Feasibility of clinical newborn metabolic screening in a high-volume maternity center in Nepal.

Background: Strategic action plans around newborn health evaluation are needed, to address the high neonatal mortality rate in Nepal. Surveillance systems, like Newborn Metabolic Screening (NBS), could reveal unrecognized drivers of neonatal death. NBS is not routinely performed in Nepal.

NeuroMotion smartphone application for remote General Movements Assessment: a feasibility study in Nepal.

Objectives: To evaluate the feasibility of using the NeuroMotion smartphone application for remote General Movements Assessment for screening infants for cerebral palsy in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Method: Thirty-one term-born infants at risk of cerebral palsy due to birth asphyxia or neonatal seizures were recruited for the follow-up at Paropakar Maternity and Women's Hospital, 1 October 2021 to 7 January 2022. Parents filmed their children at home using the application at 3 months' age and the videos were assessed for technical quality using a standardised form and for fidgety movements by Prechtl's General Movements Assessment.

Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic on Emergency Department Admissions and Outcome.

Background: Emergency Department admissions have changed significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Understanding this variation may play a crucial role in rearranging hospital resources for better outcome. In this study, we aimed to assess the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on emergency department admission and outcome.

Triubiquitin Probes for Identification of Reader and Eraser Proteins of Branched Polyubiquitin Chains.

The important roles played by branched polyubiquitin chains were recently uncovered in proteasomal protein degradation, mitotic regulation, and NF-κB signaling. With the new realization of a wide presence of branched ubiquitin chains in mammalian cells, there is an urgent need of identifying the reader and eraser proteins of the various branched ubiquitin chains. In this work, we report the generation of noncleavable branched triubiquitin probes with combinations of K11-, K48-, and K63-linkages.

Molecular Dynamics Analysis of Fast-Spreading Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Variants and Their Effects on the Interaction with Human Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is evolving with mutations in the spike protein, especially in the receptor-binding domain (RBD). The failure of public health measures in some countries to contain the spread of the disease has given rise to novel viral variants with increased transmissibility. However, key questions about how quickly the variants can spread remain unclear.

Clinical Profile and Outcome of Corona Virus Disease-19 Infection in Pregnant Women.

Background: The corona virus disease 19 pandemic has affected the whole world with pregnant ladies being more vulnerable population. This study aimed to evaluate characteristics of corona virus disease 19 infection in pregnancy and neonates and whether close proximity to the mother increases the incidence of corona virus disease infection in neonates..

Predictors for timely initiation of breastfeeding after birth in the hospitals of Nepal- a prospective observational study.

Background: Timely initiation of breastfeeding can reduce neonatal morbidities and mortality. We aimed to study predictors for timely initiation of breastfeeding (within 1 h of birth) among neonates born in hospitals of Nepal.

Method: A prospective observational study was conducted in four public hospitals between July and October 2018.

A multicenter study of incidence, risk factors and outcomes of babies with birth asphyxia in Nepal.

Background: Perinatal events which result in compromised oxygen delivery to the fetus can lead to Birth Asphyxia (BA). While the incidence, risk factors and outcomes of BA have been characterized, less is known in low resource settings.

Aim: To determine the incidence of Birth Asphyxia (BA) in Nepal and to evaluate associated risk factors and outcomes of this condition.

Burden and consequence of birth defects in Nepal-evidence from prospective cohort study.

Background: Every year an estimated 7.9 million babies are born with birth defect. Of these babies, more than 3 million die and 3.

REFINE (Rapid Feedback for quality Improvement in Neonatal rEsuscitation): an observational study of neonatal resuscitation training and practice in a tertiary hospital in Nepal.

Background: Simulation-based training in neonatal resuscitation is more effective when reinforced by both practice and continuous improvement processes. We aim to evaluate the effectiveness of a quality improvement program combined with an innovative provider feedback device on neonatal resuscitation practice and outcomes in a public referral hospital of Nepal.

Methods: A pre- and post-intervention study will be implemented in Pokhara Academy of Health Sciences, a hospital with 8610 deliveries per year.

Adherence to World Health Organisation guidelines for treatment of early onset neonatal sepsis in low-income settings; a cohort study in Nepal.

Background: Neonatal sepsis is one of the major causes of death during the first month of life and early empirical treatment with injectable antibiotics is a life-saving intervention. Adherence to World Health Organisation guidelines on first line antibiotics is crucial to mitigate the risks of increased antimicrobial resistance. The aim of this paper was to evaluate if treatment of early onset neonatal sepsis in a low-income facility setting observe current guidelines and if compliance is influenced by contextual factors.

Effect of the COVID-19 pandemic response on intrapartum care, stillbirth, and neonatal mortality outcomes in Nepal: a prospective observational study.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic response is affecting maternal and neonatal health services all over the world. We aimed to assess the number of institutional births, their outcomes (institutional stillbirth and neonatal mortality rate), and quality of intrapartum care before and during the national COVID-19 lockdown in Nepal.

Methods: In this prospective observational study, we collected participant-level data for pregnant women enrolled in the SUSTAIN and REFINE studies between Jan 1 and May 30, 2020, from nine hospitals in Nepal.

Incidence, risk factors and consequences of preterm birth - findings from a multi-centric observational study for 14 months in Nepal.

Background: Preterm birth is a worldwide epidemic and a leading cause of neonatal mortality. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the incidence, risk factors and consequences of preterm birth in Nepal.

Methods: This was an observational study conducted in 12 public hospitals of Nepal.

Epidemiology of neonatal infections in hospitals of Nepal: evidence from a large- scale study.

Background: Every year, neonatal infections account for approximately 750,000 neonatal deaths globally. It is the third major cause of neonatal death, globally and in Nepal. There is a paucity of data on clinical aetiology and outcomes of neonatal infection in Nepal.

Prevalence, risk factors and consequences of newborns born small for gestational age: a multisite study in Nepal.

Objective: To identify the prevalence, risk factors and health impacts associated with small for gestational age (SGA) births in Nepal.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 12 public hospitals in Nepal from 1 July 2017 to 29 August 2018. A total of 60 695 babies delivered in these hospitals during the study period were eligible for inclusion.

The burden of misclassification of antepartum stillbirth in Nepal.

Background: Globally, every year 1.1 million antepartum stillbirths occur with 98% of these deaths taking place in countries where the health system is poor. In this paper we examine the burden of misclassification of antepartum stillbirth in hospitals of Nepal and factors associated with misclassification.

Meconium aspiration syndrome: incidence, associated risk factors and outcome-evidence from a multicentric study in low-resource settings in Nepal.

Aim: The aim of this study was to identify the incidence, risk factors and outcome associated with meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS).

Methods: An observational study was conducted in 12 public hospitals in Nepal from 1 July 2017 to 29 August 2018. All babies born within the study period were included in the study.

Equity and Coverage in the Continuum of Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Services in Nepal-Projecting the Estimates on Death Averted Using the LiST Tool.

Introduction: The third Sustainable Development Goal, focused on health, includes two targets related to the reduction in maternal, newborn and under-five childhood mortality. We found it imperative to examine the equity and coverage of reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health (RMNCH) interventions from 2001 to 2016 in Nepal; and the death aversion that will take place during the SDG period.

Methods: We used the datasets from the Nepal Demographic Health Surveys (NDHS) 2001, 2006, 2011 and 2016.

Effect of a scaled-up neonatal resuscitation quality improvement package on intrapartum-related mortality in Nepal: A stepped-wedge cluster randomized controlled trial.

Background: Improving quality of intrapartum care will reduce intrapartum stillbirth and neonatal mortality, especially in resource-poor settings. Basic neonatal resuscitation can reduce intrapartum stillbirth and early neonatal mortality, if delivered in a high-quality health system, but there is a dearth of evidence on how to scale up such evidence-based interventions. We evaluated the scaling up of a quality improvement (QI) package for neonatal resuscitation on intrapartum-related mortality (intrapartum stillbirth and first day mortality) at hospitals in Nepal.

Scaling Up Safer Birth Bundle Through Quality Improvement in Nepal (SUSTAIN)-a stepped wedge cluster randomized controlled trial in public hospitals.

Background: Each year, 2.2 million intrapartum-related deaths (intrapartum stillbirths and first day neonatal deaths) occur worldwide with 99% of them taking place in low- and middle-income countries. Despite the accelerated increase in the proportion of deliveries taking place in health facilities in these settings, the stillborn and neonatal mortality rates have not reduced proportionately.

Crystal structure and activity-based labeling reveal the mechanisms for linkage-specific substrate recognition by deubiquitinase USP9X.

USP9X is a conserved deubiquitinase (DUB) that regulates multiple cellular processes. Dysregulation of USP9X has been linked to cancers and X-linked intellectual disability. Here, we report the crystal structure of the USP9X catalytic domain at 2.

Free Newborn Care Services: A New Initiative in Nepal.

Background: Nepal has made a significant progress in reducing child mortality. However, the annual rate of reduction in neonatal mortality is not satisfactory. As safeguarded by constitution of Nepal and to address neonatal mortality due to poverty and inequity, government has introduced free newborn care (FNC) package.

Mechanisms of Bond Cleavage during Manganese Oxide and UV Degradation of Glyphosate: Results from Phosphate Oxygen Isotopes and Molecular Simulations.

Degradation of glyphosate in the presence of manganese oxide and UV light was analyzed using phosphate oxygen isotope ratios and density function theory (DFT). The preference of C-P or C-N bond cleavage was found to vary with changing glyphosate/manganese oxide ratios, indicating the potential role of sorption-induced conformational changes on the composition of intermediate degradation products. Isotope data confirmed that one oxygen atom derived solely from water was incorporated into the released phosphate during glyphosate degradation, and this might suggest similar nucleophilic substitution at P centers and C-P bond cleavage both in manganese oxide- and UV light-mediated degradation.

Bioactivities and compositional analyses of Cinnamomum essential oils from Nepal: C. camphora, C. tamala, and C. glaucescens.

This work examines the biological activity of essential oils of Cinnamomum camphora leaves, C. glaucescens fruit, and C. tamala root from Nepal.

Juglans regia and J. nigra, two trees important in traditional medicine: A comparison of leaf essential oil compositions and biological activities.

The essential oils from the leaves of Juglans regia, collected from Kathmandu, Nepal, and Juglans nigra from Huntsville, Alabama, USA, were obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC-MS. A total of 69 compounds were identified in the J. regia oil, accounting for 99.