Barriers to seeking timely treatment for severe childhood pneumonia in rural Bangladesh.

Objective: Delays in seeking medical attention for childhood pneumonia may lead to increased morbidity and mortality. This study aimed at identifying the drivers of delayed seeking of treatment for severe childhood pneumonia in rural Bangladesh.

Methods: We conducted a formative study from June to September 2015 in one northern district of Bangladesh.

Association of lipocalin-2 and low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein-1 (LRP1) with biomarkers of environmental enteric dysfunction (EED) among under 2 children in Bangladesh: results from a community-based intervention study.

Background: Environmental enteric dysfunction (EED) is thought to occur from persistent intestinal inflammation. Studies also revealed the association of lipocalin-2 (LCN2) and low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein-1 (LRP1) with intestinal inflammation. Therefore, we intended to explore the relationship of LCN2 and LRP1 with gut inflammation and biomarkers of EED in Bangladeshi malnourished children.

Acceptance of COVID-19 vaccine and its determinants: evidence from a large sample study in Bangladesh.

Aim: Our study aimed to understand the acceptance level of the COVID-19 vaccine and its determinants among the adult Bangladeshi population.

Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted in all eight divisions of Bangladesh. Data from 7,357 adult respondents were collected between January 17 and February 2, 2021, using a self-administered semi-structured questionnaire.

Epidemiology and genetic characterization of human sapovirus among hospitalized acute diarrhea patients in Bangladesh, 2012-2015.

Human sapovirus, which causes acute gastroenteritis, is not well studied and poorly understood. This study aims to investigate the contribution of sapovirus in diarrhea, their clinical association, and genotypic diversity. Fecal specimens (n = 871) were randomly selected from diarrheal patients who attended International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh hospital in Dhaka, Bangladesh during January 2012-December 2015 and tested for the presence of sapovirus RNA using real-time polymerase chain reaction.

Improvement in appetite among stunted children receiving nutritional intervention in Bangladesh: results from a community-based study.

Background/objectives: Stunted children often have poor appetite, which may limit their response to nutritional interventions. We investigated the effect of a nutritional intervention on the appetite status of stunted children.

Methods: A longitudinal prospective intervention study was conducted with 50 stunted (length for age; LAZ < -2) (age and sex matched) aged 12-18 months and their mothers in Bauniabadh slum of Dhaka city.

Healthcare Workers' Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Regarding Personal Protective Equipment for the Prevention of COVID-19.

Purpose: Adequate knowledge, positive attitude, and proper practice of personal protective equipment by healthcare workers are necessary to get protection from COVID-19 infection. But this area is yet to be explored. Hence, we aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) regarding personal protective equipment (PPE) among healthcare workers, along with a survey of the possible determinants.

Changes in Retinol Binding Protein 4 Level in Undernourished Children After a Nutrition Intervention Are Positively Associated With Mother's Weight but Negatively With Mother's Height, Intake of Whole Milk, and Markers of Systemic Inflammation: Results From a Community-Based Intervention Study.

Background: The changes of plasma retinol binding protein 4 (RBP4) level after a nutrition intervention can indicate the metabolic changes associated with the delivered intervention.

Objective: We investigated the changes in plasma RBP4 level among 12- to 18-month-old children after a nutrition intervention and measured its association with subcutaneous adiposity, maternal characteristics, and inflammation.

Methods: Data of 520 undernourished children (250 of them had length-for-age score [LAZ] <-1 to -2 and 270 had LAZ score <-2) were collected from the Bangladesh Environmental Enteric Dysfunction study conducted in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Fecal MicroRNAs as Potential Biomarkers for Screening and Diagnosis of Intestinal Diseases.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of conserved endogenous, small non-coding RNA molecules with a length of 18-25 nucleotides that regulate gene expression by RNA interference processes, including mRNA chopping, mRNA deadenylation, and translation inhibition. miRNAs maintain the physiological functions of the intestine and are instrumental in gut pathogenesis. miRNAs play an important role in intercellular communication and are present in all body fluids, including stools with different composition and concentrations.

Proof-of-concept study of the efficacy of a microbiota-directed complementary food formulation (MDCF) for treating moderate acute malnutrition.

Background: Childhood undernutrition remains a significant global health challenge accounting for over half of all under 5 child mortality. Moderate acute malnutrition (MAM), which leads to wasting [weight-for-length z-scores (WLZ) between - 2 and - 3], affects 33 million children under 5 globally and more than 2 million in Bangladesh alone. We have previously reported that acute malnutrition in this population is associated with gut microbiota immaturity, and in a small, 1-month pre-proof-of-concept (POC) study demonstrated that a microbiota-directed complementary food formulation (MDCF-2) was able to repair this immaturity, promote weight gain and increase plasma biomarkers and mediators of healthy growth.

Clinical and laboratory characteristics of acute kidney injury in infants with diarrhea: a cross-sectional study in Bangladesh.

Objective: We described the clinical and laboratory characteristics of acute kidney injury (AKI) in infants with diarrhea.

Methods: This medical record analysis was conducted in Dhaka Hospital of the International Centre for Diarrheal Disease Research Bangladesh from January to December 2015. Infants with elevated serum creatinine (>50 µmol/L) constituted cases (n = 146).

A novel histological index for evaluation of environmental enteric dysfunction identifies geographic-specific features of enteropathy among children with suboptimal growth.

Background: A major limitation to understanding the etiopathogenesis of environmental enteric dysfunction (EED) is the lack of a comprehensive, reproducible histologic framework for characterizing the small bowel lesions. We hypothesized that the development of such a system will identify unique histology features for EED, and that some features might correlate with clinical severity.

Methods: Duodenal endoscopic biopsies from two cohorts where EED is prevalent (Pakistan, Zambia) and North American children with and without gluten sensitive enteropathy (GSE) were processed for routine hematoxylin & eosin (H&E) staining, and scanned to produce whole slide images (WSIs) which we shared among study pathologists via a secure web browser-based platform.

Impact of negative tuberculin skin test on growth among disadvantaged Bangladeshi children.

Millions of children are suffering from tuberculosis (TB) worldwide and often end-up with fatal outcome especially in resource-poor settings. Tuberculin skin test (TST) is a conventionally used diagnostic test, less sensitive but highly specific for the diagnosis of clinical TB especially in undernourished children. However, we do not have any data on the role of TST positivity among the children who received nutritional intervention.

Association of faecal pH with childhood stunting: Results from a cross-sectional study.

Background: Gut microbiota plays an important role in the growth of children. The gut of children with optimum growth is enriched in certain species, especially and and ommensal both contribute to formation of acidic stool, and an elevated faecal pH indicates reduction of these species in the gut. The purpose of the study was to investigate the association of faecal pH with childhood stunting.

Home Fortification of Rice With Lime: A Novel Potential Way to Reduce Calcium Deficiency in Bangladesh.

Background: In order to improve calcium status, fortified rice should have acceptable organoleptic properties of that food.

Objective: We aimed to assess whether home fortification of rice with slaked lime can increase calcium content of rice and whether this fortified rice is well tolerated in a nutritionally at-risk population.

Methods: This experimental study measured the calcium content of rice cooked with different concentration of lime and assessed the acceptability of fortified rice among 400 women and children.

Early childhood development and stunting: Findings from the MAL-ED birth cohort study in Bangladesh.

Information on the association between stunting and child development is limited from low-income settings including Bangladesh where 36% of children under- 5 are stunted. This study aimed to explore differences in early childhood development (ECD) between stunted (length-for-age z-score [LAZ] < -2) and nonstunted (LAZ ≥ -2) children in Bangladesh. Children (n = 265) aged 6-24 months who participated in the MAL-ED birth cohort study were evaluated by trained psychologists at 6, 15, and 24 months of age using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development-III; child length and weight were measured using standard procedures.

Impact of Routine Counseling on Breastfeeding Status in Hospitalized Infants Below 6 Months: Observation From a Large Diarrheal Disease Hospital in Bangladesh.

. Breastfeeding counseling (BFC) plays a crucial role in improving infant and young child feeding practices. To evaluate the impact of activities of BFC unit (BFCU) on breastfeeding practices of infants who were hospitalized for diarrheal illness through their regular counseling, assistance and support, and motivation.

Quality Assessment of Dried Blood Spots from Patients With Tuberculosis from 4 Countries.

Background: Dried blood spot (DBS) sampling is a blood collection tool that uses a finger prick to obtain a blood drop on a DBS card. It can be used for therapeutic drug monitoring, a method that uses blood drug concentrations to optimize individual treatment. DBS sampling is believed to be a simpler way of blood collection compared with venous sampling.

Development and validation of a tool to assess appetite of children in low income settings.

Reliable and validated tools for measuring appetite of children in South Asia are not available. This study aimed to develop and validate a tool for assessing appetite level of under-five children. Based on literature review and findings from focus group discussions (FGDs), an initial 27-item interview-based tool, the "Early Childhood Appetite and Satiety Tool (ECAST)" was developed in Bangladesh.

Impact of Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth on Response to a Nutritional Intervention in Bangladeshi Children from an Urban Community.

Small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is prevalent among children living in low-income settings, leading to impaired growth and development. The aim of this study was to assess linear and ponderal growth parameters between malnourished SIBO-positive and SIBO-negative children aged 12-18 months who prospectively underwent a nutritional intervention. A glucose hydrogen breath test to detect SIBO was performed in 194 stunted (length-for-age score [LAZ] < -2 standard deviations) or at-risk of stunting (LAZ score between < -1 and -2 standard deviations) children.

Genetic characterization of human metapneumovirus identified through community and facility-based surveillance of infants in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Background: Acute respiratory infection (ARI) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children in low and middle-income countries. Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is one of the most common viral etiological agents for ARIs in children.

Objectives: In this study, we explored the genotypic diversity and the epidemiology of hMPV among infants in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Risk Factors for Detection, Survival, and Growth of Antibiotic-Resistant and Pathogenic Escherichia coli in Household Soils in Rural Bangladesh.

Soils in household environments in low- and middle-income countries may play an important role in the persistence, proliferation, and transmission of Our goal was to investigate the risk factors for detection, survival, and growth of in soils collected from household plots. was enumerated in soil and fecal samples from humans, chickens, and cattle from 52 households in rural Bangladesh. Associations between concentrations in soil, household-level risk factors, and soil physicochemical characteristics were investigated.

Corneal complications following Post Kala-azar Dermal Leishmaniasis treatment.

Post Kala-azar Dermal Leishmaniasis (PKDL) is a sequel of Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL). The patients act as a reservoir for the causative parasite (i.e.