Cross-linking of partially hydrolyzed sesbania gum, property and characterization.

Sesbania gum (SG) was subjected to chemical modification via the first acidolysis followed by cross-linking under maintaining the basic framework of SG particles so that its performances could be well tailored. The modification of SG was preferred for food processing and drug sustained-release agent uses. The experimental results indicated that the size distribution of SG particles was slightly narrowed by the acidolysis, while the size distribution was apparently broadened by cross-linking. More interestingly, the acidolysis evidently enhanced the intensity of hydrolysate at diffraction angle of 14.5°. The cross-linking was able to improve the freeze-thaw stability, acid and alkali resistance of SG, while the acidolysis only improved the acid resistance. As a traditional role, the cross-linking could lead to the reduction in the swelling capacity of SG. The acidolysis and cross-linking raised the thermal stability of SG. The flattened peak of hydroxyl groups confirmed that the cross-linking groups were successfully introduced into the molecular chains of SG according to FTIR. The addition of SG, PHSG, CLSG and CLPHSG as additives could effectively influence the pasting behavior of potato starch.

Apolipoproteins as Differentiating and Predictive Markers for Assessing Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Small Cell Lung Cancer

PURPOSE: The present study aimed to investigate the value of apolipoproteins, including ApoA-1, ApoC-III, and ApoE, in patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) as potential biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis, and cancer progression. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Lung samples were collected from 89 patients with SCLC. Nineteen lung samples from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients and 12 normal lung tissues were used as controls. Expression profiles of ApoA-1, ApoC-III, and ApoE in different samples were examined using immunohistochemical methods, and the expression levels were correlated with cancer types, treatment, and outcomes using chi-square and Mann-Whitney tests. RESULTS: Expression of ApoA-1 and ApoC-III in SCLC was significantly different, compared with that in NSCLC and normal lung tissues, and was correlated with recurrence of SCLC. Patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy before surgery showed significantly reduced expression of ApoA-1 and increased expression of ApoC-III and ApoE. Nevertheless, the expression levels of ApoA-1, ApoC-III, and ApoE were not correlated with SCLC staging. CONCLUSION: ApoA-1 and ApoC-III may be used as differentiating and predictive markers for SCLC. ApoA-1, ApoC-III, and ApoE may be used to monitor the efficacy of chemotherapy.