Effect of postharvest hydrogen sulphide on lignification and biochemical markers of pointed gourd.

Hydrogen sulphide (H2 S) has emerged as a gasotransmitter molecule that modulates several physiological functions in plants, specially, different biotic and abiotic stresses. Pointed gourd (PG) fruits start losing their soft texture and appealing colour within 2-3 days of harvest, resulting in poor marketability and shelf life. Here, the effect of exogenous H2 S (1 and 2 mm) application on lignification and other biochemical markers linked to ripening, shelf-life and edible quality of PG was assessed during cold (12 °C, 85-90% RH) and ambient (27 ± 2 °C, 55 ± 5% RH) storage. The synergistic effect of H2 S was recorded during simulated storage at ambient conditions. Postharvest H2 S treatment (1 mm) effectively delayed yellowing and chlorophyll loss (four-fold reduction) and maintained the phenolic content and higher antioxidant activity (36%). The H2 S-treated PG fruits had significantly lower lignification and membrane permeability i.e. 15% and 13%, respectively, than control samples. H2 S-treated fruit also maintained higher PAL and lower PPO activity. Therefore, postharvest application of H2 S (2 mm) could be effective in maintaining postharvest quality of PG fruits and extending the marketing period.

Browning metabolism and quality of fresh-cut drumstick (Moringa oleifera) as influenced by acidulant treatments.

Though fresh-cut products save our time, but they are very much prone to enzymatic browning that drastically affects product's quality and marketability. Drumstick pods are considered as super food due to high nutritional contents. However, the fresh-cut pods are prone to brown discoloration. The enzyme activities promote the softening and cut-surface browning of pods, thus deteriorates their texture, decreases consumer appeal and shortens the shelf life. So, we aimed to assess the effect of citric (1%) and ascorbic (1%) acid treatments on quality attributes of fresh-cut drumsticks at 3-d interval during storage (5 ± 1 °C). In general there was an increase in lignin and quinone contents, while phenolic content was decreased during storage. However, samples subjected to ascorbic acid dip had higher phenolic content, lower rate of lignin formation, and reduced membrane permeability. Enzyme activities (polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase) were found to increase during storage, however, samples treated with ascorbic acid showed lower activities than that of the control and citric acid treated samples. The reduced enzyme activities resulted in the reduced browning incidence and maintained the quality. Therefore, postharvest dip of fresh-cut drumstick in to ascorbic acid (1%) could be suggested to increase the shelf life with reduced browning during low temperature storage.

Complete regression of visceral Kaposi's sarcoma after conversion to sirolimus.

The prevalence of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is much greater in organ transplant recipients than it is in the general population. Its etiology appears to be related to geographic, genetic, and viral factors. Treatment of transplant-related KS has, until now, consisted mainly of reduction of, or withholding of, immunosuppression, often with deleterious effects on both graft and patient survival. In recent years, the immunosuppressive drug, sirolimus, has been demonstrated as possessing anti-neoplastic properties in both in vitro and animal models. In view of these properties and some preliminary clinical experience, we postulated that sirolimus would be beneficial in our patients who developed transplant-related KS. Here, we report the first case of a patient with both cutaneous and visceral KS who was successfully treated in the Middle East by conversion from a cyclosporine-based to a sirolimus-based immunosuppression regimen. The KS regressed completely within a few months after the conversion. The chronologic events and the extensive documentation, which included repeat computed tomography scans, are very suggestive of a selective anti-neoplastic effect of sirolimus.

Spinal stenosis vs traumatic spinal cord injury: a rehabilitation outcome comparison.

OBJECTIVE: Nontraumatic spinal cord injury (NT/SCI), which can occur secondary to spinal stenosis, has been shown to represent a significant proportion of individuals admitted for SCI rehabilitation. The objective of this study was to compare demographics and outcomes of patients with spinal stenosis-induced SCI (SS/SCI) with those with traumatic spinal cord injury (T/SCI) following inpatient rehabilitation. DESIGN: This 7-year prospective review compared 81 patients with SS/SCI and 102 patients with T/SCI admitted to an SCI rehabilitation unit with similar levels and completeness of injury. Main outcome measures included rehabilitation hospital length of stay (LOS), Functional Independence Measure (FIM) scores, FIM change, FIM efficiency, rehabilitation charges, and discharge rates to home. RESULTS: Results indicate that, when compared with the T/SCI, patients with SS/SCI had a significantly (P < .05) higher mean age (64.1 years vs 44.4 years), were more often female (39% vs 20%), and tended to present with paraplegia vs tetraplegia (69% vs 46%) and with motor incomplete SCI vs incomplete SCI (100% vs 49%). When comparing etiologies of SCI within tetraplegic and paraplegic groups, results showed that individuals with tetraplegic SS/SCI had a significantly (P < .05) shorter rehabilitation LOS (25.7 vs 35.9 days), and lower FIM change (24.5 vs 32.5) and FIM efficiency (1.0 vs 1.3); however, no statistical differences were noted for discharge FIM scores and discharge to home rates. Individuals with paraplegic SS/SCI also had significantly lower FIM change (20.2 vs 28.7); however no significant differences were noted for rehabilitation LOS, charges, FIM efficiency, or discharge-to-home rates. CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicate that patients with SS/SCI present with less severe clinical impairments (motor incomplete and paraplegia) in comparison with patients with T/SCI. Clinically similar SS/SCI groups were noted to achieve rates of functional gain and community discharge comparable with T/SCI patients. Although patients with T/SCI achieved greater overall functional improvement, patients with SS/SCI had shorter rehabilitation LOS and lower rehabilitation charges. These findings have important implications for the interdisciplinary rehabilitation process in the overall management and outcome of individuals with NT/SCI.