Effects of acidified blanching water and pectinase enzyme pretreatments on physicochemical properties and antioxidant capacity of Carica papaya juice.

The high pectin content in papaya (Carica papaya) causes the juice extraction to be difficult and results in a low yield. This study aims to determine the effect of acidified blanching water and pectinase enzyme pretreatments on the yield, physicochemical properties, and antioxidant activities of the papaya juice. For acidified blanching treatment, papaya cubes (3 cm3 ) were blanched in water containing 0%, 0.5%, 1.5%, and 2.5% w/v citric acid at 95℃ for 2 min. For enzyme treatment, a pectinase enzyme (10, 20, and 30 ppm) was added to the homogenous papaya puree and incubated at 45℃ (200 rpm) for 60 min. The enzyme reaction was stopped by pasteurization at 74℃ for 2 min. The puree was filtered, and the juice was pasteurized at 74℃ for 7 min. All pretreated papaya juice were analyzed for physicochemical properties (color, clarity, viscosity, pH, total soluble solids [TSSs], total carotenoid content, total phenolic content [TPC], and total flavonoid content [TFC]), and antioxidant activities (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl [DPPH] and ferric reducing antioxidant power [FRAP] assay). Both pretreatments improved the clarity of papaya juice, and was significantly greater after pretreatment with pectinase enzyme. The TPC and antioxidant activities of papaya juice were conserved and maintained by acidified blanching at 1.5% (w/v) citric acid. Increased concentrations of pectinase enzyme significantly reduced the TPC and total carotenoid content. Pretreatment with pectinase enzyme up to 20 ppm does not significantly reduce the TFC and antioxidant activities. Acidified blanching and pectinase enzyme pretreatments have an impact on extraction of papaya fruit juice while retaining the nutritional composition of the juice. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Papaya (Carica papaya) is a fruit with great nutritional values but is highly perishable and prone to postharvest loss. Juice has become a more cost-effective and convenient option for preserving the fruit. However, since papaya is a pectin-rich fruit, the extraction of juice using mechanical pressing is difficult due to the bonding of juice to the pulp in the form of a jellied mass, which results in juice with low yield. Using acidified blanching and pectinase enzyme to clarify the juice not only increases the yield but also retains the nutrient composition of the juice.

Evolving Practice Pattern of Palliative Radiation Therapy for Bone Metastases from Lung Cancer in Australia.

AIMS: Radiation therapy is an effective treatment for bone metastases. Single-fraction conformal radiation therapy (SF-CRT) is equally effective as multifraction radiation therapy for the management of uncomplicated bone metastases. There has been a rapid development of advanced radiation therapy techniques (ART) in radiation oncology. We evaluated the changing pattern of SF-CRT and ART use for the management of bone metastases in lung cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a state-wide population-based cohort of lung cancer patients from Victoria, Australia, who received radiation therapy for bone metastases between 2012 and 2017. The primary outcomes were proportion of radiation therapy courses using: SF-CRT and ART. We identified a subcohort in which radiation therapy was delivered at the end of life (EOL), i.e. within 30 days of death. The Cochran-Armitage test for trend was used to evaluate the change in pattern of SF-CRT and ART use over time. Multivariable analyses were used to identify factors associated with the primary outcomes. RESULTS: Of the 4335 courses of radiation therapy for bone metastases in lung cancer, 20% were SF-CRT - increasing from 19% in 2012 to 26% in 2017 (P-trend = 0.004). In multivariate analyses, treatment to the rib, shoulder, hip or extremities, and treatment in public institutions were independently associated with SF-CRT use, but the effect of year of radiation therapy was no longer significant. Five per cent of radiation therapy was delivered using ART, increasing markedly from 2016 onwards (P-trend < 0.001). In multivariate analyses, treatment in private institutions and more recent years of treatment were independently associated with the use of ART. There were 587 courses of radiation therapy delivered at the EOL, with SF-CRT more commonly used closer to death - 53%, 29% and 25% of radiation therapy within 7 days, 8-14 days and 15-30 days of death, respectively. CONCLUSION: SF-CRT continued to be underutilised for bone metastases in lung cancer in Australia, including at the EOL. We observed an increase in ART use for bone metastases from 2016, which occurred contemporaneously with changes in government funding.

Hybrid organic PVDF-inorganic M-rGO-TiO2 (M = Ag, Pt) nanocomposites for multifunctional volatile organic compound sensing and photocatalytic degradation-H2 production.

This work focused on the development of a hybrid organic-inorganic TiO2 nanocomposite, which demonstrates the first ever report on harmful volatile organic compound (VOC) sensing and photocatalytic degradation-H2 production. The sensing and photocatalytic properties are enhanced by the synergetic effects of well-structured TiO2 nanotubes, metal nanoparticles and reduced graphene oxide loading for enhanced light absorption and charge-transfer kinetics. Hybridization of a functionalized TiO2 nanocomposite with a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) matrix induced strong cross-linking networks between the inorganic-organic components, which promote mechanical reinforcement-flexibility and highly porous asymmetric structures. The developed solution processable nanocomposite has immense potential to remedy the global environmental and energy issues by producing clean water/air and energy from organic compound waste.

Prevalence of transfusion-acquired hepatitis C in an Australian bleeding disorders population.

In Australia prior to 1992, many patients with bleeding disorders were exposed to hepatitis C through blood products. However, the incidence, complications and response to treatment of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) in this population are poorly characterized. The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of CHC and response to treatment in an Australian bleeding disorders population. Demographic data, virological data and liver disease status from these 700 patients with inherited bleeding disorders were analysed. Of these 700 patients, 424 (61%) had been tested for CHC infection and 219 (52%) were hepatitis C antibody positive, with the prevalence approaching 100% in patients with severe bleeding disorders. Of 219 patients, 73 (33%) had received treatment for their infection with a response rate of 33/73 (45%) across all genotypes. Of 219 patients, 34 (16%) had spontaneous viral clearance. When measured with transient elastography, 44/98 (45%) patients with CHC had significant liver fibrosis and 15/98 (15%) had liver cirrhosis. Of 130 patients, 38 (29%) with CHC infection had no evidence of follow-up with an appropriate clinician in the past 2 years. This study demonstrates that testing for CHC in this population is incomplete and treatment rates are low. Given the substantial morbidity and mortality associated with CHC and new therapeutic options becoming available, it seems important to reengage patients to diagnose, offer treatment and monitor this infection.

Formation of hybrid structures: copper oxide nanocrystals templated on ultralong copper nanowires for open network sensing at room temperature.

A facile large-scale synthesis approach for producing intrinsically p-type nanowires with uniform coverage of nanocrystals to form a highly interconnected porous nanowire network is of great demand for p-type sensing. Here, we have demonstrated synthesis of a very high aspect ratio (10(2)-10(5)) open network of interconnected hybrid nanocrystals-nanowire copper and copper oxide nanomaterials. The copper nanowire scaffold is employed to realize a porous and highly interconnected network of hybrid metal-metal oxide nanocrystal-nanowire structures. The structural and composition tunability of the hybrid nanomaterials is demonstrated. The hybrid copper-copper oxide nanowires exhibit enhanced gas/light sensing properties without any operating temperature. This may be attributed to enhanced medium diffusion due to the porous network of highly interconnected nanocrystal-nanowire structures.