Visual evoked potentials’ responses in hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism

Background: Visual Evoked Potentials (VEP) provides important diagnostic and prognostic information regarding the functional integrity of the visual system. This study, describes the effects of less or excess thyroid hormones of adults in visual conduction that helps to know the progression to neurological functional defects.Methods: The study was done in 75 consenting subjects (hypothyroid = 24, hyperthyroid = 25, euthyroid = 26). The VEP parameters N75, P100, N145 latencies and its amplitudes within different thyroid status (hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism and euthyroidism) were compared. One way ANOVA was used to compare VEP parameters among three groups and Pearson’s correlation to find relation between thyroid hormones and VEP parameters.Results: There was positive correlation of 0.335, 0.338 and 0.301 between amplitudes of N75, P100 and N145 waves and fT3 hormone respectively. Furthermore, fT4 showed a positive correlation of 0.186 and 0.185 with the wave amplitudes of N75 and N145 waves respectively and negative correlation of TSH levels of -0.492, -0.280, -0.397 with amplitudes of N75, P100, N145 waves respectively. Hyperthyroid group had higher in VEP latency than euthyroid group in N75 (73±5.77 vs. 68.54±4.32), P100 (106.42±9.74 vs. 100.94±8.17) and N145 (153.03±16.39 vs. 144.37±7.02) waves. Similarly, hypothyroid group had higher in VEP latency than euthyroid group in N75 (72.12±6.34 vs. 68.54±4.32) wave.Conclusions: Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism led to conduction delay in adults, possibly adversely affecting function of myelin. The prominent visual evoked potential abnormalities in hyperthyroidism and less change in hypothyroidism show that the visual neuropathy is more common in hyperthyroidism.

Ondansetron versus Amitriptyline in the Treatment of Peripheral Neuropathy: A Randomized Double Blind Prospective Clinical Study.

Background and Objective: Clinical trials have shown the potential use of 5-HT3 receptor antagonists like Ondansetron, Tropisetron and Zacopride in a number of disorders of gastrointestinal tract and the central nervous system such as cancer chemotherapy induced vomiting, anxiety, depression, schizophrenia and migraine. Various experimental and clinical studies also point the usefulness of Ondansetron in neuropathic pain. Therefore, the present study was conducted to find out whether Ondansetron could be used as an alternative to a standard drug, Amitriptyline in the treatment of peripheral neuropathy. Methodology: A randomized double blind prospective clinical study was conducted on Original Research Article British Journal of Medicine & Medical Research, 4(26): 4444-4454, 2014 4445 thirty six patients of peripheral neuropathy divided into two groups of equal number of patients. Group 1 received Ondansetron 8 mg per day while Group 2 received Amitriptyline 25 mg per day. Patients were being evaluated on the basis of improvements (decrease) in LANSS (Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs), VAS (Visual Analogue Scale) and NCV (Nerve Conduction Velocity) for six weeks. Student’s ttest and/or repeated measure ANOVA followed by Bonferoni correlation was used to compare sets of paired observations. The Friedman test followed by multiple comparisons was used to compare the data which was not normally distributed. Results: LANSS and VAS scores showed significant improvements in the 1st and 2nd visit in both the groups. NCV showed improvement in Ondansetron group with less number of adverse effects compared to that of Amitriptyline. NCV in Amitriptyline group demonstrated significant increase in one of the parameters, F-waves, indicating a worsening in left tibial nerve (p=0.036), whereas no such change was found in the group treated with Ondansetron. Conclusion: Ondansetron has beneficial role in peripheral neuropathy by improving its sensory component as it significantly decreased LANSS and VAS scores. Our results also demonstrated that Ondansetron was at least as efficacious as Amitriptyline in the treatment of peripheral neuropathy with lesser adverse effects.

Assessment of pulmonary function in local healthy Nepalese men of Dharan and it's anthropometric correlation.

Healthy non smoking male subjects (n = 150) aged 18-40 years were subjected to pulmonary function testing to establish linear multiple regression model. Pulmonary parameters were considered as independent variables and physical parameters (age, height, weight, body mass index (BMI) and body surface area (BSA) and anthropometric parameters (skin fold thickness (SFT), mid arm circumference and abdominal girth) were taken as dependent variables. This study was undertaken to determine correlation coefficients between dependent variables and different pulmonary independent variables and to derive regression equations or prediction formulae in order to find out the expected normal values for the different lung function tests in a given individual. Present study revealed that the upper body fat distribution, as reflected by biceps skin fold thickness and mid arm circumference, is a significant predicator of ventilatory function.

An evaluation of training of teachers in medical education in four medical schools of Nepal.

Effective teaching is a concern of all teachers. Therefore, regular teachers' training is emphasized globally. B. P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences (BPKIHS), a health science deemed university situated in eastern region of Nepal has an established Medical Education unit which attempts to improve teaching-learning skills by training faculty members through organizing regular medical education training programs. The aim of the present study was to assess the effectiveness of 3-day training workshop on "Teaching-learning methodology and Evaluation" held in four different medical colleges of Nepal. The workshop was targeted at middle and entry level of health profession teachers who had not been previously exposed to any teacher's training program. The various components, such as teaching-learning principles, writing educational objectives, organizing and sequencing education materials, teaching-learning methods, microteaching and assessment techniques, were incorporated in the workshop. A team of resource persons from BPKIHS were involved in all the four medical institutions. The collection data had two categories of responses: (1) a questionnaire survey of participants at the beginning and end of the workshop to determine their gain in knowledge and (2) a semi-structured questionnaire survey of participants at the end of workshop to evaluate their perception on usefulness of the workshop. The later category had items with three-point likert scale (very useful, useful and not useful) and responses to open-ended questions/ statements to document participants general views. The response was entered into a spreadsheet and analyzed using SPSS. The result showed that all participants (n = 92) improved their scores after attending the workshop (p < 0.001). Majority of respondents expressed that the teaching-learning methods, media, microteaching and evaluation techniques were useful in teaching-learning. The workshop was perceived as an acceptable way of acquiring teaching-learning skills but 39.4% participants expressed that the duration of the workshop was too short. The overall impression about trainers was very positive. Therefore, regular organization of such workshops with addition of new advances in medical education would be highly beneficial to improve teaching learning skill of medical teachers.