Optimization of drying process parameters for cauliflower drying.

The different sizes (3, 4 and 5 cm) of hybrid variety of cauliflower (variety no. 71) were dehydrated in thin layer at three temperatures of 55, 60 and 65 °C with velocities of 40, 50 and 60 m/min. Dehydrated samples were analyzed for vitamin C, rehydration ratio and browning.

Norrie disease: first mutation report and prenatal diagnosis in an Indian family.

Norrie Disease (ND) is a rare X-linked recessive disorder characterised by congenital blindness due to severe retinal dysgenesis. Hearing loss and intellectual disability is present in 30-50 % cases. ND is caused by mutations in the NDP gene, located at Xp11.

Thermodynamic models for water sorption by garlic.

Moisture sorption characteristics of garlic grown in Punjab region of India were evaluated at 20-60(0) C and water activity of 0.2-0.9.

Effect of mechanical drying air conditions on quality of turmeric powder.

Mother and finger rhizomes 'PCT-8' ('Suvarna') variety of turmeric (Curcuma longa L) were boiled separately in open pan for 45 min at 100°C. The rhizomes were then dried using tray drier at air temperatures of 45, 50, 55, 60 and 65°C and drying air velocities of 1, 2 and 3 m/sec. The rhizomes were dried to ∼10 % (wb) moisture content.

Prevalence of MTHFR C677T polymorphism in north Indian mothers having babies with Trisomy 21 Down syndrome.

Recent studies have evaluated possible links between polymorphisms in maternal folate metabolism genes and Down syndrome. Some of these studies show a significantly increased prevalence of the C677T polymorphism of the 5,10-methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase (NADPH) gene (MTHFR) among mothers who have had babies with Down syndrome. This study examined the prevalence of the MTHFR C677T polymorphism among 104 north Indian mothers of babies with Down syndrome and 109 control mothers.

Carrier frequency of F508del mutation of cystic fibrosis in Indian population.

Background: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is considered to be very rare in Indian subcontinent. Based on reports of CF in migrants from Indian subcontinent to United Kingdom and United States of America, the prevalence of CF is estimated to be between 1/10,000 and 1/40,000 in this ethnic group. The present study was done to estimate the carrier frequency of F508del mutation among neonates using cord blood samples to reflect the prevalence of CF in the study population.

Preserved umbilical cord facilitates antenatal diagnosis of spinal muscular atrophy.

Spinal Muscular atrophy (SMA) Type I is a fatal autosomal recessive disease caused by homozygous deletion of telometric region of exon 7/8 of the SMN gene. Prenatal diagnosis is feasible and desirable by most families. We report on prenatal diagnosis of SMAI in a family where dried umbilical cord stump from the deceased affected baby was used to confirm the diagnosis.