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.
Background: The PMMA polymer denture base materials are low mechanical properties, adaptation of the denture base to underlying tissue is important for retention and stability of denture. The aim of the study was toevaluate the effect of mixtureZrO2-Al2O3 nanoparticles on impact strength, transverse strength, hardness, roughness, denture base adaptation of heat cured acrylic resin denture base material. Materials and methods: One hundred (100) specimens were prepared, the specimens were divided into five groups (20 specimens to each) according to the test type, each group was subdivided in to two subgroups (control and experimental) each subgroup consist of 10 specimens, the experimental group included mixture of 2% (ZrO2-Al2O3ratio2:1) b
... Show MoreThe study in duded isolation and identification of microbial isolates from oral cavity to 10 volunteers, diagnosed within the three groups: Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus spp. and Candida albicans . The sensitivity test of all isolates bacteria Streptococcus spp. , S. aureus and S. epidermidis showed high resistance to Ampicillin(100)%,followed Methicillin (88.88)% and Amoxicillin / clavulanic acid(77.77)%, while the resistance for each of Vancomycin and Amoxicillin were (66.66)%, and the resistance to Erythromycin and Pencillin (55.55)% to each of them. The results showed less resistance to Trimethoprim (22.22)% and Cefalotine (11.11)% of all bacteria isolate. Investigation of the pre
... Show MoreBackground: Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) is the most commonly used material in denture fabrication. The material is far from ideal in fulfilling the mechanical requirements. Midline fracture; poor thermal conductivity and water sorption, are common problem in this material. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of addition of surface treated Aluminum oxide nano fillers on some properties of heat cured (PMMA). Materials and methods: In addition to controlled group of heat cured PMMA the silanized (Al2O3) nanoparticles was added to PMMA powder by weight in three different percentages 1wt%, 2wt% and 3wt%, mixed by probe ultra-sonication machine. 200 specimens were constructed and divided into 5 groups according to the test (e
... Show MoreThe study involved preparing a new compound by combining between 2- hydroxybenzaldehyde and (Z)-3-hydrazineylideneindolin-2-one resulting in Schiff bases and metal ions: Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), and Zn(II) forming stable minerals-based-Schiff complexes. The formation of resulting Schiff bases is detected spectrally using LC-Mss which gave corresponding results with theoretical results, 1H-NMR proves the founding of N=CH signal, FT-IR indicates the occurrence of imine band and UV-VIs mean is proved the ligand formation. On the other hand, minerals-based-Schiff was characterized using the same spectral means that relied with ligand (Schiff bases). Those means gave satisfactory results and proved the suggested distinguishable geometries
... Show MoreWars represent one of the most serious threats to the world order; It is considered a violation of international laws and norms, and humanitarian principles. From this point comes the study of the importance of the topic entitled (The Future of the Russian-Ukrainian war and the extent of its Reflection on the security of Eastern European countries after the year 2022). This study is based on reviewing future possibilities (scenarios) of war. The Russian-Ukrainian war, which was launched by the Russian government led by Russian President Vladimir Putin in February 2022, is still ongoing at the time of writing this research. This chapter includes three possibilities (scenarios). The first possibility deals with the development of the war t
... Show MoreThe activity of Adhatoda vasica crude plants extracts against B.thuringiensis bacteria was determined by MIC test and sensitivity test which showed no response of this type of bacteria against extracts .The interference between the effect of hot and cold aqueous extracts and Bacillus thuringiensis bacteria for controlling the population of fig moth when males and females released before treatment under control condithion was gave a highly percentage of larval mortality which reached to 100% in (B.t. + hot aqueous extract ) and 97.3% in (B.t + coldaqueous extract ) after two weeks of treatment when concentration of 50% of aqueous extracts and 5×10?1of Bacillus thuringiensis bacteria but when the insect (males & females) released after
... Show MoreIn this paper, an eco-epidemiological prey-predator system when the predator is subjected to the weak Allee effect, and harvesting was proposed and studied. The set of ordinary differential equations that simulate the system’s dynamic is constructed. The impact of fear and Allee’s effect on the system's dynamic behavior is one of our main objectives. The properties of the solution of the system were studied. All possible equilibrium points were determined, and their local, as well as global stabilities, were investigated. The possibility of the occurrence of local bifurcation was studied. Numerical simulation was used to further evaluate the global dynamics and understood the effects of varying parameters on the asymptotic behavior of t
... Show MoreThe research discusses one of the most critical issues of corporate finance which is related to asset utilization efficiency. Researchers used internal growth rate as independent variable (Proxy of asset utilization efficiency) and sustainable growth rate-dependent variable (proxy of stockholders wealth). According to these two variables, researchers formulate major hypotheses (There is no significant effect of internal growth rate on sustainable growth rate), as well as two sub-hypotheses, examine the components of major variables. Sample of Iraqi industrial companies which listed in the Iraqi stock exchange selected to test and examine main hypotheses. Result of simple and multiple regressions explain there is a significant effect of i
... Show MoreBackground: The repair of bone defects remains a major clinical challenge in dentistry. Bone is a highly vascularized tissue reliant on the close spatial and temporal connection between blood vessels and bone cells to maintain skeletal integrity. The health promotive , preventive, and curative properties of herbs were recognized by the ancient and the present pharmacist and physicians to form the theoretical foundations in Medicine. Objective: Immunohistochemistry of osteocalcin and histological study to prove that symphytum officinale oil when applied locally on generated bone defect healing in rat tibia, it was very effectiveness. Patients and Methods: 0ur study fourty male rats , weighting (250-350) grams ,aged (5 7)months ,was
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