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Patients with chronic schizophrenia and psychosis are more prone to develop hyponatremia. Hyponatremia could be due to medications e.g. antidepressants/antipsychotics or secondary to psychogenic polydipsia. They often present with altered consciousness, seizures and falls. Rapid correction of hyponatremia in patients with psychogenic polydipsia has been associated to cause rhabdomyolysis, an under-recognized yet serious condition which if left untreated can result in various complications e.g. acute kidney injury, electrolyte abnormalities. We report a case of young patient who had background illness of schizophrenia and presented to department with severe hyponatremia secondary to psychogenic polydipsia and was eventually diagnosed as case of rhabdomyolysis due to rapid correction of hyponatremia. Objective of case report is to highlight the correct diagnosis of underlying cause of hyponatremia and challenges associated with managing rhabdomyolysis with IV fluids that can result in worsening of hyponatremia, hence emphasizing the importance of close monitoring of sodium levels and measurement of creatine kinase in any patient who presents with severe hyponatremia, particularly in the presence of other risk factors for rhabdomyolysis and consideration of careful fluid administration strategies in relation to the relative onset and risk of over-correcting hyponatremia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Present study was carried out to determine distribution and population status of Himalayan Monal pheasant (Lophophorus impejanus) in Salkhala Game Reserve. This game reserve is an Endemic Bird Area in the Neelum valley within Western Himalayas, situated along ceasefire line between Pakistan and India. For data collection, study area was divided into three localities with eleven sub-localities. Systematic surveys were conducted in each sub-locality from March to September 2014, early in the morning (5:00-9:00am) and half an hour before evening. Distribution was determined by direct and indirect evidences including sighting, ground scratching, feathers, fecal material, foot prints, information collected from hunters, locals and wildlife staff. Populationof the bird was estimated by line transect method, laid down in the habitat of Himalayan Monal. The results indicated that this pheasant is distributed in all localities of the study area, preferring high altitude mountains with different aspects and slopes between 1900 mand 2600 m above sea level (asl). Overall population density of Himalayan Monal in the study area was 5.63 birds/km2. The highest density (6.81 birds/km2) was recorded in locality Khikhre-dohre, followed by locality Tehar-chhamman (5.33 birds/km2) and Chitta-pani (4.76 birds/km2). The sub-locality Dohre had highest population density (8.15 birds/km2) among eleven sub-localities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human–black bear (Ursus thibetanus) conflict is one of the major conservation and rural livelihood issue in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). Mitigation strategies of such conflicts require a firm understanding of their underlying patterns. To understand these human-black bear conflict patterns with special reference to crop raiding, present study was conducted from April to December 2011 in Machiara National Park (MNP), Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan. Field (n=30) and questionnaires (n=108) surveys were conducted in three union councils of MNP to collect information on patterns of crop raiding by black bear, local tolerance and perception about black bear during 2007-2011. About 945 acres area with 53.88 metric tons estimated maize crop yield was damaged by black bears during five years. The maximum (33.94%) of crop raiding was reported between elevation range of 2164 and 2285 m above sea level (asl.) along the boundary of the national park (61%) during 1801-0200 hours (69%). Maximum crop raiding was recorded during year 2011 (18.2 metric tons), while the maximum incidences of crop raiding were reported in the month of October (68.51%). The financial value of the damaged crop, according to the local market, was estimated as 1.370 million PKR (US$=14732.258) as per the currency values during the study period. In response, 11 black bears were killed by the community during 1998-2011, while five incidents of bear attacks on human were also recorded. Accordingly, 82% of respondents disliked black bear and suggested its ex-situ conservation (95%). These conflicts are among the main issues, which not only affect the livelihood of poor local villagers but also create serious threats to the conservation of these threatened bears in the area. To improve the local livelihood prospects and black bear protection around the study area, a proper research-based conflict mitigation strategy is seriously required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]