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.
A laboratory experiment was carried out in the laboratories of College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences, University of Baghdad in 2017. Three factors were studied; Sorghum bicolor L. cultivars (Inqath, Rabeh and Buhoth70), primed and unprimed seed and osmotic potential (0, -5, -9, -13 bar). The aim was to improve germination and seedling growth under water stress. The results showed significant superiority of Buhoth 70 cultivar compared to others, significant superiority of primed seed compared to the unprimed, significant negative impact as long as increasing levels of osmotic potential and significant superiority of interaction treatment (Buhoth70 × primed seed × 0) compared to others in germination ratio, radicle and plumule length
... Show MoreThe aim of the present study is to investigate and compare the efficacy of L-carnitine, multivitamins and their combination therapies on semen characteristics in idiopathic male infertility. Idiophathic infertile patients were randomly divided into three groups who had received three different treatment regimens for three months: group A (45 patients) has received 2 grams daily of L-carnitine alone; group B (55 patients) had received the combination of L-carnitine (2 grams daily) plus one tablet daily of multivitamins (Stresstabs®); and group C (29 patients) had received one tablet daily of multivitamins alone. The study was started on 1/11/2009 and completed on 31/3/2010 and performed at Rizgari Teaching Hospital in
... Show MoreChlorine disinfection is a globally used method to ensure the safety of drinking water. However, it has not always been successful against viruses and, therefore, it is important to find new methods to disinfect water. Seventeen different coliphages were isolated from the treated municipal wastewater. These coliphages and MS2 were treated with different dosages of chlorine in drinking water, and a combined chlorine/ultraviolet irradiation treatment for the chlorine-resistant coliphages. Chlorine disinfection with 0.3–0.5 mg/L total chlorine (free Cl-dosage 0.12–0.21 mg/L) for 10 min achieved 2.5–5.7 Log10-reductions for 11 sensitive coliphages. The six most resistant coliphages showed no reduction with these chlorine concentra
... Show MoreBackground: Immediate implant placement in the maxillary anterior region was challenging, especially with the jumping gap and limited primary implant stability. Objective: To assess the autogenous dentin graft biomaterial's ability to improve the esthetic outcomes of an immediately inserted implant. Methods: Twenty patients with non-restorable retained roots in the maxillary non-molar region surrounded by natural sound teeth were included in this study after a complete clinical and radiological examination, including patient health and clinical fitness for the immediate dental implant procedure. A single dental implant was inserted for each patient, and the resulting jump distance was filled with the mineralized dentin graft and co
... Show MoreThe present theoretical study analyzes the legacy of the Chicago School of Urban Sociology and evaluates it in the light of the growth and development of Chicago City and the establishment of sociology in it. Sociology has become an academic discipline recognized in the United States of America in the late nineteenth century, particularly, after the establishment of the first department of sociology in the University of Chicago in 1892. That was during the period of the rapid industrialization and sustainable growth of the Chicago City. The Chicago School relied on Chicago City in particular, as one of the American cities that grew and expanded rapidly in the first two decades of the twentieth century. At the end of the nineteenth centur
... Show MoreABSRTACT Background: Soft liner material is become important in dental prosthetic treatment. They are applied to the surface of the dentures to achieve more equal force distribution , reduce localized pressure and improve denture retention by engaging undercut . So the aim of the study is to evaluate the effect of different surface treatment by air-abrasion AL2O3 and laser treatment with CO2 laser on improving the shear bond strength of the denture liner to acrylic denture base material . Materials and methods: the 30 specimens of heat cured acrylic denture base material (high Impact acrylic )and heat cured soft liner (Vertex ,Nether Lands )were prepared for this study .They were designed and divided according to type of the s
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This Research aims for harnessing critical and innovative thinking approaches besides innovative problem solving tools in pursuing continual quality improvement initiatives for the benefit of achieving operations results effectively in water treatment plants in Baghdad Water Authority. Case study has been used in fulfilling this research in the sadr city water treatment plant, which was chosen as a study sample as it facilitates describing and analyzing its current operational situation, collecting and analyzing its own data, in order to get its own desired improvement opportunity be done. Many statistical means and visual thinking promoting methods has been used to fulfill research task.
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