Application of thermally assisted high hydrostatic pressure to modify sorghum starch: multi-scale structure, techno-functional properties and digestibility.

Unlabelled: The effects of high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) (400-650 MPa) and holding temperature (25-50 °C) in thermally assisted HHP processing on multi-scale structure of starch (granule, crystalline and molecular), techno-functional properties, and digestibility of sorghum starch (SS) were evaluated. Response surface methodology has verified that the process impact on the modification of SS was dependent primarily on the pressure level. As HHP increased, processed SS progressively lost their granular structure and Maltese cross, indicating gradual structural disorder within the granules.

Structuring white rice with gellan gum reduces the glycemic response in healthy humans.

White rice has a high glycemic index and its consumption has been linked to an increased risk of developing type-2 diabetes mellitus, increased diabetes associated complications and obesity. In recent in vitro studies we have shown that addition of food hydrocolloids, such as low acyl gellan gum (LAGG), when cooking white rice potentially modifies starch digestion kinetics. The impact in vivo remains to be investigated.

Perinatal and neurodevelopmental outcomes of fetal isolated ventriculomegaly: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Isolated fetal ventriculomegaly can have a range of consequences, ranging from mild neurodevelopmental delay to perinatal death; the extent of these consequences often depend on the severity of ventriculomegaly. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to investigate the impact of the degree of ventricular dilatation on the risk of neurodevelopmental delay and adverse perinatal outcomes in fetuses diagnosed with isolated fetal ventriculomegaly from gestational week 15 onwards.

Methods: PubMed, Embase, Scopus and the Cochrane Library were searched electronically to identify studies investigating the prognosis of mild and/or severe isolated fetal ventriculomegaly.

Crystal size, a key character of lactose crystallization affecting microstructure, surface chemistry and reconstitution of milk powder.

Lactose crystallization during storage deteriorates reconstitution performance of milk powders, but the relationship between lactose crystallization and reconstitution is inexplicit. The objective of this study is to characterize crystalline lactose in the context of formulation and elucidate the complex relationship between lactose crystallization and powder functionality. Lactose in Skim Milk Powder (SMP), Whole Milk Powder (WMP) and Fat-Filled Milk Powder (FFMP) stored under 23 %, 53 % and 75 % Relative Humidity (RH) at 25  ℃ for four months was compared.

Functional assessment of brain development in fetuses that subsequently deliver very preterm: An MRI pilot study.

Objectives: To evaluate changes occurring in the fetal brain prior to very preterm delivery using MRI T2* relaxometry, an indirect assessment of tissue perfusion.

Method: Fetuses that subsequently delivered spontaneously <32 weeks gestation and a control cohort were identified from pre-existing datasets. Participants had undergone a 3T MRI assessment including T2* relaxometry of the fetal brain using a 2D multi-slice gradient echo single shot echo planar imaging sequence.