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 aim of this research is to construct an educational program in light of the theory of behavioral cognitive and its impact on the development of the efficient response to students affected by crises (centers of your right to education). To achieve the objectives of the research, two scales were developed by the researcher in addition to two equivalent hypotheses were formulated. The scale contains (26) items divided into five fields; for its validity and reliability were derived based on the measure of efficient response, an educational program based on the theory of behavioral cognition. The test and the educational program were applied to a sample of (60) students from the centers of your right to education, divided into experimenta
... Show MoreBackground: The present study was carried out to compare shear bond strength of sapphire bracket bonded to zirconium surface after using different methods of surface conditioning and assessment of the adhesive remnant index. Materials and methods: The sample composed of 40 zirconium specimens divided into four groups; the first group was the control, the second group was conditioned by sandblast with aluminum oxide particle 50 μm, the third and fourth group was treated by (Nd: YAG) laser (1064nm)(0.888 Watt for 5 seconds) for the 1st laser group and (0.444 Watt for 10 seconds) for the 2nd laser group. All samples were coated by z-prime plus primer. A central incisor sapphire bracket was bonded to all samples with light cure adhesive res
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Vocational education is the basis of contemporary educational movement that aims at satisfying human needs. Societies can develop their human resources via setting programs for the working class as an aspect of the comprehensive national development. Vocational education is the main source of technical cadres the Iraqi labor market requires of the vocational preparatory schools to provide after three years of schooling.
The vocational schools of the governorate of Basra have a number of problems that lead to the lack of proficiency of their graduates. This study is an attempt to identify these problems or obstacles
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The current study was carried out to study a high injection dose of the ethanolic extract thymus vulgaris leaf (500 ug /Kg) against the immune response combination with partially purified extracted Lipopolysaccharide ( LPS) from Proteus mirablis.Study groups were included four groups; Group I :treated with normal saline. Group II : treated with LPS antigen, Group III: injected subcutaneously ((500 ug /Kg) from ethanolic extract thymus vulgaris, group IV : injected subcutaneously (500 ug /Kg) from ethanolic extract thymus vulgaris leaf and LPS antigen, the immunological assays were measured through the phagocytic activity as (non specific immunity) after day 8 by using the phagocytic activity index.After day I4 the lymphocyte proliferations
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Background: Blood group system and the ability to taste phenylthiocarbamide (PTC) are the most studied traits in human genetics which have been extensively used in describing genetic variations among human populations around the world that may had an effect on dental caries. The aims of present study were to investigate the caries experience among students with different bitter taste threshold in relation to blood type. Materials and Methods: The sample of present study includes dental students female aged19-21 years. The diagnosis of dental caries was done according to the criteria of Manjia et al, 1989 recording decayed lesion by severity (D1-4) MFS. Furthermore, bitter taste sensitivity was measured according to PTC (phenylthiocarbamid
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The study was carried out to determine the cytotoxic, antioxidant and gastro-protective effect of ethyl-4-[(3,5-di-tert-butyl-2-hydroxybenzylid ene)amino] benzoate (ETHAB) in rats.
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The Atoms in Molecules (AIM) analysis for triosmium cluster, which contains trihydridede, carbon, carbonyl and 2-methylbenzothiazolide ligands, [Os3(µ-H)3(µ3-ɳ2-CC7H3(2-CH3)NS)(CO)8] is reported. Bonding features in this cluster has been analyzed based on QTAIM ("Quantum Theory of Atoms in Molecules") in this work. The topological indices derived from electron density of relevant interactions in triosmium compound have been studied. The major interesting point of the AIM analyses is that the core of part (Os3H3) reveals the absence of any critical points and bond paths connecting any pairs of O
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Background: Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica) has been used as a traditional medicine for many years to cure different kinds of diseases. Studies have been reported that Gotu Kola extracts might be used as a cure for oral diseases such as periodontal disease. In the present study, Gotu Kola leaves extracted with water will be used to evaluate its effect on some microorganisms living in the human saliva using minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) method. Material and Method:Gotu Kola fresh leaves extract have been used with water as a solvent, a rotary evaporator was used to separate the solvent from the extract. The following microorganisms: Streptococci, Lactobacilli, and Staphylococcus aureus have been isolated fromthe Saliva of ten voluntee
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The research aims to verify that there is an influence between innovative marketing and the organization's reputation by brand mediation.
The research problem is that the Oil Marketing Company (SOMO) needs innovative, unconventional methods in marketing its products and improving its reputation by adopting a solid brand that adds value to the product.
The importance of the research: The importance of the research is highlighted as it deals with essential variables in business organizations that help increase customer loyalty by adopting a distinctive brand.
The research started from four main hypotheses to explore correlations and influence between researc
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