Toxicity outcome of concurrent teletherapy and brachytherapy compared with teletherapy followed by brachytherapy in locally advanced carcinoma cervix

Background: Teletherapy and intracavitary brachytherapy are definitive treatment modalities for stages IIB to IVA cervical carcinoma. Globally, it is the second most common cancer among female. Majority of patients attend the hospital with locally advanced stage due to less screening facility and social stigma.Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted from January 2019 to June 2020 with a total of 76 patients. The patients were equally divided into two groups: A and B after obtaining their informed written consent.Results: Final follow up was given after completion of treatment at 24 weeks. Patients in both groups developed grade 1 gastrointestinal and genitourinary toxicities (10.5% versus 13.1%, 13.1% versus 15.7% in group A and B respectively). Two patients in group A and three patients in group B developed grade 2 gastrointestinal toxicities. In genitourinary toxicities, grade 2 toxicities were observed in two patients of group A and four patients of group B, (p>0.05). None developed grade 3 and 4 gastrointestinal and genitourinary toxicities. There were no statistically significant variations in treatment related toxicities between the two groups.Conclusions: Both gastrointestinal, genitourinary toxicities were comparable between two groups. The toxicities were acceptable and well tolerated.

Impact of transformational leadership, human capital, and job satisfaction on organizational performance in the manufacturing industry

This study aims to examine the factors that affect organizational performance in the manufacturing industry of Bangladesh. This study identifies transformational leadership, human capital, and job satisfaction as significant determinants of organizational performance. The analysis focused on the employees of diverse manufacturing organizations in Bangladesh treated as the targeted population. The data collection was conducted using a survey methodology, wherein a questionnaire was distributed to the participants via postal mail along with a cover letter to enhance comprehension. The ultimate sample consisted of 294 participants, obtained from a pool of 400 individuals who were sent survey questionnaires. The response rate for the survey was 73.5%. Furthermore, a significance level of 5% was employed to assess the hypotheses, and the data pertaining to the research objective of this study were analyzed using SPSS software. The study results indicate that organizational performance is significantly influenced by transformational leadership, human capital, and job satisfaction. These three independent variables explain (R2) 59.6% variance in organizational performance. It is also found that transformational leadership (β-value = 0.443) has the highest impact on the organizational performance of manufacturing firms. This study provides implications for organizational management to improve long-term organizational performance

Seroepidemiological surveillance of Burkholderia pseudomallei in Bangladesh

AbstractMelioidosis (Burkholderia pseudomallei infection) has yet to be demonstrated systematically in Bangladesh. A prospective, cross-sectional serological survey was conducted in 2010 at six Bangladeshi hospitals. Age, gender, occupation and residential address were recorded. Of 1244 patients, 359 (28.9%) were positive for B. pseudomallei by indirect haemagglutination assay. Farmers had an increased risk of seropositivity (risk ratio=1.4, 95% CI 1.0–1.8; p=0.03). There was no clear geographic clustering of seropositives. Melioidosis should be considered as a possible cause of febrile illness in Bangladesh. Further studies are needed to establish the incidence of clinical disease and distribution of environmental risk

SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility and COVID-19 disease severity are associated with genetic variants affecting gene expression in a variety of tissues

Variability in SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility and COVID-19 disease severity between individuals is partly due to genetic factors. Here, we identify 4 genomic loci with suggestive associations for SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility and 19 for COVID-19 disease severity. Four of these 23 loci likely have an ethnicity-specific component. Genome-wide association study (GWAS) signals in 11 loci colocalize with expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) associated with the expression of 20 genes in 62 tissues/cell types (range: 1:43 tissues/gene), including lung, brain, heart, muscle, and skin as well as the digestive system and immune system. We perform genetic fine mapping to compute 99% credible SNP sets, which identify 10 GWAS loci that have eight or fewer SNPs in the credible set, including three loci with one single likely causal SNP. Our study suggests that the diverse symptoms and disease severity of COVID-19 observed between individuals is associated with variants across the genome, affecting gene expression levels in a wide variety of tissue types

A first update on mapping the human genetic architecture of COVID-19

peer reviewe

النباتات الملحية وعلاقتها بملوحة التربة في قطر

Saline soils cover approximately 6% of the land in Qatar. Halophytes are common along the coastal areas and inland salt flats and wetlands, where saline water is available in their natural habitats permanently or periodically. The prevailing plants are mostly perennials including dwarf succulent shrubs (Anabasis setifera, Arthrocnemum glaucum, Atriplex leucoclada, Cornulaca aucheri, Halocnemum stro-bilaceum, Halopeplis perfoliata, Heliotropium bacciferum, Limonium axillare, Salicornia europaea, Salsola baryosma, Salsola cyclophylla, Salsola marina, Seidlitzia rosmarinus, Suaeda aegyptiaca, Suaeda vermiculata and Zygophyllum qatarense), followed by tussock forming grasses (Aeluropus lagopoides and Sporobolus spicatus), sedges (Cyperus conglomeratus and Sporobolus arabicus), reeds (Phragmites australis), annuals (Cressa cretica, Frankenia pulvurulenta and Zygophyllum simplex), and shrubs and trees {Avicennia marina, Phoenix dactylifera and Tamarix ramossissima). There are seven common halophytic communities found in Qatar: the inland wetland halophytes, the inland salt flat halophytes, the coastal mangrove halophytes, the coastal low marsh halophytes, the coastal high marsh halophytes, the coastal sandy shore halophytes and the coastal sandy-rocky shore halophytes.تحتل الأراضي المالحة حوالي 6% من مساحة قطر، وتنمو الكثير من النباتات الملحية على السواحل وداخل البلاد حيث تتوفر المياه المالحة بصورة دائمة أو مؤقتة . وهذه النباتات لها أشكال وأنماط نمو متنوعة، أهمها الشجيرات القصيرة العصارية، والتي يعيش كل منها في بيئة ذات مواصفات خاصة : Anabasis setifera, Arthrocnemum glaucum, Atriplex leucoclada, Cornulaca aucheri, Halocnemum strobilaceum, Halopeplis perfoliata, Heliotropium bacciferum, Limonium axillare, Salicornia europaea, Sa/sola baryosma, Sa/sola cyclophylla, Sa/sola marina, Seidlitzia rosmarinus, Suaeda aegyptiaca, Suaeda vermiculata and Zygophyllum qatarense. Aeluropus lagopoides, Sporobolus spicatus, Cyperus conglomeratus وأعشاب المناطق الرطبة المالحة ذات الكثبان الرملية الصغيرة وقصب وحلفاء المياه الراكدة Phragmites australis, Sporobolus arabicus. وحوليات السبخات Cressa cretica, Frankenia pulvurulenta, Zygophyllum simplex والشجيرات البحرية Avicennia marina. وشجيرات البرك المائية متباينة الملوحة : Tamarix ramossissima. وأشجار النخيل التي ننحمل درجات مختلفة من الملوحة . Phoenix dactylifera ومن بين أكثر المجتمعات النباتية الملحية في قطر ما يلي: مجتمعات المناطق الداخلية الرطبة، مجتمعات المناطق الداخلية المسطحة المالحة ٠ ‏مجتمعات القرم الساحلي، مجتمعات المستنقعات الساحلية المنخفضة ٠ ‏مجتمعات المستنقعات الساحلية المرتفعة ٠ ‏مجتمعات السواحل الرملية الملحية، ومجتمعات السواحل الرملية - الصخرية الملحية

Serosurveillance of Orientia tsutsugamushi and Rickettsia typhi in Bangladesh.

Scrub and murine typhus infections are under-diagnosed causes of febrile illness across the tropics, and it is not known how common they are in Bangladesh. We conducted a prospective seroepidemiologic survey across six major teaching hospitals in Bangladesh by using an IgM enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results indicated recent exposure (287 of 1,209, 23.7% seropositive for Orientia tsutsugamushi and 805 of 1,209, 66.6% seropositive for Rickettsia typhi). Seropositive rates were different in each region. However, there was no geographic clustering of seropositive results for both organisms. There was no difference between those from rural or urban areas. Rickettsia typhi seroreactivity was positively correlated with age. Scrub typhus and murine typhus should be considered as possible causes of infection in Bangladesh

Effect of TMP-based-cottonseed oil-biolubricant blends on tribological behavior of cylinder liner-piston ring combinations

Cottonseed oil-based biolubricant was synthesized by the TMP-based transesterification process. 10–50% by volume blends of TMP-based cotton-biolubricant and SAE-40 were prepared and tested on the high-frequency-reciprocating-rig with engine cylinder-liner and piston-ring combination to investigate their tribology. While tribological characteristics were also evaluated by four-ball tribo-testers at high constant load of 785 N. 10% addition of cotton-biolubricant showed the lowest friction and wear as compared to SAE-40 but>10% volume of cotton biolubricant in blend increased the wear and friction considerably as tested by both HFRR and four-ball. Hence, 10% addition of TMP-cotton-biolubricant can be utilized as an energy-saving lubricant additive to partially reduce the dependency on petroleum-based lubricant for automotive engine application

Facility Assessment for Maternal and Child Health Services in Bangladesh Using Service Availability and Readiness Assessment (Sara) Tool: A Cross-sectional Pilot Study

Background: To initiate journey towards the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) it is essential to assess the health facilities. Unfortunately, no health facility assessment has been conducted in Bangladesh so far using "Service Availability and Readiness Assessment (SARA)” tool. Therefore, we aimed to conduct a pilot study to assess health facilities for maternal and child health services using SARA tool so that we can scale-up this assessment throughout the country later.Aim: We aimed to assess the health facilities for maternal and child health services in Tangail, Bangladesh using service availability and readiness assessment (SARA) tool.Methods: A cross-sectional pilot study was conducted in Bashail and Shokhipur Upazilla of Tangail district. A sample of 14 health facilities was assessed purposefully for data collection using a modified version of the SARA tool. Data was collected from November 01 to November 15, 2013, using paper-based questionnaire. Finally, following data collection, data were documented into Microsoft Excel by data collectors. Data were analyzed using Microsoft Excel, version 2010.Results: General service readiness has been segregated into five domains and their readiness scores were basic amenities (53.06%), basic equipment (83.33%), standard precautions for infection prevention (55.56%), and basic equipment (58.93%) for included health facilities. Similarly, specific service readiness includes family planning (48.15%), child immunization (67.71%), preventive and curative care (71.43%), and basic surgery (93.33%).Conclusion: Since we are moving towards UHC, it is essential to know the current scenario of health facilities. This pilot study reveals the strength and weakness of the health facilities in providing the maternal and child health services. These findings will help us to resolve all the identified gaps through proper planning and action