Energy and Climate Change Issues Around CSUDH

Climate change is posing significant challenges to California’s energy sector. Extreme weather events (heat and cold) may pressure existing infrastructure. Many studies have indicated that extreme climate events would impact the energy system by affecting peak electricity demand. However, very few studies have been conducted to understand how disadvantaged communities (DACs) will be impacted. Because of unequal access to energy infrastructure (electricity generation and battery storage), DACs are more vulnerable to power outages due to the rising number of significant weather events caused by climate change. To address the issue of how DACs are disproportionately affected by climate change-related energy issues, we used DACs, infrastructure, and climate data. We identified the most vulnerable communities associated with climate change-related energy issues in areas around California State University Dominguez Hills (CSUDH). This study’s findings will support building the resilience of energy infrastructure to climate change and minimize the energy burden on DACs

Impact of air pollution on global burden of disease in 2019

Air pollution consisting of ambient air pollution and household air pollution (HAP) threatens health globally. Air pollution aggravates the health of vulnerable people such as infants, children, women, and the elderly as well as people with chronic diseases such as cardiorespiratory illnesses, little social support, and poor access to medical services. This study is aimed to estimate the impact of air pollution on global burden of disease (GBD). We extracted data about mortality and disability adjusted life years (DALYs) attributable to air pollution from 1990 to 2019. The extracted data were then organized and edited into a usable format using STATA version 15. Furthermore, we also estimated the impacts for three categories based on their socio-demographic index (SDI) as calculated by GBD study. The impacts of air pollution on overall burden of disease by SDI, gender, type of pollution, and type of disease is estimated and their trends over the period of 1990 to 2019 are presented. The attributable burden of ambient air pollution is increasing over the years while attributable burden of HAP is declining over the years, globally. The findings of this study will be useful for evidence-based planning for prevention and control of air pollution and reduction of burden of disease from air pollution at global, regional, and national levels

Incidence and predation rate of hornet (Vespa spp.) on European honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) apiary at mid-hill areas of Lalitpur district, Nepal

Predatory hornets are considered as one of the major constraints to beekeeping industry. Therefore, its incidence and predation rate was studied throughout the year at two locations- rural and forest areas of mid-hill in Laliptur district during 2016/017 to 2017/018. Observation was made on the number of hornet and honey bee captured by hornet in three different times of the day for three continuous minutes every fortnightly on five honeybee colonies. During the study period, major hornet species captured around the honeybee apiary at both locations were, Vespa velutina Lepeletier, Vespa basalis Smith, Vespa tropica (Linnaeus) and Vespa mandarina Smith. The hornet incidence varied significantly between the years and locations along with different observation dates. Their incidence and predation rates were low in early spring and summer that gradually increased with the highest peak in October and November in both locations. The maximum predation was on mid-November (62.07%) and early-November (53.49%) at rural and forest locations, respectively during 2016/017. In 2017/018, the highest predation was on early-November (70.27%) at rural area while it was in mid-November (58.62%) in the apiaries near the forest area. The population of hornet was considerably higher at forest areas and their incidence around the honeybee apiaries were negatively correlated with rainfall. Hence, assessment of the temporal and spatial population variations and predation rates along with weather parameters is helpful in to develop sustainable management plans of the hornet in apiary

Use of Trochanteric Flip Osteotomy Improves the Outcome of Pipkin I and II Femoral Head Fractures

Introduction: Annual incidence of femoral head fracture is constantly increasing due to increase in cases of road traffic accidents (RTA). Four to 17% of femoral head fractures are due to posterior dislocations of hip. Outcome of femoral head facture associated with posterior dislocation of hip, the pipkin I and II fracture, is unsatisfactory due to lack of universally accepted protocol for its management and treatment. Objective: To evaluate the patient outcome using relatively newer approach, the Trochanteric Flip (digastrics) Osteotomy (TFO), for the precise anatomical reduction of femoral head fractures associated with posterior dislocation of hip. Methods: Between 2013 and 2017, 21 patients with sustained isolated femoral head fracture were admitted at our hospital. We used TFO approach for the management and treatment of femoral head fractures. The patients were followed up for 42 months at different intervals. Clinical outcome were evaluated using Merle d’Aubigne Postel and Thompson-Epstein scale. Results: Retrospective analysis showed excellent, good, fair and poor results in five (23.8%) patients, 13 (61.9%) patients, two (9.5%) patients and one (4.7%) patient, respectively. Clinical outcomes included sciatic nerve injury (4.7%), moderate arthritis (95.3%), benign non-debilitating heterotrophic ossification (19%), avascular necrosis of femoral head (4.7%) and neuropraxia (4.7%). Conclusions: Use of trochanteric flip osteotomy gives the favorable outcome for the treatment of this type of fracture. Most importantly, the vascularity of femoral head remains intact which makes TFO a very useful technique for pipkin I and II fracture treatment

Prevalence of the Metabolic Syndrome and its determinants among Nepalese adults: Findings from a nationally representative cross-sectional study

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes mellitus. This study is designed to assess the prevalence and determinants of MetS among Nepalese adults from a nationally representative study. This study is based on Stepwise Approach to Surveillance (STEPS) Survey from Nepal. This survey was done among 4200 adults aged 15-69 years from 210 clusters selected proportionately across Nepal's three ecological zones (Mountain, Hill and Terai). Subsequently, using systematic sampling, twenty households per cluster and one participant per household were selected. The overall prevalence of MetS is 15% and 16% according to Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III) and International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria respectively. A triad of low HDL-C, abdominal obesity and high BP was the most prevalent (8.18%), followed by abdominal obesity, low HDL-C cholesterol and high triglycerides (8%). Less than two percent of participants had all the five components of the syndrome and 19% of participants had none. The prevalence steadily rose across the age group with adults aged 45-69 years having the highest prevalence (28-30%) and comparable prevalence across two definitions of MetS. A notably high burden for females, urban, hill or Terai resident were seen among other factors

Effects of climatic factors on diarrheal diseases among children below 5 years of age at national and subnational levels in Nepal: an ecological study

INTRODUCTION: The incidence of diarrhea, a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in low-income countries such as Nepal, is temperature-sensitive, suggesting it could be associated with climate change. With climate change fueled increases in the mean and variability of temperature and precipitation, the incidence of water and food-borne diseases are increasing, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. This national-level ecological study was undertaken to provide evidence linking weather and climate with diarrhea incidence in Nepal. METHOD: We analyzed monthly diarrheal disease count and meteorological data from all districts, spanning 15 eco-development regions of Nepal. Meteorological data and monthly data on diarrheal disease were sourced, respectively, from the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology and Health Management Information System (HMIS) of the Government of Nepal for the period from 2002 to 2014. Time-series log-linear regression models assessed the relationship between maximum temperature, minimum temperature, rainfall, relative humidity, and diarrhea burden. Predictors with p-values < 0.25 were retained in the fitted models. RESULTS: Overall, diarrheal disease incidence in Nepal significantly increased with 1 degrees C increase in mean temperature (4.4%; 95% CI: 3.95, 4.85) and 1 cm increase in rainfall (0.28%; 95% CI: 0.15, 0.41). Seasonal variation of diarrheal incidence was prominent at the national level (11.63% rise in diarrheal cases in summer (95% CI: 4.17, 19.61) and 14.5% decrease in spring (95% CI: -18.81, -10.02) compared to winter season). Moreover, the effects of temperature and rainfall were highest in the mountain region compared to other ecological regions of Nepal. CONCLUSION: Our study provides empirical evidence linking weather factors and diarrheal disease burden in Nepal. This evidence suggests that additional climate change could increase diarrheal disease incidence across the nation. Mountainous regions are more sensitive to climate variability and consequently the burden of diarrheal diseases. These findings can be utilized to allocate necessary resources and envision a weather-based early warning system for the prevention and control of diarrheal diseases in Nepal

Clinical Profile of Injuries due to Paragliding Accident Attended in a Tertiary Hospital of Western Region of Nepal

Introduction: Paragliding is an adventurous aerial sport which is performed regularly in and around Pokhara. The Western Region of Nepal (Especially Pokhara, Parbat, Baglung and Syanjya) is famous not only for its natural beauty but for adventurous sports like paragliding, ultraflight and bungee jumping etc. The growing popularity of paragliding sport has led to a steady increase in the number of associated injuries. Objectives: The main objective of this retrospective review is to find out characteristic of injuries in different of paragliding accidents. Methods: This is a retrospective review of paragliding injury cases who attended emmergency department of Gandaki Medical College, Pokhara, Nepal from June 2009 to May 2016. Demographic profile (Age, sex, address), type of flight, timing of accident, severity and pattern of injures were collected and analyzed using the frequency table. Results: Among 60 people who faced accidents and brought to hospital, four of them with severe multiple trauma were declared dead in the emergency department at the time of arrival. Fifty six patients were injured with varieties of injury. Among 56 survived patients, 14 (25%) were minor injuries and discharged from the Emergency Department after treatment for soft tissue trauma like abrasion or sprain. Twelve patients with polytrauma (Including four chest injury, two abdominal injury with multiple bone fractures) and rest of the patients were admitted and treated/reffered/discharged. Conclusion: Lower limb especially foot and ankle injury were the commonest type of injury followed by spine fracture in paragliding accidents

Cerebellopontine epidermoid presenting with trigeminal neuralgia for 10 years: a case report

Trigeminal neuralgia, also called tic douloureux, is a common and potentially disabling pain syndrome, which affects the trigeminal or fifth cranial nerve. The precise pathophysiology of Trigeminal neuralgia remains obscure. The disorder causes extreme, sporadic, sudden burning or shock-like face pain that lasts from few seconds to minutes and can be physically and mentally incapacitating. More than one nerve branch can be affected by the disorder. A 55-year-old female presented with pain over the left side of face for 10 years uncontrolled with carbamazepine. On examination the positive findings were reduced sensation by 25% over the left side of face with House and Brackman grade II facial nerve palsy. The corneal reflex was absent on left side. Magnetic resonance imaging showed left cerebellopontine angle (CPA) mass suggestive of an epidermoid involving the Vth nerve and Gasserian ganglion and extending into the middle cranial fossa. She underwent left suboccipital craniectomy and near total excision of the tumor with decompression of the Vth nerve which was fully engulfed by the tumor. Postoperative the VII nerve palsy increased to grade III and she had 50% loss of sensation over left side. She had no further attacks of pain and hence tapered off the carbamazepine. TN caused by cerebellopontine angle epidermoids is uncommon and should be kept in view in all cases presenting with TN. The aim of surgery for epidermoids is to decompress the cranial nerves and brain stem and not total removal with its attendant morbidity and mortality

Barriers to Treatment and Control of Hypertension among Hypertensive Participants: A Community-Based Cross-sectional Mixed Method Study in Municipalities of Kathmandu, Nepal

AbstractIntroduction: Despite the established evidence on benefits of controlling raised blood pressure and development of several guidelines on detection and management of hypertension, people often have untreated or uncontrolled hypertension. In this context, we undertook this study to identify the barriers existing in hypertension treatment and control in the municipalities of Kathmandu district in Nepal. Methods: This was a community based, cross-sectional mixed method study conducted in the municipalities of Kathmandu district in Nepal between January and July 2015. Among 587 randomly selected participants, the aware hypertensive participants were further assessed for the treatment and control of hypertension. For qualitative component, 20 participants having uncontrolled hypertension took part in two focused group discussions and two cardiac physicians participated in in-depth interviews.Results: Out of 587 participants screened, 191 (32.5%) were identified as hypertensive. Among 191 hypertensive participants, 118 (61.8%) were aware of their problem. Of the 118 aware hypertensive participants, 93 (78.8%) were taking medicines, and among those treated, 46 (49.6%) had controlled hypertension. Proportions of participants taking anti-hypertensive medications varied significantly with age groups, ethnicity, occupation and income. Hypertension control was significantly associated with use of combination therapy, adherence to medication, follow-up care, counseling by healthcare providers and waiting time in hospital. Being worried that the medicine needs to be taken life-long, perceived side effects of drugs, non-adherence to medication, lost to follow-up, inadequate counseling from physician, and lack of national guidelines for hypertension treatment were the most commonly cited barriers for treatment and control of hypertension in qualitative component of the research.Conclusion: Large proportion of the hypertensive population has the untreated and the uncontrolled hypertension. Efforts to dispel and dismantle the myths and barriers related to hypertension treatment and control are warranted to reduce the consequences of uncontrolled hypertension