Association between chronic arsenic exposure and the characteristic features of asthma.

Widespread contamination of arsenic (As) has become a global public health concern. Exposure to As causes respiratory complications. Asthma, a major respiratory complication, is increasing worldwide.

Sigmoid Sinus Thrombosis with Cerebellar Tuberculous Abscess: A Rare Case of Chronic Headache with Vision Loss.

Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) is a rare form of brain stroke which is often misdiagnosed. We present a case of CVST due to cerebellar tuberculous abscess. A 41-year female patient was admitted with chronic occipital headache, diminished vision, and fever.

Psychological Implications of Unemployment Among Bangladesh Civil Service Job Seekers: A Pilot Study.

Recent trends suggest that university graduates seeking jobs are more susceptible to common mental disorders, such as depression, anxiety, or stress. However, the mental health issues among unemployed graduates has not been explored in Bangladesh yet. This study aimed to assess for the first time the prevalence and associated risk factors of depression, anxiety, and stress among Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) job seekers.

Dose-dependent relationships between chronic arsenic exposure and cognitive impairment and serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor.

Background: Arsenic poisoning is a public health problem worldwide. A few studies have reported the effects of arsenic exposure on adult cognitive function, but with limitations in the subject selection and exposure markers. Moreover, information regarding the association between arsenic exposure and biomarker of cognitive impairment is scarce.

Lumbar Ligament Sprain-degeneration and Prolapsed Lumbar Intervertebral Disc: A Frequent Missed Combination.

Low back pain (LBP) is a frequent complaint in the working milieu of pain physicians. Common LBP generators are the lumbar spine, soft tissues around the spine, and intra-abdominal viscera; however, in recent times, lumbar spine ligament (LL) degeneration is increasingly getting more coverage as an important LBP source. Among various LLs, interspinous and supraspinatus ligaments' sprain-degeneration can perpetuate localized central LBP as described in the present case study.

Frequency and Predictors of Erectile Dysfunction in Bangladeshi Men with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Experience from a Tertiary Center.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common complication of diabetes mellitus. But it is frequently under diagnosed and may result in poor quality of life. Previous studies have shown a high frequency of ED in diabetic men.

Current status of gonococcal antimicrobial susceptibility with special reference to Azithromycin and Ceftriaxone: Report from a tertiary care hospital in Bangladesh.

Objectives: Successful treatment of gonorrhea has always been jeopardized by the emergence of resistance to antibiotics recommended as first-line therapies. The present investigation was carried out to demonstrate the current status of antimicrobial susceptibility of with a special reference to azithromycin and ceftriaxone.

Methods: Microscopical detection in Gram-stained smear and isolation by culture in Thayer-Martin medium were done for 60 clinically suspected gonorrhea patients using urethral discharge or prostatic secretion for male and endocervical secretion for female.

Chikungunya outbreak (2017) in Bangladesh: Clinical profile, economic impact and quality of life during the acute phase of the disease.

Background: Chikungunya virus causes mosquito-transmitted infection that leads to extensive morbidity affecting substantial quality of life. Disease associated morbidity, quality of life, and financial loss are seldom reported in resources limited countries, such as Bangladesh. We reported the acute clinical profile, quality of life and consequent economic burden of the affected individuals in the recent chikungunya outbreak (May to September 2017) in Dhaka city, Bangladesh.

Nationwide prevalence of infections in patients with febrile illness in Bangladesh.

From July 2015 to December 2016, the presence of rickettsial pathogens was investigated for 414 patients with unknown fever in eight places in all the divisions of Bangladesh. was identified in blood samples from all the regions (overall detection rate, 19.6%), suggesting nationwide prevalence of infections.

Evaluation of medicines dispensing pattern of private pharmacies in Rajshahi, Bangladesh.

Background: In developing country like BANGLADESH, people depend more on pharmacies due to expediency, shorter waiting time, cost reduction, availability of credit and flexible opening hours. The aim of this study was to investigate medicines dispensing patterns of the pharmacies in RAJSHAHI, BANGLADESH and to identify and analyze contribution of drugsellers and quacks in irrational drug use.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted during January 2016 - April, 2016 in 75 randomly selected private pharmacies including both licensed and unlicensed pharmacies of covering LAKSHMIPUR area.

Duloxetine in Painful Diabetic Neuropathy: A Systematic Review.

Objective: To systematically review the evidence for duloxetine in the management of painful diabetic neuropathy (PDN).

Methods: Electronic searches of Medline and PubMed were performed from 2005 till October 2015 using medical subject headings and free-text words. Two independent reviewers extracted the data and assessed the methodological quality of the selected studies.

Niemann-Pick Disease Type B in a 21 Year Old Male.

Niemann-pick disease is a group of autosomal recessive disorder of lipid storage with progressive accumulation of sphingomyelin and other lipids in the lysosomes of various tissues. We are reporting a 21 year old male who had hepatosplenomegaly, cherry red macula and normal cognitive function. Bone marrow biopsy showed plenty of foam cells and sphingomyelinase level was low, thus conforming our diagnosis.

Revisiting the health effects of psychological stress-its influence on susceptibility to ionizing radiation: a mini-review.

Both psychological stress (PS) and ionizing radiation (IR) cause varied detrimental effects on humans. There has been no direct evidence so far showing PS alone could cause cancer; however, long-lasting PS may affect our overall health and ability to cope with cancer. Due to their living conditions and occupations, some people may encounter concurrent exposure to both PS and IR to a high extent.

Weight satisfaction, management strategies and health beliefs in knee osteoarthritis patients attending an outpatient clinic.

Background: Although weight control is important in managing knee osteoarthritis (OA), it is difficult to achieve. Understanding beliefs regarding weight management in people with knee OA may improve weight control.

Aims: To examine differences in bodyweight satisfaction, weight management strategies and weight-related health-beliefs in obese, overweight and normal weight people with knee OA.

Study on Liver Dysfunction in Type 2 Diabetic Patients in Bangladesh.

Aim: Diabetes mellitus (DM) represents one of the major lifestyle-related pathological conditions; the incidence and prevalence of DM have reached an epidemic level around the world. Diabetes mellitus is usually associated with obesity, coronary diseases, and cerebral pathologies. However, more insights are required to evaluate a temporal relation between DM and hepatic functions.

Spontaneous echo contrast masking thrombus in giant left atrium of mitral stenosis-a dilemma in clinical diagnosis.

Spontaneous echo contrast (SEC) and thrombus in enlarged left atrium (LA) are common in mitral valvular disease (MVD) and SEC is considered to be a prethrombotic condition. Reliable exclusion of LA thrombus is important before any definitive curative attempts like percutaneous transluminal mitral commissurotomy (PTMC), closed mitral commissurotomy (CMC) or innovative therapies like pulmonary vein isolation and percutaneous closure of the LA appendage. Echocardiography, particularly the transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is considered to be the gold standard for the diagnosis and to exclude LA thrombus.

Development of multiplex serological assay for the detection of human African trypanosomiasis.

Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) is a disease caused by Kinetoplastid infection. Serological tests are useful for epidemiological surveillance. The aim of this study was to develop a multiplex serological assay for HAT to assess the diagnostic value of selected HAT antigens for sero-epidemiological surveillance.

Development and comparative evaluation of two antigen detection tests for Visceral Leishmaniasis.

Background: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) can be fatal without timely diagnosis and treatment. Treatment efficacies vary due to drug resistance, drug toxicity and co-morbidities. It is important to monitor treatment responsiveness to confirm cure and curtail relapse.

Prevalence and susceptibility of uropathogens: a recent report from a teaching hospital in Bangladesh.

Background: This investigation was aimed to determine the current status of prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility of uropathogens isolated in a teaching hospital in Bangladesh. A retrospective analysis was done at the department of Microbiology of Islami Bank Medical College, Rajshahi (IBMCR), Bangladesh during January to December, 2012. Midstream clean-catch urine samples were collected from 443 suspected urinary tract infection patients of different age and sex groups.

Dissemination of the multidrug-resistant extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli O25b-ST131 clone and the role of house crow (Corvus splendens) foraging on hospital waste in Bangladesh.

Two hundred and thirty-eight faecal samples from crows foraging on hospital wastes were analysed for extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae. ESBL-producing crow isolates were characterized and compared with 31 patient isolates. Among the crows, 59% carried ESBL producers.

Socioeconomic and Demographic Disparities in Knowledge of Reproductive Healthcare among Female University Students in Bangladesh.

Background: Reproductive health (RH) is a critical component of women's health and overall well-being around the world, especially in developing countries. We examine the factors that determine knowledge of RH care among female university students in Bangladesh.

Methods: Data on 300 female students were collected from Rajshahi University, Bangladesh through a structured questionnaire using purposive sampling technique.

Persistent enthesitis and spondyloarthropathy: a case series of 71 Bangladeshi people.

Background: Enthesitis is a prominent feature of spondyloarthropathy (SpA) and persisting enthesitis may be a presenting symptom either alone or in combination with peripheral synovitis and/or inflammatory back pain.

Objective: To describe a series of SpA patients with persistent enthesitis as first manifestation.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study.

Screening for long-term poliovirus excretion among children with primary immunodeficiency disorders: preparation for the polio posteradication era in Bangladesh.

Background: Persons with primary immune deficiency disorders (PIDD) who receive oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV) may transmit immunodeficiency-associated vaccine-derived polioviruses (iVDPVs) and cause paralytic polio. The objective of this study was to identify children with PIDD in Bangladesh, and estimate the proportion with chronic poliovirus excretion.

Methods: Patients admitted at 5 teaching hospitals were screened for PIDD according to standardized clinical case definitions.

Elevated levels of plasma uric acid and its relation to hypertension in arsenic-endemic human individuals in Bangladesh.

Blood uric acid has been recognized as a putative marker for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). CVDs are the major causes of arsenic-related morbidity and mortality. However, the association of arsenic exposure with plasma uric acid (PUA) levels in relation to CVDs has not yet been explored.