BackgroundAtherogenic dyslipidemia is an important modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease among patients of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Timely detection and characterization of this condition help clinicians estimate future risk of cardiovascular disease and take appropriate preventive measures. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence, pattern and predictors of dyslipidemia in a cohort of Nepalese patients with type 2 diabetes.ResultsWe found mixed dyslipidemia as the most prevalent (88.1%) and isolated dyslipidemia (10.1%) as the least prevalent forms of dyslipidemia in our patients. The most prevalent form of single dyslipidemia was high LDL-C (73.8%) and combined dyslipidemia was high TG, high LDL-C and low HDL-C (44.7%). Prevalence of all single and mixed dyslipidemia was higher in patients with poor glycemic control and hypertension. The glycemic status of patients correlated with their fasting serum lipid profile. Dyslipidemia was associated mainly with male gender, poor glycemic control and hypertension.ConclusionsAtherogenic dyslipidemia is associated mainly with male gender, poor glycemic control and hypertension. It is highly prevalent in Nepalese patients with type 2 diabetes. Urgent lifestyle modification, sustained glycemic control and aggressive lipid lowering treatment plans are necessary to minimize the future risk of cardiovascular disease in this population.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13104-017-2465-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> The incidence of usage of over-the-counter drugs is drastically increasing day by day. Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs are medicines sold directly to consumer without a prescription from health care personnel. In many countries, OTC drugs are selected by a regulatory agency to ensure that they are safe and effective when used without physician’s care. Taking OTC medicines still has risk. Some interact with other medicines, supplements, food and drinks and some causes problem for people with certain medical conditions.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> A descriptive cross sectional was conducted from 1st February - 15th August 2016 among 110 among adults of age group 20 and above residing in Chapapani-12, Pokhara. A pre-tested structured questionnaire were used and data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) for windows version 18.0. Frequency, percentage, chi-square and correlation were performed.  </p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> Nearly 1/3^rd of the respondents (33.6%) were of age group 20-29 years and more than half (60.9%) were female. More than half of the respondents (54%) had good knowledge and less than half (47%) had good practice of OTC. There was significant association of knowledge with age, marital status, education and monthly family income. There was significant association of practice with education of respondents. There was weak positive correlation between knowledge and practice (r =0.211).</p><strong>Conclusions:</strong> This showed that the knowledge hadn’t been fully practiced into action by the community people and still they are lacking the concept of over-the-counter drugs and its safe use in daily living.

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Background:Predicting future coronary heart disease (CHD) risk with the help of a validated risk prediction function helps clinicians identify diabetic patients at high risk and provide them with appropriate preventive medicine.Aim:The aim of this study is to estimate and compare 10-year CHD risks of Nepalese diabetic patients using two most common risk prediction functions: The Framingham risk equation and United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS) risk engine that are yet to be validated for Nepalese population.Patients and Methods:We conducted a hospital-based, cross-sectional study on 524 patients with type 2 diabetes. Baseline and biochemical variables of individual patients were recorded and CHD risks were estimated by the Framingham and UKPDS risk prediction functions. Estimated risks were categorized as low, medium, and high. The estimated CHD risks were compared using kappa statistics, Pearson's bivariate correlation, Bland-Altman plots, and multiple regression analysis.Results:The mean 10-year CHD risks estimated by the Framingham and UKPDS risk functions were 17.7 ± 12.1 and 16.8 ± 15 (bias: 0.88, P > 0.05), respectively, and were always higher in males and older age groups (P < 0.001). The two risk functions showed moderate convergent validity in predicting CHD risks, but differed in stratifying them and explaining the patients' risk profile. The Framingham equation predicted higher risk for patients usually below 70 years and showed better association with their current risk profile than the UKPDS risk engine.Conclusions:Based on the predicted risk, Nepalese diabetic patients, particularly those associated with increased numbers of risk factors, bear higher risk of future CHDs. Since this study is a cross-sectional one and uses externally validated risk functions, Nepalese clinicians should use them with caution, and preferably in combination with other guidelines, while making important medical decisions in preventive therapy of CHD.

Background: It is estimated that, on an average about 35% of infants 0 - 6 months old are exclusively breastfed around the world. Optimal breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices can save the lives of 1.5 million children under five every year. The condition is further worse in slum areas where vulnerable group of people resides. So, this study aims to assess prevalence on initiation of breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted from November 2017 - February 2018 among 400 married women having child between 6 - 24 months. A pre-tested structured questionnaire comprising of socio-demographic characteristics, exclusive breastfeeding and complementary feeding practice were used. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) 18.0 version. Results: About 55% of the mothers had initiated breastfeeding within an hour (<1 hour). About half (50.5%) had practiced exclusive breastfeeding to their children. More than fifty percentages (51.5%)of the mothers introduced complementary foods at 6 months. Age at pregnancy, mode of delivery, family size and colostrum feeding is associated with early initiation of breastfeeding at 95% CI i.e. p value <0.05. Whereas, age of mother, ethnicity, mode of delivery and initiation of breastfeeding were significantly associated with exclusive breastfeeding at 95% CI i.e. p value <0.05. Conclusions: The breastfeeding and complementary feeding practice in slum area is not optimal. Health awareness program focusing on early initiation of breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding practices and timely introduction of complementary foods in these vulnerable groups of population is needed o prevent its untoward effects. Keywords: complementary feeding; exclusive breastfeeding; initiation; malnutrition.