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 rapid and uncontrolled expansion of urban sprawl in Baghdad, particularly after 2003, has significantly transformed the city's landscape. This expansion stems from socio-political instability, a lack of affordable housing, and inadequate urban planning frameworks. As informal settlements encroach on agricultural lands, the city's infrastructure—including water, sanitation, and transportation systems—faces mounting pressure. This situation presents critical challenges to the sustainability of Baghdad’s public services and the quality of life for its residents. This study aims to evaluate the impact of unregulated urban sprawl on Baghdad’s public services and infrastructure, focusing on how informal growth has undermined the city'
... Show MoreBackground: Nutrition can affect the development and integrity of the oral cavity as well as the progression of oral diseases such as dental caries which was the most predominant and wide spread not life threatening human diseases especially in developing countries as in Iraq. This study was conducted to assess the occurrence, prevalence and severity of dental caries condition and their relations to nutritional status among intermediate schools females in Al-Najaf city in Iraq. Materials and methods: This study was conducted among intermediate schools females aged 13, 14 and15 years old and the total sample consisted of 754 students. The assessment of nutritional status was performed using body mass index (BMI) following Centers for Diseas
... Show MoreAbstract Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a group of clinical and biological abnormalities included risk of insulin resistance , disorders in glucose metabolism , abdominal obesity and abnormal lipid profile these features confer a greater risk of cardiovascular diseases . Anyway, the co-occurrence of diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome potentiates the cardiovascular risk associated with each of the two conditions. The present study aimed to determine a relationship between prolactin level in type -2- diabetic Iraqi women and metabolic syndrome, as well to find a relationship between prolactin level and other studied biochemical markers. seventy menopausal diabetic women with metabolic syndrome with age in range (45-50) years were enrolled i
... Show MoreTraining has occupied a leading position in a large number of developed and developing countries alike in order to develop the skills of workers in line with the changes and developments of the era, including monitoring compliance in banks, which is one of the most important jobs in banking work to trailing and monitor the bank’s compliance with laws, regulations and instructions in order to achieve its goals Therefore, the problem of this research focuses on the following question: What is the role of training in enhancing banking compliance at the present time? In order to clarify the relationship between the main and sub-research variables, two main hypotheses and three sub-hypotheses were formulated for each hypothesis, and t
... Show MoreAccording to the circumstances experienced by our country which led to Occurrence of many crises that are the most important crisis is gaining fuel therefore , the theory of queue ( waiting line ) had been used to solve this crisis and as the relevance of this issue indirect and essential role in daily life .
This research aims to conduct a study of the distribution of gasoline station in (both sides AL – kharkh and AL Rusafa, for the purpose of reducing wasting time and services time through the criteria of the theory of queues and work to improve the efficiency of these stations by the other hand. we are working to reduce the cost of station and increase profits by reducing the active serv
... Show MoreThe spectacular film is a type of feature films which has specific elements that contribute in increasing the aesthetics of the shape in its structure. The researcher started studying this type of films by researching the spectacular film concept, the history of its development, who are its most important stars and then tackling the Indian cinema represented by Bollywood, which is considered a school for this type of film. The researcher addressed the most important influential elements that entre in its production as well as studying these elements that contribute to building the shape including the configuration, movements of cameras, lenses, the lighting, colors, costumes etc. and what influence they have in forming a special aestheti
... Show MoreBackground: During pregnancy many physiological, anatomical and biochemical changes take place that affect almost all body systems. In the oral pregnant women have serious changes such as more sever dental caries. This study was conducted to measure dental caries severity and selected salivary variables (salivary flow rate, PH and viscosity)and to find the relation of dental caries with these salivary variables. Subjects, materials and methods: The study group consisted of 60 pregnant women that were divided into three equal groups according to trimester (20 pregnant women in each trimester).They were selected randomly from the Maternal and Child Health Care Centers in Baghdad city, the age range was 20-25 years. In addition to 20 unmarried
... Show MoreThe study aimed to investigate the employment of electronic supervision applications in developing the teaching performance of teachers in Oman. Based on the qualitative method and the study population consisted of all the teachers of the first cycle in the Governorate of Muscat. The study sample amounted to 24 female teachers. The interview was used as a tool for data collection. The study reached several results, including: There are difficulties in employing electronic supervision applications, which are weak network, density of curricula, lack of experience in applying technology, and the large number of tasks assigned to the teacher. These difficulties can also be overcome by strengthening the network, training teachers, reducing th
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