Abstract A study was conducted to record the effect of modified atmospheric packaging (MAP), storage conditions (ambient, zero energy cool chamber and refrigerated) as well as storage period on shelf-life and quality of tomatoes produced through Subhash Palekar natural farming (SPNF) and chemical farming (CHEM) systems. Freshly harvested tomatoes (SPNF and CHEM) packed in LDPE pouches (25.40 μm and 10 pin holes/100 cm2 area) and without packaging were stored under ambient (27±2 °C and 70±2% RH), zero energy cool chamber (ZECC) (17±2 °C and 82 ±2 % RH) and low temperature conditions (10±2 ºC and 90 % RH) for shelf-life studies. The shelf-life comparison was done at every two days’ interval up to 24 days based on physiological loss in weight (PLW) and spoilage percentage. SPNF and CHEM tomatoes were compared on the basis of quality attributes (firmness, acidity, TSS, sugars, total phenols, antioxidant activity etc.), mineral content and sensory characteristics. Results revealed that tomato stored in refrigerated condition had significantly (p ˂0.05) lowest PLW and spoilage incidence and highest sensory acceptability up to 24 days and was at par with ZECC stored tomatoes. Quality evaluation indicated that tomatoes grown under SPNF system contained a higher amount of total solids, total sugars, reducing sugars, ascorbic acid, total phenols and ash. The results showed that tomatoes with MAP and stored under refrigerated storage condition retained maximum quality up to 24 days followed by tomatoes stored under ZECC (18 days) compared to 12 days at ambient conditions.

Abstract Introduction: An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilized egg attaches somewhere outside the uterus.There are many risk factors for ectopic pregnancy. This study will help us to prepare a list of risk factors associated with ectopic pregnancy in our state. In addition, it will help implement a risk-reduction counseling program before conception, which will help us screen high-risk patients and reduce and manage ectopic pregnancy. Materials and methods: The present study was conducted in our department for two years, from August 2018 to July 2019. Cases included all patients with ectopic pregnancy admitted in labor. A total of 192 cases were taken, out of which 8 cases refused to participate in the study, so 184 patients were included in the study. Results: Patients with previous ectopic pregnancy have 6.34 times increased risk of a repeat ectopic pregnancy (odds ratio 6.34, confidence interval 1.40-28.77), and this association was highly significant (p = 0.006). The risk of ectopic pregnancy is 3.02 times increased (odds ratio 3.10; 95% confidence interval, 1.16-7.84) if the patient once had the pelvic inflammatory disease and is statistically significant (p = 0.01). The study also revealed that 17 (10.3%) patients with ectopic pregnancy had a history of tubal ligation or some other tubal surgery done in the past compared to 3 (2.2%) patients among controls, and this finding is statistically highly significant (p = 0.001). Conclusions: In the present study, we found that the main risk factors for incidence of ectopic pregnancy are prior ectopic pregnancy, prior tubal ligation, and prior pelvic/abdominal surgery. In addition, ectopic pregnancy was positively related to the previous history of ectopic pregnancy, abortion, cesarean section, and infertility. These findings can be helpful for early diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy to pursue proper medical therapy instead of unnecessarily surgical treatment.

Resumen Introducción: Un embarazo ectópico ocurre cuando un óvulo fertilizado se adhiere en algún lugar fuera del útero. Existen muchos factores de riesgo para el embarazo ectópico. Este estudio nos ayudará a preparar una lista de factores de riesgo asociados con el embarazo ectópico en nuestro estado. Además, ayudará a implementar un programa de asesoramiento para la reducción de riesgos antes de la concepción, que nos ayudará a evaluar a las pacientes de alto riesgo y reducir y controlar el embarazo ectópico. Materiales y métodos: El presente estudio se realizó en nuestro servicio durante dos años, de agosto de 2018 a julio de 2019. Los casos incluyeron a todas las pacientes con embarazo ectópico ingresadas en trabajo de parto. Se tomaron un total de 192 casos, de los cuales 8 casos se negaron a participar en el estudio, por lo que se incluyeron 184 pacientes en el estudio. Resultados: Las pacientes con un embarazo ectópico previo tienen un riesgo 6,34 veces mayor de un embarazo ectópico repetido (razón de probabilidades 6,34, intervalo de confianza 1,40-28,77), y esta asociación fue muy significativa (p = 0,006). El riesgo de embarazo ectópico aumenta 3,02 veces (razón de posibilidades 3,10; intervalo de confianza del 95%, 1,16-7,84) si la paciente tuvo una vez la enfermedad inflamatoria pélvica y es estadísticamente significativa (p = 0,01). El estudio también reveló que 17 (10,3%) pacientes con embarazo ectópico tenían antecedentes de ligadura de trompas o alguna otra cirugía de trompas realizada en el pasado en comparación con 3 (2,2%) pacientes entre los controles, y este hallazgo es estadísticamente muy significativo (p = 0,001). Conclusiones: En el presente estudio, encontramos que los principales factores de riesgo de incidencia de embarazo ectópico son embarazo ectópico previo, ligadura de trompas previa y cirugía pélvica/abdominal previa. Además, el embarazo ectópico se relacionó positivamente con la historia previa de embarazo ectópico, aborto, cesárea e infertilidad. Estos hallazgos pueden ser útiles para el diagnóstico temprano de embarazo ectópico para buscar una terapia médica adecuada en lugar de un tratamiento quirúrgico innecesario.

ABSTRACT Aims: To study the ultra structural changes in bladder musculature in cases of BPE and their clinical relevance. Material and Methods: In this descriptive longitudinal, controlled, observational study patients were enrolled into three groups, group 1, group 2A and group 2B. Control group (group-1) consisted of age matched normal male patients, who underwent surveillance or diagnostic cystoscopy for microscopic hematuria or irritative symptoms. Case group (group-2) comprised of patients with BPE, undergoing TURP. Case group (group-2) was further classified into: Category 2A (patients not on catheter) and category 2B (patients on catheter). All relevant clinical parameters like IPSS, prostate size, Qmax, PVR were recorded. Cystoscopy and bladder biopsy were performed in all patients. Various ultrastructural parameters like myocytes, fascicular pattern, interstitial tissue, nerve hypertrophy and cell junction pattern were analyzed under electron microscope and they were clinically correlated using appropriate statistical tests. Results: Control group had significant difference as compared to case group in terms of baseline parameters like IPSS, flow rate and prostate size, both preoperatively and postoperatively, except for PVR, which was seen only preoperatively. There was statistically significant difference in ultrastructural patterns between case and control group in all five electron microscopic patterns. However, no significant difference was found between the subcategories of case groups. Conclusions: BPE is responsible for ultra structural changes in detrusor muscle and these changes remain persistent even after TURP. Nerve hypertrophy, which was not thoroughly discussed in previous studies, is also one of the salient feature of this study.

Lymphatic filarial (LF) parasites have been under anti-filarial drug pressure for more than half a century. Currently, annual mass drug administration (MDA) of diethylcarbamazine (DEC) or ivermectin in combination with albendazole (ALB) have been used globally to eliminate LF. Long-term chemotherapies exert significant pressure on the genetic structure of parasitic populations. We investigated the genetic variation among 210 Wuchereria bancrofti populations that were under three different chemotherapy strategies, namely MDA with DEC alone (group I, n = 74), MDA with DEC and ALB (group II, n = 60) and selective therapy (ST) with DEC (group III, n = 34) to understand the impact of these three drug regimens on the parasite genetic structure. Randomly amplified polymorphic DNA profiles were generated for the three groups of parasite populations; the gene diversity, gene flow and genetic distance values were determined and phylogenetic trees were constructed. Analysis of these parameters indicated that parasite populations under ST with a standard dose of DEC (group III) were genetically more diverse (0.2660) than parasite populations under MDA with DEC alone (group I, H = 0.2197) or with DEC + ALB (group II, H = 0.2317). These results indicate that the MDA may reduce the genetic diversity of W. bancrofti populations when compared to the genetic diversity of parasite populations under ST.