We present the magnetocaloric properties of the substituted Heusler alloy Ni2Mn1−xCuxGa, which shows a maximum magnetic entropy change of ΔSM≈−64J∕KgK=−532mJ∕cm3K at 308K for a magnetic field change ΔH=5T. The dependence of ΔSM on ΔH is approximately linear and does not reach saturation at 5T. It is demonstrated that the temperature at which ΔSM occurs can be tuned through subtle variations in composition.

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Patients who undergo allogeneic stem cell transplantation frequently develop an immunologic disease caused by the reactivation of the graft to the host tissues. This disease is called graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and it is usually a systemic disorder. In a large proportion of cases, oral disorders that are related to a chronic phase of GVHD (cGVHD) occur, and their treatment involves the use of topical immunosuppressive drugs. Several medications have been studied for this purpose, but only a small number of clinical trials have been published. The present study is a randomized, double-blind clinical trial that compares topical clobetasol and dexamethasone for the treatment of symptomatic oral cGVHD. Patients were randomly assigned to treatment with clobetasol propionate .05% or dexamethasone .1 mg/mL for 28 days. In both arms, nystatin 100,000 IU/mL was administered with the corticosteroid. Oral lesions were evaluated by the modified oral mucositis rating scale (mOMRS) and symptoms were registered using a visual analogue scale. Thirty-five patients were recruited, and 32 patients were randomized into the study groups: 18 patients (56.3%) to the dexamethasone group and 14 patients (43.8%) to the clobetasol group. The use of clobetasol resulted in a significant reduction in mOMRS total score (P = .04) and in the score for ulcers (P = .03). In both groups, there was significant symptomatic improvement but the response was significantly greater in the clobetasol group (P = .02). In conclusion, clobetasol was significantly more effective than dexamethasone for the amelioration of symptoms and clinical aspects of oral lesions in cGVHD.

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BackgroundOral manifestations may be the first signs of hematologic diseases, and may occur due to the disease itself or to treatment.ObjectiveTo evaluate the frequency and types of oral conditions presented by patients on a hematology ward.MethodsData were collected by oral examinations during weekly visits to a hematology ward. Six trained dentists performed the oral assessment based on the principles of oral semiology. All patients who accepted to be examined were included in the study. Patients who were unavailable or unable to have oral examinations were excluded. Data were recorded on protocol forms and in the electronic records of the institution. A descriptive analysis was performed.ResultsSeventy-nine patients were included in the analysis; 50.6% were female and the mean age was 41.49 years. The most common reasons for hospitalization were chemotherapy and complications (81%), relapse (13.9%) and pre-transplant preparation (5%). The most frequent underlying diseases were multiple myeloma (17.7%), acute myeloid leukemia (15.4%) and acute lymphocytic leukemia (11.5%). Oral conditions were found in 36 (45.6%) patients, some of whom presented more than one condition. The most common oral conditions were dry lips (12.6%), mucositis (10.1%), petechiae (8.9%) and candidiasis (7.6%). Of the detected oral conditions, 56.9% were related to the underlying disease or chemotherapy and 20.2% were not related to the disease.ConclusionThis study shows the types and frequency of oral conditions observed in hematological inpatients. Awareness of these conditions is important for prevention and planning the care of patients with hematological diseases.

BackgroundChronic graft-versus-host disease is a serious complication of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation, and the mouth is one of the affected sites.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to evaluate the oral features of this disease after hematopoietic cell transplantation.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional multicenter study that enrolled patients submitted to transplantation. Oral evaluations used the National Institutes of Health criteria, salivary flow rates, and the range of mouth opening. Pain and xerostomia were evaluated through a visual analogue scale. Patients were divided into two groups based on the transplantation time (up to one year and more than one year).ResultsOf the 57 evaluated recipients, 44 had chronic graft-versus-host disease: ten (22.72%) in the group with less than one year after transplantation, and 34 (77.27%) in the group with more than one year after transplantation. Lichenoid/hyperkeratotic plaques, erythematous lesions, xerostomia, and hyposalivation were the most commonly reported oral features. Lichenoid/hyperkeratotic plaques were significantly more common in patients within the first year after the transplant. The labial mucosa was affected more in the first year. No significant changes occurred in the frequency of xerostomia, hyposalivation, and reduced mouth opening regarding time after transplantation.ConclusionOral chronic graft-versus-host disease lesions were identified early in the course of the disease. The changes observed in salivary gland function and in the range of mouth opening were not correlated with the time after transplantation.© 2014 Associação Brasileira de Hematologia, Hemoterapia e Terapia Celular. All rights reserved.

Articles you may be interested inSlow magnetic relaxation and electron delocalization in an S = 9/2 iron(II/III) complex with two crystallographically inequivalent iron sites Resonant magnetic quantum tunneling through thermally activated states Thermally assisted macroscopic quantum resonance on a single-crystal of Mn 12 -acetateThe magnetic properties of the Mn 12 ac molecular cluster were studied by complex susceptibility and specific heat measurements. Extensive ac susceptibility measurements done under a magnetic field on good quality single crystals and zero field powder sample specific heat results indicate that the usual uniaxial Hamiltonian, as well as the recently proposed fourth order corrections, are not enough to account for all the observations. Very low temperature specific heat data indicate the presence of zero field splitting of the ground state which is much larger than expected. Finally, specific heat measurements done under a magnetic field permitted us to observe and measure the lattice spin relaxation by calorimetric methods with time constants that are in agreement with the magnetic relaxation measurements.