Effects of Estrogen and Folic Acid on High Fat Induced Hypercholesterolemic Mice.

Aims: To elucidate the effect of estrogen and folic acid on high fat (butter) induced lipid profile (total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein (LDL), high density lipoprotein (HDL), and triglyceride (TG)) and on tissue texture changes in mice. Designs: Randomized block design. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Physiology and Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh between January 2012 and April2012. Methodology: 2 months old 50 male Swiss Albino mice (Mus musculus) were used for this study and divided into equal groups. Group A (control) was fed with normal rat pellet. Mice in the group B was fed with butter; group C was fed with butter and estrogen; group D was fed with butter and folic acid and group E was fed with butter, estrogen and folic acid. The atheroprotective effect of estrogen and folic acid was evaluated based on weight gain, biochemical parameters and histopathology. Results: The highest body weight gain was detected in group B (P<0.001). In biochemical study, group B showed the increase in total plasma cholesterol, especially low density lipoprotein (LDL), and triglyceride (TG) (P<0.001) compared to other treated groups. Group C, D and E showed a lower level of total plasma cholesterol (P<0.001) compared to group B. Among them group E showed the lowest total plasma cholesterol level (P<0.001). In histopathological study, the aorta of butter treated group showed sloughing of lining endothelium, increased aortic wall thickness and loss of integrity of tunica intima. It also revealed fatty changes in liver in animal models fed with butter, compared with those on a normal diet. Conclusions: 20% butter supplementation would be able to cause a rise in lipid profile and produce degenerative changes in aorta and liver and addition of estrogen or folic acid in butter supplemented diet counteracts the adverse effect.

Association between Morphological Changes of Nail and Nail Arsenic Level in Patients with Arsenicosis.

This case-control type of analytical study was conducted in the Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh to find out the association between morphological changes of nail and nail arsenic level in arsenicosis patients. Majority of arsenicosis patients were male (56.67%). The mean age of the cases was 43.07+/-13.73 years. Nail changes were found in 26.67% of cases, most were nail dystrophy (23.33%) and rest were Mee's line (3.34%). There was significant difference between cases with or without nail changes and nail arsenic level. But cases with or with out nail changes had a significant difference between duration of intake of arsenic contaminated water. There was no correlation between nail changes and nail arsenic level for nail dystrophy and Mee's line. The study result failed to establish association between the morphological changes of nail and nail arsenic level.

Unusual presentation of progressive systemic sclerosis.

A female 38 years old, housewife, presented to the Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Mymensingh Medical College Hospital (MMCH) on 08.04.07 with the complaints of i) pain and reduced movement of hand, knee, shoulder and neck joints for 1 year and 9 months ii) tightness of skin over face, neck, limbs and trunk for 1 year and 6 months iii) patchy depigmentation over same areas for 1 year and 3 months iv) deformity of hands with flexion contractures for 6 months and v) dysphagia to solid food for 3 months. She had no complaints of Raynaud's phenomenon. On general examination, she was ill looking, anemic and nutritionally poor. Examination of integumentary system showed smooth, shiny, thick, hard and hidebound skin with pigmentary alteration of 'salt and pepper' appearance over fingers, hands, limbs, face, neck and trunk. Hands appear claw like but more on the right side than the left and there were no other obvious changes suggestive of digital ischaemia (atrophy, ulceration, scarring, gangrene etc). Face has got suggestive features of scleroderma. Examination of the respiratory system showed restriction of chest movement and reduced expansibility of chest wall. No other abnormality was found on examination of other systems. Laboratory investigations showed histopathology typical of scleroderma. X-ray of hands and feet showed suggestive changes, lung function test-showed restrictive lung disease. Barium swallow x-ray of esophagus in supine position showed mild dilation of lower oesophagus. But serology was non-reactive (negative ANA, Negative RA test, Negative VDRL). So, she was diagnosed as a case of progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS) with some atypicality.

Simultaneous occurrence of multiple types of cutaneous tuberculosis (TVC and PNT) with internal organ tuberculosis (PTB).

A 40 years old male patient of poor socioeconomic condition presented with a well circumscribed rough surfaced and fissured, verrucous plaque on left axilla and a similar lesion on right foot- which were clinically diagnosed as tuberculosis verrucosa cutis. He also had necrotic papular eruption with varioliform scarring in some lesions on upper back clinically diagnosed as papulonecrotic tuberculid. He had fever and cough and mild weight loss suspicious of pulmonary tuberculosis. On investigation ESR was raised, mild anaemia was present, MT was strongly positive, chest x-ray was suggestive of tuberculosis. So, he was diagnosed as a case of simultaneous occurrence of tuberculosis verrucosa cutis (TVC) with papulonecrotic tuberculid (PNT) with pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB). Standard anti tuberculosis chemotherapy already started to offer cure of all lesions.

Gastrojejunocolic fistula following surgery for peptic ulcer complications: two case reports.

Two patients were admitted in the surgical unit--I of Mymensingh Medical College Hospital on January 2001 and March 2001 with the complaints of epigastric pain and discomfort, feculent eructation and fecal vomiting, diarrhoea with lienteric stools, weight loss and weakness. Both of them had previous history ulcer complications. The diagnoses of gastrojejunocolic fistula were made on the basis of history, barium enema examination and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Early resuscitation with correction of nutritional deficiencies, fluid and electrolyte imbalance was attempted along with blood transfusion, antibiotics and other supportive measures. But the first patient was too ill to cope up with the treatment and developed cardio-respiratory symptoms. A single stage procedure comprising of partial gastrectomy along with resection of the fistula and restoration of bowel continuity (by jejunojejunostomy, colocolostomy and closure of duodenal stump) was adopted in both patients. Early postoperative recovery was good in both but the first patient expired on 8th postoperative day from acute myocardial infarction, while the second one developed anastomotic leakage and wound infection, which were managed conservatively. On follow up the second patient was found in sound health till to date after his discharge from the hospital.

Seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori among the diabetic population in Bangladesh: a comparative serological study on the newly diagnosed and older diabetics.

This prospective study was designed to find out the prevalence of H. pylori infection among the diabetic population in Bangladesh with a comparison between the newly diagnosed and older diabetics. For this study 520 diabetic patients: 152 (29%) newly diagnosed and 368 (71%) older diabetics of both sexes (250 male, 270 female) with a mean age of 58.5 +/- 12.04 years (range 10-70 years), were selected randomly from out and in-patient departments of BIRDEM, Dhaka. Mean fasting and 2 hours post load blood glucose level of the studied population was 10.53 +/- 4.08 mmol/L and 18.35 +/- 9.44 mmol/L respectively. The mean duration of the newly diagnosed diabetics was 0.44 +/- 0.35 years (range 2 days-1 year) and 6.78 +/- 5.45 (range 1-30) years for the older diabetics. H. pylori infection was defined as a true positive ELISA test result of > 1.5 standard deviation above the cut-off values of 15 AU/ml for adults and 10 AU/ml for children for anti H. pylori IgG. Of the studied population 441 (84.8%)--132 newly diagnosed and 309 (83.96%) older diabetics were seropositive for H. pylori infection. No significant differences were observed between the newly diagnosed and older diabetics (86.84% Vs 83.96%; p > 0.05).

Incidence of spontaneous echocontrast in left atrium in mitral stenosis detected by transoesophageal echo cardiography and related factors.

The incidence of left atrial (LA) spontaneous echo contrast (SEC) and the clinical and echocardiographic variables related to it were prospectively evaluated in a series of 60 patients with mitral stenosis (MS) undergoing transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE) with a 5 MHz multiplane transducer. LA-SEC was found in 39 patients (65%) employing TEE. Statistical analysis showed a significant relationship between the presence of SEC and MS without mitral regurgitation (MR) (P < 0.05), MS with < or = MR grade II (P < 0.05), atrial fibrillation (P < 0.001) and increased left atrial dimension (P < 0.05). Age, sex, mitral valve area and ejection fraction did not show any positive association (P > 0.05). Thus, it is concluded that LA-SEC is a common finding observed in approximately 65% of MS patients undergoing TEE and associated with conditions favouring stasis of left atrial blood.