Background: Hepatitis B vaccine is the single most effective and safest strategy for the prevention of the disease among health care workers (HCW), trainees and medical students. There is scanty information on knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) regarding Hepatitis B vaccination among medical students who are likely to get exposed in the future as they start practicing. This study was undertaken to understand the knowledge, attitude and practice of hepatitis B vaccination among clinical medical students of Manipal College of Medical sciences at Pokhara, Nepal.Methods: Two hundred and four medical students were enrolled for an observational, cross-sectional study at Manipal College of Medical sciences at Pokhara, Nepal after obtaining ethical clearance from Institutional Review Committee. Answers to pre-tested questionnaire were collected. Knowledge, attitude and practice regarding Hepatitis B vaccination were studied. Results: All participants demonstrated good knowledge and positive attitude towards Hepatitis B infection and vaccination. However majority had poor practice towards it. Only 47.1% were completely vaccinated. The most common reason for non vaccination was that many thought they will vaccinate in internship or when they start practicing.Conclusion: Despite good knowledge and positive attitude towards Hepatitis B infection and vaccination, low rates of vaccination and poor practice was observed among HCW indicating the necessity of encouragement for vaccination and proper practices among them. All medical students should be immunized against Hepatitis B during their medical school. Regular Hepatitis B vaccination, educational and awareness programs must be conducted in coordination and with active participation of the medical students.Keywords: Attitude; Hepatitis B; knowledge; Medical students; Practice; Vaccination

Background and Aims: Microalbuminuria (MA) (urinary albumin excretion of 30-299 mg/d in a 24 hours collection or 30-299 μg/mg creatinine in a spot collection) is well accepted marker of micro and macrovascular damage in patients with diabetes mellitus and is considered as a surrogate marker for endothelial dysfunction in diabetic and non-diabetic patients. This study has been undertaken to investigate the prevalence of microalbuminuria among non-diabetic Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) patients. Methods: A hospital based cross-sectional study of 100 consecutive non-diabetic ACS patients was done. Traditional risk factors (like smoking, hypertension, dyslipidemia, obesity) of coronary artery disease were studied for the association with microalbuminuria in study subjects. Investigations were carried out in all the cases as per proforma and entered in the SPSS software for analysis. Results: The prevalence of microalbuminuria in non-diabetic ACS patients in the study was 73% which was statistically significant (p=0.04). A statistically significant higher prevalence of microalbuminuria was seen with different presentations of ACS; being highest (81.96%) in NSTEMI followed by STEMI (63.15%) and Unstable Angina (55%). It was found to be significant with the history of smoking (81.25%, p=0.013) and hypertension (82.25%, p=0.013). No significant association was found with age, body mass index (BMI) and dyslipidemia. A statistically significant higher prevalence of microalbuminuria was seen with increasing number of risk factors. Conclusion: There is increased prevalence of microalbuminuria in ACS patents. MA was associated with statistically higher number of cases with history of smoking and hypertension and presence of increasing number of risk factors.

Background: Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is a most common micro vascular complication of diabetes posing significant morbidity and mortality with early and insidious onset. Studies has variably pointed that older age, gender, duration of diabetes, dyslipidemia, are linked with development of DPN. Aims and Objectives: To determine the prevalence of neuropathy in diabetic patients and see its link with age, gender, duration of diabetes, therapy and ethnicity. Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study involving 110 clinically diagnosed diabetic patients, meeting the inclusion criteria. Basic demographic data were taken during clinical examination. Presence of degree of neuropathy was screened by measuring vibration perception threshold using Biothesiometer. Data was entered on SPSS and were categorized, necessary non parametric statistical tests were applied to these categorical variables as needed. The level of significance was set at p value less than 0.05. Results: Presence of neuropathy was measured in 110 diabetic patients. The overall prevalence of DPN was 45.45%. Frequency of neuropathy was higher with increase in age with 72.7% in more than 60 years of age and 23.5% in less than or equal to 40 years of age group (p=0.007). Similarly, the increasing trend of DPN with increase in duration of DM was evident in this study with DPN present in more than 55% of patients with more than 5 years of diabetes(p=0.004). Conclusion: The prevalence rate of DPN in diabetes was observed to be higher (45.45%). Our result suggested that DPN is associated with old age and the duration of diabetes mellitus. Asian Journal of Medical Sciences Vol.10(1) 2019 72-76

Background: Most of the bleeding in the lower gastrointestinal tract are usually located in the rectum, colon and terminal ileum. Colonoscopy is an invasive procedure used for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes for detection of lower gastrointestinal (GI) tract pathologies and haemorrhage. Aims and Objective: The purpose of the study was to understand the clinical profile and colonoscopic findings in patients with lower gastrointestinal haemorrhage. Materials and Methods: Seventy-two patients presenting with lower GI haemorrhage were included in the study. All patients underwent colonoscopy after achieving hemodynamic stability and bowel preparation. Clinical profile and colonoscopic findings were studied. Results: The common aetiologies of lower GI haemorrhage were haemorrhoids followed by nonspecific colitis, colorectal polyp and carcinoma of colon. Rectum followed by sigmoid harbored majority of pathologies that presented with lower GI haemorrhage. Conclusions: The diagnosis of the pathological lesion and management of underlying cause not only prevents another episode of lower GI haemorrhage but also help in reducing morbidity and mortality. Colonoscopy or at least sigmoidoscopy is strongly recommended for evaluation, diagnosis and management of lower GI haemorrhage.

Introduction: Snakebite is an environmental hazard associated with significant morbidity and mortality. It is an important medical emergency and cause of significant numbers of hospital admissions in many parts of the Asian region. In this study, we assess the epidemiology and clinical outcome of snake bite. Methods: This was a retrospective study of all patients with snake bites admitted to the Department of Internal Medicine, Manipal Teaching Hospital, Pokhara, kaski, Nepal. A total numbers of 265 snake bite cases in the period of 2013 to 2016 were enrolled in this study. Snake bite cases by person, place and time along with month of snake bite and time of bite, were analyzed. We also identified the types of snake and site of the bite. Sign and symptoms were clinically observed and the management of the snake bite cases was clinically done. Prothrombin time (PT) test along with INR value was performed by Medical Technologist at the Department of Laboratory, Manipal Teaching Hospital. Data was entered in to the Microsoft excel and analyzed by SPPS version 21.0. Percentages were applied to find the results. Results: Total numbers of snake bite cases were 265. More than half, 60.4% of the snake bite cases were females. Regarding the age group, nearly half, 47.9% were in the age group of 20 - 40 years and 9.8% cases were in the age group of 60 years and above. In this study, 50.6% bite cases were held at the day time and most of the bites were reported/ observed in the limb, 53.6% in lower limb, and 43.4% in the upper limb. Very few bites were in the head, neck and trunk. Our result shows 49.1% were green snake and 30.9% snake were unidentified. When we observed the sign and symptoms, 153 (57.7%) cases showed local swelling, 83 (31.3%) showed fang mark. Hematological manifestation were 144 (54.3%) cases and complication observed in 145 (54.7%) cases. Snake bite cases were managed after PT/INR test, INR. Antibiotic were prescribed in 154 cases and in 135 (50.9%) cases blood was transfused. There were no fetal cases noticed among hospital admitted snake bite cases. Conclusion: There is gross disparity in the management and outcomes of snake bite in different hospitals. Snake bite cases should manage in tertiary care hospital as early as possible.

Introduction: Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is characterized by reversible neuropsychological features and is observed with advanced and decompensated cirrhosis of the liver. Patients outcomes and survival depends on clinical presentation, identification of the precipitating factor, early management, and treatment of complications. This study aims to find out the clinical profile of cirrhotic patients with hepatic encephalopathy, their precipitating factors, and clinical outcomes in patients admitted at a tertiary care Teaching Hospital in Gandaki province, Nepal. Materials and Methods: An observational, cross-sectional, hospital-based prospective study comprising of 140 cirrhotic patients with encephalopathy was conducted over a study period of 18 months. Their clinical profile, precipitating factors, and outcomes during hospitalization including mortality were studied. The data analysis was done using SPSS version 20 and a P-value of ≤0.05 was considered significant. Results: Majority (36.5%) of the patients presented with Grade II HE. Upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis were the most common precipitating factors. Inpatient mortality was 22.9%. The increased mortality rate was observed in patients with Child class C and with higher grading (Grade III and IV) of hepatic encephalopathy and in presence of more than two precipitating factors Conclusion: Most of the patients presented with Grade II HE. Upper gastrointestinal bleed and infections were the most common precipitating factors. Patients with Hepatic encephalopathy of Grades III and IV, those with CTP Child class C, and in presence of more than two precipitating factors have high mortality.

Introduction: Stroke is one of the major causes of increased morbidity and death. Large-vessel atherosclerosis of intracranial and extra cranial carotid vessels is an important cause of ischemic stroke. This research was undertaken to study the carotid Doppler findings in patients with acute ischemic stroke. Methods: A hospital-based prospective cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2020 till December 2020 in the department of Radio diagnosis and Imaging at Manipal Teaching Hospital, Pokhara, Nepal. Neuro-imaging and carotid Doppler findings in patients with ischemic stroke were studied. Data analysis was done using SPSS 20. Results: The mean age of subjects with ischemic stroke was 64 ± 13.4 years with the majority of cases in the age group of 51-70 years of age with male predominance (M: F= 3: 2). Lacunar infarcts (34.2%) were the most common findings followed by MCA infarct (30%) and ACA infarct (10.8%). Carotid plaques were seen in 43.3% patients. Bilateral ICA atheromatous plaque was seen in 48.1% of patients. Carotid bulb was the common site for plaque formation. Type III plaque was the commonest type. Significant ICA stenosis > 50 % was observed in 24.2% patients. Age >50 years, male sex, smoking, hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia were important risk factors. Conclusion: Carotid artery Doppler demonstrated atherosclerotic plaques and significant stenosis in patients with ischemic stroke. Increasing age >50 years, male sex, smoking, hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia were associated with an increased rate of atherosclerosis, carotid stenosis and ischemic stroke.

Background: Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a progressive, chronic type of autoimmune disease and the role of vitamin D in the pathogenesis of RA is under investigation. Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the vitamin D deficiency in patients with RA as compared to healthy controls and to assess the relationship between serum vitamin D and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibody levels in patients with newly diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis. Methods: The study was conducted between January 2017 to February 2018 at Fishtail Hospital and Research centre. A total of 63 patients with early RA diagnosed and a control group of 56 healthy participants, not on vitamin D supplements were recruited from Department of Internal Medicine. Five ml of blood samples were drawn from cubital veins. Blood glucose, creatinine, uric acid, calcium, RA factor, 25-hydroxy vitamin D, anti-CCP antibody, and erythrocyte sedimentation rates were measured in a centralized laboratory of Fishtail Hospital and Research centre. Results: The level of serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D were significantly lower in RA group (20.03 ±9.97 ng/mL) in comparison to the control group (24.46 ±8.45 ng/mL) (p<0.003). Our result indicates the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was more in RA group compared with control group (47.61% vs. 33.16%, p <0.002). The level of Anti-CCP is significantly high in RA group than control group. In RA patients serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels were negatively correlated to anti-CCP antibody levels (rs = 0.72, p <0.001), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (rs = 3.95, p <0.005). Conclusion: In RA patient vitamin D deficiency is quite common and serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D level was negatively correlated to anti-CCP antibody level. Our results suggest that vitamin D level is a motivation factor rather than a consequence of RA activity.