Age and Sex Related Changes in Weight of the Whole brain: A Postmortem Study.

Objective: Brain weight varies with age and gender. It decreases with age and also in many diseases. This cross-sectional analytical type of study was carried out to establish normal standard in different age groups in weight of the brain and to see the difference between sexes of adult Bangladeshi people. Materials and Methods: A total of 70 postmortem human brains of adult age groups ranging from 22-58 years in male and 22-48 years in female were collected from the unclaimed dead bodies during postmortem at the autopsy laboratory in the Department of Forensic Medicine, Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka, from January 2010 to December 2010. The samples were divided into four different age groups i.e. Group A (20-29 years), Group B (30-39 years), Group C (40-49 years) and Group D (50-59 years). The weight of the whole brain was measured and significant differences in weight of the whole brain between different age groups and between male and female were determined. Results: In male highest value of weight was 1326.67±41.53 gm in group A and lowest one was 1281.6±40.21 gm in group D. These values of female were 1235.56±48.51 gm in group A and 1197.14±38.61 gm in group C. Significant differences were found in mean weight of the whole brain in male and female in group A (p=0.001), B (p=0.001) and C (p=0.001). The difference of mean weight in different age groups was not statistically significant. Conclusion: The weight of the brain is higher in male than in female and it decreases with age.

Intravascular catheter related infections and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of isolated bacteria in a tertiary care hospital of Bangladesh.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the rate of bacterial colonisation and catheter related blood stream infections (CRBSI) together with the antibiotic susceptibility patterns in a tertiary care hospital. CRBSI was detected with semi-quantitative and quantitative methods. The antimicrobial susceptible patterns of the isolated organisms were performed by Kirby Bauer disk diffusion method. The rate of catheter colonisation and CRBSI were 42.1% and 14% (16.1/1000 catheter days) respectively. The most common causative pathogens were Pseudomonas sp. (23.7%), Acinetobacter sp. (18.4%), Staphylococcus aureus (13.2%) and Enterobacteriaceae (10.5%). The rate of isolation of methicillin resistance S. aureus, imipenem resistant Pseudomonas sp. and extended spectrum β lactamase producing Enterobacteriaceae were 60%, 44.0% and 100%. The result of this study would be useful for control and treatment of CRBSI.

Nonsyndromic Aplasia Cutis Congenita: a Case Report.

Nonsyndromic aplasia cutis congenita is a condition in which babies are born with localized areas of missing skin. These areas resemble ulcers or open wounds, although they are sometimes already healed at birth. Lesions most commonly occur on the top of the head (skull vertex). In some cases, the bone and other tissues under the skin defect are also underdeveloped. If the baby is born by cesarean section, then the patient's attendants recognize the wound as an injury which might be performed by the surgeon at the time of cesarean section. We are reporting this type of a case whose father attempted to take legal procedure against the surgeon, but finally he understood that this was a congenital disease of his baby.

Seroprevalence of Hepatitis G Virus IgG Antibody among Blood Donors, Pregnant Women, Neonates and Apparently Healthy Population.

This cross sectional and observational study was conducted in the Department of Microbiology, Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College, Sylhet, during the period from 1st January 2012 to 31st December 2012 with a view to explore the seropositivity of Hepatitis G virus (HGV) in blood donors, pregnant women, new born and apparently healthy subjects. For this purpose 45 blood donors, 45 pregnant women, 45 new born babies of same mothers and 45 apparently healthy subjects were selected according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The HGV antibody was measured in venous blood from blood donor, pregnant women and apparently healthy subjects; and cord blood from newborn babies with a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. The mean age of the blood donors, pregnant women and healthy subjects was 24.9 (SD ± 3.5) years; 24.9 (SD ± 3.5) years and 22.1 (SD ± 1.5) years respectively. The overall seropositivity of HGV was 3 (1.7%). The seropostivity of HGV of blood donors, new born babies and healthy subjects was 1 (2.2%) in each group but no HGV antibody positivity among the pregnant women (p=0.797). Among the male patients 2 (2.2%) patients were seropositive for HGV; while in female patients, 1 (1.1%) patient was seropositive for HGV (p=0.547). Among the patients with previous blood transfusion 1 (1.9%) patient was seropositive for HGV; while among patients without previous blood transfusion 2 (1.6%) patients were seropositive for HGV (p=0.882). This study yielded that there is high prevalence of HGV seropositivity among population in this region of Bangladesh. So, screening of blood units for HGV would deserve consideration.

Advanced Abdominal Pregnancy with a Full-Term Live Fetus: Case Report.

Advanced abdominal pregnancy (AAP) with a viable full-term fetus is a rarity that a few obstetricians encounter during their professional carrier. Usually it has a dramatic and catastrophic consequence both for the fetus & the mother; rather subsequent delivery of a viable full term fetus is exceptional. It is difficult to diagnose preoperatively. Though relatively rare, we received an AAP at term with live fetus in Faridpur Medical College & hospital. Illiteracy, poverty and lack of antenatal care had resulted in her late presentation. After laparotomy the diagnosis was confirmed, a healthy male baby was delivered.

A Case Report of Arcuate Uterus.

A uterine malformation is the result of an abnormal development of the Mullerian duct(s) during embryogenesis. The arcuate uterus is a type of congenital uterine malformation where the uterine fundus displays a small midline indentation towards the uterine cavity. A 25 years old woman with history of two abortions was diagnosed as a case of arcuate uterus during her first caesarean section. With proper antenatal care and counseling she has been able to give birth to 2nd baby successfully. No correctable surgery was essential for her. The literature regarding the diagnosis, management, and reproductive outcomes for arcuate uterus is limited and conflicting. A woman with an arcuate uterus can carry a baby to full term pregnancy. However, this condition is associated with a higher risk for miscarriage and premature births. Arcuate uterus is usually managed similarly to septate uterus, and only selected patients who fulfill poor reproductive performance criteria are recommended for surgical correction.

Analysis of Sociodemographic and Clinical Factors Associated with Hospitalized Stroke Patients of Bangladesh.

A hospital based cross sectional study was carried out to analyze prevalence of risk factors for stroke in hospitalized patient in a medical college hospital. 100 patients were chosen using purposive sampling technique. Highest incidence of stroke was between the 6th and 7th decade. Patients came from both urban (54%) and rural (46%) areas and most of them belong to the low-income group (47%). In occupational category; service holder (28%) and retired person (21%) were the highest groups. Most of the study subjects were literate (63%). CT scan study revealed that the incidence of ischaemic stroke was 61% and haemorrhagic stroke 39%. Analysis indicated hypertension as major risk factor for stroke (63%) and major portion of the patients (42.85%) were on irregular or no treatment. Twenty four percent of the patients had heart diseases and out of 24 patients 45.83% were suffering from ischaemic heart disease. The present study detected diabetes in 21% patients. Fifty three percent of the study subjects were smoker, 39% patients had habit of betelnut chewing. Out of 26 female patients, only 23% had history of using oral contraceptives. Majority of the patients were sedentary workers (46%). Thirty seven percent of the stroke patients were obese. Among the stroke patients 9% had previous history of stroke and 3% had TIA respectively. Most of the patients (21%) were awake while they suffered from stroke and the time of occurrence was mostly in the afternoon (46%). This study found that hypertension, cigarette smoking, ischaemic heart disease and diabetes mellitus are the major risk factors prevalent in our community while other risk factors demand further study.

Role of Urinary Albumin in the Prediction of Preeclampsia.

The prospective study was conducted at the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology of Sir Salimullah Medical College & Mitford Hospital and at the Department of Cell & Molecular Biology, Research Division, BIRDEM, during the period of Jan 2003 to July 2004. To explore a suitable biochemical marker to predict the future development of preeclampsia (PE), total 119 pregnant women at their 10-14 weeks of pregnancy were selected. Urinary albumin was measured in these subjects and they were followed up to the term for the possible development of PE. The data were analyzed by grouping the subjects into the PE group and control group. Out of 119 subjects 56 were primigravida and 63 were multigravida. From the total subjects 10 developed PE (04 primigravida and 06 multigravida), which shows a prevalence of about 8.4%. The PE group showed a relatively higher value of Albumin Creatinine Ratio (ACR) as compared to control. 63 subjects had microalbuminuria out of which 8 developed PE. The sensitivity of ACR in predicting the development of PE was 80%, specificity 49.54%, Positive pridictive value (PPV) 12.69% and Negitive pridictive value (NPV) 96.42%. It may be concluded that early pregnancy levels of microalbuminuria can be used as predictors of preeclampsia with high negative predictive value.

Socio-demographic, Clinical Characteristics and Status of Hypertension Control among Rural Hypertensive Patients.

Hypertension is an important independent predictor of cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular accidents and death. The prevalence of cardiovascular diseases and hypertension is rapidly increasing in developing countries. A cross sectional study was conducted among 103 hypertensive patients during December 2009 to June 2010 in Goshair Hat Upazilla of Shariatpur District to determine the socio-demographic, clinical characteristics and status of control of hypertension in rural population. Respondents were distributed more or less equally among males and females. The mean +_ SD and median age of the respondents were calculated as 59.97 +_ 11.12 years, with 64% of them were included in the age group of 51 to 70 years. More than half of the respondents were housewives (51.5%), which were followed by businessmen (21.4%). Every three of five patients were over weight, while 22.3% respondents were obese. One third of the respondents were also diabetic (33%). None of the 103 patients had achieved the target for SBP (Systolic blood pressure) control (<140mm of Hg) and only 21.4% of the patients had achieved the target for DBP (Diastolic blood pressure) control (<90 mm of Hg). Again none of the diabetic hypertensive patients had achieved the target for SBP control (<130mm of Hg) and only one patient had achieved the target for DBP control (<80 mm of Hg). Overall five patients were found to have uncontrolled and severe hypertension (BP >180/110 mm of Hg), all of whom were female. From this study control of hypertension was found poor among rural hypertensive population. For effectively combating the burden of hypertension in this population, education and awareness about hypertension needs to be given priority.