Designing Front-of-Package Labels to Inform Consumers and Encourage Healthier Food Choices in Bangladesh: A Qualitative Study.

Front-of-package labeling (FOPL) policies are a useful strategy to inform consumers about foods high in nutrients of concern, but little is known about what type of label works best in Bangladesh, a country with increasing levels of unhealthy food intake and diet-related diseases. We conducted 10 focus groups with men and women in rural and urban Bangladesh ( = 76). Using a semi-structured discussion guide, we asked consumers for their perceptions of the healthfulness of nutrients and foods, two common FOPLs (a color-coded guideline daily allowance [GDA] label and a warning label), and different visual elements of the warning label (e.

Global overview of government-endorsed nutrition labeling policies of packaged foods: a document review.

Introduction: Nutrition labeling provides nutritional information about nutrients present in a food product. It is commonly applied to packaged foods and beverages, where the information can be presented on the back or front of the pack as the nutrient declaration, nutrition and health claims, and supplementary nutrition information. Nutrition labeling is an important policy instrument for improving the nutritional quality of foods and promoting healthy diets, as it allows consumers to make informed purchasing decisions.

Text messaging to improve retention in hypertension care in Bangladesh.

Visit non-attendance is a common barrier to hypertension control in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of mobile text messaging in improving visit attendance among patients with hypertension in primary healthcare facilities in Bangladesh. A randomized A/B testing study was conducted with two patient groups: (1) patients regularly attending visits (regular patients) and (2) patients overdue for their follow-up clinic visit (overdue patients).

Evaluation of the World Health Organization-HEARTS hypertension control package in Bangladesh: a quasi-experimental trial.

Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) promotes the HEARTS technical package for improving hypertension control worldwide, but its effectiveness has not been rigorously evaluated.

Objective: To compare hypertension outcomes in clinics implementing HEARTS versus clinics continuing usual hypertension care in rural Bangladesh.

Methods: A matched-pair cluster quasi-experimental trial in Upazila Health Complexes (UHCs; primary healthcare facilities) was conducted in rural Bangladesh.

Salt intake across the hypertension care cascade in the Bangladeshi adult population: a nationally representative cross-sectional study.

Objectives: This study aimed to examine the distribution of daily salt intake across the hypertension care cascade and assess the proportional distribution of these care cascade categories across various salt consumption level.

Design: A population-based national cross-sectional study.

Settings: Data from the Bangladesh STEPS 2018 survey were used, encompassing both urban and rural strata within all eight divisions.

Design, Synthesis, Evaluation, and Molecular Docking Study of Ascorbic Acid Dual-Coated Omeprazole Pellets and the Antioxidative Effect of Ascorbic Acid on Omeprazole-Induced Renal Injury in an Animal Model.

The present study was carried out to investigate the antioxidant effect of ascorbic acid on omeprazole (O.P.)-induced acute kidney infection (AKI).

Salt Intake Estimation from Urine Samples in South Asian Population: Scoping Review.

The World Health Organization recommended reducing one's salt intake below 5 g/day to prevent disability and death from cardiovascular and other chronic diseases. This review aimed to identify salt estimation at the population level in South Asian countries, namely Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. We searched electronic databases and government websites for the literature and reports published between January 2011 and October 2021 and also consulted key informants for unpublished reports.

Pharmacognostical evaluation and physiochemical analysis of Salsola Kali as medicinal plant.

One of the largest genera Salsola include halophytic plants with therapeutic potential. For the treatment of various ailments, plants of the genus are acclaimed. Salsola kali is an important medicinal plant exhibiting specific phytochemical and biological makeup that is frequently overlooked.

Assessment of Iris albicans lange as potential antimicrobial and analgesic agent.

Objective of the present work was to evaluate the presence of phytochemical constituents and pharmacological activities (antimicrobial and anti-nociceptive) of crude extract isolated from Iris albicans and its corresponding fractions. Extraction was made with methanol and extract was evaluated for the presence of different bioactive constituents, as per standard protocols. Extract and its corresponding fractions were evaluated for their antimicrobial and anti-nociceptive potential.

The Return and Volatility Connectedness of NFT Segments and Media Coverage: Fresh Evidence Based on News About the COVID-19 Pandemic.

We study the relationship between return and volatility of non-fungible tokens (NFT) segments and media coverage during the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in a connectedness framework. We document media coverage as a net transmitter of spillover for both the return and volatility of NFT segments. We find that NFTs representing the Utilities segment is a major transmitter of spillover.

Scanning electron microscopy for identification of local strain of Aspergillus Parasiticus and its larvicidal efficacy against Aedes Aegypti and non-target toxicity testing on fingerlings of Hypophthalmichthys Molitrix.

Scanning electron microscopy proved to be helpful in identification of Aspergillus parasiticus. A. parasiticus has a worldwide occurrence with high entomopathogenic efficacy against Aedes aegypti.

SEM and XRD for removal of heavy metals from industrial wastewater and characterization of chicken eggshell.

Heavy metal toxicity due to industrial wastewater has been a threat to the environment for the past many decades, especially in developing countries. Electroplating Industry wastewater containing heavy metals can become a serious environmental pollutant if not treated appropriately. Present study investigated the removal of nickel and chromium ions from electroplating wastewater using calcined hen eggshells because of it high removal capability, little cost and easy approachability.

Screening, biochemical characterization and antibiotics resistance/susceptibility of bacteria isolated from native soil and water samples.

The present study was conducted to isolate and characterize bacteria from water and soil sample taken from the Lahore Canal at different sites i.e. Mall Road, Mohlanwal and Khera site.

Proteome-Wide Mapping and Reverse Vaccinology Approaches to Design a Multi-Epitope Vaccine against .

is a highly versatile bacteria of livestock and humans, causing enteritis (a common food-borne illness in humans), enterotoxaemia (in which toxins are formed in the intestine which damage and destroy organs, i.e., the brain), and gangrene (wound infection).

Identification of locally isolated entomopathogenic Fusarium species from the soil of Changa Manga Forest, Pakistan and evaluation of their larvicidal efficacy against Aedes aegypti.

Dengue fever vectored by the mosquito Aedes aegypti is one of the most rapidly spreading insect-borne diseases. Current reliance of dengue vector control is mostly on chemical insecticides. Growing insecticide resistance in the primary mosquito vector, Aedes aegypti, limits the effectiveness of vector control through chemical insecticides.

Formulation and evaluation of microsphere of antiulcer drug using gum.

Objective: This study was undertaken to evaluate the formulation of the microspheres for antiulcer drug using natural polymer gum.

Materials And Methods: All parameters evaluated gum, aqueous solution of purified gum was used for chemical characterization, organoleptic character, flow properties, pH, particle size determination, solubility, viscosity, surface tension, infrared spectroscopy, etc. The microspheres of famotidine were prepared by ionotropic gelation technique using cross-linking solution of aluminum chloride, barium chloride, and calcium chloride.

Anxiety among women experiencing medically complicated pregnancy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Symptoms of anxiety are common among pregnant and postpartum women, and 15%-20% of pregnancies are affected by medical complications. Despite this, little is known about the relationship of medical complications in pregnancy and women's experience of anxiety. The purpose of this research was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of differences in anxiety symptom severity among women experiencing a medically complicated versus a medically uncomplicated pregnancy.

Molecular detection of Babesia microti in dogs and cat blood samples collected from Punjab (Pakistan).

Babesia microti (B. microti) is an intra erythrocytic protozoan that mainly infects red blood cells and causes babesiosis. Its frequent hosts are rodents, ticks and humans.

Formulation design and development of matrix diffusion controlled transdermal drug delivery of glimepiride.

Background: The present work was conducted to prepare and evaluate transdermal patches with optimization of suitable polymeric blend of poly(meth) acrylates (Eudragit) (Ammonio Methacrylate Copolymer Ph Eur) for sustained transdermal delivery of glimepiride.

Method: Polymeric matrix transdermal films were prepared by using Ammonio Methacrylate Copolymer Ph Eur RL 100 and Ammonio Methacrylate Copolymer Ph Eur RS 100 as the film former, and dibutyl phthalate (30% w/w) as the plasticizer. Patches were characterized by physical appearance, thickness, weight variation, folding endurance, percentage erosion, swelling index, moisture content, and moisture uptake capacity.

Development of β-cyclodextrin-based hydrogel microparticles for solubility enhancement of rosuvastatin: an in vitro and in vivo evaluation.

The aim of this study was to enhance the solubility of rosuvastatin (RST) calcium by developing β-cyclodextrin--poly(2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid [AMPS]) hydrogel microparticles through aqueous free-radical polymerization technique. Prepared hydrogel microparticles were characterized for percent entrapment efficiency, solubility studies, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, thermal gravimetric analysis, powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, zeta size and potential, swelling and release studies. Formulations (HS1-HS9) have shown entrapment efficiency between 83.

Health status assessment of workers during construction phase of highway rehabilitation projects around lahore, Pakistan.

Objective: The study focused on assessment of the health status of workers during construction phase of highway rehabilitation projects at six selected sites of N5 around Lahore, including Kala Shah Kaku, Muridke, Kamuki, Bhaipheru, Pattoki, and Okara.

Methods: The study was based on multi-methods approach involving hazard identification through survey and checklist as well as a questionnaire for health status assessment and measurements of health parameters including peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) and audiometric screening of 300 subjects.

Results: The study revealed non-congenial working conditions at the sites.

Diversity and fluctuation in ciliate protozoan population in the rumen of cattle.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the diversity and fluctuation in the ciliate protozoan population in the rumen of cattle. DNA was extracted from the rumen of three ruminally cannulated, crossbred cattle and a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-derived clone library was constructed, using a specific primer set targeting 18S ribosomal RNA genes of ciliate protozoa. DNA fragments of seven selected clones were validated for standard DNA of the protozoa-specific real-time PCR assay.

Helicobacter pylori outer membrane protein Q allele distribution is associated with distinct pathologies in Pakistan.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) strains expressing outer membrane protein Q (HopQ) promote adherence to the gastric epithelial cell. We characterized HopQ alleles in relation to H.

Effect of supplementation of rice bran and fumarate alone or in combination on in vitro rumen fermentation, methanogenesis and methanogens.

This study investigated the effect of fumarate (FUM) and rice bran (RB), alone and together, on in vitro rumen fermentation, methanogenesis and methanogens. In vitro incubation was performed with six media that were either unsupplemented (control) or supplemented with 10% RB, 5 mmol/L FUM, 10% RB + 5 mmol/L FUM, 10 mmol/L FUM, or 10% RB + 10 mmol/L FUM. Methane (CH4 ) production, dry matter digestibility, CH4 per digested dry matter, total short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production, proportion of SCFA, acetate : proprionate ratio, production of NH3 -N, and population density of rumen microbes were determined.