Search

Background: The primary aim of the medical therapy for BPH is to improve quality of life by relieving the lower urinary tract symptoms and prevent complications. Objectives: To compare efficacy and safety of double dose of tamsulosin monotherapy with combination of conventional dose of tamsulosin and finasteride in symptomatic BPH. Methods: This was a prospective study carried out in the Department of Urology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh during the period of July 2005 to June 2006. Total 60 patients of 45-80 years of age were consequently selected according to inclusion criteria. After completion of baseline clinical evaluation and investigations, participants were divided into two groups, group A and group B. Group A were given tamsulosin 0.4 mg for 1 week. Then double dose of tamsulosin (0.8 mg) were given from 2nd week for 12 months. Group B were given tamsulosin 0.4 mg and finasteride 5 mg for the same duration. Efficacy was evaluated at 6 month and 12 month follow up visit and a comparison was made between them. During follow up each was observed for any adverse effect. The parameters monitored were International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), Maximum urine flow rate (Qmax), Post Voidal Residual Volume (PVR) and Prostate volume. Results : Both double dose of tamsulosin 0.8 mg and combination of conventional dose of tamsulosin 0.4 mg and finasteride 5 mg are effective in relieving symptoms of BPH but combination dose is superior to double dose monotherapy. Outcome parameters at end point follow up after 12 months showed significant improvement of IPSS (p

Common fig (Ficus carica L.), an economically-important fruit species widely cultivated in the Mediterranean Basin, is gaining increasing interest in the tropical and subtropical regions. A vast genetic diversity of common fig is available; however, systematic studies of cultivar performance in a particular new environment are scarce. The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of 17 common fig cultivars grown under the Malaysian tropical climate. Evaluation was based on 15 parameters relevant to fruit yield, fruit quality and pest susceptibility. The results showed variable performance among the cultivars tested; 10 cultivars performed well for orchard establishment. Cultivar ‘A134’ produced the highest fruit yield per plant (3410 g) compared to the average yield of the cultivars studied (2500 g). Cultivars ‘Fen Chan Huang’ and ‘Wuhan’ produced the highest number of fruits per plant, 119 and 82 fruits, respectively. Mealybug infestation and ostiole-end splitting are major limitations to fig cultivation in Malaysia. Cultivar ‘Longue d’Aout’ was the most susceptible to mealybug infestation; whereas cultivar ‘B110’ was the most resistant. Above 60% of the fruits of cvs. ‘Brunswick’ and ‘Qing Pi’ had split ostiole; however, this was less than 20% in cvs. ‘Longue d’Aout’ and ‘Alma’. This study facilitates successful farming of figs in Malaysia and provides insights for future development programs.

Background: Mirizzi syndrome is a condition, difficult to diagnose pre-operatively and treat, represent a particular challenge for hepatobiliary surgeons. Furthermore, it increases the risk of intra-operative biliary injury, particularly during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The aims of this study were to point out some particular aspect of diagnosis and treatment of this condition that will be helpful for the surgeons. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all records of the patients, surgically treated for Mirizzi syndrome from January 2013 to January 2018 in Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Shaheed Sohrawardy Medical College Hospital and BIRDEM General Hospital. Patients’ presentation, diagnostic methods, treatment and complications were recorded. Results: During the study period, a total of 1320 cholecystectomy were performed, out of which 50 patients were diagnosed with Mirizzi syndrome, representing an incidence rate of 3.78%. Male to female ratio was 0.72:1 and mean age was 54.14 years. When we analyzed the main symptoms in the clinical debut, we found that common features were jaundice (31, 62%), cholangitis (20, 40%) and abdominal pain (22, 44%). Roux en Y hepaticojejunostomy was the treatment of choice and subtotal cholecystectomy were done for 7 cases and laparoscopic cholecystectomy for 2 cases. Mean hospital stay was 4.8±2.9 days. There was no post-operative mortality. Two cases of biliary fistula resolved with conservative management and another case required percutaneous treatment for resolution of an intraperitoneal postoperative collection. Conclusion: Mirizzi syndrome continues to be a disease of difficult diagnosis and treatment. General surgeons without long experience in hepatobiliary surgery should refer the patient to a specialized hepatobiliary surgical center. In most of the cases biliary reconstruction is inevitable. It is important for the surgeons to know the disease and possible intra-operative challenging situations. Birdem Med J 2020; 10(1): 7-11

Hibiscus sabdariffa L. is a plant of the Malvaceae family, commonly known as roselle. Roselle is mainly used as a vegetable, but it is also traditionally used for medicinal purposes, especially as alternative medicine. Roselle has been scientifically proven to contain cholesterol-lowering, anti-obesity, high antioxidant activity, insulin resistance reduction, antihypertensive, antiaging, antinociceptive activity, antidiarrheal, antiinflammatory activity, antiproliferative, anticarcinogenic, and skin cancer chemopreventive properties. The objectives of this chapter are to discuss the nutraceutical and pharmaceutical significance of roselle for industrial uses.

Introduction Selecting the most appropriate treatment for each patient is the key activity in patient-physician encounters and providing healthcare services. Achieving desirable clinical goals mostly depends on making the right decision at the right time in any healthcare setting. But little is known about physicians' clinical decision-making in the primary care setting in Bangladesh. Therefore, this study explored the factors that influence decisions about prescribing medications, ordering pathologic tests, counseling patients, average length of patient visits in a consultation session, and referral of patients to other physicians or hospitals by physicians at Upazila Health Complexes (UHCs) in the country. It also explored the structure of physicians' social networks and their association with the decision-making process. Methods This was a cross-sectional descriptive study that used primary data collected from 85 physicians. The respondents, who work at UHCs in the Rajshahi Division, were selected purposively. The collected data were analyzed with descriptive statistics including frequency, percentage, one-way analysis of variance, and linear regression to understand relationships among the variables. Results The results of the study reveal that multiple factors influence physicians' decisions about prescribing medications, ordering pathologic tests, length of visits, counseling patients, and referring patients to other physicians or hospitals at the UHCs. Most physicians prescribe drugs to their patients, keeping in mind their purchasing capacity. Risk of violence by patients' relatives and better management are the two key factors that influence physicians' referral decisions. The physicians' professional and personal social networks also play an influential role in the decision-making process. It was found that physicians dedicate on average 16.17 minutes to a patient in a consultation session. The length of visits is influenced by various factors including the distance between the physicians' residence and their workplace, their level of education, and the number of colleagues with whom they have regular contact and from whom they can seek help. Conclusion The results of the study have yielded some novel insights about the complexity of physicians' everyday tasks at the UHCs in Bangladesh. The results would be of interest to public health researchers and policy makers.

The present investigation was undertaken to analyze the antioxidant potential of sixteen different potato genotypes. Eleven yellow fleshed potato genotypes namely Forza, Courage, Laura, Rosa Gold, Lady Rosetta, Cumbica, Asterix, Coronada, Granola, Cardinal and Diamant and five purple fleshed potato genotypes namely Jam Alu, KAC 10063, KAC 10064, KAC 10069, KAC 10097 were used as experimental materials. Total carotenoids, anthocyanin, phenolics, flavonoids, ascorbic acid and antioxidant activity in the above mentioned genotypes were determined to compare the antioxidant potentials of the genotypes. Analysis of above mentioned parameters resulted significant variation in their contents in both yellow and purple fleshed genotypes. The results indicate the purple fleshed genotypes showed significantly higher carotenoids, anthocyanin, flavonoids and total antioxidant activity than those of yellow fleshed genotypes. The findings also suggested the antioxidant activity of the genotypes positively correlates to the total content of carotenoids, anthocyanin and flavonoids. Since, purple fleshed genotypes showed higher antioxidant properties, the results of this study claim that the purple fleshed genotypes would be suitable for direct consumption as vegetables which might increase the health and food security of human beings.Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 43(3): 369-381, June 2018

Background : Systemic JIA (sJIA) is the most severe sub type of JIA with limited treatment option and responsible for most of the disability and morbidity in JIA. Objective: To assess the efficacy of Tocilizumab (TCZ) in refractory sJIA patients according to disease activity score in 28 joint criteria. Methodology: This interventional study was carried in the department of Paediatrics, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU). A total number of 22 sJIA patients who were refractory to traditional DMARDs were offered TCZ. Among them 15 patients agreed to take TCZ (cases) and 7 patients did not (controls). All the cases and controls were assessed according to DAS 28 criteria at enrollment, 12 weeks and 24 weeks of TCZ therapy. DAS 28 scores during assessment were compared. Results: After TCZ therapy systemic features subsided and laboratory features improved in 100% cases. Among cases 93.3% and 92.3% had moderate response at 12 and 24 weeks respectively according to DAS 28 criteria. Among controls 71.5% and 85.7% had moderate response at 12 and 24 weeks respectively (p0.001). Among cases 40% and 60% patients achieved remission at 12 and 24 weeks, where as among controls none achieved remission. Dose of steroid was significantly reduced among cases but was increased significantly among controls. Few side effects like pharyngitis, Varicella, septicemia, anaphylactoid reaction and raised ALT were observed. Conclusion: Tocilizumab therapy was effective according to DAS 28 criteria refractory sJIA. Bangladesh J Child Health 2015; VOL 39 (3) :129-134

The ongoing severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic is having a disastrous impact on global health. Recently, several studies examined the potential of vitamin D to reduce the effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection by modulating the immune system. Indeed, vitamin D has been found to boost the innate immune system and stimulate the adaptive immune response against SARS-CoV-2 infection. In this review, we provide a comprehensive update of the immunological mechanisms underlying the positive effects of vitamin D in reducing SARS-CoV-2 infection as well as a thorough survey of the recent epidemiological studies and clinical trials that tested vitamin D as a potential therapeutic agent against COVID-19 infection. We believe that a better understanding of the histopathology and immunopathology of the disease as well as the mechanism of vitamin D effects on COVID-19 severity will ultimately pave the way for a more effective prevention and control of this global pandemic.

Background : Blood transfusion is a life saving intervention in some obstetric and gynecological cases but is associated with risk of transfusion reaction and transmission of infection . Appropriate use of blood and blood products is of utmost importance for the safety of the patients. During the evaluation of an ongoing study on PPH,it appears that rate of blood transfusion is unexpectedly high in this centre, which raised the inquisitiveness in evaluating the rate and rationality of blood transfusion in present practice. Objective : To determine the incidence of blood transfusion in admitted and operated cases and is also to evaluate the indication of transfusion among the study patients. Subject and Method: It was an observational descriptive study, conducted from 1 st April 2012 to 30 th June 2012 in department of obstetrics and gynecology of Ad-din Women Medical College Hospital , Dhaka . Total 256 cases were included for the study, who received blood and /or blood products during the study period. Results : Transfusion rate in total admitted patients was 9.23% . Most common indication for blood transfusion in obstetric patients was mild preoperative anaemia with or without excessive bleeding during cesarean section (63.92%) and second common cause was antenatal anaemia (24.05%). In gynecological cases abortion (45.91%) was the commonest indication for blood transfusion and next common conditions were total abdominal hysterectomy (20.40%),vaginal hysterectomy (7.14%), ectopic pregnancy and post coital tear (6.12%) and( 6.12%). Conclusion : In this study it was observed that, blood transfusion was not appropriate in all cases, specially in cases where single unit blood was transfused . So creation of awareness among the junior doctors, obstetricians, nurses – midwives is essential by developing regular education and training programme. J Bangladesh Coll Phys Surg 2016; 34(1): 9-14

The present study aimed to find out the efficacy of a commercial probiotics supplementation to the diet on the growth performance, histological changes of the jejunal tissue and humoral immune response of broiler chickens. One hundred day old broiler chicks were randomly divided into four groups as group A (Vaccinated probiotics fed group), B (Non-vaccinated probiotics fed group), C (Vaccinated conventional fed group) and D (Non- vaccinated conventional fed group). Groups A and B were taken as experimental birds fed with commercially available feed with the addition of probiotics as per schedule whereas groups C and D were taken as control birds fed with commercial ration. At 30 days of age the birds were immunized with 0.5% of sheep RBC to determine the level of antibody production. The result revealed that the live weight gains obtained were significantly (p

Bone marrow morphological examination was performed on 835 patients either admitted in the inpatient departments of BIRDEM General Hospital or examined on outpatient basis. 760 of them were adults and 75 of them were children. 74 of the patients were diagnosed as suffering from a blood cancer known as Multiple Myeloma (MM). The age range of MM in our study was 40 to 85 years with a mean age of 63.25 years. Male to female ratio was 5:2 with a slight male preponderance. The median age of presentation was lower in females (60 years) than in males (65 years). MM was the second most frequent haematological disorder among all the patients examined, the most frequent one being leukemia. The frequency of MM was slightly higher among patients admitted in BIRDEM Hospital (10.4%) than those examined on outpatient basis (8.3%) although the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.379 by Pearson’s Chi square test). The highest frequency of MM was found in patients admitted in the department of Orthopaedic Surgery (20.8%) followed by the Department of Nephrology (16.7%). This data represents a cross sectional picture of the prevalence of MM in elderly population. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jasbs.v38i2.15609 J. Asiat. Soc. Bangladesh, Sci. 38(2): 189-198, December 2012

OBJECTIVE: Individuals in the criminal justice system engage in behaviors that put them at high risk for HIV. This study sought to identify characteristics of individuals who are under community corrections supervision (eg, probation) and at risk for HIV. METHODS: Approximately 25,000 individuals under community corrections supervision were assessed for HIV risk, and 5059 participants were deemed high-risk or no-risk. Of those, 1519 exhibited high sexual-risk (SR) behaviors, 203 exhibited injection drug risk (IVR), 957 exhibited both types of risk (SIVR), and 2380 exhibited no risk. Sociodemographic characteristics and drug of choice were then examined using univariate and binary logistic regression. RESULTS: Having a history of sexual abuse, not having insurance, and selecting any drug of choice were associated with all forms of HIV risk. However, the effect sizes associated with the various drugs of choice varied significantly by group. Aside from those common risk factors, very different patterns emerged. Female gender was a risk factor for the SR group but was less likely to be associated with IVR. Younger age was associated with SR, whereas older age was associated with IVR. Black race was a risk factor for SR but had a negative association with IVR and SIVR. Living in a shelter, living with relatives/friends, and being unemployed were all risk factors for IVR but were protective factors for SR. CONCLUSIONS: Distinct sociodemographic and substance use characteristics were associated with sexual versus injection drug use risk for individuals under community corrections supervision who were at risk for HIV. Information from this study could help identify high-risk individuals and allow tailoring of interventions.

Background The estimated prevalence of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) in several South Asian countries is 10.5%, similar to that in North America and Europe. However, the epidemiology of CDI in Bangladesh is unknown. We aimed to assess the prevalence of CDI and assess hospital environmental contamination of toxigenic C. difficile in Bangladesh. Methods This was a prospective observational cohort study at two large tertiary care centers in Dhaka, Bangladesh, conducted from January 2017 to December 2017. Stool samples were collected from hospitalized adults with diarrhea (≥3 loose stools in a 24-hour period) and antimicrobial exposure within the past 30 days. Hospital environmental samples were collected by swabbing surfaces of common areas in the hospital. All samples underwent toxigenic culture. C. difficile isolates were tested for toxins A and B and PCR-ribotyped. Results Of 204 stool samples collected, 16 (7.8%) were positive for toxigenic C. difficile. Patients with CDI shared a room with significantly more patients (Table 1). Of 392 environmental samples, 48 (12.2%) were positive for toxigenic C. difficile, which was more common in patient care vs. nonpatient care areas (14.4% vs. 7.8%, P = 0.057). Twelve clinical stool isolates and 42 environmental isolates were ribotyped. Ribotypes identified in stool isolates were F017 (50%), FP053-163 (17%), FP435 (17%), F106 (8%), and F014-020 (8%). With the exception of FP435, these were also the most common ribotypes in environmental isolates: F017 (24%), FP053-163 (12%), F106 (26%), and F014-020 (10%). Conclusion For the first time, we report the prevalence of CDI and ribotypes in at risk patients in Bangladesh. Rates and ribotypes are similar to other resource-rich or resource-limited countries. Table 1: Demographic Data for All Stool Samples Variable No toxigenic C. difficile (n = 188) Toxigenic C. difficile (n = 16) P Female sex, n (%) 77 (41) 9 (56) 0.234 Age, years, median (IQR) 46 (32–58) 39 (25–53) 0.212 Hospital A, n (%) 149 (79) 13 (81) >0.99 Length of prior hospital stay, days, median (IQR) 13 (7–23) 14 (8–32) 0.798 Duration of previous antibiotics, days, median (IQR) 10 (7–17) 12 (6–20) 0.687 Number of patients in the same room, median (IQR) 13 (7–19) 19 (14–20) 0.009 Disclosures K. W. Garey, Merck & Co.: Grant Investigator, Grant recipient.

The increased awareness of the role of environmental matrices in enteric disease transmission has resulted in the need for rapid, field-based methods for fecal indicator bacteria and pathogen detection. Evidence of the specificity of β-glucuronidase-based assays for detection of Escherichia coli from environmental matrices relevant to enteric pathogen transmission in developing countries, such as hands, soils, and surfaces, is limited. In this study, we quantify the false-positive rate of a β-glucuronidase-based E. coli detection assay (Colilert) for two environmental reservoirs in Bangladeshi households (hands and soils) and three fecal composite sources (cattle, chicken, and humans). We investigate whether or not the isolation source of E. coli influences phenotypic and genotypic characteristics. Phenotypic characteristics include results of biochemical assays provided by the API-20E test; genotypic characteristics include the Clermont phylogroup and the presence of enteric and/or environmental indicator genes sfmH , rfaI , and fucK . Our findings demonstrate no statistically significant difference in the false-positive rate of Colilert for environmental compared to enteric samples. E. coli isolates from all source types are genetically diverse, representing six of the seven phylogroups, and there is no difference in relative frequency of phylogroups between enteric and environmental samples. We conclude that Colilert, and likely other β-glucuronidase-based assays, is appropriate for detection of E. coli on hands and in soils with low false-positive rates. Furthermore, E. coli isolated from hands and soils in Bangladeshi households are diverse and indistinguishable from cattle, chicken, and human fecal isolates, using traditional biochemical assays and phylogrouping.

Received 12 April 2004; returned 13 June 2004; revised 2 August 2004; accepted 10 August 2004Objectives: The aim of the present study was to determine the clonal relationships of ciprofloxacin-resistant Shigella dysenteriae type 1 strains isolated from south Asia, and S. dysenteriae 1 strainsassociated with epidemics in 1978, 1984 and 1994.Methods: The antimicrobial susceptibilities were examined by NCCLS methods. Molecular epidemio-logical characterization was performed by plasmid profiling, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE)and mutation analysis of the quinolone resistance-determining region (QRDR) of gyrA by sequencing.Results: Plasmid patterns of the current ciprofloxacin-resistant strains from India, Nepal andBangladesh were very similar to those of the 1978, 1984 and 1994 epidemic isolates of S. dysenteriae1, except for the presence of a new plasmid of 2.6MDa, which was found in one recent ciprofloxacin-resistant strain isolated in Bangladesh. PFGE analysis showed that the ciprofloxacin-resistant strainsisolated in Bangladesh, India and Nepal belonged to a PFGE type (type A), which was possibly relatedto that of the 1984 and 1994 clone of S. dysenteriae 1, but different from 1978 epidemic strains. Thecurrent ciprofloxacin-resistant strains belong to five subtypes (A3–A7), all of which were found inIndia, but in Bangladesh and Nepal, only A3 existed. Mutation analysis of the QRDR of gyrA revealedthat amino acid substitutions at positions 83 and 87 of ciprofloxacin-resistant strains isolated inBangladesh were similar to those of the strains isolated in Nepal, but different (at position 87) fromciprofloxacin-resistant strains isolated in India.Conclusions: PFGE and mutation analysis of gyrA showed differences between the current ciprofloxa-cin-resistant S. dysenteriae 1 strains isolated in south Asia and those associated with epidemics in1978, 1984 and 1994.Keywords: pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, gyrA, QRDRs, epidemics

A total of 358 Shigella dysenteriae strains isolated from patients attending the Dhaka treatment center of the International Centre for Diarrheal Disease Research, Bangladesh, between the years 1999 and 2002 were included in this study. S. dysenteriae type 1, the dominant serotype in 1999 (76.4%), declined to 6.5% in 2002. On the other hand, S. dysenteriae types 2 to 12 were isolated with increasing frequencies of 19, 67, 73.5, and 87% in 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2002, respectively. Of these, types 2 and 4 were the most dominant serotypes, accounting for more than 18.7 and 28.5% of the total isolates, respectively. There was no isolation of serotypes 5, 7, 8, and 13 during this period. Twenty-eight (7.8%) of the isolates were atypical and agglutinated only with the polyvalent antiserum of S. dysenteriae. More than 98% of type 1 strains isolated between 1999 and 2001 were resistant to ampicillin, sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim, and nalidixic acid. Among other serotypes of S. dysenteriae, Nal r type 2 strains were isolated in 2001 and 2002. Although heterogeneous plasmid profiles were obtained depending on the presence or absence of a single plasmid, core plasmids were defined for particular serotypes. On the other hand, the same plasmid profile was found to be shared by different serotypes. Interestingly, plasmid patterns of types 2 and 4 were almost identical except that a middle-range plasmid of 70 to 60 MDa was present in type 4 in addition to the core plasmids. All the strains harboring the 140-MDa plasmid were positive for the ipaH gene, had Congo red binding abilities, and were positive by the Sereny test, demonstrating their invasive properties. Shigellosis is one of the major diarrheal diseases afflicting humans in the developing and underdeveloped parts of the world, especially Bangladesh. Shigellosis produces inflammatory reactions and ulceration on the intestinal epithelium followed by bloody diarrhea and mucus in the stool. Shigellosis is endemic in Bangladesh, and it is estimated that dysentery accounts for 20% of deaths related to diarrhea among children (32). The genus Shigella, the causative agent of shigellosis, is comprised of four species, namely, S. flexneri, S. dysenteriae, S. boydii, and S. sonnei, and each of these species is further classified into 15 (including subtypes), 13, 18, and 1 serotypes, respectively, based on the O antigen component of lipopolysaccharide present on the outer membrane of the cell wall. S. flexneri and S. dysenteriae are the major concerns for developing countries. The manifestation of S. dysenteriae type 1 infection is more severe because of its capacity to produce Shiga toxin, which is exclusively produced by this type. Clinical infection can be transmitted by as few as 10 Shigella organisms (3), even without neutralization of gastric acid. At least three periods of epidemic outbreaks of dysentery due to S. dysenteriae 1 have been recorded previously in the Indian subcontinent, in 1972-1973, 1983-1984, and 1993-1994 (1, 9, 18, 24). Despite improvement of municipal water supplies and sanitation, shigellosis still occurs frequently. This raises important questions about the causes of shigellosis, its transmission, epidemiology, and the effectiveness of public health measures in overcoming this illness. Indiscriminate use of antibiotics in this region has resulted in the Shigella strains becoming resistant to multiple antibiotics. At present, most of the Shigella strains isolated from patients are resistant to ampicillin (AMP), sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (SXT), and nalidixic acid (2, 9, 15). The prevalence of the serotypes of S. flexneri in Bangladesh was described in a previous report (27), which showed that there was a temporal variation in the dominance of different subserotypes. The emergence of some atypical serotypes of S. flexneri has also been reported (27). There are no reports of outbreaks caused by the serotypes of S. dysenteriae other than serotype 1 in Bangladesh or any other part of the world. In the present study, a detailed epidemiological study of the prevalence of different S. dysenteriae serotypes and their susceptibility to commonly used antibiotics among hospital patients was conducted over the last 4 years to evaluate the present status of shigellosis caused by S. dysenteriae serotypes in Bangladesh.

The serotypes of 144 strains of Shigella flexneri serotype 1 (serotypes 1a, 1b, and 1c) isolated from patients attending the Dhaka treatment center of the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, between 1997 and 2001 were serologically confirmed by using commercially available antisera and a panel of monoclonal antibodies specific for S. flexneri group and type factor antigen (MASF). Among serotype 1 isolates, the prevalence of provisional serotype S. flexneri 1c increased from 0 to 56% from 1978 to 2001 in Bangladesh. Detailed biochemical studies revealed that none of the strains of serotype 1 produced indole, while all the strains fermented mannose, mannitol, and trehalose. Twenty percent of the serotype 1c and all the serotype 1a strains fermented maltose and 53% of the serotype 1c strains and 60% of the serotype 1a strains fermented arabinose, whereas all serotype 1b strains were negative for fermentation of these sugars. Only 18% of serotype 1b strains were resistant to nalidixic acid, and most of the serotype 1c and 1b strains were resistant to ampicillin, tetracycline, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. All the strains of serotypes 1a and 1b and about 88% of the serotype 1c strains were found to be invasive by the Sereny test, had a 140-MDa plasmid, and had Congo red absorption ability. Plasmid profile analysis showed that 26% of the strains of serotype 1 contained identical patterns. Most of the serotype 1c strains (72%) had the 1.6-MDa plasmid, which was not found in either serotype 1a or 1b strains. A self-transmissible middle-range plasmid (35 to 80 MDa) was found in some strains carrying the multiple-antibiotic-resistance gene. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis analysis yielded three types (types A, B, and C) with numerous subtypes among the serotype 1c strains, whereas serotypes 1b and 1a yielded only one type for each serotype, and those types were related to the types for serotype 1c strains. Ribotyping analysis yielded three patterns for serotype 1c strains and one pattern each for serotype 1a and 1b strains which were similar to the patterns for the serotype 1c strains. Overall analysis of the results concluded that subserotype 1c is closely related to serotypes 1a and 1b. Furthermore, the high rate of prevalence of serotype 1c necessitates the commercial production of antibody against this subserotype to allow the determination of the actual burden of shigellosis caused by provisional serotype 1c.

Twenty-one atypicalShigella flexneritype 4 strains isolated from patients attending the Dhaka treatment center of the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, were extensively characterized and compared withS. flexneriserotypes 4a and 4b. The atypical strains agglutinated only with the type antigen factor 4 and did not agglutinate with any group factors, thereby excluding their characterization into serotype 4a or 4b. Of the 21 strains, 85.7% did not ferment mannitol but were able to ferment most of the sugars, whereas the remaining 14.3% strains fermented mannitol but were unable to ferment most of the sugars. Most of the strains were resistant to ampicillin, tetracycline, and trimethoprim-sulfomethoxazole. All of the strains harbored the 140-MDa plasmid, had theipaHgene, had thesengene (encodingShigellaenterotoxin 2), had the ability to bind Congo red, and were positive for keratoconjunctivitis in the guinea pig eye, attesting their invasive properties. All of the strains contained a middle-range plasmid (35 to 62 MDa) as well as a number of stable small plasmids, yielding mainly two plasmid profiles which were different from those of 4a and 4b strains. Conjugation and curing experiments suggested that the middle-range plasmids harbored a self-transferable multiple antibiotic resistance marker. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis analysis of all of the tested strains yielded two types with numerous subtypes, whereas ribotyping yielded only two types which were completely different from those of types 4a and 4b. This study concluded that two different clones of atypicalS. flexneritype 4 exist and strongly suggests that these are new subserotypes ofS. flexnerithat await further serological classification.

Assessing mortality pattern of children after discharge from hospital is important to guide appropriate management policy. We studied young children aged 1-23 months, who were discharged from an urban Diarrhoea Treatment Hospital. Children were enrolled on discharge from the hospital, and followed at home after 6 and 12 weeks to assess post-discharge mortality. Of 500 children, 427 were available for evaluation at home 6 weeks after discharge. The median age of the children was eight months, 77 per cent of whom were less than 12 months of age. Of the 427 children, 30 (7 per cent) died within 6 weeks and two died within 12 weeks of discharge from hospital. The median survival time of the deceased was 11 days. Children less than 6 months of age had a five times greater risk of death compared with those aged 6 months or older. Malnutrition, non-breastfeeding, and lack of immunization were important risk factors for death. As ascertained by verbal autopsy, the underlying causes of death were respiratory diseases and watery diarrhoea. Malnutrition and low birth weight were the main associated causes. Hospitalized children, especially young infants, should be given special attention and need to be followed preferably within a week of discharge.

Objective. To identify maternal and early childhood risk factors for obesity and overweight among children at age 5 in the state of Alabama.Methods. We recruited 740 mothers during early pregnancy from University of Alabama Prenatal Clinics in a prospective cohort study and followed them throughout pregnancy. We followed their children from birth until 5 years of age. The main outcome measure was obesity (BMI for age and sex ≥ 95th percentile) at 5 years of age. We used poisson regression with robust variance estimation to compute risk ratio (RR).Results. At the 5th year of followup, 71 (9.6%) of the children were obese and 85 (11.5%) were overweight (BMI ≥ 85th–85th percentile (RR: 2.04, 95% CI: 1.13–3.68) were associated with childhood obesity. Maternal prepregnancy BMI, birth weight, and maternal smoking were associated with the child being overweight 1–12 cigarettes/day versus 0 cigarettes/day (RR: 1.40, 95% CI: 1.02–1.91).Conclusion. Children of overweight and obese mothers, and children with higher birth weight, are more likely to be obese and overweight at age 5. Maternal smoking 1–12 cigarettes per day is associated with the child being overweight.

Zinc is essential for growth. However, its therapeutic use in pregnant women to improve birth weight is not well established. Zinc status of mothers and newborns was determined using paired cord blood and maternal blood samples. Of the newborns investigated, 33 were full term with appropriate weight for date (AFD) (≥2.5 kg) and 30 were either full term (FT) small for date (SFD) (

The purpose of this study was to examine how victims of sexual abuse in a community corrections population differ as a result of their sex and race. Of the 19,422 participants, a total of 1,298 (6.7%) reported a history of sexual abuse and were compared with nonabused participants. The sample was analyzed by race–gender groups (White men, White women, African American men, and African American women) using univariate and logistic regression analyses, which were conducted separately for each group. White women were the most likely to report a history of sexual abuse (26.5%), followed by African American women (16.0%), White men (4.0%), and African American men (1.1%). For all groups, histories of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts were associated with a history of sexual abuse. Sexual abuse was associated with substance abuse problems for women but not the men. Cannabis dependence was associated with sexual abuse for the White women while cocaine dependence was associated with sexual abuse for the African American women. Several other variables were associated with sexual abuse for women but not men, including lower education (White women only), a history of violent offenses (White women only), and living in a shelter (African American women only). African American men tended to have higher levels of education; this was the only variable uniquely associated with either male group. Receiving psychiatric medications was associated with sexual abuse for all groups except African American men and a history of sex for drugs was associated with sexual abuse for all groups except White men. Consistent with national sample, women, particularly White women, were more likely to be victims of sexual abuse. The gender–race differences for the sociodemographic factors associated with sexual abuse, particularly the risk of substance abuse for women, suggest the need for tailored interventions for sexual abuse prevention and treatment.

The study was conducted with the objective to know the performance of floral and yield characteristics of pollen and CMS parent. Significant variation was observed for flowering and yield contributing characteristics among two CMS lines (Z1 and Z2) and 21 pollen parents. The pollen parent Nap2019 was found as early flowering whereas the parent Nap2013 was the late for first flowering. The highest length of anther was found in Nap9907 and short anther in Nap9905. Slender anther was produced by the genotype Nap2037 and bold anther was produced by the genotype Nap9907. Length of filament was the highest in Nap2012 and the lowest in Nap0130. For yield contributing characteristics, the genotype Nap9906 matured earlier than all other genotypes while the maximum duration took by Nap2013. The longest inflorescence was found in the genotype Nap2001 and the smallest in Nap9906. The highest number of siliqua per plant was counted in Nap2066 and it was the lowest in Nap9906. Wide variability in respect of number of seeds per siliqua was exhibited among the genotypes and it was the lowest in Nap9901 and the highest in Nap94006. In case of 1000-seed weight, the genotype Nap2022 produced larger seeds and the genotype Nap9907 produced smaller seeds. The highest seed yield per plant was recorded in the genotype Nap2066 and the lowest in Nap9905. In case of CMSZ1 and CMSZ2, 50% plants were flowered within 45 days after sowing. The CMS plant produced small, slender anther with shorter filament compare to pollen parents. The out crossing rate of CMSZ1 and CMSZ2 was 40.31% and 47.96%, respectively. Time required for days to 80% maturity of CMSZ1 and CMSZ2 were about 106 days. The number of siliqua per plant was found the highest in CMSZ1 and the lowest in CMSZ2. The average number of seeds per siliqua and seed yield per plant was recorded the highest in CMSZ1 and the lowest in CMSZ2. The pollen parent with desirable performance and CMS parents CMSZ2 having higher out crossing rate can be used for future Brassica napus hybrid breeding program.

Recent studies have demonstrated the efficacy of both methadone and buprenorphine when used with opioid dependent men transitioning from prison to the community, but no studies have been conducted with women in the criminal justice (CJ) system. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of buprenorphine for relapse prevention among opioid dependent women in the CJ system transitioning back to the community.36 women under CJ supervision were recruited from an inpatient drug treatment facility that treats CJ individuals returning back to the community. Nine were enrolled in an open label buprenorphine arm then 27 were randomized to buprenorphine (n=15) or placebo (n=12; double-blind). All women completed baseline measures and started study medication prior to release. Participants were followed weekly, provided urine drug screens (UDS), received study medication for 12 weeks, and returned for a 3-month follow-up. Intent-to-treat analyses were performed for all time points through 3 month follow-up.The majority of participants were Caucasian (88.9%), young (M±SD=31.8±8.4 years), divorced/separated (59.2%) women with at least a high school/GED education (M±SD=12±1.7 years). GEE analyses showed that buprenorphine was efficacious in maintaining abstinence across time compared to placebo. At end of treatment, 92% of placebo and 33% of active medication participants were positive for opiates on urine drug screen (Chi-Square=10.9, df=1; p0.001). However, by the three month follow-up point, no differences were found between the two groups, with 83% of participants at follow-up positive for opiates.Women in the CJ system who received buprenorphine prior to release from a treatment facility had fewer opiate positive UDS through the 12 weeks of treatment compared to women receiving placebo. Initiating buprenorphine in a controlled environment prior to release appears to be a viable strategy to reduce opiate use when transitioning back to the community.

Urban mothers' perceptions and their actual practices in respect of antenatal care, postnatal care, childbirth and breast-feeding were reviewed through a predesigned questionnaire provided to all mothers (n = 114) staying for a day in the Clinical Research Centre of the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh. Only 8% of mothers surveyed were pregnant and 71% had access to a maternal and child health clinic near their homes. Although 61% of the mothers replied that antenatal care is needed, 45% of all mothers actually used the service. Similarly, 79% of them felt that postnatal care is needed, yet only 26% attended the clinics. Only 6% of all mothers had their previous children delivered at a hospital or clinic. The majority (91%) were delivered at home, traditional birth attendants assisting in childbirth in most cases (74%). In spite of mass campaigning against the use of pre-lacteal foods (like honey and sugar water), these were given to 90% of the newborns. Underutilization of maternal and child health clinics was mostly due to the clinics only being open during the busy hours of family work and because of the misbehaviour of the staff. Changing clinic opening times, supervising staff properly and educating mothers will help to overcome their taboos and to motivate them to use 'institutional services'.

Every year, around 3 % of isolates from patients with diarrhoea at Dhaka Hospital, ICDDR,B, are identified as Shigella-like organisms (SLOs) based on their activity in biochemical tests. These isolates do not react with any of the current Shigella antisera including all existing and provisional serotypes. Among these SLOs, a unique cluster of seven isolates with an identical plasmid profile was found and these isolates were further characterized by phenotypic and genotypic techniques. All were nonlactose fermenters, with an identical biochemical pattern typical of Shigella dysenteriae. They were classified as invasive since they harboured the 140 MDa invasive plasmid, were able to bind Congo red, produced keratoconjunctivitis in the guinea pig eye, and were positive by PCR for the ipaH gene and Shigella enterotoxin 2 [ShET-2] gene. All isolates were resistant to ampicillin, tetracycline and sulfamethoxazole–trimethoprim but were susceptible to mecillinam, nalidixic acid, ceftriaxone and ciprofloxacin. Six of the isolates were identical in DNA pattern by PFGE with the seventh exhibiting a closely related pattern; both patterns were distinguishable from all other Shigella and Escherichia coli patterns. An antiserum prepared against one of the isolates reacted with all isolates and did not cross-react with other Shigella and E. coli serotype reference strains. It is therefore proposed that these isolates represent a new provisional serovar of S. dysenteriae, type strain KIVI 162.

Contains fulltext : 52308.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Closed access) The prevalence of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) and its characteristics were determined among hospitalized patients with diarrhoea and children with diarrhoea in an urban slum community of Dhaka city using sensitive culture and PCR methods. Stool samples were collected from 410 patients with diarrhoea enrolled in the 2% surveillance system (every 50th patient attending the hospital with diarrhoeal disease is included) at the ICDDR,B hospital and from 160 children of 2-5 years of age with diarrhoea living in an urban slum in Dhaka, between September 2004 and April 2005. Shiga toxin genes (stx) were detected by multiplex PCR in the enrichment broth of nine samples (2.2%) from hospitalized patients and 11 samples (6.9%) from the community patients. STEC was isolated from five stool samples with positive PCR results using a colony patch technique. All five isolates were positive in the Vero cell assay and PCR fragments of stx genes were confirmed by sequencing. Two isolates were positive for the E. coli attaching-and-effacing (eae) gene and four were positive for the enterohaemolysin (hlyEHEC) gene and enterohaemolysin production. The five isolates belonged to five different serotypes:O32:H25, O2:H45, O76:H19, ONT:H25 and ONT:H19. It can be concluded that STEC is not a common pathogen in Bangladesh among hospitalized patients with diarrhoea nor among mild cases of diarrhoea in the community.

Series of animal feces and meat samples artificially contaminated with strains of Escherichia coli O157 isolated from different sources were tested by both an immunomagnetic separation (IMS)-based method and a PCR method using primers specific for a portion of the rfbE gene of E. coli O157. IMS is laborious and time consuming but ends up with the isolation of the pathogen. PCR is fast and less laborious, but it can only be used for screening purposes, so a further culture step is required to isolate the organism. For both fecal and meat samples, the IMS method was found to be more sensitive than the PCR. Furthermore, the detection efficiency of the PCR was influenced by the origin of the fecal sample and the type of meat. For sheep feces, the efficiency of the PCR appeared to be systematically lower than for cattle feces. And the efficiency of the PCR in detecting E. coli O157 in spiked samples of raw minced beef and dry-fermented sausages was systematically lower than in samples of filet americain. Based on this study, it can be concluded that both for animal feces and meat, IMS can be used more successfully to detect E. coli O157 than PCR, because IMS showed to be more sensitive and the outcome was not influenced by the type of animal feces or meat.

Shigella sonneiis a significant cause of diarrhoeal infection in both developing and industrialized countries. From 1999 to 2003, 445 strains ofShigella sonneiwere isolated from patients admitted to the diarrhoea treatment centre of the International Center for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh. More than 60 % of the isolates were resistant to nalidixic acid, 89 % to sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim and 9.5 % to ampicillin. In addition, 4 % of strains were resistant to multiple antibiotics (AmpRTetRSxtRStrR) and 4.2 % of strains were sensitive to all antibiotics tested. None of the strains were positive for theset1 gene, whereas 46 % were positive for thesengene. Forty-six per cent of the strains (stored at −70 °C) harboured the 120 MDa invasive plasmid and representative strains produced keratoconjunctivitis in the guinea pig eye. In addition, three plasmids of approximately 5, 1.8 and 1.4 MDa were found to be present in more than 90 % of the strains. A self-transmissible, middle-ranged plasmid (35–80 MDa) carrying the multiple antibiotic resistance gene was found in some strains. PFGE analysis of the strains identified five unique types with many subtypes, which were characterized into four unique types by ribotyping analysis. It can be concluded that endemic strains ofShigella sonneiisolated from patients in Bangladesh are diverse in their genetic pattern.

To identify the reservoirs and routes of transmission of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O157, sensitive detection and isolation methods are necessary. The sensitivity of traditional culture methods can be improved significantly by the inclusion of an immunoconcentration step, resulting in less false-negatives. In this report, we evaluated the results of two commercially available test systems: Dynabeads anti-E. coli O157 and the Vitek Immunodiagnostic Assay System (VIDAS) Immuno-Concentration E. coli O157 (ICE) kit. Additionally, we compared two selective isolation media for STEC O157. Statistical analysis of the results obtained for animal faecal samples (n=637) examined by both immunoconcentration methods showed that by the manual Dynabeads anti-E. coli O157 procedure systematically more samples were identified as positive than by the VIDAS ICE. In case of meat samples (n=360), no difference between the results of the two methods was found. In addition to being accurate, the Dynabeads anti-E. coli O157 method is a less expensive method than the VIDAS ICE. But, the Dynabeads method is laborious and there is a risk of cross-contamination. The VIDAS ICE procedure on the other hand is fully automated with a standardised performance; fast and safe for the user. Irrespective of the type of sample (faeces or meat) and the immunoconcentration technique applied (Dynabeads anti-E. coli O157 or VIDAS ICE) more samples were found positive after plating onto CHROMagar O157 with cefixime (0.025 mg l(-1)) and tellurite (1.25 mg l(-1)) than after plating onto sorbitol-MacConkey agar with cefixime (0.05 mg l(-1)) and tellurite (2.5 mg l(-1)). However, only in case of meat samples examined by the VIDAS ICE the difference between the isolation media was not statistically significant.

Zinc status in 186 full term and preterm infants was determined at birth, and 3, 6, 9, and 12 months of age along with determination of zinc levels in breast or formula milk to find out if routine zinc supplements are needed during infancy. The leukocyte and plasma zinc levels in all breastfed infants were high at birth and gradually declined reaching lowest values by 4-6 months of age, and improved to normal levels by 9 months following weaning. The preterm infants however, had significantly (P < 0.05) higher leukocyte zinc (213.6 +/- 46.91 micrograms/10(10) cells) at birth compared to term infants. Colostrum of all the mothers had higher zinc concentrations which declined to significantly lower levels in breastmilk by 4-6 months of lactation, corresponding to the age when the breastfed infants had lower zinc levels. The improvement of the levels to normal after weaning suggests that the fall in zinc status during early infancy could be a transient phenomenon which could be reversed by proper weaning, thus strengthening the plea for timely food supplements rather than the need for single nutrient supplements. Formula-fed full term infants had significantly lower leukocyte zinc levels (49.3 +/- 2.59 micrograms/10(10) cells) at 3 months of age compared to breastfed infants of the same age (92.8 +/- 14.04 micrograms/10(10) cells). Even these infants improved their zinc status after weaning on par with breastfed infants. The functional significance of their transient, but low zinc values during early infancy needs to be investigated.

We evaluated the adverse effect of asymptomaticHelicobacter pyloriinfection in children on the response to Fe supplementation. One hundred and sixty-nine children aged 1–10 years from the urban poor community underwent a [13C]urea breath test forH. pyloriand haematological tests at admission and after 8 weeks. BothH. pylori-positive and -negative children were randomly assigned to receive ferrous fumarate syrup (20 mg elemental Fe twice daily) or placebo for 8 weeks and a single dose of vitamin A (33,000μg). Admission findings were compared betweenH. pylori-positive and -negative children. Response to Fe was compared between Fe-supplementedH. pylori-positive and -negative children. Seventy-nine per cent of the children were aged 1–5 years and half of them were boys. In eighty-fiveH. pylori-positive and eighty-fourH. pylori-negative children, the differences in mean Hb (112 (sd 12·6)v. 113 (sd 12·0) g/l), haematocrit (34 (sd 3·5)v. 35 (sd 3·2) %) and ferritin (23·8v. 21·0 μg/l) were similar. After 8 weeks of Fe supplementation, mean Hb was 5·3 g/l more (95 % CI 1·59, 9·0) and haematocrit was 1·4 % more (95 % CI 0·2, 2·6) inH. pylori-negative (n44) compared withH. pylori-positive (n42) children. Mean ferritin was similar at admission and improved in bothH. pylori-positive and -negative children. AsymptomaticH. pyloriinfection was not associated with higher rates of anaemia or Fe deficiency in children, but had a significant adverse effect on response to Fe therapy. However, this result is based on exploratory analysis and needs confirmation.

OBJECTIVE We examined the relationship between extreme parity and risk for stillbirth in the United States. METHODS Singleton deliveries at 20 weeks of gestation or later in the United States from 1989 through 2000 were analyzed. Risk for stillbirth in women with 1-4 (moderate parity, category I), 5-9 (high parity, category II), 10-14 (very high parity, category III), and 15 or more (extremely high parity, category IV) prior live births were computed using logistic regression. RESULTS Overall, 27,069,385 births, including 1,206 to extremely high parity mothers, were analyzed. Of the 81,386 stillbirths, 71,623 (2.8/1,000), 9,206 (5.0/1,000), 531 (14.4/1,000), and 26 (21.6/1,000) cases occurred among category I, category II, category III, and category IV gravidas, respectively. With category I as referent category, the odds ratio for stillbirth increased consistently with ascending parity after adjusting for potential confounders: category II (odds ratio [OR] 1.05, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02-1.07), category III (OR 1.97, 95% CI 1.81-2.15), and category IV (OR 2.31, 95% CI 1.56-3.42) (P for trend < .001). Among extremely high parity women (category IV), the odds ratio for stillbirth also increased with unit increment in the number of prior live births: 15 (OR 2.72, 95% CI 1.29-5.74), 16 (OR 3.14, 95% CI 1.17-8.41), 17 (OR 6.11, 95% CI 2.56-16.5), and 18 or more prior live births (OR 16.17, 95% CI 8.77-29.82) (P for trend < .001). CONCLUSIONS The risk for stillbirth is substantially elevated among very high and extremely high parity women, and care providers may consider these groups for targeted periconceptional counseling. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE II-2.

We investigated the association between high parity and fetal morbidity outcomes.We analyzed 22,463,141 singleton deliveries at 20 weeks or more of gestation in the United States from 1989 through 2000. Adjusted odds ratios generated from logistic regression models were used to approximate relative risk for neonatal morbidity in women with 1-4 (moderate parity or type I; referent group), 5-9 (high parity or type II), 10-14 (very high parity or type III) and 15 or more (extremely high parity or type IV) prior live births. Main outcome measures included low and very low birth weight, preterm and very preterm birth, and small and large for gestational age delivery.The overall crude rates for low birth weight, very low birth weight, preterm birth, very preterm birth, and small and large for gestational age were 55, 11, 97, 19, 83, and 129 per 1,000 live births, respectively. The adjusted odds ratios for low birth weight, very low birth weight, preterm, and very preterm delivery increased consistently and in a dose-effect fashion with ascending parity (P for trend.001). In the case of large for gestational age delivery, the adjusted odds ratio showed an inverted-U pattern, being highest among women in the type III parity cluster. The findings with respect to small for gestational age were inconclusive.High parity is a risk factor for adverse fetal outcomes. However, the impact of heightened parity is more manifest as shortened gestation rather than physical size restriction. These findings could prove beneficial for counseling women of high parity.

To evaluate the impact of health education on mothers, on the feeding of their children green leafy vegetables (GLV) at home, we studied 160 children aged 6 to 35 months and their mothers in two intervention groups and one comparison group. The mothers of the first intervention group (n = 44) were given health education including a feeding demonstration, by offering a single meal of cooked GLV to their children. The mothers in the second intervention group (n = 36) received health education only. Mothers of both the intervention groups were visited at home after eight weeks of intervention without prior notice, and for each of them an immediate neighbourhood mother having a child in the same age range was selected as a comparison mother (n = 80). During this visit, mothers were asked whether they had cooked GLV that day and fed these to their children; this was confirmed by spot-checking. Also, mothers were interviewed to elicit their perceptions about GLV. The percentages of mothers who thought that GLV are good for health were 88.7%, 86.1% and 76.2% in groups 1, 2 and comparison respectively (P = 0.06). However, the percentages of mothers who actually fed their children GLV were 57%, 64% and 26% in groups 1, 2 and comparison group respectively (P0.001). The influence of health education on GLV feeding persisted after controlling for the effect of maternal literacy (Mantel Haenszel chi-square = 16.99; P0.0001) and family income (Mantel Haenszel chi-square = 17.36; P0.0001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The use of oral rehydration salts is frustratingly low, mostly because one must visit a health care provider to procure the packets. Mothers are advised to use sugar-salt solution (SSS) and other home-based fluids as first fluid replacement during diarrhoea. However, the use rate of SSS is also not encouraging and few mothers can prepare it correctly. We conducted an observation study on mothers who reported to the diarrhoea treatment centre of the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh during September 1990 through to December 1992. At quarterly intervals, 240 mothers were recruited randomly to elicit their knowledge and ability to prepare SSS. Most (94.6%) of the mothers knew about the solution, but only 62% of them used the solution at home. The use rate was higher when mothers came to know about the solution through interpersonal communication (e.g. community health workers, doctors, friends, neighbours and relatives) and from multiple sources (72%) than when they learned about it from the media or from a single source (54%). As many as 85.4% of the mothers could prepare the solution within the safe limits of sodium concentrations (30 to 100 mmol/1). The figure rose to 95.8% after practical instruction as to how to prepare the solution. This improvement was dependent neither on the literacy level of mothers nor on their knowledge and use of the solution earlier. To increase interpersonal communication and to improve mothers' behaviour in using and correctly preparing SSS, every contact with health care providers should be utilised for organising sessions on the use and preparation of the solution.

Eight hybrid tomato lines bred for heat tolerance by the Olericulture Division, BARI were studied to observe their fruit setting ability and yield performance under the hot, humid conditions at the Olericulture Farm of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Joydebpur, Gazipur during summer 2005. Percent fruit set in the lines was found to be within the range of 30 to 45 except C-7 (3×7) in which this was 52.85. The tallest plants having larger number of branches and the lowest flower drop were also observed in C-7 (3×7). Pollen viability ranged from 27.63 to 61.52 percent among the hybrids. The highest weight of individual fruits (56.02 g) and firmness (1.41 kg) was observed in C-5 (2×5). The largest fruit in respect of length and diameter was produced by C-8 (5x5). No significant variation was found among the lines in respect of days to 50% flowering and percent TSS. Significant difference wa observed for fruit number per plant ranging from 27 to 51. All of the lines produced remarkably high yields and C-7 (3x7) gave the highest yield per plant (1.73 kg) as well as per hectare (41.5 tons). The highest gross return (1867500 Tk/ha) and the maximum net return (1486748 Tk/ha) having the highest BCR (3.90) were recorded in C-7 (3×7). Keywords: Heat tolerant; tomato hybrid; hot; humid. DOI: 10.3329/bjar.v35i3.6442Bangladesh J. Agril. Res. 35(3) : 367-373

Dhaka Univ. J. Pharm. Sci. Vol.3(1-2) 2004 The full text is of this article is available at the Dhaka Univ. J. Pharm. Sci. website