Background Tranexamic acid reduces surgical bleeding and reduces death due to bleeding in patients with trauma. Meta-analyses of small trials show that tranexamic acid might decrease deaths from gastrointestinal bleeding. We aimed to assess the effects of tranexamic acid in patients with gastrointestinal bleeding. Methods We did an international, multicentre, randomised, placebo-controlled trial in 164 hospitals in 15 countries. Patients were enrolled if the responsible clinician was uncertain whether to use tranexamic acid, were aged above the minimum age considered an adult in their country (either aged 16 years and older or aged 18 years and older), and had significant (defined as at risk of bleeding to death) upper or lower gastrointestinal bleeding. Patients were randomly assigned by selection of a numbered treatment pack from a box containing eight packs that were identical apart from the pack number. Patients received either a loading dose of 1 g tranexamic acid, which was added to 100 mL infusion bag of 0•9% sodium chloride and infused by slow intravenous injection over 10 min, followed by a maintenance dose of 3 g tranexamic acid added to 1 L of any isotonic intravenous solution and infused at 125 mg/h for 24 h, or placebo (sodium chloride 0•9%). Patients, caregivers, and those assessing outcomes were masked to allocation. The primary outcome was death due to bleeding within 5 days of randomisation; analysis excluded patients who received neither dose of the allocated treatment and those for whom outcome data on death were unavailable. This trial was registered with Current Controlled Trials, ISRCTN11225767, and ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01658124.

Introduction: Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) is a well- known complication of Diabetes Mellitus (DM). Its spectrum ranges from Asymptomatic Bacteriuria (ABU) to acute pyelonephritis. Many studies have delineated an increased prevalence of ABU in DM whereas to the same degree other studies have come to naught showing insignificant association. Hence, this study was drafted to evaluate the presence of ABU among diabetics and assess various risk factors.   Methods: Total of 116 diabetic adults without symptoms of UTI attending medical out-patient department, Manipal Teaching Hospital were enrolled by detailed clinical history, examination and laboratorial examination as per standard set of questionnaire from February 2013 to May 2014. Data were analyzed by SPSS (17.0).   Results: The rate of ABU in diabetic adults was 10.3% and was significantly associated with duration of DM, fasting blood glucose level and poor glycaemic control. Escherichia coli was the most frequently isolated pathogen which was sensitive to Nitrofurantoin and Imipenem.   Conclusion: Being asymptomatic, diabetics fail to recognise ABU, however, ABU is preponderant in DM and is linked mainly with duration of DM and poor glycaemic control. Hence screening for ABU is imperative in diabetic adults if above mentioned risk factors are present.

Background and Aims: Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD) is the most common heart disease among children and young adults in Nepal. Identifying the prevalence of RHD is important in planning RHD prevention program. There are few studies on RHD conducted among children of unreached population of Nepal. This study aimed to determine the epidemiological status of RHD among school going children living in rural and underdeveloped community of Jajarkot, Nepal. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study of 6,147 school going children of age group 5 to 16 years from 24 randomly selected schools of Jajarkot in the month of May, 2018. A team of cardiologists from Nepal Heart Foundation examined the children. Diagnosis of RHD was confirmed by echocardiography. Selected socio-demographic data were collected. All positive cases were reviewed by senior cardiologist. Information obtained were analyzed. Frequency and percentage for the categorical data were calculated. Prevalence was reported as cases per thousand school children. Results: The overall prevalence of RHD was 7.32 per 1000 schoolchildren. Borderline RHD was 1.30 per 1000 and definite RHD 6.02 per 1000. On severity scale, mild RHD was 6.18, moderate RHD 0.81 and severe RHD 0.33 per 1000 respectively. Prevalence of RHD varied with age, sex, ethnicity, and severity. RHD was found higher among males, 10-16 years age group and underprivileged children. Conclusion: Jajarkot is found to be a RHD endemic zone in Nepal where prevention efforts should be initiated urgently.

Background and Aims: Echocardiographic assessment of left ventricular diastolic function in patients with atrial fibrillation is a challenge as loss of atrial kick (A wave), beat to beat variability and left atrium enlargement despite normal atrial pressure make usual guideline based estimation difficult and inaccurate. Hence adoption of additional echocardiography parameters are necessary which are tricky and have varied results. Hence the aim of this study was to study various aspects of diastolic function in patients with atrial fibrillation. Methods: It was a hospital based prospective cross-sectional observational study conducted at cardiology unit, National Academy of Medical Sciences, Kathmandu and Shahid Gangalal National Heart Center, Kathmandu from 1st July 2018 to 30th June 2019. Results: Total of 92 patients were studied. About one third (34.8%) had diastolic dysfunction. Ratio of E/e’(14.65 ± 2.21 Vs 7.66 ± 1.18) , E/Vp (1.57 ± 0.14 Vs 1.20 ± 0.11), isovolumetric relaxation time (53.06 ± 13.82ms Vs 89.33 ± 9.88ms) and deceleration time of pulmonary venous diastolic wave (203.09 ± 26.13ms Vs 292.25 ± 36.32ms) were significantly different in patients with diastolic dysfunction compared to patients without diastolic dysfunction with sensitivity of 90.6%, 84.4%, 81.2% and 78.1% respectively. Conclusion: Diastolic dysfunction is a common entity in patients with atrial fibrillation. Echocardiography parameters like E/e’ ratio, isovolumetric relaxation time, E/Vp ratio and deceleration time of diastolic pulmonary wave were highly sensitive in detection of diastolic dysfunction.