Haptoglobin-related protein as a serum marker in malignant lymphoma

A novel serum 21 kDa haptoglobin-related protein (Hpr) was investigated in patients with malignant lymphoma, to evaluate its correlation with clinical and histologic features at presentation and its possible role as a tumor marker for patient outcome. One hundred fifty eight serum samples were taken from 88 patients with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (n=58) and Hodgkin’s disease (n=30) at presentation and in the course of follow-up. Sera from 61 healthy volunteers served as normal controls. Serum Hpr levels in the lymphoma patients (median 430xl0³ u/ml, range 0-4000xl0³) were significantly higher than in the control group (median 68xl0³ u/ml, range 0-180xl0³) (p=0.0001). Higher median Hpr values were detected in patients with advanced disease (p=0.013), “B” symptoms (p=0.029) and in males (p=0.053). There was also a significant correlation between Hpr and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (p=0.028). Serial determinations showed a significant decrease of the initial Hpr values obtained after treatment in 41 patients, 38 of whom achieved complete remission. In the follow-up period additional Hpr measurements were taken from 17 patients. Three of them eventually relapsed, and showed increased Hpr levels at the time of relapse. Hpr levels remained low in 11 of 14 patients who maintained complete remission, and increased in three. In conclusion, serum Hpr is a new serum tumor marker of potential use in the clinical setting of lymphoma. This work is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Arie H. Bartal, a dedicated oncologist and friend. This work was supported by Chemotech Thechnologies Ltd., by grant no. 3676 from the Chief Scientist’s Office of the Ministry of Health, Israel, and by the Fund for Promotion of Research in the Technion.     

Synthesis of Geopolymer from a Novel Aluminosilicate-Based Natural Soil Precursor Using Electric Oven Curing for Improved Mechanical Strength

Natural soil (NS)-based geopolymers (GPs) have shown promise as environmentally friendly construction materials. The production of ordinary Portland cement is known to release significant amounts of greenhouse gas (CO₂) into the atmosphere. The main objective of this work is to synthesize a geopolymer (GP) from an uncommon aluminosilicate-based NS and a sodium silicate (SS) activating solution that would not only minimize the emission of harmful gases, but also offer improved mechanical strength. Samples of different compositions were produced by varying the wt.% of NS from 50% to 80% and adding a balancing amount of SS solution. The drying and curing of the samples were carried out in an electric oven at specific temperatures. The degree of geopolymerization in the samples was measured by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and microstructural analysis was performed using a scanning electron microscope. Mechanical tests were conducted to evaluate the range of compressive strength values of the prepared GP samples. A minimum compressive strength of 10.93 MPa at a maximum porosity of 37.56% was observed in a sample with an NS to SS ratio of 1:1; while a ratio of 3:1 led to the maximum compressive strength of 26.39 MPa and the minimum porosity of 24.60%. The maximum strength (26.39 MPa) was found to be more than the reported strength values for similar systems. Moreover, an improvement in strength by a factor of three has been observed relative to previously developed NS-based GPs. It may be inferred from the findings that for the given NS, with almost 90% aluminosilicate content, the extent of geopolymerization increases significantly with its increasing proportions, yielding better mechanical strength.     

Short-term course and outcome of treatments of pleural empyema in pediatric patients: repeated ultrasound-guided needle thoracocentesis vs chest tube drainage

BACKGROUND: Several reports have suggested that early chest tube drainage (CTD) may not be necessary in the treatment of severe pleural empyema (PE) in pediatric patients if appropriate antibiotic therapy and supportive care are provided. OBJECTIVES: A prospective open study to compare the short-term course of two treatment protocols of severe PE in pediatric patients. STUDY DESIGN: One group of 32 patients was treated with early insertion of a chest tube for CTD, and a second group of 35 patients was treated by a repeated ultrasound-guided needle thoracocentesis (RUSGT). The severity of the empyema was assessed by chest radiograph, the amount of fluid drained, the number of days the patient had experienced a fever, and the duration of antibiotic treatment. RESULTS: No significant differences were found between the two groups (RUSGT vs CTD) in all of the following measurements: mean (plus minus SD) duration of a temperature > or = 39 degreesC, 6.2 +/- 2.4 vs 6.5 +/- 1.8 days, respectively; mean duration of a temperature > or = 38 degreesC, 9 +/- 3.9 vs 8.2 +/- 4.5 days, respectively; fluid drained, 35.1 + 23.8 vs 30 +/- 28.2 mL/kg, respectively; duration of antibiotic treatment, 30 +/- 13.2 vs 30.2 +/- 7.3 days, respectively; and length of hospitalization and home IV treatment, 22 +/- 7.6 vs 24.2 +/- 7.5 days, respectively. A failure to respond to treatment occurred in three patients in the RUSGT-treated group and in five patients in the CTD-treated group. The failure to respond occurred in the RUSGT-treated group only in those patients with very large empyemas that caused mediastinal deviation. CONCLUSION: The treatment of PE by RUSGT is as efficacious as CTD, unless PE causes mediastinal deviation.