Parturition of a rear-fanged rainbow water snake (Enhydrisenhydris) involved in snakebite and effects of its envenoming in Nepal.

Based on a specimen preserved in the snakebite treatment center in eastern Nepal, this study aims to analyse brief life history (i.e., litter size, parturition date, habitat preference) of Enhydris enhydris, effects of its envenoming, and anthropogenic threat on its populations. One euthanized gravid female E. enhydris collected alive from eastern Nepal by a snakebite victim was examined. The gravid female gave birth to 23 litters on July 11, 2012. This parturition suggested high reproductive potential. Its bite to a man walking on the road caused no ill-effects. However, the use of tourniquet as a part of prehospital care might be detrimental or be obstacle for in-hospital care of snakebite. The conflicts between E. enhydris and humans at roads and human-activity areas are inevitable across the distribution ranges of this species. The continued anthropogenic impact can threaten its populations. This study finding can be a basis for assessing conservation status and options for its conservation as well as prehospital care and prevention of its bites.

Experimental investigations on PVA/chitosan and PVA/chitin films for active food packaging using Oxytenanthera abyssinica lignin nanoparticles and its UV-shielding, antimicrobial, and antiradical effects.

This study investigated the effect of adding lignin nanoparticles (LNPs) derived from Oxytenanthera abyssinica via alkali-acid nanoprecipitation method to polyvinyl alcohol/chitosan (PVA/CI) and polyvinyl alcohol/chitin (PVA/CH) films for the active food packaging applications. Adding LNPs at concentrations of 1 % and 3 % improved the films' thermal stability and mechanical properties. The lowest water solubility and moisture content were observed in PVA/CI/LNPs films. LNPs exhibited effective 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activities, with the highest values observed in PVA/CH/LNPS and PVA/CI/LNPS films with values of 87.47 and 88.74 % respectively. The addition of LNPs also improved the UV-blocking abilities of the films. PVA/CH/LNP3 and PVA/CI/LNP3 have the smallest percentage transmission values of 3.34 % and 0.86 % in the UV range. The overall migration of dietary stimulants was lower in PVA/CI/LNPS and PVA/CH/LNPS films compared to PVA film. Antibacterial tests demonstrated the inhibitory capacity of the synthesized biofilms against both gram-positive and negative bacterial species, with the highest inhibitory value of 26 mm. The study suggests that PVA/CH/LNPS and PVA/CI/LNPS films have potential applications as active food packaging materials and can be explored in other potential applications such as drug delivery, tissue engineering, wound healing, and slow-release urea fertilizer development.

Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular Diseases with Plant Phytochemicals: A Review.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the world's leading killers, accounting for 30% deaths. According to the WHO report, CVDs kill 17.9 million people per year, and there will be 22.2 million deaths from CVD in 2030. The death rates rise as people get older. Regarding gender, the death rate of women by CVD (51%) is higher than that of men (42%). To decrease and prevent CVD, most people rely on traditional medicine originating from the plant (phytochemicals) in addition to or in preference to commercially available drugs to recover from their illness. The CVD therapy efficacy of 92 plants, including 15 terrestrial plants, is examined. Some medicinal plants well known to treat CVD are, Daucus carota, Nerium oleander, Amaranthus Viridis, Ginkgo biloba, Terminalia arjuna, Picrorhiza kurroa, Salvia miltiorrhiza, Tinospora cordifolia, Mucuna pruriens, Hydrocotyle asiatica, Bombax ceiba, and Andrographis paniculate. The active phytochemicals found in these plants are flavonoids, polyphenols, plant sterol, plant sulphur compounds, and terpenoids. A general flavonoid mechanism of action is to prevent low-density lipoprotein oxidation, which promotes vasodilatation. Plant sterols prevent CVD by decreasing cholesterol absorption in the blood. Plant sulphur compound also prevent CVD by activation of nuclear factor-erythroid factor 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and inhibition of cholesterol synthesis. Quinone decreases the risk of CVD by increasing ATP production in mitochondria while terpenoids by decreasing atherosclerotic lesion in the aortic valve. Although several physiologically active compounds with recognized biological effects have been found in various plants because of the increased prevalence of CVD, appropriate CVD prevention and treatment measures are required. More research is needed to understand the mechanism and specific plants' phytochemicals responsible for treating CVD.

Molecular markers for resistance against infectious diseases of economic importance.

Huge livestock population of India is under threat by a large number of endemic infectious (bacterial, viral, and parasitic) diseases. These diseases are associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality, particularly in exotic and crossbred cattle. Beside morbidity and mortality, economic losses by these diseases occur through reduced fertility, production losses, etc. Some of the major infectious diseases which have great economic impact on Indian dairy industries are tuberculosis (TB), Johne's disease (JD), mastitis, tick and tick-borne diseases (TTBDs), foot and mouth disease, etc. The development of effective strategies for the assessment and control of infectious diseases requires a better understanding of pathogen biology, host immune response, and diseases pathogenesis as well as the identification of the associated biomarkers. Indigenous cattle (Bos indicus) are reported to be comparatively less affected than exotic and crossbred cattle. However, genetic basis of resistance in indigenous cattle is not well documented. The association studies of few of the genes associated with various diseases, namely, solute carrier family 11 member 1, Toll-like receptors 1, with TB; Caspase associated recruitment domain 15, SP110 with JD; CACNA2D1, CD14 with mastitis and interferon gamma, BoLA--DRB3.2 alleles with TTBDs, etc., are presented. Breeding for genetic resistance is one of the promising ways to control the infectious diseases. High host resistance is the most important method for controlling such diseases, but till today no breed is total immune. Therefore, work may be undertaken under the hypothesis that the different susceptibility to these diseases are exhibited by indigenous and crossbred cattle is due to breed-specific differences in the dealing of infected cells with other immune cells, which ultimately influence the immune response responded against infections. Achieving maximum resistance to these diseases is the ultimate goal, is technically possible to achieve, and is permanent. Progress could be enhanced through introgression of resistance genes to breeds with low resistance. The quest for knowledge of the genetic basis for infectious diseases in indigenous livestock is strongly warranted.

Impact of first aid training in management of snake bite victims in Madi valley.

BACKGROUND: Tropical lowland on Nepal is at full of risk to snake bite. The snake bite mortality is due to lack of awareness about proper management of victims. The study aims to assess the change in the pattern of management of snake bite victims after first aid training. METHODS: A retrospective study was done from October 2007 to October 2008 among 43 snake bite victims in rural Madi valley comprising of 4 village development committees where first aid training was conducted one year before. RESULTS: Only 26% of the snake bite victims approached traditional healer before arriving at the heath facility. The case fatality rate dropped to 22% after venomous snake bite. Pressure Immobilization bandaging and local compression pad immobilization technique was used by 56% who went to the health facility. Mean duration for reaching health facility was 61.51±33.55 minutes. Common places of bite were field 16 (37.2%), Indoor 6 (14%), while sleeping 6 (14%), and yard 6 (14%). Lower extremity bites were 32 (74.4%), upper extremity 8 (18.6%) and head 3 (7%). Bicycle was the commonest mode of transport 22 (51%) followed by ambulance 9(27.9%) and Motorcycle 6 (11%). CONCLUSIONS: First aid training changes the attitude of the people in management of snake bite victims and is one of the effective ways in decreasing mortality. Nationwide campaigning should be done especially at snake bite prone area about the proper first aid technique to improve the awareness level of the general population.