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Treatment with a magnetic induced electric field (MIEF) under acidic conditions has proven to be an effective method for modifying pectin, enhancing its functional attributes. In this study, the effects of varying excitation voltages of MIEF under acidic conditions on the physicochemical, structural, and functional properties of citrus pectin (CP) were explored. The results demonstrated that compared to CP without MIEF treatment, MIEF-treated CP exhibited enhanced thermal stability, rheological behavior, emulsifying and gel-forming abilities, and antioxidant capacity. These improvements were attributed to higher degrees of esterification, reduced molecular weights, and increased levels of galacturonic acid and homogalacturonan in the structural backbone of the treated CP. Additionally, MIEF treatment under acidic conditions altered the surface morphology and crystalline structure of CP. Therefore, our findings suggest that applying moderate excitation voltages (150–200 V) during MIEF treatment can enhance the functional properties of CP, leading to the production of high-quality modified pectin. [Display omitted] • MIEF treatment under an acidic condition was used to modify citrus pectin (CP). • MIEF-assisted acid treatment CPs had higher GalA content and DE value, and lower M w. • MIEF-assisted acid treatment improved functional properties of CP. • Increasing excitation voltage resulted in the enhancement of the hydrolysis of CP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • PFP-T and PFP-UM were slightly degraded after in vitro gastrointestinal digestion. • PFP-T and PFP-UM were obviously degraded and utilized by intestinal microorganisms. • PFP-T and PFP-UM effectively stimulated the proliferation of beneficial bacteria. • PFP-T yielded higher SCFAs content and had better prebiotic potential than PFP-UM. In this study, two pectic polysaccharides (PFP-T and PFP-UM) were extracted from fresh passion fruit peels using three-phase partitioning (TPP) and sequential ultrasound-microwave-assisted TPP methods, respectively, and their effects on the in vitro gastrointestinal digestion and fecal fermentation characteristics were examined. The results indicate that gastrointestinal digestion has a minimal effect on the physicochemical and structural characteristics of PFP-T and PFP-UM. However, during in vitro fecal fermentation, both undigested PFP-T and PFP-UM are significantly degraded and utilized by intestinal microorganisms, showing increased the total relative abundance of Firmicutes and Bacteroidota in the intestinal flora. Notably, compared with PFP-UM, PFP-T better promoted the reproduction of beneficial bacteria such as Prevotella , Megasphaera and Dialister , while suppressed the growth of harmful genera including Escherichia-Shigella , producing higher content of short-chain fatty acids. Therefore, our findings suggest that PFP-T derived from passion fruit peel has potential as a dietary supplement for promoting intestinal health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Inversed probability weighted (IPW) estimators are commonly used to adjust for time-fixed or time-varying confounders. However, in high-dimensional settings, including all identified confounders may result in unstable weights leading to higher variance. We aimed to develop a visualization tool demonstrating the impact of each confounder on the bias and variance of IPW estimates, as well as the propensity score overlap.Methods: A SAS macro was developed for this visualization tool and we demonstrate how this tool can be used to identify potentially problematic confounders of the association of statin use after myocardial infarction on one-year mortality in a plasmode simulation study using a cohort of 39,792 patients from the UK (1998-2012).Results: Through the tool's output, we can identify problematic confounders (two instrumental variables) and important confounders by comparing the estimated psuedo MSE with that from the fully adjusted model and propensity score overlap plot.Conclusion: Our results suggest that the analytic impact of all confounders should be considered carefully when fitting IPW estimators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Bone metastasis and the number of metastatic lesions > 3 were independent prognostic indicators for M1 NPC patients receiving PICT. • A new two-category M1 subdivision for patients receiving immuno-chemotherapy was generated based on the RPA analysis. • Liver metastasis was no longer an independent prognostic factor for M1 NPC patients receiving PICT. This study aims to better manage de novo metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients receiving palliative immuno-chemotherapy (PICT), thereby easily determining individual survival outcomes. Patients with de novo metastatic NPC from four centers who received first-line PICT were included. We developed a nomogram for the pretherapy overall survival (OS) prediction using a logistic regression model in the training cohort (n = 296). We assessed the performance of this nomogram in a validation cohort. A total of 592 patients were included. The median follow-up time was 29.83 months. Bone metastasis (HR, 2.46; 95 % CI, 1.01–6.21; p = 0.049) and the number of metastatic lesions > 3 (HR, 2.78; 95 % CI, 1.24–6.24; p = 0.013) were independent prognostic indicators. A new two-category M1 subdivision was generated: M1a, defined by the absence of co-existing bone metastasis and the presence of more than three metastatic lesions; and M1b, characterized by the presence of co-existing bone metastasis and the presence of more than three metastatic lesions. The 3-year OS rates of patients with M1a vs. M1b were 87.1 % vs. 60.3 % (p < 0.001). The C-indexes were 0.652 and 0.581 in the training and validation cohorts. The 1-, 2-, and 3-year areas under the curve (AUC) were 0.69, 0.68, 0.68 in the training cohort and 0.64, 0.6, 0.6 in the validation cohort. DCA curves also indicated that the nomogram has good clinical utility. The proposed M1 subdivision provides good OS segregation for patients receiving PICT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we explored the use of magnetic-induced electric field (MIEF) treatment at various excitation voltages to assist three-phase partitioning (TPP) methods in extracting and separating pectic polysaccharides (PFPs) from the peel of fresh passion fruit (Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa). The findings indicated that applying MIEF treatment prior to TPP separation significantly reduced the total sugar and galacturonic acid contents, as well as the degree of esterification of PFPs, with increasing excitation voltage. This treatment notably enhanced their yields and molecular weights. Although the MIEF treatment did not alter the monosaccharide composition of PFPs, it significantly modified their molar ratios of monosaccharides, thereby altering the backbone structure and neutral sugar side chains, which resulted in varied microstructures. Furthermore, especially at higher excitation voltages (≥300 V), the MIEF treatment improved the thermal stability, rheological, and emulsifying properties of PFPs. Consequently, our data suggest that the MIEF-assisted TPP method is a promising approach for the efficient and environmentally friendly preparation of pectic polysaccharides from plant materials. [Display omitted] • Magnetic-induced electric field (MIEF)-assisted three-phase partitioning was set up. • MIEF effectively increased the yield of passion fruit peel polysaccharides (PFPs). • MIEF treatment obviously affected physicochemical and structural properties of PFPs. • MIEF treatment at a high excitation voltage improved functional properties of PFPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the influences of various concentrations of β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) on the gelation properties of curdlan thermo-irreversible gels were evaluated. The results revealed that water-holding capacity and freeze-thaw stability of the curdlan/β-CD complex gels initially increased but then decreased with increasing β-CD concentration, with the curdlan gel containing 1 % (w / v) β-CD demonstrating the best performance. Moreover, textural characteristics including hardness, gumminess, cohesiveness, and chewiness exhibited similar trends, but springiness showed minor effect. Compared with the pure curdlan gel, the curdlan/β-CD mixed gels exhibited better elastic behavior and greater thermal stability but lower crystallinity. Additionally, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of the curdlan/β-CD composite gels revealed fine network structures with relatively continuous pores. The intermolecular hydrogen bonds between curdlan and β-CD were responsible for the enhanced gel properties. Thus, these data suggest that the inclusion of β-CD ameliorates the texture and stability of the curdlan gel by forming hydrogen bonds. • β-CD addition can improve the gel properties of curdlan thermo-irreversible gels. • The curdlan gel containing 1 % β-CD demonstrates the best gelling performance. • Curdlan/β-CD gels show fine network structures with continuous and uniform pores. • The hydrogen bond interaction is conducive to the formation of curdlan/β-CD gels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the effect of trehalose addition (0.5–2.0%) on the gelation properties of curdlan gels were investigated. The results demonstrated that the optimal gelation performance of curdlan-trehalose composite gel was determined at trehalose concentration of 1.0% with preferable water holding capacity, water absorption rate, and freeze-thaw stability. The gelation behavior of the curdlan-trehalose composite gel showed a more intense network structure with increasing storage modulus (G′), loss modulus (G″), and deceasing tan δ at the trehalose concentration in the range of 0%–1%. And the highest gel strength was also observed in 1% trehalose addition. Moreover, the structures characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Low field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF-NMR) and scanning electron microscope analysis (SEM) all revealed that the addition of trehalose strengthened the hydrogen bonding interaction with curdlan to create a much denser network of composite gel, which would provide a better mechanistic insight of the curdlan-trehalose gel in practical application potentials in food and medicine. [Display omitted] • A novel curdlan-trehalose composite gel system was prepared and characterized. • Trehalose addition could enhance the gelling and rheological properties of composite gels. • The hydrogen bonding interaction dominated the formation of the composite gel. • 1.0% trehalose was the critical concentration for the optimal composite gel system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Through natural evaporation of the reaction solutions of ZnX2 (X=Cl−, CH3COO− and SCN−) and the ligand 2,6-bis(pyridine-4-carboxamido)pyridine (L), three new coordination compounds, [Zn(L)(Cl)2] n ·nCH3OH·nH2O (1), [Zn(L)(CH3COO)2]2 (2) and [Zn(L)3(SCN)2] n (3) have been obtained. In these zinc(II) complexes, ligand L displays various conformers and coordination modes to fabricate the helical chain of 1, the discrete dimer of 2 and the zigzag chain of 3, with the coordination number of ZnII varying from 4 for 1, 5 for 2 to 6 for 3. Through complementary amide hydrogen bonds, their structures are extended into chiral layers, 1D ribbons and a 3D supramolecular network, respectively. Interestingly, the coordination numbers of ZnII, as well as the molecular and supramolecular structures of the resulting coordination complexes, are obviously tuned with the X anion used. Additionally, the TGA of 1 and 2 as well as the fluorescence of the free ligand L and 1 were measured in the solid state. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objectives: Nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel (NAB-paclitaxel) was designed to avoid solvent-related toxicities, and improve anti-tumor efficacy via increasing paclitaxel's intratumoral concentration and its uptake by tumor cells. This trial aimed to determine the safety and efficacy of induction NAB-paclitaxel combined with cisplatin followed by concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) in patients with locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (LA-NPC).Patients and Methods: Patients with stage III-IVb NPC received NAB-paclitaxel (260mg/m2) combined with cisplatin (80mg/m2) intravenously on days 1 and 22, followed by cisplatin (80mg/m2) on days 43 and 64, concomitant with intensity-modulated radiation therapy. This trial is registered with the Chinese Clinical Trials Registry, number ChiCTR-ONC-12002615.Results: From July 2010 to November 2013, 36 eligible patients with nonmetastatic stage III-IVb NPC were enrolled. The objective response rates were 97.2% (eight complete responses [CRs] and 27 partial responses [PRs]) and 100% (30 CRs and six PRs) after two cycles of induction chemotherapy (ICT) and CCRT, respectively. With a median follow-up time of 45months, the estimated 3-year progression-free survival and cancer-specific survival were 86.1% (95% confidence interval [CI], 69.8-99.8%) and 91.7% (95% CI, 68.9-100.0%), respectively. The most frequent grade 3-4 toxicities were neutropenia (8.6%) and nausea (8.6%) after ICT and thrombocytopenia (34.3%) and leukopenia (28.6%) after CCRT.Conclusion: NAB-paclitaxel combined with cisplatin as an ICT regimen showed encouraging anti-tumor effects and manageable toxicities in LA-NPC. Further randomized controlled trials in phase III of NAB-paclitaxel in patients with LA-NPC are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Whether the waiting time for radical radiotherapy (WRT) detrimentally impacts nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) prognosis is unclear. We estimated the influence of WRT on overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) of NPC. Patients and methods Patients were identified from prospectively maintained database. WRT was calculated from histological diagnosis to initiation of radiotherapy (RT). Survival analysis was estimated using Weibull parametric model and propensity score analysis (PSA). Recursive partitioning analysis (RPA) identified optimal WRT threshold via conditional inference trees to estimate the greatest survival differences based on randomly selected training and validation sets, and this process was repeated 1000 times to ensure threshold robustness. Sensitivity analysis estimated effects of potential unmeasured confounders. Results A total of 9896 patients were included. In multivariate analysis, WRT of 31–60°d, of 61–90°d and of greater than 90°d independently increased mortality risk compared to less than 30°d. Upon RPA, ranges of 30–35°d with the peak of 30°d were confirmed with 89% of simulations validating optimal thresholds. In threshold-based groups, adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for WRT of greater than 30°d by both Weibull model and PSA were significantly higher than for WRT of less than 30°d [OS: HR = 1.13, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.04–1.23, P = 0.003; DSS: HR = 1.15, 95% CI 1.05–1.26, P = 0.002]. Sensitivity analysis revealed robustness of results. Conclusions WRT independently affects survival. Increasing WRT beyond 30°d was most consistently detrimental to survival. WRT of NPC should be as short as reasonably achievable (ASARA). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]