Fetomaternal Outcome of Covid-19 Positive Pregnant Patients in Bangladesh: A Comparative Study.

Objective of the study was the effect of Covid-19 infection on pregnancy and neonatal outcomes. This prospective cohort study was conducted in Combined Military Hospital (CMH) Bogura, Obstetrics and Gynaecology department from June 2020 to October 2020. We have collected and analyzed data of 29 pregnant ladies positive for Covid-19. Control group was Covid-19 negative pregnant patients. Nasopharyngeal swab was taken for real time polymerase chain reaction for detection of Covid-19. We observed symptoms, compared any complication in mother and fetus, mode of termination, and duration of hospital stay. Only six patients were asymptomatic (10.3%). Fifteen (25.9%) had fever, six (6) had weakness (10.3%), 5(8.6%) had sore throat, 3(5.2%) had nausea and 5(8.6%) presented with loss of smell. Among twenty-nine patients, 5(8.6%) delivered normally, 24(41.4%) were delivered through caesarean section which was significantly higher than control group (p value <0.001). No mother became critical or expired, neonatal death was also absent. Mean duration of hospital stay was 14.13±6.192 days in case and 5.18±4.99 in control which was significantly (p value <0.001) higher. Breast feeding was significantly higher in control group (p value <0.001). This study shows feto-maternal outcome of Covid-19 pregnancy is almost same as those of normal pregnancy.

Effect of khat extract on color stability of digitally and manually fabricated provisional restorations: an in vitro comparative study.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effect of khat extract on the color stability of five different provisional restorative materials (PRMs). METHODS: In this study, 50 specimens were fabricated from five different PRMs with different techniques. Twenty specimens were digitally fabricated of poly-methyl methacrylate (PMMA) CAD/CAM milling and 3D printing PRMs, while the other thirty specimens were manually fabricated of three different PRMs: PMMA self-cured (SC) acrylic resin, light-cured (LC) composite, and Bis-acrylic SC composite. Milling and 3D printing machines were used to fabricate the digital specimens, while the manual specimens were fabricated using a metallic mold. The material was placed in the mold, covered by a polyester stripe, and held between two glass slabs with a constant load for 30 s. After setting, the specimens were removed and checked. Ten disc-shaped specimens with 2 ± 0.3 mm thickness and 10 ± 0.3 mm diameter were prepared from each of the tested PRM. Then all the specimens were polished. Five specimens of each PRM were immersed in khat extract, while the other five were immersed in distilled water medium as a control group. The color measurements were recorded before and after 1 and 7 days of immersion using a spectrophotometer. The immersion media were renewed every 24 h and kept along with the specimens at 37 °C. The T test, paired T test, and ANOVA analysis of variance were used to analyze the results. The Bonferroni test was used for post-hoc multiple comparisons. RESULTS: The interaction between the tested PRMs, the media, and the duration of immersion time was statistically significant (p < 0.05). PMMA CAD/CAM milling PRM was the most stable in color, and this was statistically significant (p < 0.05). The LC composite PRM composite was the least stable in color and was statistically insignificant (p > 0.05) when compared to the 3D printing and Bis-acrylic SC composite PRMs, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that khat extract medium has a high staining ability on the tested PRMs. CAD/CAM milling PRM was the most stable in color and could therefore be used as a long-term provisional. The increase in immersion time was a significant factor in the color change of the tested PRMs. The color of the 3D-printed PRM was the most affected over time.

Primary Bone Tumors in North of Jordan.

OBJECTIVE: Primary tumors of bone are relatively uncommon. Little information is available about the etiology, pathophysiology, risk factors and epidemiologic features of bone tumors. In this article, we present the epidemiological data about the primary (benign and malignant) bone tumors in Jordan. METHODS: Retrospectively, we identified and assessed those patients who were diagnosed with primary bone tumor between January 2004 and December 2018 at King Abdullah University Hospital. The following information was obtained: demographics (age, sex), clinical presentation, and location of the tumor. Also, the histopathological results and finding and recurrence of the tumors were retrieved. The included primary bone tumors were those tumors fulfill the World Health Organization classification of soft tissue and bone tumors. RESULTS: During the study period, four-hundred and thirty-seven cases of the primary bone tumor were diagnosed in our institution. More than half of the cases were males (52.5% males and 47.5% females). In most cases, young adults are affected. The mean age for the diagnosis of giant cell tumor of bone (GCTB) is 34.1 years. The appendicular skeleton was involved in 269 (81.5%) patients while the axial skeleton in 60 patients. The most common encountered pathology is the multiple myeloma with 120 patients. After that, osteochondroma was diagnosed in 110 patients. Females were mostly affected by giant cell tumor while the osteochondroma and chondrosarcoma were seen mostly in males. Multiple myeloma tends to develop in elderly while juvenile ossifying fibroma occurred in young pediatrics and Ewing sarcoma in school-age children and adolescents. Giant cell tumor and osteoid osteoma have the tendency to recur. CONCLUSION: The diagnosis of primary bone tumors is of particular important. The reporting of epidemiological studies is essential in order to expand our knowledge regarding this uncommon type of tumors.

Prolonged bradycardia, asystole and outcome of high spinal cord injury patients: Risk factors and management.

BACKGROUND: High spinal cord injury (HSCI) is one of the devastating traumatic injuries. 80% of these patients are young male, and 93% will have major neurological disabilities. There is a paucity of literature about prolonged bradycardia in HSCI patients. The aim of this study was to know the prevalence, risk factors, precipitating factors for prolonged bradycardia in the HSCI patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All patients who were admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of a tertiary hospital, with spinal cord injury above level of dorsal (D4) were enrolled in this study prospectively. Patient's demographic data, mechanism, level and type of spinal injury, associated injuries, injury severity score (ISS), spinal shock, vasopressors used, time of occurrence of bradycardia, treatment for bradycardia, precipitating as well as risk factors and outcome were recorded. RESULTS: During the study period, a total of 138 patients were admitted to the ICU with HSCI. Majority of patients were male. The most frequently associated injury in these patients was skeletal fractures (38.4%). Most common complication was pneumonia 56 (41%). Forty-five (33%) of the total patients had prolonged bradycardia; 87% of these patients had pneumonia when bradycardia occurred. 53.4% had cardiac asystole. 29 (21%) patients had bradycardia at the time of endotracheal suctioning, whereas 27 (20%) patients developed bradycardia at the time of positioning. Majority of the patients were managed conservatively. Those HSCI patients who developed prolonged bradycardia, their ISS score was statistically higher, ICU and hospital stay was significantly higher compared with those HSCI patient who did not have prolonged bradycardia. Multivariate analysis revealed that hypotension on admission; pneumonia, and tracheostomy were risk factors for the development of prolonged bradycardia in HSCI patients. CONCLUSION: Prolonged bradycardia was associated with significantly higher incidence of asystole. Endotracheal suctioning and positioning of HSCI patients were significant provocative factors for prolonged bradycardia; hypotension on admission, pneumonia and tracheostomy were the risk factors for the development of prolonged bradycardia in these patients.

Encapsulation and selectivity of sulfate with a furan-based hexaazamacrocyclic receptor in water.

A furan-based hexaazamacrocycle encapsulates a sulfate anion in its cavity showing strong affinity and selectivity for sulfate in water over a wide range of inorganic anions. The DFT calculations demonstrate that the receptor provides binding sites as hydrogen bonding donors and electrostatic positive charges for the strong binding of sulfate.

Regional specialisation of the ganglion cell density in the retina of the native duck (Anas platyrhynchos) of Bangladesh.

In this study, retinal whole-mount specimens were prepared and stained with 0.1% cresyl violet for the ganglion cell study in the native duck (Anas platyrhynchos). The total number, distribution and size of these cells were determined in different retinal regions. The mean total number of ganglion cells was 1 598 501. The retinal area centralis had the highest ganglion cell density with 11 200 cells/mm(2) . Number of ganglion cell bodies was the highest in temporal area, followed by dorsal, nasal and ventral areas. Ganglion cell size ranged from 5.25 to 80 µm(2) . In the temporal and nasal region, most of the cells were ranged from 15 to 25 µm(2) , and in the dorsal and ventral region, most of the cells were ranged from 12 to 25 µm(2) . There was a marked trend for the retinal ganglion cell size to increase as the population density decrease towards the periphery. A population of small ganglion cells persisted into the central area just above the optic disc and the largest soma area was in the ventral zone of the retina. Thus, the specialisation of ganglion cell densities and their sizes support the notion that the conduction of visual information towards the brain from all regions of the retina is not uniform, and the central area is the fine quality area for vision in native duck.

Evaluation of serodiagnostic tests for T.b. gambiense human African trypanosomiasis in southern Sudan.

A survey was conducted in a low-endemic and in a non-endemic area of Sudan to evaluate the specificity and efficiency of different serological antibody detection techniques for Trypanosoma brucei gambiense. Comparisons were made of the card agglutination test for trypanosomiasis (CATT) on diluted blood, on diluted plasma and on eluates from blood dried on filter paper, the LATEX test on diluted plasma and an ELISA on diluted plasma and filter paper. The specificities of all the serological tests were not significantly different from CATT on diluted blood (99.5%). The specificity of CATT on diluted blood was similar (99.3%). The highest sensitivities (100%) were observed with CATT on diluted blood and with CATT and LATEX on diluted plasma. CATT on diluted blood was more cost-efficient than the classic test, CATT on whole blood.

Evaluation of serodiagnostic tests for T.b. gambiense human African trypanosomiasis in southern Sudan

A survey was conducted in a low-endemic and in a non-endemic area of Sudan to evaluate the specificity and efficiency of different serological antibody detection techniques for Trypanosoma brucei gambiense. Comparisons were made of the card agglutination test for trypanosomiasis [CATT] on diluted blood, on diluted plasma and on eluates from blood dried on filter paper, the LATEX test on diluted plasma and an ELISA on diluted plasma and filter paper. The specificities of all the serological tests were not significantly different from CATT on diluted blood [99.5%]. The specificity of CATT on diluted blood was similar [99.3%]. The highest sensitivities [100%] were observed with CATT on diluted blood and with CATT and LATEX on diluted plasma. CATT on diluted blood was more cost-efficient than the classic test, CATT on whole blood

Environmental hypothesis: is poor dietary selenium intake an underlying factor for arsenicosis and cancer in Bangladesh and West Bengal, India?

To reduce the incidence of dysentery, cholera and other water-borne diseases and mortality of people drinking from surface contaminated sources of water, the World Bank and United Nations Children's Fund began to sink tube wells into the underlying aquifers of Bangladesh and West Bengal, India, in the 1970s. Many of the tube wells were drilled into underground aquifers that provided microbiologically clean water that was later determined to contain arsenic (As). As contamination of drinking water is a problem of natural occurrence throughout the world and domestic water often exceeds the World Health Organization limit of 50 microg As/l in the countries of Bangladesh, West Bengal, India and Nepal as well as other areas occupying much of the Ganges-Brahmaputra delta. It is estimated that as many as one-half of these tube wells discharge water with sufficient amounts of As to produce arsenicosis, i.e. As toxicity in the human population. Access to clean As free water is the priority of most organized relief efforts. Where As free domestic water cannot be provided, an improved diet and/or dietary supplements may ameliorate As toxicity or prevent its toxicity all together. The dietary status of the essential human trace element, selenium (Se) may be adversely affected by a chronic excessive ingestion of As. As added to animal diets has been known to counteract Se toxicity in animals since the 1930s. It is reasoned therefore, that high levels of chronic As ingestion from well water by people within the delta will accelerate the excretion of Se lowering the body's content of this essential trace element. Excessive Se excretion owing to Se/As complexation may add to the likelihood of As being more toxic and carcinogenic over time, due to the oxidative stress imposed by the excessive As and low Se ingestion. Because of the unique environment of the Ganges-Brahmaputra delta in which millions of people are presently exposed to As, we ask the question: are low dietary Se ingestion and accelerated Se depletion by As possible contributing factors to arsenicosis?

Angiopoietin-1 and angiopoietin-2 activate trophoblast Tie-2 to promote growth and migration during placental development.

Human placental development involves coordinated angiogenesis and trophoblast outgrowth that are compromised in intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). As Tie-2((-/-)) mice exhibit growth retardation and vascular network malformation, the expression of Tie-2 and its ligands, angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1) and angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2), were investigated in human placenta from normal pregnancies and those complicated by severe IUGR. Ribonucleotide protection assays showed no significant change in the expression of Ang-2 mRNA between gestationally matched normal and IUGR placentas; however, immunoblots revealed that Ang-2 protein was significantly decreased in IUGR, suggesting that this may contribute to the abnormal development of the villous vasculature. In situ hybridization studies showed that Ang-1 and Tie-2 were detected in the cyto/syncytiotrophoblast bilayer in first-trimester placenta, whereas Ang-2 mRNA was restricted to the cytotrophoblast, suggesting their role in trophoblast function. At term, Ang-1 mRNA and immunoreactive protein were restricted to the paravascular tissues of the primary stem villi, supporting its role in vessel maturation. In contrast, Ang-2 was expressed throughout the term villous core, perhaps to permit the developing placental vascular network to remain in a state of fluidity. As these studies also revealed that trophoblast, in addition to endothelial cells, expressed Tie-2 receptors, we investigated the potential role of Ang-1/Ang-2 on trophoblast proliferation, migration, and the release of NO. Using spontaneously transformed first-trimester trophoblast cell lines that exhibit cytotrophoblast-like (ED(27)) and extravillous trophoblast-like (ED(77)) properties, we show that the addition of Ang-2 (250 ng/ml) stimulated DNA synthesis in ED(27) trophoblast cells and triggered the release of NO. Ang-1 stimulated trophoblast (ED(77)) migration in a dose-dependent manner that was inhibited by recombinant Tie-2-FC. These data thus imply, for the first time, a specific role for angiopoietins as regulators of trophoblast behavior in the development of the utero/fetoplacental circulation, an action independent of their well-established roles in vascular endothelium.

Disposition of benzophenone-3 after dermal administration in male rats.

Benzophenone-3 (2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone, BZ-3) is a UV absorber that is used extensively in medicine, cosmetics and industry as a sunscreen and color fastener. Exposure to the chemical is through the dermal and oral route. Bioavailability of the chemical absorbed through the skin is different from that seen through the oral route. The disposition of BZ-3 was investigated after dermal administration of 100 mg/kg body weight (body wt.) in Sprague-Dawley rats. Blood samples were collected at various intervals and the parent compound and its metabolites were analyzed by HPLC. Absorption was rapid as the parent compound and its metabolites were detected in plasma 5 min post-administration. The half-life (t1/2) of absorption was 3.45 h corresponding to an absorption rate constant of 0.2 h-1. Peak plasma concentration of 35 +/- 4.5 micrograms/ml (mean +/- standard error of the mean, S.E.) was attained at 2.5 h post-administration. Disappearance from the plasma was biphasic with different half-lives (1.3 for alpha phase and 15.05 h. for beta phase), the area under the plasma concentration versus time curve was 211.1 +/- 38.2 micrograms/ml/h (mean +/- S.E). There was also extensive binding of BZ-3 and its metabolites to plasma proteins. Three metabolites were identified in plasma, 2,4-dihydroxybenzophenone (DHB) and 2,2'-dihydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone (DHMB) were the major metabolites detected in the plasma, while 2,3,4-trihydroxybenzophenone (THB) was detected in trace amounts. Tissue distribution studies revealed that THB was the major metabolite followed by DHB (both free and conjugated) in all tissues examined. The liver contained the highest amount followed by the kidney, spleen and testes, respectively.