Correlation between Sonoelastographic, Doppler and Histopathological Findings in Chronic Kidney Disease Patients in Tertiary Care Centre.

Background Ultrasound (USG) with Doppler examination of intrarenal vessels is the imaging modality of choice employed in patients with renal failure and is commonly performed early in the clinical course. The pulsatility index (PI) and the resistive index (RI) of downstream renal artery have been found to correlate with renal vascular resistance, filtration fraction and effective renal plasma flow in chronic renal failure. Pathological process in any tissues alters their elastic properties which can be assessed non-invasively through newer technique like elastography. Objective To correlate the findings obtained by sonoelastographic, doppler and histopathological studies in chronic kidney disease patients. Method Study was done in 146 patients referred to Department of Radiodiagnosis and Imaging, TUTH for native renal biopsy. Renal sonographic morphology (length, echogenicity, cortical thickness), Sonoelastography (Young's modulus) and Doppler parameters (peak systolic velocity, resistive index) were assessed. The grading of estimated GFR (eGFR) was calculated based on chronic kidney disease (CKD) criteria. Result Among 146 patients, 63 (43.2%) were females and 83 (56.8%) were males. Maximum patients were in age group of 41-50 years (25.3%) followed by age group 51-60 years (24%). Mean age of patient was 42.06±14.70 for males and 39.57±12.54 females. Maximum mean Young's modulus was seen in eGFR stage G1 with 46.57±19.51 kPa followed by in stage G3a with 36.46±10.01 kPa and observed to be statistically non-significant (p=0.172). However, statistical significance difference was noted between the resistive index and elastographic measurement of Young's modulus (r=0.462, p=0.0001). Minimum mean cortical thickness was seen in eGFR stage G5 with 4.42±1.48 mm followed by stage G4 with 5.57±1.24 mm (p= 0.0001). Cortical thickness is decreasing as eGFR stage was increasing in our study (p=0.0001). Resistive index is increasing with decrease in renal size (r=-0.202, p=0.015). Conclusion Ultrasonography along with doppler study and elastography have limited role in diagnosing the pathology of chronic kidney disease, however, it has significant role in the disease progression.

Chest CT Scan Findings in Symptomatic Patients Infected with COVID-19 in Norvic International Hospital, Nepal.

Background Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is the recent global health emergency making it crucial for rapid diagnosis and intervention. Computed tomography (CT) is important for screening, diagnosis and evaluating severity and disease progress. Objective To assess the CT changes in COVID patients and study its relationship with various factors. Method A retrospective study was conducted at Norvic International hospital from August 2020 to November 2020 among RT-PCR positive symptomatic COVID cases who had positive CT changes. CT imaging data were analyzed by radiology expertise. Statistical analysis was carried out with the help of SPSS 16. Result Out of 120 patients, 75% were males and mean age was 54.70±15.56 years. The mean CT severity score was 18.35±6.87. Pure ground glass opacities was seen in 74(61.7%), reticulations 89(74.2%) and crazy-paving pattern 28(23.3%). CT scans with bilateral 118(98.3%) and peripheral involvement 109(90.8%) in all five lobes. CT- severity score was positively correlated with oxygen and mechanical ventilation requirement (P-value < 0.05 and 0.011 respectively). Conclusion CT findings including pure ground glass opacities, reticulations, bilateral and peripheral involvement involving all five lobes were more frequent. Our data suggest that CT-severity score significantly correlates with oxygen and mechanical ventilation requirements.

Vaginal Atresia with Cervical Agenesis, a Rare Congenital Malformation.

Congenital vaginal atresia and cervical agenesis is a rare congenital abnormality of the female genital tract. Here we report a case of 15-year old girl with primary amenorrhea with hematometra, presented with lower abdominal mass. She was symptomatic since 5 months and visited local hospital after 4 months of onset of her symptoms when it became severe, where diagnostic laparotomy was performed for suspected Adnexal mass. Intraoperatively adnexal mass was adhered with and extended up to the uterus with 16 weeks size of uterus. Abdomen was closed without any further intervention and was referred to higher center for needful. When she presented to Kathmandu Model Hospital, she was asymptomatic on her 5th post-operative day of laparotomy. We planned for surgical intervention after examination and investigation. Drainage with vaginoplasty with amnion graft with placement of mould was done.

Chronic kidney disease in patients at high risk of cardiovascular disease in the United Arab Emirates: A population-based study.

Chronic kidney disease has become an increasingly significant clinical and public health issue, accounting for 1.1 million deaths worldwide. Information on the epidemiology of chronic kidney disease and associated risk factors is limited in the United Arab Emirates. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the incidence and causes of chronic kidney disease stages 3-5 in adult United Arab Emirates nationals with or at high risk of cardiovascular disease. This retrospective study included 491 adults with or at high risk of cardiovascular disease (diabetes mellitus or associated clinical disease) who attended outpatient clinics at a tertiary care hospital in Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates. Estimated glomerular filtration rate was assessed every 3 months from baseline to June 30, 2017. Chronic kidney disease stages 3-5 were defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 for ≥ 3 months. Multivariable Cox's proportional hazards analysis was used to determine the independent risk factors associated with developing chronic kidney disease stages 3-5. The cumulative incidence of chronic kidney disease stages 3-5 over a 9-year period was 11.4% (95% confidence interval 8.6, 14.0). The incidence rate of these disease stages was 164.8 (95% confidence interval 121.6, 207.9) per 10,000 person-years. The independent risk factors for developing chronic kidney disease stages 3-5 were older age, history of coronary heart disease, history of diabetes mellitus, and history of smoking. These data may be useful to develop effective strategies to prevent chronic kidney disease development in high-risk United Arab Emirates nationals.

Geomorphic and geologic controls of geohazards induced by Nepal's 2015 Gorkha earthquake.

The Gorkha earthquake (magnitude 7.8) on 25 April 2015 and later aftershocks struck South Asia, killing ~9000 people and damaging a large region. Supported by a large campaign of responsive satellite data acquisitions over the earthquake disaster zone, our team undertook a satellite image survey of the earthquakes' induced geohazards in Nepal and China and an assessment of the geomorphic, tectonic, and lithologic controls on quake-induced landslides. Timely analysis and communication aided response and recovery and informed decision-makers. We mapped 4312 coseismic and postseismic landslides. We also surveyed 491 glacier lakes for earthquake damage but found only nine landslide-impacted lakes and no visible satellite evidence of outbursts. Landslide densities correlate with slope, peak ground acceleration, surface downdrop, and specific metamorphic lithologies and large plutonic intrusions.

Rigid endoscopic evaluation of conventional curettage adenoidectomy.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the results of conventional adenoidectomy, using rigid endoscopy of the nasopharynx, and to establish the role of such evaluation in facilitating complete adenoid removal via the curettage technique. DESIGN: Descriptive rigid endoscopic evaluation of the nasopharynx before and after adenoid curettage, and following subsequent endoscopy-assisted adenoidectomy. SETTING: Tertiary referral centre. PATIENTS: Forty-one consecutive children with symptomatic adenoid hypertrophy scheduled to undergo adenoidectomy. RESULTS: Rigid endoscopic evaluation indicated that conventional curettage, used alone, failed to completely remove adenoid tissue from the superomedial choanae and anterior vault in all cases; incomplete removal was also seen in other parts of the choanae (in 67.2 per cent of patients), the eustachian tube opening (63 per cent), the nasopharyngeal roof (61.78 per cent) and the fossa of Rosenmuller (61 per cent). Subsequent rigid endoscopy-assisted adenoidectomy successfully removed the residual adenoid tissue from all nasopharyngeal sites, except the eustachian tube opening in two cases. CONCLUSION: Conventional curettage adenoidectomy misses a substantial amount of adenoid tissue. Rigid endoscopy-assisted adenoidectomy improves this result by enabling localisation of any residual adenoid tissue.

Diagnostic accuracy of fine needle aspiration cytology in thyroid swellings.

BACKGROUND: Proper management of the disease depends upon accurate diagnosis. Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology has become the investigation of choice because of its high accuracy, simplicity, minimal-invasiveness, quick result and reliability. METHODS: All the patients with thyroid disease, irrespective of age and gender, who underwent thyroid were studied. These patients had their fine needle aspiration Cytology was done in our centre. Detailed history, physical examination, routine investigations, radiological investigations (including CT scans when needed), hormonal assay, (T3, T4, TSH ), ultrasound of neck and FNAC were done. Pre- operative fine needle aspiration results were compared with histopathology results of operated specimen and then analyzed statistically to assess the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of the result. RESULTS: There were total of 51 patients. Age ranges from 21 to 62 years. The study duration was from May 2006 to February 2011. Out of 51 patients, 82.35% (n=42) were females and 17.64% (n=9) were males. In 43 patients, FNAC showed benign lesions, of which 40 were true negative (TN) and three false negative (FN), which on histopathology reported malignancy. Remaining eight cases were diagnosed as malignancy on histopathology of which seven cases were true positive (TP), one case of false positive (FP) was detected in our study. Over all Sensitivity was 70% and specificity was 97.5% and accuracy of FNAC was 92.1%. CONCLUSIONS: FNAC should be performed in all cases of thyroid nodules because of its high sensitivity and specificity to differentiate benign from malignant lesions and counsel the patient as well as plan surgery accordingly. Expenditure, time and the hassle of revision surgery is minimized by the pre operative FNAC report.

Cross-border referral for early breast cancer: an analysis of radiation fractionation patterns.

Because of increasing waiting times for adjuvant radiation in the province of Ontario, patients from one Canadian centre were referred to two centres in the United States. This situation provided an opportunity to compare radiation practices.We performed a retrospective review of radiation prescribed to patients following breast-conserving surgery for invasive breast cancer. Patients with positive margins, 4 or more positive lymph nodes, recurrent disease, or large tumours (>5 cm) were excluded. For comparison, we reviewed a random sample of similar patients treated at the Canadian centre during the same period. A total of 120 referred and 217 non-referred patients were eligible for comparison. The analysis included 98 pairs of patients (N = 196), fully matched on age, nodal status, T stage, grade, and estrogen receptor (er) status.Mean patient age was 60.7 years. The median total dose and number of fractions differed between centres [6040 cGy in 32 fractions (United States) vs. 4250 cGy in 16 fractions (Canadian), both p < 0.001). Boost was used more often in the United States (97% vs. 9%, p < 0.001). Variation in prescribing patterns was seen. In the United States, seven different schedules for whole-breast irradiation were used; at the Canadian centre, two schedules were prescribed. Predicted radiobiologic effects of these schedules were calculated to be similar.Differences in fractionation patterns were observed between and within U.S. and Canadian centres. Such variability is likely to affect patient convenience and resource utilization. Although patient selection, referring surgeon, and change in policies may account for some of the observed differences, further research is necessary to better understand the causes.

Comprehensive abortion care service at Kathmandu Medical College--an experience.

INTRODUCTION: His Majesty's Government amended the Nepal Criminal Code (Muluki Ain)--for Liberalising abortion law in the month of Chaitra 2058 (March 2002) and Royal Assent was given on 10th Asoj 2059 (27th September 2002). Accordingly Comprehensive Abortion Care (CAC) Services was initiated in the country. Kathmandu Medical College after enlisting with Ministry of Health started this service from June 2004. OBJECTIVE: This study was carried out to know--1. Reasons for undergoing CAC service. 2. The complications after the CAC services. 3. The various contraceptive methods adopted by the client following CAC. METHODOLOGY: Hospital based prospective study was carried out in Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology at KMCTH from the period July 2004 to April 2005. Total 160 patients who asked for CAC were enrolled in the study. Counselling, history taking and general examination and per vaginal examination was carried out at the visit. CAC was performed with premedication with Doxycycline 100 mg and Ibuprofen 400 mg half an hour before the procedure. Paracervical block was also given with 1% xylocaine. MVA was performed as described in standard techniques. Patient was discharged after 1-2 hours of observation and with contraception opted by the clients. RESULTS: Main reason for performing CAC was unwanted pregnancy in 66.75%. Complication following CAC was 1.25%. Post CAC contraception was adopted by 93%. Most preferred method was Inj. Depoprovera CONCLUSION: The reason for CAC service asked by the patients was unwanted pregnancy. CAC service performed had minimal complication and also gave the opportunity for contraception.

Control of epidemic group A meningococcal meningitis in Nepal.

During the first six months of 1983, an epidemic of serogroup A meningococcal meningitis occurred in the Kathmandu valley of Nepal, resulting in 875 cases and 95 deaths. The annual attack rate was 103 cases per 100,000 population, with a peak attack rate occurring in April. Epidemic meningococcal disease had not been recognized previously in Nepal. Early in 1984, a review of hospital-based data on pyogenic meningitis in Kathmandu showed three times as many cases per month compared with the same period the previous year, suggesting that a recurrent epidemic was unfolding. Beginning in February 1984, a vaccination campaign directed at a high-risk target population of people aged 1-24 years was launched; over 329,000 doses of bivalent A/C meningococcal vaccine were given, achieving approximately 64% coverage of the target population. A dramatic decline in the number of new meningitis cases occurred coincident with the initiation of the mass vaccination campaign. This experience demonstrates that it is possible, with appropriate surveillance efforts, to detect an evolving epidemic of meningococcal disease early in its course and to institute control measures in advance of the expected epidemic peak.