Cross-cultural adaptation and psychometric validation of the Female Sexual Function Index-6 (FSFI-6) Bangla version.

Background: The 6-item Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI-6) is the shortened version of the widely used 19-item FSFI-19, designed for efficient screening of female sexual dysfunction in outpatient settings. However, this shorter FSFI-6 tool has not yet been validated for use in Bangladesh. Aim: The purpose of this study was to culturally adapt and validate the FSFI-6 in Bangla. Methods: The FSFI-6 was translated into Bangla using standard adaptation protocols. We interviewed 100 married, sexually active women aged 18 years and over from the outpatient and psychiatric sex clinic of a psychiatry department. Of these women, 50 were clinically diagnosed with sexual disorders based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition, criteria. After obtaining written informed consent, participants completed a semi-structured questionnaire to provide sociodemographic information and the Bangla-adapted version of the FSFI-6. We assessed reliability and construct validity using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences, version 25, along with Classical and Bayesian Instrument Development software. Outcome: Study outcomes were internal consistency, factor structure, and sensitivity and specificity. Results: The study involved 100 participants with a mean ± SD age of 30 ± 5.4 years, ranging from 18 to 48 years. The majority of respondents (54.34%) reported issues related to sexual desire. The overall mean score on the Bangla-adapted FSFI-6 was 18.4 ± 5.4. Reliability analysis showed a high internal consistency, with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.887 indicating robust reliability. Both inter-item correlations and item-total correlations were within the acceptable range. A cutoff value of 19 for the FSFI-6 demonstrated high discriminative power, effectively distinguishing between individuals with sexual disorders and those without sexual disorders or with other psychiatric conditions. The sensitivity at this cutoff was 96%, with a specificity of 100%. Clinical Implications: The FSFI-6 Bangla version can be used to screen patients for female sexual dysfunction in an outpatient setting. Strengths and Limitations: The internal consistency of this study, indicated by a Cronbach's alpha of 0.887, was robust. The instrument is time efficient, user friendly, and well suited for outpatient settings. However, the sampling technique utilized was nonrandomized, confined to a single institution, and did not incorporate assessments for concurrent validity or test-retest reliability. Conclusion: The FSFI-6 Bangla version showed good reliability and validity in this study, supporting its usability as a valuable tool for screening sexual dysfunction in female.

Investigation of serum trace element, malondialdehyde and immune status in drug abuser patients undergoing detoxification.

Drug abuser patients (n=104), age ranging from 19 to 42 years, were randomly recruited to investigate the serum levels of trace elements (Cu, Zn, Fe, and Mg), malondialdehyde (MDA), and immunoglobulin (IgG, IgA, and IgM) before and after clinical intervention. Control group also included 104 healthy individuals. Blood samples were analyzed for determining trace elements, MDA, and immunoglobulin using atomic absorption spectroscopy, Ultraviolet-Visible (UV-VIS) spectroscopy, and turbidimetry method, respectively. For serum level of Zn and Fe, the differences between the groups (before intervention, after intervention, and control) were not significant (p>0.05). However, significant differences were found in serum copper levels between control group, drug abuser patients, and before and after intervention (p<0.05). The concentration of Mg was found to be significantly higher (p=0.007) in drug abuser patients than the controls, and after intervention, the level was restored to control value. A displacement of elemental homeostasis was observed in drug abuser patients compared to control, and it was improved after intervention. An increase in serum concentration of MDA was found in drug abuser patients compared to control subjects (p>0.05) but was not statistically significant. After intervention, the concentration was restored to control value (p>0.05). The serum concentrations of IgA and IgM were found to be significantly higher (p<0.05) in drug abuser patients before intervention than the controls, and the level tended to be restored to control level after clinical intervention. Serum IgG level was found to be lower in drug abuser patients compared to controls and further declined significantly (p<0.05) after intervention. These findings may suggest a possible imbalance in the levels of micronutrients, antioxidants, and immunoglobulin in drug abuser patients, which tend to be restored to control values after detoxification.

Immunoglobulin levels of vitiligo patients.

In the present study, the serum immunoglobulin profiles of vitiligo patients were compared with that of cohort control and evaluated the correlation between immunoglobulin level with their socioeconomic factors and nutritional status. Thirty vitiligo patients were recruited randomly from the Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh for this study. Thirty healthy individuals as control group matched by age, sex, education and socioeconomic factors to the patient group were selected. Serum immunoglobulin concentrations were determined by turbidimetry method using immunoglobulin kit. The concentration of IgG and IgA decreased significantly (P<0.05), but the change of IgM was not significant. Socioeconomic data revealed that most of the patients were young and female. Moreover statistical analysis revealed that there was significant correlation between immunoglobulin (IgG and IgA only) concentrations and BMI and number of depigmented patches with IgG concentrations. Finally it can be concluded that the change of serum immunoglobulin concentration in vitiligo patients could be due to the disease condition as pathomechanism suggested the aberrations in cellular immunity. But study with larger number of population is required for further evaluation of the relationship between the immune response and disease state to confirm these findings.