Increased occurrence of hypothyroidism among pregnant women during the first trimester and its correlation with anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody (anti-TPO) and gestational diabetes mellitus in Chattagram region, Bangladesh

Background: The present study was aimed at investigating the prevalence of hypothyroidism in pregnant women in their first trimester in Chattagram, an iodine-sufficient area in Bangladesh. We also studied whether hypothyroidism in pregnancy has any correlation with high titres of anti-thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO) antibodies and the occurrence of gestational diabetes mellitus.Methods: Our study included 100 pregnant women at their first antenatal checkup based on certain preselected criteria in two tertiary care hospitals in Chattogram. The levels of serum TSH, FT4, and anti-TPO were estimated to detect thyroid function from the collected blood sample. The oral glucose tolerance test was carried out between 24 and 28 weeks of gestational age. A standard predesigned proforma was used to record a detailed patient history and the findings of general physical examinations.Results: According to our results, thyroid disorder and GDM affect 19% and 13% of total pregnancies, respectively. Among TD patients, subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) prevails the most (11%). The majority of the hypothyroid patients with a high titre of anti-TPO positivity (11%) indicate an autoimmune etiology (p<0.001). Furthermore, a statistically significant relationship (p<0.01) was established between hypothyroidism and GDM. No demographic data was observed to affect GDM and hypothyroidism.Conclusion: Thyroid disorders affect one in every six pregnant women in the southern part of Bangladesh. Moreover, hypothyroid pregnant women were found to be highly susceptible to GDM. Euthyroid women with a high titre of anti-TPO during their gestation should be closely monitored for the development of hypothyroidism and GDM

Phytochemical, analgesic, antibacterial, and cytotoxic effects of Alpinia nigra (Gaertn.) Burtt leaf extract

This research evaluated the phytochemical contents as well as the analgesic, cytotoxic, and antimicrobial effects of the methanolic extract of Alpinia nigra leaf. Phytochemical analysis was carried out using established methods. The analgesic effects of the extract were measured with the formalin test and tail immersion test. The antibacterial activity of the extract was evaluated using the disc diffusion technique. Cytotoxicity was assessed with the brine shrimp lethality bioassay. Data were analyzed with one-way analysis of variance using statistical software (SPSS, Version 19.0). The qualitative phytochemical screening of A. nigra leaf extract showed the presence of medicinally active secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, glycosides, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, steroids, tannins, anthraquinone glycosides, and saponins. The extract at a dose of 200 mg/kg revealed a prevailed central nociception increasing the reaction time in response to thermal stimulation. The extract also showed a response to chemical nociceptors, causing pain inhibition in the late phase. The leaf extract (2 mg/disc) showed mild antibacterial activity compared to tetracycline (50 μg/disc). In the brine shrimp lethality bioassay, the LC50 (lethal concentration 50) value of the extract was found to be 57.12 μg/mL, implying a promising cytotoxic effect. The results evidenced the moderate analgesic and antibacterial effects with pronounced cytotoxic capability

Investigation of the association between the TCF7L2 rs12255372 (G/T) gene polymorphism and Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) in the population of Chattogram, Bangladesh

Objective: Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) is one of the most common complications of pregnancy and becoming an increasing health problem worldwide. The rate of GDM is increasing in Asian countries including Bangladesh. This study is aimed at investigating the association between the rs12255372 (G/T) polymorphism of the TCF7L2 gene with GDM. Method: To carry out the present research, 63 GDM pregnant women and 60 control pregnant women were randomly selected from the city Chattogram, Bangladesh. During the study data was collected between gestational weeks of 24–28. PCR-RFLP was used for genotyping the rs12253372 (G/T) and for genotype analysis Hardy-Weinberg equation (Hardy, 1908) was applied. Results: The fasting and 2-hour plasma glucose level was significantly higher in GDM than the control. Moreover, in the case of family history women with GDM showed higher percentage in first degree relatives (60.31 %) compared to that of control (38.33 %). The frequency of mutant allele T in GDM is 26.2 % which was however not significant. TT genotype was found only in one subject with GDM. However, the percentage of risk allele GT is higher in GDM (49.2 %) compared to that of NGT (35 %). Conclusions: In our pilot study, we did not find an association between rs12255372 (G/T) polymorphism of TCF7L2 gene and GDM. Studying in a broader group may help to find a conclusive result

Investigation of in vivo neuropharmacological effect of Alpinia nigra leaf extract

Objective: To analyze in vivo neuro-pharmacological effects of Alpinia nigra as anxiety is a particular form of behavioral inhibition that occurs in response to novel environmental events. Methods: In present study, the extract of Alpinia nigra was evaluated for its central nervous system depressant effect using mice behavioral models, such as hole cross, open field and thiopental sodium induced sleeping time tests for its sedative properties and an elevated plus-maze test for its anxiolytic potential, respectively. Results: In anxiolytic study, the extract displayed increased percentage of entry into open arm at the dose of 400 and 200 mg/kg. The extract produced a significant (P<0.01) increase in sleeping duration and reduction of onset of sleep compared to sodium thiopental at both doses (200 and 400 mg/kg). The extract (200 and 400 mg/kg) also showed a dose-dependent suppression of motor activity and exploratory activity of the mice in both open field and hole cross test. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that the treated extract has significant central nervous system depressant effect. Further studies on active constituent of the extract can provide approaches for therapeutic intervention

A versatile functional food source Lasia spinosa leaf extract modulates the mRNA expression of a set of antioxidant genes and recovers the paracetamol-induced hepatic injury by normalizing the biochemical and histological markers

Lasia spinosa leaf extract (LSML) has been studied as a functional food source for DNA damage protection and antioxidant gene expression in paracetamol (PCM)-induced liver injury. The DNA damage-protecting capacity of LSML was evaluated using pBR322 plasmid DNA. A toxic dose of PCM was administered to rats, followed by an intervention with LSML of 65–250 mg/kg for 22 days. In LSML-treated animals, a significant decrease in hepatic parameters, hepatocyte growth, and cell injury was noticed when compared to the hepatic control. The increase of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), reduced glutathione (GSH), and decrease of malondialdehyde (MDA) were manifested. The serum total protein, ALP, ALT, AST, and bilirubin reverted to normal compared to the healthy and silymarin-treated groups. An elevated mRNA expression of SOD2, CAT, GPX1, PON1, and PFK1 was manifested in LSML-treated groups. The results demonstrate that LSML could be an antioxidant gene upregulating functional food sources to protect against liver injury

Upregulation of Antioxidative Gene Expression by Lasia spinosa Organic Extract Improves the Predisposing Biomarkers and Tissue Architectures in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Models of Long Evans Rats

Plants are an entity essential to the function of the biosphere as well as human health. In the context of human health, this research investigated the effect of Lasia spinosa (Lour) leaf methanolic extracts (LSML) on antioxidative enzymes and gene expression as well as biochemical and histological markers in a streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes model. Fructose-fed streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic animals were subjected to a four-week intervention followed by the assessment of the animal&rsquo;s blood and tissues for enzymatic, biochemical, histological, and genetic changes. LSML-treated groups were shown to decrease plasma glucose levels and improve body and organ weights compared to the untreated group in a dose-dependent manner. At the doses of 125 and 250 mg/kg b.w., LSML were able to normalize serum, hepatic, and renal biochemical parameters and restore the pancreas, kidney, liver, and spleen tissue architectures to their native state. A considerable increase (p &lt; 0.01) of liver antioxidant enzymes CAT, SOD, GSH, and a decrease of MDA level in LSML-treated groups were found at higher doses. The improved mRNA expression level of antioxidant genes CAT, SOD2, PON1, and PFK1 was also found at the doses of 125 mg/kg and 250 mg/kg BW when compared to untreated control groups. The results demonstrate that LSML impacts the upregulation of antioxidative gene expressions, thus improving the diabetic complications in animal models which need to be affirmed by compound-based antioxidative actions for therapeutic development

Genetic determinants of SARS‐CoV‐2 and the clinical outcome of COVID‐19 in Southern Bangladesh

Abstract Background The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic has had a severe impact on population health. The genetic determinants of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) in southern Bangladesh are not well understood. Methods This study aimed to determine the genomic variation in SARS‐CoV‐2 genomes that have evolved over 2 years of the pandemic in southern Bangladesh and their association with disease outcomes and virulence of this virus. We investigated demographic variables, disease outcomes of COVID‐19 patients and genomic features of SARS‐CoV‐2. Results We observed that the disease severity was significantly higher in adults (85.3%) than in children (14.7%), because the expression of angiotensin‐converting enzyme‐2 (ACE‐2) diminishes with ageing that causes differences in innate and adaptive immunity. The clade GK (n = 66) was remarkable between June 2021 and January 2022. Because of the mutation burden, another clade, GRA started a newly separated clustering in December 2021. The burden was significantly higher in GRA (1.5‐fold) highlighted in mild symptoms of COVID‐19 patients than in other clades (GH, GK, and GR). Mutations were accumulated mainly in S (22.15 mutations per segment) and ORF1ab segments. Missense (67.5%) and synonymous (18.31%) mutations were highly noticed in adult patients with mild cases rather than severe cases, especially in ORF1ab segments. Moreover, we observed many unique mutations in S protein in mild cases compared to severe, and homology modeling revealed that those might cause more folding in the protein's alpha helix and beta sheets. Conclusion Our study identifies some risk factors such as age comorbidities (diabetes, hypertension, and renal disease) that are associated with severe COVID‐19, providing valuable insight regarding prioritizing vaccination for high‐risk individuals and allocating health care and resources. The findings of this work outlined the knowledge and mutational basis of SARS‐CoV‐2 for the next treatment steps. Further studies are needed to confirm the effects of structural and functional proteins of SARS‐CoV‐2 in detail for monitoring the emergence of new variants in future