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Systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma (sALCL) is a rare histological entity expressing the CD30 antigen that comprises around 11% of peripheral T-cell lymphoma. We analysed the outcome of patients with relapsed/refractory sALCL treated with autologous stem cell transplantation (auto-HCT). We included 65 adult patients (42 males; median age, 44 years); 24 patients had an ALK-ve sALCL. Fifty-one patients had chemosensitive disease at the time of transplant. Ten patients (15%) were treated with brentuximab vedotin (BV) before auto-HCT (median number of doses: 5). The median follow-up for surviving patients was 35 months (3-71). Three-year cumulative incidence of nonrelapse mortality and of relapse were 1.7% and 34%, respectively. Three-year progression-free survival and overall survival were 64% and 73%, respectively. No prognostic factors for any of the outcomes analysed were found in univariate analysis. There were no significant differences in any of the outcomes between patients who had received BV and the remainder. This is the largest analysis presented so far analysing the role of auto-HCT in patients with relapsed/refractory sALCL, showing a promising PFS and OS in this high-risk population. The potential impact of the administration of BV as salvage strategy before the procedure needs to be further elucidated.

Background Survival in mycosis fungoides (MF) is varied and may be poor. The PROCLIPI (PROspective Cutaneous Lymphoma International Prognostic Index) study is a web‐based data collection system for early‐stage MF with legal data‐sharing agreements permitting international collaboration in a rare cancer with complex pathology. Clinicopathological data must be 100% complete and in‐built intelligence in the database system ensures accurate staging. Objectives To develop a prognostic index for MF. Methods Predefined datasets for clinical, haematological, radiological, immunohistochemical, genotypic, treatment and quality of life are collected at first diagnosis of MF and annually to test against survival. Biobanked tissue samples are recorded within a Federated Biobank for translational studies. Results In total, 430 patients were enrolled from 29 centres in 15 countries spanning five continents. Altogether, 348 were confirmed as having early‐stage MF at central review. The majority had classical MF (81·6%) with a CD4 phenotype (88·2%). Folliculotropic MF was diagnosed in 17·8%. Most presented with stage I (IA: 49·4%; IB: 42·8%), but 7·8% presented with enlarged lymph nodes (stage IIA). A diagnostic delay between first symptom development and initial diagnosis was frequent [85·6%; median delay 36 months (interquartile range 1290)]. This highlights the difficulties in accurate diagnosis, which includes lack of a singular diagnostic test for MF. Conclusions This confirmed early‐stage MF cohort is being followed‐up to identify prognostic factors, which may allow better management and improve survival by identifying patients at risk of disease progression. This study design is a useful model for collaboration in other rare diseases, especially where pathological diagnosis can be complex.

Summary Inflammation associated with traumatic injury to the penis is characterised by pain, heat and oedema. Ensuing penile swelling interferes with retraction of the penis into the prepuce, resulting in paraphimosis. This report describes the use of a 5 l capacity pressure infusion bag to reduce penile oedema in three horses. This technique provided complete resolution of oedema and associated paraphimosis in approximately 1 h. The use of the bag, along with an abdominoinguinal bandage, a plastic funnel suspensory device, or a penile repulsion device (Probang) to avoid recurrence, offers a novel treatment that may be performed with the horse sedated.

REASONS FOR PERFORMING THE STUDY In man, peritoneal transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) is associated with peritoneal diseases and subsequent adhesion formation. No studies on plasma and peritoneal TGF-beta concentrations in horses with colic are available. OBJECTIVES 1) To determine both plasma and peritoneal TGF-beta(1) and TGF-beta(3) concentrations in horses with different types of colic (not previously subjected to abdominal surgery); 2) to compare these concentrations according to the type of peritoneal fluid (transudate, modified transudate and exudate); and 3) to compare and correlate plasma and peritoneal concentrations of TGF-beta(1) and TGF-beta(3) and the types of peritoneal fluid according to the colic group and outcome. METHODS Peritoneal fluid and plasma samples from 78 horses with colic and 8 healthy horses were obtained. Patients were classified according to diagnosis (obstructions, enteritis, ischaemic disorders and peritonitis), peritoneal fluid analysis (transudate, modified transudate and exudate), and outcome (survivors and nonsurvivors). Plasma and peritoneal TGF-beta(1) and TGF-beta(3) concentrations were determined by ELISA. Data were analysed by parametric and nonparametric tests. P< or =0.05 was considered as statistically significant. RESULTS Concentrations of peritoneal fluid TGF-beta(1) were significantly (P = 0.01) higher in horses with peritonitis in comparison with all other colic groups and controls. Horses with ischaemic lesions had significantly (P = 0.01) higher concentrations of peritoneal TGF-beta(1) in comparison with controls and the group of horses with obstructions. Peritoneal TGF-beta(1) concentration also was significantly (P = 0.01) higher in exudates in comparison with transudates. Peritoneal TGF-beta(1) and TGF-beta(3) concentrations and plasma TGF-beta(1) concentration were significantly increased in nonsurvivors compared to survivors (P = 0.001, P = 0.004 and P = 0.05, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Peritoneal TGF-beta(1) concentration was higher in horses with severe gastrointestinal diseases (ischaemic intestinal lesions and peritonitis), in horses with an altered peritoneal fluid (exudate), and in nonsurvivors. POTENTIAL RELEVANCE Peritoneal TGF-beta concentration increases in horses with severe gastrointestinal disease as an anti-inflammatory response.

Eight mares with third-degree rectovestibular lacerations were treated by a two-stage surgical technique. The rectovestibular shelf was corrected with three parallel 'circular' continuous suture rows distributed along the longitudinal axis of the vagina, and the perineal body was reconstructed with three divergent simple continuous rows. Primary healing of the first-stage surgery occurred in all the mares. Seven of the mares completed the two-stage surgery and primary healing occurred in all of them. One of them returned to endurance racing competition and one was lost to follow-up. The other five were bred and became pregnant; one foaled four times, two foaled three times, one foaled once and the other was pregnant at the time of writing. The condition did not recur in any of the mares after foaling.

Two horses with acute tendinopathy of a superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) and three horses with chronic proximal desmitis of the suspensory ligament (PDSL) were treated by injecting autologous concentrates of their platelets into the lesions. The lesions were monitored ultrasonographically and clinically. There were significant ultrasonographic and clinical improvements in the two horses with SDFT, but no ultrasonographic improvements in the horses with PDSL; however, they improved clinically and became less lame. All the horses had returned to their pre-injury level of performance by six months after the completion of the treatment, and none of them had suffered a recurrence after 20 months.

The clinical effect of the intra-articular injection of an autologous platelet concentrate (PC) in four horses with osteoarthritis was evaluated. The degree of lameness and joint effusion and clinical follow-up were recorded. Three injections of PC were performed at 2-week intervals. Horses were evaluated before each injection and two months after the last treatment. Clinical follow-up was conducted for 1 year. Count of platelets, leukocytes, and determination of transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-β 1 ) levels per milliliter PC were performed, as well as leukocyte count, cytology, and protein levels in synovial fluid. PC produced a statistically significant improvement in both the degree of lameness and joint effusion ( P 6 platelets, 8.68 ± 3.78 leukocytes × 10 6 , and 12,515 ± 2,443 pg of TGF-β 1 per milliliter PC were obtained. The evaluated synovial fluid parameters remained between normal values. No adverse clinical signs resulted from this treatment. Despite the seemingly positive effects of this substance, the clinical use of PC cannot be recommended until further studies with higher numbers of cases and longer follow-up can be undertaken.

SummaryEosinophilic synovitis (ES) is a rare disease described in human and veterinary medicine. Only three cases have been reported in the horse. A case of tarsocrural synovitis in an Hispano-Arabian gelding is presented in this report. The patient presented with severe joint effusion and lameness of the right tarsocrural joint on admission. Synovial fluid analysis revealed an increased WBC of 12800 leukocytes/microliter with 76% of eosinophils. Lavage of the diseased joint and medical treatment with antibiotics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs produced remission of the clinical problem.

Thermally sprayed HVOF coatings are increasingly being used in industrial applications where high wear and corrosion resistance are needed [1] , [2] . In this paper, electrochemical ac and dc experiments were used in order to obtain the corrosion resistance of coated steel with different numbers of Cr3C2–NiCr layers. This work has been performed in order to determine the role of coating thickness in the corrosion behaviour of a steel protected with cermet thermally sprayed coatings. It is known that a thicker layer protects better against corrosion when a metallic coating is evaluated. But cermet coatings, such as Cr3C2–NiCr, contain higher levels of porosity and residual stresses than metallic coatings, which really could influence the corrosion resistance of the deposited layer. Electrochemical measurements, such as Open-Circuit Potential (EOC), Polarisation Resistance (Rp) and Cyclic Voltammetry (CV), were performed in an aerated 3.4 NaCl media (%wt.). Electrochemical Impedance Measurements (EIS) were also done in order to obtain a mechanism that explains the corrosion process. Structural Characterisation was carried out by means of Optical and Scanning Electron Microscopes (OM, SEM) with an Energy Dispersive Spectrometry analyser (EDS). Results show that the corrosion resistance of the complete system is mainly influenced by the substrate behaviour. The application of a higher number of deposited layers did not substantially increase their anticorrosive properties. Stress generation during the spraying deposition process plays an important role in the behaviour of the coated steel against corrosion phenomena.

Power increasing demand in aeronautical engines promoted the development of thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) obtained by Atmospheric Plasma Spray (APS). The spectacular growth in their applications leads to the demand of a very specific TBC. One of the specific roles that must achieve some TBCs is to withstand severe thermal shocks. Functionally Graded Coatings (FGC) can improve their lives due to the lack of interfaces between two layers with very different thermal expansion coefficient (TEC) (for example a metallic layer and a ceramic layer). Differences in TEC increase the internal stresses during the cooling of the parts. In this work thermal spray conditions have been improved in order to obtain Functionally Graded Coatings. Thermal Shock Resistance of these coatings has been compared with conventional' s one. Thermal Spray conditions have been used in order to spray two different powders with very different melting point. In that way it is possible to build up Functionally Graded Coatings with a unique spray gun. Thermal Shock Resistance of Coatings is improved due to the lack of interfaces between layers with different Thermal Expansion Coefficients unlike the conventional coatings where two layers of different materials are put together.La creciente demanda de mayores temperaturas de trabajo y potencia en el sector de la aviación promovió el desarrollo de las barreras térmicas (TBCs) obtenidas por la técnica de proyección térmica plasma (APS). Éstas se componen de una capa de anclaje y una capa cerámica aislante. El espectacular aumento en el uso de las TBCs hace que se requieran recubrimientos cada vez más específicos en función de cada aplicación. Para mejorar la vida de los recubrimientos frente a los choques térmicos se han desarrollado los recubrimientos graduales. Éstos constan de una capa con variación gradual de los componentes, eliminando las intercaras entre partes con diferentes coeficientes de expansión térmica y minimizando las tensiones que se producen durante los cambios bruscos de temperatura. En el presente trabajo se han optimizado las condiciones de proyección para la obtención de capas graduales y se ha comparado su resistencia al choque térmico con recubrimientos bicapa convencionales. Las condiciones de proyección se determinan de forma que sea posible la proyección conjunta de dos materiales con temperaturas de fusión muy diferentes, como son el NiCr y la ZrO2. De esta forma es posible obtener recubrimientos de estructura gradual utilizando únicamente una pistola. La resistencia al choque térmico de los recubrimientos graduales ha sido comparada con recubrimientos bicapa convencionales, obteniéndose una mejora de la vida media al eliminarse de forma gradual las superficies de contacto, a diferencia de los recubrimientos bicapa, donde se encuentran en contacto dos recubrimientos con Coeficientes de Expansión Térmica muy diferentes.

Thermal spray coatings are widely used to reduce wear damage in certain engineering applications. There are several methods of measuring coating wear resistance. Among these, one of the easiest is the combination of the ball-on-disk test with interferometric measurements (noncontact profilometer). The main purpose of this article is to analyze the major wear mechanisms that occur in thermal-sprayed coatings tested under sliding conditions. This work shows how scanning white light interferometry can be easily used to study the wear mechanisms of some coatings, and allows abrasive, adhesive, and fatigue wear mechanisms to be distinguished. The main features of each of these mechanisms observed through the images of the interferometric microscope are reported.

WC–Co coatings obtained by high velocity oxy fuel spraying (HVOF) are widely used in applications where good abrasion, erosion or sliding wear resistance is required, due to the high toughness that the cobalt matrix provides combined with the wear resistance that the hard carbides give to the coating. The sliding properties of this coating are excellent due to the formation of oxides during the sliding process which act as a solid lubricant and give the coatings low friction coefficients. In the present paper the effect of the counterfaces (Al 2 O 3 , hard metal, Si 3 N 4 and martensitic steel) on the friction coefficient and wear damage of the coating in the sliding tests carried out have been studied. For this purpose SEM and atomic force microscopy (AFM) were used to obtain information on the wear mechanisms. Also the results of friction coefficients and wear damage for both the balls and the coating are reported. A relationship between the quantity of debris produced by the counterfaces during sliding and the friction coefficient and wear resistance of the coating was found.

The variation in the morphological and electric parameters of macroporous tantalum anodes was studied as a function of sintering temperature. There was a good correlation between the measurements of both properties. Up to 1400°C, the sintering occurs by means of surface diffusion mechanisms. For higher temperatures, the volume diffusion is more important because the properties of the sintered anode vary rapidly. At high temperatures, for example, 1800°C, the diminution in the specific surface area leads to considerable loss of capacity with the result that the system has no value as a capacitor anode.

A study of the anodic oxidation of titanium at low voltages (< 50 V) in aqueous and non-aqueous electrolytes was carried out in order to obtain thin films with dielectric properties. The reaction led, in both cases, to a microcrystalline structure of anastase (TiO2) with a dielectric constant of approximately 40 and with capacitance values of the system Ti/TiO2/electrolyte between 10 and 13.9 μF V/cm2. The remaining dielectric parameters of the films obtained in the non-aqueous solution suggest its possible use as a base in electrolyte capacitors.

A comparative study of the anodic oxidation of tantalum plates and high porosity sintered powders (particle size 1 μm) was carried out. The experimental results show a similar behaviour during the oxidation at a constant current but great differences at a constant voltage. This may be attributed to a change in the ionic conduction mechanism owing to the curvature of the oxidation surface. Although the diffusion effects may be ignored in the oxidation of tantalum plates they constitute the basis of the ionic current during the oxidation of sintered powders with small particle size.

Tantalum capacitor manufacturers use highly specific surface anode, in order to increase specific capacitance. To achieve this, the anodes are made by sintering tantalum powder. The complex anode structure and morphology give rise to a frequency dependence of capacitance and series resistance. In the present work a theoretical model is developed to explain this behaviour. An important conclusion is that the curves of capacitance and series resistance vs. frequency for each anode type are a function of the variable Ω which is obtained by multiplying the capacitance at low frequency by frequency and electroclyte resistivity.

In man, peritoneal transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) is associated with peritoneal diseases and subsequent adhesion formation. No studies on plasma and peritoneal TGF-beta concentrations in horses with colic are available.1) To determine both plasma and peritoneal TGF-beta(1) and TGF-beta(3) concentrations in horses with different types of colic (not previously subjected to abdominal surgery); 2) to compare these concentrations according to the type of peritoneal fluid (transudate, modified transudate and exudate); and 3) to compare and correlate plasma and peritoneal concentrations of TGF-beta(1) and TGF-beta(3) and the types of peritoneal fluid according to the colic group and outcome.Peritoneal fluid and plasma samples from 78 horses with colic and 8 healthy horses were obtained. Patients were classified according to diagnosis (obstructions, enteritis, ischaemic disorders and peritonitis), peritoneal fluid analysis (transudate, modified transudate and exudate), and outcome (survivors and nonsurvivors). Plasma and peritoneal TGF-beta(1) and TGF-beta(3) concentrations were determined by ELISA. Data were analysed by parametric and nonparametric tests. Por =0.05 was considered as statistically significant.Concentrations of peritoneal fluid TGF-beta(1) were significantly (P = 0.01) higher in horses with peritonitis in comparison with all other colic groups and controls. Horses with ischaemic lesions had significantly (P = 0.01) higher concentrations of peritoneal TGF-beta(1) in comparison with controls and the group of horses with obstructions. Peritoneal TGF-beta(1) concentration also was significantly (P = 0.01) higher in exudates in comparison with transudates. Peritoneal TGF-beta(1) and TGF-beta(3) concentrations and plasma TGF-beta(1) concentration were significantly increased in nonsurvivors compared to survivors (P = 0.001, P = 0.004 and P = 0.05, respectively).Peritoneal TGF-beta(1) concentration was higher in horses with severe gastrointestinal diseases (ischaemic intestinal lesions and peritonitis), in horses with an altered peritoneal fluid (exudate), and in nonsurvivors.Peritoneal TGF-beta concentration increases in horses with severe gastrointestinal disease as an anti-inflammatory response.

Neuron-specific enolase and phosphoglycerate mutase with specific activities of 106 and 215 U/mg, respectively, have been purified from human brain. Hydrophobic chromatography for enolase and blue Sepharose affinity chromatography for phosphoglycerate mutase were used as the last steps of purification. A heterobifunctional complex with fully preserved enolase and phosphoglycerate mutase activities was synthesized with the use of a bifunctional reagent, N-succinimidyl 3-(2-pyridyldithio)propionate. Autoantibodies to the conjugate will be used for identifying the bienzymatic complex in vivo.

The primary sequence of maize 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate-independent phosphoglycerate mutase was deduced from cDNAs isolated from maize cDNA libraries by screening with specific antibodies to the cofactor-independent enzyme and from a maize genomic clone. The genomic clone provided the 5'-nucleotide sequence encoding the N-terminal amino acids which could not be obtained from the cDNA. Confirmation that the nucleotide sequence was for the cofactor-independent phosphoglycerate mutase was obtained by sequencing the peptides generated from cyanogen bromide cleavage of the purified protein. This is the first report of the amino acid sequence of a 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate cofactor-independent phosphoglycerate mutase, which consists of 559 amino acids and is twice the molecular size of the mammalian cofactor-dependent enzyme subunit. Analysis of the cofactor-independent phosphoglycerate mutase amino acid sequence revealed no identity with the cofactor-dependent mutase types. Northern blot analysis confirmed this difference since the maize cofactor-independent phosphoglycerate mutase cDNA did not hybridize with mRNA of the cofactor-dependent mutase. The lack of amino acid identity between cofactor-dependent and -independent enzymes is consistent with their different catalytic mechanisms and suggests that both enzymes are unrelated evolutionarily and arose from two independent ancestral genes. However, a constellation of residues which are involved in metal ion binding in various alkaline phosphatases is conserved in the maize cofactor-independent phosphoglycerate mutase, which suggests that the enzyme is a member of the alkaline phosphatase family of enzymes.

Die Herstellung der Verbindung CdTe mit Wichtigen Halbeitereigenschaften wird beschrieben. Elektronenmikroskopisch wird die kristalline Struktur der Verbindung bestatigt. Zur chemischen und Kristallographischen Analyse werden verschiedene Techniken der Rontgenstrahlanalyse herangezogen, wobei das Studium der Vorgange beim Erhitzen und Abkuhlen ermoglicht wird. Investigation of Semiconduction Properties of HgCdTe Alloys. I. Synthesis of CdTe This Study describes the synthesis of the CdTe compound with important semiconductive properties. Using the S.E.M. the cristalline structure of the compound has been confirmed. For the chemical and cristallographic analysis of the CdTe various techniques of X-ray diffraction have been applied, permitting so the study of the thermical cycles during its synthesis.

The interactions of DNA with the five histone components (H1, H2B, H2A, H3 and H4) and with a number of histone fragments (N-H1 (1–72), C-H1 (73–216), N-H2B (1–59), C-H2B (63–125), N-H2A (1–39), C-H2A (58–129), N-H4 (1–84) and C-H4 (85–102) have been studied by using the techniques of thermal denaturation and solubility behaviour. Complexes in 10 −3 M phosphate buffer, 2 · 10 −5 M Na 2 -EDTA, pH 7.0 were prepared by the direct mixing method. For lysine-rich histones (H1 and H2B) it has been found that the main characteristics which governs the interaction with DNA are located in the very lysine-rich part of the molecules, i.e. in the C-H1 and N-H2B segments. These regions are also responsible for a cooperative distribution of the histone along the DNA molecules in the artificial complexes. It appears from our studies that the tertiary structure of the moderately, arginine-rich histone (H2A) is an essential feature for its interaction with DNA. The two arginine-rich histones (H3 and H4) complexed with DNA behave in a similar way, both in thermal denaturation and in DNA precipitation. In the case of C-H4, a marked shift of the melting profile has been observed which is correlated with the presence in the peptide of the hydrophilic cluster Lys-Arg-Gln-Gly-Arg-Thr. Out results suggest that large segments rich in lysine and basic clustering within histones give rise to different modes of electrostatic interaction with DNA.

The activated glucocorticoid receptor from rat liver has been purified over 3000-fold by repeated adsorption to phosphocellulose. The partially purified receptor-triamcinolone complex is stable for sever weeks at -75 degrees C in the presence of 0.1% bovine serum albumin, and sediments at 2.9 (+/- 0.1) S in sucrose gradients containing 0.15 M Na Cl. The Stokes' radius of the partially purified receptor is 26.5 A, and the frictional ratio is 1.14, indicating that at near physiological salt concentration the activated receptor is slightly elongated and has a molecular weight of 33 500. These preparations of receptor are free of exo- and endonucleases and bind to DNA and chromatin, as well as to the native chromatin subunits, the nucleosomes. Removal of histone H1 and further digestion of the nucleosomal DNA to the core size of about 140 base pairs indicate that the integrity of the nucleosome structure determines the extent of interaction with the glucocorticoid receptor. Although the binding of receptor to unfractionated rat liver chromatin is more efficient than to chicken erythrocyte chromatin, the nucleosomes of both tissues bind equal amounts of receptor. Therefore, the factors responsible for this tissue difference do not reside in the nucleosomes, but rather in a higher order structure of the chromatin or in that part of the genome which is not organized as nucleosomes.

This is a study of the dielectric breakdown of TiO2 films and of the anodic oxidation of Ti over 50 V, in order to analyze the dielectric properties of the TiTiO2 system. A maximum limit of anodization was found to be around 100 V, thereafter the growth of crystalline areas in the TiO2 film begins to be produced, causing its electrical properties to deteriorate. Values of effective electric charge close to 14 μFV cm−2 were achieved in TiO2 films, upon carrying out the anodic oxidation of Ti in sodium phosphate and isopropyl phosphate in ethylene glycol.