ABSTRACT
Aim: The study aimed to evaluate different packaging materials at different storage conditions for improving the shelf life of guava fruits.Methodology: The guava fruits (Cv. Sardar) were stored at ambient and cold storage conditions (10°C, 90% RH) in four packaging materials viz., Cellulose acetate film bags (CAFB), Breathing bags (BB), Polypropylene bags (PPB) and Brown paper bags (BPB). The quality attributes like physiological loss in weight, colour, fruit firmness, sensory score and biochemical parameters such as non-reducing sugars, reducing sugars, total sugar, acidity, ascorbic acid, Total Soluble Solids (TSS) and pectin were evaluated. Results: There was significant effect of packaging materials and storage conditions on quality of guava fruits during storage. The average weight loss at ambient condition irrespective of packaging material was twice (0.86 % per day) than that of cold storage condition (0.41 % per day). The average weight loss irrespective of storage conditions was highest for control fruits at ambient condition (1.88 % per day) and lowest for the fruits packed in Polypropylene bags (0.018 % per day). The fruit firmness decreased with storage period. Non-reducing sugars, reducing sugars and total sugars increased initially and subsequently decreased. Titrable acidity, ascorbic acid and pectin reduced and total soluble solids increased with advancement of storage period. Sensory evaluation revealed that fruits stored in cellulose acetate film bags and breathing bags at cold storage conditions could achieve shelf life of 18 days with high overall acceptability. Interpretation: Studies revealed that the guava fruits can be stored upto 18 days in cellulose acetate film bags and breathing bags at 10°C with 90% RH storage conditions with acceptable sensory score.
ABSTRACT
Retinoblastoma has an increased inheritance risk of germline RB1 mutations in offspring and siblings, especially twins. Three families, each having one retinoblastoma-affected twin, were selected for genetic analysis and DNA profiling. Germline RB1 mutations were found in all probands. DNA profiling carried on similar-looking twins of families I and II, proved them to be fraternal. This study demonstrates the importance of genetic analysis of RB1 gene for risk prediction in retinoblastoma families. It also emphasizes that DNA profiling is a mandate for genetic screening of families with twins, thus adding a new dimension in counseling of retinoblastoma.
ABSTRACT
A stability indicating analytical method has been developed and validated. In this study Hydrochlorothiazide was degraded under different stress test conditions as per International Conference on Harmonization. The degraded samples were used to develop a stability-indicating high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method for the Hydrochlorothiazide. The Hydrochlorothiazide was well separated from degradation products using a reversed-phase (C-18) column and a mobile phase comprising of Methanol: Buffer pH- 3.2 (60:40 v/v) and other HPLC parameters were flow rate 1 mL/min, detection wavelength 270 nm and injection volume 20 μl. The method was validated for linearity, precision, accuracy, ruggedness and robustness. Results obtained after validation study indicating that the proposed single method allowed analysis of Hydrochlorothiazide in the presence of their degradation products formed under a variety of stress conditions. The developed procedure was also applicable to the determination of stability of the Hydrochlorothiazide in commercial pharmaceutical dosage form.
ABSTRACT
Shilajit is a mineral-rich complex organic compound used in the traditional system of Ayurvedic medicine for treating hypertension and improving the cardiac function with many herbomineral preparations. However, very little experimental evidence is available about its effect on the cardiac function. We used Daphnia as a model organism for observing the effect of shilajit on its heart due to its myogenic properties and its response to number of cardioactive drugs that are known to affect human heart function. Genome of Daphnia shows the strongest homology with the human genome. These characteristics of Daphnia make it an ideal organism for biomedical research. Our results suggest that this complex organic compound lowers the heart beats as its concentration increases from 1.0 to 100 ppm. The beats come to near normal condition at 1000 ppm. Above 1000 ppm, the beats are very fast and impossible to count. These results indicate a negative chronotropic effect on the Daphnia heart at low concentrations and a positive chronotropic effect to arrhythmia and fi nally failure at increasing higher concentrations of shilajit.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To assess their reproductive health problems and help seeking behaviour among urban school going adolescents. METHOD: A sample of 300 urban school going adolescents between 11-14 years were chosen at random and assessed using four tools namely, self administered questionnaire : provision of adolescent friendly services; medical screening and focus group discussions. RESULTS: Seventy two percent girls and 56% boys reported health problems during survey with an average of 1.93 complaints per girl and 0.5 complaints per boy. However, only 43% girls and 35% boys reported to the clinic voluntarily to seek help and only one fifth the amount of problems were reported at the clinic in comparison to the quantum of problems reported in survey, which probably reflects a poor health seeking behaviour. A medical checkup with emphasis on assessment of reproductive health and nutritional status helped in detecting almost the same number of reproductive health problems as reported by them in survey. This intervention helped to increase the client attendance in subsequent period of next one year from 43% to 60% among girls and from 35% to 42% among boys. CONCLUSION: Our study shows that to increase help seeking behaviour of adolescents, apart from health and life skill education, their medical screening with a focus on reproductive health by trained physicians, parental involvement, supported by adolescent friendly centers (AFC) for counseling, referral and follow up are essential.