Background: Increasing smartphone use among adolescents in todays' world has made this handy device an indispensable electronic tool, however, it comes at a price of problematic overuse or addiction. We aim to investigate the prevalence of smartphone addiction among undergraduate medical students and explore its association with various demographic and personal factors. Methods: A pool of 250 undergraduate students completed a survey composed of socio-demographics information, smartphone-use related variables and 10-point Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version in February 2019. Results: Smartphone addiction among medical students was estimated at around 36.8% with higher percentage of male smartphone addicts. Phubbing was reported by 37.6% participants with more than 60% reporting overuse. Statistically significant association was observed between smartphone addiction and gender and overuse. Self-acknowledgement of addiction was found to be the biggest predictor of smartphone addiction. Conclusion: This study provides preliminary insights into smartphone use, smartphone addiction and various factors predicting smartphone addiction among early undergraduate medical students from Nepal, which should be extended in future studies. Education policymakers and educators need to develop some strategies encouraging student's smartphone utilization to enhance academic performance.

BackgroundComplete blood count is one of the routinely advised blood investigation during pregnancy. It is also utilized as a diagnostic tool for neonatal anemia, sepsis and determining hemostatic status of the newborn. The present study aims at estimating the complete blood count of maternal and umbilical cord blood at the time of delivery and to establish its correlation.MethodThis cross sectional study included 114 mothers and their healthy neonates born through normal vaginal delivery. Complete blood count of umbilical cord blood and maternal blood was estimated using automatic hematology analyzer.ResultsThe mean maternal and neonatal hemoglobin concentration was 11.14 ± 1.39 g/dL and 16.34 ± 2.01 g/dL respectively. A significant positive correlation was found between maternal and fetal hemoglobin concentration (p < 0.001 and Pearson R = 0.496). The correlation between maternal and fetal WBC, RBC and Platelet count was not statistically significant. A significant positive correlation was found between maternal and fetal MCV and MCH while PCV showed a non-significant positive correlation.ConclusionThere was moderately positive correlation between maternal and fetal hemoglobin, MCV and MCH. The cord blood hemoglobin was lower in babies born to anemic mothers. The decrease in hemoglobin followed the severity of anemia, however, the correlation did not exist in anemic mothers. It suggested that fetal hematological parameters are not reflective of maternal hemogram.

Background: Antihypertensive medications reduce blood pressure and decrease cardiovascular dis­ease morbidity and mortality. A number of antihypertensives with same formulation but different prices are available in the market. In the present study we aim to study such price variations of antihypertensive drugs currently available in the Nepalese market. Methods: We obtained the marked price of different antihypertensives manufactured in Nepal and India from various medicine stores within Chitwan from February to June 2021. Cost ratio (CR) and percentage cost variation (%CV) was calculated using Microsoft Office Excel-2019. Results: We observed a high percentage of cost variation in Amlodipine 5mg (CR: 3.33 %CV: 233.33) among Nepali and Losartan 50mg (CR: 32.31 %CV: 3131.47) among Indian antihypertensives. Conclusions: A wide percentage cost variation was observed among antihypertensive medications cur­rently available in the Nepalese market. Regulatory bodies could address the issue to ensure affordability of essential antihypertensive medications.

INTRODUCTION: Self-medication and home remedies are most commonly employed for relief from menstrual discomfort in female students. Self-medication practice varies among adolescent female students. Hence, this study aims to observe and analyze self-medication practice and drugs used for primary dysmenorrhea among nursing students. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross sectional study was conducted at Janaki Medical College and College of Nursing, Sinha Health Foundation, Dhanusha from October 2019 to December 2019, among nursing students of various academic years of intermediate level and bachelor level through structured questionnaire. Data analysis was carried out using SPSS version 21.0. RESULTS: Out of 156 female students, the mean age of menarche was 13.20±1.53, interval of menstrual cycle was 30.29±7.26. Majority (82.1%) of the female students reported lower abdominal pain during menstrual bleeding, of which 48.4% had pain for less than 1 day, 47.7% had pain for 1-3 days and 3.9% had pain for more than 3 days. Self-medication practice was observed in 35.20 % of students while 60.20% of them practiced resting in bed for pain relief during menstrual bleeding. The most commonly self-medicated drug was mefenamic acid (64.4%), followed by paracetamol (40%), ibuprofen (26.7%) and nimesulide (13.3%). CONCLUSIONS: Self–medication of drugs was found to be lower in primary dysmenorrhea among nursing students. Therefore, education programs on the drawbacks of self-medication of drugs needs to be implemented; properly and timely.