Effects of microwave-assisted pulse-spouted bed freeze-drying (MPSFD) on volatile compounds and structural aspects of Cordyceps militaris.

Background: Microwave-assisted pulse-spouted bed freeze-drying (MPSFD) uses microwave heating to substitute the customary conduction heating during freeze drying (FD), resulting in high-quality dried samples with a short drying time. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of MPSFD on volatile compounds and structural aspects of Cordyceps militaris. In order to highlight the effect of MPSFD, FD (recognized for its high-quality products) and hot-air dying (HD; the most commonly used) were also evaluated using headspace solid-phase micro-extraction combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and mid-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.

Closing the Gaps: Endoscopic Suturing for Large Submucosal and Full-Thickness Defects.

This article is a systematic review of relevant literature on endoscopic suturing as a primary closure technique for large submucosal and full-thickness defects after endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR), endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), and endoscopic full-thickness resection (EFTR). A comprehensive literature search was conducted through 2016 by using PubMed, to find peer-reviewed original articles. The specific factors considered were the procedural indications and details, success rates, clinical outcomes including complications, and study limitations.

Lung Cancer Screening in the Community Setting.

Background: Lung cancer has high incidence and high mortality burden, particularly because it is typically diagnosed in later stages. The National Lung Screening Trial demonstrated a lung cancer-specific mortality benefit in high-risk current and former smokers with yearly low-dose chest computed tomography (CT). Lung cancer screening is thus recommended, but it is unclear whether the results of the National Lung Screening Trial can be replicated in community settings.

Effect of ultrasound dielectric pretreatment on the oxidation resistance of vacuum-fried apple chips.

Background: In order to investigate the effect of ultrasound dielectric pretreatment on the oxidation resistance of vacuum-fried apple chips, apple slices were pretreated at ultrasonic powers of 150, 250 and 400 W for times of 10, 20 and 30 min before vacuum frying. The quality and oxidation resistance of fried apple were evaluated by testing the dielectric properties and comparing the moisture content, oil uptake, color, acid value (AV) and peroxide value (PV) of apple chips.

Results: Ultrasonic treatment significantly changed the dielectric properties of apple slices.

Recent development in the application of alternative sterilization technologies to prepared dishes: A review.

Sterilization is one of the most effective food preservation methods. Conventional thermal sterilization commonly used in food industry usually causes the deterioration of food quality. Flavor, aroma, and texture, among other attributes, are significantly affected by thermal sterilization.

Linaclotide in irritable bowel syndrome with constipation: A Phase 3 randomized trial in China and other regions.

Background And Aim: Linaclotide is a guanylate cyclase-C agonist approved in multiple countries to treat irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C). China has unmet need for well-tolerated therapy that is effective in treating both bowel and abdominal symptoms of IBS-C. This trial evaluated linaclotide's efficacy and safety in IBS-C patients in China and other regions.

Non-invasive sensor based automated smoking activity detection.

Although smoking prevalence is declining in many countries, smoking related health problems still leads the preventable causes of death in the world. Several smoking intervention mechanisms have been introduced to help smoking cessation. However, these methods are inefficient since they lack in providing real time personalized intervention messages to the smoking addicted users.

Influence of different functional ingredients on physical properties, rheology, tribology, and oral perceptions of no fat stirred yoghurt.

Unlabelled: Effects of adding four functional ingredients: inulin, pectin, galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS), and beta glucan on physical, rheology, tribology, and sensory characteristics of skim (0.1% fat) stirred yoghurt were studied. Three levels of each ingredient were chosen: inulin (7, 8, and 9%), pectin (0.

Indications and Fetal Outcomes of Caesarean Section in Sindhu Sadabahar Hospital, Sindhupalchok.

Background There has been a sustained increase in the rate of caesarean section in the last few years around the world. Caesarean section (CS) Audit which plays an important role in the analysis of rate, indications and outcomes of caesarean section, helps to modify the trend of caesarean delivery. Objective This study was done to know the indications and outcomes of caesarean section in Sindhu Sadabahar Hospital, Khadichaur, Sindhupalchok.

Effect of fat globule size on the churnability of dairy cream.

The churnability of commercial dairy cream as a function of fat globule size from micron to nanometric range (0.17-3.50μm) was investigated.

Investigation of solubility of carbon dioxide in anhydrous milk fat by lab-scale manometric method.

This study aims to examine the solubility of CO in anhydrous milk fat (AMF) as functions of partial pressure, temperature, chemical composition and physical state of AMF. AMF was fractionated at 21°C to obtain stearin and olein fractions. The CO solubility was measured using a home-made experimental apparatus based on changes of CO partial pressures.

Use of gases in dairy manufacturing: A review.

Use of gases (air, carbon dioxide and nitrogen) has been practiced in the manufacture of dairy products (i.e., ice cream, whipped cream and butter) to improve their texture, mouthfeel and shelf-life extension.

Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty - A New Tool to Manage Obesity.

Obesity is a growing pandemic across the world. Dietary restrictions and behavior modifications alone have a limited benefit. Bariatric surgery, despite being the current gold standard, has limited acceptance by patients due to cost and associated morbidity.

Texture and lubrication properties of functional cream cheese: Effect of β-glucan and phytosterol.

Unlabelled: The effect of β-glucan (BG) and phytosterols (PS) as fat replacers on textural, microstructural, and lubrication properties of reduced-fat cream cheese was investigated. Five formulations (BG-PS ester, PS ester, BG-PS emulsions, PS emulsions, and BG) of cream cheese with added β-glucan and phytosterols (in emulsified and esterified form) were investigated and compared with commercial cheese. Among the five formulations used in this experiment, the effect of β-glucan appeared to be more pronounced imparting increased viscosity and firmness to reduced-fat cream cheese, similar to commercial high-fat cream cheese sample.

Effect of solubilised carbon dioxide at low partial pressure on crystallisation behaviour, microstructure and texture of anhydrous milk fat.

The crystallisation and melting behaviour, fat polymorphs, microstructure and texture of anhydrous milk fat (AMF) was investigated in the presence of dissolved CO (0-2000ppm) under two crystallising conditions (non-isothermal versus isothermal). CO was found to induce higher onset crystallisation temperature during cooling from 35 to 5°C at 0.5°Cmin.

Efficacy of 8 Weeks of Sofosbuvir, Velpatasvir, and Voxilaprevir in Patients With Chronic HCV Infection: 2 Phase 3 Randomized Trials.

Background & Aims: Patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection have high rates of sustained virologic response (SVR) after 12 weeks of treatment with the nucleotide polymerase inhibitor sofosbuvir combined with the NS5A inhibitor velpatasvir. We assessed the efficacy of 8 weeks of treatment with sofosbuvir and velpatasvir plus the pangenotypic NS3/4A protease inhibitor voxilaprevir (sofosbuvir-velpatasvir-voxilaprevir).

Methods: In 2 phase 3, open-label trials, patients with HCV infection who had not been treated previously with a direct-acting antiviral agent were assigned randomly to groups given sofosbuvir-velpatasvir-voxilaprevir for 8 weeks or sofosbuvir-velpatasvir for 12 weeks.

Use of imaging techniques to identify efficient controlled release systems of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG during in vitro digestion.

Matrix composition plays a crucial role in the controlled release of viable and functional bacteria in the intestine. Imaging tools such as electronic and confocal microscopies were used in this work to investigate the influence of matrix composition on matrix integrity and porosity, bacterial spatial distribution and viability during simulated in vitro digestion. L.

Methods to characterize the structure of food powders - a review.

Food powders can exist in amorphous, crystalline or mixed structure depending on the order of molecular arrangement in the powder particle matrices. In food production, the structure of powders has a greatly effect on their stability, functionality, and applicability. The undesirable structure of powders can be accidentally formed during production.

Knowledge, awareness and practice of ethics among doctors in tertiary care hospital.

Introduction: With the advancement of healthcare and medical research, doctors need to be aware of the basic ethical principles. This cross-sectional study is an attempt to assess the knowledge, awareness, and practice of health-care ethics among health-care professionals.

Materials And Methods: After taking written informed consent, a standard questionnaire was administered to 117 doctors.

Encapsulation of tea tree oil by amorphous beta-cyclodextrin powder.

An innovative method to encapsulate tea tree oil (TTO) by direct complexation with solid amorphous beta-cyclodextrin (β-CD) was investigated. A β-CD to TTO ratio of 90.5:9.

Dehydration of CO-α-cyclodextrin complex powder by desiccant adsorption method and its release properties.

Stability and release properties of CO-α-cyclodextrin complex powder prepared by solid encapsulation (water activity, a ≈ 0.95) followed by moisture removal using silica gel and CaCl desiccants during post-dehydration were investigated. The results showed that CaCl reduced a much faster than silica gel did under the same conditions.

In vitro digestion of infant formulations with hydrolysed and non-hydrolysed proteins from dairy and soybean.

Digestion of hydrolysed and non-hydrolysed dairy (casein and whey proteins) and soy proteins commonly used in infant formulations was studied under in vitro gastrointestinal (without lipases) conditions for 60 and 120 minutes in the stomach and small intestine, respectively. The pH-drop, gel electrophoresis, microstructure, particle size distribution, and ninhydrin-reactive amino nitrogen of the digesta were monitored over the digestion period. The obtained results suggested that hydrolysed proteins were completely digested in the small intestine, while non-hydrolysed proteins (caseins, α-lactalbumin, β-lactoglobulin, conglycinin, glycinin) were only partially digested in the simulated gastrointestinal tract.