Language barriers for primary care access in Europe: a systematic review

Background

A recent increase in migration both inside Europe and from non-European countries has expanded the language profile of many European countries. As a result, there has been a significant increase in barriers to healthcare access experienced by linguistic minority migrants. This systematic review aims to explore language barriers in primary care, focusing on the experiences of linguistic minority migrants living in Europe.

Methods

PubMed, Embase, Scopus and Global Health were searched to identify studies published in English until May 2021. Qualitative and mixed methods studies on either linguistic minority migrants or healthcare workers working with linguistic minority migrants, exploring the impacts of language barriers in a primary care setting published were eligible. The studies were analysed using a Braun and Clarke's thematic analysis approach. Quality of the studies were assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool.

Results

16 studies from 14 different European countries were eligible. Participants in the studies included four groups: linguistic minority migrants (n = 11), healthcare workers (n = 10), interpreters (n = 1) and administrative staff (n = 1). Barriers identified included a lack of interpreters, limited cultural competence of practitioners, a lack of practitioner training and knowledge, a lack of accessible information for migrants, difficulties expressing emotions and building patient-practitioner relationships, and risks to women's bodily autonomy resulting from language barriers.

Conclusions

Linguistic minority migrants living in Europe face a number of barriers when accessing primary care. These barriers can risk patient safety, reduce the likelihood of seeking healthcare services, and impact patient experiences of healthcare services. There is a need for improved interpreter services, practitioner training, and information accessibility for both migrants and healthcare staff.

Key messages

• Linguistic minority migrants experience significant barriers to primary healthcare access across Europe.

• There is a need for improved interpreter services, practitioner training, and information accessibility for both migrants and healthcare staff.

Storytelling to communicate public health messages during the COVID-19 pandemic; A systematic review

Background

Storytelling has been increasingly used in public health to disseminate health messages in a format that is more understandable and engaging. This project aims to summarize the findings from the studies that used storytelling approach for conveying health messages during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

The protocol for this systematic review is registered in PROSPERO (CRD42021281957). Studies were identified via electronic databases; EMBASE, Ovid MEDLINE and EBSCO using variations of the search terms ‘COVID-19’ and ‘storytelling’. Studies that used storytelling interventions in COVID-19 and published in English after 2020 were eligible for inclusion. Data from eligible full text article was collated in a summary table. Quality of included studies were assessed using Joanna Briggs Institute Checklists.

Results

Of the 4562 studies identified in the electronic search, 11 were eligible for inclusion. Participant numbers in each study varied from 14 to 3746. Eight of the 11 studies included were set online, looking at virtual forms of storytelling. This included online surveys and social media campaigns within hospitals, and online meetings with patients at home. Overall, studies showed that storytelling intervention increased engagement in health communication and has the potential to be used as an effective public health communication tool, for changing health behaviours. Studies were small, six out of 11 were of poor quality.

Conclusions

Storytelling is a widely accepted intervention and has the potential to positively impact communication, empathy and health behaviour. As there is no standardized definition of storytelling, and studies into this area are new, it is important to continually re-evaluate data to enhance understanding and provide standardized guidelines for storytelling in the COVID-19 context.

Key messages

• Storytelling has been increasingly used in public health to disseminate health messages.

• Storytelling has the potential to positively impact communication, empathy and health behaviour.

A qualitative study on mental health and wellbeing of Syrian refugees in the UK

Background

The Syrian conflict has resulted in an estimated 5.3 million registered Syrian refugees in various parts of the world. Evidence suggests that these individuals are at considerable risk of developing common mental disorders. This study aimed to explore the mental wellbeing of Syrian refugees, identify their coping mechanisms and pathways towards integration into new communities, and formulate recommendations for better access to mental healthcare services.

Methods

We conducted a qualitative study using in-depth semi-structured interviews with adult refugees (>18 years old) who are currently residing in Southeast of England. Interviews were conducted in Arabic, recorded, transcribed and translated verbatim. Translated transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis. Ethical Approval was obtained from the Brighton and Sussex Medical School Research Governance Ethics Committee (ER/BSMS9DAP/1).

Results

Twelve participants (3 females and 9 males) took part in the study; all were born in Syria and the majority (n = 9) were over 45 years of age. Participants described symptoms of reduced psychological wellbeing. Preliminary findings shows that almost all participants talked about psychological distress resulting from previous trauma, loss of and separation from family members and challenges adjusting to their host country. Barriers to accessing the healthcare system in the UK included fear of stigma, being misunderstood by healthcare staff and language issues. Communicating with loved ones, connecting with nature, practising faith and pursuing hobbies were reported as coping strategies.

Conclusions

For Syrian refugees in the UK, mental wellbeing embraces living with past traumatic experiences, achieving social integration and facing challenges accessing healthcare. Understanding differences between refugee and host communities is key to appropriately cater to the specific needs of each community and achieve equity in healthcare access.

Key messages

Syrian refugees in UK described symptoms of reduced psychological wellbeing. Understanding the needs of refugee communities is necessary to achieve equity in healthcare access.

A service evaluation of a Hospital In-reach Service for people who are homeless in South England

Background

Homelessness has increased dramatically in the last decade, with an estimated 165% increase in rough sleeping alone in England since 2010. People experiencing homelessness can often have what is referred to as the tri-morbidity; mental health, substance and or alcohol misuse and physical health problems. Hospital admission presents a potential point of intervention to address the health problems people have been experiencing, to link them in with services and as a bridge to housing. This service evaluation explored the role of a Hospital In-reach Service team for safer hospital discharge.

Methods

A qualitative in-depth interview study was conducted with six participants related to a Hospital In-reach Service team in South England. The interviews were transcribed, and analysed following Burnard's fourteen stage method. The ethical approval was obtained from Brighton and Sussex Medical School Research Governance and Ethics Committee (ER/BSMS4284/2).

Results

Three key themes were identified; the role of the Hospital In-reach Service team, barriers to, and facilitators for advocating patients' needs. The results indicate that the service team works incredibly well, building strong and trusting relationships with patients, community and hospital teams, taking a holistic approach to patient care. However, the structural discrimination against this patient group is reiterated in this study. Despite progress, there are still problems with non-specialist staff understanding this patient group's needs.

Conclusions

There is a need for clarification within Adult Social Care regarding the distribution of responsibility between hospital and community social work teams. There also appears to be a need for expansion of training for non-specialist service staff, including ward staff, discharge teams and social workers. In-reach housing services and expansion of the service team would be invaluable

Key messages

Hospital In-reach Service team in South England works incredibly well taking a holistic approach to patient care. Clarification in role of hospital and community social work teams is required for better management of this issue.

Search for Electron Antineutrino Appearance in a Long-Baseline Muon Antineutrino Beam

Electron antineutrino appearance is measured by the T2K experiment in an accelerator-produced antineutrino beam, using additional neutrino beam operation to constrain parameters of the Pontecorvo-Maki-Nakagawa-Sakata (PMNS) mixing matrix. T2K observes 15 candidate electron antineutrino events with a background expectation of 9.3 events. Including information from the kinematic distribution of observed events, the hypothesis of no electron antineutrino appearance is disfavored with a significance of 2.40σ and no discrepancy between data and PMNS predictions is found. A complementary analysis that introduces an additional free parameter which allows non-PMNS values of electron neutrino and antineutrino appearance also finds no discrepancy between data and PMNS predictions.

Knowledge, Attitudes and Beliefs towards Electronic Cigarettes among University Students in Austria

Background

The popularity of e-cigarette is increasing recently, both as an alternative nicotine delivery tool or smoking cessation aid. Austria is a country with a high smoking prevalence; 28% of the population are current smoker and 21% have tried e-cigarettes at least once. In this current context, it is important to understand the opinion regarding e-cigarettes.

Methods

This cross-sectional survey examined the use, knowledge, attitudes and beliefs towards e-cigarettes among undergraduate students from Carinthia University of Applied Sciences in Austria. The anonymous questionnaire was handed out in 29 classrooms during compulsory lecturers, and completed questionnaire was returned to a provided box in the front of the classroom. Descriptive summary statistics was used to summarize the results using SPSS 24. Statistical significance was considered at p < 0.05.

Results

A total of 528 students were approached and all returned the questionnaire giving a 100% completion rate. 83.7% were female and half (50.2%) were in the age group 20 and 24. 96.6% of students reported being aware of e-cigarettes and 32.4% mentioned trying e-cigarettes at least once. 71.2% reported of ever smoking tobacco. 53.8% disagreed that e-cigarettes are an effective way for smoking cessation and only 10.3% agreed recommending it to a friend or family for smoking cessation. 78.1% believed that e-cigarettes are harmful to the health of those who use them and 58.2% disagreed that the use of e-cigarettes should be prohibited on University Campus premises.

Conclusions

To our knowledge, this study is the first of its kind performed in Austria. Our study shows that self-reported ever use of e-cigarettes is 1.5 times higher among this population than among the general population in Austria. Majority of participants disagreed that e-cigarettes are an effective way for smoking cessation. There seems a gap in knowledge regarding the e-cigarette which needs to be addressed among the university students.

Key messages

In Austria, e-cigarettes use is 1.5 times higher among university students compared to the general population. Knowledge gap regarding e-cigarettes needs to be addressed among the university students.

Evaluating latent tuberculosis testing and treatment programme for new migrants in South East England

Background

Tuberculosis (TB) cases in England often originate from high burden TB countries due to ’reactivation’ of the latent TB infection (LTBI), an asymptomatic and non-infectious phase lasting years. 5,137 TB cases were notified in England in 2017, and 71% of these patients were born outside the UK. This mixed-method study evaluated the implementation of the four LTBI testing and treatment programme for new migrants in South East (SE) England.

Methods

A retrospective database (May 2016-Feb 2018) review was undertaken to identify LTBI cases using multiple data sources; LTBI testing laboratories, LTBI programmes, and the national TB team at Public Health England. In addition, a survey questionnaire was emailed to 51 stakeholders (45% response rate) and five in-depth interviews were conducted with LTBI programme leads/TB nurses to explore the challenges of the programme. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive summary statistics and qualitative interviews were analysed using thematic content analysis.

Results

Of the 5931 eligible patients, 40 % (n = 2391) accepted the LTBI test and 13.4% (n = 321) tested positive. 93.1% (n = 299) of the positive patients were referred for treatment and 63.8% (n = 191) of these accepted the treatment. The programme also picked up 18 active TB cases, an unexpected incidental finding. Results from the survey and the interviews identified laboratory arrangements, workforce, and data collection/management as the greatest challenges for the LTBI programme. Patient focused care, cultural understanding, success in testing/treating migrants, and raising awareness amongst professionals/communities were highlighted as achievements of the programme.

Conclusions

This study found that LTBI programmes in SE England are in line with national expectations and other LTBI programmes in England. The study recognises the achievements and good practice of the LTBI teams in SE England and identifies key barriers to improve the service for the future.

Key messages

Data collection and management is the biggest challenges of the LTBI programmes in SE England. The LTBI programmes in SE England are in line with national expectations.

Search for CP Violation in Neutrino and Antineutrino Oscillations by the T2K Experiment with 2.2×10^{21} Protons on Target

The T2K experiment measures muon neutrino disappearance and electron neutrino appearance in accelerator-produced neutrino and antineutrino beams. With an exposure of 14.7(7.6)×10^{20} protons on target in the neutrino (antineutrino) mode, 89 ν_{e} candidates and seven anti-ν_{e} candidates are observed, while 67.5 and 9.0 are expected for δ_{CP}=0 and normal mass ordering. The obtained 2σ confidence interval for the CP-violating phase, δ_{CP}, does not include the CP-conserving cases (δ_{CP}=0, π). The best-fit values of other parameters are sin^{2}θ_{23}=0.526_{-0.036}^{+0.032} and Δm_{32}^{2}=2.463_{-0.070}^{+0.071}×10^{-3}  eV^{2}/c^{4}.

Combined Analysis of Neutrino and Antineutrino Oscillations at T2K

T2K reports its first results in the search for CP violation in neutrino oscillations using appearance and disappearance channels for neutrino- and antineutrino-mode beams. The data include all runs from January 2010 to May 2016 and comprise 7.482×10^{20} protons on target in neutrino mode, which yielded in the far detector 32 e-like and 135  μ-like events, and 7.471×10^{20} protons on target in antineutrino mode, which yielded 4 e-like and 66  μ-like events. Reactor measurements of sin^{2}2θ_{13} have been used as an additional constraint. The one-dimensional confidence interval at 90% for the phase δ_{CP} spans the range (-3.13, -0.39) for normal mass ordering. The CP conservation hypothesis (δ_{CP}=0, π) is excluded at 90% C.L.

Grading, staging and Nottingham prognostic index scoring of breast carcinoma

Background: Breast carcinoma is the most frequent malignant tumor in women accounting for approximately 15% of female cancer deaths. It is the second most common malignancy among women in Nepal. Our objectives were to study the extent and spread of different histological types breast carcinoma in the eastern region of Nepal, to grade and stage the tumors, score the prognosis.Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study of mastectomy specimens with axillary lymph node sampling was done for a period of two years. Diagnosis was done using WHO classification. Modified Bloom Richardson score and TNM system was used to grade and stage the tumors. Nottingham Prognostic index was applied to score the prognosis.Results: Out of 31 total cases, the most common histologic type was Invasive Carcinoma of No Special Type (67.74%). The largest tumor size was of 12cm which had poor NPI score. Most tumors were of grade II and T2. Out of 30 cases with lymph nodes, 13 were negative for metastasis pN0, 10 were pN1 and 7 were pN2. Extranodal spread was observed in 6 out of 17 cases with lymph node metastasis and was associated with higher grades and poor prognosis.Conclusion: Higher grade tumors, lymph node metastasis and extranodal extension are associated with higher Nottingham Prognostic Index score. 

Pleomorphic adenoma of nasal septum: A case report

Pleomorphic adenomas are the most common benign tumor of the major salivary glands. Other rare sites for the occurrence of pleomorphic adenoma have been described in the larynx, pharynx, nasal cavity, lacrimal glands and trachea. We report here a case of intranasal pleomorphic adenoma arising from the nasal septum causing nasal obstruction which was clinically diagnosed as papilloma. Histopathology confirmed the diagnosis of pleomorphic adenoma.

A clinico-histopathological study on skin appendageal tumors

Background: Skin Appendageal tumors are a large and diverse group of tumors that are commonly classified according to their state of appendageal differentiation: follicular, sebaceous, eccrine and apocrine. Objectives of this study were to study the clinic-epidemiological profile of skin appendageal tumors and to correlate the clinico-histopathological diagnosis.Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective and prospective study which included all cases of skin adnexal tumours diagnosed histologically during the period of f

Megakaryocytic alterations in thrombocytopenia: A bone marrow aspiration study

Background: Megakaryocyte morphology plays an important role in thrombopoiesis. A defect in any stage of megakaryocytopoiesis can lead to dysmegakaryocytopoiesis and thrombocytopenia. This study was conducted to understand megakaryocytic alterations and their contribution in the diagnosis of cases of thrombocytopenia.Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study was conducted on all consecutive cases of bone marrow aspirates of thrombocytopenia over a duration of one year in BPKIHS. Megakaryocyte morphology was studied with a 100X objective. Data were entered into Microsoft excel 10 and analysed with SPSS version 11.5. Descriptive statistics charted and Chi-square tests were done for inferential statistics to find any association at 95% Confidence Interval.Results: Among the 38 subjects, megakaryocytic thrombocytopenia (44.7%) was the most common cause of thrombocytopenia.  Hypolobated megakaryocytes (63.2%), bare megakaryocytic nuclei (57.9%) were the common morphological changes in megakaryocytes. Odds of increased megakaryocyte count in megakaryocytic thrombocytopenia was found to be 12.5 times than for other causes of thrombocytopenia and the presence of bare megakaryocytic nuclei in MTP was statistically significant. (p –value<0.05)Conclusion: Many similarities were observed in megakaryocytic morphology among different hematological diseases. However, increased megakaryocyte count and presence of bare megakaryocytic nuclei, hypolobated forms were significant in megakaryocytic thrombocytopenia.

Primary intraosseous lymphoma at right femur

Lymphomas, the malignant neoplasms of the reticuloendothelial and lymphatic system, are classified based on characterisitic morphological pattern, immunophenotypic pattern and sometimes distinctive chromosomal aberrations. Most of the intraosseous lymphomas should be metastatic, and primary intraosseous lymphoma is a rare type of lymphoma, which accounts for only about 5% extranodal lymphoma. It accounts for approximately 3% of all primary bone malignancies.We report a case of 54 years lady presented with pain over  right thigh since 3 to 4 months which suddenly increased. The clinico-radiological differential diagnosis was fibrous dysplasia, plasmacytoma or metastasis.The histological findings and immunohistochemistry being positive for CD20 and BCL2 negative are those of Lymphoma- Diffuse large B cell type. Radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy is the preferred modality of management.

Pregnancy Related Acute Kidney Injury at a Tertiary Care Center in Nepal

Aims: This was performed to study the characteristics of Pregnancy Related Acute Kidney Injury (PRAKI), its management and outcome in patients at a tertiary level referral centre. Methods: A hospital based prospective observational study was conducted in Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH) over a period of 18 months. All patients diagnosed with PRAKI were included in the study. Patient profiles in terms of age, parity, gestational age were studied along with time of occurrence of PRAKI, preceding event, etiology, management and maternal outcome. Descriptive and univariate analyses were conducted and qualitative variables were expressed as percentages while quantitative variables as means. Results: There were fifteen cases of PRAKI during the study period with incidence of 2.1 per 1000 deliveries. The average age was 25.23± 3.8 years and 9(60%) were primipara. Fourteen (93.3%) developed PRAKI in the postpartum period with 10(66.6%) cases following Lower Segment Caesarian Section (LSCS). The commonest etiology of PRAKI was severe preeclampsia/ Hemolysis, Elevated Liver enzymes, Low Platelet (HELLP) syndrome and pregnancy hemorrhages each consisting 4(26.6%) cases. The stage of Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) according to RIFLE (Risk, Injury, Failure, Loss, ESRD-End Stage Renal Disease) criteria was as follows: risk in 1(6.6%), injury in 3(20%) and failure in 11(73.3%) cases. Hemodialysis was necessary in 12(80%) cases while 3 cases (20%) improved with medical management only. The average duration of hospital stay was 25.2±14.7 days and 7(46.6%) needed ICU admission. Twelve (80%) cases recovered completely while two patients were dialysis dependent at the time of evaluation. There was one death. Conclusions: PRAKI occurred mainly in the postpartum period with severe preeclampsia/HELLP syndrome and hemorrhages as the most common causes. It is associated with high maternal morbidity, prolonged hospital stay and even mortality. Multidisciplinary team management is essential. 

Incidental Enterobius Vermicularis infestation in surgically removed appendices with a clinical diagnosis of acute appendicitis: A retrospective analysis

Background: Appendiceal parasites can cause symptoms of appendicitis. Although the symptomatology imitates acute appendicitis clinically, the true nature of disease is diagnosed through histological examination. The aim of this study is to therefore determine the prevalence of E. Vermicularis in appendicectomy specimens to relate this to acute inflammation histologically.Materials & Methods: Histological data on all appendectomy specimens with a clinical diagnosis of acute appendicitis were retrieved from the archives of department of pathology, B.P.K.I.H.S, over the period of  five years (January 2004- December 2008) and was analyzed retrospectively.Results: There were a total of 1528 patients. M:F ratio being 1.2:1.Inflamed appendix constituted for 94.24% of all cases. There were a total of six (0.39%) appendicectomy specimens  which showed presence of oxyuriasis appendix. Though all patients with oxyuriasis presented with appendicial colic only one (1) out of the six cases of oxyuriasis showed histologic evidence of inflammation. Conclusion: We conclude that enterobius does not frequently cause inflammation of appendix though it may clinically mimic acute appendicitis. Since it represents a disease curable without necessitating surgery, symptomatology awareness is stressed upon.Journal of Pathology of Nepal (2015) Vol. 5, 720-722

Low back pain among textile workers: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Low back pain (LBP) is one of the most prevalent occupational health problems in industrialized countries. Little is known about the epidemiology of LBP in developing countries.

AIMS

To determine the prevalence of LBP among Nepalese textile workers and to investigate the influence of exposure to mechanical and other factors on LBP reporting.

METHODS

Interviewers completed questionnaires with study subjects, and work-related mechanical exposures were measured by self-completed questionnaires. Associations of LBP with mechanical factors and somatic symptoms were determined by logistic regression and reported as odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CI).

RESULTS

Nine hundred and thirty-eight workers took part, a participation rate of 92%. The 1 month period prevalence of LBP was 35% (n = 324), being higher in females than males (45% versus 28%; P < 0.001). Several work-related mechanical factors were associated with increased odds of reporting LBP: lifting heavy weights with one hand (OR 1.7; 95% CI 1.1-2.8), pushing weights (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.2-2.3 and pulling weights (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.1-2.1). No association was found with working posture. Strong associations were found for reporting one (OR 2.4; 95% CI 1.7-3.4) or two somatic symptoms (OR 2.7; 95% CI 1.4-5.1). On multivariable analysis, reporting of somatic symptoms (OR 2.8; 95% CI 1.5-5.4), female gender (OR 2.2; 95% CI 1.5-3.1) and increasing age were significantly associated with increased risk of reporting LBP (OR 1.7; 95% CI 1.2-2.5), but no associations were found with mechanical factors.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests that mechanical load may not be the leading cause of LBP and adds to evidence that psychological factors play an important role in LBP in non-industrialized countries.

Values of Lymphocyte Subsets in Nepalese Healthy Adult Population

Introduction: CD4 T lymphocyte is the most commonly used cellular marker in tracking Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection progression and monitoring effect of antiretroviral therapy (ART). Due to lack of local reference values of CD4 and other T lymphocytes in Nepal, most clinical decisions are based on the reference renges of western countries.  Methods: This study was conducted at three major hospitals/laboratory of central, eastern and western Nepal during November 2008 through July 2009. Using the predefined criteria, 602 (200, 202 and 200 from central, eastern and western regions respectively) healthy adult volunteers of age range 18-60 years were recruited wiht equal representation from each age group and sex. Blood specimens were screened for HIV following standard algorithm using ELISA and two rapid test kits based on different principles. Samples with discordant test-results were excluded. HIV sero-negative specimens were further analyzed for CD4, CD8 and CD4:CD8 ratio, and absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) by FACS count (Becton Dickinson, USA) and automated cell counter (BC-3000 Plus, Shenzhen Mindray Biomedical Electronics, Germany) respectively. Results: The average value (mean± standard deviation) of CD4, CD8, CD4/CD8 ratio and ALC of Nepalese adult population were found to be 786 ± 248, 567±230, 1.52 ± 0.59 and 2712 ± 836 respectively. All four parameters but CD8 were significantly different with sex and females had relatively higher values. However, none of these parameters reported significant difference with age except the ALC. Conclusions: Nepalese healthy adult populations have significantly different T lymphocyte subsets compared to other countries. The present reference ranges of CD4 and other T lymphocytes may be used for any clinical purposes including classifying and monitoring disease status in HIV infected individuals, immune status evaluation, monitoring ART and accordingly making amendment in national HIV treatment guidelines in Nepal. Keywords:Absolute lymphocyte count, CD4, CD8, human immunodeficiency virus, T lymphocytes.

Values of lymphocyte subsets in Nepalese healthy adult population

INTRODUCTION

CD4 T lymphocyte is the most commonly used cellular marker in tracking Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection progression and monitoring effect of antiretroviral therapy (ART). Due to lack of local reference values of CD4 and other T lymphocytes in Nepal, most clinical decisions are based on the reference ranges of western countries.

METHODS

This study was conducted at three major hospitals/laboratory of central, eastern and western Nepal during November 2008 through July 2009. Using the predefined criteria, 602 (200, 202 and 200 from central, eastern and western regions respectively) healthy adult volunteers of age range 18-60 years were recruited with equal representation from each age group and sex. Blood specimens were screened for HIV following standard algorithm using ELISA and two rapid test kits based on different principles. Samples with discordant test-results were excluded. HIV sero-negative specimens were further analyzed for CD4, CD8, and CD4:CD8 ratio, and absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) by FACS count (Becton Dickinson, USA) and automated cell counter (BC-3000 Plus, Shenzhen Mindray Biomedical Electronics, Germany) respectively.

RESULTS

The average value (mean± standard deviation) of CD4, CD8, CD4/CD8 ratio and ALC of Nepalese adult population were found to be 786 ± 248, 567±230, 1.52 ± 0.59 and 2712 ± 836 respectively. All four parameters but CD8 were significantly different with sex and females had relatively higher values. However, none of these parameters reported significant difference with age except the ALC.

CONCLUSIONS

Nepalese healthy adult populations have significantly different T lymphocyte subsets compared to other countries. The present reference ranges of CD4 and other T lymphocytes may be used for any clinical purposes including classifying and monitoring disease status in HIV infected individuals, immune status evaluation, monitoring ART and accordingly making amendment in national HIV treatment guidelines in Nepal.

The role of the ADC value in the characterisation of renal carcinoma by diffusion-weighted MRI

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the role of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in combination with T(1) and T(2) weighted MRI for the characterisation of renal carcinoma. The institutional review board approved the study protocols and waived informed consent from all of the patients. 47 patients (32 male and 15 female; age range, 21-85 years; median age, 65 years) who had suspected renal lesions on abdominal CT underwent MRI for further evaluation and characterisation of the lesions from April 2005 to August 2007 in our university hospital. A region of interest was drawn around the tumour area on apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps. Final diagnosis was confirmed by histological examination of surgical specimens from all patients. The ADC value was significantly higher in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) than in transitional cell carcinoma (2.71+/-2.35 x 10(-3) mm(2) s(-1) vs 1.61+/-0.80 x 10(-3) mm(2) s(-1); p = 0.022). While analysing the histological subtypes of RCC, a significant difference in ADC values between clear cell carcinoma and non-clear cell carcinoma was found (1.59+/-0.55 x 10(-3) mm(2) s(-1) vs 6.72+/-1.85 x 10(-3) mm(2) s(-1); p = 0.0004). Similarly, ADC values of RCC revealed a significant difference between positive and negative metastatic lesions (1.06+/-0.38 x 10(-3) mm(2) s(-1) vs 3.02+/-2.44 x 10(-3) mm(2) s(-1); p = 0.0004), whereas intensity on T(1) and T(2) weighted imaging did not reach statistical significance. In conclusion, DWI has clinical value in the characterisation of renal carcinomas and could be applied in clinical practice for their management.