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Introduction: The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) has declined rapidly in Asia. This has been shown in both sero-prevalence-based and endoscopy-based studies. The present study was conducted to determine the current prevalence of H. pylori infection in Nepali population referred for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and its relation with gastro-duodenal diseases. Methods: Total of 146 patients (71 males and 75 females with the mean age of 42.43 yrs, range 16-90 years) underwent endoscopy at endoscopy services in Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH), Nepal. The diagnosis of H. pylori infection was determined non-invasively by serology and invasively by rapid urease test, culture, histology and immunohistochemistry. Results: The overall prevalence of H. pylori infection was 48.6%. The sero-prevalence was 43.8%. Gastritis was the predominant finding (76.7%), followed by duodenal ulcer (4.1%), gastric ulcer (4.8%), gastric adenocarcinoma (3.4%) and normal mucosa (10.9%). Conclusion: The present study revealed the prevalence of H. pylori infection measured by serology was higher than that with other invasive tests. In contrast to other studies conducted in Nepal, the present study is the first study to use several tests at the same time to determine H. pylori prevalence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS) is an eosinophil-associated, small vessel granulomatous vaculitis, characterized by late onset asthma, upper airways disease, eosinophilia, and clinical manifestations of systemic vasculitis. [1,11-13] Diagnosis is mainly clinical with findings of asthma, eosinophilia, rhino sinusitis and signs of vasculitis in major organs. So far to the best of our knowledge reporting of CSS has not been done in Nepal. We here present a case of Churg- Strauss syndrome, a Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody(ANCA) Associated Vasculities more specifically perinuclear anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (p-ANCA) directed against myeloperoxidase (MPO) in a 25years female patient who was initially evaluated for progressive dyspnea, wheeze, cough, joint pain and fever. Regarding the inference drawn from our case report we suggest that patient presenting with the clinical features of asthma needs further evaluation to unmask previously unrecognized underlying Churg-stauss syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Physiotherapy as a profession has come a long way over the years. As the treatment of injuries and illness has developed over the decades, the practice has evolved and grown from general forms of physical therapies to specialized physiotherapy services in healthcare settings. Despite the recognition and advances gained worldwide in physiotherapy, yet there is lack of research study in Nepal to evaluate the awareness of physiotherapy among clinical doctors of Nepal. Objective of this study is to investigate the awareness of physiotherapy among clinical doctors working in various hospitals of Nepal. Methods: A cross sectional survey was conducted among the clinical doctors working in various hospitals of Nepal. A questionnaire was randomly distributed among 200 doctors. It comprised of 13 questions related to physiotherapy awareness. Data were collected and statistically analyzed. Results: Among 115 respondents, 98.3% were aware of physiotherapy and 87.8 % of the doctors reported to have physiotherapy services in their hospital. Referral to physiotherapy was found to be 94.8 %. With respect to referrals to physiotherapy in preoperative cases, it was found that 63% of the clinical doctors agreed to refer their patients to physiotherapists. The study also found that 93% of the clinical doctors agreed to refer their patients to physiotherapy post-operatively. Referrals to ICU were agreed by 88% of the doctors involved in this study. Among the clinical doctors surveyed physiotherapy in orthopedic conditions has the maximum awareness (94.8%). The study found that a very small percent of the clinical doctors knew about physiotherapy education in Nepal (39.1%) and Nepal Physiotherapy Association (NEPTA) (33%). Conclusions: The study concluded that the clinical doctors had a good awareness about physiotherapy profession. But awareness needs to be accelerated in terms of referrals and specialized services provided by the physiotherapists for potential benefits of the patients. Physiotherapists as a part of the health care team plays an essential role in reducing the hospital stay, quick recovery and in rehabilitation for a better quality life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]