Prevalence, pattern and risk factors of retinal vein occlusion in an elderly population in Nepal: the Bhaktapur retina study.

Background: This study aims to explore the prevalence, pattern and risk factors of retinal vein occlusion (RVO) in an elderly population of Nepal.

Method: One thousand eight hundred sixty subjects of age 60 years and above were enrolled in a population-based, cross-sectional study. Detailed history, visual acuity, anterior segment and posterior segment examinations were done.

Environmental application of biochar: Current status and perspectives.

In recent years, there has been a significant interest on biochar for various environmental applications, e.g., pollutants removal, carbon sequestration, and soil amelioration.

Refractive Status in Nepalese Pre-Term and Full-Term Infants Early in Life.

Significance: This study suggests that pre-term infants, even without retinopathy of prematurity, are at risk for abnormal refractive development and informs the need for close monitoring of refractive error in such infants, regardless of their retinopathy of prematurity status.

Purpose: The present study aims to investigate the refractive error trend in Nepalese pre-term infants without retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in the first 6 months of life and explore the association of refractive error with birth weight (BW) and gestational age (GA).

Methods: Thirty-six pre-term infants without ROP and 40 full-term infants underwent cycloplegic retinoscopy at birth, term (for pre-term only), 3 months, and 6 months chronologically.

Anaplasma phagocytophilum infection modulates expression of megakaryocyte cell cycle genes through phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase signaling.

Anaplasma phagocytophilum, the agent of human granulocytic anaplasmosis infects neutrophils and other cells from hematopoietic origin. Using human megakaryocytic cell line, MEG-01, we show that expression of cell cycle genes in these cells are altered upon A. phagocytophilum infection.

High-Risk Alphapapillomavirus Oncogenes Impair the Homologous Recombination Pathway.

Persistent high-risk genus human (HPV) infections cause nearly every cervical carcinoma and a subset of tumors in the oropharyngeal tract. During the decades required for HPV-associated tumorigenesis, the cellular genome becomes significantly destabilized. Our analysis of cervical tumors from four separate data sets found a significant upregulation of the homologous-recombination (HR) pathway genes.

Use of Healthcare Services by Patients with Non-Communicable Diseases in Nepal: A Qualitative Study with Healthcare Providers.

Introduction: The healthcare systems in many Low-and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) like Nepal have long focused on preventing and treating infectious diseases. Little is known about their preparedness to address the increasing prevalence of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs).

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the use of healthcare services by patients with NCDs in Nepal.

Progress Toward Measles Elimination - Bangladesh, 2000-2016.

In 2013, at the 66th session of the Regional Committee of the World Health Organization (WHO) South-East Asia Region (SEAR), a regional goal was established to eliminate measles and control rubella and congenital rubella syndrome* by 2020 (1). WHO-recommended measles elimination strategies in SEAR countries include 1) achieving and maintaining ≥95% coverage with 2 doses of measles-containing vaccine (MCV) in every district, delivered through the routine immunization program or through supplementary immunization activities (SIAs); 2) developing and sustaining a sensitive and timely measles case-based surveillance system that meets targets for recommended performance indicators; and 3) developing and maintaining an accredited measles laboratory network (2). In 2014, Bangladesh, one of 11 countries in SEAR, adopted a national goal for measles elimination by 2018 (2,3).

Evaluation of the yield, molar mass of exopolysaccharides, and rheological properties of gels formed during fermentation of milk by Streptococcus thermophilus strains St-143 and ST-10255y.

The yield and chemical structures of exopolysaccharides (EPS) produced by many strains of Streptococcus thermophilus have been characterized. However, the kinetics (or production profile) for EPS during milk fermentation is not clear. In this study, we investigated whether any differences existed in the yield and molar mass of EPS when milk was fermented at the same acidification rate by 2 strains of S.

Prevalence of and risk factors for age-related macular degeneration in Nepal: the Bhaktapur Retina Study.

Aim: This study aimed to explore the prevalence of and risk factors for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in an elderly population in Nepal.

Subjects And Methods: This is a population-based, cross-sectional study. A sample size of 2,100 was calculated.

Sulfamethoxazole degradation in anaerobic sulfate-reducing bacteria sludge system.

Sulfamethoxazole (SMX) is one of the most commonly used antibiotics. SMX degradation in sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) sludge systems has not been reported so far. This research investigated the SMX degradation using SRB sludge in a sulfate-reducing up-flow sludge bed reactor.

Histologic variation in high grade oral epithelial dysplasia when associated with high-risk human papillomavirus.

Objectives: Reported cytologic alterations associated with high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) in oral epithelial dysplasia (HPV-OED) need further characterization.

Study Design: Archival cases of high-grade oral epithelial dysplasia (hgOED) (N = 38) were assigned a cytologic score (CS) based on the average number of mitotic, karyorrhectic, and apoptotic cells per high-power field. Three groups were then generated on the basis of increasing CS: Focal (group 1, N = 14), Intermediate (group 2, N = 12), and Diffuse (group 3, N = 12).

Respiratory symptoms and illnesses related to the concentration of airborne particulate matter among brick kiln workers in Kathmandu valley, Nepal.

Background: Bricks have been manufactured in Nepal for hundreds of years and are seen as a component of Nepalese sculpture and architecture. Large quantities of hazardous materials including high concentrations of particulate matter are emitted on a daily basis from brick kilns. Exposure to these hazardous materials can lead to adverse consequences on the environment and human health.

High-dose versus weekly cisplatin definitive chemoradiotherapy for HPV-related oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

Objectives: To compare the outcomes and toxicity of high-dose cisplatin (HDC) versus weekly cisplatin (WC) definitive chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for patients with human papillomavirus (HPV) related oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCCOPx).

Methods: All patients with p16 positive SCCOPx treated with definitive CRT with cisplatin between 2010 and 2014 at a single institution were retrospectively reviewed. CTCAE v 4.

Removal of hydrogen sulfide generated during anaerobic treatment of sulfate-laden wastewater using biochar: Evaluation of efficiency and mechanisms.

Removal of hydrogen sulfide (HS) from biogas was investigated in a biochar column integrated with a bench-scale continuous-stirred tank reactor (CSTR) treating sulfate-laden wastewater. Synthetic wastewater containing sulfate concentrations of 200-2000mg SO/L was used as substrate, and the CSTR was operated at an organic loading rate of 1.5g chemical oxygen demand (COD)/L·day and a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 20days.

Impact of the roll out of comprehensive emergency obstetric care on institutional birth rate in rural Nepal.

Background: Increasing institutional births rates and improving access to comprehensive emergency obstetric care are central strategies for reducing maternal and neonatal deaths globally. While some studies show women consider service availability when determining where to deliver, the dynamics of how and why institutional birth rates change as comprehensive emergency obstetric care availability increases are unclear.

Methods: In this pre-post intervention study, we surveyed two exhaustive samples of postpartum women before and after comprehensive emergency obstetric care implementation at a hospital in rural Nepal.

Enhanced volatile fatty acids production during anaerobic digestion of lignocellulosic biomass via micro-oxygenation.

A series of batch experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of inoculum type, oxygen (O) dosage, and incubation time on volatile fatty acids (VFAs) production during anaerobic digestion (AD) of Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum), a high yielding energy crop. The results showed that anaerobically digested cattle manure (ADCM) as an inoculum generated significantly higher VFAs compared to that of anaerobically digested waste activated sludge (ADWAS) as an inoculum. Additionally, the incubation time of 3days and O dosage of 15mL/g volatile solids showed the highest VFAs production when ADCM was used as an inoculum.

SSR-enriched genetic linkage maps of bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon × transvaalensis), and their comparison with allied plant genomes.

We report SSR-enriched genetic maps of bermudagrass that: (1) reveal partial residual polysomic inheritance in the tetraploid species, and (2) provide insights into the evolution of chloridoid genomes. This study describes genetic linkage maps of two bermudagrass species, Cynodon dactylon (T89) and Cynodon transvaalensis (T574), that integrate heterologous microsatellite markers from sugarcane into frameworks built with single-dose restriction fragments (SDRFs). A maximum likelihood approach was used to construct two separate parental maps from a population of 110 F progeny of a cross between the two parents.

Airborne Particulate Matter and Health Condition in Brick Kiln Workers in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal.

Background Air quality monitoring in brick kilns indicates very high concentrations of airborne particulate matter. Air pollution from brick kilns poses an enhanced threat to the environment and to human health. Objective To evaluate airborne particulate matter concentration and health status of brick kiln workers.

Development of a Patient-Centred, Psychosocial Support Intervention for Multi-Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB) Care in Nepal.

Multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) poses a major threat to public health worldwide, particularly in low-income countries. The current long (20 month) and arduous treatment regime uses powerful drugs with side-effects that include mental ill-health. It has a high loss-to-follow-up (25%) and higher case fatality and lower cure-rates than those with drug sensitive tuberculosis (TB).

Magnesium incorporated chitosan based scaffolds for tissue engineering applications.

Chitosan based porous scaffolds are of great interest in biomedical applications especially in tissue engineering because of their excellent biocompatibility , controllable degradation rate and tailorable mechanical properties. This paper presents a study of the fabrication and characterization of bioactive scaffolds made of chitosan (CS), carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC) and magnesium gluconate (MgG). Scaffolds were fabricated by subsequent freezing-induced phase separation and lyophilization of polyelectrolyte complexes of CS, CMC and MgG.

Evaluation of the implementation of Get Healthy at Work, a workplace health promotion program in New South Wales, Australia.

Issue addressed Get Healthy at Work (GHaW) is a statewide program to reduce chronic disease risk among NSW workers by helping them make small changes to modifiable lifestyle chronic disease risk factors and create workplace environments that support healthy lifestyles. It has two primary components: a workplace health program (WHP) for businesses and online or face-to-face Brief Health Checks (BHCs) for workers. In this paper, we discuss our evaluation to identify areas for improvement in the implementation of WHP and to assess the uptake of BHCs by workers.

Musculoskeletal disease in Nepal: A countrywide cross-sectional survey on burden and surgical access.

Introduction: Musculoskeletal disease (MSD) is a major cause of disability in the global burden of disease, yet data regarding the magnitude of this burden in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) are lacking. The Surgeons OverSeas Assessment of Surgical Need (SOSAS) survey was designed to measure incidence and prevalence of surgically treatable conditions, including MSD, in patients in LMICs.

Methods: A countrywide survey was done in Nepal using SOSAS in May-June 2014.

Development of a multiple risk factor Brief Health Check for workplaces.

Health promotion in workplace settings has been prioritised to reduce chronic disease risk factors, both in Australia and internationally. This paper describes the design of a health risk assessment tool, the Brief Health Check (BHC). The BHC is one of two components of Get Healthy at Work, a state government-funded health promotion program for New South Wales workplaces.

Real-Time Monitoring of Vaccination Campaign Performance Using Mobile Phones - Nepal, 2016.

In 2012, the Global Vaccine Action Plan* established a goal to achieve measles and rubella elimination in five of the six World Health Organization (WHO) regions (194 countries) by 2020 (1). Measles elimination strategies aim to achieve ≥95% coverage with 2 routine doses of measles-containing vaccine (2), and implement supplementary immunization activities (SIAs) in settings where routine coverage is low or where there are subpopulations at high risk. To ensure SIA quality and to achieve ≥95% SIA coverage nationally, rapid convenience monitoring (RCM) is used during or immediately after SIAs (3,4).