Background and Aims:  Hypertension being one of the commonest non communicable diseases is major risk factor leading to premature death.1 With development of, the left ventricular strain imaging technique by echocardiography the consequences of hypertension may be identified and intervene earlier. The aim of study was to show abnormalities in cardiac function in the form of left ventricular strain imaging in hypertensive patients with preserved Ejection fraction. Methods: This  was a cross-sectional, comparative and observational study done in Shahid Gangalal National Heart Centre and National Academy of Medical Sciences, Bir Hospital Kathmandu which included hypertensive patients with baseline examination including a medical history, clinical examination and a standardized trans thoracic echocardiography and strain imaging examination and the findings were compared among age and sex frequency matched 82 healthy adults in 1 : 2 ratio. The independent paired t test was used for the comparative statistical analysis. Results: We enrolled 240 patients in this study, 158 were hypertensive (mean age 48.5 ±6.1 years with 50.6 % female) and 82 healthy control (mean age 45.62 ±6.3 years with 51.2% female). There was no significant difference in conventional echocardiographic parameters between two groups except for left ventricular mass index and relative wall thickness that was highest in hypertensive group (p value of <0.001). The hypertensive population has lower mean global longitudinal strain (GLS) value of -18.6% ± 2.06 SD compared to the healthy control population with mean of -19.5% ± 1.1 SD (p value of <0.001). Conclusion: Hypertensive patients with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction have subclinical left ventricular dysfunction revealed by GLS imaging technique.

Background and Aims: Worldwide many patients are receiving intravascular contrast media (CM) during interventional procedures. Contrast media are used to enhance visualization and guide percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI).1 However, the use of CM also carries the risk of complications and it is important to be aware of these complications. Complications with CM range from mild symptoms to life-threatening conditions like anaphylaxis, hypotension and renal dysfunction and contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) is one of them which can have both short and long term consequences.2 This study aimed to know the incidence of CIN in our center and possible predictors associated with it. Methods: This is the single hospital based cross sectional observational study. Patients undergoing primary PCI were enrolled in the study. All the patients underwent thorough history taking and physical examination. Baseline required laboratory investigations were sent. Electrocardiogram and echocardiography screening was done before taking patient to primary PCI as per the protocol of the hospital. Results: The number of patients enrolled in the study was 83 out of which 65(78.2%) were males and mean age was 59.7±13.2. Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP) among the patients was 103.8±21.3. Almost 2/3rd of the population received intravenous fluids. Minimum contrast volume used was 50ml and maximum was 270. When absolute rise in creatinine was considered 12 (14.5%) had CIN and when percent rise was also considered total 28 (33.7%) had CIN. While evaluating the predictors of CIN, higher mean age (p=0.01), hypotension with mean MAP <60 mmhg (p=0.04)) and higher contrast volume >100ml (p=0.04) was found to be significant. Conclusion: The incidence of CIN in patients undergoing PPCI was similar to the studies done in other parts of the world. Evaluating the predictors of CIN, higher mean age, hypotension and higher contrast volume was the significant predictor.

Background: Organophosphorous(OP) poisoning is a common problem in country like Nepal where agriculture is the backbone of the economy. The primary mechanism of action is inhibition of acetylcholinesterase(ACHE). Organophosphorus poisoning is a possible cause of acute pancreatitis along with alternation of glucose metabolism. Materials and Method: This was a hospital based crosssectional comparative study. The level of serum amylase and glucose were measured in thirty-eight OP poisoned patients at the time of admission, before discharge and were compared. Results: Amongst 38 patients, Majority had mild OP poisoning 27(71.1%) as per Peradeniya Organophosphorus Poisonin(POP) score whereas 9(23.7%) had moderate and 2(5.2%) had severe poisoning. The mean initial serum amylase level in patients with mild poisoning was 152±73.92 (IU/L)(p=0.000), in moderate poisoning was 213.38±69.39 (IU/L) (p=0.223) and in severe poisoning was 171.33±107.22(IU/L) (p=0.259). There was increase in serum amylase level in all patients with poisoning but level did not increase in proportion to increase with severity of POP score. The mean initial serum glucose level in mild poisoning was 132.48±37.73 (Mg/dl) (p=0.024), in moderate poisoning was 139±44.59 (Mg/dl) (p=0.033) and in severe poisoning was 174±23.38 (Mg/dl)(p=0.22). The serum glucose level increased as the severity of POP score increased. The serum amylase and glucose levels in recovering patients showed a tendency to decrease to their normal values. No patient had developed acute symptomatic pancreatitis. Conclusion: Serum amylase and glucose level were increased in all patients with OP poisoning but didn't correlate with the clinical severity. Routine measurement of serum amylase in patients of OP poisoning has little value in the absence of clinical acute pancreatitis.Clinical significance of serum amylase and glucose level in organophosphorus poisoning Koirala M et. al.

Background: Obesity, a chronic disease that is increasing in prevalence in adults, adolescents and children, is now considered a global epidemic. Thyroid dysfunction contributes to the pathogenesis of obesity. Many clinical studies raise the questions of whether thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) changes in physiological limits is associated with obesity and whether there is a link between adipose tissue and hypothalamo-thyroidal axis. Materials and Method: This was a cross-sectional study. All clinically euthyroid patients and healthy volunteer adults of age 18 to 60 years of either gender were included in the study. Fasting blood sample was taken for thyroid function evaluation, which included Free T3, Free T4 and thyroid stimulating hormone. Height, weight, waist circumference and hip circumference were measured. The results were compared with calculated Body Mass Index (BMI). Results: 61 patients who met the inclusion criteria were studied. Among 61 patients 16 had subclinical hypothyroidism, 2 patients had hypothyroidism and 43 were euthyroid. Similarly, 2 underweight patients were observed, 7 had normal weight, 13 were over weight and 39 were obese. The mean TSH according to BMI were 3.8, 4.04, 3.88 and 6.19 respectively. Conclusion: The result in this study showed that the mean TSH increased as BMI increased with significant relationship between serum TSH and BMI (p <0.001). Thus thyroid dysfunction mainly subclinical hypothyroidism and hypothyroidism could be found in association with increased body weight.

Introduction: The risk of active Tuberculosis increases after HIV seroconversion. It progressively increases with declining immunity. Tuberculosis (TB) epidemics in HIV has led to a dramatic upsurge in global TB incidence, resulting in remarkable increase in morbidity and mortality. Many clinical studies had shown that TB is one of the commonest opportunistic infection. This study is conducted to see the incidence of tuberculosis as an opportunistic infection in patients with HIV getting combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) Materials and Methods: This was a hospital based cross-sectional comparative study. Five hundred patients with HIV who are getting cART were enrolled in the study. Results: Analysis of individuals with HIV in our study amongst the 500 patients 266 (53.2%) were males and the remaining 234 (46.68%) were females. Amongst these HIV patients 48(18.04%) males and 17(7.26%) females had tuberculosis. 65(13%) of patients were TB/HIV co-infected. 2(4.1%) of these male TB/HIV patients had cervical gland TB. Conclusion: The incidence of tuberculosis in HIV infected individuals is high. TB is the commonest opportunistic infection (OIs) in people living with HIV/AIDS. Males are predominant gender to have TB/HIV co-infection.

Background and aims: Electrocardiogram of acute ST elevation inferior myocardial infarction can show concomitant ST depression in anterior leads. We aimed to see its significance on coronary angiogram. Methods: Cross sectional study conducted in Department of Cardiology of Shahid Gangalal National Heart Centre from March 2021 to June 2021. Total of 64 patients of acute inferior myocardial infarction were included consecutively. Electrocardiogram were analyzed for the presence of ST depression in anterior leads (V1-V6). Coronary angiogram were obtained. Linear regression analysis was applied to see correlations. Results: Thirty-four (53.12%) participants had significant ST depression in anterior leads. Their mean age was 64.53±11.67 years. Twenty-two (64.70%) were male. Out of them, 13 (38.23%) were hypertensive, 9 (26.47%) were smoker and 7 (20.58%) were diabetic. Among 30 (46.88%) participants without ST depression, mean age was 56.73±13.31 years and 21 (70%) were male. Out of them, 11 (36.66%) were hypertensive, 12 (40%) were smoker and 11 (33.66%) were diabetic. Culprit vessel was right coronary artery in 22 (64.70%) of those with ST depression and 22 (73.33%) of those without ST depression. Significant left anterior descending artery lesion was seen in 19 (55.88%) of those with ST depression and 3 (10%) of those without depression. Anterior ST depression showed positive correlation with left anterior descending artery lesion. Conclusion: ST depression in anterior leads in acute inferior myocardial infarction can be due to presence of concomitant left anterior descending coronary artery disease.

Background and Aims: Frontal QRS-T angle has been previously correlated with long term mortality in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction patients. This study aimed to investigate the prognostic value of frontal QRS-T angle and in-hospital outcomes in the setting of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention. Methods: We evaluated 97 consecutive patients presenting to the emergency department of Shahid Gangalal National Heart Centre with chest pain of less than 12 hours duration, who were subsequently diagnosed as ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction in a prospective observational study. The study was conducted from July 2020 to June 2021.The data evaluation included demographics, clinical variables, electrocardiogram, length of hospital stay and in hospital mortality. Patient outcomes were stratified into three groups according to frontal QRS-T angle. The relationship between mortality and frontal QRS-T angle was tested with chi-square test. The p-value across the groups was again tested for inter-group significance. Results: Out of 97 patients 67 (69.07%) were male and 30 (30.92%) were female., The mean age of study population was 55.8±11.8 years. The patients under study were divided into three groups based on the calculation of fQRST angle as Group 1 (0-45°) being 46(47.4%), Group 2(46-90°) being 20(20.6%) and Group 3 (>90°) with 31(32%) cases. Diabetes and Congestive heart failure (CHF) patients were more likely to have increase in frontal QRST angle (P value 0.029, 0.012 respectively). Atrial fibrillation (AF) was higher among patients in group 3(>90° frontal QRST angle) which was statistically significant (0.012). Although the mean length of hospital stay was higher among patients with highest frontal QRST angle, it was statistically insignificant (p Value 0.062) however, the chance of hospital stay durations significantly increases across three groups at a 5% significance level (p-value: 0.018). In hospital mortality increased with increase in frontal QRST angle with 8.7%, 15% and 22.6% in group 1, 2 and 3 respectively however it was statistically insignificant. Conclusion:  Diabetes, CHF and AF patients were more likely to have increase in frontal QRST angle. The chance of hospital stay duration significantly increases with increase in frontal QRST angle Although the in hospital mortality increased with increase in the frontal QRST angle, it was statistically insignificant. A prospective study with larger sample size will help to clarify its association.