Search

This study investigates the performance of different groups of binary liquid mixtures for various aliphatic hydrocarbons of both polar and non-polar types. This highlights the importance of selecting appropriate models based on the specific composition of the mixture for accurate predictions in industrial processes and product optimization. For this purpose, well-known equations of Grunberg-Nissan, Hind, Heric, Ausländer, McAllister 3- body and McAllister 4- body are utilized and tested for the viscosity data of different binary liquid systems, collected from previous research. The systems consist of various aliphatic alkanes, cycloalkanes, and alkanols. They are classified into four groups: Group A (Aliphatic Alkane + Alkane), Group B (Aliphatic Alkane + Cycloalkane), Group C (Aliphatic Alkane + Alkanol) and Group D (Aliphatic Cycloalkane + Alkanol). In order to measure the fitting capabilities for every group of systems, Standard Percentage Deviations (SPD) as well as temperature Average Standard Percentage Deviations (ASPD) for all of the systems are estimated. For both dynamic and kinematic viscosity correlations, among four categories, the best results are found for Group A (Aliphatic Alkanes + Aliphatic Alkanes), followed by Group B (Aliphatic Alkanes + Cycloalkanes), with the poorest results for Group C (Aliphatic Alkanes + Alkanols). In addition, with the increment of the chain length of the systems, a linear change in deviation is also observed.

Objectives: This study aims at exploring the effects of physicians’ communication behaviors on patients’ satisfaction in primary care medical consultations in Chattogram, Bangladesh. The study used a quantitative research approach designed with a cross-sectional survey. Methods: Data were collected using post-consultation and facilitator administered questionnaire from the patients who visited the physician for medical consultation in different hospitals and clinics in Chattogram city. Seven hundred patients were included as the study participants. A hierarchical linear regression analysis was performed to examine the factors contributing to the outcome variables. Results: A statistically significant difference ( P

Prostacyclin or prostaglandin I2 (PGI2), a metabolite of arachidonic cyclooxygenase pathway, has been demonstrated as an effector of adipocyte differentiation. However, due to its instability in biological fluid, it is difficult to evaluate the role of PGI2 in regulating adipocyte differentiation in different stages in culture. Therefore, this study aimed to establish a simple and rapid method for the production of monoclonal antibody against 6-Keto PGF1α, a stable PGI2 metabolite, and its quantification to determine the role of PGI2 in culture medium. Eight-week-old female BALB/c mice were immunized with the hapten of 6-Keto PGF1α and BSA for several weeks until a higher antibody titer (absorbance value > 0.9 at 1000-times dilution) against 6-Keto PGF1α was found. Then, fusion of antibody-producing spleen lymphocytes with SP-2 myeloma cells and thymocytes was performed and cultured in HAT-medium supplemented with hypoxanthine, aminopterin, and thymine. Specific antibody-producing cells (M2-A4-B8-D10) against 6-Keto PGF1α were identified and separated. A standard ELISA calibration curve was developed with 100% reactivity for 6-Keto-PGF 1 α ranging from 0.26 pg to 6.44 ng corresponding to 90% and 10% of the maximum binding capacity for the immobilized antigen respectively. This method can easily be applied to monitor PGI2 regulation in different stages of cultured adipocytes to reveal the regulatory roles of PGI2 in maintaining homeostasis and adipocyte differentiation.

Introduction: During the COVID-19 pandemic, Bangladeshi students had to deal with drastic changes. In-person education was suspended, and online education was introduced along with movement restrictions within the community. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of stress, depression, and their combination among Bangladeshi students and evaluate their association with demographic factors and media usage during the pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted online using a structured questionnaire between January 2021 and January 2022 on 1377 students by a convenience sampling method. Demographic factors along with media usage frequency were recorded. The Perceived Stress Scale-10 was used to assess stress. Depression was evaluated by the WHO-5 Well-Being Index. Results: The average age of the participants was 20.8 ± 3.1 years; 51.6% of them were male. The prevalence of high stress, depression, and a coexistence of high stress and depression (CHSD) was 24.8%, 49.5%, and 20.9%, respectively. These indices significantly increased in females and with increasing age groups of participants. Students with inferior self-perceived health had higher odds of suffering from stress and CHSD, whereas students with general/poor health had the highest odds of high media usage and to suffer from high stress, depression, and CHSD. Students with high stress were found to have 9.49 times and 27.9 times higher probability to suffer from depression than students with moderate and low stress, respectively. Conclusion: This study has identified some important factors that can act as possible indicators to evaluate the prognosis of mental health problems among Bangladeshi students during public health emergencies.

Abstract Background The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends balanced energy and protein (BEP) supplementation be provided to all pregnant women living in undernourished populations, usually defined as having a prevalence > 20% of underweight women, to reduce the risk of stillbirths and small-for-gestational-age neonates. Few geographies meet this threshold, however, and a large proportion of undernourished women and those with inadequate gestational weight gain could miss benefiting from BEP. This study compares the effectiveness of individual targeting approaches for supplementation with micronutrient-fortified BEP vs. multiple micronutrient supplements (MMS) alone as control in pregnancy in improving birth outcomes. Methods The TARGET-BEP study is a four-arm, cluster-randomized controlled trial conducted in rural northwestern Bangladesh. Eligible participants are married women aged 15–35 years old identified early in pregnancy using a community-wide, monthly, urine-test-based pregnancy detection system. Beginning at 12–14 weeks of gestation, women in the study area comprising 240 predefined sectors are randomly assigned to one of four intervention arms, with sector serving as the unit of randomization. The interventions involving daily supplementation through end of pregnancy are as follows: (1) MMS (control); (2) BEP; (3) targeted BEP for those with pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI)

Background: The differentiation between COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 syndromes is not properly defined as some patients remain asymptomatic for post-COVID-19. It can be characterized by several signs and symptoms. Risk factors related to post-COVID-19 remain unsolved. Here we aimed to differentiate post-COVID-19 patients among symptomatic and asymptomatic groups to check the percentage among them and the risk factors for post-COVID-19 and the association of different symptoms. Methods: This study was conducted in Chittagong division, Bangladesh at different hospitals. Data were collected from the participants either by in person interview or online (email) or mobile phone calls. Follow up was done after 3 months to check the development of post-COVID-19 syndromes. Relevant data were taken, and symptomatic and asymptomatic patients were divided based on the presence and severity of specific symptoms. Results: Our results showed that 41.88 % patients develop post-COVID-19 symptoms. Fever and Cough were classified as one of the factors of post-COVID-19, followed by dyspnea, fatigue, cough, rhinitis, sore throat, and muscular discomfort. On the other hand, age, respiratory distress, lethargy, duration of illness and severity were classified as risk factors for post-COVID-19. There was a significant difference between symptomatic and asymptomatic patients as only 16.3 % patients showed post-COVID-19 symptoms. Based on the severity grade, 80.7 % of patients had mild COVID-19. We also found that people with ‘B’ positive blood group had a higher chance of developing post-COVID-19 syndrome. Conclusion: It was concluded that age, duration of illness, presence of respiratory distress, blood group, and disease severity are major risk factors for the development of post-COVID-19 syndrome.

Obesity is a known risk factor for many chronic diseases and a substantial threat to public health. We investigated the effects of figs sourced from Ficus hispida on a high fat-fed experimental rat model. We found that a 500-mg dose of ethanolic extract of figs (EFH) reduced oxidative stress markers nitric oxide (NO), malondialdehyde (MDA), and advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), which were increased in high fat-fed rats. Antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, reduced glutathione (GSH), and myeloperoxidase (MPO), found elevated in high fat-fed rats, were also normalized to nearly regular levels by fig treatment. Administration of EFH further reduced fat deposition and expression of adipogenic genes leptin, fatty acid synthase (FAS), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), and sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c (SERBP-1c). Our results suggest that figs have significant effects on reducing oxidative stress and mitigating obesity-associated liver and adipose tissue abnormalities via suppressing adipogenesis. Thus, we propose that F. hispida has potential benefits in reducing obesity.

The research aims to find out the reusability of jute stick charcoal (JSC) to remove Remazol Red (RR) from textile effluents. The JSC was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy, and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy to analyze the morphology, functional groups, and chemical composition, respectively. The batch adsorption method was applied in this study, and it disclosed that dye uptake depends on various factors, namely, pH, contact time, adsorbent dose, and dye concentration. Notably, 93.12% of the dye was removed with the best removal efficiency at a pH of 1, an adsorbent dose of 0.6 g, and an equilibrium time of 120 min, where the adsorption occurred rapidly in the first 20 min. The Langmuir isotherm model successfully defined the adsorption phenomena, yielding an R2 value of 0.995. The kinetic experimental data followed the pseudo-second-order model (R2 = 0.999). The optimum adsorption parameters were implemented for the effluent obtained from a dye bath where a fabric sample (5 g) was dyed with RR, and 62.4% dye was removed. For the scaled application of JSC to a wastewater stream, the raw textile effluent was also treated, which resulted in 52.6% of dye removal. These results show that JSC is a promising adsorbent for treating textile wastewater. HIGHLIGHTS Adsorption of RR dye on JSC and characterization of JSC were studied.; The adsorption process is highly pH-specific (pH = 1).; Nearly 93.12% of the dye removal was observed at optimized conditions.; The experimental findings fit well with pseudo-second-order and Langmuir models.; The optimum conditions have been implemented on both the dyed sample fabric bath (62.4% removal) and actual raw textile effluent (52.6%).;

In order to systematically investigate the correlating capability of viscosity models, six well-known correlative models of Grunberg-Nissan (GN), Hind (HND), Heric (HRC), Ausländer (AUS) for dynamic viscosity, η, and McAllister 3-body (MAC3) and McAllister 4-body (MAC4) for kinematic viscosity, ν, were employed and tested for viscosity data of 83 organic binary liquid systems consisting of 33 different aromatic hydrocarbons (ArH), alkanes (RH), cycloalkanes (CyRH) and alkanols (ROH). Keeping ArH as a common component and increasing the chain length of other components, the systems were categorized as Category 1: ArH + RH, Category 2: ArH + CyRH, Category 3: ArH + ArH and Category 4: ArH + ROH. For all the models fitting parameters along with the statistical parameters such as SPD σ(%), ASPD σ(%), OASPD σ(%) and GOASPD σ(%) were computed by the Nonlinear Least Squares Minimization (NLSM) technique with the ‘Solver’ add-in package. Among the four categories, Category 3, OASPD, σ(%) values lie between 0.16 and 0.21, indicating that all the models fitted extremely well. However, for dynamic viscosities, the η AUS model demonstrated the best correlating capabilities with GOASPD σ(%) of 0.48, while the HND model performed the poorest with GOASPD σ(%) at 3.8. For the kinematic viscosities, ν in both the MAC3 and MAC4 models yielded satisfactory results with GOASPD σ(%) as < 1.0 %.

Abstract Previously, we observed curcumin improves aging-associated memory impairment in d-galactose (D-gal) and normal-aged (NA) mice. Evidence showed that multiple agents can be used in managing aging-induced memory dysfunction, drawn by the contribution of several pathways. Curcumin and Epigallocatechin 3 gallate (EGCG) combination substantially reduced the oxidative stress that commonly mediates aging. This study examined the combined effect of EGCG and curcumin on memory improvement in two recognized models, D-gal and normal-aged (NA) mice. The co-administration of EGCG and curcumin significantly (p

Abstract Liver disease is a serious health problem affecting people worldwide at an alarming rate. The present study aimed to investigate the protective effects of Ganoderma lucidum against CCl4-induced liver toxicity in rats. The experimental Long Evans rats were divided into five groups, of which four groups were treated with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). Among the CCl4 treated groups, one of the groups was treated with silymarin and two of them with ethanolic extract of G. lucidum at 100 and 200 mg/Kg body weight. The oxidative stress parameters and endogenous antioxidant enzyme concentrations were assessed by biochemical tests. Liver enzymes ALT, AST, and ALP were determined spectrophotometrically. Histopathological examinations were carried out to assess hepatic tissue damage and fibrosis. Reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) was performed to determine the expression of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α, and TGF-β genes. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy (GC–MS) analysis revealed that G. lucidum is rich in several phytochemicals including 6-Octadecanoic acid (55.81%), l-( +)-Ascorbic acid 2,6-dihexadecanoate (18.72%), Cis-11-Eicosenamide (5.76%), and Octadecanoic acid (5.26%). Treatment with the G. lucidum extract reduced the elevated ALT, AST, ALP levels, and cellular oxidative stress markers and increased the endogenous antioxidant levels. Histopathology observations revealed that the inflammation, infiltration of immune cells, and aberration of collagen fibers in the hepatocytes were altered by the G. lucidum treatment. The increased expression of inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, TGF-β, IL-1 β, and IL-6 were markedly suppressed by G. lucidum extract treatment. G. lucidum also prevented the suppression of protective IL-10 expression by CCl4. This study strongly suggests that G. lucidum extract possesses significant hepatoprotective activity as evidenced by reduced oxidative stress and inflammation mediated by suppression in inflammatory cytokine expression and increased protective IL-10 cytokine expression.

Given the extreme need for vaccines to flatten the curve of COVID-19 cases and deaths worldwide, many researchers, some governments and donor agencies have initiated a good number of vaccine development projects. COVID-19 vaccines have been approved for use in mass population immunization programmes in a much shorter time than is usual for new pharmaceuticals. This does not indicate cut corners or skipped safety trials, however. It is vitally important to explain the why and how of expedited vaccine development to a potentially sceptical public in order to head-off potential issues with vaccine hesitancy. This is particularly important in the case of elderly patients with comorbidities, as such people may be under-represented in clinical trials, raising concerns over whether or not the vaccine is safe for them. In particular, care needs to be taken regarding media reporting of deaths that occur in the weeks following vaccination of the very elderly and frail. Coincidental deaths amongst such demographics can be misunderstood and misreported as vaccine-related: it is important for medical sources to rule out such links and for public health communication to ensure that this knowledge is incorporated into programmes to help build vaccine confidence. Detailed planning for vaccination roll-out to this group is necessary to ensure the safety of those most at risk.

Background Global prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease is increasing gradually, whereas approvals of successful therapeutics for central nervous system disorders are inadequate. Accumulating evidence suggests pivotal roles of the receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase 1 (RIPK1) in modulating neuroinflammation and necroptosis. Discoveries of potent small molecule inhibitors for RIPK1 with favorable pharmacokinetic properties could thus address the unmet medical needs in treating neurodegeneration. Methods In a structure-based virtual screening, we performed site-specific molecular docking of 4,858 flavonoids against the kinase domain of RIPK1 using AutoDock Vina. We predicted physicochemical descriptors of the top ligands using the SwissADME webserver. Binding interactions of the best ligands and the reference ligand L8D were validated using replicated 500-ns Gromacs molecular dynamics simulations and free energy calculations. Results From Vina docking, we shortlisted the top 20 flavonoids with the highest binding affinities, ranging from −11.7 to −10.6 kcal/mol. Pharmacokinetic profiling narrowed down the list to three orally bioavailable and blood-brain-barrier penetrant flavonoids: Nitiducarpin, Pinocembrin 7-O-benzoate, and Paratocarpin J. Next, trajectories of molecular dynamics simulations of the top protein-ligand complexes were analyzed for binding interactions. The root-mean-square deviation (RMSD) was 1.191 Å (±0.498 Å), 1.725 Å (±0.828 Å), 1.923 Å (±0.942 Å), 0.972 Å (±0.155 Å) for Nitiducarpin, Pinocembrin 7-O-benzoate, Paratocarpin J, and L8D, respectively. The radius of gyration (Rg) was 2.034 nm (±0.015 nm), 2.0.39 nm (± 0.025 nm), 2.053 nm (±0.021 nm), 2.037 nm (±0.016 nm) for Nitiducarpin, Pinocembrin 7-O-benzoate, Paratocarpin J, and L8D, respectively. The solvent accessible surface area (SASA) was 159.477 nm2 (±3.021 nm2), 159.661 nm2 (± 3.707 nm2), 160.755 nm2 (±4.252 nm2), 156.630 nm2 (±3.521 nm2), for Nitiducarpin, Pinocembrin 7-O-benzoate, Paratocarpin J, and L8D complexes, respectively. Therefore, lower RMSD, Rg, and SASA values demonstrated that Nitiducarpin formed the most stable complex with the target protein among the best three ligands. Finally, 2D protein-ligand interaction analysis revealed persistent hydrophobic interactions of Nitiducarpin with the critical residues of RIPK1, including the catalytic triads and the activation loop residues, implicated in the kinase activity and ligand binding. Conclusion Our target-based virtual screening identified three flavonoids as strong RIPK1 inhibitors, with Nitiducarpin exhibiting the most potent inhibitory potential. Future in vitro and in vivo studies with these ligands could offer new hope for developing effective therapeutics and improving the quality of life for individuals affected by neurodegeneration.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic enhances mental health burden worldwide as well as people experiencing several psychiatric problems (e.g., Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) due to its intensive consequences. Therefore, this study aimed to envisage the factors associated with PTSD symptoms among university students in Bangladesh after living with COVID-19 outbreak for a year. Methods: An online cross-sectional survey was conducted among 2100 Bangladeshi university students aged ≥ 18 years from April 29 to May 15, 2021. The questionnaire comprised socio-demographics along with COVID-19 related physical and psychosocial factors (CRPPF), preventive response to psychological stress, and PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5). Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were performed for statistical analysis. Results: About 56.76% of the students had provisional PTSD. Female students were more likely to suffer from PTSD symptoms than male students (AOR= 1.68; 95% CI: 1.35 to 2.08). Being a victim of social media bullying (AOR= 1.57; 95% CI: 1.17 to 2.11), having relationship problems (AOR= 2.25; 95% CI: 1.82 to 2.79), and feeling own self as a burden to their families (AOR= 2.84; 95% CI: 2.27 to 3.56) had a significant association with a higher possibility of suffering from PTSD symptoms in this outbreak. Conclusion: University students experienced PTSD symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic which call for detailed in-depth explorations, confirmatory clinical diagnosis, and adoption of preventive strategies to minimize their suffering amid this pandemic.

Sign Language Recognition (SLR) is crucial for enabling communication between the deaf-mute and hearing communities. Nevertheless, the development of a comprehensive sign language dataset is a challenging task due to the complexity and variations in hand gestures. This challenge is particularly evident in the case of Bangla Sign Language (BdSL), where the limited availability of depth datasets impedes accurate recognition. To address this issue, we propose BdSL47, an open-access depth dataset for 47 one-handed static signs (10 digits, from ০ to ৯; and 37 letters, from অ to ँ) of BdSL. The dataset was created using the MediaPipe framework for extracting depth information. To classify the signs, we developed an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model with a 63-node input layer, a 47-node output layer, and 4 hidden layers that included dropout in the last two hidden layers, an Adam optimizer, and a ReLU activation function. Based on the selected hyperparameters, the proposed ANN model effectively learns the spatial relationships and patterns from the depth-based gestural input features and gives an F1 score of 97.84 %, indicating the effectiveness of the approach compared to the baselines provided. The availability of BdSL47 as a comprehensive dataset can have an impact on improving the accuracy of SLR for BdSL using more advanced deep-learning models.

Lung cancer is responsible for causing one of the highest numbers of cancer deaths. In Bangladesh, both men and women are affected by lung cancer, and environmental contaminants are believed to be one of the main risk factors apart from smoking. The diagnosis of lung cancer is difficult due to the delicate structure and complexity of the lungs. Diagnosis in later stages results in a poor prognosis of the disease. Tissue biopsy is the most reliable way of identifying lung cancer, but it is invasive and requires identification of the primary neoplasm within the lungs. As inflammation is involved in carcinogenesis, circulating levels of cytokines might be elevated in patients during the early stages of cancer. Increased IL-6 levels have been associated with the promotion of tumor growth, and IL-17 is believed to aid metastasis of lung cancer. In this study, the use of IL-6 and IL-17 was investigated as diagnostic markers for lung cancer. IL-6 and IL-17 levels were compared between 35 lung cancer patients and 19 healthy individuals. IL-6 levels were markedly elevated (7.417 pg/mL) in lung cancer cases compared to the controls (0.970 pg/mL), indicating a positive correlation (p

Abstract Background Much scholarly debate has centered on Bangladesh's family planning program (FPP) in lowering the country's fertility rate. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of using modern and traditional contraceptive methods and to determine the factors that explain the contraceptive methods use. Methods The study used data from the 2017–18 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS), which included 11,452 (weighted) women aged 15–49 years in the analysis. Multilevel multinomial logistic regression was used to identify the factors associated with the contraceptive method use. Results The prevalence of using modern contraceptive methods was 72.16%, while 14.58% of women used traditional methods in Bangladesh. In comparison to women in the 15–24 years age group, older women (35–49 years) were more unwilling to use modern contraceptive methods (RRR: 0.28, 95% CI: 0.21–0.37). Women who had at least a living child were more likely to use both traditional and modern contraceptive methods (RRR: 4.37, 95% CI: 3.12–6.11). Similarly, given birth in the previous 5 years influenced women 2.41 times more to use modern method compared to those who had not given birth (RRR: 2.41, 95% CI: 1.65–3.52). Husbands'/partners’ decision for using/not using contraception were positively associated with the use of both traditional (RRR: 4.49, 95% CI: 3.04–6.63) and modern methods (RRR: 3.01, 95% CI: 2.15–4.17) rather than using no method. This study suggests rural participants were 21% less likely to utilize modern methods than urban participants (RRR: 0.79, 95% CI: 0.67–0.94). Conclusion Bangladesh remains a focus for contraceptive use, as it is one of the most populous countries in South Asia. To lower the fertility rate, policymakers may design interventions to improve awareness especially targeting uneducated, and rural reproductive women in Bangladesh. The study also highlights the importance of male partners’ decision-making regarding women's contraceptive use.

Antibiotic resistance has been recognized as a public health threat in recent years, and mortality due to resistance is increasing alarmingly every year. Antibiotic resistance, among many factors, may arise due to the consumption of substandard antibiotic brands that provide subnormal levels of the drug in the blood. Post-market evaluation can provide important information in assessing pharmaceutical products in terms of quality, purity, and therapeutic aspects. Ciprofloxacin, a broad-spectrum antibiotic, has been used against a wide range of infectious diseases in Bangladesh. The present study aimed to determine the quality attributes of twenty-two commonly prescribed brands of ciprofloxacin 500 mg tablet collected from Dhaka city and the rural regions of Jessore. RP-HPLC coupled with UV–visible spectrophotometry was used to determine the potency of ciprofloxacin in tablets, and the zone of inhibition was determined using Kirby-Bauer's disc diffusion method to assess the antimicrobial efficacy against different strains of microorganisms. We found that 95.45% of brands (21 out of 22 brands) of ciprofloxacin tablets met United States Pharmacopoeia (USP) and British Pharmacopoeia (BP) specified potency, whereas one brand failed. From dissolution studies, we observed that 68.2% of brands (15 out of 22 brands) followed USP/NF dissolution test specifications, whereas 31.8% (7 out of 22 brands) failed to release 80% of the labeled amount of drug within 30 min. Drug release kinetics data showed that most brands followed the Weibull drug release kinetic model. Fit factor analysis exhibited that 8 brands out of 22 (36.4%) failed to comply similar dissolution profiles with the reference product. Minimum inhibitory concentrations, assessed against five bacterial strains, further showed good antimicrobial sensitivity by all brands.

Abstract Background and Aims Cervical cancer is characterized by abnormal cell growth in the lining of cervix and it is the second major cause of cancer‐related deaths among females in Bangladesh. Interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) is a multifunctional cytokine that has been heavily linked with cervical cancer. Our aim was to investigate the association of two promoter single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of IL‐6 (rs1800795 and rs1800797) with the susceptibility of cervical cancer in Bangladeshi women. Methods DNA was extracted from venous blood samples from cervical cancer patients (n = 126) and healthy controls (n = 120). Polymerase chain reaction‐restriction fragment length polymorphism was used for genotyping of the selected SNPs. Logistic regression was performed to calculate the odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) and p values. Results We found a significant association between rs1800795 and rs1800797 polymorphisms and cervical cancer. For, rs1800795 (G > C) the GC heterozygous genotype (OR = 2.80, 95% CI = 1.55–5.07, p = 0.0007) and CC mutant homozygous genotype (OR = 3.5, 95% CI = 1.29–9.51, p = 0.014) conferred an increased risk of cervical cancer. In case of rs1800797 (G > A) polymorphism, the AG heterozygous genotype (OR = 6.94, 95% CI = 3.76–12.81, p

Shannon’s Index of Difficulty ( $ID$ ), reputable for quantifying the perceived difficulty of pointing tasks as a logarithmic relationship between movement-amplitude ( $A$ ) and target-width ( $W$ ), is used for modeling the corresponding observed movement-times ( $MT_{O}$ ) in such tasks in controlled experimental setup. However, real-life pointing tasks are both spatially and temporally uncontrolled, being influenced by factors, such as – human aspects, subjective behavior, the context of interaction, the inherent speed-accuracy trade-off, where, emphasizing accuracy compromises speed of interaction and vice versa. Effective target-width ( $W_{e}$ ) is considered as spatial adjustment for compensating accuracy. However, no significant adjustment exists in the literature for compensating speed in different contexts of interaction in these tasks. As a result, without any temporal adjustment, the true difficulty of an uncontrolled pointing task may be inaccurately quantified using Shannon’s $ID$ . To verify this, we propose ANTASID (A Novel Temporal Adjustment to Shannon’s ID) formulation with detailed performance analysis. We hypothesized a temporal adjustment factor ( $t$ ) as a binary logarithm of $MT_{O}$ , compensating for speed due to contextual differences and minimizing the non-linearity between movement-amplitude and target-width. Considering spatial and/or temporal adjustments to $ID$ , we conducted regression analysis using our own and Benchmark datasets in both controlled and uncontrolled scenarios of pointing tasks with a generic mouse. ANTASID formulation showed significantly superior fitness values and throughput in all the scenarios while reducing the standard error. Furthermore, the quantification of $ID$ with ANTASID varied significantly compared to the classical formulations of Shannon’s $ID$ , validating the purpose of this study.

Human intention is an internal, mental characterization for acquiring desired information. From interactive interfaces containing either textual or graphical information, intention to perceive desired information is subjective and strongly connected with eye gaze. In this work, we determine such intention by analyzing real-time eye gaze data with a low-cost regular webcam. We extracted unique features (e.g., Fixation Count, Eye Movement Ratio) from the eye gaze data of 31 participants to generate a dataset containing 124 samples of visual intention for perceiving textual or graphical information, labeled as either TEXT or IMAGE, having 48.39% and 51.61% distribution, respectively. Using this dataset, we analyzed 5 classifiers, including Support Vector Machine (SVM) (Accuracy: 92.19%). Using the trained SVM, we investigated the variation of visual intention among 30 participants, distributed in 3 age groups, and found out that young users were more leaned towards graphical contents whereas older adults felt more interested in textual ones. This finding suggests that real-time eye gaze data can be a potential source of identifying visual intention, analyzing which intention aware interactive interfaces can be designed and developed to facilitate human cognition.

Carbofuran is a widely used poisonous pesticide around the world that helps to control insects during farming. Upon oral ingestion to humans, it exaggerates oxidative stress in various organs like the liver, brain, kidney, and heart. Several studies reported that oxidative stress in the liver initiates and propagates hepatic cell necrosis, ultimately resulting in hepatotoxicity. It also reported that coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) can neutralize oxidative stress due to its antioxidant properties. However, the hepatoprotective and nephroprotective role of CoQ10 against carbofuran toxicity has not been investigated. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the hepatoprotective and nephroprotective role of CoQ10 in carbofuran-induced hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity in a mouse model for the first time. We determined the blood serum diagnostic markers, oxidative stress parameters, antioxidant system, and histopathological characteristics of liver and kidney tissues. The administration of 100 mg/kg of CoQ10 in carbofuran-treated rats significantly attenuated AST, ALT, ALP, serum creatinine, and BUN levels. Moreover, CoQ10 (100 mg/kg) remarkably altered the level of NO, MDA, AOPP, GSH, SOD, and CAT in both the liver and kidney. The histopathological data also unveiled that CoQ10 treatment prevented inflammatory cell infiltration in carbofuran-exposed rats. Therefore, our findings infer that CoQ10 may effectively protect liver and kidney tissues against carbofuran-induced oxidative hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity.

Due to limited motor capabilities, people with upper limb disabilities have trouble utilizing a typical mouse while operating a computer. Different wearable Assistive Mouse Controllers (AMCs) have been developed to overcome their challenges. However, these people may not be able to realize the importance, ease of use, and social approval of these AMCs due to their fear of new technology, lack of confidence, and lack of ingenuity. These may negatively affect their attitude and intention toward accepting AMCs for equitable human-computer interaction. This study presents the development of a sensor-based head-mounted AMC, followed by an empirical analysis of its acceptance using the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) from the socioeconomic perspective of Bangladesh. In a similar vein, we examined the effects of three additional psychological constructs-technology anxiety, confidence, and innovation, on its acceptance along with the original components of the TAM. A total of 150 individuals with stroke-induced upper limb disability participated in an online survey, and their responses were analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling, following the general least square method. Analysis revealed, about 96.44% of the participants had positive attitude towards the AMC, and almost 88.56% of them had positive intentions to accept it. Furthermore, about 68.61% of them expressed signs of anxiety, 96.35% were confident, and 94.16% of them had an innovative mindset in terms of device usage. The findings imply that individuals with an innovative mentality are more capable of comprehending the practical implications of a new technology than those without one. It is also feasible to reduce technological anxiety and boost a user's confidence while using an AMC by combining an innovative mentality with straightforward device interaction techniques. Additionally, peer encouragement and motivation can significantly enhance their positive attitude towards accepting the AMC for facilitating their interaction with a computer.

Background: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most recurrent infections in the community and healthcare settings. Although many studies related with microbial sensitivity (MS) of uropathogens (UPs) to antibiotics have been done in Bangladesh, no conclusive study has compared antibiotic sensitivity (AS) to UPs in diabetic and non-diabetic patients. The aim of the study is to find out whether there is a difference in AS in common UPs between diabetic and non-diabetic UTI patients. Methods: A retrospective review was conducted on 833 patients. The data was collected from different diagnostic centers located within Dhaka city in Bangladesh, and the data was analyzed using convenient statistical tools. Results: We have studied a total of 833 UTI patients. Out of 833 patients, 664 were diabetic and 169 were non-diabetic patients respectively. Among the studied population, females were found to be more inclined to have UTIs as compared to males. E. coli was found to be the leading UPs in our study. Patients within the age of 20–34 were more vulnerable to UTI in both groups. Imipenem and meropenem showed 100% sensitivity against E. coli, Staphylococcus and Klebsiella in non-diabetic patients, while both antibiotics showed lower sensitivity to the same organisms in diabetic patients. Antibiotics like nitrofurantoin (p ≤ 0.0002), ceftazidime (p ≤ 0.0124) and ceftriaxone (p ≤ 0.0168) showed less sensitivity to E. coli in diabetic UTI patients as compared to non-diabetic UTI patients. Overall sensitivity patterns elucidated that all the studied antibiotics, except ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin, showed lower sensitivity against UPs in diabetic while compared to non-diabetic UTI patients (p=

Abstract Multi-drug-resistance (MDR) is a severe public health concern worldwide, and its containment is more challenging in developing countries due to poor antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance and irrational use of antibiotics. The current study investigated 100 clinical E. coli isolates and revealed that 98% of them were MDR. PCR analysis using 25 selected isolates showed the predominance of metallo-β-lactamase gene bla NDM (80%) and ESBL genes bla OXA (48%) and bla CTX-M-15 (32%). The AmpC gene was detected in 68% of the isolates, while 32% was tetC positive. Notably, 34% of the isolates were resistant to carbapenem. Whole genome sequence (WGS) analysis of an extensively drug-resistant (XDR) isolate (L16) revealed the presence of the notorious sequence type 131 responsible for multi-drug-resistant infections, multiple antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), virulence genes, and mobile genetic elements that pose risks to environmental transmission. Our results indicate that MDR is alarmingly increasing in Bangladesh that critically limits the treatment option against infections and contributes to further aggravation to the prevailing situation of MDR worldwide. The findings of this study will be valuable in designing sustainable strategies to contain MDR in the region.

ObjectivesBangladesh reports one of the highest rates of child marriage (CM) (59%) in the world and the highest rate within South Asia. Age at marriage of girls is a critical human rights and developmental issue in Bangladesh. Migration has been documented to be positively associated with age at marriage. Bangladesh experiences one of the highest rates of rural to urban migration in the world. An increase in rural-urban migration of adolescent girls has been observed over the last few decades in Bangladesh with the expansion of employment opportunities particularly in the ready-made garment industry (RMG). This analysis explores the effect of migration on age at marriage and CM among adolescent girls living in urban slums of Dhaka.MethodsThe sample was selected from icddr,b's Urban Health and Demographic Surveillance System (UHDSS) and comprises of never-married adolescent girls aged 15–19, who migrated in from rural Bangladesh to slums in and around Dhaka during 2015–2019. These in-migrants were matched with their rural counterparts from icddr,b's Matlab HDSS (MHDSS), using one to one nearest neighbor matching with caliper 0.1 using propensity score matching (PSM) method. The sample derived included a total of 2,700 never-married adolescent girls from Dhaka and Matlab. The association between migration and age at first marriage was estimated using a linear regression model and the effect of migration on CM was explored using logistic regression analyses.ResultsThe in-migrants perfectly matched with their rural peers in terms of age, household wealth and religion. However, their income earning status was hugely different. Urban migrants had significantly higher age at marriage than the rural non-migrants for both 15–19 (Coefficient, 1.77; 95% CI, 1.07–2.46) and 20–24 years age group (Coefficient, 2.87; 95% CI, 2.18–3.55). The migrant girls aged 20–24 years were 71% (aOR, 0.29; 95% CI, 0.12–0.69) less likely to get married before CM age bar in Bangladesh compared to their rural counterparts.ConclusionMigration has a positive effect on delaying marriage and reducing CM among adolescent girls. Findings from this study suggest that CM can be reduced by creating educational and economic opportunities for females.

Abstract Mitochondrial metabolism is the key source for abundant ROS in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells. Here, we detected significantly lower superoxide anion (O2 −) levels with increased accumulation of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in CLL cells vs. normal B-cells. Further analysis indicated that mitochondrial superoxide dismutase (SOD)2, which converts O2 − into H2O2 remained deacetylated in CLL cells due to SIRT3 overexpression resulting its constitutive activation. In addition, catalase expression was also reduced in CLL cells suggesting impairment of H2O2-conversion into water and O2 which may cause H2O2-accumulation. Importantly, we identified two CpG-islands in the catalase promoter and discovered that while the distal CpG-island (−3619 to −3765) remained methylated in both normal B-cells and CLL cells, variable degrees of methylation were discernible in the proximal CpG-island (−174 to −332) only in CLL cells. Finally, treatment of CLL cells with a demethylating agent increased catalase mRNA levels. Functionally, ROS accumulation in CLL cells activated the AXL survival axis while upregulated SIRT3, suggesting that CLL cells rapidly remove highly reactive O2 − to avoid its cytotoxic effect but maintain increased H2O2-level to promote cell survival. Therefore, abrogation of aberrantly activated cell survival pathways using antioxidants can be an effective intervention in CLL therapy in combination with conventional agents.

Background and aim: Mitochondria play a vital role in cellular energy production and apoptosis; thus, it has a critical role in cancer development. This study aimed to evaluate polymorphisms in the mitochondrial ATPase6 gene as a genetic risk factor for breast cancer in Bangladeshi women. Materials and method: ATPase6 gene of mtDNA from sixteen breast cancer blood samples were sequenced to evaluate polymorphisms in the targeted gene. Polymorphisms are detected by comparing the sequences with the Revised Cambridge Reference Sequence (rCRS). Twelve blood samples from age-matched healthy women were also sequenced as a control to consider regional variations. Results: The A8812C polymorphism (p= 0.0085; from Fisher Exact Test) was found in 50% of breast cancer patients. The A8812C variation (novel mutation) substitutes the Threonine (T) to Proline (P) at the 96th codon number. The PolyPhen-2 analysis predicted that, with a score of 0.999, this variant is "probably damaging." The second prediction performed by the PROVEAN program showed that, since it has a score of -5,110 (

Oxidative stress is one of the key factors in the pathophysiology of liver disease. The present study aimed to evaluate the potential impact of two antioxidants, namely coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) and silymarin, on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced oxidative stress and hepatic damage in ovariectomized rats. Female Long Evans rats were divided into six groups (n = 6): control, CCl4, CCl4 + CoQ10 (200 mg/kg), CCl4 + silymarin (140 mg/kg), Control + CoQ10, and Control + silymarin. Plasma and tissues from liver and kidney were analyzed for oxidative stress parameters and antioxidant enzyme activities using biochemical assays. Infiltration of inflammatory cells and fibrosis were assessed by histological staining of tissue sections. Both CoQ10 and silymarin significantly lowered serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels that were detected to be higher in CCl4 rats compared to controls. Significant reduction in CCl4-induced elevated levels of oxidative stress markers malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), and advanced protein oxidation product (APOP) was observed with both antioxidants. However, in control rats, CoQ10 and silymarin did not produce a significant effect. Histological analysis revealed that CCl4 markedly increased the level of inflammatory cells infiltration and fibrosis in liver and kidney tissues, but this was significantly reduced in CCl4 + CoQ10 and CCl4 + silymarin groups. Taken together, our results suggest that CoQ10 and silymarin can protect the liver against oxidative damage through improved antioxidant enzyme activities and reduced lipid peroxidation. Thus, supplementation of the aforementioned antioxidants may be useful as a therapeutic intervention to protect liver health in chronic liver diseases.

Living organisms and their biological properties, including the capacity for transformation and representation of information, offer exciting and inspiring opportunities for transdisciplinary art and design explorations. While an emerging body of work is increasingly investigating the possibilities at the intersection of interactive computing, biology, and art, more work is needed to investigate the potential of these approaches for supporting community and public engagement and participation in art, science, and technology. In this project, we describe a multimedia transdisciplinary bioart installation and hands-on agar art activity that we presented to members of the public in a community biology lab setting. Using short interviews, observations, and questionaries, we investigated attendees' reactions and impressions of the experience and found that the event generated transdisciplinary reflections, invited participants to bring their previous knowledge and experience to bear in engaging with different aspects of the work, and that the audience benefited from contextualization by artists.

The COVID-19 outbreak has expanded across the globe. Most of the countries are launching different measures to stop the transmission of this virus. However, the death toll is steadily rising. Strikingly the rate of coronavirus infection among the young-age population is the highest in SAARC countries as more than 80% population of the SAARC countries are young who constitute the working-age group. The disease transmission also occurs at a slower rate presumably due to diverse lifestyles of different ethnicities, immunity and genetic traits; but not because of the hot and humid weather despite previous assumptions. Since SAARC countries comprise 23.75% of the world population and the largest portion of these people is the young working-class, some immediate measures need to be implemented to save these valuable lives from COVID-19. Till now, there is no specific treatment or vaccine available; hence timely-taken preventive measures are the only hope that can save the people of this region. Here we have demonstrated an altered disease transmission pattern in people of SAARC countries, measures initiated by the governments, causes of failure and further actions to be taken to control disease transmission.

Abstract Background Panch phoron is a mixture of five spices containing an equal proportion of Foeniculum vulgare (fennel), Trigonella foenum-graecum Linn (fenugreek), Nigella sativa (black cumin), Cuminum cyminum (cumin) and Brassica nigra (black mustard). The mixture is commonly used in Bangladeshi cuisine and possesses many pharmacological effects. In this study, we evaluated the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of aqueous panch phoron extract (PPE) in vivo, its possible mechanism of action and phytochemical analysis by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). We also investigated the effect of PPE on postoperative pain in mice. Methods HPLC was carried out using LC-20A Modular HPLC system to identify the bioactive compounds present in PPE. Five groups of Swiss albino male mice (n = 6 per group) were orally treated with 10 ml/kg of distilled water or 10 mg/kg of sodium diclofenac or three doses of PPE (100 mg/kg, 300 mg/kg, 500 mg/kg). In vivo assessment was carried out by the writhing test, tail-flick test, formalin test, and carrageenan induced paw edema test. The opioid antagonist, naloxone was used in the acetic acid test to evaluate the involvement of opioid receptors. To assess the effect of PPE in postoperative pain, mice that underwent sciatic nerve surgery were measured for the paw withdrawal latency in a hot water bath. Results In HPLC analysis, different types of phenolic compounds and flavonoids, including catechin hydrate, para-coumaric acid, vanillic acid, and syringic acid were detected. Treatment with PPE exhibited dose-dependent antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities in pain models (p

Aging-induced memory impairment is closely associated with oxidative stress. D-Galactose (D-gal) evokes severe oxidative stress and mimics normal aging in animals. Curcumin, a natural flavonoid, has potent antioxidant and anti-aging properties. There are several proteins like glutathione S-transferase A1 (GSTA1), glutathione S-transferase omega-1 (GSTO1), kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (KEAP1), beta-secretase 1 (BACE1), and amine oxidase [flavin-containing] A (MAOA) are commonly involved in oxidative stress and aging. This study aimed to investigate the interaction of curcumin to these proteins and their subsequent effect on aging-associated memory impairment in two robust animal models: D-Gal and normal aged (NA) mice. The aging mice model was developed by administering D-gal intraperitoneally (i.p). Mice (n = 64) were divided into the eight groups (8 mice in each group): Vehicle, Curcumin-Control, D-gal (100mg/kg; i.p), Curcumin + D-gal, Astaxanthin (Ast) + D-gal, Normal Aged (NA), Curcumin (30mg/kg Orally) + NA, Ast (20mg/kg Orally) + NA. Retention and freezing memories were assessed by passive avoidance (PA) and contextual fear conditioning (CFC). Molecular docking was performed to predict curcumin binding with potential molecular targets. Curcumin significantly increased retention time (p < 0.05) and freezing response (p < 0.05) in PA and CFC, respectively. Curcumin profoundly ameliorated the levels of glutathione, superoxide dismutase, catalase, advanced oxidation protein products, nitric oxide, and lipid peroxidation in mice hippocampi. In silico studies revealed favorable binding energies of curcumin with GSTA1, GSTO1, KEAP1, BACE1, and MAOA. Curcumin improves retention and freezing memory in D-gal and nature-induced aging mice. Curcumin ameliorates the levels of oxidative stress biomarkers in mice. Anti-aging effects of curcumin could be attributed to, at least partially, the upregulation of antioxidant enzymes through binding with GSTA1, GSTO1, KEAP1, and inhibition of oxidative damage through binding with BACE1 and MAOA.

Functional foods such as mushrooms are rich in polyphenolic compounds and secondary metabolites with health-promoting properties such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, antidiabetic and immunostimulatory effects. The present study is aimed to investigate the ethanolic extracts of three varieties of mushrooms, namely, G. lucidum, G. tropicum, and C. indica grown in Bangladesh for phenolic and flavonoid content and their antioxidant properties. Moreover, the phenolic composition of the extracts was analyzed by using the HPLC-DAD system. G. lucidum extract exhibited the highest antioxidant potential as evidenced by its lowest IC50 value in all the tested assay models (40.44±2.09 μg/mL, 151.32±0.35 μg/mL, 137.89±1.85 μg/mL in DPPH, H2O2, and NO scavenging assay, respectively) along with the highest phenolic content (81.34±0.68 GAE g-1 extract). G. tropicum and C. indica extracts also showed significant antioxidant properties and a good amount of phenolic content, 52.16±0.25 GAE g-1 extract, and 47.1 ± 0.26 GAE g-1 extract, respectively. The scavenging activity increased with the increasing concentration of extracts in all cases. The total phenolic content of the ethanolic extracts of mushroom species was highly correlated with antioxidant effects with Pearson’s correlation coefficient (r) values ranging from 0.8883–0.9851. The α-amylase inhibitory and antibacterial activity of G. lucidum was evaluated by using 3,5-dinitrosalicylic acid and disc diffusion method, respectively. The maximum inhibitory activity recorded against α-amylase was 70.98±0.042% at a concentration of 500 μg/mL. G. lucidum extract exhibited the highest antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa with 23.00±1.00 mm clear zone of inhibition and an MIC value of 3.5 mg/mL. The results indicate that the mushroom species tested in this study could serve as a potential source of natural antioxidants in the development of nutraceuticals and herbal drugs for the management of oxidative stress-associated diseases as well as infectious diseases.

Brief introduction: Myocardial infarction (MI) is a common manifestation of certain cardiac diseases where oxidative stress and fibrosis aggravate the condition markedly. Main objective of the study: Investigation of L-carnitine’s cardioprotective roles and mechanism of action in a rat model of MI. Methods: To develop a MI animal model, Isoproterenol (ISO) was administered in male Long Evans rats where animals were divided into five groups (six rats/group). The oxidative stress and antioxidant enzyme activities were determined by different biochemical tests. The real-time PCR was performed to determine the expression of TNF-α and Il-1β. Histopathological observations by hematoxylin-eosin and Masson trichrome were made to observe the tissue damage and fibrosis in heart and kidney. Significant findings from the study: The ISO-treated rats showed increased levels of troponin I and lipid peroxidation and lower antioxidant enzyme activity in heart and kidney tissues. The levels of TNF-α and IL-1β were also increased in ISO-rats. Co-administration of L-carnitine with ISO reversed all these parameters. The elevated levels of uric acid and creatinine kinase and ALP, AST and ALT activities in ISO-rats were also significantly reduced by L-carnitine administration. L-carnitine markedly decreased the infiltration of inflammatory cells and improved the tissue architecture in heart and kidney. Control animals did not show any appreciable response upon L-carnitine administration. Relevant contribution to knowledge: These results suggest that L-carnitine plays a defensive role against cardiac and renal damage in ISO-treated MI rat model via suppressing oxidative stress and increasing antioxidant enzyme functions through inhibition of TNF-α and IL-1β.

Objectives: Despite having profound therapeutic value, the clinical application of resveratrol is restrained due to its

Background The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, has ravaged lives across the globe since December 2019, and new cases are still on the rise. Peoples’ ongoing sufferings trigger scientists to develop safe and effective remedies to treat this deadly viral disease. While repurposing the existing FDA-approved drugs remains in the front line, exploring drug candidates from synthetic and natural compounds is also a viable alternative. This study employed a comprehensive computational approach to screen inhibitors for SARS-CoV-2 3CL-PRO (also known as the main protease), a prime molecular target to treat coronavirus diseases. Methods We performed 100 ns GROMACS molecular dynamics simulations of three high-resolution X-ray crystallographic structures of 3CL-PRO. We extracted frames at 10 ns intervals to mimic conformational diversities of the target protein in biological environments. We then used AutoDock Vina molecular docking to virtual screen the Sigma–Aldrich MyriaScreen Diversity Library II, a rich collection of 10,000 druglike small molecules with diverse chemotypes. Subsequently, we adopted in silico computation of physicochemical properties, pharmacokinetic parameters, and toxicity profiles. Finally, we analyzed hydrogen bonding and other protein-ligand interactions for the short-listed compounds. Results Over the 100 ns molecular dynamics simulations of 3CL-PRO’s crystal structures, 6LZE, 6M0K, and 6YB7, showed overall integrity with mean Cα root-mean-square deviation (RMSD) of 1.96 (±0.35) Å, 1.98 (±0.21) Å, and 1.94 (±0.25) Å, respectively. Average root-mean-square fluctuation (RMSF) values were 1.21 ± 0.79 (6LZE), 1.12 ± 0.72 (6M0K), and 1.11 ± 0.60 (6YB7). After two phases of AutoDock Vina virtual screening of the MyriaScreen Diversity Library II, we prepared a list of the top 20 ligands. We selected four promising leads considering predicted oral bioavailability, druglikeness, and toxicity profiles. These compounds also demonstrated favorable protein-ligand interactions. We then employed 50-ns molecular dynamics simulations for the four selected molecules and the reference ligand 11a in the crystallographic structure 6LZE. Analysis of RMSF, RMSD, and hydrogen bonding along the simulation trajectories indicated that S51765 would form a more stable protein-ligand complexe with 3CL-PRO compared to other molecules. Insights into short-range Coulombic and Lennard-Jones potentials also revealed favorable binding of S51765 with 3CL-PRO. Conclusion We identified a potential lead for antiviral drug discovery against the SARS-CoV-2 main protease. Our results will aid global efforts to find safe and effective remedies for COVID-19.

BackgroundAlthough the approved COVID-19 vaccine has been shown to be safe and effective, mass vaccination in Bangladeshi people remains a challenge. As a vaccination effort, the study provided an empirical evidence on willingness to vaccinate by sociodemographic, clinical and regional differences in Bangladeshi adults.MethodsThis cross-sectional analysis from a household survey of 3646 adults aged 18 years or older was conducted in 8 districts of Bangladesh, from December 12, 2020, to January 7, 2021. Multinomial regression examined the impact of socio-demographic, clinical and healthcare-releated factors on hesitancy and reluctance of vaccination for COVID-19.ResultsOf the 3646 respondents (2212 men [60.7%]; mean [sd] age, 37.4 [13.9] years), 74.6% reported their willingness to vaccinate against COVID-19 when a safe and effective vaccine is available without a fee, while 8.5% were reluctant to vaccinate. With a minimum fee, 46.5% of the respondents showed intent to vaccinate. Among the respondents, 16.8% reported adequate adherence to health safety regulations, and 35.5% reported high confidence in the country's healthcare system. The COVID-19 vaccine refusal was significantly high in elderly, rural, semi-urban, and slum communities, farmers, day-laborers, homemakers, low-educated group, and those who had low confidence in the country's healthcare system. Also, the prevalence of vaccine hesitancy was high in the elderly population, low-educated group, day-laborers, people with chronic diseases, and people with low confidence in the country's healthcare system.ConclusionA high prevalence of vaccine refusal and hesitancy was observed in rural people and slum dwellers in Bangladesh. The rural community and slum dwellers had a low literacy level, low adherence to health safety regulations and low confidence in healthcare system. The ongoing app-based registration for vaccination increased hesitancy and reluctancy in low-educated group. For rural, semi-urban, and slum people, outreach centers for vaccination can be established to ensure the vaccine's nearby availability and limit associated travel costs. In rural areas, community health workers, valued community-leaders, and non-governmental organizations can be utilized to motivate and educate people for vaccination against COVID-19. Further, emphasis should be given to the elderly and diseased people with tailored health messages and assurance from healthcare professionals. The media may play a responsible role with the vaccine education program and eliminate the social stigma about the vaccination. Finally, vaccination should be continued without a fee and thus Bangladesh's COVID vaccination program can become a model for other low and middle-income countries.

BackgroundThe hematological abnormalities are assumed to be involved in the disease progression of COVID-19. However, the actual associations between specific blood parameters and COVID-19 are not well understood. Here we aimed to assess the correlations between hematological parameters and the severity of COVID-19.MethodsWe included COVID-19 patients who were admitted to Evercare Hospital Ltd, Dhaka, Bangladesh, between November 10, 2020, to April 12, 2021, with a confirmed case of RT-PCR test. We recorded demographic information, clinical data, and routine hematological examination results of all COVID-19 patients. We performed statistical analyses and interpretation of data to compare severe COVID-19 patients (SCP) and non-severe COVID-19 patients (NSCP).ResultsThe age and BMI of the admitted COVID-19 patients were 48.79±8.53 years and 25.82±3.75 kg/m2. This study included a total of 306 hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Among them, NSCP and SCP were 198 and 108, respectively. And we recorded 12 deaths from SCP. We observed the alterations of several hematological parameters between SCP and NSCP. Among them, we noticed the increased levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), d-dimer, and ferritin showed good indicative value to evaluate the severity of COVID-19. Also, there were positive correlations among these parameters. Moreover, we found correlations between the outcomes of COVID-19 patients with patient's demographics and comorbid diseases.ConclusionBased on our results, CRP, d-dimer, and ferritin levels at admission to hospitals represent simple assessment factors for COVID-19 severity and the treatment decisions at the hospital setup. These blood parameters could serve as indicators for the prognosis and severity of COVID-19. Therefore, our study findings might help to develop a treatment protocol for COVID-19 patients at the hospital setup.

BackgroundEducation is one of the most important human capitals. Investment in education at early age returns best. A lot of factors influence children's educational achievement. Studies in developed countries well established the relation of school achievement with its associated variables. But information is lack on what factors play important role for school achievement at early age in low resource settings like Bangladesh. We aimed to find factors associated with school achievement in rural Bangladesh.MethodThe data were acquired from a long-term follow up study, conducted in 8-10 years old children (n = 372). We used a locally developed school achievement tool based on Wide Range Achievement Test-4 to measure reading, spelling and math computation, Wechsler abbreviated scale of intelligence to measure intelligence Quotient (IQ), Digit span forward and backward for short term memory, and locally available Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire to measure behaviour. Socioeconomic and anthropometric information of the mothers and children were also collected. Multicollinearity of the data was checked. Unadjusted and adjusted multiple linear regression analysis was performed.FindingsYears of schooling and short-term memory were positively related to reading, spelling and math computation. For years of schooling it was-reading B = 8.09 (CI 5.84, 10.31), spelling 4.43 (4.33, 8.53) and math computation 5.23 (3.60, 6.87) and for short term memory- reading 3.56 (2.01,5.05), spelling 4.01 (2.56, 5.46) and math computation 2.49 (1.37, 3.62). Older children had lower scores of reading -0.48 (-0.94, -0.02), spelling -0.41 (-0.88, -0.02) and math computation -0.47 (-0.80, -0.14). Children's IQ predicted reading 0.48 (0.14, 0.81) and spelling 0.50 (0.18, 0.82) skills. Mother and father's education predicted Spelling 0.82 (0.16, 1.48) and reading 0.68 (0.06, 1.30) capacity respectively. Children enrolled in private schools had higher reading 10.28 (5.05, 15.51) and spelling 6.22 (1.31, 11.13) than those in the government schools. Children with more difficult behaviour tended to have lower scores in reading -0.51 (-0.96, -0.05).ConclusionChildren's school achievement is influenced by their IQ, years of schooling, type of school and parents' education. Therefore, intervention should be made to focus specifically on these variables and establish the effect of this intervention through robust research design.

Differential expression of p53 has been reported in cervical cancer, primarily in tumor tissue biopsies. In this study, we examined the association of TP53 codon 47 and codon 72 polymorphisms and serum level expression of p53 in cervical cancer patients (n = 129) and healthy controls (n = 122). We found elevated levels of serum p53 protein levels in cervical cancer patients (p = 0.0442) compared to healthy controls. Moreover, we found higher levels of serum p53 in patients with grade-III tumor (p = 0.001) compared to healthy controls. Examination of SNPs showed TP53 Arg/Pro heterozygosity (adjusted OR = 2.126, 95% CI = 1.181-3.827, p = 0.012), Pro/Pro mutant homozygosity (adjusted OR = 3.564, 95% CI = 1.647-7.713, p = 0.001), along with the combined genotype (Arg/Pro+Pro/Pro) (adjusted OR 2.542, 95% CI = 1.517-4.260, p

In this research, structural, magnetic, electrical, and optical properties of Al ^3+ substituted Ba _0.6 Sr _0.4 Ti _1-x Al _x O _3 ceramics (where x = 0.00 to 0.20) have been investigated and discussed. The ceramic samples have been successfully synthesized by the conventional solid-state reaction method. The crystallinity of the prepared samples has been confirmed by x-ray peak broadening techniques such as the Williamson Hall (W-H) plot technique and the Scherrer method. The lattice constant ‘ a ’, showing a significant drop as Al concentration increases, varies from 3.942 Å to 3.921 Å. The FTIR spectrum revealed a prominent peak between 435 cm ^−1 to 540 cm ^−1 , without showing any secondary phase. Raman spectroscopic analysis showed that the prepared samples are in cubic phase with no phase transition. The shifting of a dominating peak in Raman at 580 cm ^−1 is due to the development of Al _Ti defects. VSM analysis at room temperature showed the ferromagnetic characteristics of all the samples. The highest value of the anisotropic constant (Ka ∼ 39.933 emu cm ^−3 ) has been seen at x = 0.10. The real component of initial permeability is almost constant for the frequency range of about 75 MHz, and above this frequency range, it quickly reduces. At the high-frequency range, the prepared samples show an excellent relative quality factor due to the low dielectric loss, notably when x = 0.05. The prepared perovskites exhibited minimum eddy current loss characteristics due to the increment of AC resistivity at x = 0.20. UV–visible spectroscopy shows a significant change in the energy bandgap from 3.23 eV to 3.04 eV with the doping concentrations.

Abstract Background Like glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficient hemizygous males and homozygous females, heterozygous females could also manifest hemolytic crisis, neonatal hyperbilirubinemia or kernicterus upon exposure to oxidative stress induced by certain foods such as fava beans, drugs or infections. Although hemizygous males and homozygous females are easily detected by conventional G6PD enzyme assay method, the heterozygous state could be missed by the conventional methods as the mosaic population of both normal and deficient RBCs circulates in the blood. Thus the present study aimed to apply high resolution melting (HRM) curve analysis approach to see whether HRM could be used as a supplemental approach to increase the chance of detection of G6PD heterozygosity. Results Sixty-three clinically suspected females were evaluated for G6PD status using both enzyme assay and HRM analysis. Four out of sixty-three participants came out as G6PD deficient by the enzyme assay method, whereas HRM approach could identify nine participants with G6PD variants, one homozygous and eight heterozygous. Although only three out of eight heterozygous samples had G6PD enzyme deficiency, the HRM-based heterozygous G6PD variants detection for the rest of the samples with normal G6PD enzyme activities could have significance because their newborns might fall victim to serious consequences under certain oxidative stress. Conclusions In addition to the G6PD enzyme assay, HRM curve analysis could be useful as a supplemental approach for detection of G6PD heterozygosity.

Abstract Background Citrus macroptera has been used as a culinary fruit and medicinal plant in traditional medicine system in Bangladesh. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the presence of phenolic compounds in Citrus macroptera peel powder and the protective effect of Citrus macroptera against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver injury in rats. Methods The hepatoprotective activity was assessed using various biochemical parameters such as liver marker enzymes (alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP)) and oxidative stress parameters. Histopathological changes in the liver of different groups were also studied. Results Administration of CCl4 increased the serum ALT, AST, ALP enzymatic activities and lipid peroxidation products but decreased the cellular antioxidant activities and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels in rats which were brought back to near normal levels by the treatment with Citrus macroptera. Citrus macroptera administration has also shown to decrease the necrotic zones, fibrosis and inflammatory cell infiltration in CCl4 treated rats. HPLC-DAD analysis of Citrus macroptera extract showed the great presence of caffeic acid and (−) epicatechin. Conclusion The results of this study suggest that Citrus macroptera exerts hepatoprotective activity via promoting the antioxidant defense against CCl4-induced oxidative liver damage.

Oral polio vaccine (OPV) campaigns, but not other campaigns, have been associated with major reductions in child mortality. Studies have shown that OPV reduces the risk of respiratory infections. We analysed the causes of death at 0–2 years of age in Chakaria, a health and demographic surveillance Systems in Bangladesh, in the period 2012–2019 where 13 national campaigns with combinations of OPV (n = 4), vitamin A supplementation (n = 9), measles vaccine (MV) (n = 2), and albendazole (n = 2) were implemented. OPV-only campaigns reduced overall mortality by 30% (95% confidence interval: −10–56%). Deaths from respiratory infections were reduced by 62% (20–82%, p = 0.01) in the post-neonatal period (1–35 months), whereas there was as slight increase of 19% (−37–127%, p = 0.54) for deaths from other causes. There was no benefit of other types of campaigns. Hence, the hypothesis that OPV may have beneficial non-specific effects, protecting particularly against respiratory infections, was confirmed.

The development of externally controlled drug delivery systems that can rapidly trigger drug release is widely expected to change the landscape of future drug carriers. In this study, a drug delivery system was developed for on-demand therapeutic effects. The thermoresponsive paraffin film can be loaded on the basis of therapeutic need, including local anesthetic (lidocaine) or topical antibiotic (neomycin), controlled remotely by a portable mini-heater. The application of mild temperature (45 °C) to the drug-loaded paraffin film allowed a rapid stimulus response within a short time (5 min). This system exploits regular drug release and the rapid generation of mild heat to trigger a burst release of 80% within 6 h of any locally administered drug. The in vitro drug release studies and in vivo therapeutic activity were observed for local anesthesia and wound healing using a neomycin-loaded film. The studies demonstrated on-demand drug release with minimized inflammation and microbial infection. This temperature-responsive drug-loaded film can be triggered remotely to provide flexible control of dose magnitude and timing. Our preclinical studies on these remotely adjustable drug delivery systems can significantly improve patient compliance and medical practice.

Abstract Background The human umbilical cord has been studied extensively in the past two decades. It is free of ethical dilemmas, non-tumorigenic, and less immunogenic and thus provides a significant advantage over other stem cell sources. The cord lining yields both mesenchymal and epithelial stem cells. The mesenchymal cells have been appraised at length by many researchers, which led to the current review focusing on the cord lining epithelial cells (CLECs). These cells have high proliferative capacity and their superior harvest and multiplication, using the revolutionary CellOptimaTM technology, makes them better candidates in comparison to contemporary adult stem cells. Following 30 replication cycles these cells have been observed to retain their stemness, with their phenotype and karyotype intact. However, their remarkable immunosuppressant properties, protecting self as well as co-transplanted allografts from rejection, are what truly define their transplantation potential. They have been successfully applied to many chronic conditions, using animal models, including type 1 diabetes, limbal stem cell deficiency, burn injuries, and wound healing, etc. with encouraging results. Conclusions This review first discusses some of the advantages afforded by CLECs over other stem cell lines and then delineates their potential use in various clinical applications. Clinical trials using CLECs are currently underway in the US in collaboration with CellResearch Corp. and their potential positive findings will help garner an FDA approval, likely leading to the eventual commercialization of this promising technology.

Abstract Background Cardamom is a well-known spice in Indian subcontinent, used in culinary and traditional medicine practices since ancient times. The current investigation was untaken to evaluate the potential benefit of cardamom powder supplementation in high carbohydrate high fat (HCHF) diet induced obese rats. Method Male Wistar rats (28 rats) were divided into four different groups such as Control, Control + cardamom, HCHF, HCHF + cardamom. High carbohydrate and high fat (HCHF) diet was prepared in our laboratory. Oral glucose tolerance test, organs wet weight measurements and oxidative stress parameters analysis as well as liver marker enzymes such as alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities were assayed on the tissues collected from the rats. Plasma lipids profiles were also measured in all groups of animals. Moreover, histological staining was also performed to evaluate inflammatory cells infiltration and fibrosis in liver. Results The current investigation showed that, HCHF diet feeding in rats developed glucose intolerance and increased peritoneal fat deposition compared to control rats. Cardamom powder supplementation improved the glucose intolerance significantly (p > 0.05) and prevented the abdominal fat deposition in HCHF diet fed rats. HCHF diet feeding in rats also developed dyslipidemia, increased fat deposition and inflammation in liver compared to control rats. Cardamom powder supplementation significantly prevented the rise of lipid parameters (p > 0.05) in HCHF diet fed rats. Histological assessments confirmed that HCHF diet increased the fat deposition and inflammatory cells infiltration in liver which was normalized by cardamom powder supplementation in HCHF diet fed rats. Furthermore, HCHF diet increased lipid peroxidation, decreased antioxidant enzymes activities and increased advanced protein oxidation product level significantly (p > 0.05) both in plasma and liver tissue which were modulated by cardamom powder supplementation in HCHF diet fed rats. HCHF diet feeding in rats also increased the ALT, AST and ALP enzyme activities in plasma which were also normalized by cardamom powder supplementation in HCHF diet fed rats. Moreover, cardamom powder supplementation ameliorated the fibrosis in liver of HCHF diet fed rats. Conclusion This study suggests that, cardamom powder supplementation can prevent dyslipidemia, oxidative stress and hepatic damage in HCHF diet fed rats.

Abstract Background Obesity and related complications have now became epidemic both in developed and developing countries. Cafeteria type diet mainly composed of high fat high carbohydrate components which plays a significant role in the development of obesity and metabolic syndrome. This study investigated the effect of Syzygium cumini seed powder on fat accumulation and dyslipidemia in high carbohydrate high fat diet (HCHF) induced obese rats. Method Male Wistar rats were fed with HCHF diet ad libitum, and the rats on HCHF diet were supplemented with Syzygium cumini seed powder for 56 days (2.5% w/w of diet). Oral glucose tolerance test, lipid parameters, liver marker enzymes (AST, ALT and ALP) and lipid peroxidation products were analyzed at the end of 56 days. Moreover, antioxidant enzyme activities were also measured in all groups of rats. Results Supplementation with Syzygium cumini seed powder significantly reduced body weight gain, white adipose tissue (WAT) weights, blood glucose, serum insulin, and plasma lipids such as total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL and HDL concentration. Syzygium cumini seed powder supplementation in HCHF rats improved serum aspartate amino transferase (AST), alanine amino transferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities. Syzygium cumini seed powder supplementation also reduced the hepatic thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and elevated the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities as well as increased glutathione (GSH) concentration. In addition, histological assessment showed that Syzygium cumini seed powder supplementation prevented inflammatory cell infiltration; fatty droplet deposition and fibrosis in liver of HCHFD fed rats. Conclusion Our investigation suggests that Syzygium cumini seed powder supplementation prevents oxidative stress and showed anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic activity in liver of HCHF diet fed rats. In addition, Syzygium cumini seed powder may be beneficial in ameliorating insulin resistance and dyslipidemia probably by increasing lipid metabolism in liver of HCHF diet fed rats.