Nevin Manimala

Pediatrics. 2022 May 26:e2021054920. doi: 10.1542/peds.2021-054920. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Children born extremely preterm (EPT), <28 weeks’ gestational age, face higher risks of movement difficulties than their term-born peers. Studies report varying prevalence estimates and prognostic factors identifying children who could benefit from early intervention are inconsistent. This study investigated the prevalence of movement difficulties in children born EPT and associated risk factors.

METHODS: Data come from a population-based EPT birth cohort in 2011 and 2012 in 11 European countries. Children without cerebral palsy were assessed at 5 years of age (N = 772) with the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-Second Edition, which classifies movement difficulties as none (>15th percentile), at risk (6th-15th percentile) and significant (≤5th percentile). Associations with sociodemographic, perinatal, and neonatal characteristics collected from obstetric and neonatal medical records and parental questionnaires were estimated using multinomial logistic regression.

RESULTS: We found 23.2% (n = 179) of children were at risk for movement difficulties and 31.7% (n = 244) had significant movement difficulties. Lower gestational age, severe brain lesions, and receipt of postnatal corticosteroids were associated with significant movement difficulties, whereas male sex and bronchopulmonary dysplasia were associated with being at risk and having significant movement difficulties. Children with younger, primiparous, less educated, and non-European-born mothers were more likely to have significant movement difficulties. Differences in prevalence between countries remained after population case-mix adjustments.

CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms a high prevalence of movement difficulties among EPT children without cerebral palsy, which are associated with perinatal and neonatal risk factors as well as sociodemographic characteristics and country.

PMID:35615946 | DOI:10.1542/peds.2021-054920

Soft Matter. 2022 May 26. doi: 10.1039/d1sm01811f. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

We theoretically investigate an electric-field-driven system of charged spheres as a primitive model of concentrated electrolytes under an applied electric field. First, we provide a unified formulation for the stochastic charge and density dynamics of the electric-field-driven primitive model using the stochastic density functional theory (DFT). The stochastic DFT integrates the four frameworks (the equilibrium and dynamic DFTs, the liquid state theory and the field-theoretic approach), which allows us to justify in a unified manner various modifications previously made for the Poisson-Nernst-Planck model. Next, we consider stationary density-density and charge-charge correlation functions of the primitive model with a static electric field. We predict an electric-field-induced synchronization between emergences of density and charge oscillations. We are mainly concerned with the emergence of stripe states formed by segregation bands transverse to the external field, thereby demonstrating the following: (i) the electric-field-induced crossover occurs prior to the conventional Kirkwood crossover without an applied electric field, and (ii) the ion concentration dependence of the decay lengths at the onset of oscillations bears a similarity to the underscreening behavior found by recent simulation and theoretical studies on equilibrium electrolytes. Also, the 2D inverse Fourier transform of the correlation function illustrates the existence of stripe states beyond the electric-field-induced Kirkwood crossover.

PMID:35615919 | DOI:10.1039/d1sm01811f

J Diet Suppl. 2022 May 26:1-16. doi: 10.1080/19390211.2022.2077881. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Blackeye peas (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) are mainly used as a vegetable throughout the world, however they may contain significant concentrations of quercetin, myricetin, cyanidin, and delphinidin for potential use as a functional vegetable. Thirty-eight blackeye pea genotypes were selected from the core collection in the USDA, ARS, Plant Genetic Resources Conservation Unit’s cold storage at 4 °C during 2016. Information regarding concentrations of quercetin, myricetin, cyanidin, delphindin, and correlations among these as well as additional seed traits including seed coat color, seed pattern color, seed pattern, seed texture, and years in storage would add value to the blackeye pea genotypes for use as a functional vegetable. Using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), the red seeded accession originating from Mozambique, PI 367927 produced the highest quercetin (469.53 µg/g) and myricetin (212.23 µg/g) concentrations. The black seeded genotype, PI 353236, originating from India, produced the highest cyanidin (1,388.82 µg/g) concentration. However, PI 353236 and the brown seeded genotype, PI 353352 from India produced the highest concentrations of delphinidin (1,343.27 and 1,353.94 µg/g), respectively. Several correlations were observed and interestingly only delphinidin showed a significant negative correlation (r = -0.293*) with years in cold storage indicating that delphinidin declined in the seeds stored the longest (from 4-45 years) at 4 °C. Principal component analysis (PCA) explained how the flavonols, anthocyanidins, and the additional seed traits contributed to the variation of the blackeye pea genotypes. The cluster analysis showed six clusters representing low to high phytochemical concentrations. The genetic parameters including σ²g, σ²p, GCV, PCV, h²_h, and GG indicate that improvement in these phytochemical traits is possible through selection. The genotypic and phenotypic correlations showed that improving one phytochemical significantly improved the other except for cyanidin with delphinidin. These results can be used by scientists to develop blackeye pea cultivars with high flavonol and anthocyanidin concentrations.

PMID:35615864 | DOI:10.1080/19390211.2022.2077881

J Nepal Health Res Counc. 2022 Mar 13;19(4):830-837. doi: 10.33314/jnhrc.v19i04.3990.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Executing their daily duties, police officers are expected to perform complex, physically demanding activities, often at maximal levels of exertion. Given these criteria, training must be rigorous enough to ensure that when trainees graduate, they are competent in their response to crisis and flexible enough to sustain this for the span of their career. The present study aimed to determine the impact of scale diet and physical training (SDPT) on body composition and aerobic performance among Nepal police officer trainees.

METHOD: We conducted a cross-sectional analytic study among 570 Nepal Police recruits from Nepal Police Academy of Butwal and Kathmandu. Null hypothesis was created followed by an alternative hypothesis. Alpha (1 – ?) for the above-mentioned study design were set. Parametric statistical analysis was done with criteria set for acceptance or rejection of the null hypothesis. We collected the data from the field as per Nepal police basic exercise and diet protocol to determine the effect of physical training and scale diet on body composition and aerobic performance. We enrolled all the recruits from March to May, 2019 who met the eligibility criteria in the study. We used Microsoft Excel 2013 for data entry and R program (version: 4.0.3) for statistical analysis. Results:There was a significant rise in aerobic performance (4.51 ± 3.39 ml/kg/min) and remarkable reduction in body fat (-4.49 ± 2.33 %) and Body Mass Index (-0.433 ± 1.00 kg/m2) after SDPT among participants with normal BMI at the time of recruitment. Body fat was significantly reduced (-4.36 ± 2.3%) and aerobic performance was significantly increased (6.93±4.70 ml/kg/min) among overweight participants at the time of recruitment.

CONCLUSIONS: The methodology adopted in the physical training of Nepal Police was effective in reducing body mass index and fat, improving the physical capacity. . Key words: Scale Diet; Physical Training, Body Fat; Aerobic Performance; VO2max, Body Mass Index.

PMID:35615846 | DOI:10.33314/jnhrc.v19i04.3990

J Nepal Health Res Counc. 2022 Mar 13;19(4):824-829. doi: 10.33314/jnhrc.v19i04.3963.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Elevated intraocular pressure in thyroid associated orbitopathy may lead to development of secondary glaucoma in them. This study evaluated IOP in primary gaze correlation with clinical activity score in them.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2020 to October 2021.Information on age, gender, thyroid function test, intraocular pressure, cup-disc ratio and clinical activity score were recorded. Purposive sampling was done. Statistical analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 21.

RESULTS: Total of 74 thyroid dysfunction patients was included in the study. There were14.86% patients with raised intraocular pressure. The mean intraocular pressure in hyperthyroidism was 15.4 ± 1.92 mm Hg and 15.48 ± 2.11mm Hg on right and left eyes respectively and in hypothyroidism, it was 15.08 ± 2.7mmHg and 15.12 ± 3.02 mmHg on right and left eyes respectively. The mean clinical activity score was 1.06 ± 1.23 mmHg. The mean intraocular pressure in eyes in active stage (n=9) was 16.3 ± 3.4 mm Hg, which was not significantly different from the mean intraocular pressure of 15 ± 2.4 mm Hg in inactive eyes (64), p= 0.1. Clinical activity score showed a significant correlation (p=0.03) with intraocular pressure in right eyes whereas it showed no significant correlation with intraocular pressure in left eyes (p=0.37).

CONCLUSIONS: In this study elevated intraocular pressure occurred in about 1 in 7 thyroid associated orbitopathy. It also had positive correlation with clinically activity score in right eyes. Regular intraocular pressure measurement should be done in thyroid associated orbitopathy to prevent intraocular morbidity.

PMID:35615845 | DOI:10.33314/jnhrc.v19i04.3963

J Nepal Health Res Counc. 2022 Mar 13;19(4):820-823. doi: 10.33314/jnhrc.v19i04.3961.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: To ameliorate the intra and post-op morbidities associated with newer techniques for tonsillectomy like coblation has been introduced in the recent past. This study was aimed to compare the cold steel dissection with the coblation technique with regards to its effectiveness and safety.

METHODS: An observational comparative study was carried out in 90 patients undergoing tonsillectomy between July 2018 to December 2019. Forty-five patients in each group of cold steel dissection and coblation were compared between the operative time, intraoperative blood loss, post-operative pain, post-operative bleeding and return to work. Intraoperative blood loss was measured using a standard sized gauge piece whereas post-operative pain was measured using a visual analogue scale (0-10) at first and third day of surgery.

RESULTS: The age and sex were comparable between the groups. The mean operation time (31.40±4.52 min versus 17.02±3.11 min), intraoperative blood loss (27.20±7.16 ml vs 9.73±5.52 ml), post-operative pain in day 1 (8.02±1.27 vs 4.98±1.03), post-operative pain in day 3 (4.80±0.89 vs 2.76±0.74) and time needed to return to work in days (10. 31±1.29 vs 6.76±1.20) were statistically significant in coblation group (p<0.000). Primary and secondary post-operative haemorrhage rates were similar in both the groups. There was no return to theatre for hemostasis.

CONCLUSIONS: Coblation tonsillectomy significantly reduces operation time, intraoperative blood loss, post-operative pain (day1 and 3) and time required to return to work . This technique doesn’t differ from cold steel dissection tonsillectomy in terms of primary and secondary post-operative hemorrhage.

PMID:35615844 | DOI:10.33314/jnhrc.v19i04.3961

J Nepal Health Res Counc. 2022 Mar 13;19(4):772-777. doi: 10.33314/jnhrc.v19i04.3776.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The various pedagogical methods applied for teaching dental anatomy to dental students includes lectures, analysis of extracted natural teeth and carving of wax blocks to accurately replicate the morphology of teeth. The thorough knowledge of dental morphology is indispensable for a successful dental practice. This study was thus aimed to assess the perceived relevance of tooth carving using wax block among the dental practitioners.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study was designed with the objective of involving dental practitioners working in Kathmandu. Self-administered questionnaires were used for the data collection. The results were later analyzed for descriptive statistics using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) 16 software.

RESULTS: About 232 (98.3%) participants practiced tooth carving using wax block to study dental anatomy. More than 96% of the participants agreed that tooth carving exercises have helped them better understand tooth morphology and more than 85% feel that their manual dexterity was developed by these exercises. A total of 223 (94.5%) were of the opinion that tooth carving should be continued in the BDS preclinical curriculum.

CONCLUSIONS: The dental wax carving is an effective pedagogical strategy to develop manual dexterity of dental students by recreating tooth morphological features using a wax block, thereby achieving the mandatory psychomotor skills.

PMID:35615836 | DOI:10.33314/jnhrc.v19i04.3776

J Nepal Health Res Counc. 2022 Mar 13;19(4):740-747. doi: 10.33314/jnhrc.v19i04.4017.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Mental disorders account for a large portion of burden of disease. In Nepal, the prevalence of mental disorders has been rising steadily, but national and province level prevalence is not available. This study aims to assess the prevalence of common mental disorders and suicidality in Nepal.

METHODS: We conducted nationwide descriptive cross-sectional community-based prevalence study of mental disorders and suicidality among adults (aged 18 years and above) and adolescents (aged 13 to 17 years) in Nepal. We included a total of 9200 adults and 5888 adolescents from seven provinces of Nepal by using a multistage Probability Proportionate to Size sampling technique. Mental disorders and suicidality were assessed using translated and adapted Nepalese version of Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) for disorders, English version 7.0.2 for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental disorders,5th Edition (DSM-5). Data were entered in CSPro v7.2. Weighted estimates for different mental disorders were calculated.

RESULTS: The overall weighted lifetime prevalence of any mental disorder among adults and adolescents was estimated at 10% and 5.2%, respectively. Suicidality was present among 7.2% of the adult and 4.1% of the adolescent participants. Among adult participants, the current prevalence of suicidal thoughts and lifetime suicidal attempts were found to be 6.5% and 1.1%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: This survey indicated that mental health problems are major public health concerns in Nepal that should not be overlooked. Hence, a multisectoral approach is needed to address the burden of mental health problems among adults and adolescents in Nepal.

PMID:35615831 | DOI:10.33314/jnhrc.v19i04.4017

J Nepal Health Res Counc. 2022 Mar 13;19(4):730-739. doi: 10.33314/jnhrc.v19i04.3900.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The AO Spine Patient Reported Outcome Spine Trauma has been validated in English and Dutch language, however, there is an absence of a translated and validated version in Nepali language. The purpose of this study was to translate the AO Spine Patient Reported Outcome Spine Trauma into Nepali and adapt cross-culturally as outlined by established guidelines, as well as test its psychometric properties among Nepali speaking spine trauma patients.

METHODS: Patients were recruited from two Nepali centers as a cross-sectional multicenter validation study. The English version of AO Spine Patient Reported Outcome Spine Trauma was translated and cross-culturally adapted into Nepali language following international guidelines. Next to AO Spine Patient Reported Outcome Spine Trauma also the EQ-5D-3L was filled out by the patients for concurrent validity. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the patient characteristics. Assessment of measurement properties included content validity (floor and ceiling effects), internal consistency (Cronbach’s ? and item total-correlation coefficients) and test-retest reliability by the Bland-Altman plot and Intraclass Correlation Coefficients. Spearman correlation tests were performed within the items and in correlation to EQ-5D-3L.

RESULTS: Sixty two spine trauma patients completed the instrument with a mean time of 6.8 minutes. The translated version showed good content validity with no floor and ceiling effects. The internal consistency was excellent with a Cronbach’s ? of 0.95. The Spearman correlations within the AO Spine Patient Reported Outcome Spine Trauma items were 0.07 – 0.65 and the test-retest analysis showed excellent results with an Intraclass Correlation Coefficients value of 0.95 (CI 0.93 – 0.97). Inverse correlation was observed between Nepali AO Spine PROST with EQ-5D-3L components.

CONCLUSIONS: The Nepali version of AO Spine Patient Reported Outcome Spine Trauma demonstrated excellent validity and reliability results for measuring patient-reported outcomes of spine trauma patients.

PMID:35615830 | DOI:10.33314/jnhrc.v19i04.3900

J Nepal Health Res Counc. 2022 Mar 13;19(4):712-716. doi: 10.33314/jnhrc.v19i04.3797.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to assess the distribution of fine-needle-aspiration-cytology or biopsy findings through cytopathological patterns of lymph nodes aspirations in different age groups of the population visiting a tertiary level hospital in Kathmandu.

METHODS: The retrospective study was conducted on the database of the 226 lymphadenopathy cases that underwent biopsy fine needle aspiration cytology from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2019 at the Department of pathology of Helping Hand’s Community Hospital, Kathmandu. A descriptive analysis was performed yielding proportions and counts for the quantitative variables. Chi-squared test was used to compare the proportions. Point estimates and confidence intervals for measures of association were assessed with 95% confidence interval and p-value ?0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS: The 20-40 years were the most common age group undergoing biopsy fone needle aspiration cytology procedures. Males recorded majority of cases (68%, 153 of 226). The highest incidence of Reactive lymphadenitis was obtained (50%, 113 of 226) and it was the most common findings in the age group of <20 and 40-60 years. The Cervical lymph node (86%) was the most common anatomical location followed by axillary lymph nodes (8%). Squamous cell carcinoma and Adenocarcinoma accounted for more than half (53%, 20 of 38) of all the diagnosed malignancy. The incidence of Non-Hodgkin lymphoma and Hodgkin lymphoma were 8% (n = 3 of 38) and 5% (n = 2 of 38) respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: Lymph node enlargement is associated with a wide range of etiologies with Reactive lymphadenitis as the most common cause and cervical lymph node as the common site.

PMID:35615827 | DOI:10.33314/jnhrc.v19i04.3797