Monitoring the crystallization of starch and lipid components of the cake crumb during staling.

Cake staling is a complex problem which has still not been fully understood. Starch polymers retrogradation, which is linked to biopolymers recrystallisation, is the most important factor affecting cake firmness in addition to water migration and fat crystallization. In this study, the effect of storage temperatures of 4°C and 20°C on starch retrogradation and fat recrystallization was investigated. Starch retrogradation can be tracked through changes in crystalline structure via X-rays diffraction as well as through melting of crystals via calorimetry. These techniques have been coupled to study the different phenomena occurring during staling. The results revealed that the storage of cakes at 20°C for 25 days showed more starch polymer retrogradation and more intense fat recrystallization in the ß form than at 4°C. Consequently, the staling was delayed when a low storage temperature like 4°C was used, which is recommended to retain high quality cakes during storage.

[Periurethral pseudocysts following urethral injections of Zuidex: review of the literature]. / Pseudokystes periurétraux en complication des injections urétrales de Zuidex: revue de la littérature.

Periurethral dextranomer/hyaluronic acid (Zuidex) is a mini-invasive technique for female stress-urinary incontinence and minimal adverse effects were described. Pseudocysts were recently described. Twenty-nine cases only are reported in the literature and the authors illustrate the review with an additional case. Asymptomatic cases, pain and low stream were observed. On clinical examination, a tenderness or visible periurethral deformation need to precise the characteristics with ultrasonography and MRI. Symptomatic cases may benefit from puncture, although the patients must be informed of a potential recurrence of the incontinence.

[Management of menometrorrhagia in women with and without pregnancy intention: hierarchy of therapies]. / Hiérarchisation des stratégies thérapeutiques pour ménométrorragies avec ou sans désir de grossesse.

The first line of treatment recommended for women with idiopathic menorrhagia is pharmaceutical agents, i.e. levonorgestrel intra-uterine device, tranexamic acid, estroprogestatif pills, oral progestin and non-sterodial anti-inflammatory drugs. The second line of treatment is surgical, using endometrial curettage for women who desire pregnancy in the future. On the other hand, in women who no longer intend to get pregnant either endometrial ablation or hysterectomy can be used. The menorrhagia associated with endometrial polyps is treated through the hysteroscopic polypectomy, which result can be improved by the use of the levonorgestrel intra-uterine device or the endometrial ablation. The menorrhagia related to submucosal myomas is managed by hysteroscopic myomectomy, either as a first line of treatment or following the failure of the pharmaceutical management. The first line of treatment of interstitial myomas is represented by the medical management, followed by laparoscopic or abdominal myomectomy for women who still want to be pregnant, and by myomectomy or uterine arteries embolization for women who no longer desire pregnancy. Hysterectomy is the most efficient treatment of menorrhagia due to interstitial myomas, and may be proposed either as a third line of treatment for the myomectomy and embolization failures or as a second line of treatment for women who do not wish to conserve their uterus. Finally, the treatment for women with clinically or radiologically suspected adenomyosis is medical, followed by hysterectomy for women who desire no pregnancy.