Amelioration in gliadin antigenicity and maintenance of viscoelastic properties of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars with mixed probiotic fermentation.

Sourdough fermentation of twenty wheat cultivars was carried out using mixed probiotic culture (Lactobacillus acidophilus UNI, Lactobacillus brevis LR/5 and Lactobacillus plantarum ATCC 8014). The gliadin antigenicity was expressed in terms of its content in twenty different wheat cultivars. The gliadin proteins were characterized by SDS-PAGE and structural changes analyzed on FTIR spectrophotometer. Moreover, changes in the viscoelastic character of fermented and non-fermented dough were studied by rheometry. The results showed a remarkable reduction in antigenicity by 60% (average) in all wheat cultivars on sourdough fermentation. This reduction may be due to the synergistic effect of protease secretion by mixed lactobacilli, responsible for gliadin degradation. These changes in gliadins by mixed culture proteolysis were confirmed on SDS-PAGE on observing new gliadin-derived low molecular weight peptides. The results were further validated by FTIR spectroscopy where structural changes of gliadins were analyzed in the fermented dough. The rheological data indicated a higher storage modulus (G') compared to loss modulus (G″) in both control and fermented flour of all wheat cultivars, however, with a lower efficacy in sourdoughs. The present study thus establishes that mixed culture sourdough fermentation decreases the antigenic potential of gliadins without any change in the rheology and thereby maintaining the baking or viscoelastic properties of the wheat flour.

Gliadin protein antigenicity and health benefitting potential of Indian bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) varieties.

Health benefitting potential of twenty leading wheat varieties was assessed for grain nutritional quality status in relation to antigenic reactivity level of gluten protein fractions. Among the nutritional parameters, macronutrients viz. starch, total sugar, total protein and gluten content were observed maximum in the varieties RAJ4120, RAJ4083, RAJ3077, and WH1021 respectively. Micronutrients- zinc and iron and phytochemicals- total phenolics and flavonoids were observed to be maximum in RAJ4083. Among the four protein fraction, albumin and globulin contents were the highest in RAJ3077, whereas gliadin and gluten content was maximum in GW322 and minimum in RAJ4120. The varieties were also characterized by SDS-PAGE and the results revealed significant polymorphism in all of the four protein fractions. The antigenic properties of flour gliadin proteins as evaluated by ELISA revealed that all the varieties possessed antigenicity with highest level in GW322 (0.217 OD). However, all the varieties possessed good baking qualities as studied by rheological measurements.

Characterization of grain nutritional quality in wheat.

Ten Indian wheat varieties viz. RSP-566, RSP-561, PBW-396, HD-2687, C-306, PBW-175, RSP-81, PBW-550, DBW-17 and WH-542 were characterized for grain nutritional quality parameters viz., macronutrients (viz. starch, protein, protein fractions, sugars, fat), essential elements (calcium, phosphorus, iron and zinc), carotenoids, antioxidant and antinutritional parameters (phytic acid, total phenol, polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and trypsin inhibitor). RSP-561 possessed highest starch content, total protein, albumin, globulin, microelements (iron and zinc) and lowest antinutritional phytic acid and its grain contained second highest values of gluten (gliadin + glutenin), calcium, carotenoids and antioxidant contents and second lowest in antinutritional total phenol, PPO, trypsin inhibitor compositions. HD-2687 showed highest content of albumin, gliadin and total phenol constituents besides highest starch and total protein content. PBW-175 had highest sugar, calcium and carotenoids. However, antinutritional trypsin inhibitor, total phenol and PPO were found lowest in RSP-566, PBW-550 and RSP-81 respectively. The finding of this study concludes that on the basis of overall nutritional status, RSP-561 genotypes can be selected as one of best genotypes.

Endonasal endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy: our experience.

OBJECTIVES: To study the outcome of endonasal endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) with or without mucosal flap preservation, without mitomycin local application, silicon tube stenting or laser assistance. To determine the duration of the surgical procedure of DCR, influence of simultaneously performed endonasal endoscopic procedures for concomitant sinonasal diseases. METHODS: Combined retrospective and prospective study in our tertiary referral center. 24 patients with chronic dacryocystitis underwent 25 standard endonasal endoscopic DCR procedures, 10 with and 15 without mucosal flap preservation. 6 of these had concomitant sinonasal diseases for which they underwent septoplasty or functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) or both, simultaneously or as staged procedures. Relief from epiphora and patency of the nasolacrimal fistula was assessed by nasal endoscopy and syringing of the lacrimal apparatus at 1 week, 3 weeks and 3 months postoperatively. RESULTS: Out of 18 patients who underwent only DCR, 17 patients (94.44%) had complete relief from epiphora. Out of 6 patients who underwent 7 DCRs with concomitant sinonasal surgery, 5 patients (85.71%) had complete relief from epiphora. Overall 23 out of 25 DCRs (92%) had complete relief. In 15 of the 25 procedures, mucosal flap was excised completely. In remaining 10 procedures, flap was trimmed, repositioned to cover exposed bone around the newly created nasolacrimal fistula. In either situation, only one patient each had partial block of the nasolacrimal fistula. Average duration of the surgical procedure of DCR was 18 min. CONCLUSION: Endonasal endoscopic DCR is a viable alternative to external DCR, co-existing sinonasal diseases can be managed simultaneously, as may be required in 25% of cases. It can be performed under 20 min without mucosal flap preservation, mitomycin local application, silicon tube stenting or laser assistance and can still provide a good success rate (92%) with less complications.

Ectopic canine tooth: a rare cause for maxillary antral mucocoele.

A 40-year-old female presented with a 10 year history of left sided facial pain and occasional purulent nasal discharge, refractory to antibiotics. Dental examination showed 3 missing teeth in left maxilla one of which had no history of extraction. X-ray paranasal sinus showed a bony opacity in the maxillary sinus but nasal endoscopy was normal. C.T. scan revealed a radio-opaque shadow arising from medial wall of left maxillary sinus with a large maxillary mucocoele. Caldwell-Luc procedure was done and an ectopic canine tooth was seen arising from the medial antral wall. Extraction of the tooth with excision of mucocoele resulted in relieving of the symptoms.

Results of KTP-532 laser and tendon preservation stapedotomy in otosclerosis-a preliminary report.

Tendon preservation stapedotomy with or without KTP-532 laser has been performed on 25 rases Jrom November 1998 to February 2000. A study of the symptoms, demographic profile, audiological impairment, surgical treatment and the resultant hearing improvement after 3 weeks and 6 weeks was done. KTP-532 laser assisted cruratamy and stapedotomy was found to be easier than the conventional method. Insertion of the prosthesis was also found to be much easier because of tendon preservation.

Cell surface hydrophobicity and its relation to outer membrane proteins of Serratia marcescens.

Cell surface hydrophobicity measurement of S. marcescens and its two mutants, one having capacity of overproducing the red pigment prodigiosin, while another carrying no pigment, showed that the hydrophobicity, which always increased with ageing of the cells, was not totally due to the pigment present on the surface. The mutant having no pigment always exhibited higher hydrophobicity than that of two pigmented cells, irrespective of whether the experimented cells were of early log phase or static phase. The outer membrane proteins were isolated and characterized by SDS-polyacrylamide gel. The non-pigmented cell outer membrane showed an extra band of protein (approximately 40 K Da molecular weight) besides the other bands common to those of other two pigmented cells. This extra protein of outer membrane may be responsible for higher surface hydrophobicity of non-pigmented mutant of S. marcescens.

Impact of a self-reliance programme on family planning activities in Bangladesh.

PIP: This report examines the effectiveness of family planning activities through the Swanirvar Programme, a socioeconomic development project in rural Bangladesh. Bangladesh currently exhibits low contraceptive prevalence, which can be attributed to low levels of socioeconomic development, the low status of women, the preference for sons, the high level of infant mortality, and the low access to family planning. Concerning its income-generating activities, the Swanirvar Programme's strategy includes a high degree of community participation -- especially women's participation. By having them assume a greater role in income-generation, the program hopes to give women a greater role in decision-making of the family, including family planning. By interviewing randomly selected women involved in the Swanirvar Programme and women not involved, this study compares the fertility behavior and knowledge and use of contraception of both groups, and attempts to identify the variables influencing the current use of contraception. The total fertility rate for the program group and the non-program group was 4.98 and 5.23, respectively. While knowledge of contraception use among program women was 53%, compared to 36% among non-program women. The program group also exhibits a lower levels of infant mortality. The reports suggests that the program's efforts to raise awareness about the economic implications of having a large family, the benefits of birth spacing, and the provisions of credit facilities have been instrumental in the increasing contraceptive prevalence. To further increase contraceptive prevalence, the report recommends taking steps to increase women's awareness about their rights and family law.^ieng

Contraceptive behaviour in the areas served by family welfare assistants and midwives in rural Bangladesh: a comparative analysis.

"The study is an attempt to investigate contraceptive behaviour in the areas served independently by FWAs [family welfare assistants] and Dais [midwives] in...selected areas of Bangladesh....[Findings] indicated that almost every woman (98.5 percent in FWA area and 99.3 percent in dai area) has a basic awareness of at least one method of contraception....The results...suggest that a basic awareness has developed...in both the areas....A significant increase in the response on the knowledge of specific contraceptive methods was observed after prompting had been adopted while interviewing in both the areas. This clearly reveals the influences of prompting...on measures of knowledge among the target population." Data are from surveys conducted in 1985.

Fertility levels, patterns and differentials in Dhaka City.

PIP: Fertility levels, patterns, and differentials in Dhaka, Bangladesh, are analyzed using 1979 survey data for a sample of 1,150 households. Direct and indirect estimates of fertility are assessed, and age patterns are examined. The impact of factors including women's age at marriage, educational status, labor force participation, and child mortality is considered.^ieng