Association between Serum Vitamin D Level and Acute Ischemic Stroke.

Stroke is one of the most common neurological disorder and third most common cause of death in the world. Low vitamin D concentrations have been shown to predict risk of cardiovascular disease and all-cause of mortality. The aim of this study was to estimate serum vitamin D level in acute ischemic stroke patients. This comparative cross-sectional type of study was conducted in the Department of Neurology and Department of Medicine at Mymensingh Medical College and Hospital, Bangladesh from November 2017 to June 2019 with a total number of 100 study subjects. Total fifty patients with acute ischemic stroke were enrolled in Group A and another fifty age and sex matched volunteer subjects were enrolled in Group B with no prior history of stroke or transient ischemic attacks. Serum vitamin D levels, fasting plasma glucose and lipid profile were assessed in both groups and compared with each other. P value <0.05 was considered as significant in the study. Mean fasting blood sugar, serum fasting total cholesterol (TC), serum fasting triglycerides, serum fasting Low density lipoprotein (LDL) were significantly higher in Group A than Group B (p<0.05). Serum vitamin D level in Group A was 25.28±8.47ng/ml and in Group B was 30.90±5.80, (p=0.001). Insufficient vitamin D level was found in 52.0% of ischemic stroke patients and in 30% of healthy controls (p=0.0002). Vitamin D deficiency was found in 20.0% ischemic stroke patients and 10.0% in healthy controls. This study demonstrates a positive association between low serum vitamin D level and acute ischemic stroke. Further studies are required to determine whether vitamin D supplementation could improve functional outcome in patients with ischemic stroke.

Association of Serum Magnesium Level with Severity of Neurological Disability in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke.

Magnesium (Mg) has important effects on vascular system and deficiency of this cation is thought to be a risk factor for cerebrovascular atherosclerosis and complications. The study was planned to find out the association of serum magnesium level with severity of neurological disability in patient with acute ischemic stroke. This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in the department of Neurology and Medicine at Mymensingh Medical College & Hospital, Mymensingh from June, 2018 to October, 2019. Patients with acute ischemic stroke were evaluated following informed written consent. Diagnosis was confirmed by neuroimaging of brain. Moreover, serum magnesium assay was done for each patient. Data were collected by interview, clinical examination and laboratory investigations of patients using a case record form and analysis was carried out by using the SPSS 22.0 (IBM Inc., Armonk, NY, USA). Mean age of acute ischemic stroke patients was 63.94±13.93 years with male predominance (58.30%). Majority of the respondents (70.2%) had NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score 5-15 (moderate stroke), 13.1% had score 1-5 (minor stroke), 13.1% had score15-20 (Moderate to severe stroke) and 3.6% had score 21-42 (severe stroke). Mean serum magnesium level was 1.83±0.283mg/dl. Hypomagnesaemia was present in 28(33.3%) patients and it was related with higher NIHSS scoring (p<0.05). Multiple regression showed that among the risk factors, serum magnesium level was independently associated with severity of neurological disability of the acute ischemic stroke (p<0.001). In this study, the correlation coefficient between serum magnesium level and NIHSS score was found as r= - 0.667 which showed negative relationship between serum magnesium and NIHSS score. Lower serum magnesium level is associated with the severity of neurological disability of acute ischemic stroke patient. Further case-control studies are required to validate this finding.

Relation between Acute Ischemic Stroke and Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction.

Stroke is one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity all over the world. The economic cost for stroke disability and post stroke rehabilitation is a growing concern. Ischemic stroke comprises 80.0 - 85.0% of total stroke cases caused by thrombotic or embolic occlusion of cerebral arteries. The source of embolism may be a larger artery or cardiac. Overt heart failure is an independent predictor of long term unfavorable functional outcome in stroke patients. However, there is little research whether the acute ischemic stroke risk is associated with mild to moderate degree of Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction (LVSD). This study was aimed to investigate the relation between LVSD and acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and to evaluate the relation between left ventricular systolic dysfunction and severity of neurological deficits after acute ischemic stroke. This case-control study was carried out in the Department of Neurology and Department of Medicine, Mymensingh Medical College and Hospital, Bangladesh from January 2019 to December 2020. One hundred twenty (120) patients of first ever AIS and 120 age and sex matched apparently healthy controls were enrolled in the study. Severity of stroke was measured by National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS). Left ventricular (LV) systolic function was assessed by transthoracic 2-dimensional echocardiography. Mean±SD age was 58.23±9.34 years and 55.92±9.72 years respectively in cases and controls. Male to female ratio was 1.86:1. Left ventricular systolic dysfunction of any degree was more frequent in stroke patients (23.3%) than in controls (5.8%; p<0.001). The mean±SD of LVEF were 59.21±9.68 and 63.54±6.84 among case and control groups respectively. Mild LV dysfunction was observed 16.7% in AIS patients and 5.8% in control group. Moderate LV dysfunction was found in 6.7% in AIS patients. Participants with mild LVSD had significantly higher odds of being in the cases compared to participants with no LVSD (OR: 3.48; 95% CI: 1.41-8.59). Similarly, participants with moderate LVSD were 9.74 times more likely to be in ischemic stroke group compared to participants with no LVSD (OR: 9.74; 95% CI:1.19-19.29). LVSD was associated with AIS even after adjusting for other stroke risk factors (OR: 2.7462; 95CI for OR: 1.0204, 7.3906; p=0.0435). The NIHSS was significantly negatively correlated with LVEF (r=-0.443; p<0.001). The study may conclude that Left ventricular systolic dysfunction of mild to moderate degree, is associated with acute ischemic stroke. AIS patients with higher neurological deficit also had lower LVEF.

Relation of Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio with Clinical Severity in Patients with Guillain-Barre Syndrome.

Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) is an acute autoimmune polyradiculoneuropathy. Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a novel prognostic and inflammatory marker in patients with neurological diseases. The study was designed to observe the relation between neutrophil lymphocyte ratio and the clinical severity in patients with Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS). This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted at the department of Neurology and Medicine, Mymensingh Medical College and Hospital from April 2019 to September 2020. Total 58 patients with GBS were enrolled according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria within 7 days of development of symptoms. The clinical diagnosis of GBS was done according to Ausbury and Cornblath's diagnostic criteria; moreover clinical severity was done according to Hughes and Rees scale, Medical Research Council (MRC) grade, cranial nerve involvement and autonomic involvement. After measuring complete blood count, NLR was calculated by dividing neutrophil count to lymphocyte count. Data analysis was done on SPSS 23.0. Mean age of the GBS patients was 36.21±11.55 years. Among 58 respondents 70.69% (41) were male and 29.31% (17) were female. Most of the patients had a GBS severity score of 4(62.07%) followed by 3(27.59%) and 5(10.34%). The mean NLR of the respondents was 3.22±2.25. Acute motor axonal neuropathy (AMAN) was in 48.28% respondents and their mean NLR was 3.89±0.31, 31.03% had AIDP and mean NLR was 3.28±0.46 and 20.69% had Acute motor sensory axonal neuropathy (AMSAN) and mean NLR was 4.5±0.52. The mean NLR of the MRC grade 0, 1, 2, 3 patients was 6.61±1.78, 3.39±0.92, 2.71±1.39 and 1.45±0.40 respectively. Hughes score had a positive correlation (r=0.5333 and p<0.01) and MRC grade had a negative correlation (r= - 0.76805 and p<0.01) with NLR. Severity of GBS was significantly associated with raised NLR. Increase Hughes and Rees scale and decrease MRC grade also related to increased NLR.

Participatory assessment of management and biosecurity practices of smallholder pig farms in North East India.

The present study was aimed at describing the pig production system, farm management, pig movement, and existing biosecurity level of smallholders' pig production system in North East India. A cross-sectional survey of 1,000 pig producers in four districts (two urban and two rural) in core pig-producing regions of India, where ASF occurrence had been reported, was conducted. The mean pig population was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in urban districts. In urban districts, most of the pig houses were isolated but located on the roadside, while in rural districts, commune pig houses along the roadside were more common. The majority of the respondent purchased (91%) or sold (60%) the pigs during the past 12 months. Swill feeding was common in the entire study area. The majority of the respondent (80%) in rural districts were unaware of ASF. Significant pig trade of live pigs and pork products was observed in the urban district. In the case of on-farm biosecurity measures, only 6.9% of respondents had fencing for the pig farm, 99.3% did not have provision for a footbath, and only 17.2% of the respondents restricted visitors' access to the pig farm. The study revealed that the pig production system is dominated by smallholding units with a frequent introduction or exit of pigs along with poor on-farm biosecurity measures. With the current level of farm management and biosecurity practices, smallholder pig farmers are at an increased risk of ASF and other contagious diseases.

Post-Acute Covid Neurological Symptoms among Doctors and Nurses in A Tertiary Care Hospital: An Observational Study from Bangladesh.

A good number of patients experience post-Covid complications. Doctors and nurses are the front liners who are at greater risk of having this disease. Neurological symptoms are frequent in patients with post-COVID-19 infection. The study aims to observe the post-acute neurological symptoms among doctors and nurses of Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, a tertiary care hospital in Bangladesh, after they recover from initial infection or among the asymptomatic cases. It was a retrospective observational study among the doctors and nurses who became RT PCR positive from late April to mid-September 2020. A total of 100 subjects were interviewed over the phone for the presence or absence of neurological symptoms four weeks post Covid-19 infection. Total 54 doctors and 46 nurses were evaluated; the male-female ratio was 1:1.77, the mean age was 35.6±7.6 years. Post-acute COVID neurological symptoms (PACNS) were present in 60% of respondents. Fatigue (51%) was the most common symptom, followed by sleep disturbance, headache, myalgia, loss of taste and smell. PACNS were more in symptomatic patients at the initial Covid infection than asymptomatic cases.

Relation between Serum Magnesium Level and Migraine.

Migraine is one of the most disabling types of headache. It affects 4-6% of men and 13-18% of women; more than 80% of them are under 30 years. Many theories to explain mechanism of migraine are present; role of serum magnesium is one of them. This Cross-sectional analytical study was designed to see serum magnesium level status of migraine patients in Bangladesh and to find out any relation. The study was carried out in Outpatient Department of Neurology of Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, Mymensingh, Bangladesh from July 2017 to September 2018. Seventy (70) patients between 18-60 years of both sexes with headache fulfilling the criteria for migraine were enrolled as migraine group. Patients with headache who did not fulfill the criteria of migraine enrolled as non migraine group. Patients were included in both groups after exclusion of structural lesions, magnesium containing drug intake, pregnancy, menstruation, alcoholism, renal or GIT problems. Serum magnesium levels were studied in both groups and compared with each other. All related factors such as age, sex, family history of migraine, occupation were assessed. Fifty one (51) of 70 patients (72.85%) was female and 19(27.15%) were male in migraine group. Thirty eight (54.28%) of cases were between 18 and 30 years old. Thirty nine (55.71%) of migraine patients had history of similar headache in their family. Severe headache in 51.43% of migraine patients and 30% had more than three attacks per month. Mean serum magnesium level was 1.70 mg/dl in migraine group and 1.85 mg/dl in non migraine group (p=0.001). Serum magnesium level was also lower in severe migraine headache in comparison to mild to moderate headache (p=0.01). No significant difference was found in serum magnesium level compared according to age, sex, frequency of attack and presence or absence of aura. The study concludes that serum magnesium in migraine patients was significantly lower than non migraine group. It was also lower in migraine patient having severe headache in comparison with mild to moderate headache, though in both conditions they were within normal range.

Association of Low Thyroid Hormone with Migraine Headache.

This cross sectional comparative study was done to investigate the association between low thyroid hormone level and migraine headache in adults patients. The study was conducted in Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, a tertiary level hospital of Bangladesh. Study period was from November 2017 to April 2018. The study subjects consisted of 50 patients with migraine headache as case, compared with 50 patients of headache other than migraine as control, seen in Neurology out patient department (OPD). Thyroid function test was performed by new automated immuno-chemiluminometric assay. Mean age was 29.80±9.87 years in migraine group and 34.18±11.82 years in non migraine group. Male female ratio was 1:2.3 and 1:1.7 in two groups. Level of TSH was significantly higher in migraine patients (3.52±2.53 vs. 2.25±2.13) than other headache patients (p=0.008). Thyroid disorder especially subclinical hypothyroidism was significantly higher (28% vs. 08%) in migraineurs than non migraineurs (p=0.032). No significant relationship was found between thyroid hormone level and headache characteristics of migraine patients (p>0.05). Migraine headache is associated with low thyroid hormone and thyroid disorder can be considered as comorbidity of migraine headache.

The Variable Appearance of Third Ventricular Colloid Cysts: Correlation with Histopathology and the Risk of Obstructive Ventriculomegaly.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: While third ventricular colloid cysts may present as an incidental finding, they also harbor the potential to cause ventricular obstruction and sudden death. Herein we analyze the relationship between imaging appearance and the risk of obstructive ventriculomegaly. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective review of the MR imaging appearance of 64 patients with colloid cysts, 46 of whom also had a CT scan, obtained by a tertiary hospital imaging report data base search over a 10-year period. Cysts were categorized by appearance on T2-FLAIR and correlated with patient age, cyst size, and the risk of obstructive ventriculomegaly. Histopathologic correlation was available for 28 cases. RESULTS: The 64-patient cohort was 52% female, median age 50 years (range 10 to 99 years). Cysts hyperintense on T2-FLAIR (53.1%) were larger (P <.001), occurred in younger patients (P = .01), and had a higher risk of obstructive ventriculomegaly than homogeneously hypointense cysts (relative risk 6.18, 95% CI [2.04, 18.67]). Three patterns of T2 hyperintensity were identified: homogeneously hyperintense, hyperintense rim, and cysts with "dot sign." Although "dot sign" cysts were larger (P < .001), there was no significant difference in patient age or the risk of ventricular obstruction among T2 hyperintense cysts. Cyst wall histopathology did not vary with imaging appearance. CONCLUSIONS: Hyperintensity on T2-FLAIR, whether homogeneous, rim, or "dot sign," is associated with larger cyst size and younger patient age, and is an imaging risk factor for obstructive ventriculomegaly. The hyperintense rim does not represent a thickened cyst wall.

A real-time marker of object-based attention in the human brain. A possible component of a "gate-keeping mechanism" performing late attentional selection in the Ventro-Lateral Prefrontal Cortex.

The decision to process an incoming stimulus attentively - and to trigger a follow-up cascade of high-level processes - is strategic for the human brain as it becomes transiently unavailable to subsequent stimulus processing. In this study, we set to identify brain networks that carry out such evaluations. We therefore assessed the time-course of neural responses with intracerebral EEG in human patients during an attentional reading task, contrasting to-be-attended vs. to-be-ignored items. We measured High-Frequency Activity [50-150 â€‹Hz] as a proxy of population-level spiking activity and we identified a crucial component of a Gate-Keeping Mechanism bilateral in the mid-Ventro-Lateral Prefrontal Cortex (VLPFC), at the interplay of the Ventral and Dorsal Attention Networks, that selectively reacts before domain specialized cortical regions that engage in full stimulus analysis according to task demands.

Motor Outcome of Stroke Patients with Low Dose Levodopa Therapy.

Stroke is one of the leading cause of disability worldwide. Motor function deficits due to stroke contribute to overall low quality of life. The objective was of this study is to observe functional motor outcome after stroke with low dose Levodopa therapy. This prospective follow up study was carried out in the Department of Neurology, Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, Mymensingh, Bangladesh from July 2014 to June 2016 to see the effect of low dose of Levodopa (110mg) on motor outcome after stoke disability. Motor deficit was measured by Medical Research Council (MRC) grading and Rivermead Mobility Index (RMI) score. Two groups were selected by simple random method, consisted of both ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. All the patients of both the groups were suffering from at least some post stroke motor disability and attended full course of physiotherapy. The group (L) received 110mg Levodopa with physiotherapy. On the other hand (NL) group received only physiotherapy. They were all followed up for four times within two months of time and were assessed for recovery of motor function. Mean age was 59.03±11.56 years in Levodopa (L) group and 57.10±12.41 years in the Non Levodopa (NL) group; Males were predominant in both groups. Ninety three (77.50%) cases had ischemic stroke and 27(22.50%) cases had hemorrhagic stroke. Most common risk factors were hypertension and smoking. No known risk factor was detected in 8 (6.67%) patients. Single or multiple risk factors were confirmed in 112 patients (93.33%). MRC score was significantly higher both in affected upper and lower limb in Levodopa group comparing non Levodopa group at 4th visit. RMI score was also significantly higher in Levodopa group comparing non Levodopa group at 4th visit. The Levodopa (L) group showed better recovery pattern than Non Levodopa (NL) group. It can be concluded that motor recovery was better with administration of a single low dose of Levodopa in combination with physiotherapy. Motor outcome was significantly higher in levodopa group than non-levodopa group.

A 36-year-old Man with Limb Weakness and Dimness of Vision (NMO).

Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO) previously known as Devic disease is inflammatory disorder of central nervous system characterized by severe immune mediated demyelination and axonal damage predominating targeting optic nerves and spinal cord leading to blindness and paralysis. The spectrum of the disease has expanded based on the specificity of the autoimmune response to the aquaporin-4 (AQP-4) water channel expressed on the end feet of astrocytes in the central nervous system. The coordinated immunological attack against aquaporin-4 is mediated by B & T cells, innate cells including neutrophils and eosinophils and complement system as well as pathogenic antibodies.

A 20 Years Young Lady with Recurrent Convulsion since Childhood (Sturge-Weber Syndrome).

Sturge Weber Syndrome (SWS) is a sporadic neurocutanous disease characterized by facial port wine stain, ocular abnormalities and leptomengealangioma. We present here a 20 year old normotensive, non-diabetic lady hailing from Sarishabari, Jamalur District, Bangladesh got admitted in Mymensingh Medical College Hospital (MMCH), Mymensingh, Bangladesh on 15 July 2018 with the complaints of recurrent convulsion since 3 months of her life, weakness of the right side of the body for same duration according to the statement of the patients mother she was reasonably well until 3 months of her age. The precise pathogenesis is unknown. Clinical feature vary from gentle to full blown sickness with facial stain, seizures and glaucoma.

Association between Serum Apolipoprotein-B and Acute Ischaemic Stroke.

Stroke is one of the leading causes of death and disability in developed as well as developing countries like Bangladesh. There is a crucial need to identify additional risk factors that are easily measurable and treatable in general population. Role of serum lipids, lipoproteins and lipoprotein related variables in the prediction of stroke is less clear. Abnormalities in plasma lipoproteins are the most firmly established and best understood risk factors for atherosclerosis and they are probable risk factors for ischaemic stroke, largely by their link to atherosclerosis. High serum apolipoprotein-B (Apo-B) levels may predict an increased risk for ischaemic stroke. Aim of the study was to evaluate the association between serum Apo-B level and acute ischaemic stroke and to measure and compare serum Apo-B level in ischaemic stroke and normal subjects. A cross-sectional comparative study was carried out in the department of Neurology, Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, Mymensingh, Bangladesh from July 2013 to June 2015. A total number of 100 subjects within 18-70 years were considered for the study. Fifty (50) subjects with stroke (both clinically as well as CT scan of head or MRI of brain proven) were taken as the cases and 50 age and sex matched nearly healthy individuals without stroke were taken as the controls by using non-probability sampling procedure. Total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and triglycerides were estimated by enzymatic method using Semiautoanalyser. LDL cholesterol was estimated by Friedewald formula. Apo-B was estimated by immunoturbidimetric method using Semiautoanalyser. Finally collected data were analyzed by using SPSS software Version 20. Student 't' test was used to compare the data between cases and controls. P value was set <0.05. Diagnostic validity tests were conducted to assess the diagnostic efficiency of Apo-B. Total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides are significantly increased in cases compared to controls. HDL-cholesterol was significantly decreased in cases compared to controls. Apo-B was significantly increased in cases compared to controls. The result was statistically significant. Apo-B may be used as predictors of ischaemic stroke components.

Mercury based drug in ancient India: The red sulfide of mercury in nanoscale.

Mercury is one of the elements which had attracted the attention of the chemists and physicians of ancient India and China. Among the various metal based drugs which utilize mercury, we became interested in the red sulfide of mercury which is known in ancient Indian literature as rasasindur (alias rasasindura, rasasindoor, rasasinduram, sindur, or sindoor) and is used extensively in various ailments and diseases. Following various physico-chemical characterizations it is concluded that rasasindur is chemically pure α-HgS with Hg:S ratio as 1:1. Analysis of rasasindur vide Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) showed that the particles are in nanoscale. Bio-chemical studies of rasasindur were also demonstrated. It interacts with Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) with an association constant of (9.76 ± 0.56) × 103 M-1 and behaves as a protease inhibitor by inhibiting the proteolysis of BSA by trypsin. It also showed mild antioxidant properties.

Unusual rotavirus genotypes in humans and animals with acute diarrhoea in Northeast India.

Rotavirus (RV) infection causes acute infantile diarrhoea in humans and animals and remains a major concern for vaccine development. The close proximity of humans to animals may foster cross-species infection resulting in the emergence of novel/unusual strains by genetic reassortment. In this study, we characterized 500 diarrhoeal samples for group A rotaviruses (RVA) from children (n = 290), piglets (n = 95) and calves (n = 115) in Northeast India during 2012-2013. The data showed that 142/500 (28·4%) faecal samples were positive for RVA with the highest level of infection detected in piglets (57/142, 40·1%) followed by children (51/142, 35·9%) and calves (34/142, 23·9%). Sequence-based G- and P-typing showed G1P[8] (25%) and G1P[7] (35%) were the prevailing genotypes in both humans and animals. Single cases of unusual genotypes, i.e. G9P[8], G5P[8] in humans and G1P[13], G1P[23] and G3P[7] in animals were also identified. Cluster analyses of the sequences showed regional strains were genetically closer to their homologous strains. However, human G5P[8] and porcine G1P[8] strains showed homology to heterologous hosts of their prototype strains. The subsequent global spread of unusual RV strains may result in their establishment over time, presenting challenges to future vaccine evaluation programmes. More studies on emerging genotypes are required to elucidate how RVA strains evolve post-vaccination. This study supports the need for continuous surveillance of RVA infections after detecting from diverse hosts in a common setting.

Cryopreserved human umbilical cord patch for in-utero spina bifida repair.

OBJECTIVE: To identify a patch system to repair surgically created spina bifida in a sheep model for its efficacy in healing the skin defect, protecting the underlying spinal cord and reducing the Chiari II malformation. METHODS: Spina bifida was created surgically in 16 fetuses from eight timed-pregnant sheep at gestational age of 75 days. Two fetuses did not survive the procedure. Repeat hysterotomy was performed at 95 days' gestation to cover the defect with either biocellulose film with underwater adhesive (BCF-adhesive) (n = 7) or human umbilical cord with suture (HUC-suture) (n = 7). Three fetuses without formation of the defect served as reference controls. The skin healing was examined by direct visualization after a planned Cesarean section at term, followed by histological analysis using hematoxylin and eosin and Masson's trichrome stains. Mid-sagittal sections of the fetal cranium and upper cervical spine were analyzed by a pediatric neuroradiologist who was blinded to the type of patch received. RESULTS: Three fetuses that received the BCF-adhesive and six fetuses that received the HUC-suture survived to term for final analysis. As a result of dislodgment of the BCF-adhesive, all spina bifida defects repaired using BCF-adhesive were not healed and showed exposed spinal cord with leakage of cerebrospinal fluid. In contrast, all spinal defects repaired by HUC-suture were healed with complete regrowth of epidermal, dermal and subdermal tissue components, with no exposed spinal cord. The maximal skin wound width was 21 ± 3.6 mm in the BCF-adhesive group but 3 ± 0.8 mm in the HUC-suture group (P < 0.001). The spinal cord area (P = 0.001) and the number of anterior horn cells (P = 0.03) was preserved to a greater degree in the HUC-suture group than in the BCF-adhesive group, whilst psammoma bodies, signifying neuronal degeneration, were only observed in the BCF-adhesive group. Anatomic changes, indicative of Chiari II malformation, were seen in all three fetuses of the BCF-adhesive group but in none of the HUC-suture group (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Cryopreserved umbilical cord graft is a promising regenerative patch for intrauterine repair of spina bifida.

Level of Mercury Manometer With Respect to Heart: Does it Affect Blood Pressure Measurement?

Measurement of blood pressure is an integral part of clinical examination. Over the years various types of instruments have been used to measure blood pressure but till date the mercury sphygmomanometer is regarded as the gold standard. However, there is a myth prevalent among health professionals regarding the level of the manometer in relation to heart at the time of measuring of blood pressure. Many professionals insist that it has to be placed at the level of the heart. We argue that the limb from which pressure is measured must be at the heart level rather than the manometer. We conducted a study in which we measured the blood pressure in adults by placing the manometer at three different levels with respect to the heart. The values of blood pressure obtained at all levels were similar and did not show any statistically significant difference. We therefore conclude that the level of sphygmomanometer per se does not affect blood pressure measurement.

Clinical Profile of Peripheral Neuropathy in Leprosy.

The objectives of the study were to see the association of peripheral neuropathy in leprosy and to find out the clinical profile of peripheral neuropathy and disability status in leprosy. It was descriptive type of cross sectional study was conducted among the cases of leprosy attended in the out-patient departments of neurology, Mymensingh Medical College Hospital (MMCH) and Mymensingh tuberculosis and leprosy hospital that fulfilled the inclusion criteria were included in this study, during the study period of January 2010 to December 2011.In this study of 62 cases revealed that leprosy is more common in male (71%) people and 21% leprosy patient had contact with known case of leprosy. Leprosy causes peripheral neuropathy (61.3%). Duration of occurrence of peripheral neuropathy was prolonged (>6 month) in most of the patients (47.4%) and the disease progression was also slow (63.2%). Numbness was complained by 89.4% patients and 65.8% subjects complained of weakness of limbs. Deformities and ulcers were present in 26.3% and 50% of patients respectively. Ulnar nerve (43.6%), Lateral popliteal nerve (41.9%), Posterior tibial nerve (41.9%) and Great auricular nerve (17.7%) were the most commonly involved thickened peripheral nerves. The rate of visible physical impairment (WHO Grade 2 disability) among people affected by leprosy in feet was 27.4% and in hands was 16.1%. The position and vibration sense was found to normal all patients of peripheral neuropathy.

Comparative Study of Clinical and Sonographic Estimation of Foetal Weight at Term.

A cross sectional comparative study was conducted at Dhaka National Medical College, Dhaka from January to June 2012, to observe the accuracy of clinical and ultrasonographic estimation of foetal weight at term in our environment. Seventy five pregnant women who fulfilled the inclusion criteria had their foetal weight estimated independently using clinical and ultrasonographic methods. Accuracy was determined by percentage error, absolute percentage error and proportion of estimates within 10% of actual birth weight (birth weight fetus of +10%). Statistical analysis was done using the paired t-test, the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and the chi-square test. The study sample had an actual average birth weight of 2989.60 ± 408.76 (range 2310-4000 gm). Overall, the clinical method overestimated birth-weight, while ultrasound underestimated it. The mean absolute percentage error of the clinical method was more than that of the sonographic method, and the number of estimates within 10% of actual birth weight for the clinical method (41.3%) was less than for the sonographic method (57.3%); the difference was not statistically significant. In the low birth-weight (<2,500 gm) group, the mean absolute percentage error of sonographic estimates were significantly smaller. Significantly more sonographic estimates (75%) were within 10% of actual birth-weight than those of the clinical method (0%). No statistically significant difference was observed in all the measures of accuracy for the normal birth-weight range of 2,500-<4,000 gm and in the macrosomic group (≥ 4,000 gm). Clinical estimation of birth-weight is as accurate as routine ultrasonographic estimation, except in low-birth-weight babies.