Correlation Between Laboratory Findings and Clinical Severity among the COVID-19 Patients in the Tertiary Care Centre

Background : Coronavirus is a highly infectious novel virus we are in urge to know more about their clinical characteristics and laboratory findings for the characterization and selection of treatment protocol. Methods : Prospective, single centre study. Two months data was collected, clinical characteristics data from patient case sheet and the laboratoryvalues from the Hospital Information System (HIS) for the month of July and August 2020. Results : Of 462 patients, 55 (11.9%) are falls under asymptomatic category, 194 (42%) are in mild category, 167 (36.1%) are in moderate category and 46 (10%) in severe category. Fever 230 (49.8%) and cough 211 (45.7%) was most common clinical symptom with p value < 0.01. Non-severe vs severe, 340 (73.6%) and 201 (43.5%) showed decreased in eosinophil count and absolute eosinophil count, 125 (27.1%) and 80 (17.3%) patient showed decrease in lymphocyte count and absolute lymphocyte count, 200 (43.3%) showed increase in neutrophil count with a significance of p value >0.05. 186 (40.3%) patients had one or more co-morbidities. Laboratory findings between Asymptomatic VS symptomatic, showed significance changes in neutrophil, lymphocyte, Aspartate aminotransferase, Alkaline phosphatase, globulin values (p value <0.05). Conclusion : Clinical severity categorization at the time of admission was very helpful for the treating doctors in proper understanding of disease progression and appropriate treatment of the patient. Presence of co-morbidity, abnormal laboratory values, old age group patients, higher Computed Tomography score, higher mortality rate are seen more in patients who were in clinical severity grade severe category than in non-severe category patients.

Physical and Sensory Properties of Ice Cream as Influenced by Pulse Protein Concentrates

Pulses are one of the cheapest sources for the extraction of protein concentrates which can be gainfully utilized for meeting protein needs of specific groups. Techniques for maximum extraction of Pulse protein concentrates were developed for red gram and Bengal gram by standardisation of process parameters involving alkaline extraction followed by isoelectric precipitation. Extraction conditions viz., flour: water ratio – 1:10, pH 9 and stirring time- 4 hours were employed for isolation of the pulse protein concentrates. The protein concentrates extracted from red gram and chickpea were incorporated in ice cream formulations at concentrations of 5 and 10%. The pulse protein concentrate incorporated ice cream at 5% level had a higher sensory score of 8.7 and 8.8 on the nine-point hedonic scale compared to ice cream enriched with 10% pulse protein concentrate (8.4 and 8.5/9.0). The pulse protein enriched ice cream had a high protein content of 11.76 g/100 g compared to 4.90 g/100 g in control. Pulse protein concentrates have a wide food application in designing speciality foods for different age groups and disease conditions. The PPC incorporated protein enriched ice cream would provide for nutritious ice cream having desirable sensory properties with commercialisation prospects.

Development of Micronutrient Fortified Extruded Rice Analogues

Fortified rice analogues can be manufactured using broken rice flour to suit the nutrient needs of target malnourished populations whose staple food is rice. The purpose of the study was to investigate the feasibility of fortifying rice analogues with iron and zinc. The fortificant mix was formulated to furnish 6.34 mg of iron and 2.10 mg of zinc per 100 g of broken rice flour. Iron fortificant used as micronised ferric pyrophosphate (MFPP) and zinc fortificant as zinc oxide (ZNO). Fortified extruded rice analogues were developed by extrusion technology. The physical properties of the fortified rice analogues were analysed. The length and weight of the fortified extruded rice analogues were 6.0 to 6.1mm and 0.034 to 0.035 g. The bulk density was ranged from 0.90 to 0.96 g/ml. The water absorption index was ranged from 2.31 to 2.33g/g and soluble loss was found to be 0.13 to 0.14 g/g. The physical properties of the rice analogues was found to be non significant (p<0.05) between the treatments (p<0.05). Colour measurement revealed that rice analogues fortified with MFPP had significant (p<0.05) colour differences, compared to analogues fortified with ZNO. However, MFPP, when combined with ZNO, had produced visual appearance closest to the unfortified rice analogue. The iron and zinc content of the unfortified broken rice flour (before extrusion) was 0.80 mg and 1.35 mg/100g. The iron and zinc content of the corresponding fortified rice analogues (after extrusion) were 7.13 mg and 3.35 mg/100g thus recording an iron and zinc retention of 99.85 and 99.70% respectively hence no significant difference (p<0.05) was found between fortified rice flour and fortified rice analogues. Sensory analysis revealed, no significant difference (p<0.05) for aroma, moistness, stickiness and texture, while the significant difference for appearance, firmness and overall acceptance. The study revealed that the rice analogues fortified with MFPP and ZNO could be used in food fortification programs and also could serve as a micronutrient enriched food to target malnourished populations whose staple food is rice.

Morphological Study Of Origin Of Profunda Femoris Artery In Human Cadavers

Background: Profunda femoris artery (PFA) is the largest and deep branch from the femoral artery. It is the chiefblood supply to the extensor (anterior), flexor (posterior) and adductor (medial) compartments of thigh. It is alsocalled as Deep femoral artery. It is useful for many invasive and non invasive procedures like Doppler,ultrasonography, digital subtraction angiography arteriography and magnetic resonance imaging etc.Materials and methods: A total 10 embalmed formalin fixed cadavers (totally 20 lower limbs) allotted to theundergraduates of 2017-18 batch in the department of Anatomy, Tirunelveli Medical College, Tirumelveli istaken in the present study.Results: In all the 20 lower limb specimens PFA was originated from the femoral artery except one. In onespecimen PFA originated directly from external iliac artery as the bifurcation of external iliac artery. Relation ofPFA with femoral artery was postero lateral in 65% and lateral in 35%. Distance between the point of origin of PFAand mid-inguinal point was between 3.47cm to 4.55cm in 90 %.Conclusion: This study will be very helpful to the radiologists & surgeons to understand possible variationsbefore planning different diagnostic and therapeutic interventions on the femoral artery and its branches

Comparison of double disc synergy test and phenotypic confirmatory disc diffusion test for detection of ESBL production and their antimicrobial resistance pattern.

Extended spectrum beta- lactamases (ESBLs) continue to be a major problem in clinical setup worldwide. An attempt is made to detect ESBL production among Enterobacteriaceae members by phenotypic methods, which is easier to perform in all laboratories. A total of 138 multi-drug resistant strains from pyogenic infection were tested for ESBL production by Double disc synergy test (DDST) and Phenotypic confirmatory disc diffusion test (PCDDT). Of the 84 ESBL producer identified, PCDDT detects 71 (84.5%) whereas DDST detects 52 (61.9%) as ESBL producers. Continued detection of ESBL is essential for proper disease management. PCDDT is better and easy test for screening than DDST. Confirmation has to be done by molecular methods.