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 calibration of a low-speed wind tunnel (LSWT) test section had been made in the present work. The tunnel was designed and constructed at the Aerodynamics Lab. in the Mechanical Engineering Department/University of Baghdad. The test section design speed is 70 m/s. Frictional loses and uniformity of the flow inside the test section had been tested and calibrated based on the British standards for flow inside ducts and conduits. Pitot-static tube, boundary layer Pitot tube were the main instruments which were used in the present work to measure the flow characteristics with emphasize on the velocity uniformity and boundary layer growth along the walls of the test section. It is found that the maximum calibrated velocity for empty test s
... Show MoreCerium oxide (CeO2), or ceria, has gained increasing interest owing to its excellent catalytic applications. Under the framework of density functional theory (DFT), this contribution demonstrates the eect that introducing the element nickel (Ni) into the ceria lattice has on its electronic, structural, and optical characteristics. Electronic density of states (DOSs) analysis shows that Ni integration leads to a shrinkage of Ce 4f states and improvement of Ni 3d states in the bottom of the conduction band. Furthermore, the calculated optical absorption spectra of an Ni-doped CeO2 system shifts towards longer visible light and infrared regions. Results indicate that Ni-doping a CeO2 system would result in a decrease of the band gap. Finally,
... Show MoreThe researchers wanted to make a new azo imidazole as a follow-up to their previous work. The ligand 4-[(2-Amino-4-phenylazo)-methyl]-cyclohexane carboxylic acid as a derivative of trans-4-(aminomethyl) cyclohexane carboxylic acid diazonium salt, and synthesis a series of its chelate complexes with metalions, characterized these compounds using a variety technique, including elemental analysis, FTIR, LC-Mass, 1H-NMRand UV-Vis spectral process as well TGA, conductivity and magnetic quantifications. Analytical data showed that the Co (II) complex out to 1:1 metal-ligand ratio with square planner and tetrahedral geometry, respectively while 1:2 metal-ligand ratio in the Cu(II), Cr(III), Mn(II), Zn(II), Ru(III)and Rh(III)complexes
... Show MoreThe researchers wanted to make a new azo imidazole as a follow-up to their previous work. The ligand 4-[(2-Amino-4-phenylazo)-methyl]-cyclohexane carboxylic acid as a derivative of trans-4- (aminomethyl) cyclohexane carboxylic acid diazonium salt, and synthesis a series of its chelate complexes with metalions, characterized these compounds using a variety technique, including elemental analysis, FTIR, LC-Mass, 1H-NMRand UV-Vis spectral process as well TGA, conductivity and magnetic quantifications. Analytical data showed that the Co (II) complex out to 1:1 metal-ligand ratio with square planner and tetrahedral geometry, respectively while 1:2 metal-ligand ratio in the Cu(II), Cr(III), Mn(II), Zn(II), Ru(III)and Rh(III)complexes with octahed
... Show MoreThis study has contributed to understanding a delayed prey-predator system involving cannibalism. The system is assumed to use the Holling type II functional response to describe the consuming process and incorporates the predator’s refuge against the cannibalism process. The characteristics of the solution are discussed. All potential equilibrium points have been identified. All equilibrium points’ local stability analyses for all time delay values are investigated. The system exhibits a Hopf bifurcation at the coexistence equilibrium, which is further demonstrated. The center manifold and normal form theorems for functional differential equations are then used to establish the direction of Hopf bifurcation and the stability of the per
... Show MoreWe consider the outflow of water from the peak of a triangular ridge into a channel of finite depth. Solutions are computed for different flow rates and bottom angles. A numerical method is used to compute the flow from the source for small values of flow rate and it is found that there is a maximum flow rate beyond which steady solutions do not seem to exist. Limiting flows are computed for each geometrical configuration. One application of this work is as a model of saline water being returned to the ocean after desalination. References Craya, A. ''Theoretical research on the flow of nonhomogeneous fluids''. La Houille Blanche, (1):22–55, 1949. doi:10.1051/lhb/1949017 Dun, C. R. and Hocking, G. C. ''Withdrawal of fluid through
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