Search

Organized universal health coverage has not yet been introduced in most developing countries, including Bangladesh. Private health care is affordable only to the high-income group. The aim of this retrospective observational study was to evaluate health service coverage with disease prevention, access to health information, and cost control through health financing to help take appropriate decisions for the betterment of garment workers in Bangladesh. The study was conducted in seven readymade garments (RMG) factories in the Gazipur district from 24 April 2014 to 23 April 2015.A total of 9717 workers aged 18 to 60 years and belonging to the lowest salary groups were included in this Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance (ESHI) scheme. This new model of Health Micro Insurance (HMI) had treatment, laboratory facilities, health education, and medicine supply. The annual coverage for treatment cost was up to 15000 Bangladeshi taka (BDT) or US$192.8 and the premium for enrolment in the scheme was 487 BDT (US$6.3). An agreement foresaw that the surplus cost accrued was equally shared between the insurance company and the factory owner. A common software was used to generate and view all medical information. A total of 4524 (46.6%) workers (60.5% male and 39.5% female) received treatment. The participant's mean age was 28.3 years. The mean consultancy rate was 4.7 times. Participants mostly suffered from gastrointestinal problems(24.4%), and most prescribed medications were anti-ulcer drugs. The median value of drug cost, investigation cost, consultancy fees, and total medical cost were 126 (1.49 USD), 315 (3.71 USD), 200 (2.36 USD), and 734 BDT (8.66), respectively. The annual net premium paid by the factory owner was 4094504 BDT (48744 USD), and the total healthcare cost accrued was 5230156 BDT (62263 USD). This ESHI scheme is a better option for HMI for making healthcare accessible to the largest RMG sector in a developing country like Bangladesh.

Abtract. Information related to Covid-19 is widely circulated on Twitter social media but the information is still fragmentary and efforts are needed to unite it so that social media users can easily access information related to Covid-19. This study aims to apply propaganda on social media Twitter and explain how the impact of the propaganda. The novelty of this research is focused on the propaganda of the Twitter social media account which is the most responded to by citizens because it informs the wargabantuwarga.com website which collects information about Covid-19, determining the account using Twitter's social media analysis tool in the form of Social Bearing. The research method used is qualitative research with data sources from literature studies and observations on Twitter social media. The results of the study show that the application of propaganda on Twitter social media has been proven to be able to get citizens involved in disseminating information related to Covid-19, including Covid-19 information on the wargabantuwarga.com website. The dissemination of this information was carried out by sharing tweets from the Twitter social media account @anandabadudu which reached thousands of times and received responses from netizens. The propaganda used is white propaganda and the propaganda technique Using All Forms of Persuasion. Both give rise to social action which means the relationship between the propagandist and the target of propaganda or other netizens. Abstrak. Informasi terkait Covid-19 banyak beredar di media sosial Twitter tetapi informasi tersebut masih terpisah-pisah dan diperlukan upaya untuk menyatukannya sehingga pengguna media sosial mudah mengakses informasi terkait Covid-19. Penelitian ini bertujuan menerapkan propaganda di media sosial Twitter dan menjelaskan bagaimana dampak dari propaganda tersebut. Kebaruan penelitian ini difokuskan pada propaganda akun media sosial Twitter yang paling banyak direspons oleh warganet karena menginformasikan terkait situs web wargabantuwarga.com yang menghimpun informasi tentang Covid-19, penentuan akun tersebut menggunakan alat analisis media sosial Twitter berupa Social Bearing. Metode penelitian yang digunakan adalah penelitian kualitatif dengan sumber data dari studi pustaka dan pengamatan di media sosial Twitter. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa penerapan propaganda di media sosial Twitter telah terbukti mampu membuat warganet terlibat dalam menyebarkan informasi terkait Covid-19, termasuk informasi Covid-19 yang berada di situs web wargabantuwarga.com. Penyebaran informasi tersebut dilakukan dengan membagikan cuitan dari akun media sosial Twitter @anandabadudu yang mencapai ribuan kali dan mendapat respons dari warganet. Adapun propaganda yang digunakan adalah propaganda jenis propaganda putih dan teknik propaganda Using All Forms of Persuations. Keduanya memunculkan tindakan sosial yang berarti hubungan antara propagandis dan sasaran propaganda atau warganet lainnya.

Pemerintah Indonesia telah menetapkan pemekaran Daerah Otonom Baru (DOB) Papua dengan tiga tambahan provinsi, seperti Papua Selatan, Papua Tengah, dan Papua Pegunungan. Namun, kebijakan tersebut mendapat penolakan dari masyarakat Papua dengan cara melakukan propaganda penggunaan bendera Bintang Kejora. Bendera tersebut dikibarkan pada saat menyampaikan pernyataan sikap penolakan pemekaran Papua dan pada saat aksi unjuk rasa menolak pemekaran Papua. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mengkaji tentang aksi-aksi penolakan pemekaran Papua yang menggunakan bendera Bintang Kejora. Penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif dengan mengacu pada teori propaganda dan pendekatan multitrack peace building. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa metode propaganda yang dilakukan oleh Tentara Pembebasan Nasional Papua Barat (TPNPB) dan massa aksi unjuk rasa Petisi Rakyat Papua (PRP) berupa metode pervasif dengan cara pengiriman pesan secara masif dan terus-menerus mengenai penggunaan Bintang Kejora sebagai bentuk penolakan terhadap kebijakan pemerakan Papua. Makna Bintang Kejora tersebut mengalami pergeseran dari yang sebelumnya bermakna sebagai hasil dari pengalaman mitologi yang diyakini membawa kedamaian dan kesejahteraan, menjadi suatu bentuk perlawanan terhadap pemerintah, termasuk penolakan kebijakan pemekaran Papua. Simpulan penelitian ini adalah aksi yang dilakukan TPNPB dan PRP merupakan upaya propaganda menyampaikan kepada sasaran propaganda bahwa Bintang Kejora merupakan simbol perlawanan terhadap kebijakan pemerintah.

Avian influenza virus subtype H9N2 is endemic in Bangladesh’s poultry population. The subtype affects poultry production and poses a potential zoonotic risk. Insufficient understanding of how the poultry trading network shapes the dissemination of avian influenza viruses has hindered the design of targeted interventions to reduce their spread. Here, we use phylodynamic analyses of haemagglutinin sequences to investigate the spatial spread and dispersal patterns of H9N2 viruses in Bangladesh’s poultry population, focusing on its two largest cities (Dhaka and Chattogram) and their poultry production and distribution networks. Our analyses suggest that H9N2 subtype avian influenza virus lineage movement occurs relatively less frequently between Bangladesh’s two largest cities than within each city. H9N2 viruses detected in single markets are often more closely related to viruses from other markets in the same city than to each other, consistent with close epidemiological connectivity between markets. Our analyses also suggest that H9N2 viruses may spread more frequently between chickens of the three most commonly sold types (sunali—a cross-bred of Fayoumi hen and Rhode Island Red cock, deshi—local indigenous, and exotic broiler) in Dhaka than in Chattogram. Overall, this study improves our understanding of how Bangladesh’s poultry trading system impacts avian influenza virus spread and should contribute to the design of tailored surveillance that accommodates local heterogeneity in virus dispersal patterns.

The Free West Papua Campaign is an organization that massively campaigns on social media Twitter and its website to garner support from the international community regarding Papuan independence, one of its efforts is to conduct campaigns in cyberspace with a narrative supporting the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) to become full member of the subregional organization MSGin the hope that this membership status can strengthen ULMWP's political maneuvering in bringing the issue of an independent Papua to the international level. The purpose of this study was to find out how the campaign carried out by the Twitter account @FreeWestPapua and how other Twitter users responded to the campaign. The research used is a qualitative research by juxtaposing the study of literature with data from social media Twitter and the freewestpapua.org. The results show that the Free West Papua Campaign uses ideologically or cause oriented campaigns and uses a campaign model in the form of a componential campaign. The response from Twitter users is more dominated by following instructions on hashtags rather than the message they want to convey. Keywords: Free West Papua Campaign, Melanesia Spearhead Group, Campaign, ULMWP Abstrak Free West Papua Campaign merupakan organisasi yang secara masif melakukan kampanye di media sosial Twitter dan situs webnya untuk menggalang dukungan dari masyarakat internasional terkait kemerdekaan Papua, salah satu upayanya adalah melakukan kampanye di ruang siber dengan narasi mendukung United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) menjadi anggota penuh organisasi subregional MSG dengan harapan status keanggotaan tersebut dapat memperkuat manuver politik ULMWP dalam membawa isu Papua merdeka dalam tataran internasional. Tujuan penelitian ini untuk mengetahui bagaimana kampanye yang dilakukan oleh akun Twitter @FreeWestPapua dan bagaimana respons pengguna Twitter lainnya terhadap kampanye tersebut. Penelitian yang menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif dengan menyandingkan antara studi literatur dengan data-data dari media sosial Twitter dan situs web freewestpapua.org. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa Free West Papua Campaign menggunakan kampanye jenis ideologically or cause oriented campaigns dan menggunakan model kampanye berupa komponensial kampanye. Adapun respons dari pengguna Twitter lebih didominasi mengikuti instruksi tentang tagar daripada pesan yang ingin disampaikan. Kata kunci: Free West Papua Campaign, Kampanye, Melanesia Spearhead Group, ULMWP

This research was conducted to study the types of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) present in selected yogurts available in the local market of Bangladesh. For this purpose, nine different yogurt samples were collected (viz. MV, Mw, Pst, Psr, Bik, Bog, WF, Kw and Nab) and cultured in the selective MRS agar media for enumerating LAB colony. Out of 9 samples, colony forming LAB were found in 6 samples and the population ranged from 1.0×104 to 9.5×105 cfu/ml. Catalase negative and Gram’s positive colonies were initially identified as LAB. Then the isolates were purified by subsequent culturing in MRS broth and MRS agar media. Biochemical properties of selected colonies were evaluated by performing gas production from glucose, growth at different temperatures (10ºC, 15ºC and 45ºC), growth at different NaCl concentrations (2, 4 and 6.5% NaCl) and sugar fermentation tests (lactose, sorbitol, salicin, trehalose, melibiose, sucrose, mannitol, melezitose, maltose, galactose, glucose, arabinose, raffinose and ribose). According to the tests stated above, a total of five different species of LAB were identified from 6 samples. The isolate Lactobacillus lactis was identified in MV, PSr and Bog yogurt, while Lactobacillus bulgaricus was found in MV and Bik yogurt. The species Leuconostoc cremoris, a avor producing bacteria, was found in six yogurt samples. On the other hand, Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus helveticus was found only in Pst and Psr samples, respectively. Bang. J. Livs. Res. Vol. 27 (1&2), 2020: P. 64-72

Background: Congenital malformations are structural or functional anomalies that occur during intrauterine life and can be identified prenatally, at birth or sometimes only later during life. These congenital defects can evolve from abnormal genetic or environmental factors or a combination of both but the causes of many cases are unknown. The risk factors are associated with congenital defects varies depending on species, breed, body system, geographical location and season. Some congenital malformations can cause death of newborn, while others can only create a structural defect without affecting vital functions and responsible for slowing down of genetic progress and economic loss for the breeders. Congenital defects constitute the at least fifth largest cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality but national estimate of the prevalence of these anomalies are lacking in inland literature. Thus, it is important to estimate the prevalence with identify the causes and risk factors of congenital defects for their possible prevention to minimize the economic losses in animal industry. Objective: The objective of the review was to derive an estimate of the birth prevalence and associated host risk factors of congenital anomalies reported in calves and kids in Bangladesh. Materials and Methods: The occurrence of congenital anomalies in new born farm animals has been reviewed from the first report published in 1975 up to 2021 in Bangladesh. The search was carried out in Google, PubMed, Banglajol and also the original inland journals. Results: All types of search identified 33 inland articles and 35 articles published from foreign nations. Of the 33 available inland articles of which most of the articles based on either single clinical report or data abstracted from veterinary hospital records. Approximately 36 types of congenital malformations were recorded, of which 31 types in cow calves and only five types in kids. Higher occurrence of congenital defects reported in calves (96.95%; n = 1746 cases) than kids (3.05%; 55 cases), but both the calves (56.25%; n = 923) and kids (67.27%; n = 37 cases) affected with atresia ani comparatively higher than other reported congenital malformations. System-wise analysis on prevalence of congenital anomalies found highest prevalence in digestive system (67.18%), followed by ocular system (17.07%), musculoskeletal system (8.42%), urogenital system (2.58%), integument system (2.52%) and others. Comparatively higher prevalence of congenital defects reported in male (65.57%) than female (34.43%) and crossbred (67.03%) than indigenous (32.97%) calves in Bangladesh. Conclusion: Calves and kids born with various congenital defects in their different body systems with highest occurrence of atresia ani in both calves and kids have been recorded. Calves have a great variety of defects than kids probably due to genetic causes. Atresia ani and ocular dermoids are the most frequent occurrence but several cases are still not reported due to lack of disease monitoring system, leading to an underestimation of the real weight of congenital malformations especially in cross-bred cattle. Although some congenital defects can be corrected surgically, the majority cases may not be easily corrected surgically moreover surgically corrected animals may not be used for breeding purposes. Therefore, prevention of the occurrence of congenital defects is required based on the identification of causal factors.

Honeybee products arouse interest in society due to their natural origin and range of important biological properties. Propolis (P) and royal jelly (RJ) attract scientists’ attention because they exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-tumor, and immunomodulatory abilities. In this study, we tested whether P and RJ could mitigate the adverse effects of cadmium (Cd) exposure, with particular emphasis on the reproductive function in female rats. In this line, one week of pretreatment was established. Six experimental groups were created, including (i) the control group (without any supplementation), (ii) the Cd group (receiving CdCl2 in a dose of 4.5 mg/kg/day), (iii) the P group (50 mg of P/kg/day), (iv) RJ group (200 mg of RJ/kg/day), (v) P + Cd group (rats pretreated with P and then treated with P and Cd simultaneously), (vi) RJ + Cd group (animals pretreated with RJ before receiving CdCl2 simultaneously with RJ). Cd treatment of rats adversely affected a number of measured parameters, including body weight, ovarian structure and ultrastructure, oxidative stress parameters, increased ovarian Cd content and prolonged the estrous cycle. Pretreatment and then cotreatment with P or RJ and Cd alleviated the adverse effects of Cd, transferring the clusters in the PCA analysis chart toward the control group. However, clusters for cotreated groups were still distinctly separated from the control and P, or RJ alone treated groups. Most likely, investigated honeybee products can alter Cd absorption in the gut and/or increase its excretion through the kidneys and/or mitigate oxidative stress by various components. Undoubtedly, pretreatment with P or RJ can effectively prepare the organism to overcome harmful insults. Although the chemical composition of RJ and P is relatively well known, focusing on proportion, duration, and scheme of treatment, as well as the effects of particular components, may provide interesting data in the future. In the era of returning to natural products, both P and RJ seem valuable materials for further consideration as anti-infertility agents.

The present study aimed to record the arthropod fauna of medico-legal importance in an urban city: El Delengat, Beheira governorate, Egypt, by studying the succession of insects and the duration of the decomposition of rabbit carrions injected with Aluminum phosphide (AlP). In our study the total of twelve male rabbits, Oryctolagus cuniculus L, each weighing 1,25 kg were used. The experiment was conducted in summer. Three replicate experiments were conducted, for each experiment, 3 rabbits were administered intragastrically dosages of 27.4 mg, 13.7 mg, 54.8 mg of aluminum phosphide by body weight representing LD50, ½ LD50, 2 LD50, respectively. The fourth rabbit was used as a control, injected by saline solution. The recorded entomofauna was denoted in 5 orders, 12 families, and 17 genera and species. Necrophagous arthropods that colonized rabbit carrions were substantially of Diptera and Coleoptera orders. Calliphorid insects was the foremost family that colonizing the different carrions. AlP appeared to delay the decomposition process in ½ LD50 and 2 LD50 carrions. These results are the primary record of the arthropod successive pattern on aluminum phosphide remains, it will provide useful data in any future case studies involving AlP intoxication.

Elemental nickel particle was incorporated into magnesium matrix using blend-spark plasma sintering powder metallurgy technique without the use of ball milling and its effect on the hardness and tr...

Background: In the absence of international or national guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), physicians’ current practice varies a great deal. This is particularly true for most developing countries, including Bangladesh. We have conducted a study to register the current practices related to the diagnosis and management of GDM in Bangladesh. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted to obtain details regarding diagnostic criteria used, screening methods, management strategies, and postpartum follow-up of GDM using a structured questionnaire. A total of 756 physicians from 30 centers of the Diabetic Association of Bangladesh, Government and Private Hospitals located in both the capital Dhaka city and outside Dhaka participated. Results: The study found that diabetologists look after 42.5% of the GDM patients. Among the physicians participated, 44.4% preferred first antenatal care visit for the GDM screening, and 55.2% preferred two samples oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) for screening. About 47.6% of the physicians followed the American Diabetic Association (ADA) guidelines for diagnosis. Half of the participated physicians preferred short-acting insulin and four-times home monitoring of blood glucose per day. Around 66.3% of the physicians advised OGTT 6 weeks after delivery. Conclusion: The majority of the participating physicians do not follow the recommendations for the diagnosis and management of GDM. This emphasizes the need for developing an evidence-based national guideline for GDM and necessary training to halt the rise of diabetes and safe mother and child health in Bangladesh.

Background: The large animal species such as cattle, buffaloes and horses are monotocous with one or sometimes two newborns per birth whereas small farm animal species such as sheep, goats and pigs are usually polytocous animals are highly prolific and especially pigs often produce a dozen newborns at each farrowing. Cattle usually produce only one calf per gestation resulting from ovulation of a single follicle. The most common form of twinning in cattle occurs due to multiple ovulations which may produce dizygotic twins. The twin births in dairy cattle often negatively impacts the reproduction, production, health and reduces the productive lifespan of cows. Therefore, there is a great interest to know the multiple ovulations and multiple births to reduce the twinning rate in dairy cattle herds. Objective: This review updates the status of multiple births and its impact and consequences on production of dairy cattle and goats. Materials and Methods: The related literatures on the multiple births in cattle and goats have been reviewed for which the search was carried out in Google Scholar, PubMed, CrossRef, Banglajol and also the online daily newspapers. Results: Although multiple births with up to quadruplets have been reported from different countries, the prevalence of twin births are commonly reported in dairy cattle. The prevalence of twinning rates are varied widely in different breeds like twin calving in Holstein Friesian cattle is 3 to 5%, 5.6% Spanish dairy herd and 3.9% in Iranian Holsteins, whereas triplet and quadruplet births represent 0.015% and 0.004% of the total births, respectively. Twin calving shorten gestation length, increased dystocia, stillbirths, decrease birth weight, perinatal calf mortality, retained placenta, decrease milk production, increases the occurrence of metabolic diseases, reduced conception rate, increased calving interval, shorten the productive lifespan of the dam and increases overall culling rate. Two strategies- the transfer of a single embryo produced in vitro and follicular drainage of co-dominant follicles at AI have been suggested to prevent twin pregnancies. Conclusion: Multiple births in dairy cattle is not desirable due to negative effects on both cows that calve twins and calves born as twins that result in economic losses in dairy herds. Regardless of the direct effect of multiple births on health and fertility, reducing the occurrence of multiple ovulations to decrease the risk of twin births is desirable to mitigate the negative consequences of twinning in dairy cattle. The estimated losses due to twinning range between US$ 59 to 161 per twin pregnancy and attempting manual embryo reduction decreased the economic losses of a twin pregnancy by US $ 23 to 45. Bangladesh scientists discovered a new technique to produce twin calves but the future research on this aspect need to consider the negative effects of twin births in cattle.

Understanding intraspecific phenotypic plasticity is a prerequisite of stock identification, evolutionary studies, sustainable utilization, and fishery conservation. In this study, intraspecific phenotypic plasticity was assessed in terms of the external features (i.e. meristic, morphometric, and truss-based morphometrics) of the wild Nandus populations from four freshwater sources in Southwestern Bangladesh. Fish samples were collected from Arial Kha River, Madaripur (AKRM, n=26); Nabaganga River, Jhenaidah (NRJ, n=22); Bohnni Baor, Gopalganj (BBG, n=26); and Dhakuria Beel, Jashore (DBJ, n=22). Meristic, morphometric, and truss network data were subjected to one-way ANOVA followed by post hoc (Tukey-HSD) test. The meristic counts of all the samples demonstrated significant differences only in one of the six characters. By contrast, significant differences were observed in 8 morphometric characters and 31 truss network data from 16 morphometric characters and 35 truss network data, respectively. Principal component (PCA) and canonical variate analyses (CVA) were also performed on morphometric and truss-based network data. Meristic and morphometric results from PCA and CVA showed that populations were completely intermingled, forming a compact cluster within intrapopulation levels, while truss morphometric characters formed a separate cluster. Three dendrograms independently based on phenotypic relationships among the individuals of the four populations also confirmed the absence of phenotypic differentiation among the population due to clustering of different groups. The baseline information resulting from the current study would be useful for genetic studies and further in situ conservation of Nandus populations in Bangladesh.

Every year Bangladesh experiences different types of natural hazards and heat wave is one of them. In the present study, an advanced high-resolution Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF-ARW) numerical mesoscale model is used to simulate a severe heat wave event occurred during April over Bangladesh and eastern part of India. The model is integrated for 6 days starting from UTC of 19 April to UTC of 24 April 2016, on a single domain of 10 km horizontal resolution. For validation of the model performance, the model simulated results of temperature at 2 m height, relative humidity (RH), mean sea level pressure (MSLP) at UTC of 6 days are compared with the BMD observed data. And the results indicate that the model is able to simulate the occurrence of the heat wave event with 6 days over Bangladesh.

The Barred spiny eel Macrognathus pancalus (Hamilton, 1822), is a very popular and nutritious fish food in south Asia. Life history traits including LFD, growth types, conditions (KA, KF, KR), relative weight (WR), form factor (a3.0), sexual maturity (Lm), and natural mortality (MW) of Macrognathus pancalus were estimated from 484 specimens collected (January to December 2018) at Wetland ecosystem known as Gajner Beel, in northwestern Bangladesh through different types of local fishing gear. Biometric measurements (Lengths, Weight) were measured through digital slide calipers and electronic weight balance with 0.01 cm and 0.01 g precision. In our study total length ranged from 6.00-18.80 cm and body weight ranged from 0.53-27.56 g for M. pancalus. The growth pattern was indicated positive allometric based on the estimated b values for this species. Allometric condition factor (KA) was the best condition factor among other types of condition factors for the wellbeing of M. pancalus. The observed a3.0 was 0.0055,Lm was 11.16 cm TL, and MW was 0.79for M. pancalus Gajner Beel. Finally, we conclude that the finding of this research will be supportive of the sustainable conservation of M. pancalus in Bangladeshi and neighboring waters.

The intraspecific morphological variations of the butter catfish, Ompok bimaculatus has been assessed from two fish farms viz., Chanchra Fish Farm, Jashore (CFFJ) and Fish Seed Complex, Khulna (FSCK) and two natural wetlands viz., Bohni beel, Gopalganj (BBG); Dakatia beel, Khulna (DBK) in the south-western part of Bangladesh. A total number of 80 samples were collected comprising 20 individuals from each sampling location. Five meristic characters, 18 morphometric characters and 21 truss-based morphometric characters were measured respectively. Meristic, morphometric and truss-based morphometric characters were exposed to one-way analysis of variance followed by Tukey-HSD post-hoc test at 5% significance level. Significant differences were observed in two meristic characters viz., CFR and PevFR, and five morphometric and four truss morphometric characters. However, morphometric and truss measurements showed highly intermingled among four populations in discriminant functions (DFs) analysis and discriminant space as well. DFs showed that 6-7, PrDL, HL, PSDL, 1-2, 4-6, FL, ED, 3-9, 5-6, SnL and 4-5 characters contributed 62.8% in first DF, while 2-9, HD, 1-9, 2-3, 2-6, 3-6, 3-4, LAB, 3-8, 9-10, IO and MXBLR characters contributed 20.6% in second DF, and the remaining characters contributed 16.6% in third DF. In cluster analysis, two distinct clusters were made, where BBG demonstrated a solitary group, and FSCK and CFFJ jointly shaped alternative clusters, while the DBK population found a subgroup with CFFJ. These results postulate the occurrence of intermingling populations of this species from four aquatic habitats. These morphological discrepancies play an important role in establishing proper decisions in order to achieve appropriate management and conservation as well as mass seed production for their future sustainability.

Hypercholesterolemia is a chief risk reason for atherosclerosis. Triton-WR 1339 (Tyloxapol) was used by several investigators to initiate hypercholesterolemia in animals. Housefly maggots contain high larval protein extract (PE) that is used as an anti-atherosclerosis. The goal of the current study was to evaluate the possible protective effects of the PE of houseflies against Triton-WR 1339-induced hyperlipidemia, oxidative damage, and histopathological changes of the liver and dorsal aorta of male mice. In this study, four groups of experimental mice, including ten mice each, were classified into: Group I, mice were administered with 0.5 ml saline solution, and considered as a positive control; Group II, mice were administered day after day by gavage with 0.5 ml of 200 mg/kg bw PE; Group III, hyperlipidemic mice were taken no treatment till the end of experiment and Group IV, the hyperlipidemic mice were administered day after day by gavage with 200 mg/kg bw PE. On day 40, the mice were anesthetized, blood samples were collected, the livers and the aorta were dissected for various biochemical tests and histopathological examinations. The biochemical parameters, triglycerides (TGs), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) and lipid peroxidation (LPO) were increased, and reduction in high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), the total glutathione (GSH) and the glutathione peroxidase (GPx) levels were observed following Triton WR-1339 treatment in mice. After administration of the PE (200 mg/kg bw), the results revealed significant reduction in serum TC and TGs while HDL-C, oxidative stress levels in liver tissue, LPO, GSH and GPx were significantly increased. Histopathological examinations of the liver tissue and the aorta of mice showed alterations afterwards Triton WR-1339 administration. Treatment with 200 mg/kg bw PE showed beneficial effects with lower capsular thickening, enlargment of hepatocytes and much lower inflammatory cell infiltration.

Chitosan is recognized as a multipurpose biomaterial because of its low allergenicity, non-toxicity, biodegradability and biocompatibility. The present study was designed to estimate the role of chitosan derived from Lucilia cuprina on burn healing in diabetic mice; using histopathological and microbiological studies at different time intervals. Chitosan was prepared from L. cuprina with high molecular weight (MW) and high degree of deacetylation (DD) to evaluate its burn wound healing potential; skin burn closure assessment, histological and microbiological studies in vivo in male diabetic mice. Chitosan topical treatment was superior in wound closure acceleration; mainly in insulin injected group at all the time intervals. Additionally, earlier epidermal remodelling with mature and intense collagen deposition was encountered in all chitosan treated animals as well as non-diabetic burned animals. There was a significant delay in hair growth and poor epidermal remodelling with impairment of wound closure in diabetic groups. Moreover, chitosan treated groups assert the chitosan antibacterial effects with protecting the burn against contamination that hinders healing especially in this diabetic condition. Further researches needed to interpret effects of possible synergistic combination therapy.

Insects can prove to be a valuable tool in the estimation of PMI in the investigation of homicides, suicides, and other unattended human deaths, in the absence of tissues and body fluids. Aim: The current study aimed to determine morphine concentration in the second, third feeding, third post-feeding instars, and puparial skin of four forensically important flies; Lucilia sericata (Meigen), Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann), Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius) (Calliphoridae), and Sarcophaga argyrostoma (Robineau-Desvoidy) (Sarcophagidae) and to evaluate its effect on the rate and pattern of development of these flies. Materials and methods: Three female domestic rabbits, Oryctolagus cuniculus (L.) each weighing 2.5 kg received dosages of 7.5, 15, and 30 mg of morphine over a 3-h period via left ear artery perfusion. For each trial, one other rabbit, weighing 2.5 kg, was used as a control. Morphine was detected in larval instars and puparial skin using ready to use RIA kit. Results: All blood and tissue samples obtained from the rabbits receiving dosages of morphine were positive for the drug. Morphine concentrations for rabbit R2 were 1.2 to 2.6 times greater than those for rabbit R1, and concentrations for rabbit R3 were 1.4 to 3.1 times greater than those for rabbit R2. For each rabbit, morphine concentration in second, third feeding and third post-feeding instars, and puparial skin for all four species, were less than those detected in the tissues. The highest levels of morphine were recorded in the feeding third instars of Chr. megacephala R3 colony, whereas the lowest level of this drug was detected in the feeding third instars of S. argyrostoma R1 colony. Estimations of larval age for L. sericata, Chr. albiceps, Chr. megacephala and S. argyrostoma based on mean length can be significantly in error if presence of morphine in the tissues is not considered. This error can be as great as 24, 27, 6 and 21 h respectively. Conclusion: In cases of badly decomposed and/or skeletonized remains, analyses of collected carrion-feeding insects, may provide the most accurate qualitative sources of toxicological information.