ABSTRACT
Aim: The post-harvest deterioration is most vexing problems of sugar industry and these losses due to Leuconostoc spp. cause enormous depreciation in cane tonnage and recovery. Thus, the objective of this study was to assess the invasion of Leuconostoc spp. in sugarcane. Methodology: Single internode is divided in three layers, viz., rind, first half and second half. Leuconsotoc spp. was grown and identified on specific growth media using juice from three portions of both the internodes (with cracks and without cracks) separately. Total Leuconostoc load, bacterial characterization, total soluble solids (TSS), reducing sugars (RS) and dextran were also determined. Results: The results revealed that cracked portions were incurred with Leuconostoc, however, rind layer had highest load followed by first half than the second half. More RS, high TSS and dextrans were quantified in cracked internode than without crack internode. Rind layer reported to have high RS, TSS and dextrans than the other portions. Interpretation: Canes possessing cracks had higher invasion of Leuconostoc spp., RS and dextran content than the ones lacking cracks leading to higher loss in sucrose content. Thus, there is a need to control these bacteria in sugarcane, especially in standing canes.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Rheumatic heart disease is a major health problem in our country. There is evidence from South India that its prevalence is declining. This study attempts to confirm whether this is so in North India as well. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 118,212 (68,357 males, 49,855 females) schoolchildren in the age group of 4-18 years were examined for the presence of heart disease. Evaluation, including echocardiography, confirmed that of a total of 389 suspected to have heart disease, 61 had rheumatic heart disease. Thus, the prevalence of rheumatic heart disease was found to be approximately 0.5 per 1000 children. CONCLUSION: In a fairly large school survey conducted by us, the prevalence of rheumatic heart disease turned out to be approximately 0.5 per 1000 children. This is the lowest figure reported from our country so far and confirms the decline of this disease in our country.