Introduction: Blood grouping is conventionally done with invasive method by taking blood samples. The objective of this study is to determine blood group with uninvasive procedure by taking fingerprints of the participants and know the associations between their fingerprints and blood groups. Methods: Seven hundred participants of both genders with no any age limitation from Manipal Teaching Hospital and Manipal College of Medical Sciences were randomly selected. The blood grouping was done by cross reacting blood sample with the antibodies. The fingerprints were taken with the help of stamp pad imprinting the finger ridges over A4 size white papers. The loop, whorl and arch patterns were studied. Results: O+ve blood group 224 (32%) was most prevalent among 700 participants. The loop pattern was highly distributed 3708 (53%) in all blood groups except in A-ve blood group with highest distribution of whorl 20 (40%). The mean comparisons of specific fingerprint in total and also in individual fingers with different ABO and ABO-Rh blood groups showed no any statistical association with P>0.05. However, the loop distribution in individual finger was highest in right middle finger (M) of B-ve blood group 5 (10%). The whorl distribution in individual finger  was highest in right index (I), left thumb (T) and left ring (R) fingers of AB+ve blood group 20  (5.5% each). Similarly, the arch distribution was highest in right index fingers of A-ve blood group 3 (6%). Conclusions: The mean comparison of different fingerprints with ABO and Rh blood groups showed no significant statistical association concluding fingerprints cannot be used for blood grouping. Keywords:  arch; blood group; fingerprints; loop; whorl.

Background: The Body Mass Index, Waist Circumference and Waist by Hip ratio have linear relation with increase in blood pressure. This study will correlate blood pressure with these anthropometric measures in normal subjects to find out the subtle increase in which of these measure would linearly increase blood pressure. The aim is to find the better anthropometric measure to relate with blood pressure changes.Methods: One hundred and seventy five healthy medical students were enrolled for the study in Manipal College of Medical Sciences, Pokhara after getting ethical clearance. The mean reading of right brachial arterial blood pressure with mercury manometer in sitting position was taken. For anthropometric measures, body weight was measured in weighing scale and height and circumferences of waist and hip were taken with non elastic measuring tape. The data were used to derive required variables. Results: Out of 175 participants, 59% were male and remaining female. The non obese participants were 46.3% followed by obese (22.9%) as per Asia Pacific Guidelines for The Body Mass Index. The positive correlation of increase in Systolic and Diastolic components of blood pressure was statistically highly significant [P=0.00] in female with normal Waist Circumference and Waist by Hip ratio. However in general, SBP was positively correlated with Waist by Hip ratio [r=0.44] and DBP was positively correlated with Waist Circumference [r=0.43] and were statistically highly significant [P=0.00].Conclusions: The Waist Circumference and Waist by Hip Ratio have stronger correlation with blood pressure components than Body Mass Index even in normal subjects.Keywords: Blood pressure; body mass index; hip ratio; waist: waist circumference.

Background: Disturbances of the autonomic nervous system play a crucial role in the pathogenesis and clinical course of many diseases. Sympathetic response is an exaggerated response to stress. Studies have shown that enhanced sympathetic response to stress is an indication of prehypertensive states. Young offspring of hypertensive parents are a good model for assessing sympathetic reactivity prior to clinical hypertension. The aim of this study is to compare the sympathetic response in normotensive offspring of both hypertensive and normotensive parents.Methods: 100 young normotensives, non-smoking and healthy students (male and female) of Manipal College of medical science with a family history of hypertension and 100 young normotensives students, non-smoking and healthy with a negative family history of hypertension were enrolled in the study. Blood pressures at rest and after Isometric hand grip test and cold pressor test were measured. Statistical analysis was done to compare the blood pressure at rest and after isometric hand grip exercise and cold pressor test using independent t test.Results: A statistically significant increase in systolic and diastolic blood pressures were observed in normotensive offspring of hypertensive parents, compared to the normotensive offspring of normotensive parents indicating sympathetic overactivity after isometric hand grip exercise and cold pressor test (P<0.001). Conclusions: Normotensive offspring of hypertensive parents showed increase sympathetic reactivity after stress was given in the form of isometric hand grip exercise and cold pressor test. Thus, normotensive offspring of hypertensive parents are more likely to develop future hypertension and the risk is greater when both the parents were hypertensive.Keywords: Cold pressor test; Isometric hand grip test; Sympathetic reactivity.

Background: The body mass Index and waist hip ratio have shown to have linear relation with increase in vital capacity. The purpose of the study is to find the relation of both BMI and waist hip ratio with the vital capacity. Methods: In this prospective cross-sectional study, 240 stu­dents from Manipal College of medical sciences, Pokhara were enrolled. Respiratory function was assessed by stu­dent’s spirometer. The mean of three reading was noted as reading for vital capacity. Height, weight, waist and hip measurement was done. The data were used to derive BMI and the waist hip ratio. Data analysis was done with spss17. The Pearson’s correlation test was applied for correlating vi­tal capacity with the anthropometric measures considered. Results: Out of 240 students 59% were male and 41% were female. There was no correlation between BMI and vital ca­pacity and also between Waist-hip ratio and vital capacity. Conclusions: The study revealed that anthropometric and body compositions are not predictors of respiratory muscle strength.

Background: The body mass index and waist hip ratio have shown to have linear relation with increase in vital capacity. The purpose of the study is to find the relation of both body mass index (bmi) and waist hip ratio with the vital capacity. Methods: In this prospective cross-sectional study, 240 students from manipal college of medical sciences, pokhara were enrolled. Respiratory function was assessed by student’s spirometer. The mean of three reading was noted as reading for vital capacity. Height, weight, waist and hip measurement was done. The data were used to derive bmi and the waist hip ratio. Data analysis was done with spss17. The pearson’s correlation test was applied for correlating vital capacity with the anthropometric measures considered. Results: Out of 240 students 59% were male and 41% were female. There was no correlation between bmi and vital capacity and also between waist-hip ratio and vital capacity. Conclusion: The study revealed that anthropometric and body compositions are not predictors of respiratory muscle strength.

Background The electrical activities of heart recorded as electrocardiogram (ECG) are mostly done in supine postures. The body postural changes have effects in these electrical activities in heart which needs to be properly recognized. Objective To find the variations in electrocardiogram during postural changes from supine to upright i.e. sitting and standing postures among apparently healthy young adults. Method A cross sectional study was carried out in Manipal College of Medical Sciences after the institutional ethical clearance. The apparently healthy 30 Nepalese male medical students between 18-25 years of age were enrolled. The electrocardiography was elicited in supine, sitting and standing postures in the participants after 5 minutes’ interval between each procedure in each participant. Result The highest mean amplitudes of Q wave were seen in sitting postures (0.12±0.04 mm), R wave in standing postures (1.46±0.55 mm) and S wave also in standing postures (0.23±0.2 mm). The mean amplitudes of Q and S waves showed statistically significant difference when compared between supine and upright postures. The maximum QRS duration was found while sitting (0.08±0.01 ms) and maximum heart rate in standing posture (82.43±10.59/min). The mean comparison of heart rate was statistically highly significant when compared between supine and standing postures. The mean QRS frontal axis was comparatively increased while standing (64.30±39.29). Conclusion The electrical activities of heart vary during postural changes among apparently healthy young adults. These changes are most prominent when compared between supine and standing postures which urges for careful interpretation of electrocardiogram if it is done in upright postures.

Background: Peak expiratory flow rate is an indicator of respiratory capacity and bronchial responsiveness which can be useful in diagnosing respiratory diseases. However, a circadian rhythm has been observed in its values. The aim of this study was to determine the diurnal variation of peak expiratory flow rate in healthy young adults. Methods: A total of 160 subjects of age 18-24 years were studied in this cross-sectional study done on students of Manipal College of Medical Sciences between March to September 2021. Subjects were asked to record their peak expiratory flow rates five times a day using Mini-Wright peak flow meter after adequate training. Diurnal variability was expressed as amplitude percent mean and standard deviation percent mean. Data analysis was done in SPSS version 25 by Kruskal Wallis test and Mann Whitney U test. Results: Lowest mean peak expiratory flow rate (L/min) was observed in morning in both males (564.21 ±  57.10) and females (320.68 ± 17.05) with progressive rise throughout the day thus reaching highest value in evening (males: 583.16 ± 64.45; females: 349.13 ± 36.32). Statistically significant (<0.005) difference in mean peak expiratory flow rate at different time intervals was found in the overall population. Diurnal variation calculated as amplitude percent mean and standard deviation percent mean was found to be significantly higher in females than males (<0.005). Conclusions: Significant diurnal variation of peak expiratory flow rate was seen in healthy young adults.

Introduction: Nutritional assessment of school children and adolescent is one of the most cost-effective ways of keeping track of overall wellbeing of children in the society. The objective of this study was to find out the nutritional status of school children and adolescent of Pokhara city using anthropometric indicators. Method: A total of 1160 students from the schools across the Pokhara city, Nepal, were enrolled in this study. Anthropometric measurements, height and weight, mean height and weight for age, and BMI for age were estimated. Undernutrition and obesity were defined as per the 2007 WHO growth reference data. Association among the variables were determined by applying statistical tests: t-test and Anova. Result: Growth curve of weight and BMI for age were above 15th percentile and height for age were between 3rd and 15th percentile, in both, boys and girls. The proportion of stunted and underweight students were 26.29% (boys 51% and girls 41%) and 24.65% (boys 53% and girls 47%) respectively. The proportion of thin, severely thin, overweight and obese were 3.53%, 5.03%, 12.49% and 8.96% respectively. Father’s occupation and education, mother’s occupation, school type, number of siblings were statistically associated with mean BMI and height. Conclusion: Stunted and underweight were seen in a quarter of students, as well overweight and obesity in less than 10% of school children surveyed.