Comparative effect of different individual wrappings on shelf life of guava (Psidium guajava).

Being climacteric fruit the organoleptic quality of Guava deteriorates due to continuously occurring biochemical changes during the storage leading to heavy post harvest losses. The present research work was planned to depreciate the losses by assessing the effect of different individual packagings on the shelf life of the fruit. The individual wrapping of fruits were carried out in LDPE films by cling, shrink, vacuum and modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) and stored at room temperature (37 °C). Individual wrapping delayed the ripening process by slowing down the metabolic activities and reducing the magnitude of changes in physicochemical parameters. In control fruits significant compositional changes along with the total phenol content and ascorbic acid were observed with higher decay loss. However, wrapping of fruits maintained the natural freshness and helped in retaining the marketability of the fruits. Vacuum packing and MAP showed minimum PLW (3.5%), decay loss and ripening during storage. Cling wrapping and shrink wrapping were the best treatments that enhanced the shelf life of fruits by 4 days at room temperature.

Extension of the shelf life of guava by individual packaging with cling and shrink films.

Guava is a climacteric fruit so physico-chemical changes continuously occur after harvest till fruit become unfit for consumption and suffers from post harvest losses. The main objective of this work was to assess the effectiveness of individual film in form of Shrink and Cling wrap on shelf life of guava. Fruits were individually packed in polythene bags (LDPE) of 200 gauge thickness by Shrink and Cling wrapping and stored at 7 ± 3 °C. Individual wrapping reduced the magnitude of changes during storage i.e., ripening process drastically as evident from lower total soluble solids, higher ascorbic acid, polyphenol content with lower polyphenol oxidase activity and physiological loss of weight (PLW) was less than 3.5 %. Film wrapping preserved freshness of wrapped fruits as they remained acceptable for whole storage time in contrast to control fruits which turned unacceptable by 15(th) day of storage. Control fruits showed significant compositional changes as well as in polyphenol content, ascorbic acid and reduced number of marketable fruits while Cling and Shrink wrapping enhanced the shelf life by 10 days.

Effects of ultraviolet irradiation, pulsed electric field, hot water dip and ethanol vapours treatment on keeping and sensory quality of mung bean (Vigna radiata L. Wilczek) sprouts.

The objective of this research work was to evaluate the effects of UV- irradiation, pulsed electric field (PEF), hot water dip (HWD) and ethanol vapours on the quality and storage life of mung bean sprouts (Vigna radiata L. Wilczek). The sprouts were subjected to various treatments viz., UV-Irradiation (10 kJm(-2) in laminar flow chamber for 1 h), PEF (10,000 V for 10s), HWD (50 °C for 2 min) and ethanol vapours (1 h); and then stored in thermocol cups wrapped with perforated cling films at room (25 ± 1 °C) and low (7 ± 1 °C) temperature conditions. The sprouts were analyzed regularly at 24 h interval for sprout length, sprout weight, total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity, non-enzymatic browning, total plate count and overall acceptability. Sprout length and weight increased during storage. There was no significant effect of various treatments on sprout length and weight, except in ethanol treatment, where suppression was observed. HWD showed higher TSS and acidity than that of control. The least browning was observed in ethanol treatment. The total plate count was not significantly affected by various treatments. Overall acceptability under various treatments decreased during storage period both at room and low temperature. Hot water and ethanol vapour treated sprouts showed higher acceptability than other treatments. However, the acceptability scores for sprouts remained within the acceptable range (≥6) up to 72 h at room temperature and 120 h at low temperature conditions.

Effects of ultraviolet irradiation, pulsed electric field, hot water and ethanol vapours treatment on functional properties of mung bean sprouts.

The present investigation was conducted with the objective to study the effects of various treatments and storage conditions on ascorbic acid, total phenols, antioxidant activity and polyphenol oxidase activity of mung bean sprouts. The sprouts subjected to various treatments viz., pulsed electric field (PEF) (10,000 V for 10 s), hot water dip (HWD) (50 °C for 2 min), ethanol vapours (1 h) and UV-Irradiation (10 kJm(-2) in laminar flow chamber for 1 h); and then stored at room (25 ± 1 °C) and low (7 ± 1 °C) temperature conditions. The sprouts were analyzed regularly at 24 h interval till end of shelf life. Different treatments given to sprouts resulted in differential effect on various parameters. The ascorbic acid, total phenols and antioxidant activity were highest in ethanol vapours treated sprouts. There was a general decrease in polyphenol oxidase activity by various treatments. During storage ascorbic acid, total phenols and antioxidant activity of sprouts first increased and then decreased significantly, however, for polyphenol oxidase activity a progressive increase with increase in storage period was observed. The trends were similar at room and low temperature storage conditions. Thus, it can be concluded that the ethanol vapours significantly improved the ascorbic acid content, total phenols and antioxidant activity of mung bean sprouts, both at room as well as low temperature conditions of storage.

Non-secretory myeloma: a rare variant of multiple myeloma.

The spectrum of plasma cell neoplasm represents indolent conditions like Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance (MGUS) to more aggressive multiple myeloma and plasma cell leukemia. Non-secretory myeloma comprises less than 01% of this spectrum where serum protein electrophoresis and quantitative immunoglobulins remain essentially normal. We are presenting a case report of this rare variant involving the sternum of an adult male.

Imatinib-related bone marrow aplasia after complete cytogenetic response in chronic myeloid leukemia.

Imatinib mesylate is a BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase inhibitor used in the management of chronic myeloid leukemia. It is a safe and well-tolerated agent with a few manageable side effects. We are reporting a case of imatinib-related fatal bone marrow aplasia after complete cytogenetic response.