Mass Transfer Kinetics for Osmotic Dehydration of Kinnow Fruit in Sugar Solution

Mass transfer kinetic study was carried out for sheet geometry of whole kinnow fruit in sugar solution. The experiments were conducted using completely randomized design with the sucrose concentration (55–75°B) at various process temperatures (35–65 °C) and solution to fruit ratio (3–7:1 v/w) at varying immersion time interval (30–270 min). The water loss, solute gain and mass loss was systematically examined and recorded throughout the process. The water loss and solute gain for osmotic dehydration of kinnow was found to be at osmotic process temperature of 65 °C, sugar solution concentration of 65–75°B, solution to fruit ratio of 5:1 and immersion time of 270 min. The effective moisture and solute diffusivities was calculated. The maximum diffusivity of water was found to be 53.08 × 10⁻⁹ m²/s and minimum diffusivity of solute observed was 0.49 × 10⁻⁹ m²/s.

     

Is the Revision Rate Higher After Hip Arthroplasty in Teenage Patients? A Prospective Study with Long-Term Follow-Up of More Than 10 Years

BackgroundTotal hip arthroplasty (THA) and hip resurfacing arthroplasty (HRA) are already proven good for end-stage arthritis in the older populations but it is challenging in young teenage patients. The primary aim was to assess Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (HOSS), Harris Hip Score (HHS) and secondary aim for implant survival rate.Materials and MethodsThe details of 33 teenage patients (forty hips) who underwent HRA (21) and THA (19) at our institution (January 2002 to December 2013) with a mean follow-up period of 11.00 years (range 7.00–18.40) were included. The study group had 25 males and eight females.ResultsThe overall median HOOSs with interquartile range were 89.00 (87.63–0.00). The median HOOSs at follow-up were as follows: 95.00 (90.00–95.00) for symptoms, 92.00 (90.00–95.00) pain, 87.00 (85.00–90.00) for functions, 81.00 (75.00–85.00) for sports and 94.00 (88.00–95.00) for QOL. HHS improved significantly from 36.88 ± 6.14 to 90.12 ± 6.56 (p < 0.001). The HHS of HRA group improved from 36.29 ± 5.83 to 89.38 ± 5.23 and THA group improved from 37.26 ± 6.22 to 90.94 ± 7.84. The 5-year radiological follow-up X-rays did not show any radiolucent line wider than 2 mm in all three zones of the acetabulum and no progressive subsidence or migration of > 1 mm and divergent radiopaque line in femur. The Implant survival rate for HRA was 100% at 5 years, 100% at 10 years, 92% at 15 years and THA group was 100% at 5 years and 90% at 10 years.ConclusionOur study showed a disability rate of zero with improved HOSS and HHS. The overall implant survival rate was good with 100% at 5 years, 97% at 10 years and 89.9% at 15 years in contrast to the previous studies with the use of modern implants and newer standard surgical techniques.Level of EvidenceA Level II study http://www.spine.org/Documents/LevelsofEvidenceFinal.pdf.     

Filarial/human immunodeficiency virus coinfection in urban southern India

The disease course of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is often altered by existing or newly acquired coinfections. Treatment or prevention of these concomitant infections often improves the quality and duration of life of HIV-infected persons. The impact of helminth infections on infections with HIV is less clear. However, HIV is frequently most problematic in areas where helminth infections are common. In advance of the widespread distribution of drugs for elimination of lymphatic filariasis, we assessed the prevalence of active Wuchereria bancrofti infection among HIV-positive patients in Chennai, India at two time points separated by four years. We found that the overall prevalence of W. bancrofti infections among HIV-positive persons was 5-9.5%, and there were no quantitative differences in circulating filarial antigen levels between HIV-positive and HIV-negative filarial-infected patients.     

Changes over time in the use of aspirin in patients hospitalized with acute myocardial infarction (1975 to 1997): a population-based perspective

Objective The purpose of this study was to examine 2 decade-long trends in the use of aspirin and associated outcomes in patients hospitalized with acute myocardial infarction. Background Aspirin has been shown to be beneficial in the secondary prevention of AMI. However, little is known about changes over time in the use of aspirin in patients hospitalized with AMI and associated outcomes, particularly from a more generalizable population-based perspective. Methods We examined trends in aspirin use and hospital and long-term outcomes in 9336 metropolitan Worcester, Mass, residents hospitalized with validated AMI in all area hospitals between 1975 and 1997. Results Between 1975 and 1986, the hospital use of aspirin remained stable at approximately 20%. Use of aspirin increased markedly after this time from 49% in 1988 to 91% in 1997. Younger age, male sex, and a history of hypertension or stroke were associated with an increased likelihood of receiving aspirin. Patients with diabetes were less likely to receive aspirin than were patients without diabetes. Patients who received aspirin during hospitalization were more likely to receive β-blockers and coronary interventions. Patients treated with aspirin were significantly less likely to have heart failure or cardiogenic shock develop or to die during hospitalization as compared with patients not treated with aspirin. Patients treated with aspirin had significantly higher survival rates over a 10-year follow-up period. Conclusion The results of this community-wide study show that aspirin use in patients hospitalized with AMI has dramatically increased over time. Despite the beneficial effects associated with the use of aspirin, this therapy remains underused in several high-risk groups. (Am Heart J 2002;144:259-68.)