How does the presence of excreta affect the behavior of laying hens on scratch pads?

Enriched cages for laying hens provide scratch pads for foraging on the wire mesh floors. Apart from foraging on scratch pads, hens also defecate on these pads, causing them to become soiled with excreta. This study was conducted to determine the relative preference of laying hens for foraging on clean (C) scratch pads or scratch pads soiled with excreta (E), and to study the behaviors performed by hens on such pads. A total of 288 laying hens was housed in 16 enriched cages (18 hens/cage), each divided into 2 compartments. On a daily basis, half of the scratch pads (one in each compartment) were removed and cleaned, while the other half were cleaned and then covered with 550 g (0.35 g/cm2) of conspecific excreta. The C and E scratch pads were then put back into the cages in a systematic order to avoid side bias. Feed was delivered automatically onto the scratch pads as a litter substrate. The frequency of visits and the total time spent performing different behaviors on C and E pads were video-recorded [the time of video recording was relative to litter (feed) delivery on the scratch pads] for a total of 10 min/d, 3 times/wk, over a period of 4 weeks. Overall, the allocation of the time budget for different behaviors was found to be-in order of greatest to least amount of time-resting, locomotor behaviors (walking and running), foraging, and dust bathing. Laying hens showed a relative preference for E scratch pads by visiting them more frequently (P = 0.001), and spent more time (P = 0.035) foraging on them, whereas they rested for more time (P < 0.001) on C scratch pads. The relative preference for E scratch pads during foraging signifies the innate importance of foraging substrates in enriched cages for laying hens. Similarly, the longer use of C scratch pads for resting indicates the need for an ideal and clean resting surface in enriched cages.

Laying hens behave differently in artificially and naturally sourced ammoniated environments.

Laying hens are chronically exposed to high levels of ammonia (NH3), one of the most abundant aerial pollutants in poultry houses. Tests for aversion to NH3 in laying hens have used artificially sourced NH3/air mixtures (i.e., from a gas cylinder) showing that birds prefer fresh air to NH3. However, artificially sourced NH3/air mixtures may not accurately reflect barn air conditions, where manure emits a variety of gases. Herein, we investigated whether laying hens differentiate between artificially and naturally sourced NH3/air mixtures and how exposure to NH3 affects foraging and aversive behavior. A total of 20 laying hens was exposed to artificially sourced [A] (from an anhydrous NH3 cylinder) and naturally sourced [N] (from conspecific laying hen excreta) gas mixtures. Hens were exposed to A and N mixtures with NH3 concentrations of 25 and 45 ppm, as well as fresh air [FA]. During the experiment, all birds were exposed to each treatment 3 times using a custom-built polycarbonate chamber, containing a foraging area (containing raisins, mealworms, and feed mix) and a gas delivery system. All testing sessions were video recorded, analyzed with INTERACT® software, and subjected to a GLIMMIX procedure in SAS. Our results showed that the laying hens spent less time foraging overall (P < 0.001) and were slower to commence foraging (P = 0.004) in ammoniated environments compared to the fresh air. Laying hens were more likely to forage for a longer time (with fewer interruptions) in N than in A treatments (P < 0.001). Laying hens also reacted with greater aversion towards treatment A compared to treatment N (P < 0.001). These findings suggest that the laying hens of our study preferred fresh to ammoniated air and that they behaved differently in artificially and naturally sourced NH3/air mixtures, possibly due to the presence of familiar stimuli from the excreta. These findings have implications for new developments in methodological approaches for behavioral testing and for recommendations regarding NH3 levels inside poultry barns.

A Prospective Study of Commonly Prescribed Drugs in the Management of Neuropathic Pain and its Medication Adherence Pattern.

Background Neuropathic pain is one of the common complains of patients visiting neurology and orthopedic departments in hospitals. Management of neuropathic pain is difficult and is often symptomatic rather than being curative. Adherence to medication is necessary for pain management to be effective. However, there are various factors related to patient, physician, drug regimen and other socio-economic affecting adherence. Objective To study commonly prescribed drugs in neuropathic pain management and the medication adherence pattern including its associated factors. Method Patients already diagnosed as neuropathic pain were interviewed using structured questionnaire and data entered in Microsoft Office Excel 2007. Informed consent was taken from the patients. Result Among the 84 patients in the study, 69% were females. Majority 53.6% of patients had low back pain as cause of neuropathic pain. Anticonvulsants were mostly prescribed (75%) followed by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (52.4%) and Methylcobalamin (47.6%). More than 50% (n=49) patients were not adherent to the prescribed medication and majority (61.2%) of them were housewives. Significant association was observed between patient's adherence to gender, occupation, polypharmacy, drug regimen, cost and availability of medicine. Conclusion Anticonvulsants were commonly prescribed drugs in patients with neuropathic pain. Neuropathic pain was seen more in females with low back pain. Majority of patients were non-adherent and forgetfulness was the major reason for missing dose in them.

Effect of UV Irradiation on the Nutritional Quality and Cytotoxicity of Apple Juice.

UV-C irradiation operating at 254 nm wavelength on the polyphenolic and vitamin contents of apple juice including cytotoxicity analysis was studied. UV doses ranging from 0 to 150 mJ·cm-2 were selected for the treatments. Polyphenols (catechin, epicatechin, chlorogenic acid, and phloridzin) and vitamins (riboflavin, thiamine hydrochloride, pyridoxal hydrochloride, pyridoxine, pyridoxamine dihydrochloride, cyanocobalamin, choline chloride, biotin, niacin, and niacinamide) were chemically profiled. It was observed that UV treatment of apple juice at disinfection doses caused minor reductions (p < 0.05) in the concentrations of two main polyphenols (i.e., chlorogenic acid and epicatechin). In contrast, significant (p < 0.05) decreases in vitamin concentrations were observed (p < 0.05). The irradiated juice was evaluated for cytotoxic effects. The irradiated apple juice showed no cytotoxic effects on normal intestinal cells, and both irradiated and nonirradiated samples are significantly comparable in inhibiting the growth of human colon cancer cells. Overall, these results indicated that UV-C treatment of apple juice neither significantly degraded polyphenols nor generated cytotoxic compounds.

Vitamin D and Other Risk Factors among Stroke Patients.

BACKGROUND: Stroke is common neurological problems in Nepal. The common risk factors for stroke are age, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia and atrial fibrillation. Vitamin D is an emerging risk factors for cardio-cerebrovascular disease. OBJECTIVE: This study is to find out Vitamin D and risk factors in stroke patient in Nepalese population. METHOD: We reviewed the record of 281 stroke patients, admitted to Neurology ward of College of Medical Sciences, Bharatpur, Nepal from 1st January to 31st December 2013. The records were analyzed on the basis of age, sex, hypertension (HTN), body mass index (BMI), smoking habits, hemoglobin(Hb), diabetes mellitus(DM), Lipid profile, Atrial fibrillation(AF) and vascular territory with clinical and radiological evidences. The vitamin D analysis was done all stroke patients. RESULT: Total patient were 281, with male 161 and age range from 18 - 87. Ischemic stroke was noted in 86.8% and hemorrhagic stroke was noted in 13.2% of patients. Middle cerebral artery (MCA) ischemia was noted in 51.5% of patients and anterior cerebral artery (ACA) ischemia was noted in 3% of patients. Multiple infarcts were noted in 12.90% of patients. About half of them were smoker, hypertension 47.40%, Diabetes mellitus 24.20% and 14.1% had atrial fibrillation. 174 (61.92%) of the stroke had less than sufficient Vitamin D. CONCLUSION: The common risk factors for stroke patients like smoking, hypertension, diabetes mellitus and atrial fibrillations are present in Nepalese population. The level of vitamin D was also low in stroke patients.

School Teachers' Knowledge about Epilepsy in Kathmandu Metropolitan City.

Background Studies on Knowledge towards epilepsy among school teachers are very limited on developing countries especially with reference to Nepal. Level of knowledge of schoolteachers plays an important role on providing a greater educational support for epileptic child and to maintain good communication skills between epileptic and normal child. Objective Objective of this study is to assess the level of knowledge about epilepsy and its associated factors among school teachers. Method A cross sectional study was conducted from 10th June to 4th July, 2014 among 165 teachers teaching in six different schools of Kathmandu Metropolitan City. A selfadministrated questionnaire consisting of structured and multiple choice questions were designed to collect information on the teacher's socio-demographic profile and knowledge about epilepsy. A scoring system was developed for each question: each correct answer was given a score of 1, and a score of 0 for wrong answer. Total score was categorized on two categories: Good Knowledge and Poor Knowledge. Result Teacher's age did not correlate significantly with their knowledge about epilepsy but total years of teaching experiences and knowledge about epilepsy were found to be positively correlated (ρ= 0.165, p= 0.01). Academic qualification of teachers and different teaching level were associated with level of knowledge (p= 0.023, p= 0.021). Significant difference on knowledge score was found among teachers having different academic qualification (p= 0.019). Conclusion All teachers were aware about epilepsy, but their knowledge about epilepsy was not sufficient therefore, health education training program about epilepsy is needed for teachers.

Vertical gaze palsy with skew deviation.

With the advancement of neuroradiology, clinical localization followed by radiology, had made neurology more interesting. Vertical gage palsy as presentation cerebrovascular disease is not so common. Vertical gaze palsy usually localizes the lesion to dorsal mid brain. A 56 years male patient presented with sudden onset vertigo, diplopia, transient loss of consciousness and sways toward right side while walking. Clinical examination showed vertical gaze palsy with skew deviation along with swaying towards rt. during walk. MRI brain showed - infarct involving dorsal midbrain at superior colliculus level and medial thalamus.

Association of seizure, facial dysmorphism, congenital umbilical hernia and undescended testes.

With the advances in neurogenetics association of epilepsy and intellectual disability with chromosomal abnormalities are being increasingly recognized. While onset of seizures with mental retardation at an early age indicate chromosomal abnormality, combination of characteristics facial dysmorphism and congenital abnormalities gives a clue of a particular syndrome. In addition MRI findings may help in confirming the diagnosis. A nine years old boy is presented where early onset seizure, mental retardation, delayed development of speech, presence of facial dysmorphism,, umbilical hernia and undescended testes suggested possibility of chromosomal 6q deletion disorder. Important deletion disorders are discussed and importance of clinical examination is stressed.

Relationship between arterial oxygen saturation and hematocrit, and effect of slow deep breathing on oxygen saturation in Himalayan high altitude populations.

BACKGROUND: The oxygen saturation of haemoglobin is reduced in high altitude-living organisms. Increase in the hematocrit is responsible for rise in the hemoglobin concentration so that the oxygen carrying capacity in the hypobaric hypoxic subject is elevated. OBJECTIVES: To compare two different high altitude populations, in order to study the relationship between arterial oxygen saturation and hematocrit. METHODS: In the cross-sectional study of two populations residing at altitude of 2800 m and 3760 m are compared for the difference in hematocrit. The oxygen carrying capacity of arterial haemoglobin (SaO2) is determined by pulse oximetry. The sample is drawn from the natives of two small villages, Thini at Jomsom (2800 m) and Jharkot (3760 m) in Mustang district of Nepal. The natives at 2800 m are termed as lower high altitude population and local residents at 3760 m are said to be higher altitude population in this study. The sample blood was drawn by venipuncture and packed cell volume was determined by Wintrobe's method. RESULTS: The hematocrit obtained from 3760 m altitude population and the lower high altitude population at altitude of 2800 m differ significantly with the p value < 0.0001and the SaO2 in both the population fails to show any difference with p value > 0.05. Deep breathing exercise in these populations however increased SaO2 significantly. CONCLUSION: The higher altitude natives have greater arterial oxygen saturation than lower altitude population which is due to rise in red cell concentration. The slow deep breathing raises oxygen saturation irrespective of altitude.

Antimicrobial susceptibility pattern and serotyping of Streptococcus pneumoniae isolated from Kanti Children Hospital in Nepal.

BACKGROUND: Invasive pneumococcal disease is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide and it is a major cause for childhood deaths in Nepal. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to establish the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of Streptococcus pneumoniae and perform serotype responsible for pneumococcal disease in Nepal. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All together 3774 children from 2 to 60 months who fulfilled the enrollment criteria for suspect of bacterial pneumonia, sepsis or meningitis were enrolled for etiologic studies of severe illness. During the study period 60 isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae were isolated and the antimicrobial susceptibility testing and serotyping were performed. RESULTS: The study showed that 24 (52. 17%) isolates were resistant to Cotrimoxazole, 3 (6. 5%) isolates were intermediately resistant to Penicillin but no Penicillin resistant strains were isolated. The 1 (2. 17%) isolate was recorded as Erythromycin and Chloramphenicol resistant and only 1 (2. 17%) isolate was found intermediately resistant to Cefotaxime. Of the 60 isolates, serotyping result was available only for 46 isolates. The most common serotypes were serotype 1 (27. 65%) followed by serotype 5 (19. 14%) and serotype 4 (8. 5%) respectively followed by serotype 39, 23F, 7F, 19B, 12A, 14, 18F, 6B, 32, 16, 19F and 25F. CONCLUSIONS: Alarming level of Cotrimoxazole resistance demands revision of pneumonia treatment policy in Nepal and rising tendency of other drug resistance against Streptococcus pneumoniae showed use of these drugs for the treatment of meningitis, pneumonia and other serious infections needs extended research. The common serotype 1, 5 and 4 need to be incorporated in pneumococcal vaccine to immunise children in Nepal.

Evaluation of non-HDL-c and total cholesterol: HDL-c ratio as cumulative marker of cardiovascular risk in diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease (CVD), is the primary cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with diabetes and have approximately--two to four times higher CVD rate than adult without diabetes. Low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is primarily used as the marker of cardiovascular risk in diabetes despite its several limitations. Although several newer markers of CVD are emerging, no marker has been established in Nepal. OBJECTIVES: The study was designed to evaluate the non-high-density-lipoprotein- cholesterol(Non-HDL-C) and Total Cholesterol to High density lipoprotein cholesterol (TC:HDL-C ratio) as CVD risk marker in diabetes mellitus. METHODS: The study was conducted in the Department of Biochemistry, Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences. The study comprised of 76 diabetic subjects and 60 non-diabetic subjects. The anthropometric and biochemical parameters were measured. The Non-HDL-C and TC:HDL-C ratio were also calculated employing their respective formula. RESULTS: Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), blood pressure and lipid parameters were significantly different between diabetic subjects and non-diabetic subjects. There was increased non-HDL-C and TC:HDL-C ratio in subjects with diabetes mellitus. Furthermore, statistically significant correlations of non-HDL-C and TC:HDL-C ratio were obtained with BMI, WC, total cholesterol, HDL-C and LDL-C in diabetic subjects. CONCLUSIONS: The present study observation revealed that the Non-HDL-C and TC: HDL-C strongly correlate with established independent risk factors such as obesity(WC), elevated blood pressure, HDL-C and LDL-C in diabetes. Thus, the evaluation of Non-HDL-C and TC: HDL-C ratio can be used as the simple, cost-effective and cumulative marker of cardiovascular risk in diabetes mellitus.

Clinical features of HIV/AIDS and various opportunistic infections in relation to antiretroviral status among HIV seropositive individuals from Central Nepal.

BACKGROUND: So far, antiretroviral therapy is the only effective treatment available to HIV/AIDS patients. Provision of combined package of treatment, care and support service as well as regular assessment of the therapy increases its effectiveness. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to establish the relationship between antiretroviral therapy status and clinical features/opportunistic infections among HIV seropositive individuals. MATERIALS AND METHOD: This is a cross-sectional study. Study was carried out between October 2007 and May 2008 in 150 HIV patients of Kathmandu, Central Nepal. After taking informed consent pre-structured questionnaire was filled to assess clinical features and specimen were collected to investigate major OIs as per standard microbiological procedure. All the information were entered into SPSS 11.5 system and analysed. RESULT: Of the 150 patients, 100 (66.7%) were males and 50 (33.3%) were females. The age group 21-30 years was predominant followed by 31-40 years (42%). Significant relationship could be established between intake of ART and cardinal symptoms of HIV/AIDS (chi2 value ranging from 4.11 to 9.34). However, no significant relationship could be established between the intake of ART and distribution of different OIs (chi2 values ranging from 0.15 to 1.6). CONCLUSION: Antiretroviral therapy was found to effective enough to reduce the clinical features of AIDS. Diagnosis and treatment of opportunistic infections should be routinely done for both groups of patients.

Alcohol use among physicians in a medical school in Nepal.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to know about the use of alcohol among physicians and factors that were related to it. METHODS: This was a cross sectional study conducted among the physicians in a medical school of eastern Nepal. A semi structured questionnaire was used to collect information. RESULTS: There were 55 subjects in the study. Half of them were between 35-45 years age group and one fourth among them were female. There were more than 88% physicians consuming alcohol for more than 10 years. One third used to preferred whisky as their favorites drink. Use of alcohol among them was due to peer pressure and to become a social human being. Most of them drink alcohol occasionally with an average amount 30-60 ml in a sitting and usually in the evening. Most of the time, they use alcohol either in parties or at home. CONCLUSION: Alcohol use in Nepal is very much prevalent. The use of alcohol is socially accepted in many communities. Uses of alcohol by physicians have direct effect on their health as well as the health of many people because they are role model for many people. They are also in direct contact with the patients. Steps to council the physicians may reduce the consumption of alcohol.

Outbreaks of cholera in Kathmandu Valley in Nepal.

An analysis of the seasonal outbreak of diarrhoea in children in Kathmandu, Nepal, is reported. Vibrio cholera, 01 biotype El Tor Ogawa was the major cause of this epidemic. The pattern of spread suggested a waterborne infection related to contaminated river water and this was confirmed by a field survey. Although the mortality rate was low, younger children were more susceptible. Enteropathogenic E. coli seems to be a major cause for diarrhoea after cholera amongst children in this study.