Sensory and nutritional evaluation of unleavened flat bread prepared by multigrain flour mixture

The present study was undertaken to develop the value added food product using multigrain flour mixture and to assess its sensory and nutritional composition of unleavened flat bread (Chapatti). It was standardized as Control (T0). Along with control; three variations of Chapatti were prepared by replacing wheat flour with different ratio of multigrain flour mixture which referred as T1, T2, T3 and T4 respectively. They were tested for different attrib-utes (Taste and Flavour, Colour and Appearance, Body and Texture and Overall Acceptability). A food composition table given by Gopalan, et.al, 2007 was used to determine the nutritional composition of Chapatti. Appropriate statis-tical technique was opted for the analysis. The result revealed that the T1 (8.05±0.00) was found most acceptable with regards to its sensory attributes followed by T0 (7.70±0.42), T2 (7.55±0.08), T3 (7.22±0.98) and T4 (6.64±0.46) respectively. Energy (ranging from 388-436 Kcal), Protein (ranging from 22-28 g), fat (ranging from 13-21 g), cal-cium (ranging from145-192 mg), phosphorus (ranging from 466-501 mg), fiber (ranging from 3-4g) and iron (ranging from 6-7 mg) were increased in treatments as compared to control except carbohydrate. Thus, it can be concluded that value added product has good organoleptic and nutritional quality

An evaluation of infant visual acuity using Lea Grating paddles and Teller Acuity Cards

Purpose: Basic research to determine clinical validity of the Lea Grating paddles has not yet been conducted. 10 This study involves the evaluation of infant (0 to 18 months) grating acuity with Lea Grating Paddles and Teller Acuity Cards (TAC) in a clinical setting. The goal is to compare the acuity measure obtained with both methods, and establish age-related acuity norms for the newer Lea Grating system. Methods: Thirty-frve subjects were recruited with parent/guardian consent. Subjects were comprised of newborns and infants ranging in age from 5 days to I 7 months. The assessment of infant visual acuity was performed using the Lea Grating Paddles and the Teller Acuity Cards. Procedural manuals for both techniques were used as reference guidelines. Testing was performed in a standard examination room with normal room illumination. One tester presented the gratings to the infant and determined which direction the infant was looking, while another tester documented acuity levels based on the first tester\u27s observations. Binocular testing followed by monocular testing was conducted. Testing took approximately 15 minutes to complete per child. Results: T-testing showed no significant difference between the Lea Paddles and TAC binocular means for each four-month interval age group. ANOVA binocular testing for the Lea Paddles and TAC indicated an asymptotic increase in acuity with age, leveling-off starting at four months and older. ANOVA monocular results for both procedures suggested a sigmoidal increase in acuity with age, leveling-off between 4- I 2 months of age. According to the scatter plot, a strong correlation was found for both procedures when means were calculated for the four interval age groups. Correlation coefficient between the Lea Paddles and TAC for binocular and monocular findings were 0.9930 and 0.9910 respectively. Conclusion: In summary, it was found that any benefit of the Lea Grating Paddles over the TAC is primarily for the clinician. It was easier to obtain the attention of the infants with the Lea Grating Paddles. In addition, the lower cost and increased portability of the Lea Grating Paddles are desirable features for the clinician. While values in this study corresponded with the norms set by the Lea manual, future studies may be useful to establish a larger base of normative data

Sirenomelia-the mermaid syndrome: a rare invariably fatal congenital anomaly in a term unsupervised pregnancy

Sirenomelia is a rare congenital anomaly with an incidence of 0.8 to 1 case per 1,00,000 births. The prognosis is grim due to associated genitourinary and gastrointestinal anomalies. Antenatal registration in the first trimester and timely ultrasound go a long way in detection of the anamoly when termination can be still be offered and the mental agony of giving birth to a term neonate with a fatal congenital anomaly can be avoided.

Allelic dimorphism of Plasmodium vivax gam-1 in the Indian subcontinent

BACKGROUND: Genetic polymorphism is an inevitable component of a complex organism especially in multistage infectious organisms such as malaria parasites. Understanding the population genetic structure of the parasites would provide valuable information for effective malaria control strategies. Recently, the development of molecular tools like PCR has made analysis of field samples possible and easier and research on Plasmodium vivax has also been strengthened. Not many reports are available on the genetic polymorphism of P. vivax from the Indian sub-continent. This study evaluates the extent of diversity in field isolates of India with respect to Pvgam-1. METHODS: A study was designed to assess the diversity of Pvgam-1 among field isolates from India, using a nested PCR assay. Field isolates were collected from different regions of the country and the observed variability was confirmed by sequencing data. RESULTS: Both Belem and Chesson type alleles were present either exclusively or in mixed form among isolates of all 10 study sites. The Belem type allele was predominant, occurring in 67% of isolates. The proportion of isolates showing the mixed form (both Belem and Chesson type alleles occurring together in the same isolate) was about 13 overall (up to 38.5% in some isolates). Sequencing of the PCR-amplified Belem and Chesson type alleles confirmed the PCR results. Among the 10 study sequences, 11 polymorphic sites and four singleton variations were observed. All the nucleotide substitutions were non-synonymous. CONCLUSION: Study shows limited diversity of Pvgam-1 marker in Indian isolates with well representation of both Belem and Chesson type alleles

Plasmodium falciparum glutamate dehydrogenase is genetically conserved across eight malaria endemic states of India: Exploring new avenues of malaria elimination.

Accurate and timely diagnosis is very critical for management, control and elimination of the malaria. Malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) have improved the diagnosis and management of malaria in remote areas, community and places where microscopy is not available for diagnosis. According to WHO report 2018, Plasmodium falciparum malaria constitutes more than 50% of malaria cases in India. Most of the RDTs used for diagnosis of falciparum malaria today employ HRP2 as a target antigen. However, low density parasitemia and deletion of hrp-2 gene in P. falciparum leads to false negative results and necessitates the development of alternative/ new or improved RDT for malaria diagnosis. We have analysed the genetic diversity and homology modelling of Pfgdh (glutamate dehydrogenase), ldh (lactate dehydrogenase) and aldolase genes in P. falciparum isolates from the eight endemic states of India to assess their potential as antigen for RDT development. We observed negligible sequence diversity in Pfgdh in comparison to the low level of diversity in ldh and aldolase gene. No structural or functional changes were observed in modelling studies and all three genes were under negative purifying selection pressure. The highly conserved nature of pfgdh gene suggests that GDH could be a potential target molecule for Pan/Pf diagnostic test for malaria

Surgical site infection rates in six cities of India: findings of the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC)

Surgical site infections are a threat to patient safety. However, in India, data on their rates stratified by surgical procedure are not available. From January 2005 to December 2011, the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC) conducted a cohort prospective surveillance study on surgical site infections in 10 hospitals in 6 Indian cities. CDC National Healthcare Safety Network (CDC-NHSN) methods were applied and surgical procedures were classified into 11 types, according to the ninth edition of the International Classification of Diseases. We documented 1189 surgical site infections, associated with 28 340 surgical procedures (4.2%; 95% CI: 4.0-4.4). Surgical site infections rates were compared with INICC and CDC-NHSN reports, respectively: 4.3% for coronary bypass with chest and donor incision (4.5% vs 2.9%); 8.3% for breast surgery (1.7% vs 2.3%); 6.5% for cardiac surgery (5.6% vs 1.3%); 6.0% for exploratory abdominal surgery (4.1% vs 2.0%), among others. In most types of surgical procedures, surgical site infections rates were higher than those reported by the CDC-NHSN, but similar to INICC. This study is an important advancement towards the knowledge of surgical site infections epidemiology in the participating Indian hospitals that will allow us to introduce targeted interventions