Background: Corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become a global public health issue with significant impacts upon the healthcare delivery systems. Previous studies have consistently found elevated levels of C-Reactive Protein and D-dimer with disease severity. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between C-Reactive Protein, D-dimer level and Computed Tomography severity score in patients with SARS-COV-2 pneumonia. Methods: Our study included 76 patients with COVID-19, admitted in COVID Unit of Chitwan Medical College and Teaching Hospital from June 2020 to December 2020. We included COVID-19 cases confirmed by a RT-PCR test and those undergoing High resolution Computed Tomography of chest and having C-Reactive Protein and D-dimer levels done on admission. A semi-quantitative CT score was calculated based on the extent of lobar involvement (0:0%; 1, < 5%; 2:5–25%; 3:26–50%; 4:51–75%; 5, > 75%; range 0–5; global score 0–25. Results: Overall the median CTSS was 15. Mild, moderate and severe CT severity scoring was reported in 5.3%, 60.5% and 34.2% respectively and D-dimer progressively increased across the CTSS severity groups. The difference was significant for CRP, P = 0.007 but not for D-dimer, P = 0.42. Moreover, higher CTSS scores were significantly associated with higher ICU stay, lower recovery rate and higher O2 requirement at discharge. Conclusions: Radiological severity of COVID-19 pneumonia has significant association with elevated C-Reactive Protein level but not with D-dimer level and other routine laboratory parameters.

Background: Sub-clinical hypothyroidism (SCH), overt hypothyroidism and metabolic syndrome (MetS) are recognized risk factors for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM- II).Thyroid function affects MetS parameters including blood pressure (BP), fasting blood sugar (FBS), serum triglycerides (TG) and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). But the relationship between MetS and thyroid functions is yet to be identified clearly. The present study is to investigate the frequency of MetS in patients of SCH and overt hypothyroidism. Materials and Methods: A hospital based cross–sectional study was conducted at Swastik referral laboratory and research centre. In this study, 50 patients with overt hypothyroidism, 50 patients with SCH and 129 euthyroid controls were enrolled. National Cholesterol Education Program- Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP-ATP III; 2005) revision criteria were used to diagnose metabolic syndrome. Thyroid function test (TFT: FT3, FT4 and TSH) was done by using chemiluminescence immunoassay (CLIA) and other tests by using a semi-auto analyzer. ANalysis Of VAriance (ANOVA) test was performed using SPSS (version 16.0). Result: There was a significant difference in the mean of the waist circumference (p=0.031), BP systolic (p=0.010), BP diastolic (p<0.001)), FBS (p=0.001), serum HDL-C (p=0.031) and serum TG (p=0.003) between control, subclinical and overt hypothyroidism group (p<0.001). Prevalence of MetS was 25.6 % in euthyroid controls whereas 44.0% in the SCH group and 62.0% in the overt hypothyroid group (p<0.001). Conclusion: Thyroid dysfunction may be responsible for the development of metabolic syndrome.

Background: Fiberoptic Bronchoscopy is a valuable tool in current respiratory medicine. This study was aimed to evaluate the diagnostic yield of Fiberoptic Bronchoscopy using a wider diameter bronchoscope. Methods: This was a hospital based cross-sectional study carried out in BP Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital from January 2021 to March 2021. Consecutive sampling technique was used where 150 patients were enrolled in the study. Data entry and descriptive analysis were done in IBM SPSS version 20.0. Point estimate at 95% confidence interval was calculated along with frequency and descriptive statistics. Results: The overall yield from the wider Fiberoptic Bronchoscope was 70.07% which was slightly higher compared to literature results from conventional bronchoscopy. Lung mass on CT scan was the most common indication for bronchoscopy and upper lobe bronchus was the most common site for biopsy. Bronchial wash yield was highest for Squamous cell carcinoma with 22.78% followed by Pulmonary Tuberculosis with 21.5%. Endobronchial biopsy yield was highest for Squamous cell carcinoma with 41.21% followed by Adenocarcinoma with 31.42%. Temporary hypoxia and mild bleeding were common but life-threatening complications were rare. Conclusions: Overall findings of our study confirm that the diagnostic yield of Fiberoptic Bronchoscopy is high, particularly when a larger diameter bronchoscope is used which can facilitate wider biopsy forceps for larger tissue sampling.

Background: Clinical assessment, chest X-ray (CXR) and high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) are used in the Corona virus disease-19 (COVID-19) management. The aim of the study was to determine the clinical characteristics and CXR and HRCT findings in COVID-19 patients with different clinical severity. Methods: This was a hospital-based cross-sectional study conducted at Chitwan Medical College, Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine from September to December 2020. Data from sixty adult patients with moderate (non-severe), severe, and critical COVID 19 disease having both CXR and HRCT were collected and were analyzed using SPSS version 16. Results: Median age of patients in our hospital-based study was 59.9 years and 76.7% were male, 30% had diabetes, and 35% had hypertension. Respiratory rate (p=0.001) and shortness of breath (p= 0.011) significantly increased and oxygen saturation (SpO2) (p<0.001) decreased with increase in clinical severity of COVID-19 disease. Among the moderate, severe and critical clinical severity groups, there was significant difference in the HRCT findings like ground-glass opacity (GGO), consolidation, septal thickening, crazy paving pattern, bronchiectasis and fibrosis (p<0.05). GGO was the most common finding. Bilateral consolidation in CXR and multiple lobes in both lungs involvement in HRCT were similar across the moderate, severe and critical clinical severity (p>0.05). Conclusions: There was no difference in CXR and HRCT findings across moderate, severe and critical clinical severities of COVID-19; future study performing CXR whenever HRCT is done for any indication may similarly indicate the situation in mild COVID-19 disease.

Background: Respiratory distress (RD) in mechanically ventilated patients may signify life-threatening complications which may be potentially reversible. The aim of the study was to determine the signs and etiologies of respiratory distress in patients under mechanical ventilation. Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was done on adult patients on mechanical ventilation (MV) with Respiratory distress admitted at Chitwan Medical College, Nepal from January 2021 to June 2021.We studied various signs and etiologies of RD in different days on MV. Descriptive analysis was carried out using IBM SPSS version 20. Results: Total 66 patients were included in the study with mean  ± SD of age was 55.3 ± 15.8 years with equal proportion of male and female. Out of total 154 occurrences of 11 signs in 66 patients, agitation was the most common one occurring 29.3% of times followed by use of accessory muscle in 15.9%. Most common cause of respiratory distress was interstitial syndrome of increased extra-vascular lung water or density on ultrasound was present more in patients on MV for ≥ 5 days.  Most patients (74.2%) had multiple RD signs and 25.8% had only a single sign. Gasping was more common in patients on MV ≥ 5 days and agitation and delirium more in early days of MV. Conclusions: More than half of the conditions associated with RD on MV are relatively reversible and as the patients can develop RD any time or any day after being put on MV, a continued vigilance system is essential for their timely assessment and management.