EFFECTIVENESS OF SOLAR THERMOELECTRIC COOLER FOR FISH PRESERVATION: EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON QUALITY CHARACTERISTICS OF Pangasius bocourti FISH FILLETS DURING STORAGE

Preservation of fish products is a big issue where inconsistent electricity supply. In the current study, a solar thermoelectric cooler (STC) was fabricated by exploiting the solar energy and its cooling potential for fish preservation was evaluated. The STC consists of a photovoltaic (PV) panel, battery, PV charge controller, thermoelectric cooling system, and cooler box. The temperature of the STC decreased to 7.4ºC within 90 minutes and then reached 5±0.2ºC in 150 min. The cooling capacity and coefficient of performance of the STC were 23.8 W and 0.44, respectively, at an input electric current of 3.5 A. The Pangasius bocourti fish fillets were stored in the STC for 10 days and tested its quality at 2 days intervals. On day 10, thiobarbituric acid, peroxide, pH, water binding ability, total plate count values were 1.65mg MDA/kg, 5.04 mEqO2/kg, 7.16, 26.18%, and 4.26 log CFU/g, respectively. A significant reduction in hardness, springiness, and chewiness values was observed, whereas no cohesiveness changes. The color values L* and a* decreased significantly, whereas b* and ΔE increased. The sensory attributes were found in the range of 5.2-6.0 on the 10th day. As the quality parameters showing an acceptable level, STC could be an alternate green option for fish preservation

A study of stroke patients with respect to their clinical and demographic profile and outcome

Background: The incidence of cerebrovascular diseases increases with age and the number of strokes is projected to increase as the elderly population grows, with an effect of doubling in stroke deaths in the United States by 2030. This study was done to know the clinical demographic profiles and outcome of the patients presented with stroke in a tertiary care centre.Methods: 501 patients of stroke were included this study. Detailed history, physical examination and relevant systemic examination including detailed examination of neurological system were performed and necessary lab investigations were done.Results: Among 501 stroke patients 90 (18%) patients were of young and 236 (47.1%) of elderly (>60years). Among them 435 (86.8%) were hypertensive and 130 (25.9%) had H/O diabetes and 160(75.83%) had dyslipidemia. In CT scan or MRI of brain, 125 (25%) had lacunar infarction, 76 (15.1%) had non-lacunar infarction, 180 (35.9%) had parenchymal hemorrhage with no ventricular extension and 120 (24%) had parenchymal hemorrhage with ventricular extension. All patients who expired (n=95) presented with poor GCS (≤8) on admission regardless of the stroke subtypes. Among all lacunar infarctions, 92% occurred in hypertensive individuals and among all hemorrhagic strokes, 93.33% occurred in hypertensive patients. Non-lacunar infarction is the most common type of stroke among non-hypertensives (54.55%). And infarction is the most common type of stroke events in diabetics.Conclusions: Stroke can occur at any age, but the elderly persons are more commonly affected with a slight predilection to male. The hemorrhagic stroke outnumbers the ischemic stroke mainly because of uncontrolled hypertension. The GCS at presentation can predict the stroke outcome. Risk factors of stroke include Hypertension, smoking, high cholesterol and Diabetes, obesity, lack of exercise, and genetic factors

Basal-bolus insulin therapy during switching over from continuous intra venous regular insulin to sub cutaneous insulin therapy as compared to conventional regimens in type-2 diabetes patients admitted

Background: According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over 347 million people worldwide have diabetes. Latest estimates reveal that 25.4 million Americans have diabetes mellitus (DM), with up to 95% of those having type 2 DM. This study was done to know the effects of Glargine insulin plus human regular insulin on blood sugar control while switching over from continuous IV insulin infusion to SC route as compared to conventional SC insulin regimens in CCU setup.Methods: 65 patients of T2DM were included this study. Detailed history, physical examination and relevant systemic examination were performed and necessary lab investigations were done.Results: The mean age was 49.52±10.16. Mean FPG on 1st Day: The p value of B-B against PRE is significant. Mean FPG on Day of discharge: The p value of B-B against PRE is significant and B-B against NPH is also significant. Mean FPG 2Weeks after discharge: The p value of B-B against PRE is significant and B-B against NPH is also significant. Mean PPPG on 1st Day: The p value of B-B against NPH is significant. Mean PPPG on day of discharge: The p value of B-B against PRE is significant. Mean PPPG 2weeks after discharge: The p value of B-B against PRE is significant. Hypoglycemia was occurring in 25, 15, and 25 in BB, NPH, and PRE group respectively. The p value is significant when NPH compared to PRE.Conclusions: B-B regimen was better than other regimen for controlling FPG and PPPG. The insulin dose was high in NPH regimen compared to both B-B and PRE regimens. 

Etioclinical profile and outcome of acute bacterial meningitis in post neo natal U-5 children: a study from tertiary care center of coastal Odisha, India

Background: Acute bacterial meningitis (ABM) continues to remain an important cause of morbidity, mortality and handicap in children despite availability of wide range of antimicrobials. The microorganisms vary according to age, socio economic condition and geographical area along with other factors.Methods: A prospective study was conducted over 2.5 years from October 2012 to April 2015 in the department of pediatrics, SVP Institute of Pediatrics, SCB Medical College, Cuttak, Odisha, India. Total 104 subjects were included after taking meticulous inclusion criteria.Results: Out of 104 cases, majority (70.2%) were infants. 60.6% were male with M:F ratio 1.5:1. Fever was the commonest symptom in 69.2% followed by convulsion 61.5%, vomiting 36.5%, altered sensorium 33.7%. On examination 69.2% children were febrile, having bulging fontanelle in 34.6%, pneumonia 31.7%, positive meningeal sign 29.8%, cranial nerve palsies 14.4%, papilledema 12.5% and hemiplegia 11.5% cases. GCS were poor (100/cumm). In 82 cases (78.8%) etiological agents were identified consisting of H. influenzae in 46.4%, S. pneumoniae in 36.6%, E. coli in 8.6% and others in 8.4%. CT scan of brain revealed brain edema in 29.4% followed by subdural effusion 19.6%, hydrocephalus 17.6% and infarction in 5.9%. 63.5% children were recovered completely. Mortality was 16.3% with sequelae in 20.2% cases.Conclusions: Hib and Pneumococci were two most common organisms causing ABM in U-5 children with high mortality and sequelae which can be prevented by early diagnosis, optimum lab diagnostic facility and mass vaccination. There is urgent need to include Pneumococcal vaccine in NIP for substantial reduction of infant mortality

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Not AvailableSundarban area of West Bengal State in India is a complex-diverse-risk prone agro-ecosystem grappled with degraded soil, water logging, brackish ground water and marginal farm holdings. South west monsoon rain-fed paddy crop is the major production system and the farm families have to migrate to other areas for employment during the post-monsoon season. Farm pond based rain water harvesting and optimally utilizing it to cultivate vegetables and rearing fish in the pond would provide them employment, income and self-reliance on a sustainable basis is the solution. Rain water harvesting based production system models namely, land shaping for aqua-agri integration, brackishwater pond based polyculture and paddy-cum-fish farming were implemented to 370 beneficiary families to enhance the livelihood security at Kakdwip and Namkhana blocks of South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal. A set of 15 indicators were identified by the subject matter scientists to assess the outcome of the interventions in enhancing the livelihood security of farm families. Impact analysis was done using ‘before vs after’ and control vs treatment research design. Primary data were collected from the sample of 120 proportionate random sample beneficiary farm families using a structured questionnaire and focus group meetings. The findings substantially indicated that all the three farming models have contributed for enhancing the livelihood security levels of the farm families in terms of creation of livelihood asset mainly the farm pond, conservation of natural water for multiple cropping and aquaculture, enhanced capabilities, employment generation, improved production from the land/pond, enhanced income from farming, access to better market price, access to development institutions, minimization of migration during off-season, enhanced self-reliant, and social status of the farm families. The analyses have confirmed that all the three farming models have significantly contributed for the livelihood security of the coastal farm families (p<0.01). Therefore, the study suggested that the Government may evolve a scheme with inbuilt subsidy in up-scaling these models in the entire Sundarban region for enhancing the livelihood security of farm families.Not Availabl