Beta-2-transferrin to detect cerebrospinal fluid pleural effusion: a case report

Abstract Introduction Pleural effusion secondary to ventriculoperitoneal shunt insertion is a rare and potentially life-threatening occurrence. Case presentation We describe a 14-month-old Caucasian boy who had a ventriculoperitoneal shunt inserted for progressive hydrocephalus of unknown etiology. Two and a half months post-shunt insertion, the patient presented with mild respiratory distress. A chest radiograph revealed a large right pleural effusion and a shunt series demonstrated an appropriately placed distal catheter tip. A subsequent abdominal ultrasound revealed marked ascites. Fluid drained via tube thoracostomy was sent for beta-2-transferrin electrophoresis. A positive test was highly suggestive of cerebral spinal fluid hydrothorax. Post-externalization of the ventriculoperitoneal shunt, the ascites and pleural effusion resolved. Conclusion Testing for beta-2-transferrin protein in pleural fluid may serve as a useful technique for diagnosing cerebrospinal fluid hydrothorax in patients with ventriculoperitoneal shunts

Crystal Polymorphism of Curdlan Propionate: 6‑Fold versus 5‑Fold Helices

The molecular and crystal structures of curdlan propionate (CDPr) were examined by the X-ray fiber diffraction methods combined with energy calculations. CDPr forms two different crystal structures (CDPr forms I and II) depending on annealing conditions: solvent-annealing yields CDPr form I, whereas thermal-annealing gives CDPr form II. In CDPr form I, the 6/1 helix is packed in the hexagonal unit cell with <i>a</i> = <i>b</i> = 1.154 nm, and <i>c</i> (fiber axis) = 2.287 nm. In the case of CDPr form II, the 5/1 helix is packed in the pseudohexagonal cell with <i>a</i> = <i>b</i> = 1.175 nm, and <i>c</i> (fiber axis) = 1.859 nm. The crystal transition from CDPr forms I to II occurs by thermal-annealing at temperatures ≥ 160 °C