Infection Control Measures Concerning Knowledge and Behavior among Bangladeshi Dental Professionals

Background and aim: Maintenance of universal infection protocol in all dental care processes in the dental office before, during, and immediately after dental care is of utmost importance. Very few studies were found to identify the bio-security standards for dental care. This study aimed to determine the knowledge and behavior of Bangladeshi dental professionals on the infection control system during clinical case management.Material and methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 110 dental professionals in the Khulna district, Bangladesh. Semi-structured data were collected in this study through the face-to-face interview method.  Univariate multivariate techniques followed by regression modeling have been used for analysis.Results: About 67% of dental surgeons knew about infection prevention measures well, whereas only 33% had poor knowledge. However, instead of having good knowledge of infection control measures, 33% of dental surgeons were found to have poor behavior in their dental setting, and the rest, 34%, followed all the preventive measures to control infection. Binary regression analysis of this study revealed significant predictors associated with poor knowledge and behavior on infection control measures.Conclusions: This study revealed a depressive scenario regarding knowledge and behavior on infection control measures among dental professionals. A large-scale study is required to generalize the information and to improve the situation. Moreover, this study will provide a concrete base for further study and will significantly assist the policymakers of the pertinent arena

Antidiabetic principle from Eclipta prostrata

The methanol extract of the whole plant of Eclipta prostrata and one of its isolated compounds, eclalbasaponin II were administered to alloxan-induced diabetic rats for 28 and 7 consecutive days, respectively. During the study, a potent antidiabetic activity was observed. Blood sugar was significantly (p < 0.001) reduced by E. prostrata extract (300 mg/kg) and eclalbasaponin II (10 mg/kg), as compared to untreated diabetic rats. Analyses of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) showed no significant (p < 0.001) hepatotoxicity by E. prostrata extractive in alloxan-induced diabetic rats when compared to the diabetic control rats.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Hydrogeochemical evolution of shallow and deeper aquifers in central Bangladesh: arsenic mobilization process and health risk implications from the potable use of groundwater

Protection of groundwater quality from various natural and anthropogenic forces is a prime concern in Bangladesh. In this study, we utilized groundwater geochemistry of shallow and deeper aquifers to investigate the hydrogeochemical processes controlling water quality, and the sources and mechanism of Arsenic (As) release to water and associated human health risks in the Faridpur district, Bangladesh. Analysis of hydrochemical facies indicated that groundwaters were Ca–Mg–HCO3\ua0type and that water–rock interactions were the dominant factors controlling their major-ion chemical composition. The dissolution of calcite, dolomite, and silicates, as well as cation exchange processes regulated the major ions chemistry in the groundwater. Dissolved fluoride (F−) concentrations (0.02–0.4\ua0mg/L) were lower than the drinking water standard of 1.5\ua0mg/L set by the World Health Organization (WHO). Arsenic contamination of groundwater is among the biggest health threats in Bangladesh. The measured As concentration (0.01–1.46\ua0mg/L with a mean of 0.12\ua0mg/L) exceeded the maximum permissible limit of Bangladesh and WHO for drinking water. The estimated carcinogenic risk of As exceeded the upper benchmark of 1 × 10–4\ua0for both adult and children, and health threats from shallow groundwater were more severe than the deeper water. The vertical distribution of As resembled Fe and Mn with their higher concentrations in shallow Holocene aquifers and lower in deeper Pleistocene aquifers. Speciation calculation indicated the majority of groundwater samples were oversaturated with respect to siderite, calcite, and dolomite, while undersaturated with respect to rhodochrosite. The saturation state of the minerals along with other processes may exert kinetic control on As, Fe, and Mn distribution in groundwater and lead to their lack of statistically significant correlations. Microbially mediated reductive dissolution of Fe and Mn oxyhydroxides is envisaged as the primary controlling mechanism of As mobilization in Faridpur groundwater. Pyrite oxidation was not postulated as a plausible explanation of As pollution