Effect Of Edible Gum Coating,Glycerin And Calcium Lactate Treatment On The Post Harvest Quality Of Peach Fruit

Effect of edible gum and calcium lactate treatment on the post-harvest quality of whole peach fruits stored for 32 days at 100C were investigated. Different concentrations of additives were prepared e.g. peaches in treatments AS1 and AS2 were dipped in (1%) and (2%) calcium lactate solution respectively for 20 minutes and coated with xanthan gum (1%) + glycerin  (2.5%), whereas peaches in treatments AS3 and AS4 were dipped in (1%) and (2%) calcium lactate solution respectively for 20 minutes and coated with gum arabic (1%) + glycerin (2.5%) respectively. Treatment AS0 was left as control. The fruits were packed in corrugated soft board cartons and stored for the whole period of one month at ambient temperature and analyzed physicochemically i.e. total soluble solid, pH, ascorbic acid, titratable acidity, sugar acid ratio, % weight loss, % decay index, firmness and sensory (color, flavor, texture and overall acceptability) at every 4 days of storage interval. Statistical analysis showed that storage intervals and treatments had significant (P<0.05) effect on the quality characteristics of the whole peach fruits throughout storage. Physicochemical analysis of peach fruits disclosed that (1%) and (2%) calcium lactate solution and edible coating of  xanthan gum (1%) +  glycerin (2.5%) treated fruits had little improvement on shelf life extension of peach fruit while (1%) and (2%) calcium lactate solution and edible coating of gum arabic (1%) + glycerin (2.5%) treated fruits had shown better improvement. There was an increasing trend in TSS (8.37 - 10.93obrix),  pH (3.83-4.32), sugar acid ratio (9.32-14.85), weight loss (0- 4.66 %), decay index (0 - 42.73%) and a decreasing trend in firmness (1.8-0.31 kg), acidity % (0.90 -  73%), ascorbic acid content (7.0 - 4.25 mg/100g). There was a gradual decrease in color (8.1- 4.0), texture (8.4-5.5), flavor (8.3 - 4.7) overall acceptability (8.3 - 4.7). The maximum mean value for TSS was observed in treatment AS0 (10.02), pH AS0 (4.198), acidity % AS4 (0.86), sugar acid ratio AS0 (13.18), ascorbic acid AS4 (5.85), weight loss % AS0 (4.08), firmness AS4 (1.31), decay index % AS0 (22.91), color AS4 (7.17), texture AS4 (7.51), flavor AS4 (7.34) and overall acceptability AS4 (7.34). Key Words: Peach frui

Natural Antioxidants: An Update

Antioxidants are the body\u27s defensive mechanism against reactive oxygen species damage, which is typically caused by the different physiological activities that take place within the body. These antioxidants can be obtained from a variety of sources, including the body\u27s own endogenous antioxidants and exogenous dietary sources. Generally, food items and several types of medicinal plants are considered as the sources of natural antioxidants. Natural antioxidants possess wide variety of bioassay properties like anti-cancer, anti-aging, anti-inflammatory etc. The substitution of artificial dietary antioxidants with natural ones in recent decades has increased interest in low-cost raw materials, particularly agricultural-based products, for the discovery of new antioxidants. For both natural and synthetic antioxidants, reports of biological features such as anti-allergic, anti-mutation, anti-cancer and anti-aging activity have been reported. The most significant natural antioxidants come from regularly eating fruits and vegetables, although other plant materials and agricultural waste are also major sources of antioxidants

The Effect of Epidural Steroids on Postoperative Pain and Hospital Stay in Patients Having a Single-Level Lumbar Discectomy

OBJECTIVES To determine the effect of Epidural steroids on postoperative pain and hospital stay in patients having a single-level lumbar discectomy. METHODOLOGY A quasi-experimental study was conducted at the Neurosurgery department, Qazi Hussain Ahmad Medical Complex, Nowshera.  Sixty patients with a mean age of 40.3±9.21 years were enrolled. The enrolled patients were divided into two groups: Group A patients were given intraoperative epidural methylprednisolone 80 mg, while Group B patients were given only normal saline. Pre- and post-operative pain was assessed after 6 hours, 12 hours and at the discharge time from the hospital. The duration of hospital stay was also noted. RESULTSOut of 60 patients, 55.0% were male, and 45.0% were female, with an overall mean age of 40.3±9.21 years. The VAS score in Group A was 0.82±0.26 compared to 2.30±0.71 in group B (P <0.000). And at first follow-up, the VAS score was 0.13±0.05 and 1.25±0.33 in groups A and B, respectively.   The length of hospital stay was 1.39±0.44 and 1.98±2.50 in groups A and B, respectively. CONCLUSION Intra-operative epidural steroid is beneficial in reducing post-operative pain and hospital stay

Blending Old and New Teaching Methods and Tools in Medical Education

OBJECTIVES To identify a preference for current teaching methods and use new teaching aids through feedback by medical students and teachers of first and second-year MBBS. METHODOLOGY This cross-sectional study was conducted on 91 MBBS students and teachers of Nowshera Medical College (NMC), Nowshera. Both male and female students and teachers of NMC of class first and second-year MBBS participated in the study. A feedback proforma-based questionnaire was filled out by all the participants online using Google forms. Participants were given the option to select more than one option in the case of the mode of teaching and tool of teaching. The data was collected, analyzed and presented in tabular and graphical forms using SPSS version 23. RESULTS Out of the 91 participants who responded to our research, 45 (49.5%) were males, and 46(50.5%) were female. The majority, 74 (81.3%), were MBBS students, while 17(18.7%) were MBBS teachers. Most of the participants selected more than one option. Most 48(52.7%) of the participants preferred lectures as the mode of delivery while 35(38.4%) opted for SGD, for demonstrations 14(15.3%), PBL 33(36.2%), assignments 13(14.2%0 and notes opted by 4(4.39%). 60.4% (55) were selected to use whiteboards and markers. Only 15.3% (14) were in favour of Powerpoint use, dissection 25(27.4%), models 29(31.86%), and figures 11(12%). CONCLUSION Lectures remain the most preferred teaching method in basic medical sciences among teachers and students, along with other teaching methods. Multiple teaching tools must be used during the class instead of solely depending on Powerpoint presentations

Chemical insights into the synthetic chemistry of five-membered saturated heterocycles—a transition metal–catalyzed approach

Drug design and delivery is primarily based on the hunt for new potent drug candidates and novel synthetic techniques. Recently, saturated heterocycles have gained enormous attention in medicinal chemistry as evidenced by the medicinal drugs listed in the FDA Orange Book. Therefore, the demand for novel saturated heterocyclic syntheses has increased tremendously. Transition metal (TM)–catalyzed reactions have remained the prime priority in heterocyclic syntheses for the last three decades. Nowadays, TM catalysis is well adorned by combining it with other techniques such as bio- and/or enzyme-catalyzed reactions, organocatalysis, or using two different metals in a single catalysis. This review highlights the recent developments of the transition metal–catalyzed synthesis of five-membered saturated heterocycles

A new ceramide along with eight known compounds from the roots of Artemisia incisa pamp

A new compound (1) (named as artemceramide-B) together with eight known compounds (taraxerol (2), taraxerol acetate (3), β-sitosterol (4), stigmasterol (5), trans-ethyl caffeate, dracunculin (7), scoparone (8) and isoscopoletin (9) were isolated from an ethanolic extract of the roots of Artemisia incisa Pamp (Asteracae). The structures of the compounds were determined through IR, 1D NMR (1H NMR, 13C NMR) and 2D NMR (COSY, NOESY, HSQC and HMBC) analyses. Accurate mass analyses were done with EI-MS, ESI-MS and acid methanolysis of compound 1 followed by GS-MS studies. The relative stereochemistry of artemceramide-B was determined by comparing its specific rotation and spectroscopic data with the literature. Compounds 1-9 were tested for their anti-bacterial potential against five bacteria strains; Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli. Compound 1 (new) (MIC: 0.0157, 0.0313 mg/mL) and 7 (MIC: 0.0815 , 1.000 mg/mL) showed excellent activities against S. epidermidis and S. aureus while compound 9 showed excellent activities (MIC: 0.0700 , 1.234, 1.890 and 2.286 mg/mL) against S. epidermidis,S. aureus, K. pneumoniae and E. coli, respectively. Compound 6 (MIC: 2.000 mg/mL) was found to be active against E. coli while neither of the compounds showed potential activity against B. subtilis

The role of hospital service quality in developing the satisfaction of the patients and hospital performance

This paper aimed to examine a conceptual model for the relationships between hospital service quality, patient satisfaction, hospital utilization, and hospital financial performance. A total of 176 hospitals was selected from California State for this study. The standardized performance measures were used together with precisely defined specifications and standardized data collection protocols. First, an exploratory factor analysis with Varimax rotation was performed. The measurement prop-erties were then assessed in a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The analysis results show that quality had a significant effect on satisfaction, which, in turn, affected the financial performance. The results provide support for the previous findings indicated that service quality was positively associated with patient satisfaction and that satisfaction and utilization had a significant positive effect on financial performance. The analysis results provide support for the previous findings that hospital service quality is positively related to patient satisfaction. The findings also show that patient satisfaction and hospital utilization have a significant positive effect on hospital financial performance

SPTBN5, Encoding the βV-Spectrin Protein, Leads to a Syndrome of Intellectual Disability, Developmental Delay, and Seizures

Whole exome sequencing has provided significant opportunities to discover novel candidate genes for intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorders. Variants in the spectrin genes SPTAN1, SPTBN1, SPTBN2, and SPTBN4 have been associated with neurological disorders; however, SPTBN5 gene-variants have not been associated with any human disorder. This is the first report that associates SPTBN5 gene variants (ENSG00000137877: c.266A>C; p.His89Pro, c.9784G>A; p.Glu3262Lys, c.933C>G; p.Tyr311Ter, and c.8809A>T; p.Asn2937Tyr) causing neurodevelopmental phenotypes in four different families. The SPTBN5-associated clinical traits in our patients include intellectual disability (mild to severe), aggressive tendencies, accompanied by variable features such as craniofacial and physical dysmorphisms, autistic behavior, and gastroesophageal reflux. We also provide a review of the existing literature related to other spectrin genes, which highlights clinical features partially overlapping with SPTBN5

Antimicrobial properties of extracts and compounds isolated from Berberis jaeschkeana

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the anti microbial properties of Berberis jaeschkeana Schneid Var. jaeschkeana for the first time. The screening of B. jaeschkeana for its phytochemical constituents showed the presence of alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids, steroids, saponins reducing sugars and terpenoids. Crude ethanolic extract and different fractions showed good antimicrobial properties. Five compounds isolated for the first time from this plant also showed good antimicrobial properties. Columbamine was found to have excellent antimicrobial properties among all the compounds

NMR, Novel Pharmacological and In Silico Docking Studies of Oxyacanthine and Tetrandrine: Bisbenzylisoquinoline Alkaloids Isolated from Berberis glaucocarpa Roots

Urease enzyme is responsible for gastric cancer, peptic ulcer, hepatic coma, and urinary stones in millions of people across the world. So, there is a strong need to develop new and safe antiurease drugs, particularly from natural sources. In search for new and effective drugs from natural sources bioassay-guided fractionation and isolation of Berberis glaucocarpa Stapf roots bark resulted in the isolation and characterization, on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR data, of two bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids, oxyacanthine (1) and tetrandrine (2), followed by urease inhibition studies. Crude extract, all the subfractions and the isolated compounds 1 and 2 displayed excellent urease enzyme inhibition properties in vitro. The antiurease nature and possible mode of action for compounds 1 and 2 were verified and explained through their molecular docking studies against jack-bean urease enzyme. Half-maximum inhibitory concentration (IC50) was calculated for compounds 1 and 2. The IC50 value was found to be 6.35 and 5.51 µg/mL for compounds 1 and 2, respectively. Both compounds 1 and 2 have minimal cytotoxicity against THP-1 monocytic cells