The authors violated the publication ethics by their dual submission and publication. The editorial board of the epiH decided to retract this paper from our journal.
Brucellosis* ; Ethics ; Nepal* ; Publications

No abstract available.
Adolescent ; Female ; Humans ; Nepal

The authors violated the publication ethics by their dual submission and publication. The editorial board of the epiH decided to retract this paper from our journal.
Brucellosis ; Ethics ; Nepal ; Publications

The present study was carried out to explore the Cordyceps species and other entomopathogenic fungal flora around Kathmandu Valley and a few high altitude locations of Nepal. In this paper, we report eight Cordyceps species as new to Nepal: C. gracilis, C. ishikariensis, C. liangshanensis, C. martialis, C. militaris, C. pruinosa, C. sphecocephala and C. tricentri. We also mention a few allied genera such as Beauveria, Hirsutella and Paecilomyces from Nepal. Further collections from different ecological regions of Nepal will show the richness of entomopathogenic fungal floral diversity of Nepal.
Altitude ; Beauveria ; Cordyceps* ; Nepal* ; Paecilomyces

No abstract available.
Communicable Diseases ; Nepal ; Poverty Areas

BACKGROUND"Vision 2020" was initiated in 1999 and many relevant activities are ongoing, but little information is available on what it has achieved and what constraints it faces. It is not yet clear if funding is the most important constraint. Nepal is one of the underdeveloped countries, but an advanced country in preventing avoidable blindness. The aim of this study was to compare the situation in China and in Nepal in prevention of avoidable blindness.

METHODSData from literature review and a field visit were combined. All statistical analyses were carried out with SPSS Version 11.5. The chi-square test was used for comparisons involving categorical variables.

RESULTSThe blindness rate is higher in Nepal than that in China (P < 0.05). The average number of cataract operations performed by one ophthalmologist is much lower in China than in Nepal. The cataract surgical rate (CSR) is much lower in China than in Nepal (P < 0.001). High cost of the surgery and inadequate qualifications of human resources were found in China. Cataract surgical outcome in China compared well with international standards.

CONCLUSIONSProgress towards the "Vision 2020" target in China is much slower than that in Nepal. Further attention to address this issue is urgently needed.

Over half the world’s population is exposed daily to very high levels of household air pollutants arising from burning biomass fuels; however the effects of these pollutants on cardiovascular health have not been fully established. This study aimed to compare the relationship between household indoor and outdoor air pollution with cardiovascular health in biomass and non-biomass exposed group. To compare the relationship between household indoor and outdoor air pollution with cardiovascular health in biomass and non-biomass exposed group. This cross-sectional study compared parameters of cardiovascular health in populations exposed to household indoor pollutants from biomass burning and non-biomass respectively among adults in Nepal. Data using an interviewer administered questionnaire including chest pain, blood pressure measurements and real-time measurements of household and ambient airborne particulate (PM2.5) concentrations were collected. Rural dwellers cooking with biomass fuels reported significantly more chest pain on exertion compared with non-biomass fuel users. 24-hour direct PM2.5 and CO measurements were not associated with changes in blood pressure as was the case for other measures of airborne particulate exposure except outdoor PM2.5 with men in non-biomass using households. Ambient temperature and seasonality was negatively associated with increase in blood pressure. The prevalence of both systolic (21% vs. 6%, p<0.001) and diastolic (32% vs. 7%, p<0.001) hypertension was higher amongst non-biomass fuel users compared with biomass users. There was no association between 24-hour real-time airborne pollutants data from biomass smoke and cardiovascular health effects but significantly more chest pain on exertion was found in those exposed to smoke from biomass fuel burning. Urban dwellers in Nepal were found to have higher blood pressure compared to rural dwellers, which was associated with their higher BMI levels and seasonality.
Air Pollution, Indoor ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Blood Pressure ; Hypertension ; Risk ; Nepal

PURPOSE: Malaria has been one of a major infectious parasitic disease in Nepal. Although the number of cases is gradually getting declined since last decade. Therefore, study aims to identify the trends and spatial patterns of malaria among 25 risk districts of Nepal. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study utilized the secondary data of malaria cases from the annual reports (2001–2017) of Department of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Population of Nepal. Linear regression of log-transformed incidence rates model was used for assessing variation of malaria cases for year and districts. RESULTS: There was evidence of decrease in the trend of malaria (2001–2009); however, the upward trend was revealed in 2010, after that, it starts to decline and again in 2017, it started to grow up. The malaria cases were marked variations by location with higher rates occurring in Dadeldhura, Kanchanpur, Kailali, Bardiya, and Jhapa districts, respectively. CONCLUSION: In this regards, malaria cases are still causing the threat in the Terai district of Nepal; however, there were fluctuating patterns of disease noted during the study periods.
Health Services ; Incidence ; Linear Models ; Malaria* ; Nepal* ; Parasitic Diseases

Concern has been raised about inadequate pharmacology teaching in medical schools and the high incidence of prescribing errors by doctors in training. Modifications in pharmacology teaching have been carried out in many countries. The present study was carried out using a semi-structured questionnaire to obtain students' perceptions of their knowledge, attitudes, and skills with regard to different subject areas related to rational prescribing at the end of two-year activity-based pharmacology practical learning sessions in a private medical school in Nepal. The effectiveness of the sessions and strengths and suggestions to further improve the sessions were also obtained. The median total knowledge, attitude, skills and overall scores were calculated and compared among different subgroups of respondents. The median effectiveness score was also calculated. Eighty of the 100 students participated; 37 were male and 43 female. The median knowledge, attitude, and skills scores were 24, 39, and 23, respectively (maximum scores being 27, 45, and 36). The median total score was 86 (maximum score being 108). The effectiveness score for most subject areas was 3 (maximum 4). The strengths were the activity-based nature of the session, use of videos and role-plays, and repeated practice. Students wanted more sessions and practice in certain areas. They also wanted more resources and an internet connection in the practical room. The skills scores were relatively low. The immediate impact of the sessions was positive. Studies may be needed to assess the long term impact. Similar programs should be considered in other medical schools in Nepal and other developing countries.
Surveys and Questionnaires ; Developing Countries ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Internet ; Learning ; Male ; Nepal ; Schools, Medical

We conducted in-depth interviews with 11 Korean Disaster Relief Team (KDRT) members about stress related to disaster relief work and analyzed the interview data using the Consensual Qualitative Research (CQR) method in order to evaluate difficulties in disaster relief work and to develop solutions to these problems in cooperation with related organizations. Results showed that members typically experienced stress related to untrained team members, ineffective cooperation, and the shock and aftermath of aftershock experiences. Stress tended to stem from several factors: difficulties related to cooperation with new team members, the frightening disaster experience, and the aftermath of the disaster. Other stressors included conflict with the control tower, diverse problems at the disaster relief work site, and environmental factors. The most common reason that members participated in KDRT work despite all the stressors and difficulties was pride about the kind of work it involved. Many subjects in this study suffered from various stresses after the relief work, but they had no other choice than to attempt to forget about their experiences over time. It is recommended that the mental health of disaster relief workers will improve through the further development of effective treatment and surveillance programs in the future.
Disasters* ; Earthquakes* ; Mental Health ; Methods ; Nepal* ; Qualitative Research* ; Relief Work ; Rescue Work ; Shock