Characterization of the carbonaceous materials obtained from different agro-industrial wastes.

This paper reports the preparation and characterization of carbonaceous materials obtained from three types of vegetable wastes provided by agricultural industries. Soft carbonization (280°C) and H3PO4-activation procedures were used to convert the agricultural wastes to carbon powders with high adsorbent capacities. This process is excellent for eliminating and exploiting the huge masses (many tons) of vegetable residues remaining after each harvest every year in several Colombian agro-industries. The powders were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), IR spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and N2-adsorption isotherms. XRD and IR verified the formation of carbons, and SEM showed small particles (20-500 µm) with characteristic morphology for each type of residue used and abundant cavities of different sizes. The N2-adsorption analyses showed that the carbons had high adsorption capacities with important surface area values and large pore volumes. The use of the activated carbonaceous materials as adsorbent of azo dyes (allura red and sunset yellow) from aqueous solutions was evaluated. The results showed a good adsorption capacity indicating the potentiality of these materials as pollutant adsorbents in food industry wastewaters. These results indicate that these powders can be used as potential adsorbents for different gaseous or liquid pollutants.

Relapse rates in chronic hepatitis B naïve patients after discontinuation of antiviral therapy with entecavir.

Registration studies show entecavir (ETV) to be effective and safe in NUC-naïve patients with chronic hepatitis B, but relapse rates after treatment discontinuation have not been well established. Relapse rates and predictors of relapse were evaluated in naïve HBeAg-positive and HBeAg-negative patients treated with ETV. Treatment duration was defined according to international guidelines. Virological relapse was defined as reappearance in serum of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA to >2000 IU/mL after discontinuation of treatment. A hundred and sixty-nine consecutive patients were treated for a median 181 weeks. 61% were HBeAg positive, 23% had cirrhosis, and mean HBV DNA level was 6.88 ± 1.74 log10 IU/mL. Ninety-two per cent became HBV DNA negative; 71% of HBeAg+ve patients became HBeAg negative and 68% anti-HBe positive; 14% became HBsAg negative and 13% anti-HBs positive. At the end of the study, 36 patients discontinued treatment: one due to breakthrough associated with resistant variants and 35 (20%) due to sustained virological response; 33 of these patients developed HBeAg seroconversion and 18 HBsAg seroconversion. Median off-treatment time was 69 weeks. Nine patients (26%), all HBeAg positive at baseline, developed virological relapse after a median 48 weeks off-treatment, 3 of them showed HBeAg reversion and 4 lost anti-HBe. No patient with HBsAg seroconversion relapsed. HBeAg clearance after week 48 of treatment was associated with an increase risk of relapse. After ETV discontinuation, HBsAg seroconversion was maintained in 100% of the patients, HBeAg seroconversion maintained in 90%, and virological relapse rate was 24%.

Liver infiltrating mononuclear cells in children with type 1 autoimmune hepatitis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate infiltrating cells in the liver of children with type 1 autoimmune hepatitis (AH-1). METHODS: liver biopsies from 24 untreated AH-1 patients (14 children, 10 adults), five patients with hepatitis C virus related chronic hepatitis (HCV), and 10 control liver specimens (CL) were processed for immunohistochemical cell characterisation. RESULTS: Two different cell distribution patterns were detected in the liver of patients with AH-1: (1) CD4(+) and CD20(+) cells were found in the central areas of the portal tracts (portal distribution); (2) CD8(+) cells were observed at the periphery of the portal space (periportal distribution). Some cell subsets, like CD56, CD57, Fas-L, and Bak, showed a non-defined distribution pattern. The presence of two well defined patterns of cell distribution was not observed in HCV and CL (CD4(+), CD20(+), and CD8(+) cells were uniformly distributed in the portal space). In AH-1 and CL, the NK markers CD56 and CD57 were found scattered throughout the liver parenchyma. However, in HCV biopsies, CD56(+) cells were also clearly increased in both the portal and the periportal areas. Biopsies of AH-1 and HCV patients showed a uniform distribution of Fas-L and Bak in the portal and periportal areas, with Bak staining also detected in the hepatic parenchyma. CONCLUSIONS: Despite clinical and genetic differences, there was a similar distribution of liver infiltrating mononuclear cells in children and adults with AH-1. These results raise the possibility of reclassifying cryptogenic chronic hepatitis by immunohistochemical analysis of infiltrating liver cells.

Interferon-alpha 2b combined with daily ketoprofen administration improves virological response in chronic hepatitis C: a prospective and randomised trial.

BACKGROUND: Less than 15% of patients with chronic hepatitis C show a sustained virological response to interferon treatment. AIM: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of different doses of ketoprofen combined with interferon-alpha 2b in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C. PATIENTS/METHODS: Seventy compensated patients with chronic hepatitis C received interferon-alpha 2b 3 million units three times a week for six months. They were randomly assigned to: group 1 (n = 23), interferon-alpha 2b alone; group 2 (n = 23), interferon-alpha 2b plus 200 mg ketoprofen three times a week; group 3 (n = 24), interferon-alpha 2b plus 200 mg ketoprofen twice a day. Complete and sustained responses were defined as normal serum alanine aminotransferase levels and negative serum hepatitis C virus RNA at six and 12 months respectively. RESULTS: Complete and sustained responses were similar in groups 1 and 2: 10% v 5% and 5% v 0% respectively. In group 3, complete response was 29% (p = 0.13 v group 1 and p = 0.04 v group 2) and sustained response was 26% (p = 0.07 v group 1 and p = 0.01 v group 2). Overall, adverse events were similar in the three groups. However, 'flu-like syndrome was less common in group 2 (30%) and group 3 (37%) than in group 1 (77%) (p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Twice daily ketoprofen administration combined with interferon-alpha 2b produced an increase in complete and sustained responses. Although the combination of interferon-alpha 2b with ketoprofen was well tolerated and decreased the incidence of 'flu-like syndrome, it is advisable to monitor possible non-steroid anti-inflammatory drug hepatotoxicity.

Lidocaine and monoethylglycinexylidide serum determinations to analyze liver function of cirrhotic patients after oral administration.

Our aim was to compare standard liver function tests (serum bilirubin, serum albumin and prothrombin concentration), with lidocaine and monoethylglycinexylidide pharmacokinetic parameters, after oral lidocaine administration, to assess hepatic function of cirrhotic individuals. Twenty-one consecutive cirrhotic patients, nine consecutive acute hepatitis patients, and nine healthy individuals received oral lidocaine. Lidocaine and monoethylglycinexylidide serum concentrations were determined by the TDx system. Cirrhotic patients had higher lidocaine and lower monoethylglycinexylidide serum concentrations and differences in its pharmacokinetic variables, compared to control and hepatitis groups (P < 0.05). Sensitivity of lidocaine serum determinations (100%) was greater than sensitivity of serum bilirubin (57%), serum albumin (62%), and prothrombin concentrations (43%) and monoethylglycinexylidide serum concentrations (57%) in differentiating cirrhotic individuals from controls. In conclusion, after oral administration, lidocaine and monoethylglycinexylidide pharmacokinetic parameters are significantly altered in cirrhotic patients compared to normal and acute hepatitis subjects. Lidocaine pharmacokinetic parameters would be better than those of monoethylglycinexylidide and standard liver function tests in the evaluation of liver function of cirrhotic patients.

Lymphedema as a postulated cause of cutis verticis gyrata in Turner syndrome.

Unusual skin lesions were present at birth in four infants with Turner syndrome. The skin changes in these patients appear to have resulted either from in utero entrapment or pinching of edematous skin or from redundant skin remaining after in utero resolution of lymphedema. Distention by lymphedema is thought to cause several of the phenotypic characteristics seen in patients with Turner syndrome, including nuchal webbing and nail changes. In three of these patients the clinical appearance of the skin changes was similar to cutis verticis gyrata, marked by fixed thickened plaques in folds.