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World Health Organization (WHO) declared a global public health emergency due to the recent spread of COVID-19 throughout the world. Millions of people are affected daily and thousands died. Almost all countries are now paying attention to control this pandemic outbreak. Therefore, researchers are trying to identify the pathophysiology of the disease, appropriate prognosis, effective management and prevention of COVID-19. Based on current published evidence, this review article specifies the role of different nutrients in the possible prevention and management of COVID-19 and viral infections. Balanced nutrition including adequate vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin D, magnesium, selenium, zinc and phytonutrients have shown promising immune-boosting roles in COVID-19 and other respiratory infections due to their potential anti-inflammatory and antioxidants properties. These micronutrients act against COVID-19 infections both individually and synergistically.

Background: Due to the outbreak of COVID-19, the mental health of the people all around the world is severely disrupted. Aim: The purpose of this study is to identify whether ‘Fear of COVID-19’ impacted on future workforces’ career anxiety at the first place and whether depression from COVID-19 has any indirect effect on ‘Fear of COVID-19’ and future workforces’ career anxiety. Method: Based on three different scales related to ‘Fear of COVID-19’, depression and career anxiety, a structured questionnaire was developed and the survey data was collected for this study. Results: The empirical result of the study reveals that, due to the outbreak of COVID-19 fear, the future workforce is getting anxious about their future career. Again, depression from COVID-19, caused by ‘Fear of COVID-19’, as a mediator, has a significant indirect impact on the relationship between ‘Fear of COVID-19’ and future career anxiety, resulting in a full mediation. This means, due to the outbreak of ‘Fear of COVID-19’ people are becoming depressed and anxious about their future career which is creating a long-term negative effect on human psychology. Conclusion: These research findings will be a major tool for the policymakers, as well as the human resource planning professionals, to sketch plans after COVID-19 pandemic. This study is a novel work combining the concepts of fear and depression with career anxiety in a pandemic situation like COVID-19, and also assists future researchers in many folds.

Coir fiber (CF) reinforced polypropylene (PP) composites were fabricated using an extruder machine. The fiber contents were varied 5 to 20% and physico-mechanical properties as well as bio-degradability were also tested. Ultimate tensile strength and flexural strength decreases with the increases of percentages of fiber addition. Lowest percentage elongation is observed at 20% CF+PP composite which are rigid in nature. Leeb rebound hardness also decreases with the increase of percentage of raw fiber addition. The bio-degradation of different percentage of CF and PP composites in soil and saline water increased with increase of coir fiber content. Thus, it showed that higher percentage of coir fiber was produced more biodegradable and eco-friendly byproducts. However, higher percentages of coir fiber decrease the mechanical properties. A moderate percentage of coir fiber i.e. 15% CF +PP showed the good mechanical properties as well as considerable amount of bio-degradability in soil and saline water.J. Environ. Sci. & Natural Resources, 10(1): 61-64 2017

The study was carried out to assess the microbial quality for shelf life of different bread and cake samples, locally produced in Tangail city of Bangladesh. A total 10 samples of different brand bread and cake were collected from different shop kipper for microbiological analysis. The total viable count (TVC) of samples ranged from 1.0 × 10 2 cfu/g to 1.3 × 10 6 cfu/g at first day, 1.17 × 10 8 cfu/g to 7.3 × 10 10 cfu/g at third day and 2.35 × 10 14 cfu/g to 1.2 ×10 18 cfu/g at fifth day, where WHO permitted maximum 2.0x10 5 cfu/g for TVC. Total coliform count (TCC) ranged from 2 cfu/g to 244 cfu/g at first day, 1.07× 10 5 cfu/g to 3.3× 10 8 cfu/g at third day and 2.08 × 10 10 cfu/g to 1.9 × 10 14 cfu/g at fifth day (maximum permitted value 200 cfu/g). Again, total fungal count (TFC) ranged from 6 cfu/g to 1.1 × 106 cfu/g at first day, 1.23× 10 6 cfu/g to 2.2 × 10 12 cfu/g at third day and 1.82× 10 13 cfu/g to 9.2 × 10 17 cfu/g at fifth day (maximum permitted value 1×10 5 cfu/g). According to the WHO Standard, the microbiological parameters of all collected bread and cake were out of the permitted standards after third day. It was postulated that lack of good manufacturing practices including poor hygiene and sanitation, nutrient rich bread and cake makes a good medium for microbial growth. Therefore, an immediate step should be taken to aware the bakery owner as well as consumers about the sanitation and hygiene to make safety food products. J. Environ. Sci. & Natural Resources, 10(1): 81-84 2017

Seipin deficiency causes severe congenital generalized lipodystrophy (CGL) and metabolic disease. However, how seipin regulates adipocyte development and function remains incompletely understood. We previously showed that seipin acts as a scaffold protein for AGPAT2, whose disruption also causes CGL. More recently, seipin has been reported to promote adipogenesis by directly inhibiting GPAT3, leading to the suggestion that GPAT inhibitors could offer novel treatments for CGL. Here we investigated the interactions between seipin, GPAT3 and AGPAT2. We reveal that seipin and GPAT3 associate via direct interaction and that seipin can simultaneously bind GPAT3 and AGPAT2. Inhibiting the expression of seipin, AGPAT2 or GPAT3 led to impaired induction of early markers of adipocyte differentiation in cultured cells. However, consistent with normal adipose mass in GPAT3-null mice, GPAT3 inhibition did not prevent the formation of mature adipocytes. Nonetheless, loss of GPAT3 in seipin-deficient preadipocytes exacerbated the failure of adipogenesis in these cells. Thus, our data indicate that GPAT3 plays a modest positive role in adipogenesis and argue against the potential of GPAT inhibitors to rescue white adipose tissue mass in CGL2. Overall, our study reveals novel mechanistic insights regarding the molecular pathogenesis of severe lipodystrophy caused by mutations in either seipin or AGPAT2.

Objective Impaired expansion of peripheral fat contributes to the pathogenesis of insulin resistance and Type 2 Diabetes (T2D). We aimed to identify novel disease–gene interactions during adipocyte differentiation. Methods Genes in disease-associated loci for T2D, adiposity and insulin resistance were ranked according to expression in human adipocytes. The top 125 genes were ablated in human pre-adipocytes via CRISPR/CAS9 and the resulting cellular phenotypes quantified during adipocyte differentiation with high-content microscopy and automated image analysis. Morphometric measurements were extracted from all images and used to construct morphologic profiles for each gene. Results Over 107 morphometric measurements were obtained. Clustering of the morphologic profiles accross all genes revealed a group of 14 genes characterized by decreased lipid accumulation, and enriched for known lipodystrophy genes. For two lipodystrophy genes, BSCL2 and AGPAT2, sub-clusters with PLIN1 and CEBPA identifed by morphological similarity were validated by independent experiments as novel protein–protein and gene regulatory interactions. Conclusions A morphometric approach in adipocytes can resolve multiple cellular mechanisms for metabolic disease loci; this approach enables mechanistic interrogation of the hundreds of metabolic disease loci whose function still remains unknown., Highlights • Loss-of-function genetic screen in human adipocytes for 125 genes selected from metabolic disease-associated loci. • Genetic screen read out by cellular morphometry— 77,000 images taken with 400 morphological features extracted per image. • Pairwise mechanistic interactions between genes identified by correlations of cellular morphometry—two interactions validated. • Novel interaction between BSCL2 and PLIN1 from biophysical association of proteins at lipid droplet surface. • Novel interaction between CEBPA and AGPAT2 from CEBPA dependent transcription of AGPAT2.

A descriptive cross sectional study was carried out among the 116 human immune deficiency virus (HIV) positive drug addicted people in Dhaka city during September, 2012 to March, 2013. The major objectives of this study were to assess the various spectra of opportunistic infections among drug users who are HIV positive for at least three years. Young adults are more frequent drug users and males are more prone to drug addiction as compared to females. Educational backgrounds of the HIV positive drug users were not satisfactory as most of them were illiterate or primary educated. Most of the male respondents were jobless, whereas most of the female respondents were sex workers. Majority of the drug addicts were low income earners. Infected respondents went to Mukta Akash program; an NGO based treatment and rehabilitation program when their infections got worse. Key words: Opportunistic infections, drug user, human immune deficiency virus (HIV), fungal infections, Mukta Akash.

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is caused by mutations in the genes encoding either polycystin-1 (PC1) or polycystin-2 (PC2). PC2 acts as a nonselective cation channel and together with PC1 plays a role in intracellular Ca(2+) signaling. Using atomic force microscopy (AFM) imaging, we have shown previously that the N and C termini of PC1 appear as unequally sized particles connected by a "string" largely composed of tandem immunoglobulin-like, polycystic kidney disease (PKD) domains. Here, we show that coexpression of PC1 and PC2 causes an elongation of the PC1 string and a corresponding reduction in the size of the larger (C-terminal) particle. This change in the conformation of PC1 does not depend on its delivery to the plasma membrane. In addition, the use of the L3040H PC1 mutant showed that the conformational change does not require GPS cleavage. Coexpression of PC1 with PC2 mutants revealed that the conformational change in PC1 does not require either a stable interaction between PC1 and PC2 or PC2 channel function. Finally, we show that the tandem PKD repeats and to a lesser extent the receptor for egg jelly (REJ) domain both contribute to the extension of the PC1 string in the presence of PC2. We propose that the PKD repeats detach from the C-terminal fragment in response to PC2 activity. The resulting remodeling of PC1 may be responsible for enhancing GPS cleavage of PC1 and the separation of the PC1 N-terminal fragment from the C terminus during its maturation.

Disruption of the gene BSCL2, which encodes the protein seipin, causes severe generalized lipodystrophy in humans with a near complete absence of adipose tissue. Moreover, cell culture studies have demonstrated that seipin plays a critical cell-autonomous role in adipocyte differentiation. These observations reveal seipin as a critical regulator of human adipose tissue development; however, until recently very little has been known about the potential molecular functions of this intriguing protein. Despite significant recent interest in the function of seipin, our understanding of its molecular role(s) remains limited. The topology of seipin and lack of evidence for any enzymatic domains or activity indicate that it may act principally as a scaffold for other proteins or play a structural role in altering membrane curvature and/or budding. Work in this area has been hampered by several factors, including the lack of homology that might imply testable functions, the poor availability of antibodies to the endogenous protein and the observation that this hydrophobic ER membrane-resident protein is difficult to analyze by standard Western blotting techniques. Here we summarize some of the techniques we have applied to investigate the association of seipin with a recently identified binding partner, lipin 1. In addition, we describe the use of atomic force microscopy (AFM) to image oligomers of the seipin protein. We believe that AFM will offer a valuable tool to examine the association of candidate binding proteins with the seipin oligomer.

Disruption of the gene BSCL2, which encodes the protein seipin, causes severe generalized lipodystrophy in humans with a near complete absence of adipose tissue. Moreover, cell culture studies have demonstrated that seipin plays a critical cell-autonomous role in adipocyte differentiation. These observations reveal seipin as a critical regulator of human adipose tissue development; however, until recently very little has been known about the potential molecular functions of this intriguing protein. Despite significant recent interest in the function of seipin, our understanding of its molecular role(s) remains limited. The topology of seipin and lack of evidence for any enzymatic domains or activity indicate that it may act principally as a scaffold for other proteins or play a structural role in altering membrane curvature and/or budding. Work in this area has been hampered by several factors, including the lack of homology that might imply testable functions, the poor availability of antibodies to the endogenous protein and the observation that this hydrophobic ER membrane-resident protein is difficult to analyze by standard Western blotting techniques. Here we summarize some of the techniques we have applied to investigate the association of seipin with a recently identified binding partner, lipin 1. In addition, we describe the use of atomic force microscopy (AFM) to image oligomers of the seipin protein. We believe that AFM will offer a valuable tool to examine the association of candidate binding proteins with the seipin oligomer.

Aims/hypothesis In humans, disruption of the gene BSCL2, encoding the protein seipin, causes congenital generalised lipodystrophy (CGL) with severe insulin resistance and dyslipidaemia. While the causative gene has been known for over a decade, the molecular functions of seipin are only now being uncovered. Most pathogenic mutations in BSCL2 represent substantial disruptions including significant deletions and frameshifts. However, several more subtle mutations have been reported that cause premature stop codons or single amino acid substitutions. Here we have examined these mutant forms of seipin to gain insight into how they may cause CGL. Methods We generated constructs expressing mutant seipin proteins and determined their expression and localisation. We also assessed their capacity to recruit the key adipogenic phosphatidic acid phosphatase lipin 1, a recently identified molecular role of seipin in developing adipocytes. Finally, we used atomic force microscopy to define the oligomeric structure of seipin and to determine whether this is affected by the mutations. Results We show that the R275X mutant of seipin is not expressed in pre-adipocytes. While the other premature stop mutant forms fail to bind lipin 1 appropriately, the point mutants T78A, L91P and A212P all retain this capacity. We demonstrate that wild-type human seipin forms oligomers of 12 subunits in a circular configuration but that the L91P and A212P mutants of seipin do not. Conclusions/interpretation Our study represents the most comprehensive analysis so far of mutants of seipin causing lipodystrophy and reveals several different molecular mechanisms by which these mutations may cause disease. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00125-013-3029-3) contains peer-reviewed but unedited supplementary material, which is available to authorised users.

A longitudinal surveillance study was carried out among the tribal (Garo Tribe) and non-tribal adolescent girls at a renowned hill tracts (Madhupur) in Bangladesh. A total number of 110 adolescent girls were collected among them fifty percent were tribal and another was non- tribal general population. In baseline survey, overweight found 7.3% in non-tribal adolescent girls whereas in tribal girls it was 1.8% and 70.9% non-tribal and 58.2% tribal adolescent girls were normal body weight at baseline survey. The nutritional status was increased in subsequent surveys. Hygienic sanitary napkin was used only 36.4% tribal adolescents and 70.9% non-tribal adolescent girls at baseline survey which was positively increased in 2nd and 3rd follow-up surveys. But the consciousness about proper sanitary practices was little increased in both groups is a bad indicator of personal hygiene knowledge. However, the knowledge about food misconception was positively deviates in both groups after second and third time monitoring. Thus it can be postulate that the repeated survey and monitoring can influence the positive variations of the nutritional knowledge, health care behavior and positive health outcomes towards normal BMI-for-age in both groups due to sharing and mix-up nutrition education knowledge.

A cross sectional comparative study was carried out to compare the nutritional status between the vegetarian and non-vegetarian individuals. The study was conducted among 100 respondents (50 vegetarian and 50 non-vegetarian) at Tangail sadar upazilla in Tangail district to assess their nutritional status by collecting anthropometric and socio-demographic data, dietary intake pattern as well as hygienic and clinical information. Among the respondents all the vegetarian were Hindu and majority of the non-vegetarian were Muslim (70%). The study found that nutritional status of 72% vegetarian and 62% non-vegetarian were normal. According to this study 4% vegetarian and 12% non-vegetarian respondents were underweight and 26% non-vegetarian and 24% vegetarian respondents were overweight respectively. Mean heights of vegetarian respondents was 161.62cm and mean weight 59.78 kg whereas mean height and weight of the non-vegetarian respondents were 158.62cm and 57.14 kg respectively. The study observed the food habits of the respondents. Vegetarian respondents consumed more leafy and non-leafy vegetables, pulses, and dairy based products avoiding egg, meat, and fish. Besides 64% non-vegetarian consumed fish and 24% consumed egg daily and 64% consumed meat weekly. The study findings strengthen the notion that the nutritional status of the vegetarian respondents are better than non-vegetarian due to their health consciousness and food intake pattern.

A cross sectional study was carried out to investigate the effects of mothers’ nutritional knowledge, health and nutritional factors and socio-economic parameters on school performance among class five students of University Laboratory School, Dhaka. All of the eighty students were selected for this study. This study found there is a strong relationship between mother’s knowledge score and school performance. It was found that mothers’ knowledge score was responsible for 91.1 percent change in school performance. The mean BMI of the mothers was 20.44. We found that the school performance measured by class roll number of the students is significantly related with mothers BMI. There was an imperfect negative association between socio-economic parameters and school performance. But the relationship between the school performances with socio-economic parameters was strongly significant. This study also observed the relationship between Individual Dietary Diversity Score (IDDS) of respondent and marks achieved in class 4 final exam. It is alarming that consumption percentage were low for eggs (30) and milk and milk products (37.5), but majority of the students who consumed milk and milk products (63.3%) and eggs (66.7%) got the highest marks.

Malnutrition is a major health problem; especially in developing countries and it is the gravest single threat to global public health. Malnutrition is by far the major contributor of child mortality across the globe. A non experimental, descriptive action research with a multi-methodological approach study was carried out to assess nutritional status, socio-demographic condition and associated factors of the selected street children of Dhaka City. This study was conducted among 120 street children at Shabagh area in Dhaka city. All of the respondents were boys, and aged between 6-18 years. Methods included on site observation, completion of a standard demographic questionnaire, a validated quantitative food frequency questionnaire and anthropometric measurements. The nutritional status indicated that, 61.7% of the children were underweight and 38.3% of the children were healthy. According to this study about 31.7% were involved with different types of work and also 68.7% were not involved with any kind of work. Majority (87.5%) of the street children ate three times a day followed by another 12.5% having two meals a day.With respect to sources of drinking water, most (63.3%) of the respondents took drinking water from tube wells, while 36.7% of the respondents took drinking water from the WASA/Supply. Most (86.7%) of the respondents washed their hands before eating and 60.8% of them suffered from a disease in the 3 months prior to the study. It is necessary to design interventions that will prevent children from coming to the streets.

Commercially available four national and four international brands of esomeprazole magnesium sustained release matrix tablets were studied in simulated gastric medium (pH 1.2) for 2 hours and simulated intestinal medium (pH 6.8) for 8 hours time period using USP reference dissolution apparatus. All the national and international brands complied with the USP in-vitro dissolution specifications for drug release in simulated gastric medium. However, one of the national brands (Code: MP-1) and one of the international brands (MP-7) failed to fulfill the official requirement of 80% drug release within 8th hour in simulated intestinal medium. Drug release of that national and international brand were 70.49% and 67.05% respectively within the specified time period, however one national brand (Code: MP-4) released 103.46 % drug within 8th hour in intestinal medium. Drug release profiles were analyzed for zero order, first order and Higuchi equation to reveal the release kinetics perspective of esomeprazole magnesium sustained release matrix tablets. It was found that zero order release kinetics was the predominant release mechanism than first order and Higuchi release kinetics for those brands (Code: MP-2, MP-3, MP-4, MP-5, MP-6 and MP-8) which complied with the USP in vitro dissolution specification for drug releases. On the other hand, first order release kinetics was predominant for one national and also one international non compliant brands (Code: MP-1 and MP-6). Key Words: In vitro dissolution; Sustained release; Market preparations; Kinetic analysis; Esomeprazole; National brand; International brand. DOI: 10.3329/sjps.v2i1.5812Stamford Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences Vol.2(1) 2009: 27-31

Aceclofenac loaded agarose beads were prepared by ionotropic gelation method and drug release profile, swelling index (SI %) and entrapping efficiency (EE %) of aceclofenac were investigated. The drug was dissolved in melted 4 % agar solution in different ratios. Beads were prepared by dropping the hot aqueous solution into a beaker of different percentages of chilled CaCl2 solution followed by filtering the solution and drying at room temperature. The entrapment efficiency was 100±5 %. The swelling index was found to be highest (18.22 % in 4 hours) for beads containing aceclofenac-agar (1:2) in 4 % electrolyte solutions and the swelling property was decreased with increasing electrolyte concentration. In vitro dissolution of beads was carried out in USP apparatus-II (paddle method) at 75 rpm. The drug release was measured by using UV-Spectrophotometer at λmax of 268 nm for acid media and 274 nm for buffer media. The dissolution data were treated with zero order, first order and Higuchi model. Half of the formulations were fitted to Higuchi model and rest half to first order model. Finally it can be concluded that with the increasing polymer (agar) concentration, the release rate of aceclofenac was decreased and swelling index was increased and with the increasing electrolyte concentration, the release rate was increased and swelling index was decreased. Key Words: Aceclofenac, Agarose bead, Electrolyte, Ionotropic Gelation method.  doi:10.3329/sjps.v1i1.1780 S. J. Pharm. Sci. 1(1&2):10-17

The present study was carried out to develop biodegradable intrascleral implants of Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate and to evaluate the release pattern of the drug from the prepared implants. Intrascleral implants were prepared by using biodegradable polymer L-PLA (m.wt. 61,200 Da). Sodium chloride (NaCl), gelatin and glycerol monostearate (GMS) were used in various formulations to observe the effects of these additives on the release of Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate from the prepared L-PLA based intrascleral implants. Five different formulations were prepared for this study and were coded as FD-1 (10%drug+L-PLA), FD-2 (20%drug+L-PLA), FD-3 (10%drug+L-PLA+5%NaCl), FD-4 (10%drug+L-PLA +5%Gelatin) and FD-5 (10%drug+L-PLA+10% GMS). Discs were prepared and made into appropriate shape before submerging into the buffer solution of pH 7.4 in different vials. The in vitro release profile of Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate from the implants showed a biphasic release pattern with an initial burst followed by a diffusive phase. It was observed that FD-1 and FD-2 showed 19.63% and 29.87% release on the first day and 24.22% and 38.5% release respectively at day 30. The drug loading of FD-1 and FD-2 was 10% and 20% respectively. Among FD-3, FD-4 and FD-5; FD-3 showed highest release (32.1%) at day 30 in which 5% NaCl was used. FD-4 showed 27.45% release at day 30 where gelatin, a hydrophilic agent was used and FD-5 containing GMS, a lipid material, was found to be most retarding (19.22% at day 30). The results of the dissolution study provide an idea that L-PLA may be successfully used for the preparation of biodegradable intrascleral implant of Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate. Key words: Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate; Bioidegradable polymer; Intrascleral implants. DOI: 10.3329/sjps.v2i1.5817Stamford Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences Vol.2(1) 2009: 56-60

Hydrophilic polymers are widely used to prepare sustained release matrix tablets. These polymers showed their sustained action by forming a barrier of thick gel layer around the matrix. Here swelling of the polymer and erosion of matrix plays a major role to control the release of the drug. In this present study the swelling and erosion properties of some hydrophilic polymers were correlated to their sustaining and rate controlling behavior. Matrix tablets containing hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC K100cps), carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC 50,000 cps) and methocel K15M CR polymers were prepared. The powder mixture was evaluated for their flow properties and the prepared tablets for their physical parameters. Swelling and erosion index of the tablets were carried out in pH 6.8 phosphate buffer and dissolution in 0.1N HCl (2 hours) followed by pH 6.8 phosphate buffer (8 hours) using USP apparatus II (paddle method) at 50 r.p.m. HPMC K100 cps was found to be not as rate retarding as the other two. From the all results it was observed that F-6 (containing 43.243% methocel K15M CR) showed highest swelling and erosion index (740.589% and 12.017% respectively), slowest release rate (24.491% at 8 hours) and highest MDT value (55.401 hours). Finally it can be concluded that increasing the polymer concentration or polymer's viscosity grade, swelling and erosion index increases, release rate decreases and MDT value increases. Key words: Aceclofenac; Matrix tablets; HPMC; CMC; Physical parameters; Release kinetics. DOI: 10.3329/bjsir.v45i2.5712Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res. 45(2), 141-150, 2010