Background and objectives: This study was conducted to evaluate plasma levels of zinc in children with celiac disease, to correlate plasma zinc levels among the celiacs with short stature and diarrhea and to compare plasma zinc levels in deficient patients on gluten-free diet (GFD) with or without 4 weeks of zinc supplementation. Methods: A total of 134 patients underwent plasma zinc estimation at baseline and after a four week period. Zinc-deficient patients were randomly assigned to two groups. Group G (n = 48) received GFD without zinc supplementation, Group G + Z (n = 48) received GFD with zinc supplementation for 4 weeks. Results: The rise in plasma Zinc levels was significant in each group regardless of zinc supplementation but similar when compared in the two groups after 4 weeks. Mean zinc levels at baseline and increase in zinc levels were statistically similar at 4 weeks in patients with diarrhea and short stature. Conclusions: Zinc levels rise with GFD irrespective of zinc supplementation.

Jujube or ber (Ziziphus spp.) is one of the most important fruit crops of India’s arid and semi-arid regions because of its high adaptability to resource constraints hot (semi)arid region. Jujube is a rich source of minerals, vitamins and dietary antioxidants to arid zone dwellers, where it is known as poor man’s apple. Given the present rising trends in discovering and exploiting plant-based health-promoting compounds, it is imperative to know the extent of variability with respect to fruit nutritional compositions present in the jujube germplasms. In this study, we assessed genetic variability for fruit nutritional and functional quality traits in eighteen jujube accessions belonging to three species (Z. mauritiana, Z. rotundifolia and Z. oenoplia) from an ex-situ collection from Indian arid and semi-arid regions in two consecutive fruiting seasons (2020-21 and 2021-22). Results revealed significant variability among eighteen jujube genotypes for important fruits physico-biochemical parameters. The IC 625864 (Z. oenoplia) identified as a superior accession for fruit antioxidant potential with having high levels of total phenols (256.2 mg/100 g dry weight) and total antioxidants (423 mg/100 g in FRAP). Moreover, IC 625849 (Z. mauritiana) and IC 625848 (Z. rotundifolia) were other genotypes containing high levels of phenols and total antioxidant (FRAP). Thus, while aiming for simultaneous improvement for total antioxidants with phenols, IC 625848, IC 625849 and IC 625864 genotypes can be considered as valuable resource for jujube fruit quality improvement program. Further, the high levels of phenotypic variance with high genotypic variance coupled with high heritability and genetic advance particularly for total antioxidants, total phenols, and ascorbic acid contents in fruits, indicating them to be considered as reliable biochemical markers to identify the productive genotypes having higher amounts of dietary antioxidants. Depending on the identified genotypes for their richness in the particular phytonutrients, these can be exploited either for table purpose or biofortification of other products, or using in jujube breeding program for quality improvement.

Background: Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) is one of the oldest spices crop of the world. It is the third largest seed spice in India after coriander and cumin. It is a Rabi season crop, mostly grown in sandy loam soil. The present study was carried out to get better information regarding GCV, PCV, heritability and genetic advance, pre requisite for formulating an effective breeding programme. Methods: Fifty-two accessions of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) including four checks viz., (AFg-1, AFg-2, AFg-3 and RMt-1) were evaluated in augmented complete block design (ACBD) in Rabi 2021-2022 for nine quantitative traits. Analysis of variance for agro-morphological characters showed in significant differences among the studied accessions indicating existence of wide variability. Adjusted mean values were used for estimation of genetic variability parameters. Result: The high to medium magnitude of genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) and phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV), high heritability coupled with high genetic advance were expressed by traits viz., number of branches per plant, number of pods per plant seed yield per plant and test weight. On the basis of per se performance of fifty-six accessions including checks it is concluded that selection of number of branches per plant and number of pods per plant could be effective in EC510598 and AFg-1. Likewise effective selection could be made in IC0624520 for early maturing. For pod length, accession EC510631 and for seed yield per plant EC510737, EC510536 and AFg-1 could be efficiently utilized for improvement of respective trait in fenugreek.

Endoscopic balloon dilatation (EBD) has important role in the management of benign gastric outlet obstruction. Although there are many reports on the role of EBD in the management of corrosive-induced and peptic benign GOO, there is scanty data on its role in the management of NSAID-induced GOO. We report 10 cases of NSAID-induced pyloroduodenal obstruction and their endoscopic management. The most common site of involvement was duodenum (5/10) followed by both pylorus and duodenum (4/10) and pylorus (1/10). Most of the strictures were short web-like, and the mean (SD) number of stricture was 2.0 (0.94). Endoscopic balloon dilatation was successful in 90% (9/10) cases requiring mean (SD) of 2.0 (1.6) sessions of dilatation to achieve target diameter of 15 mm and mean (SD) of 5.3 (2.7) sessions to maintain it over a treatment period of 4.5 months (IQR 2–15 months). There was no procedure-related complication or mortality.