Berry wax improves the physico-mechanical, thermal, water barrier properties and biodegradable potential of chitosan food packaging film.

Chitosan (CT) is extensively applied in developing food packaging films due to its non-toxic, biodegradable, and good film-forming properties. But CT-based single polymer film has issues with poor physico-mechanical, thermal, and light barrier properties. Therefore, this study aimed to incorporate natural berry wax (BYW) at various concentrations (5 %, 10 %, 15 %, 20 %, and 25 %, wt%) into CT to improve the quality characteristics of CT film. The microstructure of the film matrix was effectively proven to be compatible with BYW through the utilization of SEM, XRD, and FTIR spectroscopy. The results demonstrated that the quality parameters of CT/BYW composite film were significantly affected by the increasing concentration of BYW. The integration of BYW with a concentration of 5 % to 20 % to CT substantially improved the film characteristics by reducing moisture content, swelling power, solubility, and water vapor permeability, increasing the film's opacity, thermal stability, and tensile strength as well as enhancing the biodegradable potential. Furthermore, CT/BYW films showed higher thermal stability and UV and visible light resistance compared to pure CT film. Taken together, the CT film with 20 % berry wax showed the best film characteristics and biodegradable potential, which could be promising for enhancing the shelf-life of various food products.

Extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma nasal type with central nervous system involvement mimicked tuberculous meningitis: A case report.

RATIONALE: Neurologic deficits are rare in patients with extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma (NKTL), nasal type. We present a case that was initially suspected as tuberculous meningitis, but later diagnosed as central nervous system metastasis of NKTL, nasal type, which has never been published previously. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 55-year-old Chinese man presented with persistent headache and fever. The initial head computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan was normal. Low glucose, elevated protein, and pleocytosis of cerebral spinal fluid led to a diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis. The patient did not respond to anti-tuberculosis treatment, and his symptoms aggravated. MRI showed abnormal lesions in the right hemisphere and a lesion in the maxillary sinus region. DIAGNOSIS: Endoscopic biopsy of the maxillary lesion showed features consistent with NKTL. Positron emission tomography revealed a hypermetabolic mass involving the right maxillary sinus and brain. INTERVENTIONS: The patient received chemotherapy. OUTCOMES: The patient died 30 days after chemotherapy. LESSONS: Lymphoma of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses is extremely rare and may be easily misdiagnosed. Nasal NKTL metastasis should be considered when a patient presents with symptoms of leptomeningeal involvement.