Severe bacterial infections in patients with non-transfusion-dependent thalassemia: prevalence and clinical risk factors

SummaryIntroductionBacterial infection is one of the major causes of death in patients with thalassemia. Clinical predictive factors for severe bacterial infection were evaluated in patients with non-transfusion-dependent thalassemia (NTDT).MethodsA retrospective study was conducted of patients with NTDT aged ≥10 years at Srinagarind Hospital, Khon Kaen University, Thailand. Clinical characteristics and potential clinical risk factors for bacterial infection were collected. Risk factors for bacterial infection were evaluated by multivariate logistic regression analysis.ResultsA severe bacterial infection was found in 11 of the total 211 patients with NTDT (5.2%). None of the clinical factors assessed was shown to be statistically associated with severe bacterial infection in patients with NTDT. However, three factors were demonstrated to be potential predictive factors for severe bacterial infection: time after splenectomy >10 years, deferoxamine therapy, and serum ferritin >1000 ng/ml. None of the patients died from infection.ConclusionThe prevalence of bacterial infection in patients with NTDT was found to be moderate. Time after splenectomy >10 years, deferoxamine therapy, and iron overload may be clinical risk factors for severe bacterial infection in patients with NTDT. Bacterial infection should be recognized in splenectomized patients with NTDT, particularly those who have an iron overload

DEVELOPMENT OF COMPOSITE ELECTRODES CONTAINING GEOPOLYMER BINDER FOR ELECTROCHEMICAL APPLICATIONS

The requirements for electrode materials are high electronic conductivity, fast kinetics, high mechanical stability, and high chemical stability under oxidative and reductive environment. In this work, composite electrodes have been prepared containing geopolymer (made from Fly Ash (FA)), zinc, and Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNT) or graphite deposited on a nickel foam with different compositions (FA:Zn:MWCNT or FA:Zn:Graphite, mass ratio = 12:6:1 or 6:6:1). While the commercial zinc plate demonstrated clear oxidation and reduction reactions during cyclic voltammetry, no electrochemical reactions of zinc were observed with the composite electrodes. The composite electrodes suffered from high resistance, which could not be overcome even with reduced geopolymer content. The FE-SEM images indicated that the composite electrodes containing MWCNT were better dispersed than those containing graphite. Moreover, the composite electrode containing FA:Zn:MWCNT = 6:6:1 showed a lower overpotential for Oxygen Evolution Reaction (OER) compared to those with FA:Zn:Graphite at the same mass ratio. The surface morphology, homogeneity and chemical compositions lead to the change of the electrocatalyst activity towards OER. The electrode containing MWCNT may be attractive as anode for alkaline water electrolysis for hydrogen production. Further experiments should focus on optimization of the electrode composition to enhance its conductivity, activity and stability

EFFECT OF ULTRASONIC WASHING ON THE PROPERTIES OF SUPERHYDROPHOBIC COTTON FABRIC COATED WITH EPOXY COMPOSITE FILM

The objective of this work was to evaluate properties of cotton fabric samples coated with epoxy composite film filled with APTES-modified silica (SiO2) nanoparticles. The characteristics of superhydrophobic fabrics were investigated as function of the durability of ultrasonic washing. As-prepared samples, the fabric coated with 20 vol% SiO2 modified APTES exhibited typical characteristic of superhydrophobic material having high water contact angle (WCA) of 152° and low contact angle hysteresis (CAH). The values of WCA and CAH of fabrics slightly decreased with increasing number of washing cycles. But even after 10 washing cycles the samples showed almost spherical drops of common household liquids (water, coffee, juice, honey, and ketchup sauce) on their surface, indicating their excellent self-cleaning ability. Also stains of graphite powder (as model for dust) on the coated fabrics were easily rinsed out with water. Moreover, the coated specimens may have potential to be used for oil/water separation: their separation efficiency was higher than 99%, and was as high as 97% after 10 washing cycles