20 research outputs found

    Successful Stem Cell Transplantation in a Patient with Pretransplant Hepatic Inflammatory Pseudotumour

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    Inflammatory pseudotumours (IPT) are rare benign neoplasms of unknown aetiology. We present a case of hepatic IPT which was incidentally discovered in a patient with relapsed B-acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (B-ALL) undergoing pretransplant workup. After investigation to exclude an infective cause she underwent a reduced intensity conditioning stem cell transplant (SCT) successfully and currently remains well and in remission. On repeat liver MRI after SCT, the IPT was seen to be resolving. To the best of our knowledge this is the first report of an adult patient with hepatic IPT successfully undergoing SCT. The reduction in size of the IPT after SCT also suggests an inflammatory rather than an infective aetiology for IPT

    Novel cool roofing technology system with sustainable design for attic temperature reduction

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    The penetration of increasing solar gain towards the building deteriorates the building's thermal quality and raises cooling demand. In particular, the roof receives the most solar gain. The roof system reformation is urged to improve the roof system's heat capacity and conserve building energy. This paper introduced a novel cool roofing system to replace the traditional roof system. The proposed novel cool roofing applications merged: (i) lightweight foam concrete, (ii) hollow concrete slab, (iii) white cooling paint and (iv) active reflective insulation system powered by solar energy. The discovery of the proposed system was evaluated with experimental chambers exposed to the outdoor environment. Under intense sunlight, the internal roof surface was 30.6 % cooler (50.5 °C to 35.0 °C). The mean attic temperature achieved was 33.9 °C under a field where the daily maximum recorded surrounding temperature is 43.0 °C. In contrast with a bare roof at 41.9 °C, the proposed design demonstrated a 19.2 % lower solar gain, achieving a sub-ambient structure. Besides that, the cooling demand simulation generated similar cooling demand savings (20 %). Significantly, this comprehensive cool roofing system exhibited a considerable and constructive outcome in cooling the buildings by achieving sustainable development to create a better and more environmental future for all

    Sensitivity analysis of drill wear and optimization using Adaptive Neuro fuzzy –genetic algorithm technique toward sustainable machining

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    Machining processes have an important place in the manufacturing industry and it indeed contributed to the economic growth of a country. About 75% of machining processes involved drilling operation. Tool wear is a common phenomenon in the machining operation and significantly affects the product dimension accuracy, machining efficiency, manufacturing downtime, surface roughness and economic loss. Hence, an intelligent tool condition monitoring system is needed to maximize tool life and reduce machine downtime due to the tool replacement. In this study, experiments were conducted to investigate the influence of different drilling parameters on average drilling torque and thrust force. Effects of spindle rotational speed, feed rate and diameter of drill on tool wear were determined through Adaptive Neuro Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS). Next, genetic algorithm (GA) was used to identify the optimal drilling parameter for different diameters of drill. Experimental results agreed well with the GA prediction results with a relative error of 3%. Hence, the results showed that ANFIS-GA is a faster and more accurate alternative to the existing methods for tool wear prediction

    Preleukemic and second-hit mutational events in an acute myeloid leukemia patient with a novel germline RUNX1 mutation

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    Abstract Background Germline mutations in the RUNX1 transcription factor give rise to a rare autosomal dominant genetic condition classified under the entity: Familial Platelet Disorders with predisposition to Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (FPD/AML). While several studies have identified a myriad of germline RUNX1 mutations implicated in this disorder, second-hit mutational events are necessary for patients with hereditary thrombocytopenia to develop full-blown AML. The molecular picture behind this process remains unclear. We describe a patient of Malay descent with an unreported 7-bp germline RUNX1 frameshift deletion, who developed second-hit mutations that could have brought about the leukaemic transformation from a pre-leukaemic state. These mutations were charted through the course of the treatment and stem cell transplant, showing a clear correlation between her clinical presentation and the mutations present. Case presentation The patient was a 27-year-old Malay woman who presented with AML on the background of hereditary thrombocytopenia affecting her father and 3 brothers. Initial molecular testing revealed the same novel RUNX1 mutation in all 5 individuals. The patient received standard induction, consolidation chemotherapy, and a haploidentical stem cell transplant from her mother with normal RUNX1 profile. Comprehensive genomic analyses were performed at diagnosis, post-chemotherapy and post-transplant. A total of 8 mutations (RUNX1, GATA2, DNMT3A, BCORL1, BCOR, 2 PHF6 and CDKN2A) were identified in the pre-induction sample, of which 5 remained (RUNX1, DNMT3A, BCORL1, BCOR and 1 out of 2 PHF6) in the post-treatment sample and none were present post-transplant. In brief, the 3 mutations which were lost along with the leukemic cells at complete morphological remission were most likely acquired leukemic driver mutations that were responsible for the AML transformation from a pre-leukemic germline RUNX1-mutated state. On the contrary, the 5 mutations that persisted post-treatment, including the germline RUNX1 mutation, were likely to be part of the preleukemic clone. Conclusion Further studies are necessary to assess the prevalence of these preleukemic and secondary mutations in the larger FPD/AML patient cohort and establish their prognostic significance. Given the molecular heterogeneity of FPD/AML and other AML subtypes, a better understanding of mutational classes and their involvement in AML pathogenesis can improve risk stratification of patients for more effective and targeted therapy
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