Steric stabilization of "charge-free" cellulose nanowhiskers by grafting of poly(ethylene glycol).

A sterically stabilized aqueous suspension of "charge-free" cellulose nanowhiskers was prepared by hydrochloric acid hydrolysis of cotton powders and subsequent surface grafting of monomethoxy poly(ethylene glycol) (mPEG). The preparation scheme included carboxylation of the terminal hydroxyl groups in mPEG via oxidation with silica gel particles carrying 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-pyperidinyloxyl (TEMPO) moieties and subsequent esterification between terminal carboxyls in mPEG and surface hydroxyl groups of cellulose nanowhiskers, mediated by 1,1'-carbonyldiimidazole (CDI) in dimethyl sulfoxide or dimethylacetamide. Some of the prepared PEG-grafted samples showed remarkable flow birefringence and enhanced stability after 24 h, even in 0.

Clinical implications of antimitochondrial antibodies in type 1 autoimmune hepatitis: a longitudinal study.

Background/aims: Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a chronic liver disease characterized by the presence of antinuclear antibodies. However, antimitochondrial antibodies (AMA) and bile duct changes, which are the characteristics of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), can be detected in AIH patients.

Methodology: Twenty patients with definite AIH were prospectively followed-up, and the serial changes in AMA profiles were determined.

Autoimmune pancreatitis with extreme elevation of DUPAN-2.

An 80-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with complaints of jaundice and liver dysfunction. She was found to have a high titer of serum IgG4, positive rheumatoid factor and marked elevation of DUPAN-2 (11,148 U/ml). Computed tomography showed swelling of the pancreas, and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography revealed diffuse irregular narrowing of the main pancreatic duct, which are typical findings of autoimmune pancreatitis.