THE SPECTRA OF INTESTINAL PARASITIC INFECTIONS AFFECTING PATIENTS ATTENDING A TERTIARY CARE CENTER IN WESTERN UTTAR PRADESH

Objective: Intestinal parasitic infection is a burgeoning health issue, especially in developing countries owing to low socioeconomic conditions, poor sanitation, poor personal hygiene, and lack of access to potable drinking water. This study aims to determine the prevalence of different intestinal parasites among the patients. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 470 patients attending our hospital from October 2018 to September 2019. Specimens were collected and examined macroscopically and microscopically using concentration methods and modified Ziehl–Neelsen staining for coccidian parasites. Results: Out of the 470 patients, prevalence of intestinal infections was 4.89%. The helminthic infections were more common (52.17%), which was topped by Hookworm infection (26.09%) followed by Ascariasis (13.04%). Among the protozoa, Giardia lamblia (26.09%) was the most common, followed by Entamoeba histolytica (17.39%). The parasitic infections were more in female (5.62%) than male (4.19%) and highest in the pediatric age group and between 51 and 60 years. Conclusion: The prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections is decreasing due to increasing awareness about sanitation, effects of open defecation, safe drinking water, and personal hygiene. However, the need of intervallic monitoring of intestinal parasitic infections is necessary

Phytochemical screening, antimicrobial activity and cytotoxicity of Nepalese medicinal plants Swertia chirayita and Dendrobium amoenum

Research on medicinal plants are important to Nepal because most of its rural population relies on it as mode of medicine. Medicinal plants namely Swertia chirayita and Dendrobium amoenum were collected from mid hills of Nepal. The present study was undertaken to find the antimicrobial activity, phytochemical presence and their cytotoxicity in different extraction medium. The percentage yield from the plants were highest in warm methanol extraction with 12.6%, followed by ethyl acetate and lowest was for cold methanol. Plant extract showed the presence of antioxidants like alkaloid, terpenoids, flavonoids, tannin, glycosides. The Brine Shrimp Bioassay of methanol and ethyl acetate extract showed cytotoxicity. Chiraito extract showed LC50 of 199 ppm for Dhunche sample, 128.82 ppm for Daman sample and 131.82 ppm of Illam sample. The antibacterial activity of methanol extract of Chiraito and Dendrobium amoenum showed significant bioactivity by inhibiting growth of microbial species selected for the test. The zone of inhibition shown by the extracts was comparable to the standard antibiotics. Similarly, methanol extract of Chiraito also showed significant antifungal activity with the zone of inhibition comparable to amphotericin.Nepal Journal of Biotechnology. Dec. 2015 Vol. 3, No. 1: 48-5

Snakebite in the Hills and Mountains of Nepal

Snakebite is an important public health issue around the world. In Nepal, it affects a huge number of people mostly belonging to low-income households who are involved in agriculture. Although snakebite has a serious impact on the Terai population, a few studies suggest that snakebite also occurs frequently in hills and mountains. In the absence of sufficient studies related to snakebites in these geographical regions, it is tough to sketch a true picture and estimate the magnitude of snakebites in those areas. Because of this, the healthcare system is probably not prepared enough to handle the victims of snakebites. This demands a proper study of the burden of the issue in these regions and appropriate initiatives for addressing it

Depression and Health-Related Quality of Life among Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Cross-Sectional Study in Nepal.

Diabetes is accompanied by a marked reduction in patient's quality of life (QOL) and leads to higher disability-adjusted life years than most diseases. Depression further deteriorates QOL and is associated with poor treatment outcomes and lowered glycemic control in diabetes. We analysed the QOL and depression among the people living with diabetes in Nepal.We conducted a cross-sectional survey among a random sample of 157 diabetic patients visiting diabetes clinic at a major teaching hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal. We administered the Nepali version of WHO-BREF for face to face interviews to obtain data on QOL scores. The Nepali version of Patient Health Questionnaire-9was also used to record responses on depression items.More than half of the respondents (54.1%) experienced depression with mean PHQ-9 score of 6.15 ± 5.01 on a scale of 0-27. On a scale of 0 to 100, highest QOL mean score was reported in social relationship domain (57.32 ± 11.83), followed by environment domain (54.71 ± 7.74), psychological health (53.25 ± 10.32) and physical health (50.74 ± 11.83). After adjusting for other covariates, urban residence decreased the physical health score by 4.74 (β = -4.74, 95% CI: -8.664,-0.821), social relationship domain score by 3.420 (β = -3.420, 95% CI: -6.433,-0.406) and the overall QOL by 2.773 (β = -2.773, 95% CI: -5.295,-0.252). Having diagnosed with diabetes since more than 10 years increased physical health by 5.184 score points (β = 5.184; 95% CI: 0.753, 9.615).Similarly, having severe depression decreased social relation domain score by 6.053 (β = -6.053, 95% CI:-11.169,-.936).Having urban residence significantly decreased the physical health and social relation domain scores as well as the overall QOL scores. Similarly, having diagnosed since more than 10 years increased physical health domain score. Severe depression decreased social relationship domain score. Since depression affects QOL, we suggest early diagnosis and prompt treatment of depression in T2DM people as part of their routine primary care in Nepal

Summary of WHOQOL-BREF survey components [19].

<p>Summary of WHOQOL-BREF survey components [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0141385#pone.0141385.ref019" target="_blank">19</a>].</p

Bivariate association between independent variables and quality of life domains.

<p>*p-value < 0.10 (significant at alpha significance level of 0.10)</p><p>Bivariate association between independent variables and quality of life domains.</p

Summary of PHQ-9 components.

<p>Summary of PHQ-9 components.</p

Mechanistic Association of Quantitative Trait Locus with Malate Secretion in Lentil (Lens culinaris Medikus) Seedlings under Aluminium Stress

Aluminium (Al) toxicity acts as a major delimiting factor in the productivity of many crops including lentil. To alleviate its effect, plants have evolved with Al exclusion and inclusion mechanisms. The former involves the exudation of organic acid to restrict the entry of Al3+ to the root cells while latter involves detoxification of entered Al3+ by organic acids. Al-induced secretion of organic acids from roots is a well-documented mechanism that chelates and neutralizes Al3+ toxicity. In this study, F6 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from a cross between L-7903 (Al-resistant) and BM-4 (Al-sensitive) were phenotyped to assess variation in secretion levels of malate and was combined with genotypic data obtained from 10 Al-resistance linked simple sequence repeat (SSRs) markers. A major quantitative trait loci (QTL) was mapped for malate (qAlt_ma) secretion with a logarithm of odd (LOD) value of 7.7 and phenotypic variation of 60.2%.Validated SSRs associated with this major QTL will be useful in marker assisted selection programmes for improving Al resistance in lentil

Quality of life (QOL) domain scores among the study participants.

<p>Quality of life (QOL) domain scores among the study participants.</p