Cancer being the fifth leading cause of death in Nepal. A number of cancer cases are growing everyday which contributes morbidity, financial hardship and mortality. Cancer stigma across the care continuum, hinders preventive health-seeking, screening uptake and treatment adherence, and care engagement. A cross-sectional research design was used to assess the cancer stigma among adults in Aalapot, Kageshwori Municipality, Kathmandu. Total 294 adult was interviewed by using cancer stigma scale (CASS). Systematic random sampling technique was used for data collection. Data was analyzed by using SPSS-22. Descriptive and Inferential statistics was used for data analysis. The results of the study founds low stigma 164 (55.8%) level among the respondents. However, 130 (44.2%) respondents had higher stigma whereas highest stigma present in the severity domain which suggests persistent negative perceptions while low stigma in the policy opposition domain reflects greater acceptance of policies supporting people with cancer. Brahmin/Chhettri felt low cancer stigma than others. Married respondents had higher cancer stigma than unmarried. There was a statistical association between the selected socio-demographic variables such as ethnicity, marital status and occupation with level of stigma.The findings indicate that overall cancer stigma was low but varied across different domains. These findings highlights the need for educational interventions to reduce misconceptions and further decrease cancer related stigma. Improving health literacy reduces sociocultural fears that delay the diagnosis.
Relapse among alcohol dependent patients is a multifactorial phenomenon which has been associated with various personal and sociodemographic factors. A hospital based descriptive, cross sectional study was conducted among 100 patients presenting to Psychiatry department of Nepal Medical College and Teaching Hospital, using convenience sampling, who fulfilled the inclusion criteria over a study period of one year (February 2025 to January2026). Socio demographic proforma and Presumptive Stressful Life Events Scale (PSLES) were used to study the profile of patients with alcohol dependence who have relapsed. The results of this study showed majority of the respondents were male (80.0%), married (87.0%) and had history of consuming alcohol for more than ten years (69.0%). While most had relapsed once prior to this relapse only 37.0% were admitted for treatment. Most of the participants reported craving (32.0%) as the reason for current relapse followed by peer pressure (24.0%). The mean presumptive stress score in the past one year in this study was found to be 215.8 ± 177.14 and majority of the respondents reported of experiencing severe stress. The findings of this study underscore the need to understand the role of various sociodemographic and psychosocial factors involved in relapse of alcohol dependence syndrome and address them for its better management.
Fungal infections represent a growing public health challenge in tertiary care hospitals, particularly among immunocompromised patients. In resource limited settings, conventional diagnostic methods remain the mainstay for detection and epidemiological surveillance. The objective is to characterize the fungal profile of mycotic infections in a tertiary care centre in Imphal, Manipur, using conventional diagnostic techniques. A retrospective study was conducted over one year (January 2024–January 2025) in the Department of Microbiology, Jawaharlal Institute of Medical Sciences, Imphal. A total of 402 clinical specimens were processed by direct microscopy (KOH wet mount) and culture on Sabouraud’s Dextrose Agar. Yeasts were identified by germ tube test and HiChrome Candida differential agar, while molds were characterized by LPCB staining. Among 402 samples, 175 (44.0%) pathogenic fungi were isolated. Culture positivity was highest among ICU patients (58.8%), followed by IPD (48.5%) and OPD (32.3%). Elderly patients (>70 years) demonstrated the highest positivity rate (57.6%). Non-albicans Candida spp. predominated (60.0%), with Candida tropicalis most frequent, particularly in urine and respiratory samples. Candida albicans accounted for 23.4% of isolates, while dermatophytes (Trichophyton mentagrophytes and T. rubrum) were common in nail clippings. Occasional molds (Fusarium spp., Aspergillus fumigatus) and rare isolates such as Cryptococcus neoformans were also recovered. KOH wet mount showed limited sensitivity (32.0%) but high specificity (89.9%) compared to culture. This study highlights the significant burden of fungal infections in Imphal, with a predominance of non-albicans Candida and higher culture positivity among elderly and ICU patients
Cardiorespiratory fitness, reflected by VO2max, indicates the body’s capacity to utilize oxygen during exercise and is influenced by factors such as age, sex, genetics, and body composition. Body adiposity index serves as an estimate of body fat percentage and is inversely associated with aerobic capacity. Considering rising cardiovascular risk among young adults due to lifestyle changes, this study aimed to examine the relationship between body fat percentage and cardiorespiratory fitness. This cross-sectional study included 105 undergraduate students (56 males, 49 females), aged 18–25 years from Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences, Dhulikhel, Kavre, were selected through convenience sampling. Anthropometric measurements, including height, weight, and hip circumference were recorded. Body mass index and body adiposity index were calculated. VO2max was estimated indirectly using the Queen’s College Step Test protocol. Male participants had a mean±SD VO2max of 45.04 ± 6.53 ml/kg/min and a mean±SD body adiposity index of 24.31 ± 4.21, whereas females showed a mean±SD VO2max of 33.99 ± 3.64 ml/kg/min and a mean±SD body fat percentage of 30.99 ± 5.03. VO2max was significantly higher in males, while body fat percentage was significantly higher in females (p < 0.001). A significant moderate negative correlation was observed between VO2max and body fat percentage (r = −0.522, p <0.001). A significant moderate inverse relationship was observed between VO2max and body fat percentage, indicating that higher adiposity is associated with lower aerobic capacity.
Upper gastrointestinal tract disorders are one of the most commonly encountered problems in clinical practice. Histopathological study of lesions in upper gastrointestinal endoscopic biopsies are essential for accurate diagnosis as well as further management of various upper gastrointestinal disorders. The aim of this study is to determine the spectrum of histopathological lesions of the upper gastrointestinal tract which includes gastric, esophageal and duodenal lesions. This cross-sectional study was carried out in the Department of Pathology, Kathmandu Model Hospital - Institute of Health Sciences (KMH-IHS) over a period of 3 years. All the endoscopic biopsies received from the departments of medicine and surgery at the pathology department from January 1st 2023 to December 31st 2025 were included in the study. A total of 263 endoscopic biopsies were evaluated, out of which 162 (61.59%) were males and 101 (38.40%) were females. The age of the patients ranged from 15 to 88 years. The most common site was stomach 233 (88.50%). Adenocarcinoma of the stomach accounted for a total of 8 cases (3.43%). Among the 17 oesophageal biopsies; 15 cases (88.23%) were non-neoplastic and 2 cases (11.76%) were neoplastic. Chronic duodenitis was the most common diagnosis from the duodenal biopsies which accounted for a total of 9 cases (69.23%). Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy is an effective procedure which, combined with histopathology, plays an important role in early detection of lesions with accurate diagnosis as well as further management.
