Clinical outcomes and complications of retained biliary stents during the COVID-19 pandemic: a case series.

Biliary stents are widely used following endoscopic management of choledocholithiasis. Removal is recommended within 3-6 months to prevent complications. This study analyzed cases of retained biliary stents managed at our institution.

The Enigma of Retroperitoneal Fibrosis: Clinical Implications and Diagnostic and Therapeutic Challenges.

Retroperitoneal fibrosis (RPF) is a rare disease with a nonspecific presentation. RPF can be classified into Idiopathic, the most common, or secondary due to malignancy and various medications resulting in chronic inflammation and fibrosis in the retroperitoneum. The complications arise due to the compression of structures in the retroperitoneum.

Environmental risk assessment of the surface sediments based on trace elements analysis from the largest freshwater lake in the southern slope of the Himalaya, Nepal.

Freshwater ecosystems, including high-altitude lakes, can be affected by trace metal pollution derived from a mix of natural sources and anthropogenic activities. These pollutants often collect in surface sediments, with notable concentrations in the deeper areas of lakes. To evaluate the environmental risk associated with metal contaminated sediment in Rara Lake, southern Himalaya, surface sediment samples were systematically collected in November 2018, with a subsequent specific emphasis on determinations of trace element concentrations.

Malaria elimination challenges in countries approaching the last mile: a discussion among regional stakeholders.

Background: The national malaria control programmes in Cambodia, Nepal, and Bhutan aim to achieve malaria elimination by 2025-2030. While the vivax malaria burden remains challenging, the consistent decline in falciparum malaria in these countries over the last five years suggests that the goal is achievable. However, unexpected cases in previously falciparum malaria-free districts continue to occur.

Life expectancy and health care spending in South Asia: An econometric analysis.

Affordable health care is often a result of increased government spending on the health sector. Out-of-pocket expenses remain the primary health care funding source in many South Asian nations. Lack of adequate public funding for health services, difficulty in obtaining health insurance, and high out-of-pocket costs can result in indebtedness, reductions in actual consumption, and decreased access to health care services.

Management of adult sepsis in resource-limited settings: global expert consensus statements using a Delphi method.

Purpose: To generate consensus and provide expert clinical practice statements for the management of adult sepsis in resource-limited settings.

Methods: An international multidisciplinary Steering Committee with expertise in sepsis management and including a Delphi methodologist was convened by the Asia Pacific Sepsis Alliance (APSA). The committee selected an international panel of clinicians and researchers with expertise in sepsis management.

Incidental finding of duplication of vas deferens in inguinal hernia: a case report of rare anomaly.

Duplication of the vas deferens is a rare congenital anomaly, with an incidence of ~0.05% in the general population. It is typically discovered incidentally during surgeries involving the spermatic cord, such as inguinal hernia repair.

Alcohol consumption, life history and extinction risk among Raute hunter-gatherers from Nepal.

Hunter-gatherer populations underwent a mass extinction in the Neolithic, and in present times face challenges such as explicit sedentarisation policies. An exception is in Nepal, where the nomadic Raute people receive monthly governmental individual payments. One consequence of the money transfers has been a significant increase in alcohol consumption, with nearly all individuals drinking industrially produced alcohol.

Extract from endophytic isolates stimulates seed germination of the host and protocorm development of non-host orchids.

We isolated endophytic strains from the healthy roots, stems, and leaves of to investigate their plant growth-promoting activities in vitro. Subsequently, Indole acetic acid (IAA) was quantified and the gene (responsible for IAA synthesis in fungi) was amplified and sequenced. Finally, a germination assay was performed with seeds of and a plant growth assay with protocorms of to test their plant growth-promoting activities.

Synthesis of Gold Nanoparticles Using Cucurbitacin E-Glycoside and Methyl Gallate Isolated from Citrullus colocynthis L. Fruit and Evaluation of their Antibacterial and Antibiofilm Activities.

Introduction: Metal nanoparticles have received much attention due to their unique physical dynamics, chemical reactivity, and promising biological applications. Green synthesis using natural compounds is an alternative to traditional chemical methods for the synthesis of nanoparticles.

Materials And Methods: Herein, two secondary metabolites were isolated from different fractions of methanolic extract of Citrullus colocynthis (bitter apple) Schard.

Prevalence and associated factors of intestinal parasitic infections in the Badi indigenous communities of Western Nepal.

Despite years of a national deworming campaign, the incidence of intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) remains relatively high among certain ethnic groups, with lifestyle factors distinct from those of the general population. Despite existing studies on the prevalence of IPIs, there is limited research exploring the contextual associated factors within the Badi Indigenous community. Our objective in this study was to assess the prevalence of IPIs in the indigenous Badi community of Gurbhakot Municipality, Surkhet, Nepal, considering socioeconomic, lifestyle, and behavioral factors.

Optimizing topical nasal steroid application in adenoid hypertrophy: A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis.

Introduction: Intranasal steroids are effective in managing adenoid hypertrophy in children, but the evidence regarding technique of use for optimal results is lacking.

Methods: CFD analysis, with discrete phase modelling was done to simulate nasal spray in nasal cavity and drug delivery in the region of adenoids. The findings were validated using a 3D model designed from CT scan of the same region.

Investigation of the Occurrence of Zoonotic Intestinal Parasites along the Karmanasa River Bank in Lalitpur, Nepal.

Introduction: Increasing urbanization has particularly affected rivers and their outer edges in cities, including Kathmandu Valley, which encompasses Lalitpur, the nation's third-largest city. This study aims to conduct a parasitological survey to investigate the occurrence of zoonotic intestinal protozoa and helminths along the Karmanasa River bank in central Nepal.

Methods: Faecal samples from openly defaecating animals were collected via non-invasive techniques, and coproscopy was carried out using direct wet mount, concentration and acid-fast staining methods to ensure reliable findings.

Atypical presentation of spontaneous urinoma: A case report.

Spontaneous urinomas are rare, encapsulated urine collections in the retroperitoneum that occur without prior trauma or obstruction. It often presents with nonspecific abdominal symptoms, mimicking various acute abdominal pathologies. This case report describes a rare and unique instance of spontaneous urinoma secondary to pyeloureteritis, presenting with atypical clinical features that mimic acute bowel obstruction.

Diversity, Species Richness, and Community Composition of Wetland Birds in the Lowlands of Western Nepal.

Wetlands serve as crucial habitats for diverse bird species, playing a vital role in maintaining the ecosystem. Geographical location, climate, hydrology, and vegetation composition of wetlands determine the diversity of birds. This study investigated species richness, seasonal diversity, and composition of wetland birds in three prominent water bodies of western Nepal, namely Ghodaghodi, Rani, and Jokhar lakes, from 2021 to 2022 in summer and winter using the point count method.

Butterfly Diversity and Community Dynamics in the Central Himalayas: Species Composition, Richness, Abundance, and Seasonal Variation of Butterflies (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea) in Bhorletar, Nepal.

Butterflies are among the most effective bioindicators of climate change; however, their diversity in many rural areas of the Central Himalayas remains understudied. This study provides an assessment of butterfly diversity in the foothills of Bhorletar, Madhya Nepal Municipality, Lamjung District, Nepal, within an elevation range of 420-600 m. Conducted between July 2019 and January 2021, the survey involved opportunistic observations and photography of adult butterflies in their natural habitats, with sampling occurring six times each month.

McIndoe Vaginoplasty in MRKHS: Case Report and Literature Review.

Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome (MRKHS) is a rare congenital disorder characterized by agenesis of the uterus and upper two-thirds of the vagina. It affects around 1 in 4000-5000 females and is of two types: type 1, also known as isolated Müllerian aplasia or Rokitansky, which involves only uterovaginal agenesis, and type 2, presents as uterovaginal agenesis along with renal, cardiac, and other organ anomalies. Despite the absence of vaginal and uterine structures, individuals with MRKHS typically present with normal secondary sexual characteristics and ovarian functions.

Habitat Occupancy of the Critically Endangered Chinese Pangolin () Under Human Disturbance in an Urban Environment: Implications for Conservation.

Globally, urban expansion has led to habitat fragmentation and altered resource availability, thus posing significant challenges for wildlife. The Chinese pangolin () is a critically endangered species experiencing population decline due to illegal trade and habitat degradation. This study analyzed variables affecting habitat occupancy of Chinese pangolins using a single-season occupancy model across 134 study grids (600 m × 600 m) in peri-urban areas of Dharan Sub-Metropolitan City, eastern Nepal.

Evaluating citrus juice: A comparative study of physicochemical, nutraceutical, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties of citrus juices from Nepal.

Citrus fruit juice is highly beneficial to human health, providing essential nutrients like carbohydrates, vitamins, phytochemicals, and antioxidants. Juices from citrus fruit varieties grown in various regions of Nepal were analyzed for their physicochemical properties, nutraceutical content, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. The pH of the juices ranged between 2.

Novel two-parameter quadratic exponential distribution: Properties, simulation, and applications.

This research paper introduces a novel two-parameter quadratic exponential distribution (NTPQED), thoroughly examining its statistical properties and practical applications. The study delves into essential characteristics of the distribution, including its asymptotic behavior, moments, order statistics, and entropies. Additionally, we present fuzzy reliability, value at risk, mean excess function, limited expected value function, tail value at risk, and tail variance.

Interaction between methyl red and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide under the influence of sodium polystyrene sulphonate in ethanol-water binary solvent systems: A spectrophotometric investigation.

This research aims to comprehensively investigate and analyze the UV-visible spectroscopic behavior of the methyl red (MR)-cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) system under the influence of sodium polystyrene sulfonate (NaPSS) in aqueous and different volume fractions (v.f.) of ethanol (EtOH)-HO (0.

Reference Ranges and Determinants of Thyroid Function and TSH Receptor Antibodies During Early Pregnancy in Nepal.

Objective: Different definitions of thyroid dysfunction during pregnancy may lead to under or overtreatment. The aims of this study were to (1) define population-based pregnancy-specific reference ranges for thyroid dysfunction during early pregnancy in Nepal and assess the impact of antibody positivity, (2) quantify the diagnostic impact of population-based reference ranges compared with current practice and (3) assess the determinants of thyroid function and antibody positivity.

Methods: A total of 800 healthy pregnant women aged 20-40 years in the Bhaktapur municipality were included.

Understanding challenges and enhancing the competency of healthcare providers for disability inclusive sexual and reproductive health services in rural Nepal.

Background: Women with disabilities in rural Nepal face many challenges in accessing sexual and reproductive health services including harassment and unpleasant behavior by the healthcare providers. Though National Guideline for Disability Inclusive Health Service in Nepal is in place, there are gaps in providing the sexual and reproductive health needs of women with disabilities. There has been limited research exploring the competency and capacity of health care providers on providing sexual and reproductive health services and information for women living with disabilities.

Synchronous bilateral breast cancer with heterogeneous hormone receptor status: a case report.

The expression of estrogen, progesterone, and HER2 receptors in breast cancer cells helps guide treatment and predict outcomes. When the status of these receptors is heterogeneous, it makes treatment planning more complex. We present the case of a 72-year-old woman with bilateral breast cancer with heterogenous receptor status and subsequent challenges in management.

Effect of plasma-activated water on chlorophyll retention in detached Tejpat () leaves.

In this work, the atmospheric pressure air gliding arc discharge has been produced for the generation of plasma-activated water (PAW) and studying its effect on the chlorophyll retention and greenness of Tejpat () leaves. The discharge is characterized via electrical and optical methods to calculate the electron excitation temperature (1.38 eV) and density ( cm) of the plasma.