Manufacturing of Sustainable Composite Materials: The Challenge of Flax Fiber and Polypropylene.

The widespread use of synthetic composite materials has raised environmental concerns due to their non-biodegradability and energy-intensive production. This paper explores the potential of natural composites, specifically flax-polypropylene, as a sustainable alternative to traditional composites for semi-structural applications. In fact, the mechanical properties of flax-polypropylene composites are similar to synthetic ones (such as those made with E-glass fibers).

RIFT Process Analysis for the Production of Green Composites in Flax Fibers and Bio-Based Epoxy Resin.

In this work, a dual objective is carried out on composite materials in flax fiber and bio-based epoxy resin: to determine the process parameters and to develop a numerical model for highlighting the potential of and the limits in the production of "green" laminates through a RIFT process (Resin Infusion under Flexible Tool). For these reasons, compressibility tests were performed in order to evaluate the behavior of commercial flax woven under the vacuum bag. Subsequently, permeability tests were performed in order to evaluate the permeability curves necessary for the numerical study of the infusion process.

Influence of Laser Treatment on End Notched Flexure Bonded Joints in Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer: Experimental and Numerical Results.

Surface pretreatment for bonding is one of the most important steps for the manufacturing of a reliable bonded joint. In this paper, the effectiveness of an innovative pretreatment by CO pulsed laser for bonding Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) was investigated. End Notched Flexure (ENF) specimens were made with different densities of laser treatment, and the respective fracture toughness was obtained through the Compliance-Based Beam Method (CBBM).

Extragenital endometrial stromal sarcoma arising in endometriosis.

The diagnosis rate of deep pelvic endometriosis is increasing. Endometrial stromal sarcoma (ESS) is a rare neoplasm. Extragenital ESS is an extremely uncommon event.

Unusual metachronous isolated inguinal lymph node metastasis from adenocarcinoma of the sigmoid colon.

This study aimed to describe an unusual case of metachronous isolated inguinal lymph nodes metastasis from sigmoid carcinoma. A 62-year-old man was referred to our department because of an obstructing sigmoid carcinoma. Colonoscopy showed the obstructing lesion at 30 cm from the anal verge and abdominal CT revealed a sigmoid lesion infiltrating the left lateral abdominal wall.

Imaging of gynecological disease (6): clinical and ultrasound characteristics of ovarian dysgerminoma.

Objectives: To describe the clinical history and ultrasound findings in patients with ovarian dysgerminoma.

Methods: This was a retrospective study of patients with a histological diagnosis of ovarian dysgerminoma who had undergone preoperative ultrasound examination. The patients were identified from the databases of 11 ultrasound centers.

Intraoperative sentinel lymph node detection by vital dye through laparoscopy or laparotomy in early endometrial cancer.

Background And Objectives: Recent studies reported the feasibility of intraoperative lymphatic mapping in women with endometrial cancer but none of these studies compared the sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) detection rates obtainable through laparoscopy or laparotomy. The purpose of this study was to address this issue.

Methods: Thirty-four patients with clinical stage I-II endometrial cancer were enrolled in this prospective comparative trial.

Thyroarytenoid muscle invasion in T1 glottic carcinoma.

We report the prevalence of thyroarytenoid (TA) muscle invasion in 109 consecutive patients with T1 glottic carcinoma submitted to endoscopic laser cordectomy between February 1997 and January 2006, in order to evaluate if routine resection of the TA is necessary. A total of 109 patients staged as T1 underwent endoscopic treatment with carbon dioxide laser (CO(2)), 36 cases were treated with type I or II cordectomies, and 73 patients underwent type III, IV or V cordectomies, with resection of all or part of the TA. Over a total of 109 patients, 6 (5.

The role of immunohistochemistry in the diagnosis of hyalinizing clear cell carcinoma of the minor salivary gland: a case report.

A case of hyalinizing clear cell carcinoma (HCCC) of the minor salivary glands of the oral cavity is reported. A 52- year-old woman presented with a growing mass at the base of the tongue. The patient underwent complete resection of the tumour.

A rare case of vagus nerve schwannoma.

Schwannomas of the vagus nerve are very rare and the differential diagnosis is extremely difficult. They are very often asymptomatic and imaging techniques are helpful, but fine needle biopsy is often inconclusive. Total resection is the treatment of choice.

Carcinoma cuniculatum of the larynx: a rare clinicopathological entity.

Objective: Carcinoma cuniculatum is a rare variant of low-grade squamous cell carcinoma. We report the second case of carcinoma cuniculatum of the larynx in the literature.

Method: Case report and review of the world literature concerning carcinoma cuniculatum of the larynx and upper aerodigestive tract.

Lobular capillary hemangioma of the nasal cavity: A retrospective study on 40 patients.

Background: Nasal lobular capillary hemangioma (LCH) is a benign lesion of unknown etiology that must be included in the differential diagnosis of vascular lesions. Based on a large cohort of LCH patients, we retrospectively analyzed the clinical presentation, histological and radiological findings, and the treatment strategy.

Methods: Clinical records of 40 patients affected by LCH, treated in a 20-year period at two university hospitals, were reviewed.

[Acute abdomen due to rupture of mesenteric cysts. Observations on a clinical case and review of the literature].

Personal experience based on a clinical case of a young woman with acute abdominal pain referable to acute appendicitis is presented. The surgical procedure was performed through a Mc Burney incision and revealed the rupture of mesenteric cysts; removal of the cysts was carried out without intestinal resection. Post-operative course was uneventful and 2 years follow-up showed no recurrence.

Parotid mass as an early sign of Kaposi's sarcoma associated with human herpesvirus 8 infection.

Kaposi's sarcoma of an intraparotid lymph node is extremely rare in non-immunocompromised human immuno-1 deficiency virus (HIV)-negative patients. We report a case of a left parotid mass as an early sign of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) infection in a 57-year-old patient. After subtotal parotidectomy and histopathological diagnosis of lymph node localization of Kaposi's sarcoma, an accurate dermatological investigation revealed a solitary small lesion in the left foot.

Polymorphous low-grade adenocarcinoma of the parotid gland.

Polymorphous low-grade adenocarcinoma of the salivary glands is a well-defined clinico-pathological entity which occurs almost exclusively in the oral cavity. Only few reports have documented it in the parotid gland. The authors report an additional case of de novo polymorphous low-grade adenocarcinoma of the parotid and describe the histological and immunocytochemical features of the neoplasm.

A 3D study of intra and extracellular structures of liver in beta-thalassemia intermedia: an OsO4 maceration analysis.

A scanning electron microscopy study of liver changes has been carried out in three patients affected by beta-thalassemia intermedia (BTI). Applying a new osmium maceration method, recently developed in our laboratory, we had the opportunity to obtain, at SEM, tridimensional images of intra and extracellular structures. Other than the previously reported lesions in BTI, we observed the following pathological findings: disarrangement of the cell structure by a high number of hemosiderin loaded lysosomes; alterations in shape and in diameter of the nuclear pores; presence of apoptotic bodies scattered among the parenchymal cells; deposition of collagen fibers in the space of Disse to form a perihepatocytic dam; enlargement of the sinusoidal endothelial cell fenestrae of the sieve plate.

Uneven hepatic iron and phosphorus distribution in beta-thalassemia.

Background/aims: Determination of hepatic iron concentration is crucial in the evaluation of iron-storage disease. Iron content is normally determined in a part of a needle liver biopsy and the value obtained is considered to be representative of the iron concentration in the whole liver. To evaluate the reliability of this procedure, we studied iron distribution in the liver of two beta-thalassemic patients.

Uneven hepatic copper distribution in Wilson's disease.

Background/aims: Determination of hepatic copper concentration is important in the diagnosis of Wilson's disease. We studied copper distribution in the cirrhotic liver of a patient who died of Wilson's disease.

Methods: A liver slice extending from the left to the right lobe was divided into 38 samples.

Scanning electron microscopy of chronic hepatitis C. An OsO4 maceration study on human biopsies.

A study at the scanning electron microscope (SEM) on the liver changes in chronic hepatitis C was carried out in human needle biopsies from four patients. Intracellular structures were visualized by a novel modification of the OsO4 maceration method that allows to investigate human pathological specimens. At low magnification we observed both sinusoidal and hepatic cells alterations: sinusoids appeared occluded by lymphocytes, hypertrophic Kupffer cells, activated perisinusoidal cells, necrotic material and apoptotic bodies.

Activity of interferon beta in condylomata with dysplastic lesion of the uterine cervix.

The effectiveness of interferon beta in the treatment of condylomata of the cervico-vaginal tract associated with CINs was evaluated in 25 patients. Human fibroblastic interferon (IFN beta) was administered by intra and perilesional infiltration at a dosage of 3 x 10(6) IU/day for 5 consecutive days the first week and every other day the second. The treatment showed: complete regression in 61.

Embryonal carcinoma in two cases of androgen insensitivity syndrome: clinical, endocrinological and pathological features.

Embryonal carcinoma in two cases of complete androgen insensitivity syndrome (CAIS) is reported. In both cases gonadectomy carried out for prophylactic purposes led to the discovery of a localized embryonal carcinoma with areas of anaplastic seminoma in one case. In non-neoplastic tissue, gonad morphology in both cases was typical of AIS.

Antigenic and cytochemical characterization of cells adhering to intrauterine contraceptive devices.

Eighteen copper intrauterine devices (IUDs), removed after 25 months of use, were examined to evaluate cells adhering to them (IAC). By means of monoclonal antibodies, the antigenic phenotype of IAC was studied, along with some IAC cytochemical properties. Sixty percent of IAC were identified as granulocytes based on morphological, cytochemical, and antigenic characteristics.