Timber Losses during Harvesting in Managed Shorea robusta Forests of Nepal

Logging and sawing of timber using conventional tools by unskilled workers causes enormous damage to the valuable timber, residual stand, regeneration, and forest soil in Nepal. The purpose of this study was to find out the volume reduction factor and identify major strategies to reduce timber losses in the tree harvesting process in the Terai Shorea robusta forest of Nepal. Field measurements and product flow analysis of 51 felled trees from felling coupes and randomly selected 167 sawed logs were examined to study harvesting losses. Responses from 116 forest experts were analyzed to explore strategies for reducing harvesting and processing losses. The results showed that timber losses in the felling and bucking stage with and without stem rot were 23% and 22%, respectively. Similarly, timber losses in the sawing stage with and without stem rot were 31% and 30%, respectively. Paired t-test at 5% level of significance revealed that there was significant loss in both tree felling and log sawing stages with present harvesting practice. The most leading factor contributing to timber loss in all of the three stages was the use of inappropriate equipment during tree harvesting. Use of synthetic ropes for directional felling and skidding as well as flexible and portable sawing machine with size adjustment options during sawing were mainly recommended as strategies to reduce timber losses. This study serves as a baseline study to identify and quantify timber losses in different stages of tree conversion and also formulate their reduction strategies in Nepal

Diagnostic Accuracy of GeneXpert MTB/RIF Assay in Comparison to Conventional Drug Susceptibility Testing Method for the Diagnosis of Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis.

Xpert MTB/RIF assay is regarded as a great achievement of modern medicine for the rapid diagnosis of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). The main purpose of this study was to determine the performance of Xpert MTB/RIF assay compared to conventional drug susceptibility testing (DST) method for the diagnosis of MDR-TB. A comparative cross sectional study was carried out at German-Nepal Tuberculosis Project, Kathmandu, Nepal, from April 2014 to September 2014. A total of 88 culture positive clinical samples (83 pulmonary and 5 extra-pulmonary) received during the study period were analyzed for detection of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis by both GeneXpert MTB/RIF assay and conventional DST method. McNemar chi square test was used to compare the performance of Xpert with that of DST method. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Of total 88 culture positive samples, one was reported as invalid while 2 were found to contain nontuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM). Among remaining 85 Mycobacterium tuberculosis culture positive samples, 69 were found to be MDR-TB positive by both methods. The overall sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of GeneXpert MTB/RIF assay were found to be 98.6%, 100%, 100% and 93.8% respectively. Statistically, there was no significant difference between the diagnostic performance of Xpert and conventional DST method for detection of MDR-TB. GeneXpert MTB/RIF assay was found to be highly sensitive, specific and comparable to gold standard conventional DST method for the diagnosis of MDR-TB

Sepsis among Patients Admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of a Tertiary Care Centre

Introduction: Sepsis is a life-threatening dysfunction and is one of the common causes of admission in intensive care units. Early diagnosis and management improves the outcome of patients. The aim of this study was to find out the prevalence of sepsis among patients admitted to the intensive care unit of a tertiary care centre. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among patients admitted to the intensive care unit of a tertiary care centre after obtaining ethical approval from the Institutional Review Committee. Data of patients admitted from 1 February 2022 to 31 January 2023 was collected between 6 April 2023 to 27 April 2023. Convenience sampling method was used. The point estimate was calculated at a 95% Confidence Interval. Results: Among 1001 patients, the prevalence of sepsis was 278 (27.77%) (25-30.54, 95% Confidence Interval). Among them, 209 (75.17%) developed septic shock. The mean age was 56.6±19.34 years. Pneumonia 43 (15.46%) and genitourinary infection 43 (15.46%) were the most common sources of infection and the source was unknown in 124 (44.60%) of patients. Hypertension 75 (26.97%) was the most common comorbidity. Acute kidney injury 166 (59.71%) was the most common complication followed by thrombocytopenia 165 (59.35%) and transaminitis 79 (28.41%). Conclusions: The prevalence of sepsis among patients admitted to the intensive care unit was higher than other studies done in similar settings

Performance of GeneXpert as compared to gold standard conventional drug susceptibility test.

<p>Performance of GeneXpert as compared to gold standard conventional drug susceptibility test.</p

Summary of anti-tubercular drug susceptibility test.

<p>Summary of anti-tubercular drug susceptibility test.</p