Disaster Resilient Rescue of Coastal Community on Cyclone Warning

Bangladesh is in the front line of battlefield of disasters due to geographical location and global warming faced over 200 natural disasters in past 40 years and most of the disasters were cyclones. People need to be evacuated and rescued before a cyclone landfall. In current practice, multipurpose cyclone shelter (MPCS) provides short-term safety for the disaster victims in Bangladesh, where people are rescued after disasters which cannot ensure survival of lives. This study aims to develop a method for efficient evacuation and rescue to reduce death tolls in the events of disasters. This study used Wi-Fi scanner and smartphones to detect people. An inbuilt index that includes name, address, mobile number, photo, service set identifier (SSID), and media access control (MAC) of smartphone was developed for 90 registered participants. In this controlled experiment, few new participants turned on hotspot in every five minutes. A new index of people with MAC/SSID was developed in MPCS simulating an emergency. Missing people were detected by comparing inbuilt index and new index, and ordered them self-evacuation. This method captured 100% evacuees. Most importantly, the proposed method will reduce death tools because the people are rescued earlier to a disaster hits a specific area

Effects of pentoxifylline and metformin combination therapy compared to metformin alone in infertile women with symptomatic endometrioma

Background: Endometriosis, a chronic inflammatory disease, significantly affects reproductive health and fertility in women. This study compares the efficacy of pentoxifylline plus metformin versus metformin alone in treating symptomatic endometrioma in infertile women. Methods: This randomized controlled trial was conducted at the department of reproductive endocrinology and infertility, BSMMU, Dhaka, from July 2022 to June 2023, involving 51 women. Participants were randomly allocated into two groups: pentoxifylline plus metformin (n=25) and metformin alone (n=26). Baseline and post-treatment evaluations included the size of endometrioma, pain scores using the visual analogue scale (VAS), and serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels. Data analysis focused on comparing treatment outcomes between the two groups. Result: At baseline, both groups were comparable in terms of sociodemographic characteristics, BMI, and type and duration of infertility. Post-treatment, the pentoxifylline plus metformin group showed significant reductions in endometrioma size (2.23±0.97 cm), VAS score (2.73±1.21), and IL-6 levels, all with p<0.001s. In contrast, the metformin alone group exhibited a significant reduction in endometrioma size (3.12±1.42 cm, p=0.003s) and VAS score (3.48±1.89, p<0.001s), but not in IL-6 levels (p=0.505ns). Pregnancy rates were 8.0% in the pentoxifylline plus metformin group and 3.85% in the metformin alone group (p=0.610ns). Side effects were minimal and comparable between the two groups. Conclusions: Pentoxifylline plus metformin demonstrated superior efficacy in reducing endometrioma size, pain scores, and IL-6 levels compared to metformin alone. However, no significant differences were observed in pregnancy rates or side effects. These findings indicate that the combination therapy could offer greater benefits in managing endometrioma size and pain, although further research is required to evaluate its impact on fertility outcomes in endometriosis patients

Effects of levo-carnitine in infertile men with asthenozoospermia: a randomized placebo-controlled trial

Background: Infertility is defined as the inability of a sexually active couple to conceive within one year of regular unprotected coitus. Worldwide, it is estimated that 15% of couples are infertile; among them, the male factor is responsible for 50% of cases. This may be the sole underlying cause or a contributory factor to infertility. We aimed to assess the effects of a complementary treatment with a strong antioxidant (levo-carnitine) on sperm function and fertility of infertile men. Methods: This was a randomized controlled trial study and was conducted in the department of reproductive endocrinology and infertility, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib medical university (BSMMU), Dhaka, Bangladesh. during the period from July 2022 to June 2023. In our study, we included 72 infertile men presenting with asthenozoospermia. There were two groups-group A (Participants who received tab levo-carnitine 330 mg twice daily orally for three months) and group B (Tab placebo twice daily orally for three months) Result: The majority of patients in both groups, 51% in group A and 49% in group B, were aged 30-40 years, with no significant difference in mean age (35.36±5.50 vs 34.50±5.50, p>0.05). Overall, 62.5% of patients reported primary sub-fertility. Levo-carnitine administration leads to significant improvements in sperm motility (15±2.68 vs. 36.58±5.16, p<0.05). In the case of placebo treatment, there were no significant improvements in sperm motility (13.91±5.53 vs. 16.36±1.19, p>0.05). We found that the comparison of TMC of both groups reflected statistically significant differences (p<0.05) before treatment and after treatment with levo-carnitine and placebo (6.40±2.87 vs 22.91±14.88) 5.64±3.96 vs 7.71±4.91).  Conclusions: Levo-carnitine treatment can lead to significant improvements in semen parameters, particularly in motility

Evaluation of the role of perceived quality and satisfaction of beneficiaries about the health care services and benefits of community clinics in Bangladesh

Introduction Bangladesh provides free healthcare to its citizens through 10,723 community clinics which provide one-stop healthcare services that is vital in ensuring primary healthcare. Measuring beneficiary' contentment is crucial to improve the quality of care and the perceived service quality have a significant impact on how often people use those health services. This study focuses on perceived quality and satisfaction of beneficiaries about the primary health care services and benefits of community clinics in Bangladesh. Methods A quantitative descriptive survey was conducted from March 2019 to April 2019 in the catchment area of 80 community clinics located at 16 Upazila under eight districts of eight divisions in Bangladesh. The survey compiled local data on client’s experience on health care service of community clinics. Besides, Sixteen Upazilas from eight districts were randomly selected for conducting interviews. Results Data was provided by a total of 760 female participants, among them majority (41%) belonged to the age group of 18-24 years old, and this very group showed more satisfaction than others (Odds Ratio 1.44). Besides, childless married women were also found to be content with the community clinic services compared to the remaining types of clients (Odds Ratio 1.64). However, gender, education, and economic perspective were positive aspects of getting service from community clinics. Conclusions Although there is a challenge balancing psychosocial and medical care, promoting client-oriented care with a focus on the cultural factors of the area is vital. This can be done through community-focused training together with explaining written prescriptions to the beneficiary, including the signs, symptoms, treatment, and referral points. The study findings will enable responsible authority to improve quality of primary health care services, realizing beneficiary’ ideas of community clinic service quality

Correction: Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Clinical Outcomes among Patients Hospitalized with COVID-19: Findings from the World Heart Federation COVID-19 Study.

This article details a correction to: Prabhakaran D, Singh K, Kondal D, Raspail L, Mohan B, Kato T, et al. Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Clinical Outcomes among Patients Hospitalized with COVID-19: Findings from the World Heart Federation COVID-19 Study. Global Heart. 2022; 17(1): 40. DOI: http://doi.org/10.5334/gh.1128

Analysis of Fatty acid and Determination of Total Protein, Alkaloid, Saponin, Flavonoid of Bangladeshi Bombax ceiba Linn Leaves and Seeds

Bombax ceiba Linn belongs to the family of Bombacaceae and is an important medicinal plant. In Bangladesh, Bombax ceiba Linn is locally known as “Shimul tree”. The whole part of the plant used as traditional folk medicine for the treatment of antidysentric, anti diahorreal and antipyretic effects. The present communication attempts to evaluate fatty acid analysis by GC-MS spectrophotometer, total protein content by Kjeldahl method and to quantify some active constituents i.e. alkaloid, saponin and flavonoid. The fatty acid compositions of the petroleum ether extract of leaves and seeds of Bombax ceiba grown in Bangaladesh were determined by gas chromatography- mass spectrophotometer. 8 compounds were identified from leaves and 13 compounds were identified from the seeds. For both cases Palmitic acid showed higher value. The findings from present study showed the protein content for seeds have higher value (18.89%) than leaves of Bombax ceiba . The present investigation showed that both leaves and seeds of Bombax ceiba contain phytochemicals such as flavanoids, alakaloids and saponins in appreciable quantities. The flavonoid content of leaves was 5.97% and for the case of seeds (5.72%), the alkaloid content for leaves was (9.73%) and for seeds (31.44), the saponin content for the case of leaves (13.90%) and for the case of seeds was(43.58%)

Preparation and characterization of naproxen solid dispersion using different hydrophilic carriers and in-vivo evaluation of its analgesic activity in mice

Background: Solid dispersion (SD) has been used conventionally as a successful technique for improving the dissolution profile and bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs. The aim of this study was to progress the dissolution rate and bioavailability of naproxen (BCS class II) by SD technique. Materials &amp; methods: In this study, hydrophilic carriers are used for preparing solid dispersion of naproxen by evaporation method. The prepared optimized SDNs were evaluated by in-vitro drug dissolution test, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The in-vivo analgesic effects tests of the optimized SDNs (SDN-2 and SDN-5) were performed by tail immersion method and writhing method. Results: All the prepared SDNs exhibited a significant increase in the dissolution of naproxen compared to that of the pure drug. Among them, SDN-2 (the dispersion with sodium starch glycolate at 1:2 ratio of naproxen and sodium starch glycolate) and SDN-5 (using the combination of PEG-8000 and sodium starch glycolate with naproxen at 1:1:1 ratio) showed faster dissolution rate as compared to other solid dispersions (SDNs) and pure naproxen. SDN-2 showed 5.4 times better dissolution rate and SDN-5 depicted 6.5-fold increment of dissolution rate compared to pure naproxen drug. DSC, PXRD and SEM microscopy showed that the drugs crystallinity was decreased during the preparation process. FTIR study revealed that naproxen was stable in polymeric dispersions and there was no interaction among the drug and polymers. In writhing method, the percentage inhibition of the number of writhes showed significantly greater (p < 0.01), (p < 0.0001) analgesic activity for the higher dose treatment groups SDN-2(H), and SDN-5(H), respectively, when contrasted to the pure drug naproxen. For tail immersion test, there is increase in latency time at 90 min which is significantly greater (P < 0.01), (P < 0.05), (P < 0.01) for treatment groups SDN-2(H), SDN-5(L), and SDN-5(H), respectively that ultimately authenticates that the optimized SDNs (SDN-2, SDN-5) showed better analgesic activity in mice in comparison with the pure drug. Conclusion: It can be concluded that dissolution of the naproxen could be improved by the making solid dispersion using sodium starch glycolate and/or combination of sodium starch glycolate and PEG 8000 due to the complete transformation of drug into amorphous form with the entire loss of crystallinity, as evidenced by DSC, PXRD, and SEM and also consequences the enhanced analgesic activity in mice

COVID-19 in Bangladesh: A systematic review of the literature from march 2020 to march 2021

COVID-19 has undoubtedly absorbed the global public\u27s angst. It has quickly disturbed global life and will have long-term and short-term consequences on several sectors. This comprehensive review study\u27s goal is to discover what research has been done in a year since the beginning of coronavirus in Bangladesh. Consequently, the current study examined the pervasiveness and affiliation of social and economic issues, health and psychological issues and individual perceptions, key challenges, strategies and policy systems, public health, online education, agriculture and food security, criminal activities related to outbreaks, Rohingya refugee issues, and the quality of domestic violence behaviors. The review used electronic databases such as Web of Science, PubMed, PubMed Central, and Scopus to find published material. This study reviewed chosen papers, removing redundancies and including 43 pertinent articles. Among the 43 study items, fourteen were qualitative (32.56%), six mixed (13.95%), and the rest were quantitative (53.49 %). This study helps to identify the issues with current documentation by focusing on interconnected factors and studying COVID-19 events and scenarios. Thus, governments and other stakeholders should reassess these controversial issues to formulate a policy that takes into consideration the situation in Bangladesh and other COVID-19 affected countries

COVID-19 in Bangladesh: A systematic review of the literature from march 2020 to march 2021

COVID-19 has undoubtedly absorbed the global public\u27s angst. It has quickly disturbed global life and will have long-term and short-term consequences on several sectors. This comprehensive review study\u27s goal is to discover what research has been done in a year since the beginning of coronavirus in Bangladesh. Consequently, the current study examined the pervasiveness and affiliation of social and economic issues, health and psychological issues and individual perceptions, key challenges, strategies and policy systems, public health, online education, agriculture and food security, criminal activities related to outbreaks, Rohingya refugee issues, and the quality of domestic violence behaviors. The review used electronic databases such as Web of Science, PubMed, PubMed Central, and Scopus to find published material. This study reviewed chosen papers, removing redundancies and including 43 pertinent articles. Among the 43 study items, fourteen were qualitative (32.56%), six mixed (13.95%), and the rest were quantitative (53.49 %). This study helps to identify the issues with current documentation by focusing on interconnected factors and studying COVID-19 events and scenarios. Thus, governments and other stakeholders should reassess these controversial issues to formulate a policy that takes into consideration the situation in Bangladesh and other COVID-19 affected countries