An Observational Study of Fixed Drug Eruption in A Tertiary Care Hospital in Bangladesh.

Fixed drug eruption (FDE) is a distinctive pattern of cutaneous adverse drug reaction. Characteristically the eruption recurs at the same site on re exposure to the offending agent. Aim of this study was to evaluate and identification of the various offending drugs causing FDE which may help the physician to limit the associate complication regarding the drug. This observational cross sectional study was conducted from 1st June 2021 to 31st May 2022 in the department of Dermatology & Venereology of Mymensingh Medical College Hospital after taking approval from institutional ethical committee. A detailed history with clinical evaluation were done for all patients with FDE and thereby recorded in a pre designed proforma. Analysis of data was done using Microsoft Excel 2010 Spread sheet. Out of 65 cases 36(55.38%) were male and 29(44.6%) were female. Majority of cases were found in the age group of 31 to 40 years. The most common group of drug causing FDE was NSAID (52.31%) followed by antimicrobials (44.61%) and anti epileptics (3.07%). Ibuprofen (20.0%) was the most common offending drug followed by doxycycline (18.46%), diclofenac and fluconazole (13.84%), naproxen (9.23%), ciprofloxacin (7.69%), paracetamol (6.15%), metronidazole (4.61%), carbamazepine (3.07%) and aspirin (3.07%) respectively. Extremities (43.07%) were the most frequently involved site followed by trunk (29.23%) and face (10.77%). Generalized FDE found in 16.92% cases. Although FDE are very common the offending drugs show some regional variation as a result of changing trends of pharmacotherapy.

Socio-demographic Profile of COVID-19 Patients and Difficulties Faced by Them while Testing RT-PCR: A Multi-center Cross-sectional Study.

This study was aimed to find out the socio-demographic profiles as well as difficulties of Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing faced by Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. This cross-sectional study was conducted from 10th August to 7th September 2020. Data were collected by telephone interview using a pre-designed questionnaire after taking verbal consent from the participants. Out of 281 COVID-19 patients, 279 were diagnosed by RT-PCR; 10.3% were asymptomatic. Off them 67.6%were males, 24% were hospital staffs. Majority (66.2%) were from the non-city corporation area. History of recent contact with known COVID-19 patients was present in 56.9% cases. Fever (78.3%) and cough (58%) were the most common symptoms. One third of the patients faced difficulty to test RT-PCR for COVID-19. Sixteen percent patients complained of difficulty of getting serial for testing, the maximum waiting time was one week before giving samples. Thirty patients (10.8%) had to wait longer than usual time after reaching the center before giving sample. Hospital staffs were unable to co-operate in 2.5% of the patients while difficulty of managing transport to the hospital for suspected COVID-19 patient was an issue in 2.2% of the patients. Though testing was more difficult in city corporation areas (p=0.028), delay of getting test result was less (p<0.001). Maximum delay of getting test result was 10 days. Finding out the difficulties of COVID-19 testing will help to point out the issues behind these and will help to take necessary steps to tackle this matter. Testing rate can be increased to contain this highly contagious virus in this densely populated country.

A Postmortem Study of Length & Depth of the Central Sulcus in Different Age & Sex Groups of Bangladeshi People.

The central sulcus (CS) is a prominent landmark of the brain, separating the parietal lobe from the frontal lobe and the primary motor cortex from the primary somatosensory cortex. Variations in the morphology of the central sulcus are seen with respect to the length and depth of the central sulcus. This study was done to establish a normal standard of length and depth of central sulcus in different age and sex groups of Bangladeshi people. Interhemispheric age and gender differences of the central sulcus were done by cross sectional descriptive study which was performed into four categories- Group A (20 to 29 years), Group B (30 to 39 years), Group C (40 to 49 years) and Group D (50 years & above). The specimens were collected from morgue in the department of Forensic Medicine, Mymensingh Medical College, Bangladesh by purposive sampling technique. The length of central sulcus was measured by using thread and the depth was measured by using wooden stick at middle of the upper, middle and lower third of the central sulcus in superolateral surface. The mean length of central sulcus was 10.51±0.529cm to 9.78±0.996cm in male and 10.27±0.786cm to 8.83±0.379cm in female. Depth of the central sulcus was 1.333±0.100cm to 1.029±0.125cm in male and 1.173±0.144cm to 1.01±0.200cm in female. The difference in mean length & depth of the central sulcus for both left and right hemisphere between male and female was statistically non significant in all age groups. In present study the length and depth of the central sulcus showed gradual decreasing values with advancing age. Knowledge of morphometry of central sulcus is not only important during neurosurgery of brain but also holds tremendous significance in diagnosis and management of diseases of the cerebral cortex. The present study will help to increase the information pool on the length and depth of the central sulcus of Bangladeshi people which will minimize the dependency on foreign standards.

Variation of Length of Calcarine Sulcus in Different Age & Sex Groups of Bangladeshi People.

Calcarine sulcus, one of the major sulcus of occipital lobe of cerebral hemisphere which is intimately related with visual function. The detailed anatomy of this lobe is essential for the surgeons and radiologists for clinical investigation & surgery. The aim of the present study was to identify the variation of this sulcus of the occipital lobe. This study was done to establish a normal standard in length of calcarine sulcus in different age & sex groups of Bangladeshi people. Inter-hemispheric age and gender differences of this sulcus was done by cross sectional descriptive study which was performed into four categories: Group A (20 to 29 years), Group B (30 to 39 years), Group C (40 to 49 years) and Group D (50 years & above). The specimens were collected from morgue in the department of Forensic Medicine, Mymensingh Medical College, Mymensingh, Bangladesh by purposive sampling technique. The length of calcarine sulcus was measured by using thread. The mean length of calcarine sulcus was lowest to highest values 7.07±0.616cm to 7.86±0.792cm in male and 6.53±0.808cm to 7.62±0.806cm in female. The mean difference of the length of right calcarine sulcus between group A & D was statistically significant at p<0.05, but not significant in any other age & sex groups for both left and right hemisphere. In present study, the length of the calcarine sulcus showed gradual decreasing values with advancing age. For proper planning of neurosurgical procedures and radiological representation of visual functional areas, detailed knowledge on the variation of this sulcus is essential. Proper knowledge of calcarine sulcus can permit safer access to deep structures and reduce operative complications. The present study will also help to increase the information pool on the length of the calcarine sulcus of Bangladeshi people which will minimize the dependency on foreign standards.

Variations in the Position of Vermiform Appendix in Bangladeshi People.

This cross sectional descriptive study was performed on 70 postmortem vermiform appendices (male 34 and female 36) to find out the various positions of vermiform appendix of Bangladeshi people. The specimens were collected from autopsy laboratory of the Department of Forensic Medicine, Mymensingh Medical College, Mymensingh, Bangladesh by purposive sampling technique from October 2016 to March 2017. The collected samples were divided into four age groups. They were Group A (upto 20 years), Group B (21 to 40 years), Group C (41 to 60 years) and Group D (above 60 years). Dissection was performed according to standard autopsy technique. During postmortem examination abdominal cavity was routinely exposed by classical midline incision from xiphoid process to the symphysis pubis and a semicircular incision around the umbilicus and the flaps were reflected to give a good view of the abdominal cavity along with its contents and then the taeniae coli of the caecum were identified. The three taeniae coli of the caecum converge at the base of the appendix and become its longitudinal muscle coat. The anterior caecal taeniae coli acts as the best guide for identification of the vermiform appendix. The relation of the base of the appendix to the caecum is constant but the position of the vermiform appendix, which is variable, was studied in relation to caecum and the terminal part of the ileum. Accordingly the position of the vermiform appendix was noted either retrocaecal, pelvic, preileal or postileal, subcaecal. All data were recorded in the predesigned data sheet, analyzed by SPSS program (version 21, 2012) and compared with the findings of other national and international studies and standard text books. Among 70 specimens, 44(62.9%) vermiform appendices were retrocaecal in position. The next common position was pelvic which was in 22(31.4%) specimen followed by postileal in 3(4.3%) specimen and subcaecal was observed only in 1(1.4%) specimen. In this study in all age groups incidence of retrocaecal vermiform appendix was highest and it was about 67.6%, 50%, 69.2% and 72.7% in Group A, B, C, D respectively. Pelvic position was 7.1%, 46.9%, 23.1% and 27.3% in Group A, B, C, D respectively. Subcaecal vermiform appendix was absent in Group A, B and Group D. On the other hand postileal vermiform appendix was absent in Group C and Group D. The findings of this study may help the physician and the surgeons for proper diagnosis, management and treatment of disease of vermiform appendix.