Thyroid dysfunction is one of the most common endocrine disorder and its outcomes are social, psychological and medical burden to the world. This study is designed to determine the prevalence and pattern of thyroid dysfunctions and its association with different factors. In this hospital based cross-sectional study 809 women were enrolled (resident of Rupandehi District) during a period of August 2015 to September 2016. BMI was determined by measuring the height and weight to know the status of obesity and blood pressure was measured using sphygmomanometer. Other relevant information like age, sex and smoking habits were recorded by trained laboratory personnel through a comprehensive baseline questionnaire. Blood samples were collected and subjected for thyroid function test (TSH, fT3 and fT4). The studied population was categorized as euthyroid, subclinical hypothyroidism, hypothyroidism, subclinical hyperthyroidism and hyperthyroidism on the basis of the level of thyroid hormones. SPSS version 16.0 was used for statistical analysis. The prevalence of thyroid disorders is nearly one third of the total studied population. The number of participants was higher in the subclinical hypothyroidism (17.18%) followed by the hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism and the least in subclinical hyperthyroidism (7.96%). Study revealed higher prevalence of thyroid dysfunction. The screening of thyroid function test is recommended for high risk population in Nepal which will be helpful for the prompt diagnosis of the disease and the policy makers to formulate the national policies in order to minimize the disease burden and its consequences

Parthenium hysterophorus L. is an invasive alien species of natural and agroecosystems. It causes biodiversity loss in the former and yield loss in the later. Successful eradication of P. hysterophorus is still a distant dream. We argue that the possibilities to exploit this species for material production and services should be explored. Present study evaluates this species for phytoremediation of chromium (Cr) and nickel (Ni). P. hysterophorus plants were exposed to four concentrations of chromium (CN10, CN15, CN30 and CN40) and nickel (NN10, NN20, NN40 and NN50). The low concentrations of Cr (CN10) and Ni (NN10 and NN20) enhanced all the growth parameters studied. Shoot accumulation of Ni exceeded the root accumulation (TF<1) while TF>1 was noted for Cr. P. hysterophorus accumulates both heavy metals as evident from high biological concentration factor (BCF) and biological accumulation coefficient (BAC). Hence P. hysterophorus can act as phytoremediator of Ni and Cr.

Fluoroquinolone antibacterial agents are broad spectrum molecules and may be co-prescribed with antimalarial drugs in co-presenting infections. This study aimed at assessing the intestinal permeability of piperaquine (PQ) from dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (DP) co-formulated antimalarial co-prescribed with ciprofloxacin (CP), using ex vivoabsorption model. Excised intestinal segments (duodenum and ileum) of length 4 cm from New Zealand white albino male rabbits (n=2) loaded with DP suspension equivalent to PQ (100 mg/mL) and CP suspension (100 mg/mL) based on body weights of animals. Similarly, DP alone was loaded to serve as controls C1 and C2, respectively. The organ bath contained Tyrode solution (TS) 100 mL. Sampling (5mL) was taken at 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 4 and 6 h post immersion of tissue. PQ analysis was performed using high pressure chromatographic system with C8 ZorbactEclipse XDB (150 x 4.6 mm, 4.6 µm) column with UV detection at 220 nm and flow rate of 0.7 mL/min. Mobile phase contained acetonitrile: 10 mM ammonium acetate (70: 30 %v/v) and flow rate of 1.0 mL/min at ambient temperature. Area under the curve (AUC) ± SEM at 2 h and 6 h (AUC00-2 and AUC0-6) for tests and their respective control in duodenum were (0.2940±0.1055 versus 0.6198±0.0083 µg.mLh-1, P=0.009) and (1.9270±0.1287 versus 3.3975±0.3638 µg.mLh-1, P=0.006) and ileum (1.5300±0.1242 versus 1.5408±0.4275 µg.mLh-1, P=0.645) and (3.9500±0.0205 versus 5.6603±0.1073 µg.mLh-1, P=0.045), respectively. CP revealed lower permeability indices for PQ in duodenal but not in ileal intestinal barrier. Spacing out of drug regimen may be required for optimum PQ permeation

Objective of this study was to determine Biochemical condition and Microbiological load of water and soil sample of some costal shrimp Hatchery and Fisheries of Bangladesh. 8 samples were taken from 6 individual costal shrimp Hatchery. pH, temperature, Dissolved Oxygen, Biological Oxygen Demand, Ammonia, Salinity and Alkalinity of each sample was determined. The temperature and pH of the collected samples were found to vary from 29 to 32°C and 7.5 to 8.5 respectively. The Biological Oxygen Demand of the collected samples from different sources was found to range from 8.0 to 13.0 mg/L. The Dissolved Oxygen of the samples was observed to vary from 3.0 to 4.0 ppm. The ammonia content was observed to vary from 0.5 to 0.8 mg/L. The salinity was in the range of 28 to 32 ppt. The alkalinity of the samples was found to range from 120 to 130 mg/L. The total bacterial count and Vibrio load count of was done from collected samples. The maximum bacterial load was found to exist in the soil sample of dumping ground and at the zone of mixing point of hatchery discharged water with sea water next to it.

High alcohol consumption is one of the most common causes of liver disease. Several markers have been studied for alcohol consumption such as carbohydrate deficient transferrin (CDT), gamma glutamyl transferase, alanine aminotransferase(ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST). An elevated serum AST in relation to serum ALT (alanine transaminase) has been proposed as an indicator that alcohol has induced organ damage. Thus when AST:ALT ratio is greater than 2, this is considered as highly suggestive that alcohol is the cause of the patient’s liver injury. The aim of this study was to assess the clinical utility of AST:ALT ratio in alcoholic and nonalcoholic liver disease. This study involved 148 subjects, out of which 74 were diagnosed cases of alcoholic liver disease (ALD) and remaining 74 were age and sex matched diagnosed cases of nonalcoholic liver disease(NALD). Blood samples were collected and plasma AST and ALT activity were determined in both groups(ALD & NALD) by colorimetric method using standard curve . Then the ratio of AST:ALT was calculated and compared in both groups. The plasma activity of AST and ALT was high in both alcoholic and nonalcoholic liver disease patients. Plasma AST, ALT activity and their ratio (AST:ALT ratio) were found to be significantly different in both groups(p < 0.05). AST:ALT ratio less than 2 was found in 95.94% and 29.72% of non-alcoholic liver disease and alcoholic liver disease respectively. The ratio was more than 2 in 4.05% of nonalcoholic liver disease and 70.27% of alcoholic liver disease cases. The ratio of AST:ALT was significantly increased in alcoholic liver disease as compared to nonalcoholic liver disease. Hence, the ratio of AST:ALT can be used as a parameter for the diagnosis of alcoholic liver disease and for the differentiation of alcoholic liver disease from nonalcoholic liver disease

Hemosiderotic Fibrolipomatous Tumor (HFLT) and pleomorphic hyalinizing angiectatic tumor of soft parts (PHAT) are rare, locally aggressive neoplasms with overlapping morphological and immunohistochemical features. HFLT is a recently described neoplasm whose cytological features have not been widely described in the literature. We present the cytological and histopathological features of this case because of its rarity and the intermediate features exhibited in this tumor, suggesting a continuous spectrum of tumors of uncertain differentiation, which includes both HFLT and PHAT. A 29 year old female presented with a painful swelling over the dorsum of foot for 1½ months. FNA of the swelling showed features of a spindle cell neoplasm with marked pleomorphism, cytoplasmic pigment, intranuclear and intracytoplasmic inclusions. A possibility of a sarcoma was given. Histopathological examination of the excised specimen showed features in favor of a soft tissue tumor of intermediate malignancy of uncertain type. Immunohistochemistry showed immunoreactivity for CD34 and negativity for CD31, S-100, HMB-45, Melan-A and pancytokeratin. These findings favoured the possibility of a HFLT. An early PHAT was also considered owing to considerable overlap seen in these two tumors.

The objective of this study is to determine the effect of progesterone antagonist, Mifepristone in perimenopausal women in decreasing the severity of symptoms like menorrhagia, dysmenorrhea, abdominal pain and urinary symptoms, in decreasing the fibroid volume and uterine volume, in improving the hemoglobin percentage, in increasing the endometrial thickness, to look for the side effects profile and to look for the effects which were present at the end of treatment persisted during post treatment follow up. It is a prospective and interventional study done among the perimenopausal women with symptomatic fibroid uterus who came to the Gynecological OPD in Gandhi Hospital, Secunderabad for a period of one and half year in a sample size of 50 patients. After taking a detailed menstrual history and calculating Pictorial Blood loss Assessment Chart (PBAC) score for menorrhagia and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score for dysmenorrhea and abdominal pain, baseline fibroid and uterine volumes, haemoglobin percentage and endometrial thickness were noted and endometrial biopsy was done when endometrial thickness crossed≥8mm. The drug mifepristone 25 mg was given orally for a period of 3 months.

It is commonly acknowledged that Government worldwide resettled people and communities (particularly those along river channels) from one geographical area to another on the basis of real, perceived and lingering threat, danger, catastrophe or epidemic. The contention of this paper is that despite the fact that most resettlement schemes are meant for the benefit of the community at large, the manner under which the resettlement scheme was conceived, planned and implemented failed to take into consideration the views/inputs of members of the community. The resultant effect leads to loss of livelihood, tension, violence and conflict in the affected communities and overall failure of the intended benefit of the scheme. This paper examines resettlement scheme at Gidan Salihu, Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto state focusing on the viability of the scheme and livelihood deprivation and challenges it places on the victims and the community. Data for this study was obtained via administration of questionnaire to those affected by the resettlement scheme selected via purposive and systematic sampling techniques as well as Focus Group Discussion with community leaders. Purposive sampling technique was adopted in the choice of the respondents and systematic sampling technique was used to select respondents to be administered with questionnaire at the interval of every 6th respondents. A total of 216 respondents were selected via systematic sampling technique. Key findings of the study reveals that majority of those affected by the resettlement scheme lost their farm lands, source of pasture and water for their livestock and compelling them to resides in an unfamiliar housing settings reflecting more of an urban setting than rural. Majority of the victims refused to relocate to the new environment stressing that it is better to continue to live under threat of hazard than to live in an area which will render them economically and socially vulnerable to poverty and hopelessness. The study concludes by recommending involvement of community members in decisions and policies affecting the livelihood of displaced communities.

Head nurses are the important part of administration. The responsibilities of head nurses are to manage the nurses properly and provide the best quality of care to the patients. The provision of the supportive leadership can retain the employees in the long run and better health care services can be ensured. The purpose of the current study is to illuminate the effect of leadership styles of head nurses on staff nurses’ turnover. The study is of explanatory and quantitative study design. The cross-sectional survey technique was used. The 21 items questionnaire was used and distributed to 153 nurses of the Ittefaq hospital Lahore, Pakistan to assess the impact of head nurse’s leadership styles on staff nurse’s turnover intentions. The results show that 35.5% variation in the dependent variable is explained by the independent variables. However, the current study results indicate that transactional leadership style has significant positive relationship with turnover intentions and transformational leadership style has significant negative relationship with nurses’ turnover intention. Therefore, head nurses of the private hospitals should use the transformational leadership style to overcome the issue of nurses’ turnover

This study aims to analyze the influence of corporate culture on corporate performance either directly or indirectly through work motivation. Quantitative research method, Unit of analysis of this research is 2,844 employees residing in 6 retail company spread all over Indonesia. This research uses path analysis technique (path analysis), SPSS 23.00 analysis tool. The results of this study indicate that corporate culture can directly affect the company's performance and can also affect indirectly from corporate culture advocate to work motivation (as intervening variable) and then to the company's performance. The stronger the existing culture in a company, it will be able to increase employee motivation and impact on company performance optimally.

A simple and precise reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for the determination of gliclazide in human plasma was developed and validated. Using glipizide as an internal standard (IS), separation was achieved on Atlantis dC18 column. The mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile and water (pH= 2.5±0.2 adjusted with phosphoric acid) (55:45, v:v), and delivered at a flow rate of 1 ml/min. 0.5 ml plasma samples were deproteinized with dichloromethane and centrifuged. 100 µl supernatant clear solutions were injected to HPLC system. The eluent was monitored spectrophotometricly at 230 nm. No interference in blank plasma or of commonly used drugs was observed. The relationship between the concentration of gliclazide in plasma and peak height ratio of gliclazide to the IS was linear over the range of 0.05-10.0 μg/ml. Intra-day and inter-day coefficient of variation (CV) and bias were 3.1% to 6.8% and 3.8% to 9.3% respectively. Mean extraction recovery of gliclazide and the IS from plasma samples was 94% and 87% respectively. The method was applied to assess the stability of gliclazide under various conditions generally encountered in the clinical laboratory. Stability for processed and unprocessed samples was ≥ 90% and ≥ 93% respectively

Abstract: Tax non-compliance reduces tax collection and the tax performance within a country. The Kenyan government has implemented various strategies to bring businesses in the informal sector into the tax bracket though available data shows declines in the collected taxes. The purpose of this study was to identify predictors of tax compliance in the informal sector in Nyeri Town. Specifically the study aimed to assess how tax rates, attitudes towards government spending, complexity of tax returns and tax enforcement strategies influence tax compliance. The study adopted a cross-sectional survey design and targeted 715 informal businesses in Nyeri Town. Stratified random sampling technique was used to select 143 informal businesses to participate. Researcher-administered questionnaires were used to collect data from the respondents. Descriptive statistics entailing frequency distribution, percentages, mean, were used to summarize and organize data. Inferential statistics entailing Chi-square tests and correlation analysis were employed to establish relationships between study variables. Findings were presented using tables of frequencies and percentages. A significant number (83%) indicated that they’d be more willing to pay taxes if the tax enforcement strategies were improved. The study found that tax enforcement strategies had no significant relationship (p=0.068) with tax compliance at 95% confidence level The study also found that tax enforcement strategies had a weak positive correlation (r=0.364) with tax compliance. The study concluded although to a small extent, tax enforcement strategies predicted tax compliance in the informal sector. It was recommended that the tax enforcement strategies could be improved by bringing the services closer to their businesses, to enhance tax compliance.

Odontogenic tumors represent a heterogeneous group of rare lesions accounting for about 1% of all jaw tumors. This work was carried out in order to evaluate the demographic and the histopathological characteristics of these tumors in Hassan II University Hospital, Fez, Morocco. This is a retrospective study including all cases of odontogenic tumors histologically diagnosed during a period of 10 years (2007-2016), in the department of pathology, Hassan II University Hospital, Fez, Morocco. Different demographic and histopathological characteristics have been analysed. A total of 31 odontogenic tumors were recorded. We noted a male predominance with a sex -ratio of 1.81. Mean age was 39.7 years (range, 7–87 years). The mandibular location was predominant with a maxillary/ mandibular ratio of 1: 1.21. Except one case of malignant odontogenic tumor, all other cases were benign. Ameloblastoma was the most common type (64.5%), followed by odontogenic myxoma/fibromyxoma and cementoma. In this series, odontogenic tumors have similarities and differences with those of previous series. We noted a male predominance, a more advanced age at diagnosis, and predominance of mandibular location and of ameloblastoma

Abstract: Tax non-compliance reduces tax collection and the tax performance within a country. The Kenyan government has implemented various strategies to bring businesses in the informal sector into the tax bracket. However, available data shows that tax collections from the informal sector are above average but on a declining trend. The purpose of this study was to identify the influence of complexity of tax returns on tax compliance in the informal sector in Nyeri Town. The study adopted a cross-sectional survey design and targeted 715 informal businesses in Nyeri Town. Stratified random sampling technique was used to select 143 informal businesses to participate. Researcher-administered questionnaires were used to collect data from the respondents. Descriptive methods such as frequency distribution, percentages, mean, were used to summarize and organize data. Chi-square tests and correlation analysis were employed to establish relationships between study variables. Findings were presented using tables of frequencies and percentages, Majority (71%) of the participants indicated that they could not calculate their tax returns on their own. The study found that complexity of tax returns had a significant relationship (p=0.001) with tax compliance at 95% confidence level. The researcher therefore concludes that there is a significant relationship between complexity of tax returns and tax compliance It was recommended that the government should commit monies to eservice delivery to enhance tax compliance.

Atherogenic cardiovascular risk assessment is important in the management of dyslipidaemia associated with antiretroviral therapy (ART). Generally, Castelli’s Risk Index (CRI), Atherogenic Index of Plasma (AIP) and Atherogenic coefficient (AC) are becoming useful indices as risk predictors for cardiovascular disease (CVD). We studied the importance of these indices in identifying at-risk HIV individuals receiving treatment. Eighty (80) HIV-patients comprising treatment (n=40) and treatment-naïve (n=40) groups with age- and sex-matched were enrolled. Traditional lipid parameters {Total cholesterol (TC), Triglycerol (TG), and HDLc} were analyzed using spectrophotometry. The LDLc was calculated using Friedewald equation. Non-HDLc, CRI-I (TC/HDLc ratio) and CRI-II (LDLc/HDLc ratio), AIP {Log10 (TG/HDL-c)} and AC {(Non-HDLc)/HDLc} were also calculated. The CD4+ cell count was determined using flow cytometry. The correlations between atherogenic indices and lipid profile were determined using Pearson’s correlation.