Introduction: Inter-arm difference (IAD) in blood pressure is the difference in the systolic and the diastolic blood pressure between arms of an individual. Studies regarding IAD among elderly, pregnant women, patients with cardiovascular disease and diabetes have been conducted but there are very limited studies carried out among young healthy adults. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the inter-arm blood pressure difference and its association with age, sex, BMI and family history of hypertension among Nepalese healthy young adults. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among 230 students of Kantipur Dental College, Kathmandu, Nepal. Blood pressure was measured using a mercurial sphygmomanometer. Statistical analysis was done using paired t test, chi-square and Pearson’s correlation test using SPSS 16. Results: The absolute mean IAD for SBP was 5.03±3.88 mm Hg and for DBP was 3.84±3.77 mm Hg. There is significant inter-arm difference for SBP (t=4.882, p<0.001) but not for DBP. Inter-arm SBP difference was significantly associated with family history of hypertension (χ2 = 6.41, p=0.01) and positive but weakly correlated with age (r = +0.135, p=0.04). There is no significant association of inter-arm SBP difference with sex and BMI. Meanwhile, there is no statistically significant association of sex, family history of hypertension, age and BMI with inter-arm DBP. Conclusions: There is a significant inter-arm systolic blood pressure difference among the healthy young Nepalese adults and it is associated with the positive family history of hypertension and age.

Background and Objectives: Survival after cardiopulmonary arrest depends on early and effective cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Demand for courses of basic life support (BLS)/CPR is increasing worldwide. Till date, there have been little reports regarding CPR knowledge and attitude among the Nepalese dental health personnel. This study aimed to assess the knowledge and attitude towards CPR among undergraduate dental students, interns and postgraduate residents studying at Kantipur Dental College and Teaching Hospital (KDCH), Kathmandu, Nepal. Material and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 243 dental students studying at KDCH. Data was collected through a self -administered semi-structured questionnaire. Collected data was organized, recorded, coded and then analyzed using Statistical Package of Social Science (SPSS) version 16. Descriptive statistics was used to compute mean, percentile, standard deviation and one way ANOVA test was done to compare the mean knowledge score between different academic levels of the students at 95% level of significance. Results: The mean knowledge and attitude score towards CPR among the dental students was 8.05±2.85 and 4.63±0.51 respectively. Out of total students, only few (5.8%) had adequate knowledge whereas all (100%) had a positive attitude towards CPR. The mean score for the pre-clinical students (7.26 ±2.38) was significantly (p=0.001) lower than clinical students (8.44 ±3.23), interns and residents (8.85 ±2.54). Conclusion: The present study showed inadequate knowledge regarding CPR among dental students of different academic levels but they have a positive attitude towards it. The integration of CPR in the early year of the curriculum along with regular training of CPR in succeeding years will enhance their knowledge.

Background The electrical activities of heart recorded as electrocardiogram (ECG) are mostly done in supine postures. The body postural changes have effects in these electrical activities in heart which needs to be properly recognized. Objective To find the variations in electrocardiogram during postural changes from supine to upright i.e. sitting and standing postures among apparently healthy young adults. Method A cross sectional study was carried out in Manipal College of Medical Sciences after the institutional ethical clearance. The apparently healthy 30 Nepalese male medical students between 18-25 years of age were enrolled. The electrocardiography was elicited in supine, sitting and standing postures in the participants after 5 minutes’ interval between each procedure in each participant. Result The highest mean amplitudes of Q wave were seen in sitting postures (0.12±0.04 mm), R wave in standing postures (1.46±0.55 mm) and S wave also in standing postures (0.23±0.2 mm). The mean amplitudes of Q and S waves showed statistically significant difference when compared between supine and upright postures. The maximum QRS duration was found while sitting (0.08±0.01 ms) and maximum heart rate in standing posture (82.43±10.59/min). The mean comparison of heart rate was statistically highly significant when compared between supine and standing postures. The mean QRS frontal axis was comparatively increased while standing (64.30±39.29). Conclusion The electrical activities of heart vary during postural changes among apparently healthy young adults. These changes are most prominent when compared between supine and standing postures which urges for careful interpretation of electrocardiogram if it is done in upright postures.

The spirometric measurements are very sensitive, accurate and reliable parameters, which have diagnostic as well as prognostic values. We aimed to find the reliability of two simple measurements, namely chest expansion and voluntary breath holding, which are often suggested as tools for screening and monitoring of respiratory diseases. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on students of Nepal Medical College. Measurements of spirometry (forced vital capacity, FVC in liter; forced expiratory volume in first second, FEV1 in liter; and peak expiratory flow rate, PEF in liter persecond), cirtometry (average of maximum chest expansion, CE in centimeter), and breath-holding time (maximum voluntary apnea at end-inspiration, MVAIT and maximum voluntary apnea at end expiration, MVAET in second) were performed. Degrees of correlation (Pearson’s r) were determined between different parameters; setting level of significance at 95%. Total 308 students (M=164, 53.25%;F=144, 46.75%) participated. Owing to very highly significant differences between males and females, gender-separate correlations were determined. In males, CE correlation was very highly significant (p=0.000) with FVC and FEV1 but not with PEF. MVAET correlated significantly with FVC, FEV1 and PEF; MVAIT correlation was not significant with any parameters. In females, CE correlation was significant with FVC and FEV1 but not with PEF; MVAET and MVAIT correlations were not significant with any of the parameters. In conclusion, the correlation of CE with different spirometric parameters is significant but not very strong (0.3<r<0.5). Also, gender differences exist. Therefore, using CE and breath-holding time may not be appropriate to assess respiratory ventilatory function.