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Helminth infections in the mithun Bos frontalis, including the liver fluke Fasciola gigantica, hepato-gastric amphistomes Explanatum explanatum, Paramphistomum epiclitum and Calicophoron calicophorum, and the cestodes Echinococcus granulosus and E. ortleppi were studied in north-east India over a 2-year period from 2012 to 2014. Cystic echinococcosis caused by E. granulosus and E. ortleppi was found to be highly prevalent in the mithun, with E. ortleppi being reported for the first time. Molecular markers, including the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS-2), 28S rDNA and mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase sub-unit1 (nad1) were used to confirm the identification of the trematode and cestode species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of medical versus the surgical methods and to determine the outcome of both the methods with respect to complications like incomplete abortion, bleeding and sepsis. Methods: This study was conducted at BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences (BPKIHS). Total of 80 patients, 40 in each group were enrolled in the study. For medical abortion group, Mifepristone 200mg orally followed by Misoprostol 400 mcg vaginally were given until the patient expelled the fetus. In surgical group, cervical priming was done with Misoprostol followed by dilatation and evacuation. The outcome of both medical and surgical abortions were compared in terms of amount of blood loss and associated complications like retained placenta and sepsis. Results: The overall complications were more in the medical group with 11.25% vs 2.5% in the surgical group (p value=0.02), with higher incidence of retained placenta (8 vs0) and a higher amount of blood loss (129.20 +/- 20.4 ml vs 70.89 +/- 11.2 ml, p value <0.001) requiring blood transfusion. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that the surgical method is a more effective and safer procedure as compared to medical method. The complication rates were lower and it was also more cost effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Gastrointestinal polyps may be non-neoplastic or neoplastic lesions They are mostly asymptomatic and are common in the colon but may occur anywhere in the gastrointestinal tract Some polyps have an increased risk for malignancy so it is important to determine the histologic type and characteristics for treatment This study was undertaken to determine the histomorphological spectrum of polyps, their potential risk for malignancy and frequency in our center. Methods: This is a descriptive study which was carried out at Kathmandu Medical Colege Teaching Hospital for a period of three years from 1st January 2011 to 31st December 2013 A Total of 67 polypectomy specimens were received and processed in the Pathology Department Hematoxylin and Eosin stained slides were examined. Results: 47(701%) gastrointestinal polyps were non-neoplastic, 19(283%) were neoplastic and 1(16%) was an infracted polyp Most of the patients presented with rectal bleeding The age of patients for non-neoplastic and neoplastic polyps ranged from 3- 74 and 23- 78 years, respectively Amongst the non-neoplastic polyps, 21 (447%) were retention polyps, 14(2 98%) were inflammatory polyps, 10(21.3%) hyperplastic polyps, 1(2.1%) benign gastric polyp and 1(21%) non-categorized polyp The neoplastic polyps had 16(841%) adenomatous polyps, 1(53%) mixed polyp, 1(53%) fundic gland polyp and 1(53%) moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma 11(688%) adenomatous polyps had mild dysplasia, 2 (125%) moderate dysplasia and 3(187%) severe dysplasia Size of the non-neoplastic polyps ranged from 02-50cm and size of neoplastic polyps ranged from 03-60cm in diameter For patients presented with more than one polyps. Conclusion: Polyps have a diverse histomorphology and there is risk of malignancy in the adeomatous polyps so it is important to screen patients for treatment and cancer prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Control of iron deficiency disorders is prioritized in the nutrition policies of Nepal. The situation is still threatening the public health in both rural and urban areas. Objective There are limited reviews on the iron deficiency situation in Nepal. This study was undertaken to find out the extent of iron deficiency anemia and intake of dietary iron among the general population in Nepal. Materials and methods Published research articles, books, bulletins, and online materials regarding iron deficiency were studied in both national and international scenarios. Results Nearly 46 percent of children (6-59 months) and 35 percent of women (15-49 years) were still suffering from anemia though the trend has been decreasing for the last 15 years. Mostly, young children (6-23 months) and pregnant women were the victims due to their high iron requirements and lower intake of dietary iron. The most common risk factors related to iron deficiency anemia (IDA) found in different studies were low intake of dietary iron, vitamin A deficiency, hookworm infection, malaria, heavy menstrual blood loss, and multiparity. Iron deficiency situation in the Nepalese population is triggered by Illiteracy, lack of awareness, negligence, poor economy, food insecurity, lack of food diversity, changes in dietary behavior, cultural behaviors, poor health and sanitation, and patriarchal structure of the society. Conclusion The main risk factor of IDA is low intake of dietary iron. There is a need of multiple approaches to address IDA with more focus on dietary iron to reduce anemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses traditional farming system in Sikkim, India. It gives a brief history of the traditions and the beliefs of the early farmers where the moderns farming systems are based. An emphasis on the details of the system in villages are described from the beginning when everything was through the blessing of the divine Almighty Buddha to the landlords overseer down to the development of what is practiced today. Traditions of land preparation in enumerated and briefly explained including the terrace cultivation, irrigation, maintaining fertility in soil, and other traditional farming system.

Copyright of Brazilian Journal of Biology is the property of Instituto Internacional de Ecologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Brazilian Journal of Biology is the property of Instituto Internacional de Ecologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Aims: This study aims to review obstetric and neonatal outcome and risk factors in adolescent pregnant women and to compare perinatal outcomes with the adult group. Methods: This is a retrospective comparative study in between primiparous pregnant teenager women aged 15-19 years and 20-24 years from April 2012 to April 2013 in Patan Hospital, Lalitpur, Nepal. The data was retrieved from the hospital records. Frequency of prenatal care, perinatal outcome (newborn's weight and gestational age at delivery), mode of delivery and maternal complications if any were recorded. Results: This is a retrospective comparative study in between primiparous pregnant teenager women aged 15-19 years and 20-24 years from April 2012 to April 2013 in Patan Hospital, Lalitpur, Nepal. The data was retrieved from the hospital records. Frequency of prenatal care, perinatal outcome (newborn's weight and gestational age at delivery), mode of delivery and maternal complications, if any were recorded. Conclusions: There was significant association of neonatal complications like still birth, intra uterine fetal death, fetal distress, and meconium aspiration with the adolescent pregnancy. There was no significant association between neonatal death and age of mother. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surgical/anatomical pathologists study diseases to provide accurate diagnoses, identify pathogens, and participate in treatment. However, there is a need for more surgical pathologists worldwide due to low recruitment rates. One contributing factor is the medical students’ interest and knowledge about surgical pathology as a career option. Understanding medical students’ knowledge and perceptions about surgical pathologist jobs is crucial for future physicians, as it influences collaboration with pathologists and impacts patient care outcomes. This study aims to evaluate medical students’ knowledge of surgical pathologists’ jobs in Saudi Arabian medical colleges, which will help identify gaps in knowledge and develop targeted interventions to promote interest in surgical pathology as a career. For simplicity, in this study, we refer to anatomical/surgical pathology as “pathology”.A cross-sectional study was done in Saudi Arabia with a total of 478 medical students examining their perception of pathologist's job using a validated questionnaire distributed through social media platforms. The study revealed that 322 (67%) had no interest and did not consider becoming pathologists in the future, and 194 (40%) chose lack of patient contact as the main reason for not joining this field. However, 15% of the students think that pathologists have flexible lifestyle.Our study shows that many students are not interested in pathology as a career, with varied responses revealing uncertainty about pathologists’ roles. To spark interest, universities should involve students in laboratories and decision-making processes, prioritize understanding pathologists’ roles, and emphasize their impact on patients’ lives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study was conducted to comprehensively understand the context, barriers, and opportunities for improving dementia care, treatment, and support. The objective is to guide the development of a national dementia care plan. Methodology: This document review was conducted by analyzing literature available in the public domain, including scientific publications, project documents/reports, media reports, and hospital records. Additionally, annual reports published by the Department of Health Services, national census and demographic and health survey reports, Old Age Homes, and other relevant government reports were examined. Firsthand information was gathered from relevant stakeholders based on the World Health Organization's situational analysis framework for dementia plans. This framework encompasses four domains: Policy context (national ministries, legislation, policies, strategies, plans related to dementia, mental health, aging, and disability), service delivery assessment (health and social care workforces, services, support and treatment programmes, and promotion of awareness and understanding), and epidemiological indicators (prevalence and incidence rates of dementia, risk factors). Ethical clearance was obtained from the Institutional Review Committee (IRC) of B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences (IRC no.2658/023). Results: Existing policies in Nepal inadequately address the needs of people with dementia and their caregivers. Concerning health services, the Government of Nepal provides financial subsidies to individuals diagnosed with dementia; however, numerous hurdles impede access to care. These obstacles include geographical and structural barriers, an inefficient public healthcare system, weak governance, financial constraints, low awareness levels, stigma, and inadequate workforce. Furthermore, the absence of robust nationally representative epidemiological studies on dementia in Nepal hampers the development of evidence‐based plans and policies. Similarly, there are no interventions targeted at caregivers of people with dementia, and no initiatives for dementia prevention are in place. Conclusions: This review underscores the urgent need to formulate a comprehensive national dementia care plan to address the growing challenges. Key priority action areas include the integration of dementia care into primary healthcare services, training workforce to provide the care, increasing awareness, mitigating stigma, developing caregiver support programs, and initiating high‐quality research to inform evidence‐based policymaking. Key points: Existing policies in Nepal fall short in addressing the specific needs of people with dementia and their caregivers.There is immense scarcity of trained health workforce to provide dementia care as well as access to merely available dementia care services is also hindered by a combination of geographical, structural, and systemic obstacles within the public healthcare system.The absence of robust local epidemiological studies limits the evidence base for effective policymaking.Key action areas include integrating dementia care into primary healthcare, enhancing health care workers training, raising awareness, combating stigma, implementing caregiver support programs, and initiating high‐quality research to inform evidence‐based policymaking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Darjeeling Himalaya, after commercial logging, natural forest is converted into 'taungya' plantations. Under the 'taungya' system, choice species of high timber value are planted following slash-burning on clear-cut forest lands. Agricultural crops are raised in the interplanting space for the first two consecutive years. Regeneration is allowed along with the growth of planted species after abandoning the crop cultivation. This study examines ecosystem recovery 35 yr after the conversion of a dry, mixed deciduous forest into 'taungya' plantation. Only 28 out of 87 species in natural forest regenerated in the >/= 10-cm cbh class of individuals. The loss of species was independent of abundance in the community; not only rare, but also common, species of natural forest were lost in 'taungya' plantation. Mature forest specialists suffered the greatest loss, and open-habitat specialists increased. An introduced species, Tectona grandis, dominated in terms of abundance, use of vertical space, and total ground coverage. Shorea robusta was codominant due to its coppicing ability. Prospects for recovery of the lost species are bleak because juvenile populations in the regeneration layer (comprising individuals < 10-cm cbh and > 30-cm height) are either absent or very small. The study concludes that conversion of natural forest into 'taungya' plantations dramatically alters the landscape. interrupts recovering ecosystem structure and causes considerable loss of species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The changes in forage availability and the physicochemical variability of plants influence the diet selection by herbivores. In this study, the foraging behavior of Creole goats was studied in terms of botanical composition of the diet, food availability and physicochemical properties of vegetation. The study was performed in a desert rangeland in the northeast (NE) Mendoza region in Argentina. Experiments with grazing goats were made in dry (winter) and wet (summer) seasons and cafeteria experiments (feeding trial) were performed during the summer. Food availability was estimated from forage species cover. Botanical composition of the goat's diet was determined by microhistological analysis of fecal samples. Morphological parts of forage species consumed by goats were sampled and analyzed to determine chemical traits (plant nutrients and secondary metabolites) in both seasons. Also, during summer, the two morphological traits of browse species stem specific density (SSD) and specific leaf area (SLA) were evaluated. In the experiments with grazing goats, diet selection was evaluated based on Ivlev's electivity index ( ) and, in cafeteria experiments, preference was estimated based on the number of bites. Diet selection varied between the two seasons. Grazing goats showed differences in the patterns of diet selection related to changes in forage availability. The botanical composition of the diet had a greater (p <0.001) participation of woody species in relation to grass species in both seasons, but the herbaceous stratum was more utilized by goats during the summer according to their higher availability. Correlations between diet and availability were positive in both seasons, but not significant in summer. The models including crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and total phenols (TP) had substantial support for predicting variation in diet selection in summer and winter. In both seasons the preference increased as the concentrations of CP, NDF and TP increased, but the effect of CP was significant only in winter. Thus, goats selected supplementary food mixtures (mixed diet) and tannins were not considered dissuasive but, rather, were maintained below a certain threshold. In summer, SSD was negatively and significantly related to diet selection by grazing goats. This morphological trait allowed explaining a greater percentage of the variation in (36%) with regard to the variation explained by the chemical variables (16%). In cafeteria experiments, in summer, the optimization of nutrient intake rate through consumption of species with low SSD values represented a best explanation for the preferences observed, whereas the hypotheses of minimization of secondary metabolites and maximization of nutrients were not able to fully explain the preferences observed in cafeteria experiments. To conclude, dietary decisions by goats in desert rangelands could be interpreted in terms of intake rate optimization and complementation of nutrients and secondary compounds, rather than by explanations involving the isolated effects of nutrient intake maximization or tannin intake minimization. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]