Synthesis and Characterization of In-Situ-Prepared Nanocomposites Based on Poly(Propylene 2,5-Furan Dicarboxylate) and Aluminosilicate Clays

Poly(propylene 2,5-furan dicarboxylate) (PPF), or poly(trimethylene 2,5-furan dicarboxylate) (PTF), is a biobased alipharomatic polyester that is expected to replace its fossil-based terephthalate (PPT) and naphthate (PPN) homologues. PPF possesses exceptional gas barrier properties, but its slow crystallization rate might affect its success in specific applications in the future. Therefore, a series of PPF based nanocomposites with the nanoclays Cloisite®-Na (MMT), Cloisite®-20A (MMT 20A), and halloysite nanotubes (HNT) were synthesized via the in situ transterification and polycondensation method. The effect of the nanoclays on the structure, thermal, and crystallization properties of PPF was studied with several methods including infrared spectroscopy (IR), Nuclear Resonance Spectroscopy (1H-NMR), Wide Angle X-ray Diffraction (WAXD), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). The insertion of the nanofillers in the polymer matrix altered the crystallization rates, and TGA results showed good thermal stability, since no significant mass loss occurred up to 300 °C. Finally, the degradation mechanism was studied in depth with Pyrolysis-Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectroscopy, and it was found that β-scission is the dominant degradation mechanism

Confluent hepatic fibrosis as the presenting imaging sign in nonadvanced alcoholic cirrhosis

Confluent hepatic fibrosis (CHF) is usually a feature of advanced cirrhosis, while occurrence in early stage compensated cirrhosis is uncommon. We report the imaging findings of masslike CHF in a patient with previously unsuspected compensated alcoholic cirrhosis. The combination of partially wedge shape, minimal capsular retraction, and homogeneous delayed enhancement on multiphase contrast-enhanced spiral CT led to the characterization of the lesions and establishment of the diagnosis of cirrhosis. (C) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Advanced intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma in hepatitis C virus-related decompensated cirrhosis: case report and review of the literature

A 75-year-old man with no known previous liver disease was admitted to our institution because of right pleural effusion, backache, and pain in the upper right quadrant. Physical and laboratory work-up revealed decompensated liver cirrhosis. Spiral computed tomography (CT) showed a 6-cm tumour in the right liver lobe. Serum levels of aminotransferases, prothrombin time, total bilirubin, alphafetoprotein and carcinoembryonic antigen were within normal limits. However, the patient had elevated cholestatic enzymes, diffuse hypergammaglobulinaemia, a six-fold increase in carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9), cryoglobulinaemia, and reactivity against hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV). Although hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common cancer in a cirrhotic patient with chronic viral hepatitis, the investigation revealed the presence of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). This is a less frequently occurring primary liver tumour, the aetiology and pathogenesis of which remain unclear in the majority of cases. The coexistence of HCV liver disease and ICC might be an incidental finding, but recently some reports have shown a relatively high incidence of this tumour in patients with HCV-related cirrhosis. The current aspects regarding ICC prevalence in HCV patients, the possible aetiopathogenetic links between this tumour and HCV, and the importance for ICC detection and characterization using the enhancement patterns with quadruple-phase spiral CT scan are also discussed

Primary biliary cirrhosis presented as peripheral eosinophilia in asymptomatic women with or without elevated alkaline phosphatase

Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is a chronic cholestatic liver disease characterized by the destruction of biliary epithelial cells, presumably by autoimmune mechanism(s). Although lymphocytes play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of PBC, the possible involvement of eosinophils has also been suggested. Recent studies have shown that eosinophilia possibly occurs in the peripheral blood of PBC patients. We present four cases of asymptomatic middle-aged women with moderate-to-high eosinophilia observed during random investigation. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was increased in two of them. As a result of clinical and laboratory evaluations the early stages of PBC were diagnosed in all the patients, as attested by the detection of high titres of anti-mitochondrial antibodies and the characteristic lesions on liver biopsies. Liver function tests and eosinophils returned within normal limits after 2 months of treatment with ursodeoxycholic acid, suggesting that its potential immunomodulatory actions may extend to eosinophils. Our report further supports the possibility that eosinophilia may occur in PBC, especially in its early stages. From the clinical point of view, we believe that PBC should be considered in the differential diagnosis of eosinophilia with an otherwise unknown origin. In particular, PBC should be suspected in a patient when other causes of eosinophilia have been excluded, irrespective of the presence or absence of symptoms, or the presence or absence of elevated ALP. In such cases further evaluation for anti-mitochondrial antibodies should be done. These observations might assist the development of future therapeutic concepts in the management of PBC, at least for patients in early stages of the disease. © 2004 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Primary biliary cirrhosis presented as peripheral eosinophilia in symptomatic women with or without elevated alkaline phosphatase

Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is a chronic cholestatic liver disease characterized by the destruction of biliary epithelial cells, presumably by autoimmune mechanism(s). Although lymphocytes play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of PBC, the possible involvement of eosinophils has also been suggested. Recent studies have shown that eosinophilia possibly occurs in the peripheral blood of PBC patients. We present four cases of asymptomatic middle-aged women with moderate-to-high eosinophilia observed during random investigation. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was increased in two of them. As a result of clinical and laboratory evaluations the early stages of PBC were diagnosed in all the patients, as attested by the detection of high titres of anti-mitochondrial antibodies and the characteristic lesions on liver biopsies. Liver function tests and eosinophils returned within normal limits after 2 months of treatment with ursodeoxycholic acid, suggesting that its potential immunomodulatory actions may extend to eosinophils. Our report further supports the possibility that eosinophilia may occur in PBC, especially in its early stages. From the clinical point of view, we believe that PBC should be considered in the differential diagnosis of eosinophilia with an otherwise unknown origin. In particular, PBC should be suspected in a patient when other causes of eosinophilia have been excluded, irrespective of the presence or absence of symptoms, or the presence or absence of elevated ALP. In such cases further evaluation for anti-mitochondrial antibodies should be done. These observations might assist the development of future therapeutic concepts in the management of PBC, at least for patients in early stages of the disease

Confluent hepatic fibrosis as the presenting imaging sign in nonadvanced alcoholic cirrhosis

Confluent hepatic fibrosis (CHF) is usually a feature of advanced cirrhosis, while occurrence in early stage compensated cirrhosis is uncommon. We report the imaging findings of masslike CHF in a patient with previously unsuspected compensated alcoholic cirrhosis. The combination of partially wedge shape, minimal capsular retraction, and homogeneous delayed enhancement on multiphase contrast-enhanced spiral CT led to the characterization of the lesions and establishment of the diagnosis of cirrhosis. © 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved