Comparative study of traditional and improved containers for transportation of fresh fish

Traditional bamboo basket and expanded polystyrene insulated plywood box (second hand tea-chest) were compared for transportation of iced marine, fresh water and brackish water fishes from Kakinada to Madras by rail. Quality of fish at dispatching and receiving centres was assessed by organoleptic, total volatile nitrogen (TVN) and total bacterial count (TBC) tests. Based on the results obtained and the prices fetched, the traditional bamboo basket apart from being cheaper was found to be as good as expanded polystyrene insulated plywood box for short distance transportation of iced fish involving less than 24 hours journey

Supplementary Material for: Idiopathic Duct-Centric Pancreatitis: Disease Description and Endoscopic Ultrasonography-Guided Trucut Biopsy Diagnosis

<p><i>Background/Aims:</i> Recent data demonstrate the presence of two autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) subtypes. All existing endoscopic ultrasonography-guided trucut biopsy (EUS-TCB) data pertain to type 1 disease. Our aim is to determine if EUS-TCB samples are sufficient for diagnosing type 2 AIP. <i>Methods:</i> This is a retrospective case series conducted in an academic tertiary care center. Patients included those with type 2 AIP (n = 5), retrospectively identified from a database of all patients with AIP, diagnosed by HISORt criteria (n = 125). The primary outcome measure was the diagnostic capability of EUS-TCB for type 2 AIP. <i>Results:</i> 5 patients (4 male, 1 female; mean age 39.6 years) who underwent EUS-TCB were diagnosed with type 2 AIP. The serum IgG₄ level was elevated in 1 of the 4 patients tested. CT/MRI revealed diffuse pancreas enlargement (n = 3), a pancreas head mass (n = 1), and a normal pancreas (n = 1). Prior to EUS, AIP was not specifically suspected, but part of a broad differential (n = 3) or not suspected at all (n = 2). Fine-needle aspiration was negative for neoplasia and AIP. The TCB histology was definitive (n = 4) or suggestive (n = 1) for type 2 AIP. No complications developed. <i>Conclusions:</i> EUS-TCB may be safe and may provide sufficient material to definitively diagnose type 2 AIP.</p