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 oil and gas industry relies heavily on IT innovations to manage business processes, but the exponential generation of data has led to concerns about processing big data, generating valuable insights, and making timely decisions. Many companies have adopted Big Data Analytics (BDA) solutions to address these challenges. However, determining the adoption of BDA solutions requires a thorough understanding of the contextual factors influencing these decisions. This research explores these factors using a new Technology-Organisation-Environment (TOE) framework, presenting technological, organisational, and environmental factors. The study used a Delphi research method and seven heterogeneous panelists from an Oman oil and gas company
... Show MoreThis paper deals the prediction of the process of random spatial data of two properties, the first is called Primary variables and the second is called secondary variables , the method that were used in the prediction process for this type of data is technique Co-kriging , the method is usually used when the number of primary variables meant to predict for one of its elements is measured in a particular location a few (because of the cost or difficulty of obtaining them) compare with secondary variable which is the number of elements are available and highly correlated with primary variables, as was the&nbs
... Show MoreThis histological study was carried out to compare between the thyroid gland of mice (as a model of the mammals) and the thyroid tissue of fish. Unlike mice, the thyroid gland of fish can't be recognized by naked eye. The present study revealed that the thyroid of mice varied from that of fish by the location and the histological structure. The study classified the physiological state of the thyroid of mice into three states and that of the fish into only two states. Accordingly, the study concluded that the metabolism of thyroid fish was of moderate type.
Background: Intralesional injections of vitamin D and bleomycin have gained growing clinical interest in the treatment of recalcitrant plantar warts, with pain as a major limitation associated with their use. Objective: To assess the clinical outcomes of vitamin D and bleomycin in managing treatment-resistant plantar warts. Methods: An interventional comparative study conducted on patients diagnosed with recalcitrant plantar warts over 9 months and not treated for two months. Patients were divided randomly into two groups: group A (24 patients received intralesional vitamin D) and group B (24 patients received intralesional bleomycin). The clearance rate and pain score were estimated by visual analogue scale (VAS). Results: 48 patie
... Show MoreAim: The Aim of the study is to compare between Er,Cr:YSGG 2780 nm laser and carbide fissure bur in root-end resection regarding the morphological variations, temperature changes and the duration of resection process.
Settings and Design: 5 W, 25 Hz, 50% water, 80% air,25.47 J/cm2 .
Material and method: twenty-one extracted single rooted teeth endodontically were treated, twenty teeth were obturated and divided into two groups according to method of resection. Group 1 root-end resected using cross cut carbide bur while group 2 root-end resected using laser with MGG6 sapphire tip of 600 μm diameter. Temperature on external root surface and duration of resection were recor
... Show MoreThis research will cover different aspects of estimating process of construction work in a desert area. The inherent difficulties which accompany the cost estimating of the construction works in desert environment in a developing country, will stem from the limited information available, resources scarcity, low level of skilled workers, the prevailing severe weather conditions and many others, which definitely don't provide a fair, reliable and accurate estimation. This study tries to present unit price to estimate the cost in preliminary phase of a project. Estimations are supported by developing mathematical equations based on the historical data of maintenance, new construction of managerial and school projects.
... Show MoreDespite their critical role in child care, emergency department (ED) nurses’ empathy and their attachment style toward children have not been thoroughly studied.
This research is conducted to explore the reciprocal dynamic relationship between nurses’ empathetical orientation and their level of attachment style in the pediatric emergency departments.
A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted across 132 pediatric emerg