Mental Health Problems and Social Media Exposure during the COVID-19 Pandemic among Adult Population of Nepal.

Background The COVID-19 pandemic is a significant global health crisis that poses a threat to a person's psychological well-being. A very large number of people got exposed to social network sites during this period which can be hazardous and cause psychological difficulties. There is no prior research or limited studies in this area during emergencies in Nepal. Objective To assess the mental health issues and examine their relationship with social media exposure in adults. Method A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted by using a validated scale of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress (DAAS-21) and the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) among 18 years above adult population. Data were collected through an online survey. Descriptive statistics was used to describe sociodemographic data. Binary logistic regression analysis were performed to examine the relationship between psychological problems and social media exposure. Result Out of 422 participants, the overall prevalence of depression, anxiety, stress, and insomnia among the study population were 32%, 28.4%, 24.5%, and 47% respectively. Additionally, 86.5% of individuals said they were frequently exposed to social media. Age, ethnicity, gender, past health problems, and health status were significantly associated with psychological problems. Further, social media exposure was associated with gender and marital status. There was no evidence of an association of psychological problems with social media exposure. Conclusion Depression, anxiety, stress and insomnia are common mental health problems found in the adult population during the time of the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic and highly affected were under 25 years age. Female and unmarried adults are using more social media.

Managing Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction; A Short Review of Latest Evidences.

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a clinical dilemma and various clinical trials so far have failed to give a concrete evidence of reducing mortality and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in this condition. A detailed analysis of the existing evidences and a future plan for a concrete trial design with long duration of follow up is needed to address the dilemma of Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. The objective of this short review was to review the latest and major randomized controlled trials and study the primary outcomes. The public database of PubMed, Google Scholar and Cochrane were extensively searched for all randomized controlled trials using keywords of Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, major adverse cardiac events, Hospitalizations; and studies were included in the review if data were reported for patients with ejection fraction > 40%, did not include congenital heart disease, and demonstrated evidence of diastolic failure on echocardiogram (ECHO), and evaluated hospitalizations, major adverse cardiac events and cardiovascular mortality. Despite the major trials reporting improved primary composite endpoints with newer drugs the results have to be interpreted cautiously since the primary outcome were mostly driven by heart failure hospitalizations and not mortality reduction.

Risk factors and outcome analysis of patients with intraoperative rupture (IOR) of ruptured cerebral aneurysm during microsurgical clipping.

PURPOSE: To analyse baseline characteristics of patients with intraoperative rupture (IOR) or non-IOR who underwent microsurgical clipping for ruptured intracranial aneurysms. Additionally, to asses functional outcome in terms of Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) at 6 and 12 months. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 471 patients who underwent microsurgical clipping for ruptured intracranial aneurysms from 2007 to 2018 in Nepal Mediciti Hospital, Nepal. Patients who underwent surgery for unruptured aneurysm were excluded from the study. The association of the base line characteristic in IOR and non-IOR were analysed. Variables analysed were the Hunt and Hess Scale (HHS) dichotomized as (1-3) and (4-5), Modified Fisher Scale dichotomized as (0-2) and (3-4), type of rupture, use of brain retractor, timing of IOR during surgery, aneurysmal factors (size of the neck, location, lobulation) and time of surgery. Outcome, GOS dichotomized into favourable (4-5) and unfavourable (1-3), assessed at 6 months and 12 months. RESULTS: Out of 471 patients treated for ruptured intracranial aneurysm, IOR occurred in 57 (12.10%) with mean age 49.47 (SD ±12.9), occurred more in smoker than non-smoker (45.6% vs. 18.6%; p=.000) and regular alcohol consumers (36.8% vs. 17.9%; p=.004). Favourable outcome with GOS (4-5) at 6 months was observed among patients with lower HHS (1-3), p=.025 and lower MFS (0-2), p=.04. However, outcome at 12 months was better associated with MFS (p=.013) and aneurysm size (p=.038), with more favourable outcome associated with aneurysm less than 10 mm. CONCLUSIONS: Alcohol consumption and smoking are associated risk factors that may contribute to IOR. HHS and MFS are strong predictors of outcome for IOR patients at 6 months. However, at 12 months, MFS is more predictive of outcome. Aneurysms greater than 10 mm had a strong association with outcome at 12 months than 6 months.

Clinico-epidemiological Profile of Extra Hepatic Portal Vein Obstruction: A Tertiary Care Hospital Based Retrospective Study.

Background Extra hepatic portal vein obstruction (EHPVO) is a common cause of portal hypertension in the developing countries (up to 30% of all variceal bleeders) and is second to cirrhosis in the West (up to 5-10%). Our understanding of the disease is poor compared with other illnesses. Objective To undertake a retrospective study of the clinicoepidemiological profile of Extra hepatic portal vein obstruction in a tertiary care hospital in eastern Nepal. Method All consecutive adult patients whose features were consistent with the diagnosis of extra hepatic portal vein obstruction from June 2014 to June 2016 were retrospectively analyzed to explore the various clinico-epidemiological parameters. Result A total of 58 patients were enrolled in the study with a median age of 24 years (20.5- 40). Portal vein thrombosis was the most common cause of extrahepatic portal vein obstruction. Hematemesis followed by melena were the most common presenting symptoms. All patients had splenomegaly on examination. None of the patients had clinical, biochemical or radiological evidence of chronic liver disease. Conclusion The diagnosis of extra hepatic portal venous obstruction and differentiation from cirrhosis can be easily made by characteristic clinical features, normal liver function tests and doppler ultrasound. Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is the predominant cause of extra hepatic portal vein obstruction in Nepali patients, as seen at this tertiary care hospital in Nepal.

A Study of Occupational Characteristics and their Association with Cardiovascular Disease among Industrial Workers in Eastern Nepal.

Background An understanding of occupational characteristics of a worker is essential to establish policies, legislation in order to protect the health of the worker. The concept of Occupational Safety and Health is in initial stage in our country. Work-related cardiovascular disease (CVD) is caused by occupational factors that increase the oxygen requirements of the heart or decrease the capacity of the heart to use oxygen. It can be very difficult to link a specific work-related exposure to the development of cardiovascular disease in an individual person. This is because of issues of latency, multiple possible risk factors, lack of specific work-related features and various factors that influence diagnosis. Objective To study occupational characteristics and their association with cardiovascular disease among relatively young male industrial workers between 20-59 years of age in Sunsari-Morang industrial corridor of Eastern Nepal. Method A cross sectional study was conducted among men between 20 -59 years of age in two randomly selected industries in the Sunsari-Morang corridor of Eastern Nepal from July 2012 to July 2013. The data was collected using a pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire. Systematic random sampling was done to select the required number of samples. Chi-square and Fisher Exact tests were used. Crude and adjusted analyses were done. Result Majority (85%) were day shift workers. About 40% of the workers worked for 70-80 hrs/week. Most of them have stress sometimes at work. Noise was experienced by 40.9% of the workers. Earplug was used by only 5% of the workers. Hypertriglyceridaemia was seen in 49.3% of the workers. Long working hours, not using earplug and financial stress were seen to be associated with cardiovascular disease on bi-variate analysis. However, only earplug was significant in multivariate analysis. Conclusion Risk of cardiovascular disease was seen more among those who worked for more hours; those who did not use earplug and those who had financial stress. The results need further exploration to establish a causal association between occupational characteristics of the workers and cardiovascular disease in industrial set-up of eastern Nepal.

Epidemiological Study of Tobacco Smoking Behaviour amongst Residents of the Hill Region of Nepal.

Background Tobacco use is still a serious public health problem in the world and represents a major cause of morbidity and mortality in most parts of the world. Objective To measure the prevalence of tobacco use and to identify the factors associated with tobacco use among the residents of Dhankuta Municipality. Method The cross-sectional study was conducted among the residents of the Dhankuta Municipality where 205 households were taken as subjects. Pretested semistructured questionnaire was used for data collection and face to face interview was conducted. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression was used to see the association between various factors and tobacco use and identify the predictor variables. Result Overall prevalence of tobacco consumption in Dhankuta Municipality was found to be 57.1%. Prevalence of tobacco consumption among the male was significantly higher (67%) than female (47.1%) (p<0.05). Most of the respondents (56.4%) started consuming tobacco due to peer pressure and for recreation (24.8%). The multivariate logistic regression showed that the people with illiterate have higher chances of consuming tobacco than above School Leaving Certificate (OR 38.395, 95% CI=3.209- 459.417). The respondents below poverty line (<1.25 US$) was consuming tobacco more than above poverty line (> 1.25 US $) (OR 6.814, 95% CI= 1.255-36.986). Conclusion The aims of this study was to measure the prevalence of tobacco use and to identify the factors associated with tobacco use among the residents of the Dhankuta Municipality. We conclude that the prevalence rate of tobacco consumption in the Dhankuta Municipality was found to be moderately high. Factors like male in gender, Brahmin/Chhetri in ethnicity, lack of education, poor occupation like farmer and housewife, poor economic status were associated with tobacco use.

Human resource assessment for scaling up VL active case detection in Bangladesh, India and Nepal.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether medical staff at PHC level would have the time to take up additional activities such as 1-day fever camps for active VL case detection. METHODS: This article assessed the workload of health staff of different professional categories working at health facilities in Bangladesh, India and Nepal. Data were collected from different sites in high endemic VL areas. The study population was the health staff of government health facilities at all levels. Workload indicators of staffing need (WISN) software were adopted to carry out the analysis of staff workload and their availability in the selected health facility. The WISN difference and WISN ratio for a particular health facility were calculated from actual staffing available and calculated staffing requirement. RESULTS: The results showed a mixed picture of the availability of health workers. In most settings of Bangladesh and India, physicians with or without laboratory technicians would have time for active case detection. In Nepal, this would be performed by trained nurses and paramedical personnel. CONCLUSION: If all vacant posts were filled, active case detection could be performed more easily. The elimination programme can be scaled up with the current staffing levels in the endemic areas with some short training if and when necessary.

[Cardiovascular cooperation with the BPKIHS Hospital, in Dharan Bazar, Nepal]. / Coopération cardiovasculaire avec l'Hôpital BPKIHS, à Dharan Bazar, Népal.

Thanks to a collaboration project that was developed by Swiss cardiologists, the Coeur de la Tour Foundation, and BPKIHS, a teaching hospital in Dharan, it has been possible, within two years and using a "hybrid approach", to set up the first independent invasive and interventional program in East Nepal. 496 patients have been investigated and/or treated since January 2011, during an initial period of 23 months (coronary angiographies, coronary angioplasties, temporary and permanent pacemaker implantations, pericardiocenteses, etc.). In parallel with this, our Foundation, in the same area of the country, has also supported a pre-existing cardiovascular prevention program and has helped start a population-based study of rheumatic heart disease prevalence and treatment outcome among school children.

Hyperglycemia, glucose intolerance, hypertension and socioeconomic position in eastern Nepal.

Abstract. The present study was undertaken to evaluate differences between urban and rural Nepali populations in terms of hyperglycemia, socioeconomic position (SEP) and hypertension, through a community based survey in Sunsari District, eastern Nepal. Blood glucose levels were measured in participants (N = 2,006) S30 years old from urban and rural communities and were classified according to WHO criteria (1998) into normoglycemia (NGY), impaired fasting glucose (IFG), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and hyperglycemia (HGY). SEP was assessed by structured health interview along with anthropometric measurements and behavioral variables. Hypertension was classified per Joint National Committee (JNC-VII) criteria. Ten point three percent and 11.9% of subjects in this survey (13.3% urban and 11.0% rural) gave a family history and personal history of diabetes mellitus, respectively. Of urban participants (n = 736) with no history of diabetes 70 (9.5%) had HGY and 143 (19.4%) had glucose intolerance (IFG and IGT). Of rural participants (n = 1,270) 114 (9.0%) had HGY and 176 (13.9%) had glucose intolerance. There was an increasing trend in numbers of cases of hyperglycemia and intolerance with increasing age (chi2 198.2, p < 0.001), body mass index (BMI) (chi2 35.1, p < 0.001), SEP (chi2 48.5, p < 0.001) and hypertension (chi2 130.6, p < 0.001). Rural participants had a lower odds ratio [0.706; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.455-1.096] of having hyperglycemia than urban participants. Individuals with medium and higher SEP had a lower odds ratio (0.878; CI 0.543-1.868) and higher odds ratio (1.405; CI 0.798-2.474), respectively, compared to individuals with lower SEP of having HGY. Both urban and rural populations are at risk for hyperglycemia and glucose intolerance. Individuals having a medium SEP had lower risk of diabetes mellitus than individuals from lower and higher SEP.

Effect of haemodynamic and metabolic predictors on echocardiographic left ventricular mass in non-diabetic hypertensive patients.

BACKGROUND: Left ventricular hypertrophy is a forerunner of coronary heart disease, congestive cardiac failure, stroke and may also lead to sudden death. Estimation of left ventricular mass by echocardiography offers prognostic information better than the evaluation of traditional cardiovascular risk factors. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the relative contributions of haemodynamic and metabolic factors affecting left ventricular mass in non-diabetic patients with essential hypertension. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 100 non-diabetic hypertensive patients were taken. The association between age, gender, smoking, alcohol, height, weight, heart rate, clinic blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, lipid profile, haemoglobin, body mass index and stroke volume with LV mass was studied. Left ventricular mass was measured by using standard M-mode echocardiography measurement obtained by way of standard recommended by the American Society of Echocardiography. RESULTS: Left ventricular mass was analyzed as a continuous variable. In males body mass index (r = .35, p < .004) and stroke volume(r = -.26, p<.039) were significantly correlated with LV mass. In females body weight was significantly related to left ventricular mass(r = .36, p < .02). The independent association between significant factors and left ventricular mass was assessed by stepwise multivariate logistic regression. Body mass index and systolic blood pressure came as independent determinants of left ventricular mass in all patients. A maximum of 13% of left ventricular mass variability could be explained by these two factors. CONCLUSION: In untreated patients with hypertension patient's body mass index and systolic blood pressure are independent predictors of left ventricular mass after adjustment for other haemodynamic and metabolic factors. They explain a maximum of 13% of left ventricular mass variability. More knowledge is needed about factors that may alter cardiac morphology in the evolution of hypertensive patients.

Left ventricular hypertrophy in hypertension: correlation between electrocardiography and echocardiography.

BACKGROUND: Hypertension is an important modifi able cardiovascular risk factor. Left ventricular hypertrophy - the marker of hypertension, has emerged as an independent risk factor that can be detected by electrocardiography (ECG)and echocardiography (ECHO). OBJECTIVE: Correlation of electrocardiography and echocardiographically detected left ventricular hypertrophy in hypertensive patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Hundred patients with hypertension were studied for left ventricular hypertrophy by the help of electrocardiography and echocardiography. Left ventricular hypertrophy on ECG was assessed by the help of Sokolow-Lyon Voltage Criteria (SLV) and Romhilt - Estes Point Score (R/E). RESULTS: Among 100 patients, 60 were males and 40 were females. Mean age for male was 54.82 + or - 12.10 years and 52.95 + or - 11.63 years for female. The mean systolic blood pressure for male was 150.47 + or - 20 mmHg and for female 148.60 + or - 16.95 mmHg; where as Diastolic blood pressure for male was 93.67 + or - 11.13 mmHg and for female it was 96.05 + or - 12.47 mmHg. Echocardiography detected left ventricular hypertrophy in 64% patients. Electrocardiography detected Left Ventricular Hypertrophy by R/E and SLV criteria 13% and 34% respectively. CONCLUSION: In developing and under developed country ECG is a useful tool for detection of LVH where the facilities of echocardiography and trained echocardiographer are still not in a common man's reach.

Intracellular K(+) inhibits apoptosis by suppressing the Apaf-1 apoptosome formation and subsequent downstream pathways but not cytochrome c release.

Cellular ionic homeostasis, fundamentally K(+) homeostasis, has been implicated as a critical regulator of apoptosis. The intracellular K(+) efflux on apoptotic insult and suppression of apoptosis by high concentration of extracellular K(+) or after inhibition of this efflux by K(+) channel blockers have established the crucial role of K(+) in turning on the apoptotic machinery. Several contrasting observations have reported the antiapoptotic effect of intracellular K(+) concentration to be the result of inhibition of cytochrome c release from mitochondria, but the exact inhibitory mechanism remains obscure. However, here we show the blockage of K(+) efflux during apoptosis did not affect cytochrome c release from the mitochondria, still completely inhibited the formation of the apoptosome comprising Apaf-1, cytochrome c, caspase-9 and other accessories. As a consequence of this event, procaspase-9, -3, -8 and other death-related proteins were not processed. Furthermore, physiological concentrations of K(+) also inhibited the processing of procaspase-3 by purified caspase-8 or -9, the nucleosomal DNA fragmentation by purified DFF40/CAD and the nuclear fragmentation to varying extents. Altogether, these findings suggest that the efflux of K(+) is prerequisite not only for the formation of the apoptosome but also for the downstream apoptotic signal-transduction pathways.

Association of cardiovascular events with glycosylated haemoglobin in diabetic patients.

BACKGROUND: In persons with diabetes, chronic hyperglycemia (assessed by glycosylated hemoglobin level) is related to the development of microvascular disease; however, the relation of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) to macrovascular disease is less clear. OBJECTIVE: To study the association of cardiovascular events (CVE) with glycosylated haemoglobin in diabetic patients. DESIGN: Case control study. SETTING: B. P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences (BPKIHS), Dharan, Nepal. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Fifty diabetic patients with recent cardiovascular events: myocardial infarction (MI) or stroke was included in the study. There were 25 patients of myocardial infarction and 25 patients of stroke. Fifty diabetic patients without cardiovascular events were taken as control. RESULTS: After adjustment for age, smoking, body mass index, systolic blood pressure and total cholesterol at baseline, level of HbA1c was statistically significant (p = 0.017) among patients with CVE. For MI, level of HbA1c was statistically significant (p = 0.018) while for stroke, level of HbA1c was not significant (p = 0.694). Mean blood glucose also predicted CVE and MI but not stroke in this study (p values = 0.006, 0.006 and 0.670 respectively). Fasting and postprandial plasma glucose was statistically significant in CVE (p values = 0.024 and 0.019 respectively). Urine protein was statistically significant for CVE, MI and stroke (p values = 0.000, 0.032, 0.032 and OR 4.571 (95% CI: 1.963-10.646), 2.667 (95% CI: 1.043-6.815), 2.667 (95% CI: 1.043-6.815) respectively. LIMITATIONS: Sample size was limited due to time constraint and limited resources. Cases with peripheral artery disease were not included in the study. CONCLUSION: Glycosylated haemoglobin is associated with cardiovascular events and myocardial infarction but not stroke.

Effect of preload reduction by haemodialysis on doppler indices of diastolic function in patients with end-stage renal disease.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the influence of preload reduction by haemodialysis on Doppler echocardiographic indices of cardiac diastolic function. METHODOLOGY: Parameters of left ventricular diastolic function were measured in patients with end-stage renal disease before and after a single session of haemodialysis. Patients with valvular heart disease, coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathies, pericardial disease and those not in sinus rhythm were excluded from the study. RESULTS: Seventeen subjects (12 males and 5 females, mean age 48 +/- 16 years) were studied. Over the duration of 3.7 +/- 0.6 hours of haemodialysis, 2.6 +/- 1.3 litres of ultrafiltrate was removed. The comparison of pre and post haemodialysis peak mitral E and A velocities showed a decrease in E velocity (p < 0.01) whereas the change in A velocity was not significant. The E/A ratio decreased significantly (p < 0.05).The decrease in E velocity correlated well with the amount of ultrafiltrate (r = 0.653, p < 0.01). There was a significant increase in isovolumetric relaxation time (p< 0.05) whereas deceleration time did not change (p =0.3). CONCLUSION: Ultrafiltration during haemodialysis causes a rapid reduction in preload. It results in decreased early left ventricular diastolic filling without a change in the atrial phase of filling, hence causing a decrease in calculated E/A ratio.

Social health insurance: a knowledge-do gap in eastern Nepal.

Health care costs, and those for inpatient care in particular, pose a barrier to seeking health care, and cost be a major cause of indebtedness and impoverishment, particularly among the poor. The Ministry of Health in Nepal intends to initiate alternative financing schemes such as community and social health insurance schemes as a means to supplement the government health sector financing source. Social Health Insurance (SHI) is a mechanism for financing and purchasing / delivering health care to workers in the formal sector regulated by the government. Considering all these facts BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences (BPKIHS) has introduced SHI scheme in 2000 as an alternative health care financing mechanism to the community people of Sunsari and Morang districts. In the beginning small area was elected as a pilot project to launch the scheme. A major objective of SHI is to reduce poverty caused by paying for health care and to prevent already vulnerable families from falling into deeper poverty when facing health problems. A total of 26 organizations with 19799 populations are at present in SHI scheme. Sixteen rural based organizations with 14,047 populations and 10 urban based organizations with 5752 people are the beneficiaries in this scheme. BPKIHS SHI Scheme is the outcome of the visionary thinking on social solidarity and as an alternative health care financing mechanism to the community. BPKIHS is mobilizing people's organizations and is offering health services through its health insurance scheme at subsidized expenses. This has helped people to avail with health facilities who otherwise would have been left vulnerable because of their penetrating health needs. There is huge gap between premium collection and expenditures. The expenditures are more and this may be due to knowledge - do gap in the program. If conditions are unsuitable, SHI can lead to higher costs of care, inefficient allocation of health care resources, inequitable provision and dissatisfied patients. It can also be more difficult to realize the potential advantages of SHI in future. The future challenges confronting the scheme are to give the continuity and sustainability of the program to its catchments areas. This might entail a shift in its program operation mechanism. People's active involvement is required, which will further provide a sense of ownership in the scheme amongst the people.

Exploring the iceberg of hypertension: a community based study in an eastern Nepal town.

OBJECTIVES: Hypertension is an important public health challenge in the developing and the developed world alike. However, community-based studies on cardiovascular diseases including hypertension in a developing country like Nepal have been limited. The primary aim of this study is to measure the prevalence of hypertension in the Dharan town of Eastern Nepal and to explore the 'iceberg phenomenon' of hypertension in the study population. METHODS: A population-based cross-sectional analytical study was undertaken in the Dharan municipality in 2004-5 with one thousand males aged 35 years and above as participants. The subjects were recruited by simple random sampling of the households in each ward. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of hypertension in the study population was 22.7% which was comparable to the studies from Northern and Western India. The comparison between the population with normal and high blood pressure at time of study shows significant differences in terms of age, religion, current job status, occupation, socio-economic status, physical activity and tobacco use. CONCLUSION: The study shows that while a vast majority of the hypertensive population was not aware of their high blood pressure status, at the same time, a large fraction of the population with increased blood pressure did not have their blood pressure under control. A surveillance system to detect population with high blood pressure, follow up the detected cases of hypertension, as well as motivate and/or counsel the 'hard-to-treat' cases for regular follow-up should be valuable.

Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) in cirrhotic ascites: a prospective study in a tertiary care hospital, Nepal.

BACKGROUND: Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is one of the potentially lethal complications of cirrhosis and is defined as infected ascites in the absence of any recognizable secondary cause of infection. Objective was to study the occurrence of SBP, clinical and laboratory characteristics and the response to antibiotics. METHODS: We had prospectively evaluated 81 cirrhotic patients with ascites during one-year period. All SBP patients were treated with cefotaxime, 2gm IV, every 12h for 5days. RESULTS: Of these 81 patients, 24.67% of patients (n=20) had SBP and its variants (classical SBP n= 4, CNNA n=13 and bacterascites n=3). There were thirteen males and 7 females in the study.85% of the cases had Child;s class C cirrhosis. UGI bleeding and abdominal pain were the most common presenting symptoms of SBP. Culture positives were 35% (n=7). The most frequent organisms were Escherichia coli (n=3) and Streptococcus pneumoniae (n=2). 94% of the patients responded to therapy after 48 hours of treatment. Total resolution after 5 days of therapy was 73% and in-hospital mortality was 15% (n=3). CONCLUSION: SBP, if diagnosed early can be treated with very good success rate up to 73%. Appropriate treatment of SBP with cefotaxime can help in reducing mortality and morbidity in patients with chronic liver disease.

Association of obesity and physical activity in adult males of Dharan, Nepal.

OBJECTIVES: Obesity is one of the most apparent-yet most neglected public health problems. Physical activity is a crucial element in the development of obesity but still its importance in the occurrence of obesity varies in different populations. This paper aims to study the burden of obesity and its association with physical activity was carried out in a rapidly urbanizing town. METHODS: A cross-sectional study to investigate the prevalence of obesity and its association with physical activity was carried out in one thousand adult males of Dharan municipality. Tools of data collection included interview and physical measurements such as blood pressure, height and weight measurements, and waist and hip circumferences. Odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals for obesity were computed across various demographic and other variables without adjusting and then adjusting for physical activity. RESULTS: The prevalence of overweight and obesity in the population was 32.9% and 7.2% respectively. The study showed that physical inactivity is more importantly associated with obesity in the older population. The trend of young being more obese is reversed after adjusting for physical activity so that those in the older age were more obese than the younger ones. Similarly, those in to the business, vocational and clerical works, those who were more literate and those in the higher socio-economic status were significantly associated with obesity even after correcting for physical activity. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of overweight and obesity is high in the males of Dharan. The value and effect of physical activity seem to vary across different age-groups and socio-economic status and occupations. The young, the technical persons or businessmen and the more prosperous ones probably need to bring down their calorie intake along with emphasis on physical activity in order to bring down their weight and cardiovascular risk.

Sinonasal inverted papilloma in eastern part of Nepal.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinicopathological profile of sinonasal inverted papilloma in a tertiary referral center in eastern part of Nepal. METHODS: A prospective study consisting of total 28 histologically proven cases of sinonasal inverted papilloma was conducted in the ENT department of the center. The study period was from April 2002 to November 2005. RESULT: Out of 28 cases studied, 21 were males and 7 were females with male to female ratio of 3:1. The highest incidence was seen in the 5th and 6th decades of life. The duration of symptoms varied from 5 months to 20 years with mean duration of 3.9 years. The lateral nasal wall and nasal cavity involvement was seen in all 28 cases. Maxillary sinus was involved in 27(96.4%) subjects followed by ethmoid (20), sphenoid (10) and the frontal sinus (7). The principle presenting symptom was nasal obstruction seen in 96.4% of the patients. Twenty two cases were treated by lateral rhinotomy with medial maxillectomy while, orbital exenteration was done in two cases. Associated carcinoma was noticed in 10.15% of all the subjects studied. CONCLUSION: Sinonasal papilloma mostly presented in fifth to six decades of life mainly affecting the male patients. Majority of the patients were treated by lateral Rhinotomy with medial maxillectomy surgery. Early presentation would have given chances for endoscopic surgery.

Predicting outcomes in acute coronary syndrome using biochemical markers.

OBJECTIVES: To assess risk prediction in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) during the hospital stay, at 6 weeks and at 6 months period using high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), serum creatinine, cardiac troponin I, creatine kinase total, and MB levels. METHODS: It was a prospective observational study. The primary outcome was taken as all-cause mortality. Patients with ACS were enrolled and followed up at 6 weeks and 6 months duration from the index event. Mortality and cause of death were recorded. The hs-CRP was estimated on admission, at 6 weeks, and at 6 months. The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was calculated using the abbreviated modification of diet in renal disease (MDRD) formula at admission, at 6 weeks, and 6 months. RESULTS: There were a total of 108 cases of ACS in the duration of 6 months who completed the follow-up. The hs-CRP level of >5mg/dl was highly significant for predicting mortality during hospital stay and at 6 weeks (p<0.001). There was 11% of in-hospital mortality (p<0.001). At 6 months, the overall mortality was 28% (p<0.001). There was a statistical significance with low eGFR (median eGFR 45ml/min/1.73m(2)) levels during the admission. CONCLUSION: hs-CRP levels above 5mg/dl and the eGFR levels ≤30ml/min/1.73m(2) were significant in predicting mortality of the patients with ACS. This may provide simple assessment tools for predicting outcome in ACS in resource-poor settings if validated further.