The application of the Hercossett-Anionic-Surfactant process to impart Shrink-Resitance to wool

The possibility of a new pre-treatment-resin shrink-resist process, based on the application of a dispersion of Hercosett resin and an anionic surfactant to methylamine-pre-treated wool samples, was proposed at the Fifth International Wool Textile Research Conference1. Further studies on this topic, as well as some attempts to develop new alternative pretreatments, such as oxidation with hydrogen peroxide or reduction with thioglycolic acid, have opened up new possibilities for the process and are described in this lette

STUDIES ON THE APPLICATION OF THE HERCOSETT-ANIONIC-SURFACTANT PROCESS TO IMPART SHRINK-RESISTANCE TO WOOL.

STUDIES ON THE APPLICATION OF THE HERCOSETT-ANIONIC-SURFACTANT PROCESS TO IMPART SHRINK-RESISTANCE TO WOO

Long-Term Health-Related Quality of Life and Clinical Outcomes in Patients with β-Thalassemia after Splenectomy

Few data are available on the efficacy and safety of splenectomy in patients with transfusion-dependent Beta-Thalassemia Major (β-TM) and on its impact on a patient’s health-related quality of life (HRQoL). We examined the long-term HRQoL of adult patients with β-TM in comparison with those treated with medical therapy by using the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36). We also evaluated the safety and efficacy of splenectomy. Overall, 114 patients with a median age of 41 years (range 18–62) were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Twenty-nine patients underwent splenectomy (25.4%) at a median age of 12 years (range 1–32). The median follow-up after splenectomy was 42 years (range 6–55). No statistically significant differences were observed in any of the scales of the SF-36 between splenectomized and not-splenectomized patients. The majority of surgical procedures (96.6%) were approached with open splenectomy. Post-splenectomy complications were reported in eight patients (27.5%): four overwhelming infections, three with pulmonary hypertension, and one with thrombosis. A significantly higher prevalence of cardiovascular comorbidities (58.6 vs. 21.2%, p p = 0.013) was observed in splenectomized patients. These patients, however, required fewer red blood cell units per month, with only 27.6% of them transfusing more than 1 unit per month, compared with 72.9% of the not-splenectomized group. Overall, our data suggest that physicians should carefully consider splenectomy as a possible treatment option in patients with β-TM

Health-Related Quality-of-Life Profile of Pediatric Patients with β Thalassemia after Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

Matched hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a feasible and curative treatment in pediatric patients with beta thalassemia major (β-TM). However, little data are available regarding patients and their parents’ health-related quality of life (HRQoL) after the procedure. As such, we investigated the HRQoL of pediatric patients with β-TM after HSCT compared to that of patients treated with blood transfusions and iron chelation. The health-related quality of life of 43 β-TM pediatric patients and 43 parents were evaluated using the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL). A total of 25 patients underwent HSCT: 15 from a sibling and 10 from an HLA-matched donor. The median follow-up time from HSCT was 5 years (range 1–13 years). The mean ages at the survey were 10.1 years (range 5–15) and 9.6 years (range 5–15) for transfused and transplanted patients, respectively. A significant reduction in HRQoL was reported in the group of transfused patients compared with that of patients transplanted in the following PedsQL domains: children’s and parents’ physical functions, Δ = −15.4, p = 0.009 and Δ = −11.3, p = 0.002, respectively; children’s and parents’ emotional functioning, Δ = −15.2, p = 0.026 and Δ = −15.2, p = 0.045, respectively; child’s and parents’ school functioning, Δ = −25, p = 0.005 and Δ = −22.5, p = 0.011, respectively; total child and parents scores, Δ = −14.5, p = 0.004 and Δ = −13.2, p = 0.005, respectively. The results of a multivariable analysis showed that the HSCT procedure was significantly associated with a higher total child PedsQL score (adjusted mean difference = 15.3, p = 0.001) and a higher total parent PedsQL score (adjusted mean difference = 14.1, p = 0.006). We found no significant difference in the HRQoL measured after sibling or unrelated human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-matched HSCT. Finally, a significant positive correlation across all the PedsQL domains was found between the scores reported by the children and those reported by their parents. In conclusion, our study shows that HSCT in pediatric patients with β-TM is associated with a good overall HRQoL profile. This information further supports physicians when counseling patients and their parents before the HSCT procedure

L'attuazione del piano decennale per l'edilizia residenziale in Piemonte : analisi di una politica pubblica

Quaderni di ricerca Ires ; n.6