Issue 4

Nutritional status of children is a momentous issue across the world. Children are mostly suffering from various infectious diseases, which are ensuing through malnutrition or incommensurable nutritional requirement of children. Household food security, caring practice for women and children, health environment and services and infectious diseases are the major cause of mortality particularly in children in many developing countries. The findings of the review clearly relate malnutrition, which is one of the most underlying causes of infectious diseases among children and existing evidence shows that the prevalence of under-nutrition and other forms of malnutrition among under-five children was high and they are easily affected by infectious disease such as diarrhea, measles, malaria, acute respiratory infection etc.A well-designed social protection system has great potential to improve malnutrition in Bangladesh. The international and domestic evidence presented in this review clearly demonstrates the importance of an integrated approach to tackling malnutrition in Bangladesh. Severe wasting may be reduced by simply improving food intake but tackling chronic malnutrition requires integrated social protection programmes. Programmes that have effectively reduced stunting and wasting have also addressed many of the underlying causes of malnutrition, including improving household food security and the health environment.

Yeast surface display has become an increasingly popular tool for protein engineering and library screening applications. Although, recent advances have greatly expanded the capability of yeast surface display, the protein display system is still far away from industrial application. One of the major components of a stable, efficient and successful yeast surface display system is cell wall anchor protein with which our desired foreign protein will be attached. We studied 80 different yeast cell wall anchored proteins originated mostly from Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Candida albicans. We studied in details all the cell wall proteins in order to find out suitable cell wall proteins to recommend for the researchers to use in the construction of yeast display system. We considered selective physical properties of different yeast cell wall proteins that are crucial for selecting best suited cell surface anchor proteins which are molecular weight, binding domain of anchor protein, length of amino acid and fusion site. Finally, our studies showed that Ccw11, Ccw12. Cwp1, Cwp2, Dan1, Gas1, Gas5, Exg1, Ycr89, Ecm33, Pga4, Sap9, Sap10, Pst1, Pir1,  Pir2, Pir3, Pir4, Cis1, Scw4, Scw6, Bgl2, Uth1, Scw1 are the promising and suitable cell wall anchor proteins could be used in construction of yeast cell surface display system. Additionally, this review presents detailed information about all the cell wall proteins in a single work. The future researchers in this field will be able to construct more efficient yeast display system for recombinant protein production at industrial scale using the knowledge presented in this work.

Recently using information technology in the health care system is an important issue. Medical informatics is the combination of information science, computer science, and health care. As population is increasing rapidly, it is obvious to use medical informatics to save human lives and to treat people in efficient way. Therefore, we tried to explore an overview of the necessities and practical uses of data mining in administrative, clinical, research as well as educational aspects of medical informatics in Bangladesh. It is one the most populous countries in the world and the health care system including data mining in medical informatics is not so handy. Besides, for the effect of monsoon weather people of this country are affected by various diseases but poor investment and weak implementation make these diseases a burden. The study focuses on the needs of clinical data warehousing and the practice of examining these databases in order to improve various aspects of medical informatics in Bangladesh. The study suggests that government and private health care organizations need to take account to store their data and create a research wing in every hospital in Bangladesh as well as other developing countries in the world so that researchers and doctors may be able to find out the solution of their problems. For the greater benefits of the people, more research on medical informatics is essential and implementation of the research outputs must be done in medical treatment.

This study was aimed to estimate the antioxidant, anti-diabetic, anti-amnesic, anti-biofilm, thrombolytic, hemolytic, and cytotoxic effects of G. glabra root extracts for nutritive and medicinal purpose. Antioxidant, alpha amylase, antiglycation, anti-amnesic, cytotoxic, thrombolytic and antibiofilm assays were performed. In the current research, G. glabra root extracts showed significant antioxidant (80.96 mg GAE/100 g TPC, 38.96 mg CE/100 g TFC, 46% DPPH scavenging), antidiabetic (75% antiglycation, 38.7% α-amylase inhibition), anti-amnesic (5.5%), hemolytic (19.46%), thrombolytic (35.4%) and antibiofilm (72% P. multocida, 51.57% S. aureus inhibition) activities. G. glabra root extracts have remarkable activity to fight against oxidative stress, hyperglycemia, blood coagulation, bacterial growth, DNA damage and memory enhancing ability that ensure its uses  in food and pharmaceutical industries.

Low birth weight (LBW) has been considered as the strongest predictor of child morbidity and mortality. The goal of this study was to inspect the socio-demographics and nutritional status of mother and its impact on neonatal birth weight. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 85 mothers with third trimester’s pregnancy period of age between 17 to 35 years in maternal health care centers at Chittagong, Bangladesh. Average age of mothers was 24 04 years and age at marriage it was 18 03 years. Height and MUAC of the respondents were 153 5.37 cm and 25.53 3.09 cm respectively. Half of participants suffered from anemia (Hb level <11 g/dL). Average birth weight was 2759.7 561.42 g. The preterm birth was 10.6% and about 22.35% babies delivered by C section. Twenty eight percent of offspring were born with low birth weight (LBW), among the LBW babies, 11.76 % were born at home and 16.47 % at hospital. Maternal height (AOR: 2.79; 95% CI: 1.02-8.44), Mid Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) (AOR 2.73; 95% CI 1.03-8.01) and gestational age (AOR 8.92, 95% CI: 1.76-45.16) were significantly associated with LBW of babies after adjusting the education level of mothers. The proportion of LBW was not negligible which still national public health concern in Bangladesh. Proper nutrition and monitoring on gestational length might minimize small size babies.

Increasing of chronic diseases due to low consumption of vegetables considered one of the crucial challenges to human being in current circumstance. Adequate intake of vegetables only the possible solution from get rid of the problem. So it is indispensible to determine food value present in vegetables which were the core objective of our present study. Among the tested vegetables beetroot showed the highest nitrate content (874 mg Kg^-1) whereas the lowest nitrate content was found in bitter gourd (56 mg Kg^-1). Total chlorophyll content was in cucumber, bitter gourd, beetroot, tomato and brinjal was 10 5.89, 4, 0.80 and 0.78 mg 100g^-1, respectively. The highest carotene contain was found in cucumber (1.63 mg100g^-1). Beetroot, tomato, brinjal and bitter gourd showed reduction in carotene content at 61.96, 71.16, 87.73 and 97.71%, respectively in response to cucumber.  Lycopene content was the highest in beetroot (3.46 mg 100g^-1) and the lowest in brinjal (0.115 mg 100g^-1). All the tested vegetables contained abundance vitamin C (ranges from85.71 to 17.14 mg 100g^-1). DPPH radical scavenging activity was present in all tested vegetables in which beetroot exhibited the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity with an IC₅₀ value of 1.17 µgml^-1.

Isolation, identification and pathogenicity of fungal organisms responsible for the postharvest spoilage of sweet oranges, cucumber and lettuce at Sharada market in Kano metropolis, Nigeria was carried out in the present study. Samples showing symptoms of rot were collected from the retailers in the market and conveyed to the laboratory using polyethene bags. Small portion from rotten parts were cut and surface sterilized in 1% of Sodium hydrochloride and rinsed in several changes of sterile distilled water. They were plated on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) and observed for fungal growth. Identification was done macroscopically and microscopically. For pathogenicity test, healthy sweet oranges, cucumber and lettuce were plugged with pure cultures of the fungal isolates, thus, frequency of occurrence and disease severity of the pathogen were evaluated. Seven fungi namely Rhizopus spp., Aspergillus flavus, Mucor spp., Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus niger, Fusarium oxysporum, Rhizoctonia spp. and Fusarium oxysporum were isolated. Severity of decay ranged from 6.39–46.15% for all fungal isolates, while the controls showed 0%. Pathogenic microorganisms on fruits and vegetables are a potential health hazard to man and animals following ingestion. Proper handling from the farm as well as during storage and the avoidance of mixing of diseased ones with the healthy ones were identified as important factors in preventing loss and health complication at the event of consumption. The use of suitable chemical treatment of the orange is also recommended as means of reducing economic loss due to fungal pathogens.

Awareness of common eye diseases and their early detection can play a vital role in encouraging people to seek timely eye care and therefore help in reducing the burden of visual impairment. This study was designed to reveal the assessment of awareness of eye diseases among the population of Bangladesh in different locations. For this, a total of 750 respondents were selected by convenient sampling and were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. From this study, we found that only 50% of the respondents were aware of glaucoma and only 35% had knowledge about glaucoma. About 52% of the study population was aware of cataract and 19% of them had knowledge that the risk of cataract increases by getting older. About 38% of the participants had an understanding of night blindness. Diabetes can lead to eye diseases and this was known to 40% of the study population. Only 23% of the respondents were concern about their family’s present eye health condition. Frequency of taking nutritional food for optimum health was very poor. Daily nutritional foods were taken by 17% of the participants. About 36% of study subjects maintained their blood pressure and obesity. From our survey results, it can be implied that the level of awareness and knowledge about common eye diseases among the population of Bangladesh was not satisfactory. Highlighting importance to the tertiary eye care, imposing health education and raising awareness will assist to understand the importance of routine eye examination for early detection and treatment of such conditions.

The present study was performed in the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Animal science and Veterinary Medicine, PSTU, Bangladesh. Data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire from 125 people in Babugonj upazilla, Barishal for using drugs without prescription or at prescription. The experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of prescribed and over-the-counter drugs on hematological (TEC, Hb and DLC) and biochemical (blood glucose) parameters in mice during the period March to April, 2019. 140 male mice were randomly divided into seven groups (A, B, C, D, E, F and G), each consisting of 20 mice. Group A was kept as control. Paracetamol, diclofenac, pantoprazole, ranitidine, diazepam and clonazepam were administered orally to mice of group B, C, D, E, F and G, respectively for 28 days. Paracetamol and ranitidine were used by 100% people followed by peantoprazole (80.80%), diclofenac-60%, diazepam-42.40% and clonazepam-24%, respectively without prescription. Paracetamol were used by 100% people followed by peantoprazole (84%), ranitidine-76%, diclofenac-66.40%, clonazepam-53.60% and diazepam 32.80%, respectively at prescription. Paracetamol and diazepam decreased significantly (p<0.05) total erythrocyte count (TEC) at 28^th day.  Paracetamol, diclofenac and diazepam decreased significantly (p<0.01 and p<0.05) hemoglobin content (Hb) at 28^th day. The Differential leukocyte count (DLC) was not significantly changed at 28^th day in mice. Paracetamol, diclofenac, pantoprazole, ranitidine, diazepam and clonazepam increased significantly (p<0.01 and p<0.05) blood glucose level in mice. It may be concluded that paracetamol is one of the most frequently used and self prescribing drugs in Bangladesh.

The present study was conducted to identify low cost feed for female mud crab (Scylla olivacea) fattening practice in plastic box and the effect of different feeds on growth and survival rate of mud crab. A number of 30 adult non-gravid female crabs were reared into rectangular shaped plastic boxes, each box containing one crab. Three types of feed such as Chicken intestine, Tilapia and Apple Snail meat were supplied as feed at 10%  of body weight of the crabs once daily considered as Treatment-1, Treatment-2 and Treatment-3 respectively with 10 replications each to compare the fattening system.. The crabs in plastic boxes were floating into water to fatten for 10 days. Survival rate of crab was found 100%, 90% and 100% respectively in chicken intestine, tilapia and apple snail meat. In the experiment food conversion ratio (FCR) and specific growth rate in weight (SGRw) were varied significantly among different foods (P >0.05). Comparative benefit-cost analysis showed that use of chicken intestine as feed in crab fattening attained higher net profit than crab fattening used tilapia and apple snail s feed from 7-12 days fattening period The present study revealed that utilization of chicken intestine as feed for mud crab fattening might be better than any other feeds and cost effective in Bangladesh.

This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of dietary supplementation of Halquinol on productive performances, carcass characteristics and hematological parameters of Sonali chicken. A total number of 72 Sonali chicks of 07 days old were divided randomly into 04 experimental groups occupying 03 replications in each groups among which four dietary groups were considered i.e. control group (T₀), Halquinol @ 0.25g/ kg feed in group (T₁); Halquinol @ 0.5g/ kg feed in group (T₂); and Halquinol @ 1g/ kg feed in group (T₃) respectively. Results indicated that body weight and body weight gain were increased significantly (P<0.05) in birds supplied with Halquinol @ 1g/ kg feed group (T₃) compared to the other groups. Higher (P<0.05) feed intake and better (P<0.05) FE were also observed in group T₃ compared to the other groups. This result also indicated that body weight, body weight gain, feed intake, and feed efficiency were increased along with increasing dose of Halquinol. No significant (P>0.05) differences were found in dressing percentage, liver, heart and gizzard among the dietary treatment groups. However, the dressing weight, breast meat, thigh meat, and head weight was significantly (p<0.05) higher in birds supplied with Halquinol @ 1g/ kg feed group (T₃) compare to control (T₀) group. Present study revealed that hematological parameters, including Hb, PCV and ESR value of the birds of different groups does not differ significantly among the groups and it was within the normal range. Cost effective analysis of the experiment demonstrated that by using Halquinol @ 1g/ kg feed significantly (P<0.05) higher net profit than other dietary treatment groups and also highest profit over control (14.95Tk.). Based on the results of present study it may be suggested that supplementation of Halquinol can be used as a commercial growth promoter for the production of Sonali chicken.

Xanthelasma palpebrarum (XP) is the most common cutaneous xanthoma occurs over or surrounding the eyelids in yellowish color and various shapes. The objective of this study was to describe the status of cardiovascular disease risk factors in XP patients and determine their association with XP. A case-control study was conducted among 81 cases (have XP) and 81 controls (no XP) among patients attended for cardiac checkup between January 2019 to July 2019 at Ad-Din Women's Medical College Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Among 162 subjects were interviewed in our study, majority were female (62.3%). XP were found more prevalent among female and several cardiac risk factors were significantly associated with XP. The chi-square analysis indicates gender (p=0.035), BMI (p=0.01), Angina history (p=0.008), and serum LDL (p=0.024) were significantly associated with presence of XP. A higher percentage of patients with high total serum cholesterol, TG levels, and LDL was observed in patients with XP in compared to control group. Our study reveals an increased presence of cardiovascular disease risk factors among patients with xanthelasma. Moreover, a statistically significant association of gender, BMI, angina history, and serum LDL with XP were observed.

Mango hopper is considered as one of the most destructive pests of mango in Bangladesh which can be effectively controlled by using bio-agents and botanical pesticides. An experiment was conducted at the IPM Laboratory of the Department of Entomology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh to study the comparative performance of three botanicals (Neem, Mahogany and Karanja  oils) and a microbial pesticides (Beauveria bassiana) for the management of mango hopper (Idioscopus clypealis). The experiment was designed following completely randomized design (CRD) using 39 petridishes of 12 cm in diameter. Four insecticides each with 3 different doses (1%, 2% and 3%) were evaluated for their effectiveness. The data on the number of hopper killed were collected every day of a week. Results showed that all the three doses of Beauveria bassiana effectively controlled mango hopper. All the treatments influenced significantly in the management of mango hopper in comparison to the control. Among the botanicals 3% Neem oil was the most effective best but relatively lower performance was observed in case of 1% Mahogany oil. Observation on the effect of a microbial pesticide (Beauveria bassiana) and some botanicals on the infestation of mango hopper at different stages showed that hopper population at pea-shaped after prior to the second spray was maximum in 1% Mahogany oil (13.87) and minimum number of hopper was found in 3% Beauveria bassiana (7.33). Overall results suggested that Beauveria bassiana as a microbial pesticide performed better than botanicals in controlling mango hopper and resulting in higher yield.

The objective of this work was to find out the bacteriological profile and risk factor for burn patients. Sixty burn patients were investigated during July 2014 to May 2015. Specimens were collected in the form of wound swabs. The prospective study showed that one third of the patients below 10 years old belong the highest burn infections. The rate of burn infections was higher (61.67%) in female compared to male patients. Respondents under primary level were the major victims (28.33%). On the basis of occupational status, student showed the highest (30%) infection. Maximum (48.33%) patients were injured by first degree burn. Hot liquids (scald) was found as one of the main causes of burn which was 50% prevalent. Forensic background explained maximum burn injuries were accidental (88.34%). Most of the children were the main victims during playing (36.67%) followed by working persons (25%). Pseudomonas spp (73%) was found to be the most common isolated microorganisms followed by Klebsiella spp  (6.67%), Staphylococcus aureus (6.67%), Escherichia coli (6.67%), Proteus spp (5%) and Enterobacter (1. 6%). Some medical devices like floor, bed, water etc. were detected as positive sources of organisms. By antibiotic susceptibility tests it was found that Pseudomonas are resistant to ceftriaxone (100%) followed by ceftazidime (93%) and sensitive to colistin (90%). In the case of Staphylococcus aureus, 100% are resistant to amoxyclave and 100% are sensitive to ciprofloxacin.