Non-Infectious Complications in B-Lymphopenic Common Variable Immunodeficiency

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is considered the most symptomatic type of inborn errors of immunity in humans. Along with infectious complications, which have numerous consequences, non-infectious complications are also a major challenge among CVID patients.

METHODS

All registered CVID patients in the national database were included in this retrospective cohort study. Patients were divided into two groups based on the presence of B-cell lymphopenia. Demographic characteristics, laboratory findings, non-infectious organ involvements, autoimmunity, and lymphoproliferative diseases were evaluated.

RESULTS

Among 387 enrolled patients, 66.4% were diagnosed with non-infectious complications; however, 33.6% had only infectious presentations. Enteropathy, autoimmunity, and lymphoproliferative disorders were reported in 35.1%, 24.3%, and 21.4% of patients, respectively. Some complications, including autoimmunity and hepatosplenomegaly, were reported to be significantly higher among patients with B-cell lymphopenia. Among organ involvement, dermatologic, endocrine and musculoskeletal systems were predominantly affected in CVID patients with B-cell lymphopenia. Among autoimmune manifestations, the frequency of rheumatologic, hematologic, and gastrointestinal autoimmunity was reported to be higher compared to other types of autoimmunity independent from the B cell-lymphopenia. Furthermore, hematological cancers, particularly lymphoma, were slightly introduced as the most common type of malignancy. Meanwhile, the mortality rate was 24.5%, and respiratory failure and malignancies were reported as the most common cause of death in our patients without significant differences between the two groups.

CONCLUSION

Considering that some of the non-infectious complications might be associated with B-cell lymphopenia, therefore, regular patient monitoring and follow-up along with proper medications (besides immunoglobulins replacement therapy) are highly recommended to prevent further sequels and increase the patients' quality of life.

Die Pressure Losses During Injection Molding of Rubber Mixes

In order to fill the mold in a rubber injection molding process, it is necessary to inject the material into the closed mold. Rubber is usually injected under ram speed control, but it can be also injected under pressure control. In the present study, we have recorded the signals of pressure at three points during the filling of a spiral shape part. The behaviors of two rubber compounds have been studied using a variety of combinations of process conditions (including mold temperature, mass temperature, ram speed and injection molding with and without pressure holding stage). In all conditions, the transducer located in proximity to the gate exhibits pressure decay at the last stage of mold filling. Initial CAE simulations have been carried out using Moldflow software to check the capability of this sort of software to calculate pressure decay during the filling stage.

Effect of Leaching and Humidity on Prevulcanized NR Latex Films

In an attempt to improve the understanding of the mechanism by which aqueous leaching of prevulcanized natural rubber latex films improves their physical properties, experiments have been carried out on such films after storage under controlled humidity conditions. Under conditions of ambient and high humidity, unleached films were found to absorb much more moisture than their leached counterparts. Results obtained from the equilibrium volume swelling measurements and from the C1 constant of the Mooney-Rivlin plots indicated that crosslink density was not affected by leaching. The effect of leaching on the tensile strength and modulus however was generally significant. Under high humidity conditions an increase in modulus on leaching was observed. These results are explained in terms of the hydrophilic nonrubbers having a stiffening effect under dry conditions and a softening effect when wet. Conditioning humidity also had a direct effect on the tensile strength. As humidity increases, the peak in tensile strength against modulus shifts to lower strength and modulus values. Some of the findings were supported by data from experiments in which a hydrophilic nonrubber component, namely sucrose, was deliberately added to prevulcanized natural rubber latex.