Effect of heat moisture treatment and annealing on physicochemical properties of red sorghum starch

Red sorghum starch was physically modified by annealing and heat moisture treatment. The swelling power and solubility increased with increasing temperature range (60-90°), while annealing and heatmoisturetreatment decreased swelling power and solubility of starch. Solubility and swelling were pH dependent with higher values obtained at pH 12 in both native and modified starches. Water absorption capacities of both annealed and heat-moisture treated starches increased with increasing levels of moisture treatment while highest value was observed in annealed starch. Oil absorption capacity of annealed starch was increased which was contrast to heat-moisture treated starches which decreased from 160 glg in native starch to 140 glg in HMR18 and HMR27. Pasting analysis in the Rapid Visco Analyser (RVA) revealed that both annealing and heat-moisture treatment increased pastingtemperature, while alkaline water retention improved after physical modification

PLoS Negl Trop Dis

BACKGROUND: During the Ebola virus disease (EVD) epidemic in Liberia, contact tracing was implemented to rapidly detect new cases and prevent further transmission. We describe the scope and characteristics of contact tracing in Liberia and assess its performance during the 2014-2015 EVD epidemic. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We performed a retrospective descriptive analysis of data collection forms for contact tracing conducted in six counties during June 2014-July 2015. EVD case counts from situation reports in the same counties were used to assess contact tracing coverage and sensitivity. Contacts who presented with symptoms and/or died, and monitoring was stopped, were classified as "potential cases". Positive predictive value (PPV) was defined as the proportion of traced contacts who were identified as potential cases. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to identify characteristics among potential cases. We analyzed 25,830 contact tracing records for contacts who had monitoring initiated or were last exposed between June 4, 2014 and July 13, 2015. Contact tracing was initiated for 26.7% of total EVD cases and detected 3.6% of all new cases during this period. Eighty-eight percent of contacts completed monitoring, and 334 contacts were identified as potential cases (PPV = 1.4%). Potential cases were more likely to be detected early in the outbreak; hail from rural areas; report multiple exposures and symptoms; have household contact or direct bodily or fluid contact; and report nausea, fever, or weakness compared to contacts who completed monitoring. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Contact tracing was a critical intervention in Liberia and represented one of the largest contact tracing efforts during an epidemic in history. While there were notable improvements in implementation over time, these data suggest there were limitations to its performance-particularly in urban districts and during peak transmission. Recommendations for improving performance include integrated surveillance, decentralized management of multidisciplinary teams, comprehensive protocols, and community-led strategies

Comparison of immunisation coverage and drop out rates in rural and urban areas of Ogun State, Nigeria

No Abstract. The Tropical Journal of Health Sciences Vol. 12(2) 2005: 10-1

An Atypical Presentation Of Pancreatic Carcinoma With Malignant Pleural Effusion: A Case Report

Background: Pleural effusion secondary to pancreatic tumour is a relatively rare clinical presentation.Aim of study: To present a case of a patient that had pancreatic tumour who presented with features of left sided pleural effusion with a view to highlighting the clinical features of the presentation.Method of study: The case file of a patient that presented with left sided pleural effusion but later investigated and found to have carcinoma of the pancreas was studied. The clinical features and findings on examination are highlighted.Results: There was a left sided pleural effusion and computerized axial tomography scan showed a pancreatic tumour. A pancreatic and lymph node biopsies confirmed pancreatic adenocarcinoma.Conclusion: when there is pleural effusion (especially when it affects the left side) without an obvious cause, the abdomen should be thoroughly investigated for a possible occult intraabdominal malignancy.Keywords: Left sided pleural effusion, computerized axial tomography scan, pancreatic carcinoma