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.
This research presents a response surface methodology (RSM) with I‐optimal method of DESIGN EXPERT (version 13 Stat‐Ease) for optimization and analysis of the adsorption process of the cyanide from aqueous solution by activated carbon (AC) and composite activated carbon (CuO/AC) produced by pyro carbonic acid microwave using potato peel waste as raw material. Pyrophosphate 60% (wt) was used for impregnation with an impregnation ratio 3:1, impregnation time of 4 h at 25°C, radiant power of 700 W, and activation time of 20 min. Batch experiments were conducted to determine the removal efficiency of cyanide from aqueous solution to evaluate the influences of various experimental parameters su
The hydrological process has a dynamic nature characterised by randomness and complex phenomena. The application of machine learning (ML) models in forecasting river flow has grown rapidly. This is owing to their capacity to simulate the complex phenomena associated with hydrological and environmental processes. Four different ML models were developed for river flow forecasting located in semiarid region, Iraq. The effectiveness of data division influence on the ML models process was investigated. Three data division modeling scenarios were inspected including 70%–30%, 80%–20, and 90%–10%. Several statistical indicators are computed to verify the performance of the models. The results revealed the potential of the hybridized s
... Show MoreIn this study, a new adsorbent derived from sunflower husk powder and coated in CuO nanoparticles (CSFH) was investigated to evaluate the simultaneous adsorption of Levofloxacin (LEV), Meropenem (MER), and Tetracycline (TEC) from an aqueous solution. Significant improvements in the adsorption capacity of the sunflower husk were identified after the powder particles had been coated in CuO nanoparticles. Kinetic data were correlated using a pseudo-second-order model, and was successful for the three antibiotics. Moreover, high compatibility was identified between the LEV, MER, and TEC, isotherm data, and the Langmuir model, which produced a better fit to suit the isotherm curves. In addition, the spontaneous and exothermic nature of the adsor
... Show MoreOlfactory impairment and abnormal frontal EEG oscillations are recognized as early markers of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Using a publicly available olfactory EEG dataset of 35 subjects spanning normal cognition, amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI), and AD, each with MMSE scores and demographics, stimulus-locked epochs from four electrodes (Fp1, Fz, Cz, Pz) were processed with wavelet-based time–frequency analysis. Band-limited power ratios (delta, theta, alpha, beta) were computed as log-transformed post-odor/baseline values and aggregated to subject-level features. Statistical analyses revealed graded attenuation of odor-evoked frontal (Fp1) band-power ratios across groups, with significant differences in several band–od
... Show MoreAll the prepared metal complexes of Pt (IV), Au(III), Rh (III), Co (II) and V(IV) with new ligand sodium [5-(p-nitro phenyl)-/4-phenyl-1,2,4-triazole-3-dithiocarbamato hydrazide] (TRZ.DTC) have been synthesized and characterized in solid state by using flame atomic absorption, elemental analysis C.H.N.S, FT-IR ,UV-Vis Spectroscopy, conductivity and magnetic susceptibility measurements. The nature of the complexes formed in ethanolic solution has been studied following the molar ratio method also was studied stability constant and found to be stable in molar ratio1:1 of VL (IV) and CoL(II) while Pt(IV), Au(III) and Rh(III) complexes stable in molar ratio 1:2 as well as the molar absorptivity for these complexes were calculated. From the prev
... Show MoreMicrobial activity of Ellagic acid when mixed with some types of candy toward Streptococcus mutans microorganism was studied. The main purpose of carrying out this study is to produce a new type of candy that contains Ellagic acid in addition to xylitol instead of sucrose to prevent dental caries. The results show that the inhibitory action of Ellagic acid was more effective when mixed with this type of candy for the purpose of reducing Streptococcus mutans microorganisms, while sensory evaluation was applied in this study to 20 volunteers to that candy sample evaluated which contain (5 mg/ml) Ellagic acid with 100g xylitol to determine consumers acceptability of this sample of candy. The results were expressed as mean value, slandered d
... Show MoreIn this work, the precursor [2-(1,5-dimethyl-3-oxo-2-phenyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-4-ylimino)acetic acid] was synthesised from 4-aminoantipyrine and glyoxylic acid, this precursor has been used in the synthesis of new multidentate ligand [2-((E)-3-(2-hydroxyphenylimino)-1,5-dimethyl-2-phenyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-4-ylimino)acetic acid][H2L] type (N2O2). The ligand was refluxed in ethanol with metal ions [VO(II), Mn(II), Co(II) and Ni(II)] salts to give complexes of general molecular formula:[M(H2L)2(X)(Y)].B, where: M=VO(II), X=0, Y=OSO3-2, B=2H2O; M=Mn(II),Co(II) ,X=Cl, Y=Cl, B=0; M=Ni(II), X=H2O, Y=Cl, B=Cl. These complexes were characterised by atomic absorpition(A.A), F.T-I.R., (U.V-Vis)spectroscopies (1H,13C NMR for ligand only), alon
... Show MoreIn this research, the influence of the fermentation treatments and baking in Iraqi’s flour type (Ibaa 99, Al-rashed, Tamus, Abu-grabe) and Turkish flour type (Muaamel) on phytic acid was investigated. In whole wheat flour, the phytic acid was (1500, 1290, 1450, 1230, 1440 ( mg/ 100 g flour respectively, and the inorganic phosphorous was (29.18, 25.15, 23.89, 20.85, 22.83) mg/100 g flour respectively. The dough prepared from flour with a higher phytic acid content also contained higher amount of phytic acid. During fermentation, degradation of phytic acid occurred. The cumulative loss of phytic acid after fermentation in all type of dough was ~ 23, 22, 34, 26 and 27% respectively،While increased of inorganic phosphorous occurred. The c
... Show MoreBiological activity of the carotenoids which are produced fromchemically-mutaed local isolate of Rhodotorula mucilaginosawas studied. The results showed variation of inhibition activity of caritenoids against different types of pathogenic bacteria include, Staph aureus, E. coli, B. subtilis and Salmo. typh., the number declined from 2×107cell/ml to 2×104, 5×104, 2×105, 9×105 cell/ml respectively after 24hour. The produced carotenoids from alocal mutant Rhodotorula mucilaginosa revealed an antioxidant activity as free radical removal of 85.6%. Carotinoides revealed a highest stability in petroleum ether solvent for 30 days at room temperature. It found that the pigment was more stability in sesame oil compared with sun flower and coc
... Show MoreThe new tridentate Schiff base ligand (HL)namely 2-{[1-(3-amino-phenyl)-ethylidene]-hydrazono methyl}- phenol containing (N N O)as donors atoms was prepared in two steps:Step (1): By the reaction of 3- aminoacetophenone with hydrazine monohydrate under reflux in methanol and drops of glacial acetic acid gave the intermediate compound 3-(1- hydrazono ethyl)-phenol amine.Step (2): By the reaction of 3-(1-hydrazono ethyl)-phenol amine with salicyaldehyde under reflux in methanol, gave the ligand (HL).The prepared ligand was characterized by I.R, U.V-Vis,1H- 13C NMR spectra and melting point and reacted with some metal ions under reflux in methanol with (1:1) ratio gave complexes of the general formula: [MClL]. Where: M= Mn(II), Fe(II), Co(II),
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