The raw material was treated under non-isothermal conditions (150-240 degrees C) and the effects on the composition of both liquid and solid phases were evaluated.

The yields and composition of the solid fraction and soluble products are presented and interpreted using the

severity factor (log R-0). The operational conditions for the maximum yield of xylo-oligosaccharides (XOS) of 53% of initial xylan, were established buy KPT-8602 for log R-0 of 3.75. Under these conditions 72% of xylan was hydrolysed while cellulose and lignin were not substantially affected although an increase in the enzymatic digestibility of cellulose was attained. For the severest condition (log R-0 =4.51) the solids contained 61.7% glucan and 31.0% lignin.

The XOS rich liquors and the glucan and lignin enrichment of the solid phase make corn straw a suitable raw material in a biorefinery framework and the hydrothermal treatment a favourable first step in the processing. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.”
“Obesity is a risk factor for female pelvic floor

disorders. The study objective was to determine whether AZD5153 clinical trial there was a difference in the subjective reporting of pelvic symptoms before and after bariatric surgery.

This was a prospective cohort study of female patients that underwent bariatric surgery. Patients completed a demographic questionnaire, the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory-20 (PFDI-20), and the Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire-7 (PFIQ-7) before surgery and at 6 and 12 months following surgery. Body mass index (BMI) was compared between time points using Student’s t tests (P < 0.05 significant). Symptom and impact on quality of life prevalence were compared using McNemar’s test and questionnaire scores were compared using the Wilcoxon matched pairs test (P < 0.025 significant).

At 12 months after surgery, 63 patients had completed the study. Even with significant weight loss (BMI, 43.7 kg/m(2) to BMI, 29 kg/m(2);

P < 0.001), there was no significant difference in the prevalence of pelvic floor symptoms before and after surgery (94% to 81%, P = 0.2). Prevalence of pelvic floor symptom impact on quality JQ1 research buy of life did significantly decrease after surgery (56% to 30%; P = 0.004). Baseline PFDI-20 and PFIQ-7 scores were low; however, there was still a significant reduction in PFDI-20 and PFIQ-7 scores after surgery (P < 0.001).

Prevalence of pelvic floor symptoms did not vary greatly after surgery; however, significant weight reduction did improve the degree of bother and quality of life related to these symptoms.”
“Background: There is growing interest in theory-driven, qualitative and mixed-method approaches to systematic review as an alternative to (or to extend and supplement) conventional Cochrane-style reviews.