Studies on thermal processing of Tuna-A comparative study in tin and tin-free steel cans

Tin-free steel can is an ideal alternative to open top sanitary tin cans (OTS) for thermal processing of little tuna (Ethynnus affinis) in curry used as filling media. Effect of heat penetration on physical, biochemical and sensory characteristics of canned tuna product were studied. The chemical analysis of raw tuna fish showed a protein content of 24.20 % and a lipid content of 1.37%. Comparatively, tuna used in the present study is more suitable for canning due to the presence of more protein and less fat in its flesh. Precooking is an important step in general canning process as it serves to reduce moisture content along with inhibiting enzymatic reaction, decreasing microbial load and cleansing the meat. The protein content of precooked tuna was 2.92% more than raw tuna due to relative concentration of moisture content decreases due to precooking. The percentage of yield of light meat and dark meat was 36.58% and 10.18% from whole cooked tuna and the same for dark and white meat was 28.40%. Tuna in curry packed in two metal containers subjected to thermal processing at 1150C for 70 minutes. The F0 (slowest heating point) values for canned tuna in curry packed in TFS and Tin cans obtained were 10.13 and 10.23 minutes and cook values were 145.5 minutes & 153.6 minutes respectively. During the storage period, the total volatile base nitrogen, trimethyleamine nitrogen, free fatty acid values were found to increase, while thiobarbituric acid value decreased and pH was slightly acidic. There was no significant difference (p<0.05) in appearance, colour, odour, taste, flavour, texture, overall quality of the raw tuna and final products. However, both canned products were acceptable even after storage of 5 months at ambient temperature and also, the product remained commercially sterile. It was concluded that according to quality of the product and heat penetration studies, tinfree steel container can be used as alternative to the open top sanitary tin cans for canning tuna meat

Investigation of features of May, 2001 tropical cyclone over the Arabian Sea through IRS-P4 and other satellite data

In this paper, utility of satellite derived atmospheric motion vectors and geophysical parameters is brought out to discern appropriate signals for improving short-range forecasts in respect of development/dissipation of tropical cyclones over the Indian region. Results of a particular case study of May, 2001 cyclone, which formed in the Arabian Sea are reported. Analysis of wind field with input of modified cloud motion vectors and water vapour wind vectors is performed utilizing Optimum Interpolation (OI) technique at 850 and 200 hPa for finding dynamical changes such as vorticity, convergence and divergence for the complete life period of this cyclone. Simultaneously, variations in geophysical parameters obtained from IRS-P4 and TRMM satellites in ascending and descending nodes are compared with dynamical variations for discerning some positive signals to improve short range forecasts over the Indian region. The enhancement of cyclonic vorticity at 200 hPa over larger area surrounding center of cyclone was observed from 26 to 28 May 2001 which gave a positive signal for dissipation of storm

COMPARISON OF EFFICACY AND ADVERSE DRUG REACTIONS OF MONOTHERAPY VERSUS COMBINATION THERAPY OF ANTIHYPERTENSIVES AMONG DIABETIC HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Objective: To compare the efficacy and adverse drug reactions of monotherapy and combination therapy of antihypertensive drugs in diabetic hypertensive patients.Methods: A prospective observational study of 18 months duration was conducted in the Department of Medicine of a tertiary care hospital in South India. A total of 200 patients were included in the study. Using a standard proforma, the details of patients such as demographic data and antihypertensive medications were collected and analyzed for efficacy and safety.Results: Of 200 patients studied, 50% received monotherapy whereas the remaining 50% received combination therapy. There was male preponderance (54%) in the study population, with the mean age being 60.07±11.32 years. In monotherapy group, most commonly prescribed drug was amlodipine (38%), whereas in combination group, angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) or calcium channel blocker (CCB) + beta blocker (18%) was commonly prescribed among 2-drug group and ARB+ thiazide+ CCB (25.6%) among 3-drug group. Monotherapy and combination therapy were analyzed to be equally efficacious in reducing systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure. Based on the adverse effect profile, monotherapy comparatively produced more adverse effects than combination group. Amlodipine-induced pedal edema (56.7%) was the most common adverse effect observed, and it was predominantly managed by changing it to be a better tolerable CCB, namely cilnidipine.Conclusion: The combination therapy may be a better treatment option in selected patient population.Keywords: Systolic blood pressure, Diastolic blood pressure, Amlodipine, Cilnidipine, Pedal edema

Synergistic Antibacterial Effects of Metallic Nanoparticle Combinations

© The Author(s) 2019.Metallic nanoparticles have unique antimicrobial properties that make them suitable for use within medical and pharmaceutical devices to prevent the spread of infection in healthcare. The use of nanoparticles in healthcare is on the increase with silver being used in many devices. However, not all metallic nanoparticles can target and kill all disease-causing bacteria. To overcome this, a combination of several different metallic nanoparticles were used in this study to compare effects of multiple metallic nanoparticles when in combination than when used singly, as single elemental nanoparticles (SENPs), against two common hospital acquired pathogens (Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas. aeruginosa). Flow cytometry LIVE/DEAD assay was used to determine rates of cell death within a bacterial population when exposed to the nanoparticles. Results were analysed using linear models to compare effectiveness of three different metallic nanoparticles, tungsten carbide (WC), silver (Ag) and copper (Cu), in combination and separately. Results show that when the nanoparticles are placed in combination (NPCs), antimicrobial effects significantly increase than when compared with SENPs (P < 0.01). This study demonstrates that certain metallic nanoparticles can be used in combination to improve the antimicrobial efficiency in destroying morphologically distinct pathogens within the healthcare and pharmaceutical industry.Peer reviewe

Post-bronchoscopy fatal endobronchial hemorrhage in a woman with bronchopulmonary mucormycosis: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>During infection, Mucorales fungi invade major blood vessels, leading to extensive necrosis, and in cases of extensive pulmonary disease, bleeding into the lungs may occur.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We report an unexpected event of post-bronchoscopy fatal endobronchial hemorrhage in a 62-year-old HIV-negative Italian woman with well controlled diabetes mellitus who presented with diffuse cavitated pulmonary lesions. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy revealed bilateral obstruction of the segmental bronchi. Fatal massive bleeding occurred after standard biopsy procedures. Histologic examination showed that the hyphae were more deeply colored by hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) than by other stains for fungi. Culture and autopsy confirmed bronchopulmonary mucormycosis.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Infection by Mucorales fungi should be considered in the diabetes population regardless of the degree of metabolic control. In these patients, particular caution should be taken during bronchoscopic procedures because of the greater friability of the fungal lesions.</p

Combination therapy of disseminated coccidioidomycosis with caspofungin and fluconazole

BACKGROUND: The current recommended therapy for diffuse coccidioidal pneumonia involves initial treatment with amphotericin B deoxycholate or high-dose fluconazole, followed by an azole after clinical improvement. Amphotericin B is more frequently used as initial therapy if the patient's deterioration is rapid. CASE PRESENTATION: A 31-year-old Korean male with coccidioidomycosis presented to the hospital with miliary infiltrates on chest X-ray (CXR) and skin rash on the face and trunk. Initially, the patient did not respond to amphotericin B deoxycholate therapy. However, following caspofungin and fluconazole combination therapy, the patient showed favourable radiological, serological, and clinical response. CONCLUSION: This appears to be the first case of diffuse coccidioidal pneumonia with skin involvement in an immunocompetent patient who was treated successfully with caspofungin and fluconazole. Combination therapy with caspofungin and fluconazole may, therefore, be an alternative treatment for diffuse coccidioidal pneumonia that does not respond to amphotericin B deoxycholate therapy

Observation of associated near-side and away-side long-range correlations in √sNN=5.02 TeV proton-lead collisions with the ATLAS detector

Two-particle correlations in relative azimuthal angle (Δϕ) and pseudorapidity (Δη) are measured in √sNN=5.02  TeV p+Pb collisions using the ATLAS detector at the LHC. The measurements are performed using approximately 1  μb-1 of data as a function of transverse momentum (pT) and the transverse energy (ΣETPb) summed over 3.1<η<4.9 in the direction of the Pb beam. The correlation function, constructed from charged particles, exhibits a long-range (2<|Δη|<5) “near-side” (Δϕ∼0) correlation that grows rapidly with increasing ΣETPb. A long-range “away-side” (Δϕ∼π) correlation, obtained by subtracting the expected contributions from recoiling dijets and other sources estimated using events with small ΣETPb, is found to match the near-side correlation in magnitude, shape (in Δη and Δϕ) and ΣETPb dependence. The resultant Δϕ correlation is approximately symmetric about π/2, and is consistent with a dominant cos⁡2Δϕ modulation for all ΣETPb ranges and particle pT