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.
Abstract
The present research paper provides an analysis of Thomas Dekker’s
exaltation of the figure of the Babylonian woman as a tragic heroine in his dramatic
art. The paper falls into two sections. The first section outlines the deliberate
mispresentation of the figure of the Babylonian woman in the Bible and the
misreading of that figure. The second section reveals Dekker’s rectification of the
distorted image of the Babylonian woman, whom he defends and glorifies as a
heroine and a victim of misinterpretation and conspiracy.
Back ground: Oral isotretinoin is recommended
for sever nodulocystic acne in the doses 0.5-
2mg/kg/day which is usually associated with higher
incidence of adverse effects. To reduce the
incidence of side-effects and to make it more costeffective,
the lower dose regimen of isotretinoin has
been used.
Aim: To compare the efficacy and tolerability of
oral isotretinoin 10mg and 20mg/day in acne
vulgaris.
Methods: one hundred and twenty patients with
acne vulgaris were randomized into two treatment
regimens each consisting of 60 patients. The first
was treated with 10mg/day and the second group
with 20mg/day for 24 weeks. Fifty five patients
from the first group and 47 patients from the second
Objective: To assess the major anti-tuberculosis drugs available to patients at primary health care centers in Baghdad city. Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study design is carried out in order to achieve the objectives of the study by using the assessment technique in primary health care centers from December 29th, 2014 to July 10 th, 2015. probability sampling is select based on the study design. Eighteen primary health care centers are select according to criteria of sample to the study and for the purpose of the study, is select (6) sectors and (11) Primary Health Care Centers (PHCC) from Bagh
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a common chronic inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract, including ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. ulcerative colitis (UC) disease is characterized by chronic, persistent, recurrent, and nonspecific intestinal ulcers and mucosal inflammation. This study investigated the protective effects of cinnamic acid on dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) induced ulcerative colitis in mice. Forty adult male mice were collected and randomly divided into five groups, group Ӏ received a suspension of distill water and poloxamer, and group ӀӀ received 3% DSS in drinking water for 7 consecutive days. Two treatment groups received an oral suspension of cinnamic acid 50 and 25 mg/kg respectively an
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(9)
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(3)
Plantation of humic acid nanoparticles on the inert sand through simple impregnation to obtain the permeable reactive barrier (PRB) for treating of groundwater contaminated with copper and cadmium ions. The humic acid was extracted from sewage sludge which is byproduct of the wastewater treatment plant; so, this considers an application of sustainable development. Batch tests signified that the coated sand by humic acid (CSHA) had removal efficiencies exceeded 98 % at contact time, sorbent dosage, and initial pH of 1 h, 0.25 g/50 mL and 7, respectively for 10 mg/L initial concentration and 200 rpm agitation speed. Results proved that physicosorption was the predominant mechanism for metals-CSHA interaction because the sorption data followed
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(34)
This study investigates the requirements of total quality management (TQM) and the determinants affecting its application in Al-Zaman newspaper, one of Iraq’s leading private press institutions. The research employed a survey methodology, using a structured questionnaire administered to 30 participants representing journalistic, administrative, and technical staff. Five TQM dimensions, each measured through four indicators, were assessed to capture the perceptions of employees regarding the availability and effectiveness of quality practices. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). The results revealed that while senior management at Al-Zaman demonstrates formal support for TQM, there is a
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The research tagged with the controversy of aesthetic interpretation between the sculptures and their titles in contemporary Iraqi sculpture, “Exhibition of Experiments in Contemporary Iraqi Sculpture as a Model”, and it is one of the new research that contributes to strengthening the critical path in the Iraqi fine movement, as the first chapter dealt with the research problem stemming from the question: What is the impact of the aesthetic hermeneutic controversy between the title and the title in contemporary Iraqi sculpture?, and do the titles of the sculptural works help to understand or enhance their contents?, The research objective included: To identify the controversy of the aesthetic interpretation of sculptures and their ti
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Resumen
El presente trabajo nace de una inquietud por la enseñanza del español en Irak a nivel universitario especialmente ante las dificultades que los alumnos árabes en general, e iraquíes en particular, encuentran en su proceso de aprendizaje. Nuestra primera inclinación fue, pues, prestar una atención directa y cercana al alumno como sujeto del aprendizaje, así como a lo que el alumno produce como resultado del mismo. En el presente trabajo pretendemos dotar al estudiante de los conocimientos lingüísticos necesarios para poder interaccionar en una variedad de situaciones y enfrentarse a problemas cotidianos, de manera que desarrolle las destrezas comunicativas que le permitan establecer una co
... Show Morefield of modern and contemporary Yemeni history, accomplished at Ibn Rushd College of Education, University of Baghdad. It was determined according to a time frame in the years 1989, which is the date of completion of the first master’s thesis in the field of modern and contemporary Yemeni history, which deals with the subject of “Iraqi-Yemeni relations 1932- 1962”, and the year 2020, which is the year of completion of a master’s thesis on the position of Iraqi public opinion on the Egyptian military intervention in Yemen (1962-1970). The study determined the nature of these studies, whether they were in the form of master’s theses or doctoral dissertations, or research and studies published in issues of the refereed scien
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