[Comparison of physical, chemical, rheological and baking properties of some local and imported wheat varieties]

This study was conducted to compare Physical, Chemical, Rheological, and Baking characteristics of some local [Pawni and Samra] and imported [Australian and U.S.] wheat varieties. All grains were cleaned and subjected to Physical tests and then ground and subjected to Chemical, Rheological, and Baking tests. Results of physical characteristics showed high humidity in Australian and U.S. wheat grains, and lower in local wheat grains of both Samra and Pawni varieties. Thousand-grain weight of local wheat Samra and Pawni recorded high values, while American wheat showed the lowest values. Imported wheat showed higher specific weight and had the highest average value of Particles Size Index [PSI%] as compared to local wheat varieties. Results of chemical characteristics of local wheat flour Samra and Pawni showed higher percentage of lipid, protein, ash, damaged starch granules, total Pentosans and water soluble Pentosans contents as compared to imported varieties, while the proportion of crop flour and wet gluten were higher in imported wheat compared with local wheat flour. All wheat varieties, particularly Samra and Australia showed lower activities of amylases enzymes as compared to best value. Farinograph results indicated that water absorption of local wheat flour [Pawni and Samra] was higher than imported wheat flour especially U.S. wheat flour. Australian wheat flour showed high dough development and stability time compared with local wheat flour; however, imported American wheat flour recorded lower value. There was no significant difference [P?0.05] between the two types of local wheat flour on the average values of development and stability time. Results of baking characteristics and sensory evaluation indicated that imported Australian wheat flour showed the highest specific loaf volume, followed by American; however, local wheat flour had the lowest volume. The results of sensory evaluation agreed with the results of baking characteristics regarding to baking quality factors

Tiger bite: an unapprehended injury

This short communication describes the various modes of presentation, complications and management of tiger bite. All patients presenting to the emergency department with a history of tiger bite were included in the study. A total of 6 patients were admitted at the Department of Surgery, Khulna Medical College Hospital, Bangladesh, from 2003 to 2006. Injury involved different parts of the body; predominantly, the upper part. All patients needed emergency surgery including wound toileting, debridement and even reconstructive surgery. One patient died due to infective complications. Tiger bite is a major public health problem in the greater Sundarban area of Bangladesh. Timely hospitalization and effective management can save valuable human lives

value of using echocardiography in patients of advanced liver disease with cardio pulmonary complications

Patients with chronic liver disease are liable to get cardio - pulmonary complications, one of these complications is development of pulmonary hypertension ranging from mild to it's sever form - this complication could give some abnormal findings in chest x-ray, electrocardiography but more prominently by echocardiography. To clarify the benefit of using the echocardiogram is detecting pulmonary hypertension prior to the use of invasive methods [catheterization] in patients with advanced liver disease. A total of 50 patients with chronic liver diseases [cirrhosis, chronic active hepatitis] their age range is [25-70 years] [mean are 37.07 years], the fifty patients were free from any cardiac or respiratory diseases. The study extending from December 2007-August 2008. All patients went through full history and routine blood test: including complete blood picture, fasting blood sugar, blood urea and screatinne, lipid profile, liver function tests, clinical examination, and investigations included routine blood test, chest x-ray, and electrocardiography, echocardiography [Transthoracie and transoesphageal]. The child-Pugh score used for assessing the severity and prognosis of chronic liver disease and it classified into three groups [A, B, C] used in this study. Fifteen patients from the 50 cases [30%] only proved to have cardio-pulmonary changes [i.e. pulmonary hypertension right ventricular hypertrophy and dilatation with the mean value of >/= 25mm Hg at rest or >/= 30mm Hg during exertion] those patients were having fatigue in [70%] of them while dysponea, chest pain, cyanosis, syncope were detected in 30%, 10%, 1%, 2% respectively in those cases of pulmonary hypertension with chronic liver disease. The use of non invasive methods especially echocardiography were helpful in detecting the presence of pulmonary hypertension in patients with chronic liver disease

Groundwater quality of north-east Libya.

The quality of groundwater was assessed to their suitability for drinking at six places of north-east Libya viz. El-Marj, Albayda, Shahat, Susa, Ras al-Hilal and Derna, during November, 2003 to March, 2004, by determining their physicochemical parameters (17 parameters) and water quality index (15 parameters). The temperatures of water samples averaged 15.1 degree C, pH values were alkaline and dissolved oxygen values were in safe ranges. Electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids and hardness of water at all places except Susa were within the standard limits. Alkalinity of well water at all six places exceeded, and chlorine and chloride (except Susa) were within the desirable limits set for them. Fluoride and nitrate contaminations of well water were not observed, and only very low values of phosphorus, manganese, chromium, iron and zinc were recorded. Copper in well water was generally high, and at Susa and Ras al-Hilal, it exceeded the desirable limit. Parametric ratios showed that all parameters studied except those of pH, dissolved oxygen, alkalinity and total chlorine originated from sources different from that of hardness. Water quality index (WQI) revealed that well water of Albayda and Shahat were good for drinking and were only slightly polluted, whereas those of El-Marj, Ras al-Hilal and Derna were moderately polluted. However, the well water of Susa was excessively polluted and was unsuitable for drinking. Suitable suggestions were made to improve the quality of groundwater of N.E. Libya.