Background: Demirjian’s method is widely used method for dental age estimation. This study was conducted with objectives of applying Demirjian’s 8 teeth method to estimate age in Nepalese Population and to determine Nepal-specific formulas.Methods: We had used the Orthopantomographs of Nepalese people of age above five and below 23 years. The radiographs were compared to the ‘Tooth Development Chart’ and each tooth studied was assigned with any one of the 10 developmental stages using Demirijian’s 8 teeth method and total maturity scores determined. Formulas were derived using regression analysis, wherein the total maturity score obtained for each individual was considered as the independent variable and the corresponding age as the dependent variable in the STATA 15.1 statistical program. Results: There was underestimation of age in both the sexes by the original method. Regression equations were derived for males and females separately for age five to 18 years and again after adding cases up to 23 years. The estimation was better for males up to 18 years [R2=0.94, Mean Absolute Error (MAE) 0.747 years and SD 0.644] than for females up to 18 years (R2 = 0.89, MAE 0.886 years and SD 0.925). The estimation was better for up to 18 years than for up to 23 years in both sexes.Conclusions: Demirijian’s 8 teeth method underestimated age in the study population and thus population specific equations based on the method are better for dental age estimation. The age estimation utilizing the equations from Nepalese population has given acceptable results.Keywords: Age estimation; demirijian’s method; dental age estimation; forensic age estimation; tooth development chart

A cross-sectional study was performed among 50 patients of acute (less than24 hours) cases of craniocerebral trauma over a period of four months. The patient's level of consciousness (GCS) was determined and a brain CT scan without contrast media was performed. A sixth generation General Electric (GE) CT scan was utilized and 5mm and 10mm sections were obtained for infratentorial and supratentorial parts respectively. RESULTThe age range of the patients was 1 to 75 years (mean age 35.6± 21.516 years) and male: female ratio was 3.1:1. The most common causes of head injury were road traffic accident (RTA) (60%), fall injury (20%), physical assault (12%) and pedestrian injuries (8%). The distribution of patients in accordance with consciousness level was found to be 54% with mild TBI (GCS score 12 to 14), 28% with moderate TBI (GCS score 11 to 8) and 18% with severe TBI (GCS score less than 7). The presence of mixed lesions and midline shift regardless of the underlying lesion on CT scan was accompanied by lower GCS. CONCLUSIONThe presence of mixed lesions and midline shift regardless of the underlying lesion on CT scan were accompanied with lower GCS. Patients having single lesion had more GCS level than mixed level and mid line shift type of injury.

Background: Psychological impact of COVID-19 pandemic on health care workers (HCWs) is a burning issue that needs to be taken care of with utmost importance. The main objective of this study was to assess depression, anxiety and stress among HCWs at a tertiary care hospital dedicated for COVID-19 while fighting with the ongoing second wave of Covid. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 245 HCWs at a COVID dedicated hospital in July and August 2021, after IRC approval and with informed written consents. Convenient sampling method was applied. Depression, anxiety and stress scale (DASS) 21 and semi structured proforma were utilized. All the statistical calculations were done by STATA 15.1. Frequency and percentage were calculated as descriptive statistics for baseline characteristics. Results: Depression was observed in 22.86%, anxiety in 50.61% and stress in 15.51%. Stress was highest among nurses (18.18%), followed by clinicians (16.36%). Anxiety was seen highest among nurses (63.64%) followed by pharmacists (60%). Depression was highly prevalent in nurses (26.57%) compared with clinicians (24.45%) and laboratory staff (6.67%). Conclusions: Despite developments in the knowledge, management, exposure and experience with COVID-19 since first wave, depression, anxiety and stress has affected health care workers. Therefore, mental health needs of the health care workers have to be taken care of for maintaining a better effective healthy workforce and service delivery.

Background and Objective: The study was conducted with the objectives to establish the measurements of spinal canal and lumbar vertebra at L3 to L5 region in Nepalese population.Methodology: It is a cross-sectional study among 36 patients (17 males and 19 females) having age variation from 20-60years whose abdomen was scanned by GE bright speed 16 slice CT scanner with slice thickness 10mm and then reconstructed at 1.2mm for images in different body plains for the measurement of spinal canal.Results: Almost all the parameters increase from L3 to L4 to L5 but the difference is more between L4 and L5 than between L3 and L4 except in vertebral body width (VBW) where it increases smoothly, however canal body ratio (CBR) remained constant at 0.6. All the parameters were larger in males than in females except antero-posterior dimension of canal in transverse section (APT) which is larger in females. It also shows that none of the parameters vary significantly depending upon sex except vertebral body width (VBW) at L3 which is 39.041 ± 4.1334 in males and 36.474 ± 2.8509 in females (p=0.036).Conclusion: Antero- posterior dimension in trans-verse and sagittal is almost identical but the chances of measurement error is higher in transverse due to trigonal shape of canal so AP diameter should be done in sagittal section as this is consistent and measures 14mm at L3, 14mm at L4 and 15 mm at L5 hence defining average antero-posterior canal dimension in sagittal section to be 14 mm but CBR constant at 0.6.JCMS Nepal 2014; 10(4):6-11