Study on the characteristics of gluten/alginate-cellulose/onion waste extracts composite film and its food packaging application

The study aimed to improve the properties of SA-CMC film by gluten (G) blends and bioactive compounds from onion waste extracts (OWEs) peel (OPE) and stalk (OSE). The applicability of film on the quality of peeled shallot onion during storage was also examined. Water barrier (0.62 g/msPa × 10^-14) and tensile strength (11.50 MPa) of G/SA-CMC film improved more than SA-CMC film (1.55 g/msPa × 10^-13 and 7.05 MPa). OPE and OSE increase the total phenolic content (43.86 and 38.35 mgGAE/g) and radical scavenging activity (88.74 and 68.30 %) of G/SA-CMC film than control (20.33 mgGAE/g and 39.20 %). Microbial load (logCFU/g) in terms of total bacterial count, yeast and mold count of shallot onion packed in OPE (5.34 and 5.21) and OSE (4.26 and 4.21) film was reduced than control (6.03 and 4.68). Thus, the G/SA-CMC/OWEs film had improved properties than SA-CMC film and can be used to store peeled onion at 4℃ for 21 days.

l-Asparagine-l-tartaric acid (1/1)

In the title compound, C₄H₈N₂O₃·C₄H₆O₆, the amino acid mol­ecule exists as a zwitterion and the carb­oxy­lic acid in an un-ionized state. The tartaric acid mol­ecules are linked into layers parallel to the ab plane by O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds. The amino acid mol­ecules are also linked into layers parallel to the ab plane by N—H⋯O and C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds. The alternating tartaric acid and amino acid layers are linked into a three-dimensional framework by N—H⋯O and O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds.

Detection of Chlamydia trachomatis in urine samples by polymerase chain reaction and enzyme immunoassay

First-void urine samples collected from sexually transmitted diseases (STD) clinic patients were examined by a nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and a commercial enzyme immunoassay (IDEIA Chlamydia) for the diagnosis of Chlamydia trachomatis urethritis or cervicitis. The primers for the PCR amplified a target in the major outer membrane protein (MOMP) gene in C trachomatis while the IDEIA detected genus-specific chlamydial lipopolysaccharide. Discrepant results were resolved by retesting urine specimens with a second (plasmid-based) PCR and taking urethral or endocervical swab results into consideration. For 231 men (chlamydial prevalence 20.4%), the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were 59.6%, 99.5%, 96.6% and 90.6% for urine IDEIA, 68.1%, 99.5%, 97% and 92.4% for urethral swab IDEIA and 97.9%, 99.5%, 97.9% and 99.5% for urine PCR. The corresponding rates for 66 women (chlamydial prevalence 54.6%) were 19.4%, 100%, 100% and 50.8% for urine IDEIA, 86.1%, 96.7%, 96.9% and 85.3% for endocervical swab IDEIA and 91.7%, 93.3%, 94.3% and 90.3% for urine PCR. Hence, in a high prevalence population, the urine IDEIA was a suitable alternative to the male urethral swab IDEIA but significantly less sensitive than the endocervical swab IDEIA. The urine PCR was, however, much more sensitive than the urine IDEIA for both men and women and could replace the endocervical swab IDEIA for the diagnosis of chlamydial cervicitis.

Extrapolated response dose as a potential tool in radiotherapy and chemo-radiotherapy of head and neck cancers

An analysis of head and neck cancer patients treated by radiotherapy (RT) alone (114 patients) and by chemo-radiotherapy (RT + CT) (115 patients) was carried out; the doses varied from 40-77 Gy and 35-71 Gy in RT and RT + CT groups respectively. The chemotherapy (CT) (induction/concurrent) drugs used were 5-FU, cisplatin, methotrexate either single or in combination. Extrapolated response dose values were evaluated with alpha/beta values of 10, 2.5 and 6 Gy for acute, late complications and tumour response, respectively. Dose enhancement factor (DEF) and Therapeutic gain factor (TGF) values were evaluated on the basis of ERD for patients receiving 5-FU RTCT (72 patients). ERD vs late complication rate and response rate curves were drawn for RT, RT + CT (< 7 cycles), RT + CT (> 6 cycles) and RT + CT (cumulative). DEF values for response rate were 0.95, 0.95 and 0.82 for the three RT + CT groups respectively. Similarly DEF values for late complication rate were evaluated as 0.87, 0.93 and 0.88. TGF values for RT + CT were 1.09, 1.02 and 0.93. TGF values indicated lack of significant influence of CT on clinical outcome. The correlation of ERD with late complication, response and status at last follow up (NED) was statistically significant for both groups (P < 0.01). ERD did not correlated with acute complication in RT group (P > 0.01). From the present analysis, in RT + CT treatments of head and neck cancers, an ERD value of 69 Gy is suggested as the limit for an acceptable 5% late complication rate.