A series of solid-liquid phase change materials, thiourea derivatives, were prepared via condensation of thiourea with the respective carboxyl chlorides (lauroyl chloride, myristoyl chloride, and palmitoyl chloride) and were then characterized by using FT-IR, 1 H-NMR, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and thermogravimetric (TG) analysis. The thiourea derivatives (1,3-didodecanoyl thiourea, 1,3-ditetradecanoyl thiourea, and 1,3-dihexadecanoyl thiourea) were structurally symmetric and had long alkyl groups to crystallize. Thermal analysis by DSC and spectroscopic investigation by FT-IR spectroscopy were performed on the samples before and after thermal cycling tests to determine thermal reliability. The maximum latent heats of melting and freezing of the thiourea derivatives were found to be 114.6 and -110.0 J/g for 1,3didodecanoyl thiourea, 119.5 and -122.4 J/g for 1,3-ditetradecanoyl thiourea, and 148.8 and -142.7 J/g for 1,3-dihexadecanoyl thiourea after accelerated thermal cycling. A TG instrument was used to determine the starting point of degradation in the thiourea derivatives; it was found that the thiourea derivatives degraded at sufficiently higher temperatures than the expected utility temperatures.

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The intrapleural injection of polidocanol produces better pleurodesis than does the intrapleural injection of talc or ethanol in rabbits. Because of the efficacy of polidocanol as a sclerosing agent, its use in humans should be considered after further animal studies.

Objective: Data on the efficacy and duration of nucleos(t)ide analogue (NUC) therapies to prevent the development of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients are scarce and heterogeneous. This study aimed to summarize the clinical and laboratory results of the patients with CHB infection who discontinued oral antiviral therapy. Methods: A single-centered cohort study was conducted with CHB infection. NUCs were discontinued in patients who were under viral suppression for at least two years with undetectable HBV DNA levels for 18 months. Risk factors for clinical relapse (CR) were evaluated. Results: A total of 77 patients were recruited. HBeAg status showed that 9.4% of the patients underwent HBeAg seroconversion with NUCs. HBeAg reversion was noted in four (31%) of these patients. Severe hepatitis, which resolved after antiviral therapy was restored, was reported in two out of 77 patients (4%). None of the patients with CR had clinical or biological signs of hepatic decompensation or died during the study period. Conclusions: We found no benefits of the discontinuation of antiviral therapy after viral suppression in patients with initially severe fibrotic HBV infection. In patients with mild to moderate fibrosis, cessation of antiviral treatment is not associated with adverse outcomes