Physico-chemical quality parameters and overall quality index of apple during storage.

Physico-chemical quality parameters of apple were measured during storage using standard techniques and fitted to model expressions for developing an overall quality index (Iq). Predicted Iq was validated with the trends of sensory scores. Total Soluble Solids (TSS) and acidity varied from 13.2 to 12.3 ºBrix and 0.161 to 0.079%, respectively whereas, Hunter colour values L, a, b and yellowness index were 48.7-56.1, 11.0-19.4, 18.8-20.2 and 84.6-98.2, respectively. The gloss at 45 and 60º incidence angles, density and Iq varied from 7.5 to 4.3 and 6.7 to 2.6 GU, 1.01 to 0.96 kg m(-3) and 0.26 to 1.02, respectively. The variation in sensory overall quality scores with storage period was found to be in line with computed overall quality index. The Iq thus, could be defined as the ratio of product of acidity and TSS to the mode of product of a and b Hunter colour values. The polynomial regression equations for Iq with TSS, acidity, a, b, and storage period yielded the correlation coefficients of 0.8443, 0.9838, 0.7130, 0.7183 and 0.9665, respectively; which indicated that overall quality index could be predicted nondestructively using any one of these parameters during storage.

Tuberculosis--a notifiable disease.

In a landmark development, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, has taken important steps to establish the compulsory notification of tuberculosis in the country. A Government Order to this effect was issued on 7 May 2012. In addition to this IMA passed a resolution on TB notification in CWC on 22nd April 2012 at Mumbai: "In conformity with the requirements of ISTC, Indian Medical Association (IMA) desires that Notification of TB patient to the National Programme be made mandatory. IMA also recommends to the medical practitioner to follow the ISTC guidelines in diagnosis and management of TB care". Notification of TB will facilitate early diagnosis and treatment, prevention of MDR and XDR, reduce TB deaths, better quality diagnostic and treatment services for the TB patients. RNTCP will realistically estimateTB burden, plan resources and control measures to commensurate with the actual burden of disease.

Genetic analysis of susceptibility to infection with Ascaris lumbricoides.

Epidemiologic studies of helminthic infections have shown that susceptibility to these parasites frequently aggregates in families, suggesting the possible involvement of genetic factors. This paper presents a genetic epidemiologic analysis of Ascaris lumbricoides infection in the Jirel population of eastern Nepal. A total of 1,261 individuals belonging to a single pedigree were assessed for intensity of Ascaris infection at two time points. Following an initial assessment in which all individuals were treated with albendazole, a follow-up examination was performed one year later to evaluate reinfection patterns. Three measures of worm burden were analyzed, including eggs per gram of feces, direct worm counts, and worm biomass (weight). For all traits, variance component analysis of the familial data provided unequivocal evidence for a strong genetic component accounting for between 30% and 50% of the variation in worm burden. Shared environmental (i.e., common household) effects account for between 3% and 13% of the total phenotypic variance.

The influence of cultured Schwann cells on regeneration through acellular basal lamina grafts.

Acellular basal lamina grafts have been shown to be less immunogenic in comparison to cellular grafts, but possess a limited potential for supporting axonal regeneration through them. The present study describes the effect of cultured Schwann cells on enhancing regeneration through acellular grafts. 2 cm long acellular grafts, and in vitro Schwann cell populated acellular grafts were used to repair a surgically created gap in the host peroneal nerve. The transplants were analyzed at 1, 2, 4 and 8 weeks to determine their ability to support axonal regeneration. Host axonal regeneration through Schwann cell cocultured acellular grafts occurred rapidly and was significantly better as compared to non-cultured acellular grafts. The results demonstrate a beneficial effect of Schwann cell culture pretreatment on regeneration through acellular grafts and an improved recovery of the target muscle. The procedure of first preparing acellular grafts with subsequent coculture with Schwann cells offers a novel approach for the repair of injured nervous tissue.