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Pregelatinized starches are commonly used in many foods, particularly those processed at low temperature, to enhance viscosity and provide a desirable texture. The functional properties of the pregelatinized starch can be affected by other components used in food systems. The main purpose of this study was to determine the effects of various levels of L‐ascorbic acid (L‐AA) including 0, 100, 500, and 1000 mg/kg (starch basis) on some functional properties of pregelatinized wheat (PGW) and corn (PGC) starches. The pH of the samples was reduced significantly as the level of L‐AA increased. Cold‐water solubility increased while water absorption decreased with increasing concentrations of L‐AA and exposure time. Cold water viscosity as determined by a Rapid Visco Analyser decreased as the amount of L‐AA increased. Addition of L‐AA reduced gel firmness, increased turbidity during storage for 72 h and enhanced syneresis during five freeze–thaw cycles. The general behaviors of PGW and PGC starches in the presence of different levels of L‐AA were similar. However, PGW starch showed higher cold‐water viscosity, harder gel texture, more turbidity, and greater syneresis than the PGC starch.

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Background: Recurrent implantation failure (RIF) is the absence of implantation after three consecutive In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) cycles with transferring at least four good quality embryos in a minimum of three fresh or frozen cycles in a woman under 40 years. The definition and management of RIF is under constant scrutiny. Objective: To investigate the effects of Granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) on RIF, pregnancy rate, abortion rate and implantation rates. Materials and Methods: A double blind placebo controlled randomized trial was conducted at two tertiary university based hospitals. One hundred patients with the history of RIF from December 2011 until January 2014 were recruited in the study. G-CSF 300µg/1ml was administered at the day of oocyte puncture or day of progesterone administration of FET cycle. Forty patients were recruited at G-CSF group, 40 in saline and 20 in placebo group. Results: The mean age for whole study group was 35.3±4.2 yrs (G-CSF 35.5±4.32, saline 35.3±3.98, placebo 35.4±4.01, respectively). Seventeen patients had a positive pregnancy test after embryo transfer [10 (25%) in G-CSF; 5 (12.5%) in saline; and 2 (10%) in placebo group]. The mean of abortion rates was 17.6% (3), two of them in G-CSF, one in saline group. The implantation rate was 12.3% in G-CSF, 6.1% in saline and 4.7% in placebo group. Conclusion: G-CSF may increase chemical pregnancy and implantation rate in patients with recurrent implantation failure but clinical pregnancy rate and abortion rate was unaffected.