Development and evaluation of retort pouch processed chhenapoda (cheese based baked sweet).

A study has been undertaken to optimize ingredient proportions for preparation of chhenapoda and the effect of retort processing on its quality and storability. Chhenapoda was prepared from cottage cheese with standard practices followed by confectioners using different levels of semolina (0, 50, 100, 150, 200 g) and sugar (0, 100, 200, 300, 400 g) per kg cheese and ingredient proportion was optimized based on sensory scores. Prepared chhenapoda sample of 200 g were packed in pre-fabricated 3 side seal multilayer laminated retortable pouches, hermetically sealed and retort processed at different temperatures (100, 110 and 120 °C) and time intervals (15, 30 and 45 min). It was found from Response Surface Methodology (RSM) technique that addition of 18.5% sugar and 7.5% semolina with cottage cheese was optimum for chhenapoda preparation. Microbiological analysis showed that total plate count and yeast and mould count (YMC) decreased from 110 × 107 to 4 × 104 and YMC from 3 × 103 to 0 respectively during retort processing (30 min thermal processing in laminated pouch at 120 °C). From the storage study, it can be concluded that retort processing of chhenapoda in laminated pouch at 120 °C for 30 min resulted in microbiological safe and sensory acceptable product which could be stored up to 30 days under refrigerated condition.

Malaria outbreak in a non endemic tribal block of Balasore district, Orissa, India during summer season.

A focal outbreak of malaria at Sialimal sub-centre of Balasore district of Orissa was reported during the month of March, 2010. Three villages of the above block were affected. Regional Medical Research Centre, Bhubaneswar has conducted an entomological survey and a central clinic simultaneously, with door to door household survey to identify the fever cases. Within a span of 18 days around 172 fever cases were reported with Slide Positivity Rate (SPR) of 24.4% and Pf % of 81%. The malaria epidemiological data of the sub-centre area for last three years indicates that the area is non endemic for malaria (API was 0.81). Entomological survey revealed the presence of three known vectors of malaria i.e. Anopheles culicifacies, Anopheles annularis and Anopheles subpictus (local vector). Per Man Hour Density (PMHD) of these three species were 4.2, 2.8 and 10.8 respectively. Plasmodium falciparum sporozoites were detected in two An. culicifacies, in one An. annularis and in one An. subpictus. Larval density of Anopheline mosquitoes per dip ranged between 12 to 20. The vectors were found to be resistant to DDT but susceptible to synthetic pyrethroid. With this finding necessary remedial measures were taken by the government to curtail the transmission.

Health status of the elderly population among four primitive tribes of Orissa, India: a clinico-epidemiological study.

Primitive tribal groups (PTGs) are the most marginalised and vulnerable communities in India. Clinico-epidemiological studies on morbidity patterns among the elderly primitive tribe members are essential to recommend special intervention programmes to improve the health of the elderly in these communities. A community-based cross-sectional study was carried out among the elderly populations of four different PTGs, namely Langia Saora (LS), Paudi Bhuiyan (PB), Kutia Kondh (KK) and Dongria Kondh (DK) living in the forests of Orissa, India. Clinical and anthropometric data were collected using standard methods and haemoglobin was estimated by the cyanomethaemoglobin method. The average number of illnesses per person was 3.0. Common disabilities like vision and hearing impairment and mobility-related problems were found in considerable numbers. Gastrointestinal problems like acid peptic disease were found among 2.6% to 20% of cases. Non-specific fever was marked in 10.2% to 24.2% of individuals. The iodine deficiency disorder, namely goitre, was found among 4.2% to 6.0% of individuals. Diseases of the respiratory tract, like upper and lower respiratory tract infection, asthma, tuberculosis and leprosy, were found in small numbers. The prevalence of hypertension among males and females was 31.8% and 42.2%, respectively. The LS had the highest prevalence of hypertension (63% among men and 68% among women). With regard to anaemia status, severe anaemia was marked in 70% of males and 76.7% of females in the LS, while in other groups the prevalence of severe anaemia ranged from 15% to 33%. Although the prevalence of severe anaemia in other tribal communities is lower than in the LS, mild to moderate anaemia was found to range from 60% to 80%. The present study revealed a high prevalence of physical disabilities with both non-communicable as well as communicable diseases among the elderly primitive tribal members. This warrants the implementation of a special health care strategy to reduce suffering at this crucial age and improve quality of life.

Amyloid in adrenal gland pheochromocytomas.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the frequency of amyloid deposits in adrenal gland pheochromocytomas. DESIGN: We evaluated 22 pheochromocytomas using routine hematoxylin-eosin and Congo red stains, polarization microscopy, and electron microscopy. Cases with amyloid were further characterized immunohistochemically. RESULTS: Congo red and polarization microscopy revealed characteristic apple-green birefringence, not abolished by potassium permanganate incubation, in only one neoplasm. In a subset of the remaining tumors, yellow or yellow-green birefringence not characteristic of amyloid was found. We performed electron microscopy on the tumor with characteristic apple-green birefringence and six other neoplasms with abundant yellow or yellow-green birefringence. Amyloid was identified in two tumors, including the Congo red-positive tumor, while the remaining five neoplasms contained collagen. Immunohistochemically, the amyloid deposits were reactive with component P and immunoglobulin kappa- and lambda-light chains in both tumors. Adsorption studies using human urine with monoclonal immunoglobulin kappa- or lambda-light chains abolished reactivity, consistent with specific immunostaining for both light chains. Transthyretin was present in one tumor. The neoplastic cells expressed chromogranin, neuron-specific enolase, and [Leu5]-enkephalin, although the amyloid was not reactive. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that amyloid is infrequent in pheochromocytomas. Electron microscopic examination is more sensitive than Congo red stain and, in our opinion, is the best technique for the demonstration of amyloid deposits.

Immunohistochemical staining of ras p21: staining in benign and malignant prostate tissue.

A total of 124 specimens of prostate tissue (25 normal prostate, 41 benign prostatic hyperplasia, 58 adenocarcinoma) was immunostained for ras p21 using a commercially available monoclonal antibody directed against a peptide sequence conserved among all members of the ras gene family. Of normal prostate specimens, 76% showed no staining while the remainder showed only weak epithelial (glandular) staining. No significant stromal staining was noted in any normal prostate specimen. In contrast most benign prostatic hyperplasia specimens showed abundant staining. Epithelial staining was observed in 88% and stromal staining in 73% of specimens. A majority of prostate carcinoma specimens also stained, with 62% and 36% showing epithelial and stromal staining, respectively. No association was noted between staining and either tumor grade or clinical stage. These data argue against any clinical usefulness of immunostaining for ras p21 in the diagnosis or grading of prostate cancer.

Fine needle aspiration biopsy cytology of sclerosing hemangioma of the lung. A case report.

We report the fine needle aspiration cytology of a case of sclerosing hemangioma of the lung. This rare and benign neoplasm characteristically exhibits a variety of histologic patterns in a particular tumor--e.g., angiomatous, solid, papillary and sclerotic. There are few descriptions in the cytologic literature, and all are of the angiomatous pattern. Our case showed a papillary/sclerotic pattern with no angiomatous area. The cytologic findings consisted of spindle cells admixed with sheets of cuboidal cells, precisely reflecting the histologic pattern.

Fibrillary (immunotactoid) glomerulopathy. A possible role for kappa light chain in its etiology and/or pathogenesis.

The initial clinical manifestations, course, and immunopathologic findings of renal biopsies of nine patients with fibrillary glomerulopathy are reported. Their first symptoms and courses were variable, but proteinuria and renal failure were common. While some patients required hemodialysis soon after coming for treatment, others progressed to renal failure over several years. Three patients had monoclonal gammopathy; one of them had an isolated, transient, Bence-Jones proteinuria. The main pathologic features are glomerular enlargement, mesangial expansion, and mild hypercellularity. Congo red and thioflavin stains were negative. Kappa chain, either alone or with lambda chain and IgG, were the predominant immunoreactants. Ultrastructurally, the presence of coarse fibrils of 15-25 nm was characteristic, but there were also granular deposits in the capillary wall that occurred in a band-like pattern in the inner half of the glomerular basement membrane in a manner similar to the deposits seen in light chain deposit disease. The immunofluorescence and ultrastructural findings suggest that light chains (especially kappa) may be significant in the pathogenesis of fibrillary glomerulopathy and that there may be a relationship with light chain deposit disease.

Medullary carcinoma of breast: an immunohistochemical study of its lymphoid stroma.

Immunoperoxidase staining for IgA, IgG, IgM, and secretory component (SC) was performed on ten cases each of medullary carcinoma and infiltrating duct carcinoma of breast. Plasma cell-rich stroma of medullary carcinoma was found to contain predominantly IgA plasma cells. Tumor cells also contained IgA and SC. In contrast, the few plasma cells of infiltrating duct carcinoma were found to be predominantly IgG type, and the tumor cells contained none or very small amounts of IgA and SC. Because the presence of IgA plasma cells and IgA and SC in lining epithelial cells are characteristic features of organs of the secretory Ig system, these findings in medullary carcinoma may suggest a good degree of functional differentiation of these tumor cells and correlate well with the well-known favorable prognosis associated with this tumor.

Warthin's tumor: an immunohistochemical study of its lymphoid stroma.

The lymphoid stroma of Warthin's tumor was studied using an immunoperoxidase method. We found that IgA plasma cells constituted approximately 80 per cent of the total number of plasma cells in this tumor. IgA was present also in the tumor epithelium and in the intraluminal sections. The predominance of IgA plasma cells in Warthin's tumor is in contrast to the lymphoid pattern observed in autoimmune diseases and usual host-tumor reactions. It seems likely that the lymphoid stroma of Warthin's tumor represents an exaggerated secretory immune response. The neoplastic tissue of Warthin's tumor may elaborate or contain an unknown factor that causes the accumulation of lymphoid tissue and the differentiation of IgA plasma cells.