Abstract: The invention provides a method of prognosis of a subject with an infection, identifying a subject at greater risk of death from an infection and/or identifying a subject at greater risk of developing an infection, the method comprising detecting an amount of free light chains (FLC) in a sample from the subject, wherein a higher amount of FLC is associated with decreased survival due to the infection and/or increased risk from an infection and/or having an increased risk of developing an infection. A method of monitoring an infection, comprising detecting an amount of free light chains (FLC) in a sample from a patient having an infection and comparing the amount of FLC in the sample with an amount of FLC detected in a sample previously obtained from the patient, wherein an increase in the amount FLC detected, compared to the previous sample, indicates an increase in the infection in the patient, and a decrease in the amount of FLC indicates a decrease in the infection in the patient.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of prognosis of a subject with a cancer, identifying a subject having a greater risk of having an undiagnosed cancer and/or identifying a subject at greater risk of developing a cancer the method comprising detecting an amount of free light chains (FLC) in a sample from a subject, wherein a higher amount of FLC is associated with decreased survival due to a cancer and/or increased risk of the subject having an undiagnosed cancer and/or having an increased risk of developing a cancer.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of identifying a subject likely to have liver disease, or for determining the prognosis of a subject previously identified as having a liver disease comprising detecting an amount of free light chains in a sample from the subject, wherein a higher amount of FLC is associated with an increased likelihood of the subject having a liver disease or an increased likelihood of having a poor prognosis of a liver disease. Assay kits for use in such methods are also provided.

Abstract: Assay kit and Assay for determination of likely survival of a subject Assay kits for determining the total amount of free-light chains (FLC) in a sample are provided. Also provided are a general health screen method comprising detecting an amount of free light chains (FLC) in a sample from a subject, wherein a lower amount of FLC is associated with increased survival and/or better general health of the subject, and a higher level of FLC indicates the possible presence of an undetected medical problem.

Abstract: A method of making antibodies to a selected part P of an immunoglobulin molecule ZP, Z comprising the non-selected part of ZP, P being the selected part of ZP which comprises a hidden epitope of the light chain, said method comprises tolerizing the source of antibodies, by administering to the source a compound containing the non-selected part Z or a part of Z and administering antibodies to the non-selected part Z or a part of Z; wherein these administered antibodies are specific to an Fc region of ZP; and immunizing the source of antibodies with part of ZP having the selected part P exposed; and wherein Z comprises non-hidden epitopes of said immunoglobulin molecule, and wherein said compound containing the non-selected part of said molecule comprises a whole immunoglobulin, and wherein immunizing the source of antibodies with part of ZP comprises immunizing with free light chain.

Abstract: There is provided a method of reducing blood free light chain concentration in a subject, the method comprising the step of subjecting the subject's blood to haemodialysis, haemodiafiltration or haemofiltration. There is also provided the use of a dialysis membrane which is a membrane that allows passage of molecules having a molecular weight of up to 45 kDa in presence of whole blood, and has a molecular weight exclusion limit in water of about 200 kDa in the preparation of a haemodialysis unit for conducting haemodialysis, haemodiafiltration or haemofiltration on a subject to reduce blood free light chain concentration in the patient.

Abstract: There is provided a method of reducing blood free light chain concentration in a subject, the method comprising the step of subjecting the subject's blood to haemodialysis, haemodiafiltration or haemofiltration. There is also provided the use of a dialysis membrane which is a membrane that allows passage of molecules having a molecular weight of up to 45 kDa in presence of whole blood, and has a molecular weight exclusion limit in water of about 200 kDa in the preparation of a haemodialysis unit for conducting haemodialysis, haemodiafiltration or haemofiltration on a subject to reduce blood free light chain concentration in the patient.

Abstract: An improved method of heat treating a slurry material which has combustible and incombustible components includes burning the material in a fluidized bed, to devolatilize the water content and to produce a material which cannot be reslimed. Fine material elutriated from the bed is separated from the entraining gases and is recycled to the center axis of the bed such that upon rising through the bed they encounter and are doused by the incoming spray of slurry material. The fine material so introduced is at a temperature lower than that of the fluidized bed and thus can be used to control the bed temperature by varying the amount of fine material recyled.

Abstract: A spray head suitable for spraying thickened colliery tailings onto a fluidized combustion bed includes a central aperture for the egress of gas directed towards and surrounded by an annular orifice for the discharge of the material to be sprayed. As the material issues forth in use from the orifice a gas flow from the central aperture impinges upon it to generate the spray the characteristics of which may be varied by altering the size and/or location of the central aperture. An annular aperture located around the orifice provides for the discharge of a gas in the form of a curtain which protects the head from excessive heat which might otherwise cause agglomeration of material on the head.

Abstract: A material in slurry form is heat treated by being sprayed onto a fluidized bed wherein its combustible component is burnt to generate heat. Elutriated fines material is recycled to the bed to control the mean particle size distribution in the bed and in such a manner as to secure that the sprayed material contacts at least some of the recycled fines.