Characterization of Different Starches Oxidized by Hypochlorite

The effects of starch origin (potato, corn, and rice starches) and hypochlorite level (NaOCl, 0.8% and 2% w/w) on the structures and physicochemical properties of oxidized starches were investigated. Carboxyl and carbonyl group contents of oxidized starches increased with increasing NaOCl level, with potato starch having the highest and corn starch having the lowest carboxyl groups content at both NaOCl levels. Oxidation generally reduced the pasting temperature and viscosity of native starches as demonstrated by using a Rapid Visco Analyser. The peak viscosities of oxidized rice and corn starches were higher than those of their native counterparts at 0.8% NaOCl. The morphology of starches was not altered and X‐ray diffraction patterns of all the starches remained unchanged after oxidation. Oxidized starch batters exhibited greater adhesions than did native starch batters, with rice starch batter exhibiting the greatest adhesion. Carbohydrate profiles by high‐performance size‐exclusion chromatography indicated that both amylopectin and amylose were degraded during oxidation. The level of oxidation was largely dependent on the degree of crystallinity of starch and the degree of polymerization of amylose, whereas the adhesion property of oxidized starch was mainly attributed to its granular size and shape.     

Primary lung neoplasm of rare incidence: giant cell carcinoma

Primary giant-cell carcinoma of the lung is an infrequent observation. It is distinguished clinically solely its fairly rapid development but otherwise it does not seem to have any predilection for localization, age or sex. Histologically, differential diagnosis with othe tumours such as angiosarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, chorioepithelioma and others is of interest. Three cases of primary giant-cell carcinoma of the lung are reported and the various clinical and anatomopathological aspects discussed.