct of rectangular cross- section moving parallel to its length. The problem is solved by applying the double finite Fourier sine and discrete Laplace transforms. The solutions for the generalized Maxwell fluids and the ordinary Maxwell fluid appear as limiting cases of the solutions obtained here. Finally, the effect of material parameters on the velocity profile spotlighted by means of the graphical illustrations
This research is an attempt to assess the extent of coverage given by the Bahrain daily press to Women and related issues. It attempts to determine how important the issues of the Women issues were covered in the Daily Press and whether the press has given enough attention to the Women issues.
The research was conducted by analyzing the coverage “AkhbarAlKhaleej” Daily newspaper gave the Women issues during the period of this study.
Thus, this study aims at assessing the degree to which the Bahraini daily newspapers have dealt with the Women issues. The researcher analyzed the contents of the Bahraini press, “AKHBAR ALKHALEEJ” daily newspaper during 2014, as Bahraini press coverage seems to be stable, and more balanced and
In this study, gold nanoparticle samples were prepared by the chemical reduction method (seed-growth) with 4 ratios (10, 12, 15 and 18) ml of seed, and the growth was stationary at 40 ml. The optical and structural properties of these samples were studied. The 18 ml seed sample showed the highest absorbance. The X- ray diffraction (XRD) patterns of these samples showed clear peaks at (38.25o, 44.5o, 64.4o, and 77.95o). The UV-visible showed that the absorbance of all the samples was in the same range as the standard AuNPs. The field emission-scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) showed the shape of AuNPs as nanorods and the particle size between 30-50 nm. Rhodamine-610 (RhB) was prepared at 10<
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