Search

Background: Fluid obtained by whole gut lavage usually contains traces of immunoglobulin (lg) G, albumin, and a-1-antitrypsin; higher concentrations have been found in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Immunoglobulin (lg) levels increase in the lower respiratory tract of patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis. The aim of this study is to assess the Evaluation of immunoglobulin levels in lavage fluid in active and inactive disease. Material Methods: This is an observational study. The study used to be carried out in the admitted patient’s Department of microbiology and immunology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Bangladesh. In Bangladesh for the duration of the period from October 2015 to March 2017. Results: This study shows that the according to age of 33 Patients aged 1 to 9 years. Here according to Age distribution, 2(6.1%) were 1-3 years, 10(30.30%) were >3 6 years, 9(27.27%) were >6-9 years and 12(36.4%) were >9 years. And according to gender 13(39.4%) were Male and 20(60.6%) were Female. Conclusion: The study concluded that high and abnormal levels of immunoglobulin (IgG, IgM, and IgA) is present among JIA patient in active disease state which became normal in inactive state.

The whole world had suffered the Covid-19 pandemic and most countries had practiced social distancing and Movement Control Orders (MCO) for a variable duration on time. Because of MCO, educational institutions including universities had to shift to online learning. This dramatic change in the mode of learning is expected to affect the students’ academic performance. This research aimed to explore the students’ reflection regarding the online mode of learning and to detect if this affected their academic performance. A cross-sectional study has been implemented among students of the International Medical School, Management and Science University, Malaysia through an online questionnaire distributed in April 2020 investigating the students’ demographic characteristics and the effectiveness of online learning from their point of view. The results regarding the students’ perception of the effectiveness of online learning, showed that 30.4% of the students agreed that the discussion during online learning was depth and comprehensive. 41.8% of the students agreed that they had discussed more and used more resources during online learning. 23.2% of the students agreed that they learned better through online learning while 19.6% agreed that they learned better through online learning. Regarding participation and interaction during online learning, 25.8% agreed on that online learning promotes more participation and interaction while 42.3% of the students agreed that it was difficult for them to ask and to answer questions through online learning. 45.9% of the students suffered technical issues during the online learning session, and 33.5% of the students required more budget for internet connection. 41.8% agreed that there was an increased distraction during the online session. And 35.1% of the students agreed that it was harder for them to be motivated during the online session. These results are representing this period of time which is one month after the start of MCO, and more research is needed to be implemented after the students get used to the new normal mode of learning.

Scientific research is the main factor for developing the societies. The qualified university staff are expected to have the biggest share in research work but unfortunately may be distracted by academic work or suffering variable factors that hinder the research activities. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of those interested in research and have research activities among staff at the IMS-MSU and investigate the factors that may hinder the research activities among the medical school academicians in order to put recommendations to enhance the research activities. Results showed that 90% of the working staff are interested in research, 35.2% had 1-5 publications and 12.9% had 30 publications along their working life. 51.6% of the respondents are holding master and 38.7% are holding PhD that gives indication for the qualifications of the school staff that are suitable to perform research but unfortunately those having more than > 15 researches along their work life represented 22.5% which is a small percentage but it can be accepted when it is noticed that 28% only of the working power are working since more than 10 years. 48.4%% of the working power are having 1-5 publications in the last year which mean that the research activities have been increasing in the last year when it is noticed that 35.2% of the staff are having 1-5 publications along their working life. The most challenging factor for research activities from the academicians’ perspective was the multifactorial effects (35.4%), research related factors (32.3%) followed by the organizational (19.4%) and the personal factors (12.9%). It is concluded that the research ecosystem has been developing and growing fast in the last 5 years among IMS-MSU staff, yet all the affecting challenges are encouraged to be corrected for more enhancement of research activities.

This is a cross-sectional study that examined the association between fitness trainers’ educational qualifications and experience, and the risk of their trainees’ musculoskeletal pain. The study included 1177 trainees (aged 15–60 years) from 74 fitness centers in Bangladesh. Data were collected by using the Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire, including potential confounders such as demographic factors (e.g., age, occupation), and training-related factors (e.g., workout knowledge, overweight lifting). Multiple logistic regression was performed for a binary outcome (pain—yes or no), and a generalized linear model was fitted for the ordinal outcome (pain—sites of the body). The trainers’ lower experience (no or ≤1 year) was associated with higher odds of their trainees’ musculoskeletal pain (OR: 2.53, 95% CI: 1.18–5.44) compared to trainers with >5 years of experience; however, no association was found between the trainers’ education and the risk of their trainees’ musculoskeletal pain, after controlling for potential confounders. Similarly, the trainees trained by trainers with lower experience had more than two-time the risk of having pain in different sites (IRR: 2.04, 95% CI: 1.50–2.79). The trainers’ experience may play a pivotal role in the trainees’ musculoskeletal pain. Further study is warranted in this regard.

This is a cross-sectional study that examined the association between fitness trainers' educational qualifications and experience, and the risk of their trainees' musculoskeletal pain. The study included 1177 trainees (aged 15-60 years) from 74 fitness centers in Bangladesh. Data were collected by using the Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire, including potential confounders such as demographic factors (e.g., age, occupation), and training-related factors (e.g., workout knowledge, overweight lifting). Multiple logistic regression was performed for a binary outcome (pain-yes or no), and a generalized linear model was fitted for the ordinal outcome (pain-sites of the body). The trainers' lower experience (no or ≤1 year) was associated with higher odds of their trainees' musculoskeletal pain (OR: 2.53, 95% CI: 1.18-5.44) compared to trainers withgt;5 years of experience; however, no association was found between the trainers' education and the risk of their trainees' musculoskeletal pain, after controlling for potential confounders. Similarly, the trainees trained by trainers with lower experience had more than two-time the risk of having pain in different sites (IRR: 2.04, 95% CI: 1.50-2.79). The trainers' experience may play a pivotal role in the trainees' musculoskeletal pain. Further study is warranted in this regard.

Background A consensus is developing on interventions to improve newborn survival, but little is known about how to reduce socioeconomic inequalities in newborn mortality in low- and middle-income countries. Participatory learning and action (PLA) through women’s groups can improve newborn survival and home care practices equitably across socioeconomic strata, as shown in cluster randomised controlled trials. We conducted a qualitative study to understand the mechanisms that led to the equitable impact of the PLA approach across socioeconomic strata in four trial sites in India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Malawi. Methods We conducted 42 focus group discussions (FGDs) with women who had attended groups and women who had not attended, in poor and better-off communities. We also interviewed six better-off women and nine poor women who had delivered babies during the trials and had demonstrated recommended behaviours. We conducted 12 key informant interviews and five FGDs with women’s group facilitators and fieldworkers. Results Women’s groups addressed a knowledge deficit in poor and better-off women. Women were engaged through visual learning and participatory tools, and learned from the facilitator and each other. Facilitators enabled inclusion of all socioeconomic strata, ensuring that strategies were low-cost and that discussions and advice were relevant. Groups provided a social support network that addressed some financial barriers to care and gave women the confidence to promote behaviour change. Information was disseminated through home visits and other strategies. The social process of learning and action, which led to increased knowledge, confidence to act, and acceptability of recommended practices, was key to ensuring behaviour change across social strata. These equitable effects were enabled by the accessibility, relevance, and engaging format of the intervention. Conclusions Participatory learning and action led to increased knowledge, confidence to act, and acceptability of recommended practices. The equitable behavioural effects were facilitated by the accessibility, relevance, and engaging format of the intervention across socioeconomic groups, and by reaching-out to parts of the population usually not accessed. A PLA approach improved health behaviours across socioeconomic strata in rural communities, around issues for which there was a knowledge deficit and where simple changes could be made at home.

Most populations live in spatially structured environments and that structure has the potential to impact the evolutionary dynamics in a number of important ways. Theoretical models tracking evolution in structured environments using a range of different approaches, suggest that local interactions and spatial heterogeneity can increase the adaptive benefits of motility, impact both the rate and extent of adaptation, and increase the probability of parallel evolution. We test these general predictions in a microbial evolution experiment tracking phenotypic and genomic changes in replicate populations of Pseudomonas fluorescens evolved in both well-mixed and spatially-structured environments, where spatial structure was generated through the addition of semi-solid agar. In contrast to the well-mixed environment, populations evolved in the spatially-structured environment adapted more slowly, retained the ability to disperse more rapidly, and had a greater putatively neutral population genomic diversity. The degree of parallel evolution measured at the gene-level, did not differ across these two types of experimental environments, perhaps because the populations had not evolved for long enough to near their fitness optima. These results confirm important general impacts of spatial structure on evolutionary dynamics at both the phenotypic and genomic level.

Background: The 2019 Coronavirus disease (Covid-19) epidemic was a health emergency of international concern. Movement Control Order (MCO) that was implemented in Malaysia to cope with Covid-19 spreading, had caused unbearable physical and psychological pressure and affected the educational status of the students. Therefore, the aim of this research is to study the impact of MCO during the Covid-19 on the university students physically, psychologically and academically. Methodology: This research was implemented as a cross sectional study among university students. The online survey collected information regarding the students’ demographic characteristics, physical symptoms on the past 2 months, psychological impact (through the Impact of Event Scale-Revised “IES-R”). The results showed students to have mild, moderate and severe psychological impact (11.34%, 5.67% and 32.47% respectively). Linear regression showed there was no correlation between demographic characteristics and psychological impacts of MCO. Majority of the students (46.4%) rated their general health as good while 38.1% often keep an eye of their health. 25.8% of the students had seen medical practitioner for the past two months and 25% out of them had seen the doctor for 1-2 times. Conclusion: These findings could help in developing evidence-driven strategies to reduce the adverse impact of MCO on university students during pandemics.

Bilirubin oxidase (BOD) belongs to the family of blue multicopper oxidases, and catalyzes the concomitant oxidation of bilirubin to biliverdin and the reduction of molecular oxygen to water via a four-electron reduction system. The active sites of BOD comprise four copper atoms; type I copper (T1Cu) forms a mononuclear site, and a cluster of three copper atoms forms a trinuclear center. In the present study, we determined the high-resolution crystal structures of BOD from the fungus Myrothecium verrucaria. We investigated wild-type (WT) BOD and a BOD mutant called Met467Gln, which is inactive against bilirubin. The structures revealed that a novel post-translational crosslink between Trp396 and His398 is formed in the vicinity of the T1Cu site in WT BOD, whereas it is absent in the Met467Gln mutant. Our structural and computational studies suggest that the His-Trp crosslink adjusts the redox potential of T1Cu to that of bilirubin to efficiently abstract electrons from the substrate.

The aim of this study is to assess the digital literacy of undergraduate students of Arts faculty at the University of Dhaka, and to determine their strengths and weaknesses. Generally, it was found that students had limited skills in digital literacy, as it is not a part of their academic course curriculum. This study urges the incorporation of a digital literacy program in the course curriculum that will make the students digitally more literate. The study represents the viewpoint of undergraduate students of Arts faculty in Digital Literacy program and provides some insights into students’ knowledge of digital literacy and the importance they attach to digital literacy education.

Background : Overactive Bladder Syndrome(OAB) is not an uncommon problem. Although exact incidence of this disease in our country is not known but a significant number of people suffering from this disease seek treatment at the Urology department of different hospitals. At present two common antimuscarinic drug Solifenacin Succinate and Tolterodine are available in our country for the treatment of OAB.Objective : To compare the efficacy of Solifenacin Succinate and Tolterodine to treat OAB.Methodology : This hospital based randomized control trial was conducted in the Department of Urology, Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Dhaka and a private hospital from January 2009 to December 2010 to compare the efficacy of two new generation antimuscarinics, Solifenacin succinate and Tolterodine at their recommended doses for the treatment of OAB.Results : After 3 months of treatment it has clearly shown that Solifenacin is more effective in reducing OAB symptoms compared with extended release preparation of Tolterodine. This include statistically significant reduction in episodes of frequency, urgency, urge incontinence, nocturia and significant improvement of voided volume.Northern International Medical College Journal Vol.8(2) January 2017: 231-234

An efficient synthesis process approach based on a chemical solution route is developed for the cadmium selenide quantum dots (CdSe QDs) that utilise photonic and optoelectronic device manufacturing. The developed route consists of dissolving the cadmium chloride (CdCl2.H2O), 2-mercaptoethanol and sodium selenide anhydrous (Na2SeO3). The different characterisation parameters such as ultraviolet (UV) absorbance, x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive x-ray and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were employed in order to develop the CdSe QDs. When the sample was analysed from the UV–visible studies, the bandgap was about 2.16 eV, whereas the bulk CdSe bandgap was about 1.78 eV. The developed CdSe QDs possessed a cubic crystal structure with crystalline dimensions of about 4.86 nm. Its surface morphology and structure showed the smooth appearance of the surface. The result indicated agglomerated spheres. Ultimately, according to XRD and TEM results, the crystalline dimension was determined in good agreements. © The Institution of Engineering and Technology 2020

An RLC meter is a single electronic instrument or device which is capable to measure the Resistance (R), Inductance (L) and Capacitance (C). This instrument has wide applications in electrical and electronics laboratory, industry and engineering research works. Nowadays, a large variety of RLC meter is available. The high precision RLC meter is slow responding, bulky size, higher operational power and expensive. However, many applications do not need very high accuracy measurement, for this reason, this paper has proposed a simple and moderate precision RLC meter based on Arduino microcontroller which would overcome the existing issues. The proposed design has been verified by simulation and experimentally. The results show good compliance with theory and experiment; in addition, it shows moderate accuracy.

Multicopper oxidases oxidize various phenolic and nonphenolic compounds by using molecular oxygen as an electron acceptor to produce water. A multicopper oxidase protein, CueO, fromEscherichia coliis involved in copper homeostasis in the bacterial cell. Although X-ray crystallographic studies have been conducted, the reduction mechanism of oxygen and the proton-transfer pathway remain unclear owing to the difficulty in identifying H atoms from X-ray diffraction data alone. To elucidate the reaction mechanism using neutron crystallography, a preparation system for obtaining large, high-quality single crystals of deuterated CueO was developed. Tiny crystals were obtained from the deuterated CueO initially prepared from the original construct. The X-ray crystal structure of the deuterated CueO showed that the protein contained an incompletely truncated signal sequence at the N-terminus, which resulted in the heterogeneity of the protein sample for crystallization. Here, a new CueO expression system that had an HRV3C cleavage site just after the signal sequence was constructed. Deuterated CueO from the new construct was expressed in cells cultured in deuterated algae-extract medium and the signal sequence was completely eliminated by HRV3C protease. The deuteration level of the purified protein was estimated by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry to be at least 83.2% compared with nondeuterated protein. Nondeuterated CueO crystallized in space groupP21, with unit-cell parametersa= 49.51,b= 88.79,c = 53.95 Å, β = 94.24°, and deuterated CueO crystallized in space groupP212121, with unit-cell parametersa= 49.91,b= 106.92,c= 262.89 Å. The crystallographic parameters for the crystals of the new construct were different from those previously reported for nondeuterated crystals. The nondeuterated and deuterated CueO from the new construct had similar UV–Vis spectra, enzymatic activities and overall structure and geometry of the ligands of the Cu atoms in the active site to those of previously reported CueO structures. These results indicate that the CueO protein prepared using the new construct is suitable for further neutron diffraction studies.

This conference report describes the training activities that took place in the frame of the Integrated in Situ Chemical MApping probe (SCHeMA) summer school organized from the 14th to the 16th of June 2016 in Bilbao (Spain).

Background Efforts to end preventable newborn deaths will fail if the poor are not reached with effective interventions. To understand what works to reach vulnerable groups, we describe and explain the uptake of a highly effective community-based newborn health intervention across social strata in Asia and Africa. Methods We conducted a secondary analysis of seven randomised trials of participatory women's groups to reduce newborn mortality in India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Malawi. We analysed data on 70 574 pregnancies. Socioeconomic and sociodemographic differences in group attendance were tested using logistic regression. Qualitative data were collected at each trial site (225 focus groups, 20 interviews) to understand our results. Results Socioeconomic differences in women's group attendance were small, except for occasional lower attendance by elites. Sociodemographic differences were large, with lower attendance by young primigravid women in African as well as in South Asian sites. The intervention was considered relevant and interesting to all socioeconomic groups. Local facilitators ensured inclusion of poorer women. Embarrassment and family constraints on movement outside the home restricted attendance among primigravid women. Reproductive health discussions were perceived as inappropriate for them. Conclusions Community-based women's groups can help to reach every newborn with effective interventions. Equitable intervention uptake is enhanced when facilitators actively encourage all women to attend, organise meetings at the participants’ convenience and use approaches that are easily understandable for the less educated. Focused efforts to include primigravid women are necessary, working with families and communities to decrease social taboos.

Amaranthus tricolor whole plants are used by folk medicinal practitioners of Bangladesh for treatment of pain, anaemia, dysentery, skin diseases, diabetes, and as a blood purifier. Thus far, no scientific studies have evaluated the antihyperglycaemic and antinociceptive effects of the plant. The present study was carried out to evaluate the possible glucose tolerance efficacy of methanolic extracts of A. tricolour whole plants using glucose-induced hyperglycaemic mice, and antinociceptive effects with acetic acid-induced gastric pain models in mice. In antihyperglycaemic activity tests, the extract at different doses was administered one hour prior to glucose administration and blood glucose level was measured after two hours of glucose administration (p.o.) using glucose oxidase method. The statistical data indicated the significant oral hypoglycaemic activity on glucose-loaded mice at all doses of the extracts tested. Maximum antihyperglycaemic activity was shown at 400 mg extract per kg body weight, which was comparable to that of a standard drug, glibenclamide (10 mg/kg body weight). In antinociceptive activity tests, the extract also demonstrated a dose-dependent significant reduction in the number of writhings induced in mice through intraperitoneal administration of acetic acid. Maximum antinociceptive activity was observed at a dose of 400 mg extract per kg body weight, which compared favourably with that of a standard antinociceptive drug, aspirin, when administered at a dose of 200 mg per kg body weight. The results validate the folk medicinal use of the plant for reduction of blood sugar in diabetic patients as well as the folk medicinal use for alleviation of pain. The results suggest that this plant may possess further potential for scientific studies leading to possible discovery of efficacious antihyperglycaemic and antinociceptive components.

Amaranthus tricolor whole plants are used by folk medicinal practitioners of Bangladesh for treatment of pain, anaemia, dysentery, skin diseases, diabetes, and as a blood purifier. Thus far, no scientific studies have evaluated the antihyperglycaemic and antinociceptive effects of the plant. The present study was carried out to evaluate the possible glucose tolerance efficacy of methanolic extracts of A. tricolour whole plants using glucose-induced hyperglycaemic mice, and antinociceptive effects with acetic acid-induced gastric pain models in mice. In antihyperglycaemic activity tests, the extract at different doses was administered one hour prior to glucose administration and blood glucose level was measured after two hours of glucose administration (p.o.) using glucose oxidase method. The statistical data indicated the significant oral hypoglycaemic activity on glucose-loaded mice at all doses of the extracts tested. Maximum antihyperglycaemic activity was shown at 400 mg extract per kg body weight, which was comparable to that of a standard drug, glibenclamide (10 mg/kg body weight). In antinociceptive activity tests, the extract also demonstrated a dose-dependent significant reduction in the number of writhings induced in mice through intraperitoneal administration of acetic acid. Maximum antinociceptive activity was observed at a dose of 400 mg extract per kg body weight, which compared favourably with that of a standard antinociceptive drug, aspirin, when administered at a dose of 200 mg per kg body weight. The results validate the folk medicinal use of the plant for reduction of blood sugar in diabetic patients as well as the folk medicinal use for alleviation of pain. The results suggest that this plant may possess further potential for scientific studies leading to possible discovery of efficacious antihyperglycaemic and antinociceptive components.