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 studies on unbonded post-tensioned concrete members strengthened with Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymers (CFRPs) are limited and the effect of strengthening on the strain of unbonded pre-stressed steel is not well characterized. Estimating the flexural capacity of unbound post-tensioned members using the design methodology specified in the design guidelines for FRP strengthening techniques of bonded post-tensioned members does not provide a reliable evaluation. This study investigates the behavior of unbonded post-tensioned concrete members with partial strand damage (14.3% and 28.6% damage) and strengthened with CFRP laminates using a near-surface mounted technique with and without U-wrap anchorages. The experimental results show
... Show MoreAlthough a great deal of works has been done on the area of capital structure and dividend policy, there is still insufficient knowledge of how these policies affect stock prices. This shortcoming may have been originated from the separation between both policies when investigating their effect on stock prices. Based on this point, this research adopts a new technique (completely randomized design), to combine the effect of capital structure and dividend policy on stock prices rather than separating between them. The study used panel based regression analysis depending on the sample of 30 service and industrial Jordanian firms for the period of 2001-2010. The result of test hypotheses found the following; 1) dividend payout has a
... Show MoreObjectives: To assess levels of premenstrual psychological disorders of the students in Bab Al-Mua’dham Complex and to find out the relationship between the levels of premenstrual psychological and physical disorders and some demographic characteristics of the students. Methodology: A descriptive study was accomplished throughout the period from the 1st of October, 2015 to the 8th of July, 2016 to assess the psychological and physical problems. A purposive sample of 313 students distributed among different colleges of Bab Al-Mua’dam complex distributed as following: 82 students are from college of Arts; 79
Time is very important in educational institutions. It is also one of our contemporary problem ‚as time is a clear – cut and limited factor‚ it demands that administrators should monitor it by administering and monitoring the principles of time.
Hence‚ the researcher attempts to identify the skills of administrating time and the reasons that cause the waste of time of the Heads of Departments at university of Baghdad.
Significance of the research:
Time is very important to all educational administrators and one of them is the institutions of Higher education. One of the
... Show MoreABSTRACT Background: One of the major problems of all ceramic restorations is their probable fracture against the occlusal forces. The objective of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effect of two gingival finishing lines (90°shoulder and deep chamfer) on the fracture resistance of full contour CAD/CAM and heat press all-ceramic crowns. Materials and Methods: Thirty two maxillary first premolars were prepared to receive full contour CAD/CAM (zolid) and heat press (Cergo Kiss) ceramic crowns using a special paralleling device (Parallel-A-Prep). The teeth were divided into four groups according to the type of finishing line prepared. Each crown was cemented to its corresponding tooth using self-etch, self-adhesive dual cure resin ceme
... Show MoreCancer stay to be one of the leading causes of death throughout the world due to a limited success to use treatments. The new synthesized metal complexes with formula: [Ni L2 (H2O)2]. 2.5 E t OH and [Cd L2]. ½ H2O Where L = Bis [ 5 – ( P – nitrophenyl ) - 4 – phenyl 1 , 2 , 4 – trazol – 3 – dithiocarbamato hydrazide ] and the aqueous extract of Teucrium polium L.(TP) plant (Ja,adahin Arabic) were examined against growth cells of hepatocellular Carcinoma cell Line ( HeP2 ). The cytotoxicity assay of cancer cell line was used for determination of inhibition rate with three concentrations; (62.5, 105 and 250 µg /200µl). The aqueous extract of TP plant induced death of cancer cells by significant elevation of the inhib
... Show MoreAO Dr. Ali Jihad, Journal of Physical Education, 2021
A total of 165 clinical sample included Urine, Swab wounds and Burns were collected from Baghdad Governorate. Results showed that rate all isolates of E. coli was 50(30.3%) and rate of urine infection was 46(92%) and rate of swab wounds infection 4(8%). Where was diagnostic based on streaked on MacConkey agar, then single colony was transferred to Eosin Methylene Blue (EMB). Identification some of the biochemical test included: Catalase test, Oxidase test, Indole test, Methyl red, Vogues - Proskauer test and Citrate Utilization test. Then confirmed by the Vitek - 2 Compact System. The ability of E.coli isolate to biofilm formation to be studied it is considered one of the most important factors of virulence and has role in causing injury an
... Show MoreA new Mannich base ligand was prepared by reacting the 2-chloro.-N-(5-mercapto-1, 3, 4-thiadazol -2-yl) acetamide and Piperidine in the presence (formaldehyde) (L) ligand. A series of ligand complexes were prepared from (L) with the metal ion Co (II), Ni (II), Cu (II), Pd (II), Pt (IV), and Au (III). Various spectroscopic techniques such as C.H.N.S, FTIR, UV-VIS, , 1HNMR, 13CNMR, Magnetic moment, and molar conductivity successfully characterize the obtained compounds. The M: L ratio was determined using the molar ratio method in solution. All prepared compounds' antibacterial and antifungal activity was studied against two types of bacteria and one type of fungi at a rate of 0.02M. The standard ΔH° f and ΔEb of the ligands an
... Show MoreFocusing of Gaussian laser beam through nonlinear media can induce spatial self- phase modulation which forms a far field intensity pattern of concentric rings. The nonlinear refractive index change of material depends on the number of pattern rings. In this paper, a formation of tunable nonlinear refractive index change of hybrid functionalized carbon nanotubes/silver nanoparticles acetone suspensions (F-MWCNTs/Ag-NPs) at weight mixing ratio of 1:3 and volume fraction of 6x10-6 , 9x10-6 , and 18x10-6 using laser beam at wavelength of 473nm was investigated experimentally. The results showed that tunable nonlinear refractive indices were obtained and increasing of incident laser power density led to increase the nonlinear refractive inde
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