41 research outputs found
Secure, Mobile Visual Sensor Networks Architecture
As Wireless Sensor Network-based solutions are proliferating they are facing new challenges: they must be capable of adapting to rapidly changing environments and requirements while their nodes should have low power consumption as they usually run on batteries. Moreover, the security aspect is crucial since they frequently transmit and process very sensitive data, while it is important to be able to support real-time video or processed images over their limited bandwidth links. SMART targets to design and implement a highly reconfigurable Wireless Visual Sensor Node (WVSN) defined as a miniaturized, light-weight, secure, low-cost, battery powered sensing device, enriched with video and data compression capabilities
The efficacy of iron chelator regimes in reducing cardiac and hepatic iron in patients with thalassaemia major: a clinical observational study
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Available iron chelation regimes in thalassaemia may achieve different changes in cardiac and hepatic iron as assessed by MR. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of four available iron chelator regimes in 232 thalassaemia major patients by assessing the rate of change in repeated measurements of cardiac and hepatic MR.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>For the heart, deferiprone and the combination of deferiprone and deferoxamine significantly reduced cardiac iron at all levels of iron loading. As patients were on deferasirox for a shorter time, a second analysis ("Initial interval analysis") assessing the change between the first two recorded MR results for both cardiac and hepatic iron (minimum interval 12 months) was made. Combination therapy achieved the most rapid fall in cardiac iron load at all levels and deferiprone alone was significantly effective with moderate and mild iron load. In the liver, deferasirox effected significant falls in iron load and combination therapy resulted in the most rapid decline.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>With the knowledge of the efficacy of the different available regimes and the specific iron load in the heart and the liver, appropriate tailoring of chelation therapy should allow clearance of iron. Combination therapy is best in reducing both cardiac and hepatic iron, while monotherapy with deferiprone or deferasirox are effective in the heart and liver respectively. The outcomes of this study may be useful to physicians as to the chelation they should prescribe according to the levels of iron load found in the heart and liver by MR.</p
Deferasirox administration for the treatment of non-transfusional iron overload in patients with thalassaemia intermedia
Abnormal iron regulation in patients with thalassaemia intermedia may lead to iron overload even in the absence of transfusions. There are limited data on iron chelator use in patients with thalassaemia intermedia and no guidelines exist for the management of iron overload. We present data from 11 patients with thalassaemia intermedia treated with deferasirox (Exjade®, 10-20 mg/kg/d) for 24 months. Liver iron concentration and serum ferritin levels significantly decreased over the first 12 months (P = 0·005) and continued to decrease over the remainder of the study (P = 0·005). This small-scale study indicated that deferasirox may be suitable for controlling iron levels in patients with thalassaemia intermedia. © 2010 Blackwell Publishing Ltd
Longitudinal study of survival and causes of death in patients with thalassemia major in Greece
Iron-induced organ degeneration is the main factor of mortality in patients with thalassemia major. Since chelation therapy is at a turning point, from the laborious parenteral route to the use of new promising oral agents, we investigated the current status of survival of these patients to present reliable data that will be useful in future comparative studies. Survival probabilities were estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method, and results were compared by the log-rank test in a total of 647 thalassemic patients (pts) (52% males) born between 1/1/58 and 1/2/04. Terminal follow-up was 1/12/04. All transfusion-dependent pts monitored in our center, or in frequent contact if they had moved elsewhere, were strictly selected, excluding all rarely transfused or intermediate cases. Pts born before 1/1/75 were classified in group A (n = 366), while pts born later were included in group B (n = 281). According to the last 5 years' mean serum ferritin level, pis were divided into three hemosiderosis groups: (1) mild (<2000 μg/L) 49%, (2) moderate (2000-4000 μg/L) 28%, and (3) severe (>4000 μg/L) 23%. Of the 647 pts, 115 died (mean age: 22.6 ± 6.2 years), most frequently by heart failure (71.3%) followed by sepsis (7.8%). Life expectancy in the entire population was up to 59% at 46 years. Survival was higher for pts born after 1975 than those before (P < .001). Statistically significantly different survival probabilities were found between groups with mild, moderate, or severe hemosiderosis (P < .001). Effective management with improved chelation therapy could lead to better results. © 2005 New York Academy of Sciences
The efficacy of iron chelator regimes in reducing cardiac and hepatic iron in patients with thalassaemia major: A clinical observational study
Background. Available iron chelation regimes in thalassaemia may achieve different changes in cardiac and hepatic iron as assessed by MR. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of four available iron chelator regimes in 232 thalassaemia major patients by assessing the rate of change in repeated measurements of cardiac and hepatic MR. Results. For the heart, deferiprone and the combination of deferiprone and deferoxamine significantly reduced cardiac iron at all levels of iron loading. As patients were on deferasirox for a shorter time, a second analysis ("Initial interval analysis") assessing the change between the first two recorded MR results for both cardiac and hepatic iron (minimum interval 12 months) was made. Combination therapy achieved the most rapid fall in cardiac iron load at all levels and deferiprone alone was significantly effective with moderate and mild iron load. In the liver, deferasirox effected significant falls in iron load and combination therapy resulted in the most rapid decline. Conclusion. With the knowledge of the efficacy of the different available regimes and the specific iron load in the heart and the liver, appropriate tailoring of chelation therapy should allow clearance of iron. Combination therapy is best in reducing both cardiac and hepatic iron, while monotherapy with deferiprone or deferasirox are effective in the heart and liver respectively. The outcomes of this study may be useful to physicians as to the chelation they should prescribe according to the levels of iron load found in the heart and liver by MR. © 2009 Berdoukas et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd
ARDS in a patient with homozygous beta-thalassemia due to yersiniosis
We report a case of Yersinia enterocolitica sepsis syndrome and the
acute respiratory distress syndrome in a chronically transfused
adolescent with beta-thalassemia. This manifestation of serious Y.
enterocolitica infection has not previously been reported. Dyspnea
hypoxia, and fever were the principal features of the clinical
presentation. The acute onset of respiratory symptoms occurred after
appendectomy. Chest radiographs revealed frontal bilateral infiltrates
and alveolar consolidation to three quadrants. Y. enterocolitica was
identified from blood and intraoperative appendix cultures. Although
there was no need for mechanical ventilation, a remarkable persistence
of clinical and X-ray findings was noted. Therapy with high levels of
oxygen, and intravenous amikacin and piperacillin/tazobactam led to a
favorable outcome
The impact of neocyte transfusion in the management of thalassaemia
Transfusional iron overload leading to cardiopathy and other severe
complications continues to be a major problem in chronically transfused
homozygous beta-thalassaemia patients. It is well known that young red
cells (neocytes) survive longer after transfusion and therefore may
contribute to the extension of the intervals between transfusions. We
evaluated the impact of neocytes in the total annual blood requirements
and consequently the transfusional iron load in 18 thalassaemia
patients. A two-period study comparing transfusions of standard red
cells versus neocytes in the same group of patients was performed.
Neocytes were harvested by density separation using the Neocel(R)
System. The method of preparation was simple with relatively low costs
and required no special equipment. There was a significant difference (p
< 0.005) in PK and MCV values of the neocyte and older red cell
(gerocyte) fractions indicating that a good separation of the two
populations was achieved. All patients had a reduction in blood
requirements during the neocyte period. The total annually transfused
red blood cells and concomitant iron blood load were significantly
reduced (p < 0.001) by 20.2+/-9.1%. However, the response was variable.
Seven of the 18 patients had a large reduction in blood consumption
(24.8-34.8%), 9 others ranged between 10.7 and 21.6%, and in 2 the
reduction was less than 10%. This reduction in blood requirements and
in the transfused iron may change the chelation index resulting in more
efficient iron chelation therapy and perhaps reduce the cost of the
haemochromatosis therapy on a long-term basis. We conclude that the use
of neocyte therapy using this system can benefit the majority of
chronically transfused patients by reducing transfusional iron overload
and related complications and may lead to a much better quality of life