Ultrasound affects physical and chemical properties of Jerusalem artichoke and chicory inulin.

Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus L.) and Chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) have a heterogeneous collection of fructose polymers, known as inulin. This study was aimed to explore the effects of ultrasound (US) and autoclave (AC) on inulin physico-chemical properties as well as investigate structural characterizations and relationships with inulin physico-chemical properties. More specifically, Jerusalem artichoke powder (JA, 69.99% inulin in dry basis), purified inulin from Jerusalem artichoke (PJAI) and chicory inulin (CI) were studied to determine the effects of both treatments on reducing sugar contents, degree of polymerization (DP), water-holding capacity (WHC) and particle size. US (90 W, 20 KHZ) treatments had increased reducing sugar content up to 12.27% for PJAI, 10.86% for JA powder and 2.18% for CI. HPLC analysis showed that the DP of inulin decreased for PJAI after 2 min US treatment. WHC analysis showed that both treatments did not have significant effects (p > .05) on WHC for JA powder. This study suggests that US can be a preferable treatment for reducing the DP of inulin from JA for designing variety of food formulations. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Ultrasound treatments could result in more inulin breaking down into reducing sugars, and in the decrease of inulin DP. This research suggested that the DP of inulin might be a very important factor in ultrasound treatment for their affect in the absorption of energy from ultrasound. Therefore, ultrasound can be a desirable treatment for changing the degree of polymerization of inulin from JA for designing different food products. Future studies need to investigate the relationship between the viscosity of inulin solution and the de-polymerization of inulin caused by ultrasound treatment.

[The study on the value of the decompression to the optic nerve channel for the optic atrophy patients].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effective treatment method for the optic nerve atrophy. METHOD: Sixteen patients were diagnosed as optic nerve atrophy by examining the sight, eye base and VEP. There were no occupied lesion in the eye, nose sinus and the intracranial through the CT examination. The visual ability were become worse before the operation. This group of the patients were underwent the eye-nose-ethmoid -sphenoid approach to undergo the decompress of the optic nerve channel. During the operation, the ethmoid was removed and the sphenoid sinus was opened. When the optic nerve channel was found, more than half of it was removed. Then the whole nerve channel was opened. The sheath and the tendon of the optic nerve were opened in longitude direction. The antibiotic, hormone vessel dilation drugs were given. The changes of the visual ability, eye base and VEP between preoperation and postoperation were compared. RESULT: The visual ability and the VEP of 16 cases of the of the patients were improved. A week after the operation and three months latter examination of the eye base showed that ten of the patients got improved and six of them no change. There were no serious postoperative complication. CONCLUSION: The decompression of the optic nerve channel is the ideal method to deal with optic nerve atrophy.

[Endoscopic treatment of nasopharyngeal angiofibroma].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of endoscopic resection of nasopharyngeal angiofibroma. METHOD: Retrospective review was made of 7 patients with nasopharyngeal angiofibroma who were treated by endoscopic surgery from June 2001 to January 2003. RESULT: All cases were successfully treated by endoscopic excision with no postoperative complication. The patients remained free of disease after follow-up period of 3-18 months. CONCLUSION: The endoscopic management of nasopharyngeal angiofibroma appears to be feasible techniques. The advantages includes the minimal bleeding, shorter duration and efficacy.