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Background: Appendicular lump is a well-known sequalae of acute appendicitis encountered in 2-6% of patients. Successful management of appendicular lump is controversial with different approaches. This study aims to evaluate the outcome of early appendectomy in an appendicular lump.Methods: A total of 210 patients were admitted in surgery and pediatric surgery department of Rangpur medical college and hospital with the diagnosis of acute appendicitis and its sequalae over two years.Results: In this study, sixty patients were included who were presented with an appendicular lump. Maximum patients (50%) were found in the age group of 21-30 years. Males (66.67%) were more affected. Eighty percent of patients were coming from below-average socio-economic conditions. In group I, early appendicectomy had done and outcomes were satisfactory and favorable. In group II, eighteen patients were operated who were admitted at 6 to 8 days after an attack of acute appendicitis, and twelve patients were continued the conservative treatment. In group II, who had done surgery, among them, fourteen patients (77.78%) were found an appendicular abscess, and four patients (22.22%) were found perforated appendix per-operatively. In group I, the mean recovery period was less and they had minimum complications. In group II, the mean recovery period was more and they had more complications.Conclusions: Based on these findings, it can be concluded that early exploration in appendicular lump patients confirm the diagnosis, cures the problem, reduces the cost of management, and shortens the convalescence period and hospital stay with reasonably satisfactory outcomes.

As median income rises in Bangladesh, so too does the number of people who own cars. Bangladesh as a nation does not have the resources to maintain the infrastructure for this steadily increasing number of cars hitting the streets. The result is that key intersections are frequently gridlocked causing horrendous traffic jams. This paper introduces rTraffic - a smartphone based web application that aims at making this issue a little more bearable by combining a crowd-sourced data acquisition model and real-time notifications system that suggests users on which routes to take and which routes to avoid. The paper will also discuss about the basic methodology, low-level implementation details and scaling factor considerations for real world deployment and performance benchmarks.

Background and Purpose—Platelets bearing complement C4d were recently reported to be 99% specific for a diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and associated with neuropsychiatric lupus. We compared the prevalence of platelet C4d and investigated the clinical associations of platelet C4d in patients with acute ischemic stroke.Methods—We recruited 80 patients hospitalized for acute ischemic stroke. Stroke severity was measured by the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIH-SS). Infarct volume was determined by MRI. Platelet C4d was measured by flow cytometry.Results—Mean age was 57.9 years (range: 24.6 to 86.8 years), 58% were male, and 91% were white. Eight patients (10%) with acute ischemic stroke were platelet C4d-positive, which was significantly higher in prevalence compared to healthy controls (0%,PP=0.004). The median NIH-SS score and infarct volume for acute stroke patients were 6 (interquartile range [IQR]: 2 to 13) and 3.4 cc (IQR: 1.1 to 16.6), respectively. Platelet C4d-positive patients were more likely to have a severe stroke compared to those with negative platelet C4d (NIH-SS median: 17.5 versus 5,P=0.003). Positive platelet C4d was independently associated with stroke severity (P=0.03) after controlling for age, anticardiolipin antibody (aCL) status, and total anterior circulation of stroke involvement, and also with infarct volume (P=0.005) after controlling for age, aCL status, and old stroke by MRI.Conclusions—Platelet C4d is associated with severe acute ischemic stroke. Platelet C4d may be a biomarker as well as pathogenic clue that links cerebrovascular inflammation and thrombosis.

Hybridization between silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) and bighead carp (Aristichthys nobilis) has been reported to occur fairly frequently in commercial aquaculture hatcheries in Bangladesh. The consequences of hybridization for broodstock purity had not previously been investigated. Allelic variation at three microsatellite DNA loci isolated from silver carp routinely distinguished between silver carp and bighead carp. These markers were used in the analysis of samples collected from hatcheries in different regions of Bangladesh. Of 422 hatchery broodstock that were morphologically identified as silver carp, 8.3% had bighead allele(s) at one or more of the three microsatellite loci, while 23.3% of the 236 fish morphologically identified as bighead carp had silver carp allele(s) at one or more loci. The results suggested that while some of these fish might be F1 hybrids, others had more complex genotypes, suggesting further generations of hybridization or introgression between the species in hatcheries, with potentially damaging consequences for the integrity of these stocks and their performance in aquaculture.

Three groups of T4 DNA polymerase mutants were prepared and characterized. In the first group, Ala and Asn were substituted for four acidic residues in the exonuclease domain that were chosen on the basis of their sequence alignment with the Klenow fragment from Escherichia coli DNA polymerase I. Two divalent metal ions required for catalyzing the 3'-5' exonuclease reaction are ligated by carboxyl groups from these conserved Asp and Glu residues. The Ala and Asn replacements have a profound effect on the exonuclease activity of T4 DNA polymerase and also have a significant, but less pronounced influence on its polymerase activity which is located in a domain distal to the exonuclease region. The kcat values for the exonuclease reaction were reduced by 3-4 orders of magnitude by these replacements, but the values of Km(app) did not differ greatly from the wild-type enzyme. The second group consists of replacements of other residues, that are conserved in the exonuclease domain of eukaryotic DNA polymerases, but do not contribute to divalent metal ion coordination. Many of these alterations resulted in decreased exonuclease and/or polymerase activity. Mutants in the third group have substitutions of conserved residues in the polymerase domain which diminished polymerase and altered exonuclease activities. Our results, combined with structural data on crystals of protein N388, a truncated form of T4 DNA polymerase (Wang et al., 1996), show that: (i) the reduction in the relative specific exonuclease activities of mutants in the first group was significantly less than that of mutants in the Klenow fragment, despite the nearly identical geometric arrangement of the metal liganding groups in two proteins; (ii) altered residues, that affect exonuclease and/or polymerase activities in mutants of the second group, cluster within a small area of the exonuclease domain, suggesting that this area may be directly or indirectly involved in polymerase activity; (iii) mutations in the third group, which affect polymerase and exonuclease activities, may participate in DNA and dNTP binding. Our results point to the functional interdependence of the polymerase and exonuclease domains in T4 DNA polymerase, a property not observed with the Klenow fragment.

The effects of Hall current on unsteady free convection flow of an MHD viscous incompressible fluid along an infinite vertical porous plate are investigated in the presence of a uniformly applied magnetic field acting in a plane which makes an angle α with the plane transverse to the plate. A similarity parameter, taken to be a function of time, is introduced, and the suction velocity is considered to be inversely proportional to this parameter. Similarity equations are then derived and solved numerically. The effects of the Hall parameter, the magnetic parameter and the permeability are discussed and shown graphically.

Congenital or acquired intranasal meningocoele or meningoencephalocoele is a rare condition ever reported in world literature. We report a case of intranasal meningoencephalocoele in which a 10 month old male child presented with left sided progressive nasal obstruction, nasal mass and reluctant to feed. On examination slight broadening of the bridge of the nose with obliteration of left nasomaxillary fold, mucoid discharge and a pinkish, polypoidal, non tender, non pulsatile mass with prominent blood vessels on the surface occupying almost 3/4(th) of the nasal cavity was observed. On probing it appeared to be attached to roof of left nasal cavity. Computed tomography revealed a hypodense area in the nasal cavity but there was no bony defect in the skull base. Peroperatively on aspiration of nasal cystic mass revealed free flow of clear fluid which was biochemically CSF. A one stage, Lynch Howarth approach, correctional procedure was performed. We present here a discussion of findings and surgical treatment. Early diagnosis and referral are of paramount importance, because failure to identify this leads to fatal outcome if surgery performed.

The use of hydroxyapatite (HA) to sequester metals at mixed waste sites may reduce metal toxicity and facilitate microbial degradation of cocontaminant organics. The constitutive trichloroethylene (TCE) degrader, Burkholderia vietnamiensis PR1301, grew at 34.1 and 1.7 mM Ni at pH 5 and 7, respectively, with 0.01 g mL(-1) HA compared to 17 and 0.85 mM Ni without HA. PR1 grew at 4.2 mM U at pH 5 and 7 with 0.01 g mL(-1) HA compared to 1.1 mM U without HA. A similar decrease in the toxicity of Ni and U in combination was observed with HA. The ability of PR1 to degrade TCE at 0.85, 1.7, and 3.4 mM Ni and at 0.42 and 1.1 mM U was examined. The presence of TCE resulted in a decreased tolerance of PR1 to Ni and U; however, HA facilitated TCE degradation in the presence of Ni and U, effectively doubling the metal concentrations at which TCE degradation proceeded. These studies suggest that metal sequestration via HA amendments may offer a feasible approach to reducing metal toxicity to microorganisms at mixed waste sites, thereby enhancing the degradation of cocontaminant organics.

Comparisons between Lewis and Fischer inbred strains of rats are used frequently to study the effect of inherent differences in function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis on pain-relevant traits, including differential susceptibility to chronic inflammatory disease and differential responsiveness to analgesic drugs. Increasing use of genetic models including transgenic knockout mice and inbred strains of rodents has raised our awareness of, and the importance of, thorough characterization (or phenotyping) of the strains of rodents being compared. Furthermore, genetic variability in analgesic sensitivity is correlated with, and may be caused by, genetically determined baseline sensitivity. Thus in this study, baseline inflammatory and thermal nociceptive sensitivities were measured in awake male and female Lewis and Fischer rats to examine whether the results could explain relevant strain differences reported in the literature. The effect of maternal separation was also examined and no effect was found on nociceptive sensitivity, corticosterone responses, or the development of adjuvant-induced arthritis, a model of rheumatoid arthritis. Lewis rats and female rats were more sensitive to thermal nociception in the tail withdrawal test (mean of 3 trials) than Fischer rats and male rats, respectively. Unexpectedly, the more inflammation-susceptible Lewis rats were less sensitive in the formalin inflammatory nociception test, and showed a significant decrease in sensitivity with repeated thermal nociceptive testing, whereas Fischer rats did not. These results affect the interpretation of previously observed results. Further study of the underlying mechanisms and the relevance to differential susceptibility to chronic inflammation is warranted.

The swelling of secretory vesicles has been implicated in exocytosis, but the underlying mechanism of vesicle swelling remains largely unknown. Zymogen granules (ZGs), the membrane-bound secretory vesicles in exocrine pancreas, swell in response to GTP mediated by a G α i3 protein. Evidence is presented here that the water channel aquaporin-1 (AQP1) is present in the ZG membrane and participates in rapid GTP-induced vesicular water gating and swelling. Isolated ZGs exhibit low basal water permeability. However, exposure of granules to GTP results in a marked potentiation of water entry. Treatment of ZGs with the known water channel inhibitor Hg 2+ is accompanied by a reversible loss in both the basal and GTP-stimulatable water entry and vesicle swelling. Introduction of AQP1-specific antibody raised against the carboxyl-terminal domain of AQP1 blocks GTP-stimulable swelling of vesicles. Our results demonstrate that AQP1 associated at the ZG membrane is involved in basal as well as GTP-induced rapid gating of water in ZGs of the exocrine pancreas.

It is clearly established that tobacco smoking harms the health of both the smoker and the non-smoker, leading to respiratory and cardiac diseases and lung cancer. This should be enough for us to commit ourselves to motivate people to work towards a smoke-free planet.

Recombinant SNAREs have been demonstrated as the minimal membrane fusion machinery. The participation of additional proteins in the regulation of membrane fusion has been suggested. In this study we provide nanometer-resolution images of native NSF oligomers and SNARE complexes isolated from neurons and the pancreas. Our study reveals the presence of new coiled rod-like structures in association with the SNARE complex only in neuronal tissue. Neuronal SNAREs were found coiled and super-coiled with these structures. The existence of NSF as pentamers in its native state is also demonstrated. The extent of coiling and super-coiling of SNAREs may regulate the potency and efficacy of membrane fusion in cells.

A comparative study on mineral profile, water content, solid content and ash contents were done on the skin of the leaves at three different ages of Aloe indica plants. Fatty acid analysis and screening of antibacterial sensitivity against two bacteria were also carried out. Mineral profile was evaluated by Atomic absorption spectrophotometer and Flame photometer. Whereas the esterified fatty extract analysis was done by GC/MS spectrophotometer. Sodium, potassium, magnesium and calcium were found to be present as major minerals whereas zinc, copper, silver, phosphorous, chromium were found as trace elements. No arsenic was found to be present in any of the samples. The amount of different mineral contents exists in the order of 1 year < 2 years> 3 years. A comparative study of the mineral contents of the skin with the fillet was also done. Percent compositions of the fatty acid contents were found to be very different in different maturity skin extracts. Skin comprises higher proportion of solid and ash content and lower proportion of water content than the fillet. Leaves of 2 year ages plants contained higher proportion of solid content than both of the 3 year and 1 year ages plants leaves. The 80% ethanol extract of the skin showed antimicrobial sensitivity in the order of 3 years > 2 year l> 1year ages of plants. Keywords: Aloe indica, Mineral contents, Fatty acid analysis, Antimicrobial sensitivity. Â Â Â doi: 10.3329/bjsir.v43i4.2237 Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res. 43(4), 467-482, 2008

In this paper, the second order approximate solution of a general second order nonlinear ordinary differential system, modeling damped oscillatory process is considered. The new analytical technique based on the work of He’s homotopy perturbation method is developed to find the periodic solution of a second order ordinary nonlinear differential system with damping effects. Usually the second or higher order approximate solutions are able to give better results than the first order approximate solutions. The results show that the analytical approximate solutions obtained by homotopy perturbation method are uniformly valid on the whole solutions domain and they are suitable not only for strongly nonlinear systems, but also for weakly nonlinear systems. Another advantage of this new analytical technique is that it also works for strongly damped, weakly damped and undamped systems. Figures are provided to show the comparison between the analytical and the numerical solutions. Keywords: Homotopy perturbation method; damped oscillation; nonlinear equation; strong nonlinearity. GANIT J. Bangladesh Math. Soc. (ISSN 1606-3694) 30 (2010) 59-75 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/ganit.v30i0.8504

Poisoning and snakebite are commonly encountered emergency situation in Bangladesh. Morbidity per annum reported from static primary health care set up and district hospitals following poisoning are ~ 0.56% of total morbidity. Reports published from the DGHS in 2001 recorded poisoning as fifteenth cause of morbidity & second commonest cause of death second to acute respiratory tract infection (1956). Common poisoning encountered in the community include pesticide poisoning, kerosene poisoning, poisoning by unknown sedative substances for stupefying purpose and with occasional reports of methanol poisoning, aluminium phosphide poisoning, copper sulphate poisoning and puffer fish poisoning. A change in the trends of poisoning particularly ‘travel related' poisoning by sedatives instead of previously used ‘Dhatura' have been found in the country.  doi:10.3329/jom.v10i3.2010 J Medicine 2009; 10 (Supplement 1): 15-17