Three New Species of Laccaria (Hydnangiaceae) from India (Darjeeling Hills) Based on Molecular and Morphological Evidence.

Three new species of Laccaria infundibuliformis, L. pallidus, and L. darjeelingensis, collected from Darjeeling, India, are described based on morphological and molecular evidence. Laccaria infundibuliformis is characterized by its small infundibuliform basidiocarps, and echinulate basidiospores with spines up to 1.36 µm long. Laccaria pallidus is characterized by medium-sized greyish-red basidiocarps, and echinulate basidiospores with spines up to 1.9 µm long. Laccaria darjeelingensis is characterized by dull red basidiocarps, and echinulate basidiospores with spines up to 1.27 µm long. Altogether, the study shows that these three Laccaria species are previously unknown to science.

Childhood Overnutrition among School Going Children in a Municipality: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study.

INTRODUCTION: Childhood obesity, caused due to excessive fat accumulation, is one of the leading causes of preventable deaths associated with several non-communicable diseases. In Nepal, there is limited data available on the status of overweight and obesity among school children. The objective of this study was to find out the prevalence of childhood overnutrition among school going children in a municipality. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from June 2019 to July 2019, in four schools of a municipality selected by simple random sampling. Ethical approval was obtained from Nepal Health Research Council (Registration number 380/2019). Data was collected using census sampling from children aged 5-18 years through self-administered questionnaires to the children's parents. The data was entered into the Statistical Package for Social Sciences for analysis. Point estimate at 95% confidence interval was calculated along with frequency and proportion for binary data. RESULTS: Out of 379 school children, the prevalence of overnutrition was found to be 38 (10.03%) (95% Confidence Interval= 7.01-13.05). Prevalence of overnutrition was highest in children of age group 10-13 years 23 (60.5%), in females 27 (71.1%), those consuming junk food 4-6 times weekly 14 (36.8%) and those performing daily physical activity less than 60 minutes 24 (63.2%). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of childhood overnutrition is similar in comparison to other studies done in similar settings.

Body Image Dissatisfaction among Adolescent Girls of a Municipality in Kathmandu: A Cross-sectional Survey.

INTRODUCTION: Body image is the person's perceptions, thoughts and feelings about his/her body which is a multi-dimensional concept. Body Image Dissatisfaction can be measured using a Body Shape Questionnaire. The main aim of this study was to find out the prevalence of body image dissatisfaction among adolescent girls of a municipality in Kathmandu. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was done from July 2019 to December 2019 among the female students from grade eight to twelve of the selected private schools of Budhanilkantha municipality. Stratified random sampling was done. Body Shape Questionnaire short version was used to measure the prevalence of body dissatisfaction. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 23. Point estimate at 95% Confidence Interval was done, frequency and percentage were calculated. RESULTS: One hundred ninety seven (75.2%) at 95% Confidence Interval (69.97-80.43) students were found to have body image dissatisfaction, among which Positive Body Image Dissatisfaction was found to be in 85 (42%) respondents which indicates that 112 (58%) respondents with healthy Body Mass Index were dissatisfied with their body shape. CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence of body image dissatisfaction was found to be high in adolescent girls though most of the girls had normal body weight and a healthy Body Mass Index.