Evaluation of a compact cone beam CT concept with high image fidelity for point-of-care brain imaging.

Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) has potential advantages for developing portable, cost-effective point-of-care CT systems for intracranial imaging, such as early stroke diagnosis, hemorrhage detection, and intraoperative navigation. However, large volume imaging with flat panel detector based CBCT significantly increases the scattered radiation fluence which reduces its image quality and utility. To address these issues, a compact CBCT concept with enhanced image quality was investigated for intracranial imaging.

Effect of scatter suppression with 2D antiscatter grids in photon counting compact CBCT.

Energy sensitive and photon counting detectors can provide improved tissue visualization and material quantification capabilities in Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) systems. However, their implementation in CBCT systems is more challenging, which is in part due to high fluence of scattered X-rays in wide cone angle CBCT geometry. Specifically, high scatter contamination in lower energy spectrum challenges reconstruction of high fidelity CBCT images by using lower energy X-rays.

Visceral leishmaniasis in the hills of western Nepal: A transmission assessment.

In Nepal, visceral leishmaniasis (VL) has been targeted for elimination as a public health problem by 2026. Recently, increasing numbers of VL cases have been reported from districts of doubtful endemicity including hills and mountains, threatening the ongoing VL elimination program in Nepal. We conducted a multi-disciplinary, descriptive cross-sectional survey to assess the local transmission of Leishmania donovani in seven such districts situated at altitudes of up to 1,764 meters in western Nepal from March to December 2019.

Visceral leishmaniasis in new foci areas of Nepal: Sources and extent of infection.

Background & Objectives: The successful elimination program of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in Nepal decreased the incidence to less than 1 per 10,000 population leading to the consolidation phase. However, new VL cases have been recorded from new districts, threatening the elimination goal. This study monitors the geographical spread of VL and identifies potential risk factors.

Epidemiological, Serological, and Entomological Investigation of New Visceral Leishmaniasis Foci in Nepal.

The aim of this study was to explore epidemiological, serological, entomological, and social aspects of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in new foci in Nepal. The study was conducted in 11 villages of five districts that had been previously free of VL but that reported new cases between 2019 and 2021. We screened 1,288 inhabitants using rK39 tests and investigated the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of 12 recent VL cases.

Follow-up assessment of visceral leishmaniasis treated patients and the impact of COVID-19 on control services in Nepal.

Background: Follow-up assessment of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) treated cases is important to monitor the long term effectiveness of treatment regimens. The main objective of this study was to identify the gaps and challenges in the follow-up of treated VL cases, to monitor treatment outcome and to assess the impact of COVID-19 on VL elimination services and activities.

Methods: Clinicians treating VL patients, district focal persons for VL, and patients treated for VL in seven high endemic districts in Nepal during 2019-2022 were interviewed to collect data on challenges in the follow-up of VL treated patients as per national strategy.

Prevalence of post kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) and treatment seeking behavior of PKDL patients in Nepal.

Background: In Nepal, the burden of post kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) is not known since there is no active case detection of PKDL by the national programme. PKDL patients could pose a challenge to sustain visceral leishmaniasis (VL) elimination. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of PKDL and assess PKDL patients' knowledge on VL and PKDL, and stigma associated with PKDL.

Has COVID-19 suppressed dengue transmission in Nepal?

Following the report of the first COVID-19 case in Nepal on 23 January 2020, three major waves were documented between 2020 and 2021. By the end of July 2022, 986 596 cases of confirmed COVID-19 and 11 967 deaths had been reported and 70.5% of the population had received at least two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Susceptibility status of the wild-caught Phlebotomus argentipes (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae), the sand fly vector of visceral leishmaniasis, to different insecticides in Nepal.

Background: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is targeted for elimination as a public health problem in Nepal by 2023. For nearly three decades, the core vector control intervention in Nepal has been indoor residual spraying (IRS) with pyrethroids. Considering the long-term use of pyrethroids and the possible development of resistance in the vector Phlebotomus argentipes sand flies, we monitored the susceptibility status of their field populations to the insecticides of different classes, in villages with and without IRS activities in recent years.

Grating-free quantitative phase retrieval for x-ray phase-contrast imaging with conventional sources.

X-ray phase-contrast imaging can display subtle differences in low-density materials (e.g. soft tissues) more readily than conventional x-ray imaging.

Phase and dark-field imaging with mesh-based structured illumination and polycapillary optics.

Purpose: X-ray phase and dark-field (DF) imaging have been shown to improve the diagnostic capabilities of X-ray systems. However, these methods have found limited clinical use due to the need for multiple precision gratings with limited field of view or requirements on X-ray coherence that may not be easily translated to clinical practice. This work aims to develop a practicable X-ray phase and DF imaging system that could be translated and practiced in the clinic.

Emergence of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Nepal.

Background: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is endemic in 70 countries worldwide. Nepal is considered non-endemic for CL and hence the control program is targeted to visceral leishmaniasis (VL) only. Here, we report the emergence of CL cases in different parts of Nepal.

Epidemiology of dengue virus infections in Nepal, 2006-2019.

Background: Dengue is one of the newest emerging diseases in Nepal with increasing burden and geographic spread over the years. The main objective of this study was to explore the epidemiological patterns of dengue since its first outbreak (2006) to 2019 in Nepal.

Methods: This study is a retrospective analysis that covers the last 14 years (2006-2019) of reported dengue cases from Epidemiology Diseases Control Division (EDCD), Ministry of Health and Population, Government of Nepal.