Search

Abstract Background Anaemia is a significant public health concern in Bangladesh, yet data on the prevalence of anaemia in pregnancy and the contribution of iron deficiency are limited. Given the reliance on groundwater for drinking, a better understanding of the role of drinking water iron in anaemia aetiology is also required to inform anaemia prevention strategies. Methods This cross-sectional study enrolled 1500 pregnant women from Narayanganj district, Bangladesh, during their second or third trimester. Anaemia and iron status were described and their relationship with drinking water iron assessed using regression analyses. Results The prevalence of anaemia was 38% (95% confidence interval, CI: 35%, 40%), with 10% (95% CI: 9%, 12%) experiencing moderate-to-severe anaemia. Iron deficiency affected 48% (95% CI: 45%, 50%) of participants. Although drinking water iron concentrations were generally low (median: 0 mg/L; interquartile range: 0–1), high concentrations (≥ 2 mg/L) were associated with increased ferritin levels but did not significantly impact iron deficiency (95% CI: 0·73, 1·02) or anaemia (95% CI: 0·79, 1·17) prevalence. Iron deficient women had a 1·86 (95% CI: 1·61, 2·15) adjusted prevalence ratio for anaemia and a 4·22 (95% CI: 2·89, 6·17) adjusted prevalence ratio for moderate-to-severe anaemia, compared to iron replete women. Conclusions Anaemia and iron deficiency are highly prevalent among pregnant women in Narayanganj. These findings challenge the assumption of low iron deficiency prevalence throughout Bangladesh and highlight iron deficiency in pregnancy as a potentially underrecognized public health problem, particularly in regions with low drinking water iron. Further research is needed to clarify the contribution of drinking water iron to iron deficiency and anaemia in Bangladesh. Trial registration The study is registered with the Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12621000982819, registered 26/07/2021)

Histiocytic disorders mostly occur as de-novo nodal or extranodal benign masses with rare secondary malignant transformation. A 10-year-old female presented with 10-cm cervical swelling since 9 months associated with fever. Computed tomography revealed left cervical lymphadenopathy and bilateral lung nodules. Lymph node excision biopsy showed effacement of architecture by atypical histiocytes with marked nuclear pleomorphism and frequent mitosis. Focal areas showed mature histiocytes with emperipolesis. The cells were immunopositive for CD68, CD163, and S100 (focal), whereas they were negative for Langerin and CD1a. The Ki67 proliferative index was 30%. A diagnosis of histiocytic sarcoma in a background of Rosai-Dorfman disease was made.

Sylhet division is the major tea-producing region of Bangladesh. This study was conducted to explore the potential of rainwater harvesting by a designed model to fulfill the water requirement of the Lackatoorah tea garden during the dry season. Data were collected from both primary and secondary sources, and remote sensing data were analyzed using ArcGIS 10.7 to assess soil texture and slope. Four potential sites of (1.5 m ×1m) area were identified to estimate the volume of runoff water in the study. Four tanks with a capacity of 4000 liters were placed to store water as a reservoir for four sites. This study reveals that the study area received maximum average rainfall during June (742.7 mm - 839.2 mm) and July (667.7 mm - 787.2 mm) and the months from October-March received minimum rainfall (

Various industries polluting the water bodies by discharging untreated wastewater directly into the environment and conventional wastewater treatments are often insufficient for effectively treating the pollutants. However, membrane bioreactors (MBRs) offer a promising solution for wastewater treatment where membrane serving as the heart of the system. In this study, polyethersulfone (PES) was used as the membrane material and hydrophilicity of the membranes were tuned up by mixing with hydrophilic additives such as polyethylene glycol (PEG) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and the membranes have shown promising results in treating wastewater, particularly in terms of chemical oxygen demand (COD), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), and color removal. For example, PES-PEG membrane demonstrated COD, BOD, and color removal of 96 %, 94 %, and 92 %, respectively while those were 95 %, 94 %, and 92 %, respectively for PES-based commercial membrane. Although the performances of fabricated membranes were comparable to that of commercial membrane in COD, BOD, and color removal efficiencies, there is room for improvement in permeate yields. Notably, the average permeate efficiency for MBR modules produced with PES-3PEG and PES-5PVP membranes was recorded as 47 % (18 L/m2h) and 13 % (5 L/m2h) respectively of the commercial membrane (38 L/m2h). Despite the variance in permeate yields, the fabricated membranes also showcased significant efficacy in removing microorganisms, a crucial aspect of wastewater treatment. Their performance in this regard proved highly comparable to that of the commercial membrane, emphasizing the potential of these fabricated membranes in enhancing the wastewater treatment.

Background and aim: N-acetyl-p-benzoquinoneimine (NAPQI), a toxic byproduct of paracetamol (Acetaminophen, APAP), can accumulate and cause liver damage by depleting glutathione and forming protein adducts in the mitochondria. These adducts disrupt the respiratory chain, increasing superoxide production and reducing ATP. The goal of this study was to provide computational proof that succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), a subunit of complex II in the mitochondrial respiratory chain, is a favorable binding partner for NAPQI in this regard. Method: Molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulation, protein-protein interaction networks (PPI), and KEGG metabolic pathway analysis were employed to identify binding characteristics, interaction partners, and their associations with metabolic pathways. A lipid membrane was added to the experimental apparatus to mimic the natural cellular environment of SDH. This modification made it possible to develop a context for investigating the role and interactions of SDH within a cellular ecosystem that was more realistic and biologically relevant. Result: The molecular binding affinity score for APAP and NAPQI with SDH was predicted −6.5 and −6.7 kcal/mol, respectively. Furthermore, RMSD, RMSF, and Rog from the molecular dynamics simulations study revealed that NAPQI has slightly higher stability and compactness compared to APAP at 100 ns timeframe with mitochondrial SDH. Conclusion: This study serves to predict the mechanistic process of paracetamol toxicity by using different computational approaches. In addition, this study will provide information about the drug target against APAP hepatotoxicity.

MFCs (Microbial Fuel Cell) are bio-electrochemical devices that use microorganisms as biocatalysts to transform the chemical energy found in organic or inorganic compounds into electric currents. However, one of the limitations of this technology in terms of practical application is its lower electric efficiency, which greatly depends on the selection of anode material and the types of waste water used. In this work, organically rich wastewater and pure magnesium anode materials were utilized. Also, to investigate the effect of electrode size on power generation, five different sizes of coin-shaped anodes were employed for the variation in anode size, whose diameter and thickness were (15 mm × 2 mm), (20 mm × 2 mm), (20 mm × 3 mm), (20 mm × 4 mm), and (25 mm × 2 mm) with corresponding surface areas [2πr(r+h)] are 448 mm 2, 754 mm 2, 817 mm 2, 880 mm 2 and 1139 mm 2, respectively. The maximum obtained current density, power density, and energy densities were 4734.26 mA/m2, 37400.625 mW/m2 and 81.59 kW-h/kg respectively, by the smallest anode of size (15 mm × 2 mm). This investigation showed that a reduction in the size of the anode decreases the loss in the activation zone. As a result, from the smallest anode, maximum power and energy output were obtained. Finally, this analysis outlines the process and approaches for MFC to produce more power at a potentially lower cost. It is noted that same waste water has been used throughout the study where surface area of the samples vary from lowest to highest level.

Abstract Multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were successfully synthesized and functionalized by chemical vapour deposition and acid reflux methods, respectively. Chitosan (CTS) was prepared by a chemical extraction method from waste prawn shells. Various weight fractions of functionalized multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (f‐MWCNTs) have been used as reinforcing agent in CTS biopolymer matrix. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis was done, which confirms the presence of absorption bands of the various functional groups of chitin, CTS, and MWCNTs. Raman spectra revealed the quality of MWCNTs, the extent of their functionalization, and the quality of nanocomposites. The X‐ray diffraction analysis showed the distinctive peaks for f‐MWCNTs’ and also revealed the formation of CTS/f‐MWCNTs nanocomposites. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) analysis also exhibited that the CTS/f‐MWCNTs nanoparticles have a well‐defined crystalline structure. The highest coercivity and magnetization (Ms) of the CTS/5%f‐MWCNTs nanocomposite are 602 Oe and 0.1202 emu/g, respectively that have been enhanced by 3.83 and 5.27 times compared to the pure CTS respectively. It showed that the conductivity is getting higher with the addition of f‐MWCNTs in the CTS matrix. CTS/5% f‐MWCNTs composites exhibit the highest conductivity than other composites and the conductivity of CTS/5% f‐MWCNTs composite is 4.0×10−4 S/m.

The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway, particularly the p38 MAPK and ERK1/2, has been implicated in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). Recent studies have shown that MAPK signaling pathway can influence the expression of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9), known for its involvement in various physiological and pathological processes, including neurodegenerative diseases. This study explores the modulation of MMP-9 expression via the MAPK/ERK signaling cascade and its potential therapeutic implications in the context of PD-associated motor dysfunction. Here, tolperisone hydrochloride (TL), a muscle relaxant that blocks voltage-gated sodium and calcium channels, was used as a treatment to observe its effect on MAPK signaling and MMP-9 expression. Rotenone (RT) exposure in mice resulted in a significant reduction in substantia nigra and primary motor cortex neurons, which were further evidenced by impairments in motor function. When TL was administered, neuron count was restored (89.0 ± 4.78 vs 117.0 ± 4.46/mm2), and most of the motor dysfunction was alleviated. Mechanistically, TL reduced the protein expression of phospho-p38MAPK (1.06 fold vs 1.00 fold) and phospho-ERK1/2 (1.16 fold vs 1.02 fold), leading to the inhibition of MAPK signaling, as well as reduced MMP-9 concentrations (2.76 ± 0.10 vs 1.94 ± 0.10 ng/mL) in the process of rescuing RT-induced neuronal cell death and motor dysfunction. Computational analysis further revealed TL’s potential inhibitory properties against MMP-9 along with N and L-type calcium channels. These findings shed light on TL's neuroprotective effects via MMP-9 inhibition and MAPK signaling downregulation, offering potential therapeutic avenues for PD-associated motor dysfunction.

ABSTRACTThe envelope glycoprotein (Env) trimer on the surface of human immunodeficiency virus type I (HIV-1) mediates viral entry into host CD4+ T cells and is the sole target of neutralizing antibodies. Broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) that target gp120 V3-glycan of HIV-1 Env trimer are potent and block the entry of diverse HIV-1 strains. Most V3-glycan bnAbs interact, to a different extent, with a glycan attached to N332, but Asn at this position is not absolutely conserved or required for HIV-1 entry based on the prevalence of N332 in different circulating HIV-1 strains from diverse clades. Here, we studied the effects of amino acid changes at position 332 of HIV-1AD8 Envs on HIV-1 sensitivity to antibodies, cold exposure, and soluble CD4. We further investigated how these changes affect Env function and HIV-1 infectivity in vitro. Our results suggest robust tolerability of HIV-1AD8 Env N332 to changes, with specific changes that resulted in extended exposure of gp120 V3 loop, which is typically concealed in most primary HIV-1 isolates. Viral evolution leading to Asn at position 332 of HIVAD8 Envs is supported by the selection advantage of high levels of cell–cell fusion, transmission, and infectivity with high levels of cell surface expression and slightly higher gp120 shedding than most N332 variants. Thus, tolerance of HIV-1AD8 Envs to different amino acids at position 332 provides increased flexibility to respond to changing conditions/environments and evade the immune system. Modeling studies of the distance between N332 glycan and specific bnAbs were in agreement with N332 glycan dependency on bnAb neutralization. Overall, our studies provide insights into the contribution of specific amino acids at position 332 to Env antigenicity, stability on ice, and conformational states.IMPORTANCEGlycan attached to amino acid asparagine at position 332 of HIV-1 envelope glycoproteins is a main target of a subset of broadly neutralizing antibodies that block HIV-1 infection. Here, we defined the contribution of different amino acids at this position to Env antigenicity, stability on ice, and conformational states.

Soil parameters are crucial aspects in increasing agricultural production. Even though Bangladesh is heavily dependent on agriculture, little research has been done regarding its automation. And a vital aspect of agricultural automation is predicting soil parameters. Generally, sensors relating to soil parameters are quite expensive and are often done in a controlled environment such as a greenhouse. However, a large scale implementation of such expensive sensors is not very feasible. This work tries to find an inexpensive solution towards predicting soil parameters such as soil moisture and temperature, both of which are crucial to the growth of crops. We focus on finding a robust relation between the above mentioned soil parameters with the nearby weather parameters such as humidity and temperature, irrespective of the weather. We apply different machine learning models like multilayer perceptron (MLP), random forest, etc. to predict the soil parameters, given the humidity and temperature of the surrounding environment. For all the experiments we have used a custom made dataset, which contains around 9000 datapoints of soil moisture & temperature, ambient humidity & temperature. The data has been collected in an uncontrolled agriculture bed via inexpensive sensors. Our results show that XGBoost regressor achieves the best results with an R2 score of 0.93 and 0.99 for soil moisture and soil temperature data respectively. This suggests very high correlation between the weather parameters and soil parameters. The model also portrayed a very low root mean squared error and mean absolute error of 0.037 & 0.015 for soil moisture and 0.001 & 0.0008 for soil temperature. Our results show that it is indeed possible to find the soil parameters from the corresponding weather, which will have great impact on mass agricultural automation. The dataset has been made publicly available at https://github.com/Nadimulhaque0403/Soil_parameter_prediction_dataset.

A 35-year-old individual with carpal tunnel syndrome presented with tingling and numbness in the left thumb, index, and middle finger. A 3D printed CTS splint was crafted to immobilize the affected wrist joint, aiding pharmacotherapy. At six weeks, evaluations included the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain, and Evaluation of Satisfaction with assistive Technology (QUEST) version 2.0.9. Substantial improvements were observed in Bangla-BCTQ scores (symptom severity scale: 3.68 vs. 1.27; functional status scale: 2.74 vs. 1.31), VAS (70 vs. 30), and QUEST scores. 3D printing technology may contribute to better personalized musculoskeletal care enhancing quality of life.

Abstract Acne vulgaris (AV) is a psychosomatic disorder and can negatively affect individuals, especially in terms of psychological well-being, self-esteem, and quality of life (QoL). The current study aimed to investigate the association between AV and psychological health, as well as the influence of acne and psychological distress in predicting patients' self-esteem and QoL. This cross-sectional study included 150 patients clinically diagnosed with AV. The severity of acne was measured using GAGS, and following that, patients were instructed to complete the following forms: DASS-21, RSES, CADI, DLQI, and WHOQoL. Female AV patients had significantly higher depression (p = 0.003, t = 3.025) and anxiety (p

Abstract An effective human immunodeficiency virus type I (HIV-1) vaccine that robustly elicits broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) against HIV-1 envelope glycoproteins (Envs) to block viral entry is still not available. Thus, identifying triggers for elicitation of different types of anti-HIV-1 Env antibodies by vaccination could provide further guidance for immunogen design and vaccine development. Here, we studied the immune response to HIV-1 Env immunogens in rabbits. We show that sequential immunizations with conformation-specific Env immunogens can elicit low titer but broad neutralization responses against heterologous, neutralization-resistant (tier 2/3) transmitted/founder (T/F) HIV-1 strains. More importantly, an mRNA vaccine candidate that could mediate the presentation of a cytoplasmic tail-deleted (ΔCT) HIV-1AD8 Env immunogen on virus-like particles significantly increased the neutralization response. This strategy shifted the type of elicited antibodies, decreasing the level of binding to soluble Envs while significantly increasing their overall viral neutralization activity. The breadth and potency of neutralizing response against heterologous, T/F HIV-1 strains significantly increased in a subset of rabbits. Efficient neutralization activity was associated with high cellular immune responses specific to HIV-1 Envs. These results help to understand the immune response to different immunization schemes and will allow developing new approaches to selectively manipulate the type of humoral immune response by specific vaccination.

Internet of things (IoT) and software-defined networking (SDN) are two relatively recent developments in the field of communication technology that have emerged in response to the growing demand for more efficient, flexible, and dynamic network architectures. As both of these concepts are new, they have received increasing attention from academic or industrial sources to emphasize their potential for integration. This study is aimed at reviewing the literature on SDN for IoT (SDN-IoT) published from 2014 to 2022 and presenting insights and directions for future research, with a particular focus on cloud, fog, and edge computing. The study collects data from Science Direct, IEEE Explore, and Google Scholar and objectively selects 126 papers and conducts metadata analysis. The study articulates the challenges of managing and orchestrating IoT systems and how SDN can be used to address these challenges by enabling dynamic and flexible network configurations. It delineates not only the function of blockchain (BC) technology in securing and managing IoT networks but also how SDN can be utilized to incorporate BC-based solutions. Additionally, the potential of SDN for mobile networks is explored, which are increasingly being used to support IoT devices. Finally, this study outlines the issues, challenges, and potential future research directions that may present opportunities for the researchers working in this field, underscoring the demand for more in-depth investigation and advancement.

Saltwater intrusion in the coastal areas of Bangladesh is a prevalent phenomenon. However, it is not conducive to activities such as irrigation, navigation, fish spawning and shelter, and industrial usage. The present study analyzed 45 water samples collected from 15 locations in coastal areas during three seasons: monsoon, pre-monsoon, and post-monsoon. The aim was to comprehend the seasonal variation in physicochemical parameters, including water temperature, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), salinity, total dissolved solids (TDS), hardness, and concentrations of Na+, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Fe2+, HCO3-, PO43-, SO42-, and Cl-. Additionally, parameters essential for agriculture, such as soluble sodium percentage (SSP), sodium absorption ratio (SAR), magnesium absorption ratio (MAR), residual sodium carbonate (RSC), Kelly's ratio (KR), and permeability index (PI), were examined. Their respective values were found to be 63%, 16.83 mg/L, 34.92 mg/L, 145.44 mg/L, 1.28 mg/L, and 89.29%. The integrated water quality index was determined using entropy theory and principal component analysis (PCA). The resulting entropy water quality index (EWQI) and SAR of 49.56% and 63%, respectively, indicated that the samples are suitable for drinking but unsuitable for irrigation. These findings can assist policymakers in implementing the Bangladesh Deltaplan-2100, focusing on sustainable land management, fish cultivation, agricultural production, environmental preservation, water resource management, and environmental protection in the deltaic areas of Bangladesh. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of seasonal variations in the hydrochemistry and water quality of coastal rivers, aiding in the comprehension of salinity intrusion origins, mechanisms, and causes.

The present study investigates an environmentally conscious method for synthesizing silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) by employing extracts from pomegranate peel (PgP) and pineapple peel (PnP). This green synthesis approach offers a sustainable alternative to traditional chemical methods, thereby reducing the ecological footprint associated with nanoparticle production. The PgP and PnP extracts serve as both reducing and capping agents during the synthesis process, enhancing the biocompatibility of the resultant AgNPs. Various characterization techniques, including UV-Vis spectroscopy, Raman analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), dynamic light scattering (DLS), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), were utilized to analyze the synthesized AgNPs. UV-Vis spectroscopy confirmed the formation of AgNPs through characteristic surface plasmon resonance peaks, while FTIR examined the interaction between biomaterial components and the oxidation and coating of silver nanoparticles. Raman analysis elucidated the functional groups responsible for reducing and stabilizing AgNPs, while XRD provided insights into their crystalline structure. TEM images revealed the size and morphology of the nanoparticles, while DLS characterized their average size and morphology. In addition, the synthesized AgNPs were utilized in a bioelectrochemical cell to leverage their unique properties for enhanced electrochemical performance, showcasing their potential application in energy storage and conversion systems. Overall, this study demonstrates the feasibility of utilizing agricultural waste products such as PgP and PnP for sustainable AgNP synthesis, offering promising prospects for environmentally friendly nanotechnology advancement.

Abstract In this investigation, a nanostructured Cu2O thin film absorber layer is electrodeposited, exploring the impact of varying negative applied voltages and deposition time. Notably, the Cu2O thin film demonstrated optimal absorbance at −0.95 V, contrasting sharply with a minimum at −0.97 V. The authors' findings underscore that the peak absorbance was achieved at −0.95 V, coinciding with the lowest transmittance observed after 80 min of deposition, aligning with a maximal absorption coefficient of 21 × 103 cm−1. At a deposition time of 5 min, the Cu2O thin film exhibited a noteworthy maximum Urbach energy of 2.00 eV and a minimum steepness parameter of 0.013. In contrast, the lowest Urbach energy was recorded at 0.34 eV, with the highest steepness parameter occurring at an applied voltage of 0.93 V. Furthermore, this study revealed a gradual increase in the refractive index with higher applied voltages, reaching its pinnacle at −1.5 V. These results collectively emphasize the nuanced interplay between applied voltage, deposition time and the optical properties of the nanostructured Cu2O thin film. The observed trends hold significant implications for optimizing the performance of thin film absorber layers, particularly in the context of enhancing absorbance and tailoring optical characteristics for specific applications.

In this research paper, our primary objective is centered around the creation, characterization, and evaluation of zinc sulfate (ZnSO4) nanoparticles through the utilization of Nigella sativa as a natural reducing agent. We embraced an environmentally conscious and uncomplicated green synthesis approach to synthesize these ZnSO4 nanoparticles. For a comprehensive examination of their structural and physical properties, we employed techniques such as x-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and dynamic light scattering analysis. Our results unequivocally confirmed the successful production of ZnSO4 nanoparticles with well-defined crystalline structures, distinct wavelength patterns, prominent peak values, and specific particle sizes. This study underscores the impressive efficacy of Zn nanoparticles in the context of bio-electrolyte power generation systems. In addition, it introduces an economically feasible and environmentally friendly method for their fabrication. The Zn nanoparticles display great potential as a solid basis for advancing bio-electrochemical cells, underscoring the significance of further exploration into their effects on these cells.

Abstract Obesity is a major risk factor for hypertension, type 2 diabetes and other morbidities. On the other hand, hypertension is a leading cause of cardiovascular disease. The presence of obesity in hypertensive persons increases cardiovascular risk and related mortality. Data on the prevalence of obesity and hypertension in academic staff in Bangladesh are scarce. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with obesity and hypertension among university academic staff in Bangladesh. In total, 352 academic staff were enrolled in this study from two universities in Bangladesh. A pre-structured questionnaire was used to obtain data on anthropometric, demographic and lifestyle-related factors. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the factors associated with obesity and hypertension. Overall, the prevalence of general and abdominal obesity and hypertension was 26.7%, 46.9% and 33.7%, respectively. Female staff had a significantly higher prevalence of both general and abdominal obesity (41% and 64.1%, respectively) than male staff (21.5% and 34.9%, respectively) (p 50 years and 41–50 years age groups, respectively. According to the regression analysis, female gender and inadequate physical activity were independently associated with general and abdominal obesity. On the other hand, increased age, BMI, WC, presence of diabetes and smoking showed a significant association with hypertension. In conclusion, the prevalence of obesity and hypertension was higher among university academic staff members in Bangladesh. Our findings suggest that comprehensive screening programs are needed to facilitate the diagnosis, control, and prevention of obesity and hypertension in high-risk population groups.

Abstract Background Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by the involvement of multiple organs and autoantibody production. This study aimed to determine the association of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)‐DQ and ‐DR alleles with SLE at a tertiary hospital in Bangladesh. Methods This case–control study was conducted in the Department of Rheumatology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka, Bangladesh. The patients who fulfilled the 1997 revised American College of Rheumatology classification criteria for SLE were considered cases (n = 41). The controls (n = 32) were selected from the hospital staff of BSMMU, including doctors and nurses who did not suffer from any known rheumatic diseases, and there was no such disease in their first‐degree relatives. Polymerase chain reaction using a sequence‐specific primer (PCR‐SSP) in a low‐resolution typing method was carried out on blood samples collected for HLA‐DQ and ‐DR allele typing. Results The cases and controls had comparable mean ages (31 vs. 32 years), and most cases were female (95.1% vs. 34.4%). The most frequent clinical manifestations were mucocutaneous (85.4%), followed by musculoskeletal (70.7%) and constitutional symptoms (58.5%). The cases had a significantly higher frequency of HLA‐DR2 allele compared with healthy controls (70.7% vs. 43.8%; odds ratio: 3.1; 95% confidence interval: 1.2–8.2). In addition, HLA‐DQ6 allele was found to have a significant association with mucocutaneous manifestations of the cases (88.9%, P = 0.03). Conclusions Bangladeshi adults having HLA‐DR2 may be more susceptible to SLE. HLA‐DQ6 allele might be associated with mucocutaneous manifestations of SLE.

Objective To measure the severity of allergic rhinitis (AR) and different types of headaches in patients with septal deviation before and after septoplasty. Methods This multicentre, prospective, longitudinal, observational study enrolled patients with deviated nasal septum, nasal symptoms and headaches associated with persistent AR lasting at least 2 months without resolution. The nasal obstruction evaluation (NOSE) scale, immunoglobulin-E (Ig-E) levels and visual analogue scale (VAS) for headache pain severity were evaluated before and after septoplasty using Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Results A total of 196 patients were enrolled in the study (102 males; 94 females). A total of 134 patients (68%) were diagnosed with severe AR and 166 (85%) experienced headaches with AR. The majority (100 of 166 patients; 60%) had sinusoidal headaches, while 25% (42 of 166 patients) reported a combination of sinusoidal headache and migraine and 14% (24 of 166 patients) experienced migraines. A comparison of preoperative and postoperative Ig-E levels, NOSE and VAS scores demonstrated that septoplasty significantly improved AR symptoms and headaches. Although there were significant improvements in headaches overall post-septoplasty, only the sinusoidal components improved, while migraine remained unaffected. Conclusion Septoplasty improved AR and sinusoidal headaches in patients with septal deviation, but migraines remained unaffected.

Intracranial hemorrhage is a medical condition characterized by bleeding within the skull or brain tissue. It has mainly five subtypes: epidural, subdural, subarachnoid, intraparenchymal, and intraventricular. To ensure a successful outcome for a patient, timely and accurate identification of intracranial hemorrhage is crucial. However, a shortage of radiologists, particularly in rural areas, can lead to a delay in diagnosis. In this work, we proposed an automatic way of identifying intracranial hemorrhage from a Computed Tomography (CT) scan. To classify intracranial hemorrhage accurately, we have optimized the Densely Connected Convolutional Network (DenseNet) using Bayesian Optimization (BO). We utilized Bayesian optimization (BO) to determine the optimal learning rate, optimizer, and the number of nodes in the dense layer for the DenseNet architecture. Our proposed model can analyze CT scans to detect the presence of hemorrhage and identify its subtype. The optimized DenseNet model showcased remarkable performance. By ensuring accurate and reliable diagnoses, our method will assist doctors in making better-informed decisions and providing better care for their patients.

Abstract Xanthine oxidase (XO) is a metalloflavoenzyme associated with the uric acid formation in purine metabolism. Serum XO has been suggested to be associated with liver and kidney dysfunction, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. However, there is limited information on the relationship between serum XO levels and hypertension. This study aimed to assess the relationship between serum XO levels and hypertension in Bangladeshi adults. In this study, fasting blood samples were collected from 312 participants (225 males and 87 females), aged ≥ 20 years. Serum levels of XO were determined by ELISA and other biochemical parameters including serum uric acid (SUA) were measured by colorimetric methods. Hypertension was defined as SBP ≥ 140 mmHg and/or DBP ≥ 90 mmHg or self-reported recent use of anti-hypertensive medications. Association between serum XO levels and hypertension was evaluated by multinomial logistic regression analysis. The mean level of XO was significantly higher (p

Concentration, source, ecological and health risks of sixteen polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were estimated for water and sediment samples of two urban rivers namely Buriganga River (BR) and Dhaleswari River (DR). The mean concentration of ∑PAHs in BR water and sediment were 9619.2 ngL−1 and 351.6 ngg−1, respectively. Furthermore, the average PAH concentrations detected in DR water and sediment were 1979.1 ngL−1 and 792.9 ngg−1, respectively. The composition profile showed that 3-ring PAHs were dominant in the water matrix; however, 5-ring PAHs were prevalent in the sediment samples of both rivers. Sources apportion study of PAHs indicated that mixed combustion and petroleum sources are responsible for PAHs contamination in the rivers. Ecological risk study of water suggested that the aquatic lives of both rivers are threatened by Fla, BbF, BkF, DahA, and IcdP, as presented above the threshold level. Comparison with sediment quality guidelines (SQGs) indicated that adverse effects might cause occasionally in the sediment ecosystem in DR at certain sampling sites for Nap, Acy, Fl, Phe, Ant, Pyr, Chr, BaP, and DahA. On the other hand, the presence of Nap, Acy and DahA might occasionally cause adverse biological effects in the BR sediment ecosystem. Estimated hazard quotient (HI > 1) and carcinogenic risk (CRtotal > 10−4) values indicated that local inhabitants living in the vicinity of the rivers are prone to high health risks.

In this study, a carbon-based adsorbent was developed from waste newspaper through pyrolysis at 800 °C to evaluate the removal efficiency of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (Benzo[ghi]perylene (BghiP) and Indeno [1,2,3-cd] pyrene (IP)) from wastewater. The surface area of the developed adsorbent was estimated at 509.247m2g-1 which allowed the adsorption of the PAHs from wastewater. The maximum adsorption capacity was estimated at 138.436 μg g−1 and 228.705 μg g−1 for BghiP and IP, respectively and the highest removal efficiency was observed at pH 2. Around 91% removal efficiency was observed at pH 7 for both pollutants. Experimental adsorption data were fit for pseudo-second-order kinetics and Langmuir isotherm models, which demonstrate electrostatic interaction, monolayered deposition, hydrogen bonding, and π-π interaction between adsorbate and adsorbent which play a significant role in adsorption. The regeneration study described that the developed adsorbent could be able to intake 52.75% BghiP and 48.073% IP until the 8th and 6th cycles, respectively. The removal efficiency of the adsorbent in the real sample was also evaluated. This study will provide a method to convert waste material into adsorbent and will remove PAHs from wastewater as a function of pollutant mitigation and waste management.

Abstract Miliary tuberculosis is a disseminated and active form of tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It frequently affects immunocompromised patients. However, immune‐competent hosts are reported rarely. Herein, we reported a case of miliary tuberculosis of a 40‐year‐old immune‐competent Bangladeshi man presented with pyrexia of unknown origin.

Tree crowns and growth rings are physiologically and functionally connected through supporting and resource sharing. Management interventions may strongly influence tree growth by altering this linkage. However, conventional approaches have limited ability to characterize crown shape precisely, thus hindering our understanding of the relationship between crown shape and tree ring patterns. We, thus, aimed to test three hypotheses: (HI) Crown shape (regularity vs. irregularity) and ring patterns (regularity or irregularity) are significantly correlated and (HII) vary across density gradients; if so, (HIII) internal ring patterns could be predicted from external crown shape metrics. We, therefore, employed terrestrial laser scan-based crown shape and coring-based tree ring width metrics for Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) H. Karst.) trees covering a range of density gradients to assess temporal changes of crown shape and tree ring patterns. We found a significant and positive influence of crown shape quantifying metrics on ring patterns, indicating crown regularity or irregularity strongly reflects tree ring regularity or irregularity (p

Abstract Background Neurofibromatosis type 1 is an inherited cancer predisposition syndrome that is caused by a mutation in the NF1 gene that encodes neurofibromin. Patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 have a higher risk of gastrointestinal stromal tumor. This study reports the case of a patient with gastrointestinal stromal tumor who was later diagnosed to have neurofibromatosis type 1 and, unlike usual features, had some uncommon features such as occurrence at an early age and unusual site of origin. Case We report the case of a 29-year-old Indian female diagnosed to have gastrointestinal stromal tumor originating from the greater curvature of the stomach. Gastrointestinal stromal tumor was wild type, negative for c-kit and platelet-derived growth factor receptor, and had an aggressive clinical course not responding to oral tyrosine kinase inhibitors. On later evaluation, we found that the patient had germline mutation in NF1. This case has some unusual features compared with gastrointestinal stromal tumor cases reported in neurofibromatosis type 1. Firstly, the age of onset for gastrointestinal stromal tumor in neurofibromatosis type 1 is earlier in our case compared with previous cases reported in literature. Secondly, the site of occurrence is in the stomach, without involving other parts of the intestine. Gastrointestinal stromal tumor in neurofibromatosis type 1 is usually multifocal, and small intestine is the common site of occurrence. When occurring in the stomach, it is usually associated with other lesions in the small intestine. Lastly, the clinical course is aggressive compared with previous case reports and series. Conclusion Our patient had germline NF1 mutation and cutaneous stigmata of neurofibromatosis. Our patient had unicentric gastrointestinal stromal tumor occurring at younger age and involving greater curvature of the stomach, with spindle cell type histology and high-risk features. If gastrointestinal stromal tumor occurs at young age, we should look into neurocutaneous markers.

Abstract Background Knee osteoarthritis was reported as the second most prevalent condition in the national musculoskeletal survey. The purpose of this extended study was to identify risk factors for knee osteoarthritis in Bangladeshi adults. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted in rural and urban areas of Bangladesh using stratified multistage cluster sample of 2000 adults aged 18 years or older recruited at their households. The Modified Community Oriented Program for Control of Rheumatic Disorders (COPCORD) questionnaire was used to collect data. The diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis was made using the decision tree clinical categorization criteria of the American College of Rheumatology. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were done to identify the risk factors for knee osteoarthritis. Results A total of 1843 individuals (892 men and 951 women) participated, and 134 had knee osteoarthritis yielding a prevalence of 7.3% (95% confidence interval (CI) 4.9 to 9.6%). The mean (standard deviation) age of the knee osteoarthritis patients was 51.7 (11.2) years. Multivariate logistic regression analysis found a significant association with increasing age (≥38 years OR 8.9, 95% CI 4.8–16.5; ≥58 years OR 13.9, 95% CI 6.9–28.0), low educational level (OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.0–2.7) and overweight (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.2–2.9) with knee osteoarthritis. Knee osteoarthritis patients had a high likelihood of having work loss preceding 12 months (age and sex-adjusted OR 2.3; 95% CI 1.4–3.8; P

Abstract Objectives To determine the association of Human leukocyte antigen B (HLA‑B) alleles with ankylosing spondylitis and the allelic association of HLA‐B27 with endoplasmic reticulum aminopeptidase 1 (ERAP1) single‐nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs30187 in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Methods We studied 48 consecutively enrolled well‐defined AS patients and 48 healthy controls recruited from the outpatient clinic of the rheumatology department of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka, Bangladesh. To genotype HLA‐B alleles from peripheral blood DNA, we designed sequence‐specific primers for polymerase chain reaction. Sanger's sequencing method was used to detect the ERAP1 rs30187 SNP. The HLA‐B allele distributions were compared between cases and controls. To infer an allelic association between HLA‐B27 and ERAP1, allele distributions from both loci were compared using cross‐tabulations. Chi‐squared test or Fisher's exact test was used to quantify the association, and their strength of association was tested by odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI). Results The frequency of HLA‐B27 was found to be higher in AS patients (60.4%) than in healthy controls (8.3%). HLA‐B27 allele had an OR of 16.8 (95% CI = 5.2–54.4) for the development of AS. Overall, 4% of AS patients had both HLA‐B27 and HLA‐B40. No significant association was found between ERAP1 rs30187 SNP and HLA‐B27 in patients with AS (OR = 1.7, 95% CI = 0.5–5.6). Conclusions HLA‐B27 was significantly associated with AS in patients in Bangladesh. However, no association between ERAP1 rs30187 SNP and HLA‐B27 was observed.

Background: In Bangladesh, there is a scarcity of nationally representative data on the burden of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods: To estimate the COPD prevalence in rural settings, this cross-sectional, population-based study was conducted in all eight administrative divisions of Bangladesh, and involved adults aged 40 years and above. By using multi-stage random sampling, 2,458 individuals were enrolled. The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) guidelines were used to diagnose COPD based on post-bronchodilator lung function, while additional participant data was gathered through computer-assisted personal interviews. Results: A 2% COPD prevalence (95% CI: 1.45, 2.55) was found in the study sample with a statistically significant difference between males (2.7%; 95% CI: 1.8, 3.6) and females (1.2%; 95% CI: 0.59, 1.81). Increasing age significantly inflated the odds of having COPD irrespective of sex (OR: 1.03; 95% CI: 1.00, 1.05; P value < 0.05). Furthermore, prevalence of COPD was higher among manual workers, cigarette smokers, and those that used the indoor kitchen and did not have a primary education. Sex-based analysis showed that smokeless tobacco consumption was significantly associated with COPD occurrence among males (OR: 2.14; 95% CI: 1.05, 4.37; P value < 0.05), but not females. Further, using an indoor kitchen increased the odds of developing COPD by 400% among female participants (OR: 4.39; 95% CI: 1.37, 14.10; P value < 0.05). Conclusion: This study provides a comprehensive sex-based estimation of COPD prevalence among rural population and imparts significant contribution to the growing database on COPD prevalence in Bangladesh.

Recent technology has modeled VANET (vehicular adhoc network) communication well in terms of privileges to derive vehicular communication technologically to save time, energy, and money. Due to the increase in powerful technology in modern times, VANETs play a vital role in uplifting daily concerns across vehicles and vehicular identities. Hence, to tune VANETs to become compatible with traditional technologies and increase demand, VANETs require upgrading. The severity and frequency of unwanted occurrences have become a considerable concern for our day-to-day lives relating to vehicular position. Thus, verily updated methodologies or working procedures are needed for the future VANET interplay to eradicate such problems occurring through vehicular identities. This article outlines in technology related to VANETS, future developments, and coping issues by deriving comprehensive frameworks, workflow patterns, upgrading procedures including big data, fog computing, SDN (software defined networking), and SIoT (social Internet of Things). This article provides a high-level overview of a complete VANET upgrade solution to address future problem management issues under a range of acceptable scientific themes, indicators, and combinations.

Neural Architecture Search (NAS) is the process of automating the design of neural network architectures for a given task. Although NAS automates the process of finding suitable neural network architectures for a specific task, the existing NAS algorithms are immensely time-consuming. The main bottleneck in NAS algorithms is the training time for each architecture. This study proposes an Improved Grey Wolf Optimization based on Synaptic Saliency (IGWO-SS), which is much faster than the existing NAS algorithms and provides better final performance. The IGWO-SS algorithm skips training the less promising architectures by creating a relative rank between the architectures based on synaptic saliency. The architectures that are lower in rank are considered less promising than those that are higher in rank. Since the calculation of synaptic saliency is a very fast process, a significant amount of time is saved by skipping training of less promising architectures. This study involves extensive experiments assessing synaptic saliency’s effectiveness in improving NAS. The experimental results indicate that the synaptic saliency of an untrained neural network positively correlates with its final accuracy. Hence, it can be used to identify untrained promising neural networks. The experimental results also suggest that the IGWO-SS algorithm is almost $10x$ faster and achieves better final performance than five other bio-inspired algorithms. The IGWO-SS algorithm achieves higher mean accuracy than state-of-the-art NAS algorithms, including - REA, RS, RL, BOHB, DARTSV1, DARTSV2, GDAS, SETN, and ENAS. We hope our work will make NAS more accessible and useful to researchers by reducing the time and resources required to perform NAS.

Abstract Background and Aims Rice mill workers are frequently exposed to rice dust specks containing bacteria, endotoxins, spores, and chemicals in workplaces. Consequently, they develop diverse respiratory symptoms that lead to increased disability and social burden. The present study was conducted to observe the frequency of respiratory symptoms among rice mill workers in Bangladesh. Methods This cross‐sectional study was conducted at different rice mills in Rangpur district of Bangladesh. Three hundred and forty‐six rice mill workers, both male and female of 18 years and above, with a job experience of at least 3 years, were selected as study subjects. An equal number of people who had never worked at rice mills were selected from the nearby locality as the nonexposed group. Enquiries were made regarding respiratory symptoms with the help of a preformed questionnaire which contained sociodemographic characteristics, occupational history, potential confounding factors, and physical parameters. A respiratory dust sampler was used to measure workplace dust concentration. Results The presence of one or more respiratory symptoms was significantly higher among rice mill workers than in the nonexposed group (52.3% vs. 17.6%). Rice mill workers who worked for more than 10 h and had a working experience of more than 15 years had a higher frequency of respiratory symptoms (41.3% and 39.8%, respectively). Rice mill workers with body mass index (BMI)

A modified QuEChERS method was developed for the simultaneous analysis of tylosin (Tyl) and metronidazole (MNZ) residues in shrimp samples using LC-ESI-MS/MS. The sample extraction procedure was based on modified QuEChERS, and the cleanup method was dispersive solid-phase extraction (dSPE). Octadecyl (C18) and primary secondary amine (PSA) sorbents were used in the dSPE cleanup. Analyte chromatographic separations were carried out using a ZORBAX RRHD Eclipse Plus C18 (100 × 2.1 mm, particle size 1.8 μm) column. The mobile phase consisted of dilluting 0.1% of formic acid with water and acetonitrile. The analyte was identified with multiple reaction monitoring and positive electrospray ionization. The analyte showed good linearity in the range of 0.5–50 μg/L for both analytes, and correlation coefficients (R2) were 0.9997 and 0.9998 for Tyl and MNZ, respectively. For the recovery study, three different concentration levels were spiked in triplicate. The recovery obtained a good result in the range of 81–85 % for Tyl with relative standard deviation (RSD) ≤ ± 4.9% and in the range of 85–88% for MNZ with RSD ≤ ± 4.07 %. The limit of detection (LOD) was estimated at 0.4 μg/kg for Tyl and 0.3 μg/kg for MNZ, and the limit of quantification (LOQ) was estimated at 1 μg/kg for Tyl and 0.9 μg/kg for MNZ. The linearity and recovery study showed that the method is validated and can be used to determine the Tyl and MNZ residues in shrimp. Finally, the method was applied to 25 real samples, which were collected from local markets and super shops in Dhaka and Khulna districts of Bangladesh, and only traces of Tyl were detected in one sample. This method is suitable for the regular analysis of Tyl and MNZ antibiotic residues in shrimp samples and can be used to ensure food safety in Bangladesh.

This cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the serum lipid profiles in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients and its correlation with the severity of COPD in the Department of Respiratory Medicine at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University. A total of 100 spirometric-confirmed cases of COPD were included. Fasting blood samples for lipid profiles were collected. To identify the association between severity of COPD with lipid profiles Pearson’s correlation was used. Further multiple linear regression was done to identify the relation. The mean (standard deviation) age of the patients was 59.0 (10.7)years. The ratio of males and females was 19:1. The mean forced expiratory volume (liters) in 1 second (FEV1) was 55.1 (18.1). Most of the patients had stage II (48%) and stage III (36%) airflow obstruction. Plasma level of total cholesterol and triglyceride tend to increase, statistically non-significant, with stages of COPD. However, the association of plasma lipids becomes statistically significant with FEV1 when the effects of age, BMI, pack-year smoking, duration of illness are accounted in multiple linear regression analysis. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Journal 2022;15(4):37-41

The scarcity of freshwater in most of the megacities in the world is an important concern. In this regard, scientifically harvested rainwater could provide an effective measure to this crisis. In this attempt, we developed a cost-effective sensor-based automated first-flush rainwater harvesting system (RHS) to improve the freshwater scarcity and economic development of megacities like Dhaka, Bangladesh. To investigate the performance of the developed system, a suit of representative rainwater samples was systematically collected, preserved, and assessed between the months of July–December 2021 for water quality parameters such as physicochemical (pH, EC, TDS, DO, hardness, and alkalinity), anions (F−, Cl−, NO2−, NO3−, Br−, and SO42−), elemental (Ca, Mg, Cr, As, Cd, Hg, Pb, Be, Ni, Se, and Fe), and microbial contamination analysis. A Multiparameter digital meter and a titrimetric method were employed for measuring the physicochemical properties whereas elemental concentration was detected using an inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer and atomic absorption spectrometer. The changes in microbial contamination in the preserved rainwater were investigated from time to time during the whole experimental period. The findings showed that the mean pH (6.90) and concentrations (mg/L) of other concerning parameters such as TDS (15.5), DO (7.26), hardness (14.9), Cl− (3.59), NO3− (4.84), SO42− (4.62), Fe (

In this cross-sectional study from October 2020 to September 2021, pulmonary function was assessed in 40 (24 severe and 16 non-severe) post- COVID-19 patients at three months following hospital discharge by convenient sampling in post-COVID follow-up clinic at Department of Respiratory Medicine, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka. Among 40 subjects, 17 (42.5%) had restrictive defect, 1 (2.5%) had obstructive defect and 22 (55%) had normal spirometry. There was reduced total lung capacity (TLC) in 17 (42.5%) subjects and reduced diffusing lung capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) in 20 (50%) subjects. Mean six minutes walking distance (6MWD) was low (387.6±99.4 meters). Oxygen desaturation was in 4 (10%) cases. Frequency of restrictive defect was higher in severe than non-severe subjects (54.2% vs. 25%). Reduced TLC was in 62.5% of severe and 12.5% of non-severe cases. There was higher frequency of reduced DLCO in severe than non-severe casese (62.5% vs. 31.3%). 6MWD was lower in severe than non-severe group (354.0±134.9 vs. 438.2±51.4 meters, P=0.02). Pulmonary function was found significantly impaired in post-COVID patients which was more prominent in severe disease group. BSMMU J 2022; 15(3): 192-196

Abstract not available BSMMU J 2022; 15(2): 132-137

The COVID-19 pandemic caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 is continuing to spread globally. SARS-CoV-2 infections of feline and canine species have also been reported. However, it is not entirely clear to what extent natural SARS-CoV-2 infection of pet dogs and cats is in households. We have developed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) using recombinant SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N) protein and the receptor-binding-domain (RBD) of the spike protein, and the SARS-CoV-2 spike-pseudotyped vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV)-based neutralization assay to screen serum samples of 239 pet cats and 510 pet dogs in Minnesota in the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic from mid-April to early June 2020 for evidence of SARS-CoV-2 exposures. A cutoff value was used to identify the seropositive samples in each experiment. The average seroprevalence of N- and RBD-specific antibodies in pet cats were 8% and 3%, respectively. Among nineteen (19) N-seropositive cat sera, fifteen (15) exhibited neutralizing activity and seven (7) were also RBD-seropositive. The N-based ELISA is also specific and does not cross react with antigens of common feline coronaviruses. In contrast, SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were detected at a very low percentage in pet dogs (~ 1%) and were limited to IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 N protein with no neutralizing activities. Our results demonstrate that SARS-CoV-2 seropositive rates are higher in pet cats than in pet dogs in MN early in the pandemic and that SARS-CoV-2 N-specific IgG antibodies can detect SARS-CoV-2 infections in companion animals with higher levels of specificity and sensitivity than RBD-specific IgG antibodies in ELISA-based assays.

Aim: Hemangioendotheliomas (HEs) are malignant vascular tumors with sparse descriptions in literature owing to their rarity. Study design: Ours is a retrospective study among patients of advanced HEs registered between September 2015 and April 2021. Results: There were 13 patients with median age 34.6 (range: 4–69 years), male preponderance (69%) and predominant subtype of epithelioid HE (76.9%). Common primary sites were viscera (46.2%) and bone (30.8%). Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) yielded objective responses in 30% patients whereas chemotherapy only produced disease stabilization in 7.7%. Conclusion: We recognize an aggressive subset of HEs with manifestations such as acute liver failure and splenic rupture. Currently no biomarkers predict the efficacy of TKIs over chemotherapy; however, TKIs showed promising outcomes in this series.

Globally, with the growing importance of mangroves for providing ecosystem services and mitigating climate change, it is still uncertain whether planted mangroves can be the counterpart of natural mangroves, and thus the role of planted mangroves is still less understood. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the stand structure and carbon storage of a young mangrove plantation in Satkhira District, Bangladesh and to compare it with the natural mangrove forest (i.e., Sundarbans) to understand the potential of this young mangrove plantation as a nature-based solution to climate change. In addition, to better understand the spatial dynamics of afforested mangrove forests, we investigated and compared both above and below-ground carbon stocks between the landward and riverward sites. We collected both above (height and diameter at breast height, DBH) and belowground (i.e., coarse and fine root) data from 16 plots with a total area of 1600 m2 in two paired transects, eight plots each in landward and riverward sites. Aboveground carbon stocks were estimated using the species-specific allometric models from the biophysical tree parameters (i.e., height and DBH). Besides, belowground root (≥ 20 mm) carbon was measured by direct weighting after collecting soil samples through coring. Stand structural attributes (i.e., density, basal area, and DBH) showed a significant difference between the two sites, whereas Sonneratia apetala was found as the dominant species (IV = 188.7∼207.1) in both forest sites. The mean carbon stock of this plantation was 49.1 Mg C ha−1, while the mean aboveground carbon (AGC) was 37.3 Mg C ha−1. The landward site contributed significantly more AGC (40.1 Mg C ha−1) than the riverward (34.4 Mg C ha−1) site (p

Abstract Background Carney’s triad is a rare syndrome comprising gastrointestinal stromal tumor, extra-adrenal paraganglioma, and pulmonary chondroma along with newer additions of adrenal adenoma and esophageal leiomyoma. The triad is completely manifest in only 25–30% cases, with most patients presenting with two out of three parts of the syndrome. Wild-type succinate-dehydrogenase-deficient gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumor forms the most common component of Carney’s triad and is usually multicentric and multifocal. It usually demonstrates indolent behavior and resistance to imatinib; hence, the management remains predominantly surgical. Pulmonary chondromas are commonly unilateral and multiple with slow-growing nature, which allows for conservative management. Adrenocortical adenomas are found in 20% of patients and are usually detected as incidentalomas. Case presentation A 49-year-old Asian male presented with upper gastrointestinal bleed and was diagnosed with multiple gastric succinate-dehydrogenase-deficient gastrointestinal stromal tumors. On evaluation, he was found to have left pulmonary chondroma and non-secretory adrenal adenoma, thus completing the Carney’s triad. He underwent surgery with sleeve gastrectomy and excision of the antral tumor nodule, while the adrenal and pulmonary tumors have been under close follow-up. Conclusion Literature regarding Carney’s triad is scarce, especially from the Indian setting. Our report aims to highlight the various manifestations of this syndrome with emphasis on management of wild-type succinate-dehydrogenase-deficient gastrointestinal stromal tumor. Radical gastric surgeries do not offer a survival advantage in this condition; hence, more conservative modalities of resection can be adopted.

Abstract Background and Aims Inhalation of respirable silica dust during several stone processing methods can result in several respiratory diseases. However, data are scarce regarding the respiratory health of stone‐cutting workers in Bangladesh. We aimed to determine the point prevalence of respiratory symptoms, lung function status and radiological abnormalities among the stone‐cutting workers. Methods This cross‐sectional study was conducted among 200 stone‐cutting workers. Adult workers having a job experience of at least 3 years participated in this study. Then inquiry was made regarding respiratory symptoms with the help of a preformed questionnaire. All the participants underwent chest X‐ray and spirometry. A respiratory dust sampler was used to measure the dust concentration of the stone‐cutting factories. Results Among the 200 stone‐cutting workers, 89% (178) showed at least one chronic respiratory symptom while they had chest tightness (75.5%), chronic cough (74.5%), and shortness of breath (66.5%) as the most prominent ones. Spirometry findings revealed that the mean forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) value was 1.42± 0.65 L in the obstructive pattern, 1.43 ± 0.73 L in the restrictive pattern. The mean forced vital capacity (FVC) value was 2.53 ± 1.12 L in the obstructive pattern, 1.53 ± 0.75 L in the restrictive pattern. 42.69% of stone‐cutting workers who complained of at least one respiratory symptom had abnormal chest X‐ray findings. Those with progressive massive fibrosis had the lowest mean FEV1 value (0.75 ± 0.50 L). While measuring workplace dust concentration, we found high particulate matter (PM) 2.5 (979.78 µg/m3) and PM 10 (1298.35 µg/m3) values. Conclusions Most of the stone‐cutting workers in our study exhibited different respiratory symptoms. These symptoms were associated with abnormal lung function and radiology. Further longitudinal studies are recommended to determine the actual dimension of this problem.

Objective Low back pain (LBP) is a common musculoskeletal disorder. This study aims to determine the residence-specific and sex-specific prevalence and the factors associated with LBP in Bangladesh.Methods The study subjects (aged ≥18 years) were identified from 20 primary sampling units of the national census following a cross-sectional multistage stratified sampling design. We considered the mechanical type of LBP for this study. A Bangla version of the modified Community Oriented Programme for Control of Rheumatic Disorders questionnaire was used. A team of trained field workers, rheumatology residents and rheumatologists collected the data. Analysis was done using weighted data.Results Two thousand subjects were approached, but 1843 could be screened. Among them, 561 had musculoskeletal disorders, and 343 were diagnosed with LBP. The weighted prevalence of LBP was 18.5% (95% CI: 11.8% to 25.2%) and age-standardised prevalence of LBP was 19.4% (95% CI: 14.0% to 24.8%), which was higher in women (27.2%, 19.3% to 35.1%) than men (14.0%, 8.7% to 19.3%). The prevalence persistently increased from age group 18–34 years (10.5%, 5.7 to 15.4) to ≥55 years (27.8%, 16.1% to 39.5%). People with no education had the highest prevalence (31.3%, 22.3% to 40.4%). The prevalence did not differ between urban and rural residential locations. Four factors were significantly associated with LBP: age (adjusted odds ratio: 2.4, 95% CI: 1.7 to 3.4), female sex (2.2, 1.5 to 3.3), absence of formal education (2.3, 1.6 to 3.3) and hypertension (1.7, 1.1 to 2.6).Conclusion LBP is a common problem in Bangladeshi adults. The factors identified are age, female sex, no formal education and hypertension. These should be addressed adequately to prevent and treat LBP.

Tuberculosis is our old enemy while COVID-19 (Coronavirus disease 2019) is a novel one. Both diseases have many similarities in terms of target organ affected, transmission, clinical presentations. COVID-19 is a fast-track novel pandemic while tuberculosis is a slow-moving pandemic. As control measures, countries all over the globe have enforced lockdown to halt the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, but this stringent method has a negative impact on access to the health care delivery system. It seems that there is a dropping of new case findings, but modeling projection by WHO estimates that the total number of tuberculosis cases will rise by 2025. Bangladesh is a high Tuberculosis burden country in the south Asia region. Worldwide COVID-19 has a negative impact on tuberculosis diagnosis and management strategy. Bangladesh has impending threat to rise in tuberculosis case in future because of lockdown process, densely populated nation, poverty, reallocation of tuberculosis diagnostic facility and trained staff to diagnose COVID-19 and collapse of DOTS (directly observed treatment, short-course) program of NTP (national tuberculosis control program), rampant use of immunosuppressant’s including steroid, biologics. Prompt tuberculosis case detection, digital supervised drug delivery, avoidance of injudicious use of steroids, biologics to treat COVID-19, and testing for both COVID-19 and tuberculosis should be simultaneously undertaken to tackle this overwhelming situation. Eradication of psycho-social stigma about these two diseases is essential for preventing a perfect storm. BSMMU J 2022; 15(1): 54-56

Aim: To study the role of check point inhibitors (CPI) in sarcoma and gastrointestinal stromal tumors. Materials & methods: Retrospective data of 15 patients diagnosed with advanced sarcoma or gastrointestinal stromal tumors and treated with CPI. Results: 3/14 patients (21.4%) responded to treatment with a disease control rate of 42.8% (6/14). After a median follow-up of 14 months (range: 2–24 months), 11 (73.3%) patients progressed, the median progression-free survival was 4 months (95% CI: 1.7–6.3) and median overall survival was 14 months (95% CI: 2.6–25.7). Only one patient experienced a grade IV adverse event. Conclusion: Our data represent the first real-world application of CPI in sarcoma from India. We believe that CPI should be further evaluated in clinical trials.