Assessment of Serum Electrolytes, Biochemical, and Inflammatory Markers in Predicting COVID-19 Severity in COPD Patients

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the most prevalent long-term respiratory condition. Patients with COPD experience detrimental effects of COVID-19 infection. Objective: To figure out whether COPD is a risk factor influencing the progression of COVID-19 and to explore the clinical value of laboratory biomarkers to assess the severity of COVID-19 in patients with COPD comorbidity. Methods: In total, 1572 participants aged 35 to 70 years were enrolled to a tertiary hospital in Bangladesh between March 2022 and October 2022. Participants were categorized into four groups: (1) control, (2) COPD, (3) COVID-19, and (4) COVID-19 with COPD, and blood levels of clinical laboratory markers were assessed to analyze how these markers differ among the study groups. Results: COVID-19 patients with COPD had a significantly lower level of sodium (131.81 ± 2.8 mmol/L) and calcium (1.91 ± 0.28 mmol/L), and a significantly higher level of NT-proBNP (568.45 ± 207.40 pg/mL), bilirubin (1.34 ± 0.54 mg/dL), fibrinogen (577.27 ± 145.24 mg/dL), D-dimer (2.97 ± 2.25 μg/mL), C-reactive protein (71.08 ± 62.42 mg/L), interleukin-6 (166.47 ± 174.39 pg/mL), and procalcitonin (0.25 ± 0.30 ng/mL) compared to other study groups patients (p p < 0.0001). Conclusions: NT-proBNP, interleukin 6, D-dimer, C-reactive protein, and fibrinogen are the most potential parameters for differentiating severe cases of COVID-19

Unlocking critical nutritional potential: A comprehensive analysis of small indigenous fishes in Bangladesh and the development of ready-to-use fish products as balanced food

The study aimed to develop fish powder as a promising dietary supplement to combat inadequate nutrition. To achieve this goal, the study assessed the nutritional aspects, including proximate composition, mineral content, amino acid profile, and fatty acid profile, as well as the microbiological quality and heavy metal contents, of six small indigenous fish species. The protein content ranged from 57.73 % to 65.26 %, with G. chapra exhibiting the highest protein content (p P > Ca > K> Mg > Fe > Mn > Zn. The results revealed significantly elevated levels of total essential amino acids in A. mola (227.20 mg/g, p 0.45) and ω-6/ω-3 fatty acids ratio (< 4.00) were generally optimal. The quality and safety of the fish products for human consumption were confirmed, as both the total colony count and heavy metal concentrations remained below the recommended threshold. All ready-to-use fish products, except A. mola, meet over 20 % of the daily nutritional needs for PLW, infants, and adults. Hence, these findings advocate the utilization of the studied fish species as a dietary supplement to address malnutrition

Antioxidant, antibacterial, cytotoxic and thrombolytic activities of flowers of Mirabilis jalapa L: Possible role of phenolics and flavonoids

Mirabilis jalapa L. belongs to Nyctaginaceae family is an ornamental plant and domestically known as Sandhamaloti in Bangladesh. In this report we evaluated phenol and flavonoid content of cold methanol extractives of flower of M. jalapa and their role in antioxidant, antibacterial, cytotoxic and thrombolytic potentials. This study utilized HPLC to identify qualitative phenolic and flavonoid compounds. Gallic acid and Kaempferol were employed as standards for phenolic and flavonoid identification, respectively. Consequently, evaluating the overall phenolic and flavonoid content in the plant extract was considered a logical step. Flower of M. jalapa is an abundant source of phenols and flavonoids. The antioxidant activities in the phosphomolybdenum assay are differed in distinct extractives and have been found as 334.78 ± 0.62, 142.53 ± 0.51, 398.04 ± 0.81, 470.29 ± 0.55 and 480.90 ± 0.59 mg of ascorbic acid equivalent per gm of crude methanol extract (MSF), petroleum ether fraction (PSF), carbon tetrachloride fraction (CTF), chloroform fraction (CSF) and ethyl acetate fraction (ESF), respectively. The IC50 values for DPPH radical scavenging have been evaluated to be 13.70 ± 0.32, 49.05 ± 0.47, 6.76 ± 0.22, 9.30 ± 0.41 and 6.94 ± 0.31 μg/mL for MSF, PSF, CTF, CSF and ESF, respectively. The cytotoxicity was evaluated against brine shrimp lethality bioassay and LC50 values of MSF, PSF, CTF, CSF and ESF have been found 11.83 ± 0.32, 35.50 ± 0.54, 5.00 ± 0.18, 11.30 ± 0.30 and 4.61 ± 0.15 μg/mL, respectively in comparison to a standard vincristine sulphate 2.50 ± 0.11 μg/mL. Plant polyphenols and flavonoids having antioxidant properties exhibit potential antibacterial activity and our results revealed that the entire tested fractions of vegetation of M. jalapa exhibit potential antibacterial activity. On this observation, the thrombolytic activity, is the first strive in M. jalapa to investigate for more modern thrombolytic and its ethyl acetate fraction was shown to substantial (53.81 ± 0.52%) thrombolysis property. A high correlation was observed between antioxidant, cytotoxicity, thrombolytic and antibacterial activity with polyphenol and flavonoid contents (r2 = 0.903 to 0.996, p < 0.05). These data suggest the role of polyphenols and flavonoids in the bioactivities. Further study of this plant may lead to isolation of bioactive polyphenols and flavonoids which will be effective in the management of many chronic diseases

Biochemical analysis of commonly consumed fishes and shell fishes from the Tista and the Baral River in Bangladesh

The Tista and Baral rivers in Bangladesh are important water bodies that provide fish and shellfish as a significant food source for the local population. However, there is limited research on the biochemical composition of commonly consumed fish and shellfish species from these rivers. This study aimed to analyze the proximate composition of 16 species of fish and shellfish from the Tista and Baral rivers, focusing on their nutritional profiles and potential as protein sources. The findings indicate that all 16 species from the two rivers contain significant levels of moisture, ash, crude fat, crude protein, crude fiber, carbohydrate, and energy content, with percentages ranging from (82.18±0.29 to 62.79±0.67)%, (28.77±0.08 to 6.6±0.07)%, (38.16±0.16 to 6.39±0.04)%, (70.69±1.30 to 36.81±0.82)%, (18.30±0.07 to 0.46±0.03)%, (21.41±0.08 to 1.37±0.01)%, and (319±0.44 to 532.45±0.45) kcal/100 g, respectively. Anabas testudineus and Barilius barila from the Tista and Baral rivers, respectively, contained significantly (p<0.05) higher levels of fat and energy content than those of other species. Paratelphusa lamellifrons from Tista river showed significantly (p<0.05) higher ash content compared to others. Mastacembelus pancalus from the Baral River showed the highest moisture and carbohydrate content, which differ significantly (p<0.05) compared to others in the case of carbohydrate content and differ significantly (p<0.05) compared to others except Ompok pabda in the case of moisture content. Ompok pabda from the Baral River showed significantly (p<0.05) higher protein and fiber content compared to others. The study concludes that commonly consumed fish and shellfish are moderate sources of high-quality protein and essential micronutrients. Thus, their consumption can mitigate protein malnutrition and ensure the security of nutrition and livelihoods in Bangladesh. The results emphasize the nutritional significance of these resources as potential protein sources, warranting further exploration and utilization to address nutritional challenges and enhance food security in the region