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.
spider veins are clusters of Ectatic venules & are common finding on the lower limbs generally believed to be caused by multiple factors, including genetic predisposition, hormonal factors, gravity, occupation, pregnancy, becoming increasingly apparent with age, and trauma. Therapeutic options include sclerotherapy, surgical procedures, and treatment with different laser systems.
Objectives: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of long pulsed (Nd:YAG) laser emitting at 1064nm in the treatment of spider veins.
Patients, Materials and Methods: This prospective study was done in the laser medicine research clinics of the Institute of las
... Show MoreKE Sharquie, WS Al-Dori, IK Sharquie, AA Al–Nuaimy, Hospital, 2004 - Cited by 20
KE Sharquie, AA Noaimi, MS Al-Zoubaidi, Journal of Cosmetics, Dermatological Sciences and Applications, 2015 - Cited by 8
KE Sharquie, AA Noaimi, S Al-Hashimy, IGF Al-Tereihi, The Iraqi Postgraduate Medical Journal, 2013 - Cited by 5
Background: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is one of the most challenging tumors because of their relative inaccessibility and that their spread can occur without significant symptoms with few signs, but Radiotherapy (RT) has a role in treatment of it.
Objectives: To show that RT is still the modality of choice in the treatment of NPC, to study modes of presentations, commonest histopathological types and their percentages, to show differences in the sensitivities of these types to RT and to find out a 5 year survival rate(5YSR) and its relation with lymph node involvement.
Methods: This is a retrospective study of 44 patients with NPC who were treated with routine RT from 1988-2007 at the institute of radiology and nuclear medicin
The objective of this paper is to study the stability of SIS epidemic model involving treatment. Two types of such eco-epidemiological models are introduced and analyzed. Boundedness of the system is established. The local and global dynamical behaviors are performed. The conditions of persistence of the models are derived.
Background: Although the new treatment methods developed in recent years are aiming to minimize the need for cooperation of the patients; however, the latter still important factor the treatment. The aim of the study was to evaluate the cooperation level of Class III maloc-clusion patients with orthodontic treatment. Materials and methods: This study followed a cross-sectional style; the targeted population was patients with Class III malocclusion who were treated with three different types of orthopaedic appliances. Four questionnaires were delivered to the patient, patient’s parents, and orthodontists. Statistical analyses of the study were performed with SPSS 20.0 software. Descriptive analyses were presented using fre-quency, percenta
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Pyogenic granuloma is one of the inflammatory hyperplasia seen in the oral cavity. The
present study included 10 patients with pyogenic granuloma, involving 4 males and 6 females with 1:1.5
male to female ratio. Patient ages ranged from 5 to 85 years (mean, 30 years) and half of the lesions had
pedunculated base, with surface ulceration in 10% of cases. Treatment consisted of resection, using 810
nm diode lasers. Eight patients were anesthetized during the surgical operation by local infiltration of
anesthesia. Only three patients reported mild post-operative pain within the first 24 hours of the healing
period. During the surgical operation there was no significant bleeding so clear surgical field. There was
no blee
Pyogenic granuloma is one of the inflammatory hyperplasia seen in the oral cavity. The
present study included 10 patients with pyogenic granuloma, involving 4 males and 6 females with 1:1.5
male to female ratio. Patient ages ranged from 5 to 85 years (mean, 30 years) and half of the lesions had
pedunculated base, with surface ulceration in 10% of cases. Treatment consisted of resection, using 810
nm diode lasers. Eight patients were anesthetized during the surgical operation by local infiltration of
anesthesia. Only three patients reported mild post-operative pain within the first 24 hours of the healing
period. During the surgical operation there was no significant bleeding so clear surgical field. There was
no blee