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.
This study investigated the prevalence of quinolones resistance proteins encoding genes (qnr genes) and co-resistance for fluoroquinolones and β-lactams among clinical isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae. Out of 150 clinical samples, 50 isolates of K. pneumoniae were identified according to morphological and biochemical properties. These isolates were collected from different clinical samples, including 15 (30%) urine, 12 (24%) blood, 9 (18%) sputum, 9 (18%) wound, and 5 (10%) burn. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) assay revealed that 15 (30%) of isolates were resistant to ciprofloxacin (≥4µg/ml), 11 (22%) of isolates were resistant to levofloxacin (≥8 µg/ml), 21 (42%) of isolates were re
... Show MoreObjective: to assess the awareness and knowledge of our medical students regarding dose levels of imaging procedures and radiation safety issues, and to conclude how the curriculum of clinical radiology in the college medical program impacts such knowledge.
Subjects and methods: this is a cross-sectional study conducted among 150 medical students in Alkindy College of Medicine between January 2021 to July 2021, regardless of their age or gender. The study included six grades according to the year 2020-2021. A questionnaire consisting of 12 multiple-choice questions was conducted via an online survey using Google Forms. The questions were divided into two parts
... Show MoreThe reality of teaching the Arabic language rules is not satisfactory, as the pedagogical methods used do not help students develop their mental skills, especially critical thinking skills. They are often traditional in terms of teaching students, who are passive, passive, often passive, active, and often active, their listening task, and the teacher's task of narrating facts and judgments. It is a blind simulation student, a dependency on others, and a weak spirit of creativity, innovation, and opinion. The opinions of educators and teachers almost agree on the reasons for students' weakness in learning the rules of Arabic, and that the reason lies in the way of teaching. The difficulty or the ease of the rules of Arabic does not lie in th
... Show MoreThe synthesis of ligands with N2S2 donor sets that include imine, an amide, thioether, thiolate moieties and their metal complexes were achieved. The new Schiff-base ligands; N-(2-((2,4-diphenyl-3-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonan-9-ylidene)amino)ethyl)-2-((2-mercaptoethyl)thio)-acetamide (H2L1) and N-(2-((2,4-di-p-tolyl-3-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonan-9-ylidene)amino)ethyl)-2-((2-mercaptoethyl)thio) acetamide (H2L2) were obtained from the reaction of amine precursors with 1,4-dithian-2-one in the presence of triethylamine as a base in the CHCl3 medium. Complexes of the general formula K2<
Anadara granosa is a species of the class bivalve commonly found on the east coast of South Sumatra as a fishery commodity. This species has not been widely studied as a source of new bioactive compounds that have antioxidant abilities. This study aims to analyze the antioxidant ability of A. granosa against DPPH radicals and its phytochemical profile qualitatively. Samples were taken at the fishing port of Sungsang Village, South Sumatra, Indonesia. Furthermore, the samples were extracted using ethanol as a solvent and tested for antioxidants against DPPH radicals, total phenol analysis, and preliminary phytochemical test. Based on the antioxidant test results, the IC50 value of the ethanolic extract of
... Show MoreBackground: The surgical extraction of impacted third molar usually results in postoperative inflammation manifested as pain, facial swelling and trismus which may cause deterioration in the patient’s quality of life. Methods: This randomized controlled study included 56 patients indicated for surgical extraction of IMTM under local anesthesia. These patients were randomly assigned into two groups: a study group that included patients who received Tibrolin® postoperatively and a control group that did not. The predictor variable was whether to use SET or not. Pain measured by the pain numerical rating scale (NRS), facial swelling, and the degree of trismus were the outcome variables. The Arabic version of the Oral Health Impact P
... Show MoreRemovable dental prostheses remain a reliable treatment for edentulous patients. Conventional fabrication requires multiple steps, whereas computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD-CAM), particularly 3D printing, offers faster and more cost-effective alternatives. This in vitro study aimed to evaluate the effect of sandblasting on surface roughness and shear bond strength of silicone soft liner bonded to 3D-printed and heat-cured acrylic denture base materials. Eighty specimens were divided into four groups: heat-cured control, 3D-printed control, heat-cured sandblasted, and 3D-printed sandblasted. Surface roughness was measured using a profilometer, while shear bond strength was tested with a universal testing machine. D
... Show MoreNew chelating ligand derived from triazole and its complexes with metal ions Rhodium, Platinum and Gold were synthesized. Through a copper (I)-catalyzed click reaction, the ligand produced 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition between 2,6-bis((prop-2-yn-1-yloxy) methyl) pyridine and 1-azidododecane. All structures of these new compounds were rigorously characterized in the solid state using spectroscopic techniques like: 1HNMR, 13CNMR, Uv-Vis, FTIR, metal and elemental analyses, magnetic susceptibility and conductivity measurements at room temperature, it was found that the ligand acts as a penta and tetradentate chelate through N3O2, N2O2, and the geometry of the new complexes are identified as octahedral for (Rh & Pt) complexes a
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