Intestinal parasitic infection among the HIV-infected patients in Nepal.

Introduction: Intestinal parasitic infection has been a significant problem in HIV patients, worldwide. In this study, we aimed to measure the prevalence and identify the factors associated with intestinal parasitic infection in people infected with HIV and attending National Public Health Laboratory in Kathmandu, Nepal, for CD4 T-cell count.

Methodology: An analytical cross-sectional study in 745 HIV-infected people attending for CD4 T-cell count was conducted.

Improvement in immunological parameters in patients receiving highly active anti-retroviral therapy in Nepal.

Highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) has been freely available in Nepal since 2004. In the present longitudinal study, we followed two distinct cohorts of human immunodeficiency virus-infected participants, those receiving HAART and those under assessment of eligibility for HAART, during the period 2005-2007 in Kathmandu, Nepal. The median change in CD4+ T-cell count among participants receiving HAART after 12 months of the initiation of therapy was +118 T cells/μl (95% confidence interval [CI], +91 to +145 T cells/μl) and that among participants under assessment of eligibility for HAART was -74 T cells/μl (95% CI, -103 to -44 cells/μl).

Significance of adenosine deaminase in diagnosing tuberculous pleural effusion.

Tuberculosis (TB) is a major public health problem in developing countries including Nepal. One of the common presentations of TB is pleural effusion. The diagnosis of tubercular pleural effusion can be difficult because of the low rate of detecting tubercule bacilli by direct stain and culture of pleural fluid for acid-fast bacilli (AFB).

Dengue virus and Japanese encephalitis virus epidemiological shifts in Nepal: a case of opposing trends.

We report on the changing epidemiology of two important flaviviruses in Nepal: Japanese encephalitis (JE) and dengue viruses. Morbidity and mortality in Nepal is in the thousands since JE was introduced in 1978. Nepal launched an extensive laboratory-based JE surveillance in 2004.

Primary spinal chondrosarcoma: radiological manifestations with histopathological correlation in eight patients and literature review.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to delineate radiological-pathological correlation in primary vertebral chondrosarcoma.

Methods: Eight histopathologically confirmed cases were analyzed for pathological and radiological characteristics.

Results: Magnetic resonance images of three conventional and one clear cell cases showed lobulated or irregular masses with line or septa enhancement.

(1)H magnetic resonance spectroscopy and diffusion weighted imaging findings of medulloblastoma in 3.0T MRI: A retrospective analysis of 17 cases.

(1)H magnetic resonance spectroscopy and diffusion weighted imaging features of the cerebellar vermis in 17 medulloblastoma patients were retrospectively analyzed, and 17 healthy volunteers were selected as controls. (1)H magnetic resonance spectroscopy showed that in all 17 medulloblastoma patients, N-acetyl aspartate and creatine peaks were significantly decreased, the choline peak was significantly increased, and there was evidence of a myo-inositol peak. Further, 11 patients showed a low taurine peak at 3.

Factors associated with high prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis in HIV-infected people visiting for assessment of eligibility for highly active antiretroviral therapy in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Background: Tuberculosis is the leading cause of deaths among HIV patients. In this study, we estimated the prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) and identified the factors/co-morbidities associated with active PTB in HIV-infected people visiting the national public health laboratory to assess their eligibility to receive highly active antiretroviral therapy.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to measure the prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis.

Co-infection rate of HIV, HBV and Syphilis among HCV seropositive identified blood donors in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Background: HIV, HBV, Syphilis and HCV share common modes of transmission.

Objective: The study was aimed to determine the co-infection rate of HIV, HBV and Syphilis among HCV seropositive identified blood donors.

Methods: The study was conducted on blood samples screened as HCV seropositive at Nepal Red Cross Society, Central Blood Transfusion Service, Kathmandu, Nepal.

Primary retroperitoneal malignant melanoma: A case report.

Primary malignant melanoma occurring at an extra cutaneous site is rare. A case of primary malignant melanoma located in the retroperitoneum of an 18-year-old female is presented in this study. Histopathological examination of the tissue biopsies at laparotomy with immunohistochemical stains confirmed a diagnosis of malignant melanoma.

Study of rifampicin and isoniazid resistance mutation genes of M. tuberculosis isolates in Nepal.

We studied the rifampicin (RIF) and isoniazid (INH) resistant genes in Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolated from sputum samples of re-treated TB cases using phenotypic drug susceptibility test (DST) and rapid molecular method (Genotype; MTBDR plus, Hains Life Science, Nehren, Germany). Of the total 207 isolates included in this study, 90 (42.0%) were RIF resistant, 107 (50.

Primary pulmonary cryptococcosis: evaluation of CT characteristics in 26 immunocompetent Chinese patients.

Background: Discrepancies still exist in the diagnosis of primary pulmonary cryptococcosis in immunocompetent patients.

Purpose: To describe and evaluate radiological manifestations of pulmonary cryptococcosis in immunocompetent patients.

Material And Methods: Twenty-six histopathologically confirmed cases of pulmonary cryptococcosis were analyzed for clinical, pathological, and CT characteristics.

Incidence of incidental carcinoma gall bladder in cases of routine cholecystectomy.

Background: Carcinoma of gall bladder is the most common malignancy of the billiary tract. Most of the cases are diagnosed as an incidental case among patients undergoing cholecystectomy.

Objectives: To establish the rate of incidental carcinoma of gall bladder in patients undergoing routine cholecystectomy to study the demographic profile and prognosis of these patients.

Magnetic resonance imaging characteristics of primary intraspinal peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumour.

Purpose: The purpose of our study was to describe the salient magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in primary intraspinal peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumour (PNET).

Methods: A retrospective review of the clinical and MRI images of 7 pathologically proven cases of intraspinal peripheral PNETs was performed. The various parameters, such as vertebral level of involvement; tumour location, size, focality, and margin; signal intensity of the lesion; the presence of hemorrhage or calcification; any signal voids; assessment of the adjacent cord for cord compression; cord dilatation; the presence of paraspinal tissue mass; or vertebral or other bony changes, were analysed.

CT features of peripheral T-cell lymphoma in the gastrointestinal tract in Chinese population and literature review.

Introduction: The aim of the study was to retrospectively investigate the CT features in peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) of the gastrointestinal tract in the Chinese population.

Methods: Computed tomography scans of 15 histopathologically proven cases of PTCL involving the gastrointestinal tract were retrospectively reviewed for characteristics such as sites, multiplicity, morphological features, the pattern and degree of contrast enhancement, lymphadenopathy, involvement of other organs and complications such as perforation, intussusceptions, ascites and so on. By reviewing the literature, CT findings of PTCL involving the gastrointestinal tract were compared with that involved by B-cell lymphoma.

Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio as a predictor of worsening renal function in diabetic patients (3-year follow-up study).

Background: Previous studies have demonstrated the role of inflammation in diabetic nephropathy (DN). Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) rather than other white cell parameters was found to be a useful inflammatory marker to predict adverse outcomes in medical and surgical conditions. Nevertheless, the value of NLR in predicting DN has not been elucidated.

Pulmonary cryptococcosis and tuberculoma mimicking primary and metastatic lung cancer in 18F-FDG PET/CT.

18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) has been widely incorporated in cancer management. Although, it has increased sensitivity, 18F-FDG is not tissue specific thus posing diagnostic dilemma in certain situations. False positivity in pulmonary nodules have been seen in various inflammatory, infective as well as post operative conditions while false negativity is common with adenomas, low grade lymphomas, bronchoalveolar carcinomas and carcinoid tumors.

Rare synchronous primary large B-cell gastric lymphoma and huge retroperitoneal liposarcoma with inguinal hernia in chronic hepatitis B patient.

Multiple primary neoplasms with synchronous or metachronous presentation are rare, although the incidence has recently increased because of several factors. We present the case of a 53-year-old patient with chronic hepatitis B who presented with abdominal mass, mild abdominal pain, and inguinal hernia. Computed tomography imaging demonstrated diffuse thickening of the gastric antral wall, together with a huge heterogeneous abdominal mass with predominant fat attenuation with septa that showed mild enhancement on contrast-enhanced scans.

The impact of reporting estimated glomerular filtration rate.

The 'Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative' guidelines recommend laboratory reporting of a calculated estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). The United Kingdom and several states already mandate reporting eGFR for every laboratory serum creatinine (sCr) measurement. In our study, we evaluated the impact of reporting eGFR on the management of hospitalized patients.

Primary gastrointestinal lymphoma.

Gastrointestinal tract is the most common extranodal site involved by lymphoma with the majority being non-Hodgkin type. Although lymphoma can involve any part of the gastrointestinal tract, the most frequent sites in order of its occurrence are the stomach followed by small intestine and ileocecal region. Gastrointestinal tract lymphoma is usually secondary to the widespread nodal diseases and primary gastrointestinal tract lymphoma is relatively rare.

Spigelian hernia.

A Spigelian hernia (or lateral ventral hernia) is a hernia through the spigelian fascia, which is the aponeurotic layer between the rectus abdominis muscle medially, and the semilunar line laterally. So far, about 1000 cases have been reported worldwide. These hernias are difficult to diagnose as they do not present with a subcutaneous swelling and have high risk of going for strangulation.

Epidemiology of malaria in two Eastern districts of Nepal.

Backgrounds: Malaria is one of the major public health problems in Southeast Asia including Nepal having relatively high burden of malaria. Jhapa and Morang districts are malaria endemic plain area of South-eastern part of Nepal.

Objectives: The evaluate the recent epidemiology of malaria situation in Jhapa and Morang districts, which are the districts in eastern Nepal with high transmission of malaria and to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices of the people in prevention and treatment for malaria infection.

Cardiac tamponade in acute pancreatitis.

A 47-year-old man presented with severe acute pancreatitis. On hospitalisation day 8, the patient became hypotensive and developed new-onset atrial fibrillation. Echocardiography showed significant pericardial effusion with right ventricular collapse.

Primary esophageal lymphoma in immunocompetent patients: Two case reports and literature review.

Primary lymphoma that involves the esophagus is very rare, with fewer than 30 cases reported in the English-language literature. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma accounts for most of the cases. Esophageal lymphomas have varied radiological appearances, which poses diagnostic difficulty.

Seroprevalence of HBV and HCV in blood donors: A study from regional blood transfusion services of Nepal.

Background And Objective: Hepatitis B and hepatitis C are significant health problems that might involve the late sequel of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. A high prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) in blood donors poses an increased risk of window period transmission through blood transfusion. The present study aimed to know the seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) among blood donors in regional blood transfusion services of Nepal.