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 reaction of methyldopa with o-vanillin in refluxing ethanol afforded Schiff base and characterized through physical analysis with a number of spectra also the study of biological activity. The geometry of the Schiff base was identified through using (C.H.N) analysis, Mass, 1H-NMR, FT-IR, UV-Vis spectroscopy. Metal complexes of Cr3+, Mn2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, Zn2+, Cd2+ and Hg2+ with Schiff base have been prepared in the molar ratio 2:1 (Metal:L), (L = Schiff base ligand) except Hg2+ at molar ratio 1:1 (Hg:L). The prepared complexes were characterized by using Mass, FT-IR and UV-Vis spectral studies, on other than magnetic properties and flame atomic absorption, conductivity measurements. According to the results a dinuclear octahedral geo
... Show MoreThis research explores the use of solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) as a conductive medium for sodium ions in sodium‐ion batteries, presenting a possible alternative to traditional lithium‐ion battery technology. The researchers prepare SPEs with varying molecular weight ratios of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and sodium tetrafluoroborate (NaBF4) using a solution casting method with dimethyl formamide as the solvent. Through optical absorbance measurements, we identified the PAN:NaBF4 (80:20) SPE composition as having the lowest energy band gap value (4.48 eV). This composition also exhibits high thermal stability based on thermogravimetric analysis results.
The CIGS/CdS p-n junction thin films were fabricated and deposited at room temperature with rate of deposition 5, and 6 nm secG1 , on ITO glass substrates with 1mm thickness by thermal evaporation technique at high vacuum pressure 2×10G5 mbar, with area of 1 cm2 and Aluminum electrode as back contact. The thickness of absorber layer (CIGS) was 1 µm while the thickness of the window layer CdS film was 300 nm. The X-ray Diffraction results have shown that all thin films were polycrystalline with orientation of 112 and 211 for CIGS thin films and 111 for CdS films. The direct energy gaps for CIGS and CdS thin films were 1.85 and 2.4 eV, respectively. Atomic Force Microscopy measurement proves that both films CIGS and CdS films have nanostru
... Show MoreGiant Cell Fibroma (GCF) is a relatively rare oral mucosal lesion, so named due to the characteristic giant cells present within the fibrous stroma of the lesion, limited number of clinicopathological studies were performed in previously published literature. This study was performed to evaluate the clinicopathological features of Giant cell fibroma in a sample of Iraqi patients. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded sections from 22 giant cell fibroma in period between 2010 and 2018 were retrieved from the laboratory of oral pathology of Baghdad University/College of Dentistry, Clinical data and microscopic features were reviewed and analyzed according to the available surgical reports. The mean age of patients at the time of diagnosis was 29.6
... Show MoreThe aim of study To purify GPCR from a local strain of S. cerevisiae using Ion exchange and gel filtration chromatography techniques , by packing materials for columns which will be chosen of low cost comparing to the already used in published researches, which depend on the costly affinity chromatography and other expensive methods of purification. Local strain of S. cerevisiae chosen for extraction and purification of G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) .The strains were obtained from biology department in Al- Mosul University, Iraq. The isolated colony was activated on Yeast Extract Pepton Dextrose Broth (YEPDB) and incubated at 30 C˚ for 24 h .Loop fully of the yeast culture was transferred to (10ml) of yeast extract peptone glucose
... Show MoreBackground: Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a common health problem that has a worldwide distribution. Apart from the direct effect of the virus on the liver, there are many extrahepatic manifestations among which the probable effect on bone turnover associated with low bone mineral density (BMD). Objectives: This study aimed to determine the association between treated and untreated chronic HBV infection with BMD. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study which included a total of 48 patients with chronic HBV (28 patients treated with tenofovir-disoproxil-fumarate [TDF] antiviral drug and 20 patients have not yet started treatment). Other age- and sex-matched 30 apparently healthy individuals were recruited to represent the hea
... Show MoreBackground. Echinococcosis/ hydatitdosis is a zoonotic parasitic disease caused by the infestation of the larval form of the tapeworm of the genus Echinococcus .The Liver, lungs, and kidneys are the common areas of infestation.Objectives: To describe hydatid disease in hospitalized patients from a clinico-epidemiological perspectives.Methods:: A retrospective study was conducted over a period of 6 months extending from 15th of November 2011 to the 15th of May 2012 by reviewing records of 125 patients who were hospitalized at Baghdad Teaching Hospital during 2011and received medical and surgical treatment for hydatid cyst disease. The information covered the socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of the patientsResults:.The presen
... Show MoreBackground: For many decades, the ECG was the
workhorse of non-invasive cardiac test and today although
other techniques provide more details about the structural
anomalies in congenital heart diseases, ECG is likely to be
part of clinical evaluation of patients with such diseases
because it is inexpensive, easy to perform and in certain
situations may be both sensitive and specific.
Objective: this study carried out to identify the pattern of
ECG study in patients with TOF.
Methods: this is a retrospective study of 200 patients
with TOF, referred to Ibn Al-Bitar cardiac center from
April 1993 to May 1999. The diagnosis of TOF established
by echocrdiographic, catheterization and angiographic
study.
Objectives: The present study aims at detecting the depression among nurses who provide care for infected patients with corona virus phenomenon and to find out relationships between the depression and their demographic characteristics of age, gender, marital status, type of family, education, and years of experience of nurses in heath institutions, infection by corona virus, and their participation in training courses.
Methodology: A descriptive study is established for a period from October 10th, 2020 to April 15th, 2021. The study is conducted on a purposive (non-probability) sample of (100) nurse who are providing care for patients with COVID-19 and they are selected from the isolation wards. The instrument of the study is develope