[Quantitative and qualitative analysis of anthocyanins and flavonols in berry skin of some grape cultivars using high performance liquid chromatography [HPLC]]

Background: Grape berries are valuable nutraceuticals, due to the presence of different types of flavonoids as anthocyanins and flavonols, however, type and percentage of the components are influenced by genotype and environmental conditions

Objective: To identify anthocyanins and flavonols of some important grape cultivars with different color profiles

Methods: Berry skins of grape cultivars including Angoorab, Bidane-Ghermez, Fakhrie-Ghermez, Muskat of Hamburg, Flaim seedless, Sorkhak, and Ashe-Siahe-Shiraz were extracted using water/methanol as solvent. Anthocyanins and flavonols compositions were studied by HPLC

Results: Highest total anthocyanin and total flavonol contents were 0.44 [Ashe-Siahe-Shiraz] and 0.67 [Angoorab] mg.100 g-1, respectively. Highest percentage of cyanidin in Bidane-Ghermez [91.6%], peonidin in Fakhri-Ghermez [91.43%], delphinidin in Flaim seedless [4.95%], malvidin in Sorkhak [87.69%] and petunidin in Muskat of Hamburg [4.36%] were observed. Quercetin [61.21 in Ashe-Siahe-Shiraz to 87.37% in Muskat of Hamburg] was the major flavonol, among all studied grape cultivars. Highest amounts of laricitrin in Sorkhak [16.73%], myricetin in Ashe-Siahe-Shiraz [28.4%], kaempferol in Flaim seedless [21.39%] and isorhamnetin in Fakhrie-Ghermez [14.41%] were observed. Also, estimation of hydroxylation and methylation activities showed that for both of the reactions, anthocyanins are much better substrates than flavonols

Conclusion: The present study showed that studied grape cultivars are different for the content, composition and ratio of anthocyanins and flavonols and pattern of hydroxylation and methylation, which could lead to differences in their nutraceutical values specially their antioxidant activity, stability, solubility and color properties

Paediatric Surgery and Anaesthesia in South-Western Uganda: a Cross-Sectional Survey

Objective To study paediatric surgery rates in south-western Uganda; compare them to rates in England; and determine if existing surgical facilities and workforce meet World Health Organization (WHO) standards. Methods To obtain information on surgical facilities and workforce; we conducted a cross-sectional survey of all hospitals performing major surgery in 14 districts of south-western Uganda in 2007.2008. Using theatre logbook data; we determined the surgical rates; types of surgery performed and in-theatre surgical outcomes. Findings Of 72 hospitals surveyed; 29 were performing major surgery. None met WHO standards for essential surgery. There were 0.7 accredited surgeons per 100 000 population and no paediatric surgeons. Most anaesthetists were not physicians (accredited anaesthetist per 100 000 population: 1.1).The annual surgical rate for children aged . 14 years was 180 operations per 100 000 population; most were emergency procedures. The annual surgical rate for patients of all ages was 652 operations per 100 000 population; with a median of 422 per operating theatre (range: 60.3497) and of 226 per surgeon (range: 60.1748). Mission or nongovernmental organization (NGO) hospitals; which had 44of the hospital beds in the region; performed 3039 (55) of the paediatric operations. Externally funded surgeons performed 80of the 140 cleft lip and palate operations. Four in-theatre deaths occurred in children . 14 years old (in-theatre mortality: 7.7 deaths per 10 000 operations). Conclusion Access to all surgery; including paediatric surgery; is poor in south-western Uganda and investment in basic health-care facilities and surgical workforce and training is urgently needed. Mission and NGO hospitals make a valuable contribution to elective surgery; and externally funded surgeons make an important contribution to specialist surgery. In-theatre mortality was lower than reported for similar settings

Intractaple diarrhea of infancy

The current concept of intractable diarrhea of infancy is that of a heterogeneous syndrome with diverse etiologies. The purpose of this review is to provide an update on this group of diseases. As modern diagnostic techniques become available, new disorders will continue to be recognized