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Abstract This article reports on the preparation of native/waxy corn starch (NCS/WCS)‐based films with the addition of pullulan (PUL). Our study investigated the effects of varying amounts of PUL and amylose contents on the structure, mechanical and physicochemical properties of corn starch films. Notably, it was observed that WCS films with low amylose content exhibited superior transparency, while NCS films with high amylose content demonstrated enhanced tensile strength (up to 7.35 ± 0.18 MPa). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis indicated that the addition of PUL did not change the molecular interactions within the corn starch films. The X‐ray diffraction (XRD) results supported that the WCS films were amorphous, while the NCS film exhibited B‐type and V‐type crystals. Moreover, an increase in PUL content led to a gradual reduction in the crystallinity of both WCS films and NCS films. The addition of PUL improved the mechanical properties and oxygen barrier characteristics of these films but had an adverse impact on their water vapor barrier properties. These findings offer valuable insights for the selection of additives for corn starch film, which can further enhance the practical application potential of corn starch films in food and other industries.

This paper looks into the influences of martensitic transformations on the cavitation-erosion (CE) damage initiation mechanism and pitting corrosion resistance of a lean austenitic stainless steel. The ε and α' martensites are prime sites of CE damage initiation for this steel, whereas grain boundaries are more favourable damage initiation sites for other similar steels. The profusion of ε and α' results in fast surface roughening during the CE process, which may cause a compromise in performance when this steel (or similar steels that have the same CE damage mechanism) is used for such applications as hydro-machinery or piping. ε and α' also detrimentally affect the pitting resistance of this steel and so they are expected to affect CE resistance adversely due to the synergism between CE and corrosion.

BackgroundNon-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most prevalent liver diseases around the world, and is closely associated with obesity, diabetes, and insulin resistance. Ursolic acid (UA), an ubiquitous triterpenoid with multifold biological roles, is distributed in various plants. This study was conducted to investigate the therapeutic effect and potential mechanisms of UA against hepatic steatosis in a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) rat model.Methodology/principal findingsObese NAFLD model was established in Sprague-Dawley rats by 8-week HFD feeding. Therapeutic role of UA was evaluated using 0.125%, 0.25%, 0.5% UA-supplemented diet for another 6 weeks. The results from both morphologic and histological detections indicated that UA significantly reversed HFD-induced hepatic steatosis and liver injury. Besides, hepatic peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-α was markedly up-regulated at both mRNA and protein levels by UA. Knocking down PPAR-α significantly inhibited the anti-steatosis role of UA in vitro. HFD-induced adverse changes in the key genes, which participated in hepatic lipid metabolism, were also alleviated by UA treatment. Furthermore, UA significantly ameliorated HFD-induced metabolic disorders, including insulin resistance, inflammation and oxidative stress.Conclusions/significanceThese results demonstrated that UA effectively ameliorated HFD-induced hepatic steatosis through a PPAR-α involved pathway, via improving key enzymes in the controlling of lipids metabolism. The metabolic disorders were accordingly improved with the decrease of hepatic steatosis. Thereby, UA could be a promising candidate for the treatment of NAFLD.

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Objective To explore methods of preventing and reversing rejection after simultaneous pancreas-kidney (SPK) transplantation. Methods Seventeen patients underwent SPK transplantation from September 1999 to September 2003 were reviewed retrospectively. Immunosuppression was achieved by a triple drug regimen consisting of cyclosporine, mycophenolate mofteil (MMF), and steroids. Three patients were treated with anti-CD3 monoclone antibody (OKT3, 5 mg· d-1) for induction therapy for a mean period of 5-7 days. One patients received IL-2 receptor antibodies (daclizumab) in a dose of 1 mg· kg-1 on the day of transplant and the 5th day posttransplant. One patient was treated with both OKT3 and daclizumab for induction. Results No primary non-functionality of either kidney or pancreas occurred in this series of transplantations. Function of all the kidney grafts recovered within 2 to 4 days after transplantation. The level of serum creatinine was 94± 11 μmol/L on the 7th day posttransplant. One patient experienced the accelerated rejection, resulting in the resection of the pancreas and kidney grafts because of the failure of conservative therapy. The incidence of the first rejection episodes at 3 months was 47.1% (8/17). Only the kidney was involved in 35.3% (6/17); and both the pancreas and kidney were involved in 11.8% (2/17). All these patients received a high-dose pulse of methylprednisone (0.5 g· d-1) for 3 days. OKT3 (0.5 mg·d-1 was administered for 7-10 days in two patients with both renal and pancreas rejection. All the grafts were successfully rescued. Conclusion Rejection, particularly acute rejection, is the major cause influencing graft function in SPK transplantation. Monitoring renal function and pancreas exocrine secretion, and reasonable application of immunosuppressants play important roles in the diagnosis and treatment of rejection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]