Repeat breeding: prevalence and potential causes in dairy cows at different milk pocket areas of Bangladesh.

The objective of this study was to figure out the prevalence and probable causes of repeat breeding (RB) in dairy cows. Hence, a cross-sectional study was conducted on randomly selected 265 dairy farms in Sirajganj, Bogura, Rangpur, Satkhira, and Munshiganj districts of Bangladesh from December 2018 to February 2019. Data were collected through a direct interview method using a survey questionnaire. The reproductive organs of repeat breeder cows were examined for pathological, infectious, and functional reasons, and genital tract abnormalities. Additionally, the influence of nutrition, season, and age on the frequency of RB was recorded. The prevalence of RB was 28% among the 3824 cows investigated. Among the total repeat breeder cases, 72.54% of RB cases were found in Holstein-Friesian crossbred, 23.90% in Jersey crossbred, 1.50% in Sahiwal crossbred, and 2.06% in indigenous cows. The prevalence of RB was significantly highest (P < 0.01) in Satkhira (44.35%) and lowest in the Munshiganj district (15.87%). Data indicated that a major proportion of cows significantly (P < 0.05) faced RB problems due to functional causes (34.18%), followed by pathological causes (28.01%), genital tract abnormalities (21.32%), and infectious causes (16.49%). Furthermore, the cows were remarkably (P < 0.001) affected in RB during the summer season and nutritional deficient diseases like milk fever (70%). Age (3-7 years) had a significant (P < 0.001) effect on the RB occurrence (90%) in crossbred cows. However, particular focus should be given to systematic breeding, balanced nutrition, artificial inseminator efficiency, and hygienic inseminating tools to reduce RB incidence in high-yielding crossbred cows.

Strategic insight into enhanced photocatalytic remediation of pharmaceutical contaminants using spherical CdO nanoparticles in visible light region.

The sustainable control of pharmaceutical micropollutants in water and wastewater environments is a great challenge in the 21st century. To address these issues, unique CdO nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized using a facile hydrothermal approach and investigated for photocatalytic control of the antibiotic tetracycline, multidrug-resistant bacteria (MDRB), and total coliform in the wastewater effluent. The NPs were characterized using a range of techniques and it exhibited a spherical-like crystal structure with a mean size of 40 nm. The vibrational stretching mode of 1419 cm-1 confirmed the formation of Cd-O (M - O). The synthesis protocol formed smoother surfaces and 1.88 eV band gap energy of CdO NPs, inducing excellent photocatalytic activity under visible LED light (blue and white) irradiation. The optimal catalyst dose and pH were 100 mg/L and 8-9, respectively. Blue light proved more effective than white light, resulting in 28% higher efficiency (93 ± 0.47%) in tetracycline degradation than white light under an identical intensity (20 mW/cm2). White light required a four-fold higher light intensity (80 mW/cm2) than blue light to induce comparable photocatalytic MDRB inactivation. Bacterial cell lysis by the photocatalytic treatment was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The used catalyst was easily recovered by 5 min of centrifugation and re-used without any noticeable change in the photocatalytic decomposition. The trapping experiment revealed that the CdO-based NPs contributed primarily to the generation of •O2- and •OH radicals (Type I), but the •O2- radicals were the dominant reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the photocatalytic process.

Photodynamic inactivation of multidrug-resistant bacteria in wastewater effluent using green phytochemicals as a natural photosensitizer.

The control of multidrug-resistant bacteria (MDRB) is a great challenge in the 21st century. Photodynamic treatment (PDT) is one of the promising approaches to control MDRB. In the process, powerful oxidants such as reactive oxygen species (ROS) are produced, which cause cytotoxic damage and cell death of bacteria. This study examined a new and environment-friendly strategy for the photodynamic inactivation of two MDRB (Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus) and total coliform (TC) in wastewater effluent using two phytochemicals, pyrogallol (PGL) and terpinolene (TPN), along with white and blue light-emitting diode (LED) light. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) of the phytochemicals confirmed the presence of different phenolic and aromatic compounds, which can enhance the generation of ROS alongside inactivating the bacterial cells. In the PDT process, white LED light was more active in controlling MDRB than blue LED light. After 80 min irradiation with white LED light (17 mW/cm2), the MDRB bacteria were eradicated completely at a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) dose (0.156 mg/mL for E. coli and 0.078 mg/mL for S. aureus) of PGL. In addition, light intensity was an important parameter in photodynamic disinfection. The TC in the secondary effluent was inactivated completely by both phytochemicals after 60 min of exposure to white LED light with an intensity of 80 mW/cm2. The photosensitizing activity of phytochemicals was analyzed by a bactericidal and imidazole-RNO assay. These assays showed that PGL contributed to the generation of •OH radicals, whereas TPN produced 1O2 in the PDT process. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) confirmed bacterial cell disruption after treatment. Overall, PDT using the phytochemicals as PS is a sustainable approach to control the MDRB and TC in wastewater successfully.

Relationship of Serum Uric Acid Level with Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Single-Center, Hospital-Based Study from Bangladesh.

The role of uric acid as a risk factor for cerebrovascular disease, particularly acute ischemic stroke, is controversial and there is little information about this in our setting. This cross-sectional study was conducted at the departments of Medicine and Neurology of a tertiary hospital in Bangladesh over one year, from January 2018 to December 2018, to estimate serum uric acid (SUA) levels and assess its risk factor potential in patients with acute ischemic stroke. Forty-five patients with acute ischemic stroke were enrolled and a similar number of age and sex-matched healthy individuals were recruited for comparison. All known risk factors for stroke were searched and SUA levels were measured. SUA was higher (6.66±2.33 vs. 5.23±1.81 mg/dL; p=0.002) and hyperuricemia was more frequent (64.4% vs. 24.4%, p<0.001) in stroke patients in comparison to the controls. Hypertension was more frequent among stroke patients. In multivariate analysis, hyperuricemia [OR 4.51 (95% CI 1.67-12.16; p<0.05)] and HTN [OR 6.31 (95% CI 2.26-17.61; p<0.001)] were found to be independent risk factors of acute ischemic stroke. The stroke and control groups had no differences in age, sex, residence, education, monthly income, occupation, fasting plasma glucose, triglyceride and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. Total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were higher in the stroke patients. SUA may be used as a marker for increased risk of ischemic stroke. However, larger-scale studies are needed to get more insight into our findings.

Green phytoextracts as natural photosensitizers in LED-based photodynamic disinfection of multidrug-resistant bacteria in wastewater effluent.

The photodynamic treatment (PDT) process is a promising technology to control emerging pollutants and antimicrobial resistance problems in the water environment. The reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced when natural and nontoxic photosensitizers (PS) are exposed to light are the key functional components of the PDT process that can effectively achieve microbial inactivation with minimal negative impact. This study examined the application of green phytoextracts from two plants, Chamaecyparis obtusa and Moringa oleifera, as natural photosensitizers for the white light-emitting diode (LED) based photodynamic disinfection of multidrug-resistant (MDR) and total coliforms (TC) from secondary effluent in full-scale municipal wastewater treatment plants. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy showed that the phytoextracts contained 57 compounds, particularly aromatic and phenolic hydroxyl compounds. The phytoextracts showed an excellent activity as a PS compared to the intrinsic antibacterial effect. Under a light intensity of 17 mW/cm2, the complete inactivation (6.55 Log CFU/mL) was observed at an irradiation time of 100 min for Escherichia coli ART-2 and 80 min for Staphylococcus aureus, meaning that E. coli was resistant. The light intensity was an important factor influencing photodynamic disinfection. For the complete disinfection of TC satisfying the water reclamation regulation, the irradiation time requirement was 20 min under a light intensity of 80 mW/cm2. During the photodynamic reaction, a significant amount of ROS was generated from the phytoextracts as the light irradiation time was increased. The major ROS was singlet oxygen (1O2, Type II) during the initial 40 min of reaction time and hydroxyl radical (•OH, Type I) after 40 min until complete inactivation.

Sociodemographic and Clinico-laboratory Profile of Expanded Dengue Syndrome: Experience from a Tertiary Hospital of Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Dengue is endemic in more than a hundred countries throughout the tropics. The classic presentation of dengue fever has expanded its horizon by involving different organ systems, and these system-specific presentations pose a diagnostic dilemma. The objective of this prospective observational study was to evaluate the sociodemographic, and clinical profile of expanded dengue syndrome (EDS) patients admitted to a tertiary hospital in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Data were collected from all admitted patients from April 2019 to September 2019 and diagnosed with dengue. The patients with dengue having EDS were followed up till discharge. Of 4200 dengue cases admitted during this period, 108 patients (2.57%) were diagnosed with EDS. Among the EDS cases, 94% were from Dhaka city, and 6% were outside Dhaka city; 66% of the patients were male. Gastrointestinal (GI) manifestations were the most common (87%) type of EDS, and among the GI presentations, acute acalculous cholecystitis (38.3%), acute pancreatitis (30.85%), acute hepatitis (21.27%) were the most frequent. Among the EDS cases, 5.55% had a central nervous system (CNS), 4.6% cardiovascular (CVS), and 1.88% had renal complications; 0.93% presented with myositis. The majority (90.74%) of the patients recovered with conservative management, 10 (9.26%) died. This study shows that expanded dengue syndrome (EDS) is not uncommon in Bangladesh's dengue viral infection. A high degree of clinical suspicion is the key to early diagnosis and treatment.

Birth weight, length, head and chest circumference and haemoglobin level of new born.

The birth weight, length, head and chest circumference and haemoglobin level of 1002 full term new born babies (506 males and 496 females) were determined. The results were compared with similar data from other countries. The birth weight of the present series of newborns were similar to those of newborns from India, the crown-heel length agreed favourably with the data from India and Indonesia, and the head circumference were almost equal to those of the newborns from Sri Lanka, Jamaica and India.