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Introduction: Stress that arises at the time of working and work related to teaching is simply called occupational stress. Teaching is considered as a most stressful occupation. This study aims to assess the level of occupational stress and its coping strategies among school teachers of Pokhara Lekthnath Metropolitan. Methods: Cross-sectional study design was used to assess stress level and its coping strategies from June to December 2019. Multi-stage random sampling technique was used including both types of Public and Private schools and only one-third wards were taken out of 33 wards. From each school, fifty percent teachers were taken randomly from the total number. ‘Teacher Occupational Stress scale’ and ‘Modified brief cope inventory’ was freely available standard tool used for this survey. Self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Crude odds ratio was calculated to assess the coping strategies with stress level. Results: In this study, majority of respondents have experienced less stress which is 90.8% followed by moderate stress 7.6% and more stress 1.6%. The most common sources of stress were inadequate resources, poor job promotion, pupil misbehaviors, inadequate salary and more numbers of students in the classroom. The frequently used coping strategies were using alcohol or other drugs (UOR:5.68, CI: 2.30-14.02), taking action to make situation better (UOR: 3.24, CI:1.48- 7.07), think hard about what steps to take (UOR: 0.16, CI: 0.06-0.44), trying to get advice/ help from others (UOR: 0.27, CI: 0.08-0.67), accepting the reality of the situation (UOR:0.39, CI: 0.16-0.95). Conclusion: This study concludes that majority of teachers felt less stress and only marital status was found to be statistically significant (p

Introduction: Estrogen deficiency is the main risk factor of articular cartilage degeneration, leading to postmenopausal osteoarthritis. Moreover, there were imperfect estrogen-responsive elements that did exist in the 5’-untranslated region of Notch1 and Jagged1. So, our aim was exploring the relationship between estrogen deficiency and the Notch signaling in postmenopausal osteoarthritis. Methods: These rats were divided into four groups as follows1. bilateral ovariectomy and intra-articular injection of collagenase, 2. bilateral ovariectomy, 3. intra-articular injection of collagenase, 4. intra-articular injection of normal saline. Histological and immunohistochemical staining of joint cartilage were used to evaluate the osteoarthritis model, including the morphological changes of articular cartilage and the relative expression of osteoarthritic biomarkers (IL-1β, MMP-1, and type II collagen). The Notch signaling expression (Notch2) were detected using immunohistochemical staining. In addition, the correlation between the osteoarthritic biomarkers and the Notch2 was also investigated. Results: The expression level of Notch signaling were significantly decreased in the postmenopausal osteoarthritic joint, comparing with other groups. No significant differences were observed in all noncollagenase induced joint, regardless of whether being undergone ovariectomy. The expression of Notch2 was negatively correlated to IL-1β and MMP-1 in osteoarthritisoppositely, it was positively correlated to type II collagen. Conclusion: the results hinted that estrogen deficiency reduced the expression of Notch signaling in osteoarthritic joint. Thus, the Notch signaling could be a potential target for treating postmenopausal osteoarthritis.

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, caused by the most recently discovered coronavirus, is currently affecting a large population across the globe. World health organization (WHO) has already declared COVID-19, a pandemic, and the world is fighting to contain the COVID-19 outbreak. Nepal has taken several preventive measures to control the coronavirus outbreak. However, some additional steps are needed to prevent community transmission of the disease. This brief communication discusses the government of Nepal actions and provides recommendations for the prevention and control of COVID-19 infection in Nepal. Keywords: coronavirus, COVID-19, Nepal, pandemic, prevention

Phytosterol oxidation products (POPs) formed by the auto-oxidation of phytosterols can lead to negative health consequences. New liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) quantitative and qualitative approaches were developed. For quantification, sixteen phytosterol oxidation products (POPs) in liposomal formulations; namely 7-keto, 7-hydroxy, 5,6-epoxy, and 5,6-dihydroxy derivatives of brassicasterol, campesterol, stigmasterol, and β-sitosterol were quantified. The method has a short run time of 5 min, achieved on a poroshell C18 column, using isocratic elution. To the best of our knowledge, this is the shortest run time among reported methods for the quantitative analysis of POPs. Atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) was used, and the mobile phase was composed of acetonitrile/methanol (99:1 v/v). The quantitative method was validated as per the FDA guidelines for linearity, accuracy, precision, selectivity, sensitivity, matrix effect, dilution integrity, and stability. The method was applied for the quantification of POPs in liposomal phytosterol formulations prepared with and without tocopherols, as antioxidants. The formulation process had little impact on the formation of POPs as only 7-ketobrassicasterol was quantified in tested samples. The quantified value of POPs in liposomal samples was insignificant to impart any toxicological effects. Other degradation products such as 7-hydroxy, 5,6-epoxy and 5,6-dihydroxy derivatives of brassicasterol, campesterol and β-sitosterol were below the lower limit of quantification. Phytosterol-containing formulations were then assessed for their oxidative stability after microwave exposure for 5 min. The incorporation of tocopherols significantly increased the stability of phytosterols in the liposomal formulations. Finally, LC-MS/MS qualitative identification of phytosterols obtained from extra virgin olive oil was performed. New POPs, namely 7-ketoavenasterol, and 7-ketomethylenecycloartenol were putatively identified, illustrating the applicability of the method to identify POPs with varying structures present in various phytosterol sources. In fact, it is the first time that 7-ketomethylenecycloartenol is reported as a POP.

Phytosterols and tocopherols are commonly used in food and pharmaceutical industries for their health benefits. Current analysis methods rely on conventional liquid chromatography, using an analytical column, which can be tedious and time consuming. However, simple, and fast analytical methods can facilitate their qualitative and quantitative analysis. In this study, a fast chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric (FC-MS/MS) method was developed and validated for the quantitative analysis of phytosterols and tocopherols. Omitting chromatography by employing flow injection analysis—mass spectrometry (FIA-MS) failed in the quantification of target analytes due to analyte-to-analyte interferences from phytosterols. These interferences arise from their ambiguous MS fingerprints that would lead to false identification and inaccurate quantification. Therefore, a C18 guard column with a 1.9 µm particle size was employed for FC-MS/MS under isocratic elution using acetonitrile/methanol (99:1 v/v) at a flow rate of 600 µL/min. Analyte-to-analyte interferences were identified and eliminated. The false peaks could then be easily identified due to chromatographic separation. In addition, two internal standards were evaluated, namely cholestanol and deuterated cholesterol. Both internal standards contributed to the observed analyte-to-analyte interferences, however, adequate shift in the retention time for deuterated cholesterol eliminated its interferences and allowed for an accurate quantification. The method is fast (1.3 min) compared to published methods and can distinguish false peaks observed in FIA-MS. Seven analytes were quantified simultaneously, namely brassicasterol, campesterol, stigmasterol, β-sitosterol, α-tocopherol, δ-tocopherol, and γ-tocopherol. The method was successfully applied in the quantitative analysis of phytosterols and tocopherols present in the unsaponifiable matter of canola oil deodorizer distillate (CODD). β-sitosterol and γ-tocopherol were the most abundant phytosterols and tocopherols, respectively.

Purpose: Phytosterols are plant sterols with structural resemblance to cholesterol. United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Health Canada have approved phytosterols as a cholesterol-lowering agent due to their ability to significantly reduce low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in the range of 7-12%. However, phytosterols (lipophilic) have the potential to impart higher efficacy in the reduction of LDL-C if formulated in a delivery system that increases its bioavailability. In this work, we aim to develop and characterize a liposomal formulation containing phytosterols and tocopherols; the aim is to enhance cholesterol-lowering ability of phytosterols. We also aim to test the efficacy of brassicasterol (phytosterol unique to canola seeds) which has not yet been approved by the FDA. To prevent oxidation of phytosterols during formulation development and storage, tocopherols (vitamin E) are also added as antioxidants. Methods: Liposomes containing phytosterols and tocopherols were prepared using phosphatidylcholine as the lipid carrier and formulated using three different approaches -i) thin layer hydration homogenization, ii) thin layer hydration ultra-sonication, and iii) Mozafari method. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was developed and validated for quantifying liposomal phytosterols and tocopherols. Results: Liposomal vesicles prepared via homogenization and ultrasonication methods were significantly lower in size ( 200 nm). All three methods showed comparable zeta potential values (-9 to -14 mV), which is adequate for the physical stability of the vesicles. A new validated LC-MS/MS method with a total run time of seven minutes was applied to quantify four phytosterols (brassicasterol, campesterol, stigmasterol, and β-sitosterol) and three tocopherols (alpha, gamma, and delta) simultaneously. The run time of seven minutes is the shortest among reported methods to date. The liposomal formulation prepared by all three methods showed entrapment efficiency >89% for both phytosterols and tocopherols. Conclusion: Liposomes containing phytosterols and tocopherols were successfully developed and characterized with the aim of enhancing the efficacy of phytosterols. In vivo studies will be conducted using hamster animal model to compare the efficacy of liposomal phytosterols to marketed phytosterols containing products.

Little study was done to understand the role of high-altitude oak forests in climate change mitigation. Here, we analyzed data from 30 sample plots collected along the four altitudinal gradients to assess species distribution and carbon stocks in the Panchase Conservation Area in Nepal. Three carbon pools were considered, namely aboveground carbon (AGC), belowground carbon (BGC), and carbon in litters (leaf litters, grass, and herb biomass, CiL). Seven species were found, of which two are oak tree species (Quercus semecarpifolia and Quercus lamellosa). Quercus semecarpifolia is the most dominant species in terms of stem density and carbon stocks, followed by Quercus lamellose. Average tree diameter, height, and total carbon stocks were 27.7 cm, 8.4 m, and 127.6 MgC ha−1, respectively. Our study found higher carbon stocks at the higher altitudinal gradient. Pearson’s correlation analysis shows a strong effect of altitudinal gradients on carbon stocks (r = 0.7124), moderate effect on tree height (r = 0.5263), and less effects on diameter (r = 0.1733). A stepwise multiple regression analysis shows strong relationship between carbon stocks with height (P = 0.0059) and carbon stocks with tree diameter (P = 0.0148). Our ground observations and random interviews indicate that the low carbon stocks at the low altitude were due to human disturbance. Oak forests at lower altitudes are sparse forest stands with poor regeneration capacity, overgrazing, and extensive lopping. If such disturbance is prevented, oak forest can increase carbon stocks to 361.7 MgC ha−1 as found at the higher altitude. Conservation of oak forests in the Panchase Conservation Area could result in emission reductions of 633.0 MgCO2 ha−1. These reductions could be eligible for financial incentives under the REDD + scheme.

Background Countries with the highest burden of maternal and newborn deaths and stillbirths often have little information on these deaths. Since over 81% of births worldwide now occur in facilities, using routine facility data could reduce this data gap. We assessed the availability, quality, and utility of routine labour and delivery ward register data in five hospitals in Bangladesh, Nepal, and Tanzania. This paper forms the baseline register assessment for the Every Newborn-Birth Indicators Research Tracking in Hospitals (EN-BIRTH) study. Methods We extracted 21 data elements from routine hospital labour ward registers, useful to calculate selected maternal and newborn health (MNH) indicators. The study sites were five public hospitals during a one-year period (2016–17). We measured 1) availability: completeness of data elements by register design, 2) data quality: implausibility, internal consistency, and heaping of birthweight and explored 3) utility by calculating selected MNH indicators using the available data. Results Data were extracted for 20,075 births. Register design was different between the five hospitals with 10–17 of the 21 selected MNH data elements available. More data were available for health outcomes than interventions. Nearly all available data elements were > 95% complete in four of the five hospitals and implausible values were rare. Data elements captured in specific columns were 85.2% highly complete compared to 25.0% captured in non-specific columns. Birthweight data were less complete for stillbirths than live births at two hospitals, and significant heaping was found in all sites, especially at 2500g and 3000g. All five hospitals recorded count data required to calculate impact indicators including; stillbirth rate, low birthweight rate, Caesarean section rate, and mortality rates. Conclusions Data needed to calculate MNH indicators are mostly available and highly complete in EN-BIRTH study hospital routine labour ward registers in Bangladesh, Nepal and Tanzania. Register designs need to include interventions for coverage measurement. There is potential to improve data quality if Health Management Information Systems utilization with feedback loops can be strengthened. Routine health facility data could contribute to reduce the coverage and impact data gap around the time of birth.

Corona viruses are single stranded, enveloped group of viruses which contain RNA genomes. Disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 is termed as COVID-19 which has a nucleic acid identical to some of the beta coronaviruses identified in bats. First identified in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, it has been causing an outbreak in 210 countries so far with a huge death toll. The disease is seen to be fatal to human health causing symptoms like Sneezing, Runny nose, Cough, Watery diarrhea, Fever in rare cases, Sore Throat, severe pneumonia. WHO has declared the outbreak as pandemic. It has several adverse impacts including downfall of the world's economy. World's GDP is expected to fall by 2.8%. Along with worlds, Nepal's economy may stumble if the outbreak persists for long. Nepal’s economy is suspected to be facing a drastic compression as Asian Development Bank (ADB) has prognosticated a decline in GDP to 5.3% in fiscal year 2020, down from 7.1% a year earlier. Prolonged cessation in economic activities will result in permanent loss in the economy of the country. Steps with patience to battle the spread of the pandemic are in urgent need.

Additional file 1: Table S1. Summary information on country context and five EN-BIRTH study hospitals. Table S2. MNH data elements (n = 21) extracted from the labour ward and OT ward register of each of five EN-BIRTH hospitals. Table S3. Definitions and examples of coverage and impact indicators, including numerator and denominator. Table S4. Indicators calculated for potential data utilization from routine register numerator and denominatorIndicators calculated for potential data utilization from routine register numerator and denominator. Table S5. Heaping of birthweight data recorded labour ward/operation registers in EN-BIRTH study hospitals.

A novel liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) method was developed and validated to simultaneously quantify phytosterols (brassicasterol, campesterol, stigmasterol and β-sitosterol) and tocopherols (alpha, beta, gamma and delta) entrapped in the lipid bilayer of a liposomal formulation. Apart from liposomes (a pharmaceutical product), the developed method was able to quantify target analytes in agricultural products, thus showing wide applications. Atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) was employed due to the enhanced ionization of phytosterols and tocopherols in comparison to electrospray ionization. Unlike published work, the chromatographic conditions were modified to simplify the analytical approach. For the first time, a simple isocratic elution (acetonitrile:methanol 99:1 v/v) was utilized for the separation of four phytosterols and four tocopherols in a single run. A substantially better baseline separation of phytosterols were obtained in comparison to reported methods by using poroshell C18 column. The method has a total run time of 7 min, which is the shortest run time among all reported quantitative methods for the simultaneous determination of four phytosterols and four tocopherols. Calibration curves for all phytosterols were linear in the range of 0.05−10 μg/mL. In the case of tocopherols, alpha tocopherol showed linear response in the range of 0.25−10 μg/mL. However, gamma and delta tocopherols exhibited quadratic relationship in the same concentration range (0.25−10 μg/mL). Validation parameters met the International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) guidelines in terms of selectivity, accuracy, precision, repeatability, sensitivity, matrix effects, dilution integrity and stability. The method was, for the first time, successfully applied for the quantifying phytosterols and tocopherols entrapped inside liposomes. An interesting chromatographic phenomenon was observed during sample analysis. Alpha tocopherol (entrapped in the liposomal lipid bilayer) was found to elute at two retention times, 2.53 min and 3.60 min. Such dual separation was not observed in calibration standards and quality controls. It was concluded that the chiral recognition ability of liposomes made up of phosphatidylcholine separated the enantiomers of alpha tocopherol, giving rise to two peaks at two different retention time. To sum, the reported novel LC–MS/MS method addresses three major analytical shortcomings, namely i)longer run time, ii)complex gradient elution and iii)poor baseline separation of phytosterols and tocopherols.

Phytosterols are plant sterols recommended as adjuvant therapy for hypercholesterolemia and tocopherols are well-established anti-oxidants. However, thermo-sensitivity, lipophilicity and formulation-dependent efficacy bring challenges in the development of functional foods, enriched with phytosterols and tocopherols. To address this, we developed liposomes containing brassicasterol, campesterol and &beta, sitosterol obtained from canola oil deodorizer distillate, along with alpha, gamma and delta tocopherol. Three approaches, thin film hydration-homogenization, thin film hydration-ultrasonication and Mozafari method were used for formulation. Validated liquid chromatographic tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was utilized to determine the entrapment efficiency of bioactives. Stability studies of liposomal formulations were conducted before and after pasteurization using high temperature short time (HTST) technique for a month. Vesicle size after homogenization and ultrasonication (&lt, 200 nm) was significantly lower than by Mozafari method (&gt, 200 nm). However, zeta potential (&minus, 9 to &minus, 14 mV) was comparable which was adequate for colloidal stability. Entrapment efficiencies were greater than 89% for all the phytosterols and tocopherols formulated by all three methods. Liposomes with optimum particle size and zeta potential were incorporated in model orange juice, showing adequate stability after pasteurization (72 &deg, C for 15 s) for a month. Liposomes containing phytosterols obtained from canola waste along with tocopherols were developed and successfully applied as a food additive using model orange juice.

Phytosterols and tocopherols are essential for plant biochemistry, and they possess beneficial health effects for humans. Evaluating the tandem mass spectrometric (MS/MS) behavior of phytosterols and tocopherols is needed for the development of a qualitative and quantitative method for these biologically active plant metabolites. Herein, the MS/MS dissociation behavior of phytosterols and tocopherols is elucidated to establish generalized MS/MS fingerprints. MS/MS and multistage (MS3) analysis revealed common fragmentation behavior among the four tested phytosterols, namely β-sitosterol, stigmasterol, campesterol, and brassicasterol. Similar analysis was conducted for the tocopherols (i.e., alpha (α), beta (β), gamma (γ), and delta (δ)). As such, a universal MS/MS fragmentation pathway for each group was successfully established for the first time. Based on the generalized MS/MS fragmentation behavior of phytosterols, diagnostic product ions were chosen for the development of profiling methods for over 20 naturally occurring phytosterols. A precursor ion scan-triggered-enhanced product ion scan (PIS-EPI) method was established. Due to enhanced chromatographic peaks, multiple ion monitoring-triggered-enhanced product ion scan (MIM-EPI) was employed for confirmation. The screening approach was applied successfully to identify blinded samples obtained from standard mixtures as well as sesame and olive oils. The oil samples contain other phytosterols, and their successful identification indicates that, the generalized MS/MS fragmentation behavior is applicable to various structures of phytosterols. A similar approach was attempted for tocopherols and was only hindered by the low concentration of these bioactive metabolites present in the oil samples.