Background Unintended pregnancy occurs due to incorrect or inconsistent use of a contraception method. Such pregnancies can create an economic burden on the family, society and nation as a whole. Unintended pregnancy is the underlying cause of abortion which can also result in infertility and maternal death. Adequate knowledge of emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs) and positive attitudes among the community pharmacy practitioners (CPPs) is a prerequisite for timely access of ECP, thus ultimately lessening the incidence of unintended pregnancies. This study intended to explore the knowledge, attitude and practice of CPPs toward ECPs in Kathmandu valley. Methods Cross-sectional study conducted in community pharmacies located in three districts of Kathmandu valley. A convenience sampling method was employed to interview CPPs in 227 community pharmacies using a validated questionnaire. Questionnaire assessed the demographic characteristics; knowledge, attitude and dispensing practice of the CPPs. Data were subjected to descriptive and inferential analysis using SPSS 18 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Results Approximately 75% of respondents had a good practice on dispensing ECPs, and 70% of them counselled all the users. A significant association ( p -value< 0.05) was obtained between the dispensing practice of respondents and their knowledge level. ECP related knowledge was higher among the age group 40–49 years, BPharm degree holders with experience above 10 years and community pharmacies located inside the city and in the Kathmandu district. After adjusting the possible confounder variables, age, degree and district of pharmacy were significantly associated with knowledge. Similarly, respondents’ practice towards ECP was higher among the age group 40–49 years with experience above 10 years and community pharmacies located inside the city and in the Kathmandu district. Adjusted for other variables, only community pharmacies located at Kathmandu district was significantly associated with the practice. Conclusion CPPs lacked specific important information on ECP and opined against its’ availability as an over-the-counter drug, despite good overall knowledge and positive attitude. Many thought that ECP without prescription would increase promiscuity towards sexual behaviour and result in unsafe sex along with its’ repeated use. Hence, training and proper counselling strategies should be afoot to refine the delivery of service by CPPs.

A study was carried out on encapsulation of wine yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and its use in wine making compared to free yeast. Rehydrated active dry wine yeast was encapsulated in a 2% sodium alginate solution, cross linked with different molar concentration of CaCl 2 solution (0.1, 0.2, 0.3,0.4 and 0.5 M) for 30 minutes. The molar concentration with minimum cell leakage (0.2 M) was used for yeast encapsulation. Colony count (CFU/ml) was analyzed for both free yeast (FY) and encapsulated yeast (EY) so as to equilibrate the rate of yeast pitching in wine fermentation. Physicochemical properties; total soluble solids (TSS), acidity and pH of red and white grapes were analyzed and were found to be 16.4±0.10 o Bx, 0.38±0.02% and 3.90±0.02 for white grapes and 19±0.15 o Bx, 0.64±0.01% and 3.1±0.10 for red grapes. During the fermentation process in both wines, a gradual reduction in TSS was noted while an alternate of increase and decrease trend in acidity was noted which finally stabilized after 12 days. The final TSS of wines was not significantly different for yeast types (FY or EY) but higher values were noted for red wine (FY, 7.

Background Unintended pregnancy occurs due to incorrect or inconsistent use of a contraception method. Such pregnancies can create an economic burden on the family, society and nation as a whole. Unintended pregnancy is the underlying cause of abortion which can also result in infertility and maternal death. Adequate knowledge of emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs) and positive attitudes among the community pharmacy practitioners (CPPs) is a prerequisite for timely access of ECP, thus ultimately lessening the incidence of unintended pregnancies. This study intended to explore the knowledge, attitude and practice of CPPs toward ECPs in Kathmandu valley. Methods Cross-sectional study conducted in community pharmacies located in three districts of Kathmandu valley. A convenience sampling method was employed to interview CPPs in 227 community pharmacies using a validated questionnaire. Questionnaire assessed the demographic characteristics; knowledge, attitude and dispensing practice of the CPPs. Data were subjected to descriptive and inferential analysis using SPSS 18 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Results Approximately 74.9% of respondents had a good practice on dispensing ECPs, and 70% of them counselled all the users. A significant association (p-value<0.05) was obtained between the dispensing practice of respondents and their knowledge level. ECP related knowledge was higher among the age group 40-49 years, BPharm degree holders with experience above ten years and community pharmacies located inside the city and in the Kathmandu district. After adjusting the possible confounder variables, age, degree and district of pharmacy were significantly associated with knowledge. Similarly, respondents' practice towards ECP was higher among the age group 40-49 years with experience above ten years and community pharmacies located inside the city and in the Kathmandu district. Adjusted for other variables, only community pharmacies located at Kathmandu district was significantly associated with the practice. Conclusion CPPs lacked specific important information on ECP and opined against its' availability as an OTC drug, despite good overall knowledge and positive attitude. Many thought that ECP without prescription would increase promiscuity towards sexual behaviour and result in unsafe sex along with its' repeated use. Hence, training and proper counselling strategies should be afoot to refine the delivery of service by CPPs.

Pangasius fish is one of the rapid growing fresh water species in aquaculture. This study was aimed to assess the microbial number, physical quality and sensory evaluation of the Pangasius fish fillets from Nepal. Pangasius fish were collected from Chitwan and Nawalparasi districts, fillets were prepared and blast frozen simultaneously. The microbial number decreased rapidly during storage in frozen condition while Staphlylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli (which were present initially in fillets) disappeared during storage. The sensory panellists preferred air blast frozen fillets stored for one month than stored for two months. Different parts of the fish body showed different textural properties. Hardness was increased during second month of storage while other textural properties were found satisfactory in first month of storage in frozen condition. This study showed that sensory qualities of air blast frozen Pangasius fish fillets changes with time even in frozen storage.