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 study evaluated the functional response of the larva of the predator Chrysoperla carnea by offering varying densities of cabbage aphid, Brevicoryne brassicae (L.) . Results showed conformity with type–II functional response, where the number of prey killed approaches asymptote hyperbolically as prey density increases (declining proportion of prey killed or the inverse density dependent) till it reached the stability stage determined by handling time and predator satiation. Also, the values of attack rate and handling time changed with age progress for both predator and prey. It has been observed an increase in the attack rate and reduction in handling time with the progress of the predator age when feeding on a particular nymphal in
... Show MoreIn this study, from a total of 856 mastitis cases in lactating ewes, only 34 Streptococcus agalactiae isolates showed various types of resistance to three types of antibiotics (Penicillin, Erythromycin and Tetracycline). St. agalactiae isolates were identified according to the standard methods, including a new suggested technique called specific Chromogenic agar. It was found that antibiotic bacterial resistance was clearly identified by using MIC-microplate assay (dilution method). Also, by real-time PCR technique, it was determined that there were three antibiotics genes resistance ( pbp2b, tetO and mefA ). The high percentage of isolate carried of a single gene which was the Tetracycline (20.59%) followed by percentage Penicillin was
... Show MoreGood governance of service quality through the adoption of sustainable energy the study of A1- Karkh historic center of in Baghdad city
For poets to pay a great attention to the Islamic figures and their symbolism in Islam come as a prominent phenomenon in our literature . As there is an impact of them on the brilliant history commemorated by littérateurs . As a matter of fact ، the chronicle of Imam Ali Ibin Abi Talib (peace be upon him) falls in the orbit of the focus Ibn Abi Al-Hadid Al-Mu'tazili steers to in his poems . The current research study is to trace the portrayal of Imam Ali (peace be upon them) in the poetry of Ibn Abi Al-Hadid Al-Mu'tazili ، Seventh Alwiite Poems ، as there is no a study tacking such a conjecture before. In the article there are two axes : the introduction comes as first axis portraying Imam Ali Ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him) in the wa
... Show MoreModern trends have appeared recently in educational thought that call for the achievement of the outcomes of the educational process. Some of these trends are the development of individual thinking skills, considering the individual differences, and learning basic skills. The five-year learning cycle is one of these models. It is called as five-year learning cycle because it passes through five stages. These five stages are: (operate - discover - clarify - expand – Evaluate), which make the learner as the main axis for activating thinking processes. This can be done by organizing study materials through research, investigation, and identifying concepts by himself, as in learning sports skills that depend on motor performance and teamwork,
... Show MoreThe twentieth century witnessed developments, transformations and artistic revolutions, including what was witnessed in Arab art, especially contemporary Iraqi plastic art, and as a result, research and studies have increased that dealt with its topics in different ways, which has become a presence that gave it its own language and unique discourse, especially the body, thus opening the way for its employment in composition, to become a form. It denotes interpretable meanings through its various formal representations, which are artistic, cultural and cognitive products. The modernity of the Iraqi formation in the body has passed through different roles, so it started to deal with the body as a representation that reflects the real envir
... Show MoreObjective(s): The study aims at examining the role of technical information used in nursing education, such as "the
Internet, e-mail services, video, audio conferencing and other "in the College of Nursing at the University of Baghdad.
Methodology: A descriptive and analytical study which was using the examination approach was conducted on a
non-probability sample (purposive sample) of (42) members of the faculty of the College of Nursing at the University
of Baghdad. A questionnaire was constructed for the purpose of the study. It was consisted of two parts; the first part
which included the demographic characteristics of faculty members (such as age, sex,
qualification, scientific title, and the scientific department