Nepalese Patients Research Articles

A Simple Test Ratio APRI (AST to Platelet Ratio Index) as a Useful Tool for Cirrhosis: A Study from Bir Hospital, Nepal

Background Liver cirrhosis is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, including Nepal. Liver biopsy, the gold standard for fibrosis assessment, is invasive and carries risks. The Aspartate Aminotransferase to Platelet Ratio Index (APRI) offers a non-invasive, cost-effective alternative. However, data on its utility in Nepalese populations are limited.  Objective To evaluate the diagnostic performance of APRI as a non-invasive marker of cirrhosis in Nepalese patients, determining its sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values.  Methods This cross-sectional study enrolled 58 cirrhotic patients and 58 healthy controls at Bir Hospital from April 2019 to January 2020. Clinical examinations, laboratory tests, and ultrasonography were performed. APRI with a cut-off of 0.5 was evaluated using SPSS version 23, applying chi-square and ANOVA tests.  Results Among 116 participants, APRI at a 0.5 cut-off demonstrated 88.3% sensitivity, 82.5% specificity, 90.1% positive predictive value, and 70.2% negative predictive value (p = 0.002, 95% CI).  Conclusion APRI is a reliable non-invasive tool for diagnosing liver fibrosis in cirrhotic patients, offering high sensitivity and specificity. It is practical for bedside use, especially in resource-limited settings.

Adult-Onset IgA Vasculitis Complicated by Kidney Failure at Disease Onset in a Nepalese Patient: A Case Report

Introduction: Immunoglobulin A (IgA) vasculitis, previously known as Henoch-Schönlein purpura, is an immune complex-mediated small vessel vasculitis primarily affecting children. While rare in adults, it can present with more severe manifestations, particularly involving the kidneys. This case report details the presentation and management of adult-onset IgA vasculitis with significant renal involvement.  Case Report: A 43-year-old male with a history of bipolar disorder presented with facial swelling, shortness of breath, and decreased urine output following an upper respiratory infection. Initial investigations revealed elevated blood pressure and renal impairment. Despite supportive treatment, his condition worsened, leading to a referral to a tertiary care center. He exhibited symptoms consistent with IgA vasculitis, including joint pain, rash, and nephrotic-range proteinuria. The diagnosis was confirmed through a skin biopsy and 24-hour urine collection. The patient was treated with intravenous methylprednisolone, oral prednisone, and an ACE inhibitor. His renal function improved with this regimen.  Discussion: Adult-onset IgA vasculitis can present with severe kidney involvement, including nephrotic-range proteinuria and elevated serum creatinine, which are associated with poorer outcomes compared to pediatric cases. The patient's management, involving glucocorticoids and an ACE inhibitor, aligns with current treatment recommendations for significant renal involvement. Long-term prognosis in adults remains challenging, with a higher risk of end-stage kidney disease compared to children. Vigilant monitoring and tailored treatment strategies are crucial for improving outcomes.  Conclusion: This case underscores the potential severity of adult- onset IgA vasculitis and highlights the importance of early diagnosis and aggressive management to mitigate long- term renal complications. Ongoing research is necessary to refine treatment approaches and enhance outcomes for adults with this condition.

Morphometry of adult cricoid cartilage in Nepalese cadavers: a cross-sectional observational study

Background: Cricoid cartilage is crucial during endotracheal intubation, yet its dimensions in the Nepali population remain uncharacterized. This study aimed to measure cricoid cartilage dimensions in adult Nepalese. Methods: A total of 105 cadavers (75 males, 30 females) were dissected at *** Medical Campus, Nepal. Measurements of outer and inner transverse and anteroposterior diameters, as well as heights of the cricoid arch and lamina, were taken using digital vernier calipers. Statistical analyses included gender comparisons and correlations with age. Results: The mean age of the 105 cadavers studied was 34.11 years (SD = 12.08). The measurements of outer anteroposterior diameter, outer transverse diameter, inner anteroposterior diameter, inner transverse diameter, arch height and lamina height were respectively 22mm (SD=4), 21mm (SD=4), 18mm (SD=3), 17mm (SD=3), 9mm (SD=3) and 24mm (SD=4). Inner AP (p = 0.009) and inner TR (p = 0.021) measurements correlated significantly with age. Males had significantly larger cricoid cartilage dimensions than females (p < 0.001). Conclusions: This study provided essential data for selecting appropriately sized endotracheal tubes in Nepalese patients, reducing airway complications. It underscored the need to tailor medical devices to local anatomical variations, supporting advancements in biomechanical modeling and medical research.

Characterization of Etiology and Pattern of Dental Extraction among Patients Presenting to Dental Department of a Tertiary Care Centre: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: Dental extraction is a common curative treatment against pain provided to the patients. A limited number of scientific literature are available that characterizes the reasons for teeth extractions in Nepalese population. The aim of this study is to find out the causes for dental extraction in patients and explore the relationships between demographic variables and loss of teeth in the Nepalese population.Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study performed to assess the predictors and reasons for permanent tooth extraction among the Nepalese patients who visited dental department in a tertiary health care center from 18th June 2022 to 17th June 2023. Ethical approval was obtained from the Institutional Review Committee (Approval No: 52/22). Demographic details were recorded, diagnosis established and the teeth in question were extracted. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed.Results: A total of 465 (42.66%) permanent teeth were extracted from the 1090 patients, out of which 198 (18.16%) were male and 267 (24.49%) were female patients between the age of 10 years to 70 years. Among all the participants, 726 (66.60%) patients were educated while 364 (33.40%) were uneducated, 165 (15.13%) extraction were done due to peridontal disease and 213 (19.54%) of extraction was done due to endodontic disease.Conclusions: Endodontic and periodontal diseases were the most common causes of dental extraction. Permanent molars and incisors were extracted the most.

Effect of Abdominal Girth and Vertebral Column Length in Spread of Spinal Anesthesia for Lower Limb Surgery: A Prospective Study

Background: Subarachnoid spread of local anesthetics is quite erratic and is determined by several factors. There is a high predictive for the spread of spinal anaesthesia in terms of abdominal girth and vertebral column length. Our study is designed to determine the effect of abdominal girth and vertebral column length with cephalad spread of spinal anaesthesia for a given dose of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine in Nepalese patients. Materials and Methods: In this prospective observational study, a total 100 patients of ASA PS I-II, aged16-65 years and undergoing lower extremity surgery under spinal anesthesia were enrolled. 2.8 mL of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine was injected intrathecally at L3-4 interspace in sitting position. Extent of sensory blockade was assessed for 60 min. Simple linear regression, multiple linear regression and Pearson’s correlation coefficient analysis were performed to determine the correlation between patient variables viz abdominal girth, vertebral column length, height, weight, body mass index and age and maximum sensory block height. Results: Abdominal girth and vertebral column length correlated significantly with the maximal sensory block height after intrathecal administration of a fixed dose of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine by all the three statistical tools used. Conclusion: Abdominal girth and vertebral column lengthcorrelate significantly with the maximal sensory block height in Nepalese patients receiving a fixed dose subarachnoid block with 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine

Chronic Kidney Disease in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Nepal

Introduction: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an increasingly recognized major public health problem globally and in Nepal. It has a high prevalence in the population and is associated with high morbidity, mortality and health care costs. Here, we aimed to study the socio-demographic profiles, etiologies of CKD and associated co-morbidities in patients attending a referral hospital. Methods: We conducted a hospital based, descriptive, observational, cross-sectional study among adult patients with CKD attending Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH), Kathmandu. Patients younger than 16 years and renal allograft recipients were excluded from the study. A diagnosis of CKD was established by the treating nephrologist based on KDIGO 2012 clinical practice guideline. Prior informed consent was taken. Data was collected on clinical features, socio-demographic profiles, major co-morbidities, presumed etiology of CKD and hematological and biochemical parameters of the patients. SPSS version 24 (Chicago, IL, USA) was used for the analysis of data. The study protocol was approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of Institute of Medicine (IOM). Results: A total of 401 patients with CKD were included in the study. The mean age of the patient was 50.92 years (SD=17.98), male to female ratio was 1.8:1. Among these patients, 86% were Hindu, 24.4% were farmers, 57% were from the Hilly region of Nepal, 51% were active smokers, and 51.6% were alcohol consumers. Chronic glomerulonephritis (CGN) (36.2%; n= 145), diabetes mellitus (31.9%; n= 128) and hypertension (21.7%; n=87) were the three most common identified causes of CKD. Among the biopsy proven CGN patients, IgA nephropathy was the most common cause. In a large proportion of patients (68.3%) cause of CGN was not known. Most of the patients were in CKD stage 5 (27%), and stage 5D (55.8%). Coronary artery disease (CAD) (in 7% patients), heart failure (in 2.7%) and stroke (in 2.2%) were the most common comorbidities. Anemia was prevalent in CKD from stage 3 onwards, the severity increased with increasing stage (p <0.001). Hemodialysis was the predominant mode of renal replacement therapy (RRT) used by 98.2% of CKD 5D patients. Conclusion: Nepalese patients of CKD are younger; males are more affected than females. CGN, diabetes and hypertension are three most common causes of CKD; IgA nephropathy is the most common cause of biopsy proven CGN leading to CKD. Anemia is common from CKD stage 3 onwards. The most common associated co-morbidity is CAD.

Epigenetic differences in the tumor suppressor genes MLH1 and p16INK4a between Nepalese and Swedish patients with colorectal cancer

Abstract Objectives Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most prevalent cancer types worldwide, exhibiting significant variance in incidence rates across different ethnicities and geographical regions. Notably, there is a rising incidence of CRC among younger adults, particularly evident in advanced stages, with a more pronounced trend observed in developing nations. Epigenetic alterations potentially play a role in the early onset of CRC and could elucidate interpopulation disparities. This study aimed to examine DNA methylation levels in the tumor suppressor genes MLH1 and p16INK4a, comparing Nepalese and Swedish patients with CRC. Methods Patients who underwent CRC surgery at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Nepal (n=39), and Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Sweden (n=39) were included. Demographic and clinicopathological data were analyzed, and pyrosequencing was employed to determine methylation levels in the MLH1 promoter region and the first exon of p16INK4a in tumor tissues and adjacent mucosa located 10 cm from the tumor site. Subsequently, methylation status was compared between Nepalese and Swedish patients and correlated with clinicopathological parameters. Results Nepalese and Swedish patients displayed equal levels of MLH1 and p16INK4a methylation in tumors, but Nepalese patients exhibited a significantly higher level of MLH1 methylation in mucosa compared to Swedish patients (p=0.0008). Moreover, a greater proportion of Nepalese patients showed MLH1 methylation in mucosa compared to Swedish patients (31 vs. 2.6 %). Aberrant methylation of p16INK4a was also observed in the mucosa of Nepalese patients, characterized by high methylation at specific sites rather than uniform methylation across CpG sites. There were no significant differences in methylation levels based on tumor location among Nepalese patients, whereas Swedish patients exhibited higher methylation in right- compared to left-sided colon tumors. Swedish patients showed an increase in p16INK4a methylation in tumors with advancing age. Conclusions Nepalese and Swedish patients displayed equal levels of MLH1 and p16INK4a methylation in tumors. In contrast, Nepalese patients had a higher level of MLH1 methylation as well as aberrant methylation of p16INK4a in mucosa compared to Swedish patients. These epigenetic differences may be linked to environmental and lifestyle factors. Ongoing research will further explore whether hypermethylation in the mucosa of Nepalese patients is associated with tumorigenesis and its potential utility in screening high-risk patients or predicting recurrence.

Cutaneous Lymphoma in a Tertiary Skin Hospital and Referral Centre in Nepal.

Primary cutaneous lymphomas are a distinct group of rare lymphoid neoplasms with absence of extracutaneous lymphomas at the time of presentation. They are rare in Nepal and no data on cutaneous lymphoma have been published from this country till date. This retrospective study included 15 cases of cutaneous lymphomas retrieved from the records of department of Dermatopathology, DI Skin Hospital and Referral Centre, Bansbari, Kathmandu, Nepal. Patients were diagnosed according to the current WHO classification for cutaneous lymphoma. A total of 15 cases were studied with median age of 45 years (range: 22 to 81 years) and male to female ratio of 1.5:1. Primary cutaneous lymphomas constituted 13 cases out of 15 and the most common type of cutaneous lymphoma was mycosis fungoides and variants 5 (33%), followed by CD30 positive primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma constituting 2 (13%). T-cell cutaneous lymphoma constituted 13 (87%) and B-cell cutaneous lymphoma 2 (13%). Cutaneous T-cell lymphomas were more frequent than cutaneous B-cell lymphomas in Nepalese patients. Mycosis fungoides and variants are commonest type of primary cutaneous lymphomas.

Incidental Serous Tubal Intraepithelial Carcinoma Finding in a Nepalese Patient Undergoing Opportunistic Salpingectomy and the Discovery of a BRCA1 Pathogenic Variant

BACKGROUND: Serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma lesions are the precursor to high-grade serous ovarian carcinomas, which have the highest mortality rate among gynecologic malignancies. In women diagnosed with high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma, 20% of the carcinomas are found to be secondary to hereditary causes, with the majority being associated with germline pathogenic variants in BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. Patients with a pathogenic variant are at high risk for developing high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma, so it is recommended that they undergo risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy in their 30s–40s. Opportunistic salpingectomy is the only ovarian cancer prevention method available for patients at average risk. Although serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma lesions are rare in women at average risk, studies quote incidental serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma lesion findings in 1–7% of patients undergoing opportunistic salpingectomy. CASE: A 38-year-old woman, gravida 2 para 2, of Nepalese ethnicity had an incidental finding of a serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma lesion at the time of opportunistic salpingectomy for permanent sterilization at cesarean delivery. The serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma lesion was found with representative sampling of the fallopian tubes because the patient was considered to be at average risk for ovarian cancer. This method is much less sensitive than the Sectioning and Extensively Examining the Fimbriated End (SEE-FIM) protocol, which is used with women known to be at high risk. This ultimately led to discovery of a BRCA1 mutation in the patient. CONCLUSION: The SEE-FIM protocol is used to identify serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma lesions, but it is not routinely used on fallopian tubes of patients at average risk. Using the SEE-FIM protocol would lead to fewer missed serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma lesions, but it is unclear how much extra cost and effort would be required to implement this protocol. There are knowledge gaps when it comes to understudied populations and hereditary breast and ovarian cancer gene prevalence. Studies show that current BRCA prediction models underestimate hereditary breast and ovarian cancer gene prevalence in Asian populations. Diagnosing serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma lesions in understudied populations could lead to the discovery of a hereditary breast and ovarian cancer pathogenic variant that the patient may not have discovered until after a cancer diagnosis. Identification of a serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma in a patient at average risk should lead to a referral for genetic counseling and screening.

Drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis among Nepalese patients at a tuberculosis referral center.

Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), characterized by isoniazid and rifampicin resistance, is caused by chromosomal mutations that restrict treatment options and complicate tuberculosis management. This study sought to investigate the prevalence of pre-extensively drug-resistant (pre-XDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) tuberculosis, as well as mutation pattern, in Nepalese patients with MDR/rifampicin-resistant (RR)-TB strains. A cross-sectional study was conducted on MDR/RR-TB patients at the German Nepal Tuberculosis Project from June 2017 to June 2018. The MTBDRsl line probe assay identified pre-XDR-TB and XDR-TB. Pre-XDR-TB included MDR/RR-TB with resistance to any fluoroquinolone (FLQ), while XDR-TB included MDR/RR-TB with resistance to any FLQ and at least one additional group A drug. Mutation status was determined by comparing bands on reaction zones [gyrA and gyrB for FLQ resistance, rrs for SILD resistance, and eis for low-level kanamycin resistance, according to the GenoType MTBDRsl VER 2.0, Hain Lifescience GmbH, Nehren, Germany definition of pre-XDR and XDR] to the evaluation sheet. SPSS version 17.0 was used for data analysis. Out of a total of 171 patients with MDR/RR-TB, 160 had (93.57%) had MTBC, of whom 57 (35.63%) had pre-XDR-TB and 10 (6.25%) had XDR-TB. Among the pre-XDR-TB strains, 56 (98.25%) were FLQ resistant, while 1 (1.75%) was SLID resistant. The most frequent mutations were found at codons MUT3C (57.14%, 32/56) and MUT1 (23.21%, 13/56) of the gyrA gene. One patient had SLID resistant genotype at the MUT1 codon of the rrs gene (100%, 1/1). XDR-TB mutation bands were mostly detected on MUT1 (30%, 3/10) of the gyrA and rrs, MUT3C (30%, 3/10) of the gyrA, and MUT1 (30%, 3/10) of the rrs. Pre-XDR-TB had a significantly higher likelihood than XDR-TB, with different specific mutation bands present in gyrA and rrs genes.

Translation and validation of Bristol Female lower urinary tract symptoms (BFLUTS) questionnaire for Nepali speaking women.

Translation and validation of Bristol Female lower urinary tract symptoms (BFLUTS) questionnaire for Nepali speaking women Introduction: Bristol female lower urinary tract symptoms questionnaire (BFLUTS) was designed to identify the lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in women. It aids in determining the severity of lower urinary tract symptoms and how they affect sexual function and quality of life.It can be employed in research and therapeutic practice. It is not available in Nepali version. As a result, our goal is to translate and validate the BFLUTS questionnaire in Nepali. The BFLUTS questionnaire has been translated into Nepali. From March 1, 2020 to February 28, 2021, 225 Nepalese patients with lower urinary tract symptoms were evaluated using a Nepali version of the BFLUTS questionnaire adapted from the English version. Internal consistency, test-retest reliability, validity, and change responsiveness were all assessed. A total of 225 patients were enrolled in the study. The missing data was less than 2%. The Nepali version of the BFLUTS questionnaire showed good reliability (? = 0.76; ICC= 0.934). Test-retest reliability was assessed with weighted kappa (?) ranging from 0.71 to 0.83.It showed good sensitive to change before and after the treatment. Mean BFLUTS scores correlated strongly with the symptomsof lower urinary tract symptoms reported in the bladder diary with ? ranging from 0.689to 0.859. The Nepali version of BFLUTS questionnaire is a reliable, valid and consistent for measuring lower urinary tract symptoms and their effect on sexual function and quality of life.

Evaluation of variations of optic nerve course in relation to posterior paranasal sinuses in MDCT in a tertiary care center of Nepal: a retrospective cross-section study.

The proximity of optic nerves to the posterior paranasal sinuses (PNS) is a critical consideration in preventing optic nerve injuries during functional endoscopic sinus surgery. A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted on 367 patients aged 13 years and above. Four radiologists, each with 2-6 years of experience, evaluated computed tomography scans of the PNS and the head of these patients. The optic nerves were classified into four types based on DeLano's classification, and their respective prevalence rates were determined. Additionally, the prevalence of optic nerve dehiscence and pneumatization of the anterior clinoid process was assessed. A total of 734 optic nerves were evaluated and categorized into four groups as per DeLano's classification. The most common type was classified as type 1 optic nerve, representing 65.4% of all optic nerves. Types 2, 3, and 4 optic nerves accounted for 16.9, 8.6, and 9.1%, respectively. The prevalence rates of type 1, type 2, type 3, and type 4 optic nerves were 76.6, 24.5, 12.3, and 14.4%, respectively. Optic nerve dehiscence was observed in 14.3% of cases, with a prevalence of 21.2% in the study. Type 3 optic nerves were most commonly associated with dehiscence, with 49.2% of them showing dehiscence in their course through the ethmoid or sphenoid sinus. The prevalence of pneumatization of the anterior clinoid process in the study population was 28.3%, with type 3 optic nerves being the most frequently associated. An understanding of the relationship between optic nerves and posterior PNS, as well as awareness of optic nerve dehiscence, is essential in preventing injuries during sinus surgeries. Type 1 optic nerve predominates among Nepalese patients visiting our hospital.

Prevalence and predictors of postcholecystectomy syndrome in Nepalese patients after 1 week of laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a cross-sectional study

Postcholecystectomy syndrome (PCS) is persistent distressing symptoms which develops following a laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC); in cases when the condition is severe, readmission may be necessary. However, research on the prevalence of PCS and potential factors associated with PCS in Nepalese patients is still limited. An observational point-prevalence, correlational predictive cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence of PCS and examine what predicting factors including preoperative anxiety, preoperative dyspepsia, smoking, alcohol consumption, and duration of preoperative symptoms are associated with PCS. A total of 127 eligible Nepalese patients who came for follow-up after 1 week of LC at outpatient department of surgery in one single university hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal, were recruited. A set of questionnaires consisting participants' information record form, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Leeds Dyspepsia Questionnaires (LDQ), Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND), and Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT) was administered for data collection. The associations between influential factors and PCS were analyzed using Binary logistic regression. 43.3% of participants reported PCS after 1 week of surgery. The findings from logistic regression analysis affirmed that the patients with preoperative anxiety (OR = 6.38, 95%CI = 2.07–19.67, p < 0.01) and moderate to severe dyspepsia (OR = 4.01, 95%CI = 1.34–12.02, p < 0.05) held the likelihood to report PCS 6.38 and 4.01 times, respectively, greater than others. The implications from study results are that screening of anxiety and patients’ tailored interventions to reduce anxiety should be implemented preoperatively. An appropriate health education about persistence of PCS and self-management should be provided to those postoperative patients.

Designing and Developing a Mobile App for Management and Treatment of Gestational Diabetes in Nepal: User-Centered Design Study.

Mobile apps can aid with the management of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) by providing patient education, reinforcing regular blood glucose monitoring and diet/lifestyle modification, and facilitating clinical and social support. This study aimed to describe our process of designing and developing a culturally tailored app, Garbhakalin Diabetes athawa Madhumeha-Dhulikhel Hospital (GDM-DH), to support GDM management among Nepalese patients by applying a user-centered design approach. A multidisciplinary team of experts, as well as health care providers and patients in Dhulikhel Hospital (Dhulikhel, Nepal), contributed to the development of the GDM-DH app. After finalizing the app's content and features, we created the app's wireframe, which illustrated the app's proposed interface, navigation sequences, and features and function. Feedback was solicited on the wireframe via key informant interviews with health care providers (n=5) and a focus group and in-depth interviews with patients with GDM (n=12). Incorporating their input, we built a minimum viable product, which was then user-tested with 18 patients with GDM and further refined to obtain the final version of the GDM-DH app. Participants in the focus group and interviews unanimously concurred on the utility and relevance of the proposed mobile app for patients with GDM, offering additional insight into essential modifications and additions to the app's features and content (eg, inclusion of example meal plans and exercise videos).The mean age of patients in the usability testing (n=18) was 28.8 (SD 3.3) years, with a mean gestational age of 27.2 (SD 3.0) weeks. The mean usability score across the 10 tasks was 3.50 (SD 0.55; maximum score=5 for "very easy"); task completion rates ranged from 55.6% (n=10) to 94.4% (n=17). Findings from the usability testing were reviewed to further optimize the GDM-DH app (eg, improving data visualization). Consistent with social cognitive theory, the final version of the GDM-DH app supports GDM self-management by providing health education and allowing patients to record and self-monitor blood glucose, blood pressure, carbohydrate intake, physical activity, and gestational weight gain. The app uses innovative features to minimize the self-monitoring burden, as well as automatic feedback and data visualization. The app also includes a social network "follow" feature to add friends and family and give them permission to view logged data and a progress summary. Health care providers can use the web-based admin portal of the GDM-DH app to enter/review glucose levels and other clinical measures, track patient progress, and guide treatment and counseling accordingly. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first mobile health platform for GDM developed for a low-income country and the first one containing a social support feature. A pilot clinical trial is currently underway to explore the clinical utility of the GDM-DH app.

Adherence to Periodic Dilated Eye Examinations and Its Determinants Among Nepalese Patients With Diagnosed Diabetes: A Single-Center Hospital-Based Analysis Using Health Belief Model.

Introduction: To find the adherence rate to periodic dilated eye examinations (DEEs) and its determinants among patients with diagnosed diabetes. Research Design and Methods: In this cross-sectional study of 165 participants with diagnosed diabetes (Type 1/2) attending a general hospital with a diabetes clinic, we explored perceptions of barriers and facilitators of DEE at the individual level using a framework adapted from the health belief model (HBM). Patients were compared using t tests for continuous data and chi-square tests for categorical data. Results: The rate of adherence to DEE (as defined by DEE within a year) was 62.4% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 55.0%-69.8%). The mean age of the patients was 56.81 (±13.29) years. We found that the mean benefit score was significantly higher, and the mean barrier score was significantly lower in those adhering to DEE (p < 0.001); but the susceptibility, severity, and self-efficacy scores were not significantly different. Furthermore, those under treatment for diabetes mellitus (DM), those with diabetic retinopathy (DR) in them or their family member, and those with DM duration of 1 year or less were significantly likely to adhere to DEE (p < 0.005). Additionally, those who had received advice for eye screening from their physicians were about 25 times more likely to adhere to DEE (95% CI =6.80-92.05) than those who were not advised. Conclusion: A larger proportion of people with diabetes did not adhere to periodic DEE. Benefits and barriers were found to be determinants in this population. Further exploration in a larger population and the use of HBM to increase adherence to periodic DEE can be tested by targeting behavioral counseling along with other traditional approaches.

Bronchiectasis-COPD Overlap Syndrome (BCOS) among the Nepalese Patients: Emerging disease from a developing country

Background and objective: There is no clearly specified diagnostic criteria to identify BCOS in Nepalese context. So this first, observational cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the current situation, main clinical practices, and features of BCOS in Nepalese patients, exploring its clinical trajectory and severity. Methods: This is a hospital based descriptive cross-sectional study conducted, where patients presenting with respiratory symptoms complex were subsequently enrolled by purposive sampling. Descriptive Statistics was calculated using Absolute and Relative Frequencies for categorical variables and mean and standard deviation for numerical ones. P-value of &lt;0.05 was considered significant. Results: Out of 236 patients of Respiratory Symptoms Complex, prevalence of BCOS was 22.03%. 57.7% were males with mean age of 67.8 years. Among BCOS cohorts, 92.3% were smokers and 73 % had significant exposure to indoor air pollution. 63.5% of the patients had past history of tuberculosis and cardio-metabolic co-morbidities were seen in 34.6% of the patients. The most frequent symptoms were cough and shortness of breath and the commonest sign was bilateral basal coarse crackles. Frequent exacerbations were present in 25% of the patients and PFT revealed obstructive pattern in 71% of the BCOS patients with a mean FACED score of 3.94±1.62. Conclusion: Among the patients presenting with Respiratory symptom complex in Nepal, BCOS is common and is more prevalent in elderly male, having a high co-morbidities, usually following a course of slowly progressive breathlessness, with higher incidence of exacerbation and poorer functional outcome.

Sleep problems in Nepalese patients with Parkinson's disease

Sleep problems in Nepalese patients with Parkinson's disease

Metabolic Signature and Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Nepalese Patients

Introduction: Untreated Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) causes sleep related symptoms and also causes increased incidence of RTA, cardiovascular diseases and all cause mortality. Currently OSA has been recognized as the consequence of number of interrelated metabolic and oxidative pathologies. As there are limited data of association of OSA with metabolic stress and its correlation with severity of OSA, study of metabolic profile of these patients in view of defining the Metabolic signature of OSA was carried out in eastern Nepal.&#x0D; Objectives: To study metabolic profile of OSA and its association with clinical severity. Methods: Hospital based descriptive cross sectional study. Biochemical profile results related to metabolic –oxidative pathway of the OSA patients were obtained. Quantitative and qualitative data were obtained. Quantitative data were compared using Mann–Whitney test while qualitative variables compared using Pearson χ2. Correlation was carried out using Pearson and Spearman’s test. P-value&lt;0.05 considered significant.&#x0D; Results: 33 patients of OSA were enrolled. Majority of patients had deranged metabolic and oxidative parameters despite mild OSA. Among metabolic stress parameters, most commonly deranged were decreased high density lipoprotein (HDL), increased mean arterial pressure (MAP), waist circumference (WC) and raised fasting blood sugar (FBS). Increased MAP and increased WC was significantly corelated with severity.&#x0D; Conclusion: Besides symptom complex, OSA is also harbinger of metabolic stress that can lead to various cardiometabolic diseases and premature mortality thus early recognition and treatment can mitigate these consequences.

Vision related quality of life among Nepalese patients with keratoconus

Introduction: Keratoconus (KC) is a bilateral progressive noninflammatory disorder characterized by irregular astigmatism and corneal thinning. KC results in a disproportionate impact on major aspects of quality of life (QoL) of a person due to its early onset and chronic nature. This study aims to evaluate vision-related QoL in Nepalese patients with KC. Method: A cross-sectional hospital-based study was carried out for 1 year. A sample of 35 KC subjects and 38 control subjects who met the eligibility criteria were enrolled. All subjects underwent corneal topography and abberometry along with a comprehensive eye examination. Both cases and controls completed the NEI VFQ 25 questionnaire. Visual acuity (high contrast visual acuity and LCVA), CS, color vision, refraction, and scores of all subscales of QoL were measured. The QoL scores were correlated with each of the visual function parameters in KC subjects. Result: The mean scores of all of the subscales of QoL were found significantly less in the KC group than in age and sex matched control group with P&lt;0.001 The mean composite score was found to reduce significantly as the grade of KC increased. The mean composite score for grade 1 KC was 70.79±7.96, grade 2 KC was 60.56±6.49 and for grade 3 KC was 55.99±0.67 with P=0.001 about better eye. There was a highly significant difference in the mean composite score of QoL between these contact lens wearers and spectacle wearers. The mean composite score for spectacle wearer was 67.86±07.99 and that of contact lens wearer was 58.63±04.26 with P=0.004. Conclusion: This study concluded that the QoL of keratoconic individuals was found to reduce gradually as the severity of the disease increased. QoL score in contact lens-wearing Nepalese KC patients is worse than spectacle wearers. By stopping the progression of disease we can maintain functional vision as well as a vision-related QoL. Our study findings suggested that vision and visual function parameters in the better eye is the most important parameter affecting VR-QOL of patients with KC. KC patients should maintain the best vision that they can have.

A Comparison of the Spot Urine Protein-Creatinine Ratio with 24-h Urinary Protein for Quantification of Proteinuria: A Hospital-based Cross-sectional Study.

Quantifying the amount of proteinuria is mandatory in various disease conditions. The aim of this study was to study whether the spot urine protein-creatinine ratio (P-CR) correlates well with 24-h urinary total protein (UTP). The research hypothesis was that spot urine P-CR would correlate well with 24-h UTP. This was a cross-sectional, single-center study conducted in a tertiary care hospital. The spot urinary P-CR and 24-h urinary protein were determined from 70 patients with persistent glomerular proteinuria. This study included Nepalese patients aged 2-83 years, with a mean age of 36.56 years (standard deviation: 20.78). The number of males was slightly higher than females, and the male-female ratio was 1.26:1. Hypertension was present in 44.3% of patients, diabetes was present in 20% of patients, 74.3% of patients were suffering from acute glomerulonephritis with various causes, and 12.9% of patients had chronic kidney disease. A linear relationship existed between the spot urine P-CR and the 24-h UTP, with a correlation coefficient of 0.877 (P <0.01). The correlation was suboptimal at higher levels of protein excretion (>3.5 g/day). Random spot urine P-CR correlated well with the 24-h UTP, particularly at lower levels of protein excretion.