ABSTRACT
This study was done to find the pattern of drug abuse and its associated factors among the patients admitted in addiction rehabilitation centers. This descriptive cross sectional study was conducted among 150 drug addicted patients at the central drug addiction cure center at Tejgaon, Dhaka. Data were collected with a pre tested structured questionnaire. The study was conducted under the department of community medicine, National Institute of Preventive and Social Medicine (NIPSOM), Mohakhali, Dhaka during March to May 2008. Among the 150 respondents, males constituted 87%, females 12.7%. Most of the respondents (49.3%) were in the age group twenty five to thirty five years. Ninety two percent (92%) of respondents were Muslims, 78.62% urban dwellers, 14.0% from rural areas and 7.33% came from nearby slums. Literacy rate of drug abusers was 81.3%. 33.3% were unemployed, mean family monthly income was ten thousand taka. Drug of initiation was ganja/cannabis in 48.0% and finally addicted to heroin. Inhalation was the route of choice (56.6%), oral route 30.9% and intravenous drug users (IDU's) 12.5% were remarkable. Peer pressure was a major contributing factor 55.5% for drug initiation. Black market (illegal spot) 77.3% was mainly the source of procurement of drug. Mean duration of drug intake was 4.2 years. Significant association was found between male sex and drug intake (p<0.05), and between age group 25-35 years and drug intake (P< 0.05). Drug dependence is highly prevalent among educated people. Familial confliction and peer pressure lead to different drug abuse.
ABSTRACT
Methamphetamine dependence is a serious worldwide public health problem with major medical, psychiatric, socioeconomic & legal consequences. Various neuronal mechanisms implicated in methamphetamine dependence have been suggested. Drugs of abuse are of two types: natural drugs and synthetic psychotropic substances. The former includes opium, cocaine and cannabis. The latter includes pethidine, barbiturates, tranquillizers, amphetamines. There has been increasing incidence of addiction to certain drugs amongst young people in our country. Our patient is a student of private university of 24 year old male with a history of YABA addiction for 4 years. Without having it he can't do anything. If he cannot take it, peevish temperament occurs. He collects drugs from the local spots or particular person. This condition is very much dangerous to the individual and socio-economic condition of country.
ABSTRACT
In the absence of an effective treatment in modern medicine, efforts are being made to find suitable herbal remedies for hepatitis. This prospective experimental study was conducted in the department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka from July 2006 to June 2007 to evaluate the hepatoprotective effects of Carica papaya against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced hepatotoxicity and compared it with that of vitamin-E. Total 36 adult rats were used and they were divided into six equal groups namely A, B, C, D, E and F. All the rats were fed with normal diet and 2ml distilled water orally for 7 days. In addition, Group D received Carica papaya extract, Group E received olive oil and Group F received vitamin E orally per day for 7 days. On the seventh day CCl4 was administered to all the rats except Group A and was sacrificed on 8th day of experiment. Serum bilirubin, alanine amino transferase (ALT), aspartate amino transferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase and hepatic histopathology were done thereafter. Carica papaya and vitamin E showed significant hepatoprotection against CCL4 induced hepatotoxicity but Carica papaya showed more significant changes in ALP level than vitamin E. Prevention of hepatic necrosis and fatty degeneration were also observed in Carica papaya and vitamin E pretreated rats but there is no significant difference.
ABSTRACT
The change in the number of Purkinje cells with increasing age is evident especially in disorders of fine movement, equilibrium, hypotonia, postural changes, and disturbances of voluntary movement. The present study was done to see the changes in the number of Purkinje cells per square mm in different age groups of Bangladeshi people. This cross sectional descriptive type of study was designed and done in the Department of Anatomy, Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka, from January to December 2010, which was performed on the cerebellum of 28 Bangladeshi people, collected during autopsy examination of unclaimed dead bodies from Department of Forensic Medicine. Paraffin blocks of cerebellum were cut at 5mm thickness and stained with routine Harris' Haematoxylin and Eosin (H & E) stain. Estimation of number of Purkinje cell was done by using the counting circle and examined under the light microscope. The mean ± SD of number of Purkinje cell was 160.71 ± 24.47 in group A (Age 20-29 years) and 152.20 ± 6.49 in group D (age> 50 years), the mean reduction was 2.5% per decade. Histological studies revealed the number of Purkinje cell per square mm decreased with age which was statistically significant and further cytological study of Purkinje cell with larger sample size is recommended.
ABSTRACT
Diabetes mellitus is a heterogeneous group of syndromes characterized by an elevation of blood glucose caused by a relative or absolute deficiency of insulin. The incidence of diabetes is growing rapidly worldwide. Drug treatment for diabetes mellitus is expensive and carries risks for many adverse effects. Bangladesh is a rich emporium of medicinal plants useful in the treatment of diabetes. The study was performed to investigate the blood glucose lowering effect of Swietenia mahagoni seeds in experimentally induced diabetic rats. Twenty four healthy Long Evans Norwegian strain of rats were included in the study and divided into four groups (A, B, C and D) comprising 6 rats each. Diabetes was induced by alloxan (120 mg/kg body weight). Administration of ethanolic extract of Swietenia mahagoni seeds (group-B) produced no significant change in the blood glucose level as compared to control (group-A). Administration of ethanolic extract of Swietenia mahagoni seeds in group-D produced a significant reduction in blood glucose level as compared to diabetic control (group-C). Histological examination of pancreas showed destruction of beta cells in Islets of pancreas in group-C whereas retaining of islets and few degranulations of beta cells of pancreas found in group-D. These observations and results provide information that ethanolic extract of Swietenia mahagoni seeds has hypoglycaemic effect in experimentally induced diabetic rats which requires further investigation.