Husband Involvement in Birth Preparedness and Complication Readiness and Associated Factors in Selected Hospitals of Kaski

Background: Men in patriarchal societies are decision makers and their involvement in maternal health enable adequate preparation and decision making during obstetric complications reducing 3 delays in women’s life. The objective of the study was to identify knowledge and practice of husband in birth preparedness and complication readiness. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional research was used to assess the knowledge and practices of husbands of postnatal women two tertiary hospitals of Kaski district. Purposive sampling was adopted to select 384 respondents. Data was collected using semi-structured interviews. Descriptive (frequency, mean, standard deviation and percent) and inferential (chi-square test and logistic regression) statistics were used for data analysis. Results: The study found that knowledge of the respondents on Birth Preparedness and Complication Readiness was 59.1% and practice was 51.8%. Significant association was found between knowledge and practice of respondents. The factors associated with husband involvement were assessed using Andersen’s behavioral model. Age (p=.001), education (p=.001), residence (p=.001), parity (p=0.001), family type (p=0.001), mass media (p=.001), number of ANC visit conducted (p=.002) and history of obstetric complication (p=.001) were found to be statistically significant with knowledge. Factors contributing to practice of husband in Birth Preparedness, Complication Readiness were age, availability of transportation and health insurance. Conclusion: Based on these findings, the knowledge and practice of husband should be increased and more educational programs focusing on involvement in Birth Preparedness and Complication Readiness needs to be increased

Attitude Towards Online Education During Covid-19 Pandemic Among Bachelor Level Students of Jumla

Background: Health science students, since long time, have been using digital technology mainly for the research purposes only. Due to global spread of corona virus disease (COVID-19), education system has changed and adopted online education which was a solution for the continuity of teaching and learning process during COVID-19 pandemic. The main objective of this study was to assess the attitude towards online education among bachelor level health science students. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out at Karnali Academy of Health Sciences, Jumla. Complete enumeration was done. Total 68 bachelor level students were taken for the study. A pretested self administered questionnaire was used for data collection. Data were entered and analyzed by using SPSS version 16. Frequency and percentage were also computed for demographics variables. Chi-square test was applied to assess the association between socio-demographic variables and attitude level. Results: The study illustrated that, among the 68 bachelor level students, nearly two third (63.2%) students had negative attitude towards online education during COVID-19 pandemic. There was statistically significant association of attitude level with ethnicity, type of program and strength of internet connection (p≤0.05). Conclusion: Majority of students of Karnali Academy had negative attitude towards online education; and they had faced many difficulties like internet and electricity problem etc. Administration and faculty members should take necessary measures for improving online education

Unraveling Prostaglandin and NLRP3 Inflammasomemediated Pathways of Primary Dysmenorrhea and the Role of Mefenamic Acid and Its Combinations

Painful menstrual cramps during or around the time of the monthly cycle are known as dysmenorrhea. The estimated global prevalence in women of reproductive age ranges from 45% to 95%. It has a significant negative impact on regular activities and productivity at work. However, despite the severe consequences on quality of life, primary dysmenorrhea (PD) is underdiagnosed. Dysmenorrhea has complex pathogenesis. It involves the release of prostaglandins and activation of the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome and also includes the involvement of other mediators such as bradykinin, histamine and acetylcholine. Even though nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) remain the most common type of pain medication, the question of which one should be the most preferred is still open to debate. The current review examines the existing evidence for the pathogenesis of PD and makes evidence based and clinical experience based recommendations for the use of mefenamic acid and its combination in the treatment of dysmenorrhea. Mefenamic acid alleviates PD by inhibiting endometrial prostaglandin formation, restoring normal uterine activity, and reducing the inflammatory response by inhibiting the NLRP3 inflammasome and reducing the release of cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-1β. It is also known to have bradykinin antagonist activity. Dicyclomine has a dual action of blocking the muscarinic action of acetylcholine in postganglionic parasympathetic effect or regions and acting directly on uterine smooth muscle by blocking bradykinin and histamine receptors to relieve spasms. According to the experts, mefenamic acid and dicyclomine act synergistically by acting on the different pathways of dysmenorrhea by blocking multifactorial agents attributed to the cause of dysmenorrhea. Hence, the combination of mefenamic acid and dicyclomine should be the preferred treatment option for dysmenorrhea

KNOWLEDGE AND AWARENESS OF CORONAVIRUS DISEASE-19 PROTOCOLS AMONG ANESTHESIA TECHNOLOGISTS AND TRAINEES IN WEST INDIA

Objectives: The main objective of the study is to assess the knowledge and awareness of all the anesthesia technologists and trainees regarding coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infection control protocols. The health and safety of anesthesia technologists are of great importance which can ultimately aid in minimizing the risk of infection among them and facilitate them to offer exceptional care to the patients. Methods: This cross-sectional online survey was conducted on COVID-19 protocols using an online questionnaire that assesses the basic knowledge and awareness about infection control protocols. A total of 231 participant’s responses were recorded using Google form and analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. Results: The present study showed that participant’s overall knowledge was good but they were not well trained on infection control protocol. Only 19.04% of participants were well trained about the protocol. The majority of the participants are well aware of the Personal Protective Equipment’s-related information. Conclusions: To deal with this current situation, educational intervention on infection control protocol is urgently required to train Anesthesia technologists and trainees to defend against coronavirus

Climate change in Nepal:a comprehensive analysis of instrumental data and people’s perceptions

Despite broad scientific consensus on climate change, public views may not always correspond with scientific findings. Understanding public perceptions of climate change is thus crucial to both identifying problems and delivering solutions. Investigations of climate change that integrate instrumental records and people’s perceptions in the Himalayas are scarce and fragmentary compared to other regions of the world. We analyzed nationally representative data (n = 5060) of local peoples’ perception of climate change in Nepal, and assessed annual and seasonal trends of temperature and precipitation, onsets of seasons, and trends of climate extremes, based on gridded climate datasets. We firstly used quantitative and spatial techniques to compare local perceptions and the instrumentally observed trends of climate variables. We then examined the possible association of demographic variables, place attachment, regional differences, and prior understanding of climate change with the accuracy of people’s perceptions. Instrumental evidence showed consistent warming, increasing hot days and nights, and increasing annual precipitation, wet spells, heavy precipitation and decreasing dry spells in Nepal. Our results indicate that locals accurately perceived the shifts in temperature but their perceptions of precipitation change did not converge with the instrumental records. We suggest that, in future as exposure to changes in weather, particularly extreme events, continues, people may become more likely to detect change which corresponds with observed trends. With some new methodological insights gained through integrating community perceptions with observed climate data, the results of this study provides valuable information to support policies to reduce climate-related risk and enhance climate change adaptation

Effect of<i style=""> Commiphora mukul</i> extract on cardiac dysfunction and ventricular function in isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction

646-652In present study, hydroalcoholic extract of C. mukul significantly improved the cardiac function and prevented myocardial ischemic impairment manifested in the form of increased heart rate, decreased arterial pressure, increased left ventricular end diastolic pressure, and altered myocardial contractility indices. C. mukul treatment additionally also produced a significant increase in lactate dehydrogenase levels and prevented decline of protein content in heart. C. mukul preserved the structural integrity of myocardium. Reduced leakage of myocyte enzyme lactate dehydrogenase and maintenance of structural integrity of myocardium along with favorable modulation of cardiac function and improved cardiac performance indicate the salvage of myocardium with C. mukul treatment. Guggulsterones which are considered to be responsible for most of the therapeutic properties of C. mukul may underlie the observed cardioprotective effect of C. mukul against cardiac dysfunction in isoproterenol-induced ischemic rats

Steady flow separation patterns in a 45 degree junction

Numerical and experimental techniques were used to study the physics of flow separation for steady internal flow in a 45 junction geometry, such as that observed between two pipes or between the downstream end of a bypass graft and an artery. The three-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations were solved using a validated finite element code, and complementary experiments were performed using the photochromic dye tracer technique. Inlet Reynolds numbers in the range 250 to 1650 were considered. An adaptive mesh refinement approach was adopted to ensure grid-independent solutions. Good agreement was observed between the numerical results and the experimentally measured velocity fields; however, the wall shear stress agreement was less satisfactory. Just distal to the 'toe' of the junction, axial flow separation was observed for all Reynolds numbers greater than 250. Further downstream (approximately 1.3 diameters from the toe), the axial flow again separated for Re = 450. [...

Exploring state-of-the-art advances in targeted nanomedicines for managing acute and chronic inflammatory lung diseases

Diagnosis and treatment of lung diseases pose serious challenges. Currently, diagnostic as well as therapeutic methods show poor efficacy toward drug-resistant bacterial infections, while chemotherapy causes toxicity and nonspecific delivery of drugs. Advanced treatment methods that cure lung-related diseases, by enabling drug bioavailability via nasal passages during mucosal formation, which interferes with drug penetration to targeted sites, are in demand. Nanotechnology confers several advantages. Currently, different nanoparticles, or their combinations, are being used to enhance targeted drug delivery. Nanomedicine, a combination of nanoparticles and therapeutic agents, that delivers drugs to targeted sites increases the bioavailability of drugs at these sites. Thus, nanotechnology is superior to conventional chemotherapeutic strategies. Here, the authors review the latest advancements in nanomedicine-based drug-delivery methods for managing acute and chronic inflammatory lung diseases