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1. The purpose of the present study was to determine if intracerebroventricular (ICV) and intraperitoneal (IP) injection of polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (poly I:C), a viral mimetic that binds to toll-like receptor-3 (TLR3), affects food intake, voluntary activity, cloacal temperature, plasma corticosterone (CORT) and glucose concentrations, and crop emptying rate in chicks (Gallus gallus). 2. Both ICV and IP injection of poly I:C significantly decreased food intake. 3. IP but not ICV injection of poly I:C significantly suppressed voluntary activity, whereas ICV injection decreased time spent sitting. Both ICV and IP injection of poly I:C significantly increased plasma CORT and glucose concentration. Neither ICV nor IP injection of poly I:C significantly affected cloacal temperature. 4. In addition, ICV injection of poly I:C significantly reduced crop emptying rate, whereas IP injection had no effect. 5. These results suggested that central TLR3 is related to anorexia, stress response and retardation of crop emptying while peripheral TLR3 is related to anorexia, change in behaviour and stress responses during viral infection in chicks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. We examined the effect of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a component of Gram-negative bacteria, on food passage in the digestive tract of chickens (Gallus gallus) in order to clarify whether bacterial infection affects food passage in birds. 2. Food passage in the crop was significantly reduced by intraperitoneal (IP) injection of LPS while it did not affect the number of defecations, suggesting that LPS may affect food passage only in the upper digestive tract. 3. Similar to LPS, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), one of the mediators of LPS, also reduced crop-emptying rate in chickens while it had no effect on the number of defecations. 4. Pretreatment with indomethacin, which is an inhibitor of cyclooxygenase (COX), a prostaglandin synthase, had no effect on LPS-induced inhibition of crop emptying. 5. IP injection of LPS did not affect the mRNA expression of COX2 in the upper digestive tract of chickens. 6. It is therefore likely that LPS and PGE2 reduced food passage rate in the crop by a prostaglandin-independent pathway in chickens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Treatment and management of patients with end-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents a formidable challenge to contemporary branches of medical sciences. The study presented here was conducted to assess the utility of nutrient supplement, if any, for management of patients with end-stage HCC.Materials and Methods: A total of 19 patients with end-stage HCC (Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer [BCLC] staging D) were provided with ONCOXIN® for 3 months. Another 10 patients with end-stage HCC (BCLC stage D) with similar clinical conditions received conservative management, but they did not give consent for taking ONCOXIN® (non-ONCOXIN® group). All patients of both groups were followed on regular basis until their death.Statistical Analysis: The results were expressed as mean and standard deviation. Comparison between groups was performed using Student's t-test or the Mann-Whitney U test. For categorical data, Chi-square or Fisher exact test was applied.Results: All patients of the control group (non-ONCOXIN® group) (10 of 10 patients) died within 2 months after study commencement. On the other hand, 10 of 19 patients receiving ONCOXIN® died within 2 months (less than 53% patients) after the start of taking ONCOXIN® (P < 0.05, compared with patients of non-ONCOXIN® group). Five more patients died within 5 months after the start of intake of ONCOXIN®. Four patients receiving ONCOXIN® survived for more than 6 months after study commencement.Conclusions: Although this is a preliminary report, it inspires considerable optimism about safety and efficacy of a food supplement for management of patients with end-stage HCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To find out the clinical profile of cutaneous drug reactions in a tertiary level hospital. Methods In this cross-sectional study, carried out for a period from January 2011 to December 2011, data were collected from the Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka, Bangladesh. Patients suffering from adverse drug reactions were the study population and within the period of data collection, twenty patients were selected. Results Out of total twenty patients, 9 (45%) had fixed drug eruptions, 4 (20%) urticaria, 3 (15%) Stevens-Johnson syndrome, 2 (10%) morbilliform rashes and 2 (10%) had erythema multiforme. The most common clinical presentation was hyperpigmented macule/patch in 5 (25%) cases, followed by urticarial plaque 4 (20%), erosive lesion 3 (15%) and loss of skin in sheets <10% body surface area 3 (15%) and morbilliform rashes and target lesions in 2(10%) each. 6 (30%) patients developed mucosal involvement only and majority of them 8 (40%) had oral involvement. The most common type of offending drug causing the drug reactions were sulfur containing drugs in 8 (40%) cases, followed by NSAIDs in 6 (30%), quinolones 3 (15%), metronidazole and anticonvulsants in a few. Conclusion The common types of cutaneous drug eruptions are fixed drug eruptions, urticaria, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, morbilliform rashes and erythema multiforme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porokeratosis is a clonal disorder of epidermal keratinization, which is characterized by hyperkeratotic papules or plaques that are surrounded by a thread-like elevated border. The histopathologic hallmark of porokeratosis is the cornoid lamella, which is a thin column of parakeratosis that overlies a thin or absent granular layer and that corresponds to the raised, hyperkeratotic border. Porokeratosis has five clinical types and malignant degeneration has been described in all forms of porokeratosis. We report a forty five year old farmer with a large plaque in chest for 30 years and multiple nodules within the large plaque for 2 years. A section of skin from margin of the plaque reveals histopathological features of porokeratosis and section from nodules reveals an invasive squamous cell carcinoma. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of porokeratosis transformed to squamous cell carcinoma on Bangladesh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To compare the safety of topical calcipotriol (0.005%) and topical corticosteroid (betamethasone 0.1%) in the treatment of plaque type psoriasis. Patients and methods A clinical trial was carried out from January 2012 to August 2012 and patients of plaque type psoriasis attending outpatient department of Dermatology and Venereology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka were the study population. Patients were divided into two groups, group A (n=15) was treated with topical calcipotriol (0.005%) ointment and group B (n=15) with topical corticosteroid (betamethasone 0.1%) ointment for 8 weeks. Results Adverse effects were found in 11 (73.3%) respondents in group A and 10 (66.7%) in group B. Among the adverse effects, desquamation, dry skin, irritation, itching, burning sensation, telangiectasia were commonly found. Conclusion The safety level of topical calcipotriol (0.005%) is almost same as that of betamethasone in the treatment of plaque type psoriasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psoriasis is a common disorder in dermatologic practice. Though its exact etiology is still unknown but there are many internal and external factors contributing to the clinical course of the disease. There are several drugs described in the literature that have been associated with the initiation, exacerbation and aggravation of psoriasis. Depending on the relation to induction or exacerbation of psoriasis the drugs may be classified as drugs with strong casual relation with psoriasis, drugs with considerable but insufficient association with aggravation or induction of the disease. Understanding of underlying pathogenesis is very important in the management of drug related psoriasis. This review included the most common causative agents in relation to psoriasis, their underlying pathogenesis, clinical manifestations and management of such cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Verruca or warts are common significant cause of cosmetic concern and frustration of the patient. Social activities may be affected. Verruca are formed by benign proliferations of the skin and mucosa that are caused by infection with Human papilloma virus (HPV). These viruses do not produce acute signs or symptoms but induce a slow, focal expansion of epithelial cells. There are 100 types of Human papilloma virus (HPV). The natural history of common warts is for most of them to spontaneously resolve. But lesions are sometime uncomfortable. Warts typically continue to increase in size and distribution and may become more resistant to treatment over time. A significant proportion of women with genital HPV infection develops low-grade cervical lesions. Most of these low-grade lesions regress spontaneously; one study suggests that approximately 15 percent progress to high-grade cervical lesions within two years. High-grade cervical lesions have a strong malignant potential; one study found that about one-third of high-grade lesions progress to cancer within ten years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To find out the association of serum testosterone with acne vulgaris in women. Patients and methods Seventy patients were considered as group A (case - female patients of acne), and 70, age- and sex-matched, healthy subjects were enrolled as group B (controls females without acne). Mean serum testosterone levels were measured in case and control groups. Results The mean serum testosterone level was significantly high among the cases (0.52 ngm/ml) than the control (0.35 ngm/ml). Data analysis revealed that the percentage of serum testosterone above normal was found to be high among the cases with acne (10%) whereas below normal level of serum testosterone was found among the control i.e. patients without acne and the difference was statistically significant. Conclusion There is a significant association between serum testosterone and acne vulgaris. Testosterone levels should be measured in patients presenting with acne vulgaris especially in treatment resistant cases. Anti-androgen treatment may be indicated in those cases with elevated testosterone level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A cross sectional study, conducted in the department of Dermatology and Venereology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) for duration of January 2009 to December 2010. Hundred twenty patients with onychomycosis were selected by purposive type of nonprobability sampling technique. Majority of the patients 61(150.8%) were in the age group of 21-30 years old. Mean age of the patients were 32.8±14 years and most of the patients were house wives 36(30.0%). Disfigurement 117(97.5%) and discomfort 89(74.2%) were more common chief complaints of the patients. The mean duration of disease was 20.4±15.4 months and nail fold changes were associated with 37(30.8%) patients and more than a half 63(52.5%) of the patients had history of wet works. Regarding the history of past illness, it was observed that previous onychmycosis found 26(21.7%), nail trauma 26(21.7%) and immune suppression 6(5.0%). In endocrinopathies, hypothyroidism was observed in 1(0.8%), Diabetes Mellitus 6(5.0%) etc. Regarding the pattern of nail changes, thickening of nail plate 88(73.3%), onycholysis 67(55.8%), subungunal hyperkeratosis 61(50.8%) were more common changes. Paronychia was observed in 34 (28.3%) cases. In concomitant fungal infection, it was observed that T. manuum in 6(5.0%), T. pedis 3(2.5%), Interdigital intertrigo 2(1.7%) and T. cruris 1(0.8%). This was a study on a limited number of cases. Future studies must include economical support, then large sample size could be ensured and study finding would be more reliable. There is a great need of epidemiological studies also, with sufficient follow-up, systematic reviews and meta-analyses on this issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus type H5N1 represents one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality of poultry in both developed and developing countries. However, little is known about the transmission of this virus in developing countries that usually raise poultry as family-based farming. The study was conducted at 10 of total 64 administrative districts of Bangladesh that experienced H5N1 virus outbreaks since 2007. Trained field workers visited 30 rural families at each district to check family poultry management system. The collected data were transcribed and coded according to the standardized mutual performance of the field workers. Approximately two-third of farmers (67%) were rearing only chickens and remaining (33%) both chickens and ducks. Most of the farmers provided night shelter to their birds inside their living room (24%) or close proximate (69%). Usually ducks were scavenged in water land (58.6%) or paddy field (18.2%). The majority of owners (93%) also shared the same water land with migratory/wild birds for their daily necessity. The marketing system of poultry was characterized by comprehensive interactions among family poultry and commercial birds for prolonged duration. Unsold or newly bought birds were brought back to farmer's house in almost all instances (97.8%). Findings from this study indicated that interactions of domestic chickens and ducks with their owners (through contaminated agricultural and fisheries tools or clothing) are partially, if not solely, responsible for wide spread transmission of Avian influenza virus type H5N1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Melasma is a common acquired macular hyperpigmentation which involves mostly the sun exposed areas of face and neck. Objective To assess the efficacy of the combination of 20% azelaic acid with 0.05% tretinoin cream in the treatment of melasma. Patients and methods 30 patients of melasma were treated with daily night application of 20% azelaic acid and 0.05% tretinoin. Patients were assessed at 4, 8 and 12 weeks of treatment using melasma area severity index. Side effects during therapy were also noted. Results Majority i.e. 43% cases were between 26 to 30 years, 73.3% of patients were females and 56.7% were housewives, 70% were married and 86.7% were in middle class. Family history of melasma was positive in 66.7% cases. 93.3% patients had no history of systemic drug and 73.3% had no history of use of cosmetics. 93.3% of patients had malar area involvement and 6.7% had centrofacial area involvement. After treatment, the average MASI score decreased by 38.66% indicating moderate reduction of the severity of melasma. Burning sensation, itching and erythema developed in 50%, 30% and 16%, respectively. Conclusion The combination of 20% azelaic acid and 0.05% tretinoin cream in the treatment of melasma has a moderate lightening effect with some remarkable side effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Seborrheic dermatitis is a common papulosquamous dermatosis and occurring in 2% to 5% of the population. The prevalence of seborrheic dermatitis among HIV-positive and AIDS patients between 34% and 83%. The anti-inflammatory activity of oral itraconazole and efficacy on Malessezia suggests that itraconazole capsule will be the first oral treatment option in future in seborrheic dermatitis. Unfortunately there is no data base study with the efficacy of oral itraconazole for the treatment of seborrheic dermatitis over Bangladeshi people. Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of itraconazole in the treatment of Seborrheic dermatitis. Methods: This was an interventional type of study and total thirty seven patients of seborrheic dermatitis from department of Dermatology and Venereology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) was enrolled. The study was carried out for a period of two years from January 2008 to December 2009 and purposive type non-probability sampling technique was followed in this study. Results: The scoring of seborrhea was 6.33±1.15 before treatment and 4.33 ±3.21 after treatment, scoring of itching was 6.66 ±1.49 before treatment and 3.61 ±2.70 after treatment and scoring of greasy crust was 7.12 ±2.70 before treatment and 4.00 ±3.16 after treatment. It was observed that before treatment, erythema was severe in 43.2% cases, moderate in 51.4% cases and mild type erythema was present in 5.4% cases. And after treatment, 29.7% had severe type erythema, no patient had moderate type erythema, only 43.2% had mild type and 27% cases had no erythema at all. Before treatment, papular eruption was severe in 27% cases, moderate in 54.1% cases and only 18.9% had mild type papular eruption. But after treatment, 10.8% had severe type, 18.9% had moderate, 51.4% had mild and 18.9% had no papular eruption at all. It was observed that before treatment, squamation was severe in 37.8% cases and moderate in 62.2% cases. But after treatment, 18.9% had severe type squamation, 10.8% had moderate, 45.9% had mild and 24.3% had no squamation. Improvement was shown in 26(70.27%) cases and 11(29.73%) cases shown no improvement at all. Conclusion: The study suggests that oral itraconazole has significant efficacy profile for treatment option of seborrheic dermatitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Methodology: It was an opened clinical trial. The study was carried out from March 2009 to February 2011, in the outpatient department of Dermatology and Venereology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) Dhaka, Bangladesh to evaluate the efficacy and side effects of the combination therapy of hydroquinone(HQ), kojic acid(KA) and glycolic acid(GA) for the treatment of melasma. Patients suffering from melasma were selected as study population. Within the period of data collection, thirty patients of melasma were assigned purposively. The efficacy was evaluated using Melasma Area and Severity Index (MASI) Score. The severity of melasma of each of the four regions (forehead, right malar region, left malar region and chin) are assessed based on three variables, percentage of the total area involved (A), darkness (D) and homogenicity (H). Results:The study showed that majority (30%) of the cases were between 20 to 25 years, majority (77%) of patients were female, (50%) patients were housewives, (50%) were in graduation level of education, (50%) of patients was found as upper class and negative family history was present in majority (80%) of cases. It was seen that highest (93%) number of patients were malar type and 7% were centro-facial type. The study showed the change in MASI Score after treatment with combination therapy (GA 2%, HQ 2% and KA 1%). After 12 weeks of treatment, the average MASI score was decreased by 24.20% indicating mild reduction of the severity of melasma and 18%, 18%, 9% and 55% patients developed side -effects like itching, burning sensation, scaling, and erythema respectively. Conclusion: Combination therapy (GA 2%, HQ 2% and KA 1%) has a few lightening effect on melasma, with no remarkable side effects. Further study should be conducted with large number of sample and longer follow up [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sepsis is a serious, life-threatening condition, occurring when an infectious agent invades the body, resulting in systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). Neonates and children are among the most vulnerable population groups of developing sepsis because of their weak immune barrier. Despite major advances in prevention, diagnosis and treatment of bacterial infections, invasive infections followed by sepsis remain one of the leading causes of childhood mortality. The aim of this study was to identify bacterial agents and antimicrobial resistance patterns of aerobic bacteria among children suspected of having sepsis. This cross-sectional descriptive type of observational study was conducted in the Department of Microbiology, Mymensingh Medical College, Bangladesh from March 2021 to February 2022. Blood samples were collected from pediatric patients, suspected of having sepsis referred from inpatient facility of department of Neonatology and Pediatrics, Mymensingh Medical College Hospital (MMCH). Blood samples were inoculated into BacT/ALERT PF Plus bottles followed by sub-culture of positive samples in blood agar, MacConkey agar and chocolate agar plates. Isolated bacteria were identified by routine biochemical tests. Antimicrobial resistance pattern of all isolated bacteria was seen by disk diffusion method. MIC of vancomycin by agar dilution method was determined for isolated S. aureus and Coagulase negative Staphylococci (CoNS). The prevalence of pediatric sepsis was 31.82% with highest isolation rate 35.55% among neonates. The isolation rate of gram-positive bacteria was 62.50% where S. aureus was the most common isolate 32.15% followed by CoNS 30.36%. Out of 21 gram-negative bacteria, Pseudomonas spp. was the most frequent isolate 7(33.33%), all of which were resistant to cefuroxime, ceftriaxone and ceftazidime along with all klebsiella and Acinetobacter isolates. Out of 18 S. aureus isolates, 94.44%, 88.89% and 66.67% were resistant to Azithromycin, Penicillin-G and Ciprofloxacin respectively. The MIC of Vancomycin by agar dilution method was observed <2μg/ml against all isolated S. aureus and CoNS. All the Gram-positive isolates were sensitive to Linezolid and Vancomycin. Early detection of bacteria followed by antimicrobial susceptibility test can help by selection of appropriate antibiotic and prevent spread of infection.

l-tryptophan (l-Trp), an essential amino acid, is well known as a precursor of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and melatonin. In mammals, l-Trp itself has been reported to suppress gastric emptying in mammals. In addition, 5-HT and melatonin are found in the gastrointestinal tract and affect food passage from the digestive tract in mammals. While the function of these factors in mammals is documented, there is little knowledge on their function in the digestive tract of birds. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to determine if l-Trp and its metabolites affect the crop emptying rate in chicks (Gallus gallus). We also investigated the effects of kynurenic acid (KYNA) and quinolinic acid (QA), which are metabolites of the kynurenine pathway for l-Trp. Oral administration of l-Trp significantly reduced the crop emptying rate in chicks. Among the metabolites, intraperitoneal injection of 5-HT and melatonin significantly reduced the crop emptying rate, whereas KYNA and QA had no effect. The present study suggests that l-Trp, 5-HT, and melatonin inhibit the movement of food in the digestive tract and thereby affect the utilization of nutrients in the diet of chicks., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Ghrelin, the endogenous ligand for growth hormone secretagogue receptor 1a (GHS-R1a), stimulates food intake in mammals centrally and peripherally. In contrast, central injection of ghrelin inhibits feeding in neonatal chicks (Gallus gallus), which is thought to be mediated by the corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH) system, indicating that the mechanisms underlying ghrelin's action are different in chicks and mammals. However, the interaction between the ghrelin system and the CRH system has not been fully clarified in chicks. In the present study, we examined the effect of intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of CRH and urocortin-3 (UCN-3), a CRH family peptide and an endogenous ligand for the CRH type-2 receptor (CRH-R2), on synthesis and secretion of ghrelin in chicks. Intracerebroventricular injection of UCN-3 but not CRH increased plasma ghrelin concentration (P < 0.05), diencephalic mRNA expression of ghrelin, and GHS-R1a (P < 0.05) and tended to decrease ghrelin (P = 0.08) and GHS-R1a (P = 0.10) mRNA expression in the proventriculus. Moreover, ICV injection of UCN-3 tended to increase diencephalic mRNA expression of CRH-R2 (P = 0.08) and CRH had no effect on it. In addition, ICV injection of CRH but not UCN-3 increased plasma corticosterone concentration (P < 0.05) and decreased the diencephalic mRNA expression of CRH-R1 (P < 0.05). These results clearly indicate that the roles of the CRH system for the ghrelin system are divided. The present study suggests that UCN-3 is mainly involved in the ghrelin system in chicks perhaps through the CRH-R2., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

In a quantitative single particle analysis, named the low-Z particle EPMA, number concentration data for chemical species encountered in aerosol sample are provided. However, it will be more useful if mass concentration data can be obtained from single particle analysis; i.e., the single particle analysis data for weight fractions of chemical species can be complementarily used in combination with the bulk analysis data, for more clearly understanding the behavior of airborne aerosols. In order to investigate how reliably mass concentration data can be obtained from the low-Z particle EPMA technique, a potassium feldspar powdered standard reference material (SRM), of which elemental weight fractions are well defined by various bulk analytical techniques, was analyzed using the low-Z particle EPMA technique. In this work, it is demonstrated that weight fractions of major elements in the powdered SRM sample obtained by the low-Z particle EPMA are within 8% to the certified values obtained by bulk analytical techniques, although the single particle and bulk analyses employ different approaches. Further, it is shown that the quantitative single particle analysis, i.e., low-Z particle EPMA, can provide molecular mass concentration data for chemical species, which is not easy to obtain using bulk analysis.