Background: Serum Hepcidin level drop is a main feature of chronic hemolytic anemia like β-thalassemia as an example. It is assumed that Hepcidin is influenced by anemia, iron overload due to repeated blood infusions and inflammation due to iron disposition in tissues. Aim of the study: To measure plasma levels of the iron regulatory hormones; hepcidin and GDF-15 in β-thalassemic patients during intravenous blood infusion in order to assist clinical monitoring. Patients and Methods: 30 cases previously diagnosed as a βthalassemia major (group I) and 20 normal individuals of the same age and gender group (group II). The samples were collected immediately before and 8 days after transfusion. Hepcidin and GDF-15 levels were estimated using ELISA kit that is commercially available. Results: As regard to serum Hepcidin level in both control and patient group was similar before the transfusion. The hepcidin level increased significantly after transfusion in both groups but in was significantly higher in patient group. Hb and hepcidin increased significantly posttransfusion. The pre-and post-transfusion hepcidin showed significant correlation with Hb, Iron, and Ferritin in thalassemia patients. The pretransfusion Growth Differentiation Factor-15 was shooting in cases with β-thalassemia than presumably healthy control. The GDF-15 level decreased significantly after transfusion and it was significantly correlated with Hb and hepcidin levels. Conclusion:Hepcidin serum level assessment can be used to monitor patients with iron-loading anemia and identify the patients prone to iron overload complications and iron toxicity.

Metakaolin (MK) is a highly reactive pozzolan produced by calcination of kaolinite clay at high temperatures. It has a high specific surface, which makes it very suitable as a cementing material in concrete. The utilization of area calcined clay, in the form of MK, as a pozzolanic material for mortar and concrete has received a considerable attention in recent years. This interest is part of the widely spread attention directed towards the utilization of wastes and industrial by-products in order to minimize Portland cement (PC) consumption, the manufacture of which being environmentally damaging. Another reason is that mortar and concrete, which contain pozzolanic materials, exhibit considerable enhancement in durability properties. In this investigation, the physico-chemical properties of artificial pozzolanic cement pastes containing MK produced by calcination of kaolinite clay at different temperatures (700, 800, 900, and 1000 o C) were studied. PC was partially substituted for by 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 % of MK by weight at different calcination temperatures. The characteristics of prepared mortars were investigated after curing in water for different periods (3, 7, 28 and 90 days) by determination of compressive strength and total porosity. The hydration kinetics was evaluated by determination of free lime contents. IR spectroscopic analysis was used to investigate the change in structure of mortars after curing. The change in morphology and microstructure of some hardened pastes were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).