Satisfaction of pregnant women regarding antenatal care at the selected Upazilla Health Complexes during COVID-19 pandemic

Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) envisions a world where every pregnant woman and newborn receives comprehensive care throughout the pregnancy, childbirth and the postnatal period. This study aims to assess the satisfaction of pregnant women with antenatal care services at selected Upazilla Health Complexes during the Covid-19 pandemic. The aim of this study was to evaluate the satisfaction levels of pregnant women with the antenatal care services provided at selected Upazilla Health Complexes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at three selected Upazilla Health Complexes in Kishorganj district, Bangladesh, namely Hussainpur Upazilla Health Complex, Karimganj Upazilla Health Complex, and Pakundia Upazilla Health Complex. Purposive sampling was employed to recruit 163 married pregnant women attending antenatal care services at these health complexes. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews ensuring privacy and analyzed using SPSS 26, employing descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals. Results: Most pregnant women (54.6%) were aged 18-23 years. Education levels: 40.5% had SSC education, 9.2% were illiterate. Respondents expressed high satisfaction with key aspects at the Upazilla Health Complex, including medicine supply and awareness about ANC services. Continuous monitoring is crucial for patient satisfaction. Medicine supply significantly impacted satisfaction, emphasizing its importance in healthcare quality. Conclusions: Despite challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, Upazilla Health Complexes have effectively provided antenatal care, satisfying the majority of respondents, highlighting the importance of continuous monitoring.

Quality of life of workers with disabilities in readymade garments factories in Bangladesh

Background: Bangladesh's readymade garment (RMG) sector has developed as a major employer for individuals with disabilities. The number of workers with disabilities in Bangladesh's RMG industry has grown over the past few years. In Bangladesh, there has no statistics about the quality of life of workers with disabilities after their employment, especially after training-based employment support. Therefore, the researcher is interested to find out the quality of life of workers with disabilities in readymade garments factories in Bangladesh that will determine satisfaction over their life in different aspects. The objectives of this paper were to find out the health-related quality of life and overall satisfaction with life among workers with disabilities in the readymade garment sector in Bangladesh. Methods: This study used a cross-sectional design and recruited 102 participants with disabilities from various Bangladeshi garment factories who ranged up to 18 years by convenient sampling. The WHOQOL questionnaires were used for data collection through a combination of telephone and in-person interviews. Descriptive statistics were used for the data analysis. Results: Among the total participants 63% of them were women and 37% were men. The results revealed that education and job status significantly impacted on QOL. The majority of participants did not need any assistive devices; most of the participants resided in semi-urban areas, and physical disabilities predominated among them. On the other hand, most of the participants reported their quality of life as neither poor nor good but they were satisfied with health-related QOL. Conclusions: QOL is a vast aspect of every human being. This study finally concluded the overall QOL of maximum Workers with Disabilities in Readymade Garments Factories in Bangladesh was just average and most of them were satisfied with their health-related QOL.

Quality of life of workers with disabilities in readymade garments factories in Bangladesh

Background: Bangladesh's readymade garment (RMG) sector has developed as a major employer for individuals with disabilities. The number of workers with disabilities in Bangladesh's RMG industry has grown over the past few years. In Bangladesh, there has no statistics about the quality of life of workers with disabilities after their employment, especially after training-based employment support. Therefore, the researcher is interested to find out the quality of life of workers with disabilities in readymade garments factories in Bangladesh that will determine satisfaction over their life in different aspects. The objectives of this paper were to find out the health-related quality of life and overall satisfaction with life among workers with disabilities in the readymade garment sector in Bangladesh. Methods: This study used a cross-sectional design and recruited 102 participants with disabilities from various Bangladeshi garment factories who ranged up to 18 years by convenient sampling. The WHOQOL questionnaires were used for data collection through a combination of telephone and in-person interviews. Descriptive statistics were used for the data analysis. Results: Among the total participants 63% of them were women and 37% were men. The results revealed that education and job status significantly impacted on QOL. The majority of participants did not need any assistive devices; most of the participants resided in semi-urban areas, and physical disabilities predominated among them. On the other hand, most of the participants reported their quality of life as neither poor nor good but they were satisfied with health-related QOL. Conclusions: QOL is a vast aspect of every human being. This study finally concluded the overall QOL of maximum Workers with Disabilities in Readymade Garments Factories in Bangladesh was just average and most of them were satisfied with their health-related QOL.

Correlation between red cell distribution width and coronary artery disease in patients undergoing elective coronary angiography

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the primary cause of death in developed countries and is one of the leading causes of disease burden in developing countries. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study included 124 purposively selected patients who underwent elective CAG in the department of cardiology, Chittagong medical college hospital, Chattogram, from July 2020 to June 2021. SPSS 23.0 software was used for processing and analysis at the end of the data collection period. Results: According to the Gensini score, patients were categorized into two groups (score <30 and ?30). There were no significant differences between the two groups concerning BMI, smoking, hypertension, DM, F/H of CAD, statin or beta-blocker use, or the levels of hemoglobin, hematocrit, MCV, MCH MCHC, and creatinine. However, the mean age was older, and there were more males in the severe CAD group. The percentage of dyslipidemia was significantly higher in patients with Gensini score ?30 than in patients with <30. RDW (OR: 2.629; 95% CI: 1.425-4.484; p=0.002) and age (OR: 1.058; 95%CI: 1.00-1.111; p=0.027) were independently correlated with the severity of CAD. The AUROC for red cell distribution width (RDW) was 0.915 with a p<0.001 for predicting CAD on CAG. It indicated a statistically significant association of RDW with the presence of CAD. A cut-off value of 13.65% RDW had a sensitivity of 80% and specificity of 84.2% for the prediction of CAD. There were no significant differences between patients with and without angiographic CAD for BMI, hypertension, DM, statin, or beta-blocker use, or of the levels of hemoglobin, hematocrit, MCV, MCH, MCHC, and creatinine. However, the mean age was older, and there were more males in the CAD group. The percentage with dyslipidemia, smoking, and F/H of CAD was significantly higher in patients with CAD than in patients without CAD. The data indicate that only RDW was independently correlated with the presence of CAD (OR: 2.593; 95% CI: 1.347-4.989; p=0.004). Conclusions: RDW is associated with the presence of CAD and suggests that it might be a readily available test for predicting coronary artery diseases.

A Rare Case Report on Benign Recurrent Intrahepatic Cholestasis.

Benign recurrent intrahepatic cholestasis is an inherited and occasionally sporadic disease presents as recurrent episodes of obstructive jaundice without any obstruction in billiary channel with intervening symptom free periods. Here we are presenting a case of 20-year-old male with a recurrent jaundice and pruritus who later diagnose as BRIC.

Analgesic and Anti-inflammatory Activities of the Fruit Extract of Ampelocissus latifolia (Roxb) on Laboratory Animals.

Aim of Study: This study was aimed to evaluate the possible analgesic and antiinflammatory properties of the ethanol extract of fruit of Ampelocissus latifolia (Roxb). Study Design: Assessment of analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Pharmacy, North South University, Dhaka, Bangladesh, between June 2012 and March 2013. Methodology: The crude ethanol extract was investigated for the anti-inflammatory effect on Long Evans rats using carrageenan induced rat paw edema method. For antiinflammatory study, 20 rats were divided into 4 different groups, each receiving either distilled water, standard drug or the extract at the doses of 250 and 500mg/kg body weight (BW). The analgesic activity was evaluated by hot plate and acetic acid induced writhing method in Swiss albino mice divided into 4 different groups (control, standard and extract at two different doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg BW). Results: The results of preliminary phytochemical study revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, glycosides in significant amounts. The results of anti inflammatory activity study showed that the fruit extracts at a dose of 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg inhibited carrageenan-induced paw edema in Long- Evans rats. Both the extracts were able to show a dose dependent anti-inflammatory activity as compared to diclofenac sodium used as a standard drug. The extract elicited a highly significant (p<0.001) analgesic activity in a dose dependent manner on hot plate method, acetic acid-induced writhing test. In the hot plate method, the extract increased the reaction time of heat sensation to 94.71% and 82.7% at the doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg BW while that of the standard drug was 61.45% at the 3rd hour of study. In acetic acid induced writhing test, the percent inhibition of writhing response by the extract was 50.57% and 59.77% at 250 and 500 mg/kg doses respectively (p<0.001). Conclusion: The anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect of the ethanol fruit extract of Ampelocissus latifolia (Roxb) may be due to the presence of various chemical constituents especially flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids or terpenoids. These experimental findings would further establish the scientific basis of the traditional uses of the plant in the management of inflammatory conditions as well as control of pain.

Effects of Pleurotus ostreatus on Blood Pressure and Glycemic Status of Hypertensive Diabetic Male VolunteersS.

Different species of mushrooms are being used increasingly for their nutritional and medicinal values. They are used in traditional medical practice in the treatment and prevention of diabetes, obesity, heart diesaes, hyperacidity, cancer and hypertension. This study was designed to see the effects of Pleurotus ostreatus on blood pressure and glycemic status of hypertensive diabetic male volunteers. The study was carried out in the National Mushroom development and Extension Center (NAMDEC) laboratory, Savar, Dhaka in collaboration with the Department of Pharmacy along with the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Jahangirnagar University. A total of 27 hypertensive male volunteers suffering from type 2 diabetes mellitus with age range of 32 to 68 years, who were free from renal impairment and other known acute or chronic diseases were included in the study. Blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, HbA1c and serum creatinine were measured before and after 3 months of regular intake of 3 grams mushroom powder capsule daily in in 3 divided doses. However they were allowed to continue the drugs they were taking already. The study showed that after 3 months of regular intake of Pleurotus ostreatus mushroom, both systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased significantly (p<0.001). It was also observed that, Pleurotus ostreatus decreased fasting plasma glucose level significantly (p<0.001). Reduction of HbA1c % observed after 3 months of mushroom intake was found to be significant (p<0.001). But there was no significant change of plasma creatinine level (p>0.05) indicating Pleurotus ostreatus has no detrimental effect on renal system. From the study, it can be said that, Pleurotus ostreatus mushroom intake improves glycemic status and blood pressure control in diabetic hypertensive subjects.

Role of Serum Total PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) and Free to Total PSA Ratio in the Diagnosis of Carcinoma Prostate.

The objective of the study was to evaluate and compare the role of total and free/total ratio of serum prostate specific antigen level in diagnosing carcinoma prostate. A cross sectional study was conducted at the Department of Biochemistry, Dhaka Medical College (DMC) with collaboration of the Department of Urology, Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), Dhaka from July 2008 to June 2009. This study was carried out on 60 patients above 50 years of age who attended the Department of Urology, Dhaka Medical College Hospital, complaining of irritative or obstructive lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) suspected as clinically benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or cancer prostate. It was aimed to assess the role of total and free/total ratio of serum PSA in diagnosis of BPH and carcinoma prostate with reference to histological diagnosis. All the cases were evaluated by history, physical examination including digital rectal examination, serum prostate specific antigen level, transabdominal/ trans-rectal ultra- sonogram. From all patients, blood sample were collected before digital rectal examination or any per urethral manipulation. Final diagnosis was obtained by histo-pathological examination, specimen being obtained by perrectal biopsy with biopsy-gun. Histopathological examination detected prostate cancer in 20 out of 60 patient and 17 of these Cap 20 have a total PSA 4 ng/ml and only 3 have total PSA 4 ng/ml. 18 of these 20 have free to total ratio 0.16 and 02 have f/t ratio 0.16. Among 60 patients, 40 patients were detected BPH on histopathological diagnosis. 20 of these BPH patient have tPSA 4 ng/ml and 20 of BPH have tPSA 4 ng/ml. 38 of 40 BPH patient have f/t ratio>0.16 and 2 of 40 patient are f/t ratio 0.16. Receiver operating characteristic analysis indicated a threshold f/t ratio 0.16 was optimum discriminatory level. The sensitivity of total serum PSA (at cut off value of>4 ng/ml) in correctly differentiating prostatic carcinoma of those who have the condition is 85%, while the specificity of the test in correctly detecting those who do not have the disease is 50%. The PPV is 45.9%, NPV is 87% and accuracy is 61.7%. The sensitivity of free/total serum PSA (at cut off value of 0.16 ng/ml) in correctly differentiating prostatic carcinoma from BPH is 90%, while the specificity of the test in correctly detecting those who do not have prostatic carcinoma is 95%. The PPV of the test is 90% and the NPV of the test is 95%. The overall accuracy of the test is 93.3%. This study showed significant difference of total and free/total ratio of serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) in differentiating benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) from carcinoma prostate. Receiver operating characteristic curves showed advantage for the f/t PSA ratio when compared with total PSA in detecting prostate cancer. From the study it may be concluded that total and f/t ratio of prostate specific antigen (PSA) is a useful marker in diagnosis of carcinoma prostate. Free/total ratio is more accurate than total PSA.

Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation of WPW Syndrome in National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Dhaka: Initial and Four Years Follow-up Results.

Background: Radiofrequency (RF) catheter ablation is an effective method of treatment of patients with WPW syndrome. The purpose of this study was to analyze the initial and follow -up results of RF ablation of such cases in our hospital. Methods: 255 cases with WPW syndrome that had delta wave in sinus rhythm ECG underwent electrophysiological studies in this hospital. All the cases underwent radiofrequency ablation. These cases are selected for analysis. Results: Ablations were performed in these 255 patients between December 2005 and December 2008. One accessory pathway (AP) was found in 250 patients, two accessory pathways-in 05 patients. The mean duration of the procedure was 130 ± 32 min. The initial and overall success rate was 92.15% and 95.68% respectively. Major complications encountered are none. Conclusions: RF ablation of WPW syndrome has good initial (92.15%) and overall (95.68%) success rate and low recurrence rate (5.00%) at long term follow-up.

Retrograde jejunogastric intussusception (JGI) with strangulation following previous gastrojejunostomy.

Jejunogastric intussusception is a rare but potentially very serious complication of gastrectomy or gastrojejunostomy. To avoid mortality early diagnosis and prompt surgical intervention is mandatory. A young man presented with epigastric pain and bilous vomiting followed by haematemesis 15 years after vagotomy & gastrojejunostomy for chronic duodenal ulcer. At presentation the patient was in shock and an emergency laparotomy was done after resuscitation. At laparotomy a retrograde type II JGI was found and managed by resection of the affected segment and partial gastrectomy and jejuno - jejunostomy with closure of the duodenal stump. Postoperative recovery was uneventful. Retrograde JGI is a rare condition and only less than 200 cases have been reported since its first report. Clinical picture of acute intestinal obstruction with suspicion about the condition in patients having a past history of gastrojejunostomy makes the elusive diagnosis definite and demands early surgery to reduce the grave consequences of the disease.

Low osmolar oral rehydration salts solution in the treatment of acute watery diarrhoea in neonates and young infants: a randomized, controlled clinical trial.

To compare the efficacy and safety of low osmolar oral rehydration salts solution (ORS-75) (mmol/L: Na+ 75, osmolarity 245) with that of World Health Organization-recommended ORS (ORS-90) (mmol/L: Na+ 90, osmolarity 311 ) in the treatment of acute watery diarrhoea in neonates and very young infants, a randomized double-blind, controlled clinical trial was carried out at the Clinical Research and Service Centre of ICDDR,B: Centre for Health and Population Research, Dhaka, Bangladesh, during January 1998-December 1999. Infants, aged < or = 2 months, presenting with a history of watery diarrhoea of < or = 72 hours, with no or some dehydration and without any systemic illness, were randomly assigned to receive either ORS-75 or ORS-90 for the correction and subsequent prevention of dehydration. Infants were studied for a maximum of five days. Total stool output, stool frequency, and requirement for ORS were outcome measures. Serum electrolytes were measured at 24 hours after admission to monitor serum sodium imbalance. Seventy-three infants received ORS-75, and 71 received ORS-90. Both the groups were comparable in their baseline characteristics. Diarrhoea resolved within five days in 53% and 66% of infants receiving ORS-75 and ORS-90 respectively (p = 0.3). Total stool volume [median (inter-quartile range) 132 (65-280) vs 139 (70-259) g/kg, p = 0.9], during the study period, was not significantly different between the two groups. Total stool frequency [31 (16-51) vs 35 (16-53), p = 0.9] and total ORS intake [192 (96-374) vs 209 (134-317) mL/kg, p = 0.7] were similar between the groups. No infants developed late evidence of hypernatraemia, irrespective of treatment. The results of the study indicate that ORS-75 is as safe as standard ORS-90 in the treatment of acute watery diarrhoea in neonates and very young infants and is effective in correcting and preventing dehydration.

A retrospective study on genito urinary Rhabdomyosarcoma.

A retrospective study was carried out on Genitourinary Rhabdomyosarcoma in the Department of Paediatric Surgery of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh during the period January 1990 to December 1999. Total thirteen patients were treated during this period, age ranging from 1 month to 12 years. Eight patients were male and five were female (M: F = 1.6: 1). Diagnosis was made by history, thorough physical examination, digital rectal examination, ultrasonography, intravenous urography, CT scan and biopsy. All the patients were treated with chemoradiation theraphy as a first line of management and surgical excision was done for local residual tumours. Eight children (61.5%) were asymptomatic after completion of chemo-radiation therapy. Three (23.07%) patients discontinued the chemo-radiation schedule. Residual mass was present in one (7.7%) case for which partial cystectomy was done and the patient died in the 5th post operative day. Another patient (7.7%) who had pulmonary metastasis at the time of diagnosis, died during chemo-radiation therapy.

Risk factors & clinical presentations--a study of eighty-five hospital admitted stroke cases.

Stroke is the commonest neurological cause of morbidity and mortality. Changes in risk factors may influence stroke incidence. Definitive diagnosis of the type of stroke is necessary for management and it has a strong impact on stroke outcome. A total of eighty-five consecutive stroke patients irrespective of age and sex admitted during the period of August 2000 to June 2001 were studied. They were asked about occupation, area of habitat, smoking habit, family history of ischaemic heart disease and/or stroke, any febrile illness, recent history of productive cough, dysuria and diarrhoea. They were searched for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, ischaemic heart disease, valvular heart disease and dislipidaemia. In every patient complete blood count, urine examination, fasting blood glucose and serum lipids, ECG, x-ray chest were performed. CT scan of brain was performed in 68 cases. Male was found 81.18% of cases with age 62.54 +/- 13.08 (m +/- SD) years. Female were 18.82% of cases with age 58.81 +/- 12.77 (m +/- SD). 75.29% of patients were belongs to middle class family. 51.76% of patients came from rural area and 48.24% of patients came from urban area. 78.82% of patients were hypertensive. Infection was associated with 37.65% of cases. Hemiplegia was commonest presentation (88.24%). Though altered consciousness was found more in haemorrhagic stroke (54.84%) but it was not significantly. High from ischaemic cases (p > 0.10) Male suffer more from stroke. Hypertension is the commonest risk factor. Infection is a common association of stroke. Altered consciousness is not a reliable guide to differentiate between ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke is hospitalized cases.

Vibrio cholerae O139 Bengal: a descriptive study.

A prospective study was conducted to determine the clinical and laboratory characteristics and the clinical course of cholera due to Vibrio cholerae O139 Bengal. The study subjects included 22 adult males with stool culture-proven V. cholerae O139. On enrollment, mean +/- SD concentrations (mmol/L) of serum sodium, potassium, chloride, and bicarbonate were 134 +/- 3, 4 +/- 1, 102 +/- 4, and 13 +/- 4 respectively, and stool sodium, potassium, chloride, and bicarbonate concentrations were 120 +/- 24, 18 +/- 6, 93 +/- 16, and 37 +/- 9 respectively. Seventeen patients (7.8%) had faecal leukocytes ranging from 11 to 50 per high-power field. All V. cholerae O139 isolates (100%) were susceptible to tetracycline, erythromycin, and ciprofloxacin, 92% to furazolidine, and only 5% to trimethoprim-sulphamethaxazole. The median (interquartile) volume of liquid stool during the first 24 hours was 9 (5-12) litre. The median (interquartile) volume of liquid stool and the amounts of intravenous and oral rehydration fluids required during the entire study period were 16 (9-24) litre, 9 (6-18) litre, and 14 (9-20) litre respectively. The median (interquartile) duration of diarrhoea was 80 (48-104) hours. The median (interquartile) duration of excretion of V. cholerae O139 in stool was 5 (3-6) days. Clinical and laboratory features, and case management of cholera due to V. cholerae O139 are very similar to conventional cholera due to V. cholerae O1.

Effect of antibiotics on serum bactericidal action on Plesiomonas shigelloides by normal human serum.

Thirteen clinical isolates of Plesiomonas shigelloides were tested for antibiotic susceptibility of tetracycline, kanamycin-sulphate, gentamicin, erythromycin and ciprofloxacin. All the strains were susceptible to all these antibiotics. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of all these antibiotics were: Kanamycin-sulphate-MIC 0.4-10.0 micrograms/ml, tetracycline-MIC 0.25-2.4 micrograms/ml, gentamicin-MIC 2.0-12.0 micrograms/ml, erythromycin-MIC 0.5-14.0 micrograms/ml and ciprofloxacin-MIC < or = 0.006 micrograms/ml. The MIC and MBC (minimal bactericidal concentration) of the antibiotics kanamycin-sulphate, tetracycline, gentamicin, erythromycin and ciprofloxacin changed little in the presence of serum protein. Different concentrations of sub-MICs played synergistic role in serum bactericidal action on this organism.