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BACKGROUND: Bangladesh is a densely populated country with a substandard healthcare system and a mediocre economic framework. Due to the enormous number of people who have been unaware until now, the development of COVID-19's second-wave infection has become a severe threat. The present investigation aimed to characterize the clinical and socio-demographic characteristics of COVID-19 in Bangladesh. METHODS: A cross-sectional analysis was carried out from all the other COVID-19 patients and confirmed by RT-PCR undergoing a specialized COVID-19 hospital. From March 1 to April 15, 2021, a total of 1326 samples were collected. Samples were only obtained from non-critical COVID-19 patients as critically ill patients required emergency intensive care medications. Then, from April 17 to May 03, 2021, SARS-CoV-2 infection and clinical assessment was performed based on interim guidelines from the WHO. The diagnosis was conducted through RT-PCR. Later, identifying the symptomatic and asymptomatic patient based on checking the Clinical Observation Form (COF). The patients filled the COF form. Finally, statistical analyses were done using the SPSS 20 statistical program. RESULTS: In this investigation, a total of 326 patients were diagnosed as COVID-19 positive. Among them, approximately 19.02% (n = 62) were asymptomatic, and 80.98% (n = 264) were symptomatic. Here, the finding shows that the occurrence of this infection was varied depending on age, sex, residence, occupation, smoking habit, comorbidities, etc. However, Males (60.12%) were more affected than females (39.88%), and, surprisingly, this pandemic infected both urban and rural residents almost equally (urban = 50.92%; rural = 49.08%). Approximately 19% of the asymptomatic and 62% of symptomatic cases had at least one comorbid disorder. Interestingly, an unexpected result was exhibited in the case of smokers, where non-smokers were more affected than smokers. The study indicates community transmission of COVID 19, where people were highly infected at their occupations (35.58%), at houses (23.93%) and by traveling (12.88%). Noteworthy, according to this report, a large number (19.33%) of individuals did not know exactly how they were contaminated with SARS-CoV-2. Patients were most commonly treated by an antibiotic 95.09%, followed in second by corticosteroid 46.01%. Anti-viral drugs, remdesivir, and oxygenation are also needed for other patients. Among those, who were being treated, approximately 69.33% were isolated at home, 27.91% were being treated at dedicated COVID-19 hospitals. Finally, 96.63% were discharged without complications, and 0.03% has died. CONCLUSION: This investigation concludes that males became more infected than females. Interestingly, both urban and rural people became nearly equally infected. It noticed community transmission of SARS-CoV-2, where people were highly infected at their workplaces. A higher rate of silent transmission indicates that more caution is needed to identify asymptomatic patients. Most of the infected people were isolated at home whereas nearly one-fourth were treated at hospitals. Clinically, antibiotics were the most widely used treatment. However, the majority of the patients were discharged without complications. The current investigation would be helpful to understand the clinical manifestations and socio-demographic situations during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh.

This review provides a pharmacological approach to combat Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) based on two comprehensive denominations which could be specifically intended for viral replication process by either inhibiting essential genomic viral enzymes or preventing viral entry to human cells. These denominations focused on immune therapies either to improve innate antiviral immune responses or to reduce impairment triggered by underactive inflammatory reactions. A variety of drug candidates are available which can inhibit SARS-CoV-2 infection and replication, comprising serine protease inhibitors: Transmembrane Orotease/Serine Subfamily member 2 (TMPRSS2), camostat mesylate, nafamostat mesylate, and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. This review is also concerned with identifying drugs and ongoing clinical trials with their mechanisms of action against SARS-CoV-2. Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, monoclonal antibody, off-label antiviral drugs, nucleotide analog remdesivir and broad-spectrum antiviral drugs also could be used as inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2. Moreover, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), dexamethasone, and antiviral phytochemicals that are currently reachable, can prevent SARS-CoV-2 pandemic morbidity and mortality. Keywords: COVID-19; Antiviral drugs; NSAIDs; ACE2; Clinical trials

Plasma agriculture is an emerging field. In this report, we studied the effect of medium pressure (~ 10 torr) low-frequency (3–5 kHz) glow discharge (LFGD) plasma on various agronomical and physiological attributes in wheat. Wheat seeds treated by LFGD plasma generated from Argon–Oxygen (Ar + O2) gas mixture and air showed a remarkable enhancement in seed germination by 12.38% and 7.14% respectively. Also, the morpho-physiological features significantly improved due to plasma treatment relative to control. In germinated wheat seedlings, H2O2 concentration markedly increased due to plasma treatments, suggesting that LFGD may be involved in nitrogen signaling in wheat. The SOD activity significantly increased in wheat seedlings subjected to Ar + O2 plasma, while APX activity showed a significant increase only in the shoot of wheat plants in the same condition. Besides, both plasma treatments (Ar + O2 and Air) caused a significant increase in CAT activity in the shoot but not in the root compared to non-treated plants. Analysis of wheat plants germinated from plasma treated seeds showed a notable increase in total soluble sugar and protein subjected to Ar + O2 plasma treatment. Results also revealed a significant increase in TGM, iron, manganese, fat, and ash content while moisture content significantly decreased in wheat grain due to plasma treatments relative to controls. These findings explore the potentialities of LFGD plasma in boosting germination, growth, and nutritional traits of wheat plants.

Medicinal plant-derived bioactive compounds have recently gained more interest in biological research as an important source of novel drug candidates. Phyllanthus acidus (L.) is a widely distributed herbal medicinal plant naturally used in Ayurvedic medicine in Bangladesh. The present study focused on exploring the biological potential as well as the inhibitory effect of EAC cell growth with a comparative analysis between Phyllanthus acidus fruit pulp and seed. Crude methanol extract of P. acidus (MEPA) fruit pulp and seed was assessed as DPPH and NO free radical scavengers. While Brine Shrimp lethality bioassay, the standard protocol of phytochemical screening and hemagglutination assay were performed successively to determine the toxic effect on normal cells, the identification of some crucial phytochemicals, and the existence of lectin protein. EAC (Ehrlich’s Ascites Carcinoma) cell growth inhibition was determined by hemocytometer and morphological changes of EAC cells were observed by a fluorescence microscope using Swiss albino mice. The IC50 value of MEPA fruit pulp and seed was obtained as 57.159 µg/ml and 288.743 µg/ml respectively where minimal toxic effects on Brine Shrimp nauplii demonstrates that it is a good source of natural antioxidant compounds. Again, MEPA fruit pulp and seed-mediated effective agglutination of mouse blood erythrocyte strongly support the presence of lectin protein. Furthermore, MEPA fruit pulp and seed extract-treated EAC cells showed 65.71% and 28.57% growth inhibition respectively. The fluorescent microscopic examination of EAC cells treated with MEPA fruit pulp has shown more remarkable structural changes in the nucleus than that of seed. Based on the above findings, the present study reveals that MEPA fruit pulp can be considered as a novel biological candidate for the treatment of fatal diseases shortly.

Purpose The pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has cost numerous lives and induced tremendous mental stress among people. The purpose of this research was to determine anxiety and depression levels, clinical features, and the connections between demographic variables and depression prevalence as well as anxiety prevalence among reported COVID-19 cases in Bangladesh. Methods For the purpose of data collection, an online cross-sectional survey was carried out from May 26 to June 27, 2020, utilizing a Google adapted preformed questionnaire. The form was shared with a short overview and justification through Facebook, Twitter, Facebook messenger, Viber, and What’s App. The Google form contains five parts: a brief introduction, an approval statement, demographics, clinical and radiological data, and mental health assessment by the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) scale and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Formal ethical clearance was taken from the Institute of Biological Science (IBSc), Bangladesh. Informed consent was ensured before participation. Results One hundred and fifty-three (153) patients with COVID-19 who had an average age of 39.43 ± 17.59 years with male predominance (72%) were included. A total of 32.7% were doing health-care related jobs, and 17.7% lost their jobs due to COVID-19. Patients had a median income of 30,000 Bangladesh taka (BDT). Of all, 12.4% of the participants showed asymptomatic features, whereas 87.6% of patients were symptomatic and presented with fever (79%), cough (58.8%), myalgia (24.2%), breathlessness (23.5%), sore throat (21.6%), fatigue (19.6%), headache (13.7%), nausea and/or vomiting (11.8%), runny nose (9.8%), chest pain (9.2%), diarrhea (8.5%), stuffy nose (3.2%), ARDS (2.6%), oral ulcer (2.6%), and conjunctivitis (1.9%). Overall, the prevalence of anxiety and depression was 63.5% and 56.6%, respectively. Among the participants, 13.2% had only anxiety, 6.3% had only depression, and 50.3% had both. Conclusion In most cases, middle age, male, and healthy workers were patients. Fever and cough were the standard presentations. Approximately two-thirds or 66.67% of patients had anxiety and depression, one or both.

In this present study conducted with the LFGD (Low-Frequency Glow Discharge) (Ar + O2) plasma treated maize seeds, to inspect the effect on seed surface modifications, seed germination, growth, development, productivity and nutritional compositions of maize plants. This study reported that LFGD (Ar + O2) plasma treated maize seeds have a potential effect to change its smooth seed surfaces and, it becomes rougher. It also enhances the seed germination rate up to (15.88%), which might help to increase the shoot length (33.42%), root length (10.67%), stem diameter (13.37%), total chlorophyll content (46.93%), total soluble protein (52.48%), total soluble phenol (21.68%) and sugar (1.62%) concentrations in respect controls of our experimental plants. For this reason, the acceptable treatment duration for maize seeds were 30sec, 60sec, 90sec and 120sec. After treatment, the plants exhibited a significant increase in CAT, SOD, APX and GR activities in the leaves and roots, and also significantly changes in H2O2 (208.33 ± 5.87μ molg−1 FW) in the leaves and (61.13 ± 1.72μ molg−1 FW) in the roots, NO was (369.24 ± 213.19μ molg−1FW) and (1094.23 ± 135.44μ molg−1FW) in the leaves and roots. LFGD plasma treatment also contributed to enhancement of productivity (1.27%), nutritional (moisture, ash, fat, and crude fiber) compositions, and iron and zinc micro-nutrition concentrations of maize. From this research, LFGD (Ar + O2) plasma treatment showed a potential impact on the maize cultivation system, which is very effective tools and both in nationally and internationally alter the conventional cultivation system of maize. Because it promotes seed surface modification, improved germination rate, shoot length, root length, chlorophyll content, some of the growths related enzymatic activity, nutrient composition, iron, and zinc micro-nutrients and the productivity of maize.

In this present study conducted with the LFGD (Low-Frequency Glow Discharge) (Ar + O2) plasma treated maize seeds, to inspect the effect on seed surface modifications, seed germination, growth, development, productivity and nutritional compositions of maize plants. This study reported that LFGD (Ar + O2) plasma treated maize seeds have a potential effect to change its smooth seed surfaces and, it becomes rougher. It also enhances the seed germination rate up to (15.88%), which might help to increase the shoot length (33.42%), root length (10.67%), stem diameter (13.37%), total chlorophyll content (46.93%), total soluble protein (52.48%), total soluble phenol (21.68%) and sugar (1.62%) concentrations in respect controls of our experimental plants. For this reason, the acceptable treatment duration for maize seeds were 30sec, 60sec, 90sec and 120sec. After treatment, the plants exhibited a significant increase in CAT, SOD, APX and GR activities in the leaves and roots, and also significantly changes in H2O2 (208.33 ± 5.87μ molg−1 FW) in the leaves and (61.13 ± 1.72μ molg−1 FW) in the roots, NO was (369.24 ± 213.19μ molg−1FW) and (1094.23 ± 135.44μ molg−1FW) in the leaves and roots. LFGD plasma treatment also contributed to enhancement of productivity (1.27%), nutritional (moisture, ash, fat, and crude fiber) compositions, and iron and zinc micro-nutrition concentrations of maize. From this research, LFGD (Ar + O2) plasma treatment showed a potential impact on the maize cultivation system, which is very effective tools and both in nationally and internationally alter the conventional cultivation system of maize. Because it promotes seed surface modification, improved germination rate, shoot length, root length, chlorophyll content, some of the growths related enzymatic activity, nutrient composition, iron, and zinc micro-nutrients and the productivity of maize., Maize (Zea mays L.); LFGD plasma; Nutrition; Iron; Germination

Highlights • The screening of biological activities of medicinal plants are emphasized due to the adverse effects of synthetic drugs. • The present study demonstrates antioxidant, cytotoxic, and haemagglutination activity as well as EAC cell growth inhibitory effect of methanolic extract of Phyllantus acidus (L.) (MEPA) fruit pulp and seed. • P. acidus is traditionally used as herbal medicine in China, Brazil, and South Asian countries like Bangladesh for the treatment of digestive, respiratory, genitourinary, and skin disorder. • The result of this study suggested that MEPA fruit pulp has a more antioxidant potentiality and EAC cell growth inhibitory property than seed which indicates the presence of effective phytochemicals in MEPA fruit pulp. • Therefore, the MEPA fruit pulp can be considered as a promising biological source to search novel compounds for therapeutic purposes., Medicinal plant-derived bioactive compounds have recently gained more interest in biological research as an important source of novel drug candidates. Phyllanthus acidus (L.) is a widely distributed herbal medicinal plant naturally used in Ayurvedic medicine in Bangladesh. The present study focused on exploring the biological potential as well as the inhibitory effect of EAC cell growth with a comparative analysis between Phyllanthus acidus fruit pulp and seed. Crude methanol extract of P. acidus (MEPA) fruit pulp and seed was assessed as DPPH and NO free radical scavengers. While Brine Shrimp lethality bioassay, the standard protocol of phytochemical screening and hemagglutination assay were performed successively to determine the toxic effect on normal cells, the identification of some crucial phytochemicals, and the existence of lectin protein. EAC (Ehrlich’s Ascites Carcinoma) cell growth inhibition was determined by hemocytometer and morphological changes of EAC cells were observed by a fluorescence microscope using Swiss albino mice. The IC50 value of MEPA fruit pulp and seed was obtained as 57.159 µg/ml and 288.743 µg/ml respectively where minimal toxic effects on Brine Shrimp nauplii demonstrates that it is a good source of natural antioxidant compounds. Again, MEPA fruit pulp and seed-mediated effective agglutination of mouse blood erythrocyte strongly support the presence of lectin protein. Furthermore, MEPA fruit pulp and seed extract-treated EAC cells showed 65.71% and 28.57% growth inhibition respectively. The fluorescent microscopic examination of EAC cells treated with MEPA fruit pulp has shown more remarkable structural changes in the nucleus than that of seed. Based on the above findings, the present study reveals that MEPA fruit pulp can be considered as a novel biological candidate for the treatment of fatal diseases shortly.

Highlights • Convalescent plasma (CP) may be a suitable specific therapy for COVID-19. • CP therapy is safe and effective in COVID-19 patients. • Neutralising antibodies in CP help to control SARS-CoV-2 infection and modulate the inflammatory response. • Plasma components may enhance the antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties of CP. • CP therapy seems healthy, clinically successful and decreases mortality in COVID-19 patients.

The present investigation was intended to establish an effective protocol for direct shoot regeneration as well as root induction of Citrus sinensis using seed germinated shoot tip and nodal segments. Surface sterilization of explants was attributed with NaOCl (Sodium hypochloride) in shoot tip and nodal segments for successful contamination free culture. For direct shoot proliferation, nodal segments and shoot tips showed effective results when it cultured aseptically on MS (Murashige and Skoog) medium containing different concentrations and combinations of BAP (Benzylamino purine), GA3 (Gibberellic acids), NAA (Naphthalene acetic acid) and IAA (Indole acetic acid) the best result was observed in the combination of 1.5mg/l BAP+ 0.2 mg/l GA3. The explants were inoculated on MS medium supplemented with 8g/l Agar and 30g/l sucrose, different combination and concentration of plant growth regulators was used for plantlet regeneration. Root induction has also done here using various concentration of IAA hormone. The highest number of root induction was found to be MS containing 2.0mg/l IAA. Induced roots were elongated properly at the same hormonal concentration after two weeks of inoculation. From the above findings, it is suggested that different hormonal concentration and combination has significant effect on the propagation of sweet orange plant. The established protocol would be helpful for direct plantlet regeneration as well as proliferation of this valuable fruit crop plants.

Carbonic anhydrase IX (hCAIX) is a membrane-spanning metalloenzyme, encoded by CA9 gene, which can lead to various carcinomas if upregulated. Due to its overexpression in many cancer tissues, hCAIX...

The study investigates the effect of LPDBD (Low Pressure Dielectric Barrier Discharge) (Ar + Air) plasma on seed germination, seedling growth and antioxidant enzyme activity of rice. Rice seeds were treated with LPDBD (Ar + Air) plasma for 2min, 4min, 6min, 8min and 10min. Seed germination rate, seedling growth, total chlorophyll content, enzymatic activity, total soluble sugar and protein concentration were increased in plants grown from the LPDBD (Ar + Air) plasma treated seeds. It was observed that the sprouting of seeds and the growth of seedlings of rice depends on the feed gases used to generate plasma and plasma processing time. In the case of plantlets germinated from the plasma-treated seeds of rice, the H2O2 level was increased significantly both in leaves and roots for 6min, 8min and 10min treatment respectively. No significant change was observed in Nitric Oxide (NO) concentration in seed, leaf, or root of plants grown from LPDBD (Ar + Air) plasma-treated seeds. The amount of total soluble sugar and protein increased significantly in the case of 2min, 4min, 6min, 8min and 10min seed treatment. Although plants exhibited no significant increase in APX activities, but a significant increase of CAT and SOD activity in the leaf and root was found. This study reveals that LPDBD (Ar + Air) plasma is involved in the elevation of ROS species in leaf and root of rice plants which is tightly regulated by the upregulation of CAT activity that ultimately enhances the seed germination and growth of rice plantlets.

Following the first outbreak of COVID-19 in China, various continents became serious and aware to combat against it, though degraded dramatically preventing it, due to its unique transmission strategy. On March 8, 2020, Bangladesh confirmed its first cases of COVID-19 with three people being infected and the first death was reported on March 18, 2020, until June 29, 2020, the total number of infected people and deaths reached to 141,801 and 1783, respectively. Bangladesh has strengthened its efforts to improve the health care system's ability, including COVID-19 diagnosis to prevent the crisis, following discovery of the first 100 reported cases of COVID-19 at the start of April. Though, the government of Bangladesh had put in place preventive measures, the country has no remarkable legislative structures for combating COVID-19 in which Bangladesh, the South Asian low-income economic country, is under very precarious conditions and is at the forefront of the threat of disease that can spread to over the 160 million people.The aim of this article is to describe the current Bangladesh situation as well as the consequences in the country due to COVID-19 and to describe how people are confronted with this pandemic. [ J Adv Biotechnol Exp Ther 2020; 3(4.000): 18-29]

As light plays an important role for the development of microplants thus, this investigation was aim to identifying different developmental stages includes shoot length, number of leaves, number of nodes and number of roots under six illumination types (white, blue, red, blue-red, blue-white and red-white). The results reveals that the red light is more effective for increasing shoot length per microplants instead of other light condition and blue light which were reduce the plant height. The highest number of leaf per microplants was obtained under blue light and approximately resemble at the combination of blue-white light and red light is responsible to reduce the number of leaves. In case of nodal development the highest number of node were formed by blue-red light. The number of root was increased by red-white light but it was decreased in red light with increased thickness of roots.