Journal Issue: Volume: 56, No. 214 (2018)
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Volume
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Issue Date
2018
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
JNMA Print ISSN: 0028-2715; Online ISSN: 1815-672X
Journal Volume
Articles
Substance Abuse among Students in a Dental School
(Nepal Medical Association, 2018) Bhatta, Shishir; Sapkota, Manish Raj; Shrestha, Sujita; Shrestha, Rabindra Man
Abstract
Introduction: Substance abuse has become a burning issue among the medical and dental students. Dental students, who later transform into dentists, have a significant role in substance abuse cessation. Thus the study was undertaken to quantify substance abuse among dental students of Kantipur Dental College.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted using pretested self-administered questionnaire among undergraduate and post graduate students of Kantipur Dental College. Convenience sampling was done and sample size was calculated.
Results: Study revealed 166 (74.10%) as never smokers, 3 (1.30%) as former smokers and 55 (24.60%) as current smokers. Similarly 97 (43.3%) students never used alcoholic drink, 95 (42.41%) consumed alcohol monthly, 29 (12.95%) consumed alcohol 2-4 times a month and 3 (1.34%) consumed alcohol 2-3 times a week. A total of 78 (35%) students used cannabis.
Conclusions: Substantial numbers of students were indulged in deleterious habits of smoking, tobacco and cannabis intake. Students need to be properly counselled to discourage substance abuse and create a healthy society.
Prevalence of Color Blindness in Undergraduates of Kathmandu University
(Nepal Medical Association, 2018) Jha, Reena Kumari; Khadaka, Sukirty; Gautam, Yubina; Bade, Manisha; Jha, Mukesh Kumar; Nepal, Ojashwi
Abstract
Introduction: Color blindness is X-linked recessive inherited disorder that occurs mostly in males and is transmitted through females. Many people with color blindness may remain undetected. Thus the present study aims to evaluate the incidence of color blindness among undergraduates of Kathmandu University.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 825 undergraduates, aged 17-25 years, from June to August 2018, in Kathmandu University, Kavre, Nepal. The Ishihara plates were used to evaluate the color vision of students under natural day light condition.
Results: Study revealed that 24 (2.9%) undergraduates were color blind which include 24 male (5%) and no female. Among the color blind, five (20.3%), three (12.5%), two (8.33%) and 14 (58.33%) males were the victims of deuteranomaly, deuteranopia, protanomalia and total color blindness respectively. Color blindness is prevalent among the Brahmin 10 (3.9%), followed by Chettri 10 (2.72%) and Newar 4 (2.24%).
Conclusions: Prevalence of color blindness is found to be higher in males than females. Total color blindness is the most prevalent in our study. Screening enables the students to become aware of limitations and devise ways of overcoming them.
Effects of Electrical Muscle Stimulation on Waist Circumference in Adults with Abdominal Obesity: A Randomized, Double-blind, Sham-controlled Trial
(Nepal Medical Association, 2018) Choi, Eun Jung; Kim, Yun Jin; Lee, Sang Yeoup
Abstract
Introduction: We investigated the effects of electrical muscle stimulationon waist circumference as compared with an identical device providing transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation as control in adults with abdominal obesity.
Methods: This was a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled trial. Sixty patients with abdominal obesity received electrical muscle stimulation or transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation randomly five times a week for 12 weeks.
Results: The electrical muscle stimulationgroup achieved a mean 5.2±2.8 cm decrease in waist circumference while the transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation group showed only a 2.9±3.3 cm decrease (P=0.005). About 20 (70.0%) of the electrical muscle stimulation group lost more than 4 cm of waist circumference but that only 8 (33.3%) of the transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation group did so (P=0.008). Furthermore, fasting free fasting acid levels were significantly higher in the electrical muscle stimulation than in the transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulationgroup at week 12 (P=0.006). In the electrical muscle stimulation group, slight decreases in visceral abdominal fat and total abdominal fat areas by computer tomography were observed at 12 weeks, but these decreases were not significant. In addition, patients’ self-rated satisfaction scores with this program were significantly higher in the electrical muscle stimulation group.
Conclusions: The 12-week electrical muscle stimulation program modestly reduced waist circumference in abdominally obese adults without side effects.
Dental Age Assessment using Demirjian’s Eight Teeth Method and Willems Method in a Tertiary Hospital
(Nepal Medical Association, 2018) Agrawal, Nitin Kumar; Hackman, Lucina; Dahal, Samarika
Abstract
Introduction: Age estimation is an important aspect in forensic anthropology, as it can aid in the identification of the deceased, and can be used in cases of immigration, child abuse and criminal prosecution in living individuals. Dental age estimation is considered reliable and accurate, since tooth development is least affected by environmental factors compared to somatic growth.
Methods: In total, 150 pre-orthodontic treatment radiographs from healthy individuals were assessed. These individuals were aged between 8 to 19 years. Dental age for these individuals was calculated by two methods: Demirjian’s eight teeth method and Willems method. For Willems method, seven teeth on the left side of mandible (except the third molar) were staged according to Demirjian’s staging, and for Demirjian’s eight teeth method, all eight teeth were staged.
Results: The mean chronological ages were 13.6961±1.94384 years in males and 13.9204±2.63541 years in females. The mean estimated ages by Demirjian’s eight teeth method were 12.1856±1.73478 years and 11.7906±2.32344 years in males and females respectively. Similarly, the mean estimated ages by Willems method were 12.8958±1.46838 years in males and 12.6926±2.27807 years in females.
Conclusions: Willems method and Demirjian’s eight teeth method underestimated the chronological age in the given population. Both methods showed excellent correlation with chronological age indicating their applicability in dental age estimation, with development of population specific scores.
Keywords: Dental, Forensic anthropology, Forensic dentistry, Nepal, Odontology
Accuracy of Visual Tests for Primary Cervical Cancer Screening in Rural Nepal
(Nepal Medical Association, 2018) Thapa, Niresh; Maharjan, Muna; Shrestha, Girishma; Maharjan, Narayani; Lindell, Deborah; Zuo, Na; Yang, Jing; Maskey, Ninu; Cai, Hongbing
Abstract
Introduction: In Nepal, cervical cancer is the most common female cancer. Unfortunately, there is no uniform effective screening system available all around the country. The objective of this study is to evaluate the cytology, Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid and with Lugol’s Iodine alone or in combination to detect a pre-cancerous lesion in rural Nepal.
Methods: It is an analytical cross-sectional study. Convenience sampling technique was used to select participants who were apparently healthy, married, non- pregnant women of aged 20-65 years for cervical cancer screening program. Screening tests were performed on all eligible women (n=2143) after socio-demographic and reproductive health data collection. A biopsy was applied as a gold standard test. Cross-tabulations were used to describe the test sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value at a 95% confidence interval. Diagnostic odds ratio was also calculated.
Results: A majority, 2143 (94%), of women accepted and participated in this study. The sensitivity vs specificity of cytology, VIA, and VILI was 57.1% vs 98.3%, 71.4% vs 88.8% and 78.6% vs 85.1%, and of the co-testing of ‘Both positive VIA and VILI’ and ‘Either positive VIA or VILI’ was 64.3% vs 85.7% and 90.1% vs 83.7% respectively. Negative predictive value of all tests exceeded 99.7%. Cytology had the highest Diagnostic odds ratio (64.9), followed by the co-test ‘Either positive VIA or VILI’ (27.7).
Conclusions: Cervical cancer screening by co-testing ‘Either positive VIA or VILI’ is more useful than cytology; VIA and or VILI are easy, safe, feasible and well-accepted tests in a low resource setting, Nepal.
Keywords: Accuracy; Cervical cancer; Cytology; Screening; Visual tests