Statistical analysis of air quality dataset of Kathmandu, Nepal, with a New Extended Kumaraswamy Exponential Distribution.

This paper aims to create a new probability distribution and conducts statistical analysis on air quality dataset from Kathmandu. Using this innovative distribution, we have studied the ground reality of air quality conditions of Kathmandu, Nepal. In our research, we have developed a new probability distribution known as the New Extended Kumaraswamy Exponential Distribution by introducing an additional shape parameter to the Extended Kumaraswamy Exponential (EKwE) Distribution. Statistical characteristics such as cumulative distribution function, probability density function, hazard function, reversed hazard function, skewness, kurtosis, survival function, and hazard rate function are studied. The suggested model is non-normal and positively skewed with increasing and inverted bathtub-shaped hazard rate curves. To assess the model's suitability, we utilized a real dataset comprising air quality data from Kathmandu, Nepal, during the year 2021. Study shows that the air quality data exhibit an increasing failure rate, but the P2.5, P10, and total suspended particle concentrations exhibited its lowest levels during the monsoon season and its highest levels during the winter season. Parameters of the model are estimated by using the least square estimation (LSE), maximum likelihood estimation (MLE), and Cramér-von Mises (CVM) approach for P10 at Ratnapark Station, Kathmandu. To assess the model's validity, P-P plots and Q-Q plots are employed. Model comparisons are carried out using Akaike Information Criterion (AIC), Corrected Akaike Information Criterion (CAIC), Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC), and Hannan-Quinn Information Criterion (HQIC). Furthermore, the goodness of fit of the proposed model is evaluated using test statistics such as Anderson-Darling (A2) test, Cramér-von Mises (CVM) test, and the Kolmogorov-Smirnov (KS) test along with their respective p-values. From the findings, we have found that the air quality status of Kathmandu, Nepal, was found to be poor. Proposed distribution provides a better fit with greater flexibility for forecasting air quality data and conducting reliability data analyses. Dataset is analyzed and visualized using R programming.

Alcoholic Liver Disease among Patients Admitted to the Department of Internal Medicine of a Tertiary Care Centre: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study.

Introduction: Alcoholic liver diseases comprise a spectrum of liver diseases including fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis, and cirrhosis. Diagnosis at advanced stages is frequent for this condition and data regarding the prevalence of such patients at early stages are limited. The aim of this study is to find out the prevalence of alcoholic liver disease among patients admitted to the Department of Internal Medicine of a tertiary care centre. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 538 patients admitted to the Department of Internal Medicine of a tertiary care centre in Nepal between 3rd November, 2021 and 22nd February, 2022 after receiving ethical approval from the Institutional Review Committee of the hospital (Reference number: 006-078/079). Convenience sampling was done. Data were collected and entered in Microsoft Excel and analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 24.0. Point estimate at 95% Confidence Interval was calculated along with frequency and percentage for binary data along with mean and standard deviation for continuous data. Results: Among 538 patients, alcoholic liver disease was seen in 42 (7.80%) (5.53-10.07 at 95% Confidence Interval). The mean age of the patients was 53.85±10.88 years. Among these patients 25 (59.52%) were males and 17 (40.47%) of them were females. Conclusions: Our study showed that the prevalence of alcoholic liver disease was lower as compared to similarly reported literature. Keywords: alcoholic liver diseases; jaundice; liver function test; Nepal.

Lumbar Disc Degenerative Disorder among Patients Undergoing Magnetic Resonance Imaging in a Tertiary Care Centre: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study.

Introduction: Magnetic resonance imaging is the standard imaging modality for detecting disc pathology due to its advantage of lack of radiation, multiplanar imaging capability, excellent spinal soft-tissue contrast, and precise localization of intervertebral discs changes. The aim of the study is to find out the prevalence of lumbar disc degenerative disorder among patients undergoing magnetic resonance imaging in a tertiary care hospital. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Radiodiagnosis and Interventional Radiology of a tertiary care centre among patients with complaints of low back pain from 24th May, 2021 to 31st December, 2021 in a tertiary care hospital. Ethical clearance was taken from the Institutional Review Committee (Reference number: 134/2077-78). A sample size of 899 was taken and convenience sampling was done. Collected data were entered and analyzed on Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 22.0. Point estimate at 95% Confidence Interval was calculated along with frequency and percentage for binary data and mean with standard deviation for continuous data. Results: Among 899 patients undergoing magnetic resonance imaging, the prevalence of lumbar disc degenerative disorder was found to be 155 (17.24%) (14.77-19.70 at 95% Confidence Interval). Conclusions: The prevalence of lumbar disc degenerative disorder among patients undergoing magnetic resonance in our study was lower when compared to other similar studies conducted in similar settings. Keywords: disc degeneration; low back pain; magnetic resonance imaging.

Oxidative stress and antioxidants in disease and cancer: a review.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS), highly reactive molecules, are produced by living organisms as a result of normal cellular metabolism and environmental factors, and can damage nucleic acids and proteins, thereby altering their functions. The human body has several mechanisms to counteract oxidative stress by producing antioxidants. A shift in the balance between oxidants and antioxidants in favor of oxidants is termed as "oxidative stress". Paradoxically, there is a large body of research demonstrating the general effect of oxidative stress on signaling pathways, less is known about the initial and direct regulation of signaling molecules by ROS, or what we term the "oxidative interface." This review focuses on the molecular mechanisms through which ROS directly interact with critical signaling molecules to initiate signaling in a broad variety of cellular processes, such as proliferation and survival (MAP kinases and PI3 kinase), ROS homeostasis, and antioxidant gene regulation (Ref-1 and Nrf-2). This review also deals with classification as well as mechanisms of formation of free radicals, examining their beneficial and deleterious effects on cellular activities and focusing on the potential role of antioxidants in preventing and repairing damage caused by oxidative stress. A discussion of the role of phytochemical antioxidants in oxidative stress, disease and the epigenome is included.