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Iliopsoas abscess (IPA) is an uncommon clinical disease and is often missed to diagnose due to vague clinical presentation. Early treatment with drainage and appropriate antibiotic therapy is necessary before sepsis sets in and become lethal. We conducted this study to evaluate clinical features, etiology, management strategies, and outcomes in patients with IPA from a University Teaching Hospital in Nepal.

Guru Sharan Sah,1,* Gambhir Shrestha,2,* Aayush Dhakal,3 Rashmi Mulmi,4 Ashok Sapkota,1 Shivaji Poudel5 1Department of Medical Oncology, B.P. Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital, Bharatpur, Chitwan, Nepal; 2Department of Community Medicine, Maharajgunj Medical Campus, Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University, Maharajgunj, Kathmandu, Nepal; 3Bharatpur Central Hospital, Bharatpur, Chitwan, Nepal; 4Department of Cancer Prevention, Control and Research, B.P. Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital, Bharatpur, Chitwan, Nepal; 5Department of Radiation Oncology, B.P. Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital, Bharatpur, Chitwan, Nepal*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Gambhir Shrestha Department of Community MedicineMaharajgunj Medical Campus, Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University, Maharajgunj, Kathmandu, NepalTel +977 9841654909Email gamvir.stha@gmail.comIntroduction: Cancer patients are at higher risk of COVID-19 infection as they are highly immunocompromised. The patients’ adherence to control measures is affected by their knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) towards COVID-19. This study assesses the KAP towards COVID-19 among the admitted cancer patients in Nepal and is first of its kind.Patients and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among the 224 admitted cancer patients in B.P. Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital, Chitwan, Nepal, between April 20 and May 20, 2020, which was the early phase of the lockdown due to COVID-19. The study was conducted via face-to-face interviews taking optimum precautions. The research used a semi-structured questionnaire consisting of demographic characteristics, cancer-related information, 14 knowledge items, 4 attitude items, and 10 practice items. Independent sample t-tests and one-way analysis of variance were used to assess the association of knowledge with demographic characteristics.Results: The overall correct response rate of the knowledge component of the questionnaire was 79.4%. Most of the participants (89.7%) had a positive attitude towards accepting isolation if they had the COVID-19 infection. Only 4.5% reported that they had visited the crowded places recently. More than 98% of the patients were found to be compliant with the recommended preventive behaviors such as using the face mask, avoiding touching the eyes, nose, and mouth, washing the hands more than usual, and avoiding close contact with other patients or the caretakers not using the face masks. A total of 21.9% of respondents were using the same face mask for more than 3 days. Male gender, younger age group, and higher education were the positive predictors of knowledge regarding COVID-19.Conclusion: The overwhelming majority of the cancer patients had a good knowledge of COVID-19 and maintained positive attitudes and practice towards it. When tailored health education programs are planned, age, gender, and educational status should be taken into a consideration.Keywords: COVID-19, neoplasms, knowledge, attitudes and practice, Nepal

In GenoType MTBDRplus assay [line probe assay (LPA)], when Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) sample DNA fails to hybridize to at least 1 rpoB wild-type probe and any mutation probe, it is inferred as rifampin (RIF)-resistant. In this study, we sought to identify such 'inferred' mutations in M. tuberculosis isolates (n = 203) by rpoB gene sequencing and determined their association with phenotypic resistance. D516Y, H526N, L511P mutations were associated with both phenotypically sensitive (59%, n = 38/64) and resistant (23.7%, n = 33/139) antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) results, whereas S531W mutation was associated with only RIF-resistant isolates (33%, n = 46/139). These results demonstrated that, at standard drug concentrations, some 'inferred' mutations may be missed by RIF-AST (phenotypically sensitive). The use of LPA permits identification of these RIF-resistant isolates, and incorporation of additional mutation probes (e.g., S531W) could further increase LPA specificity. Further studies are needed to establish the significance of the type of 'inferred' mutation with clinical/treatment outcomes., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

With fewer than 200 tigers (Panthera tigris tigris) left in Nepal, that are generally confined to five protected areas across the Terai Arc Landscape, genetic studies are needed to provide crucial information on diversity and connectivity for devising an effective country-wide tiger conservation strategy. As part of the Nepal Tiger Genome Project, we studied landscape change, genetic variation, population structure, and gene flow of tigers across the Terai Arc Landscape by conducting Nepal's first comprehensive and systematic scat-based, non-invasive genetic survey. Of the 770 scat samples collected opportunistically from five protected areas and six presumed corridors, 412 were tiger (57%). Out of ten microsatellite loci, we retain eight markers that were used in identifying 78 individual tigers. We used this dataset to examine population structure, genetic variation, contemporary gene flow, and potential population bottlenecks of tigers in Nepal. We detected three genetic clusters consistent with three demographic sub-populations and found moderate levels of genetic variation (He = 0.61, AR = 3.51) and genetic differentiation (FST = 0.14) across the landscape. We detected 3-7 migrants, confirming the potential for dispersal-mediated gene flow across the landscape. We found evidence of a bottleneck signature likely caused by large-scale land-use change documented in the last two centuries in the Terai forest. Securing tiger habitat including functional forest corridors is essential to enhance gene flow across the landscape and ensure long-term tiger survival. This requires cooperation among multiple stakeholders and careful conservation planning to prevent detrimental effects of anthropogenic activities on tigers.

Objectives: To assess applicability of the Tanaka-Johnston and Moyers prediction methods in a Han ethnic group from Northeast China and to develop prediction equations for this same population., Design: Cross-sectional study., Setting: Department of Orthodontics, School of Stomatology, Jiamusi University, Heilongjiang, China., Participants: A total of 130 subjects (65 male and 65 female) aged 16-21 years from a Han ethnic group of Northeast China were recruited from dental students and patients seeking orthodontic treatment. Ethnicity was verified by questionnaire., Material and Methods: Mesio-distal tooth width was measured using Digital Vernier calipers. Predicted values were obtained from the Tanaka-Johnston and Moyers methods in both arches were compared with the actual measured widths. Based on regression analysis, prediction equations were developed., Results: Tanaka-Johnston equations were not precise, except for the upper arch in males. However, the Moyers 85th percentile in the upper arch and 75th percentile in the lower arch predicted the sum precisely in males. For females, the Moyers 75th percentile predicted the sum precisely for the upper arch, but none of the Moyers percentiles predicted in the lower arch., Conclusions: Both the Tanaka-Johnston and Moyers method may not be applied universally without question. Hence, it may be safer to develop regression equations for specific populations. Validating studies must be conducted to confirm the precision of these newly developed regression equations.