Impact of Lymphatic Filariasis (LF) on Hemoglobin Content and Anemia: A Cross-Sectional Based Study

Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is a vector-borne chronically disabling parasitic infection causing elephantiasis, lymphedema, and hydrocele. The infection is endemic in 83 countries worldwide, with more than 1.2 billion people at risk and 120 million already infected. LF is caused by thread-like adult parasitic worms, which live in the human lymphatic system and causes swelling of the scrotum, male genitalia, breast and limbs. It is caused by tissue-dwelling nematode worms belonging to the order “Filariidea” which is transmitted to man by the infective bites of blood sucking mosquitoes. About 90% of these infections are caused by Wuchereria bancrofti.  There are limited number of reports available describing the presence of microfilaria in bone marrow. There is a report a young patient who developed aplastic anemia following varicella infection, and peripheral blood and bone marrow showed many microfilariae of Wuchereria bancrofti. This experiment was designed to assess hemoglobin content by sex; and anemic condition by age and sex among 119 case respondents and 102 controls.  Hemoglobin level was found to be a bit better among case respondents than controls. By sex, hemoglobin level was better among males than females in both case respondents and control groups. Among case respondents 6-59 months age male group and 5-9 years age female group was found anemic. But in control group all the male respondents in all age groups and only one female in 5-9 years age group were found anemic. Keywords: Hemoglobin, Anemia and Lymphatic Filariasis

Hygiene Practices in the Restaurants of Dhaka North City Corporation, Bangladesh

Food safety in food establishments has been considered a global and increasing public health concern in developing countries like Bangladesh. Poor personal and environmental hygiene contributes to food contamination and results in food-borne diseases. This report represents the current hygienic state of middle-scale restaurants of Dhaka North City Corporation in Bangladesh. This study examines the prevailing environment, cleanliness, and hygiene practices of the randomly selected restaurants through on-site visiting. It was a cross-sectional observational study where a total of 134 restaurants were observed by taking the consent of the owner. The data were collected by a structured checklist where variables were categorized as acceptable, moderately acceptable, and unacceptable that denoting whether the restaurants perform all the hygiene practices properly or operate unhygienic activities on daily basis.  However, the study revealed that most restaurants did not follow food hygiene practices whereas 12.7 % of restaurants were located beside unhygienic places, and 79.9 % didn’t have toilet facilities. Nevertheless, the practices of food handlers were also very alarming because most of them did not follow proper dress codes while distributing food among customers. Overall, the study explored that only 9% of restaurants conduct healthy practices whereas 46.3% carried out both healthy and unhealthy practices and 44.7% operate mostly unhygienic practices. Therefore, the study findings will assist the policy makers and planners in designing interventions to improve the sanitary conditions of food establishments and aware the consumer as well. Keywords: Food, Hygiene Practices, Restaurants of Dhaka North City Corporation, Bangladesh. DOI: 10.7176/FSQM/119-05 Publication date:September 30th 202

Effects of an integrated intervention on the nutritional status and IYCF practices under two years of children in the southern part of Bangladesh

Objective: The significance of appropriate infant and young children feeding (IYCF) to ensure proper nutrition for children is well-documented. Although nutrition interventions with agricultural components have the potential, the evidence for this relationship is insufficient. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of an integrated health-based intervention on the dietary pattern and nutritional status of children under two years of age. Methodology: This study was a pre-post analysis of secondary data of the project titled "Integrated Agriculture and Health-Based Interventions for Improved Food and Nutrition Security in Selected Districts of Southern Bangladesh", which were collected from Barisal and Khulna district. We used data of 268 children aged 0-23 months from baseline and 554 children from endline which comprised the study population to assess socio-demographic, anthropometric and IYCF indicators. Further, horticulture, cooking and hygiene indices were created to analyze the effectiveness of the project interventions. Results: A significant reduction of stunting and underweight and insignificant reduction of wasting were observed from baseline to end line. Compared to baseline, the horticulture index, hygiene index and cooking index differ significantly between the baseline and end line surveys. Further, significant improvement of 6 months exclusive breastfeeding and insignificant improvement of continued breastfeeding up to 1 year were found from baseline to end line. Conclusion: This study shows that integrated agriculture and health-based interventions with nutrition components have a positive impact on stunting and underweight but exert a mixed effect on wasting and IYCF practices. Bioresearch Commu. 8(1): 1077-1087, 2022 (January

A cross sectional study on consumption pattern and heavy metal content in Buriganga River fish

For decades, the Buriganga River in Dhaka, Bangladesh, has suffered from persistent pollution, leading to heavy metal contamination in fish samples that poses significant risks to human health. This study conducted an analysis of the whole bodies of various fish species, including Heteropnuestes fossilis, Channa punctatus, Notopterus notopterus Channa striata and Colisa fasciata to examine the concentrations of Chromium, Manganese, Nickel, Copper, Zinc, Arsenic, Cadmium, Barium, and Lead. The analysis was performed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, revealing notable concentrations of Pb, Ni, Cd, and Zn, with average levels of 6.85, 156.77, 0.41, and 3.37 mg/kg, respectively.Assessment of target hazard quotients for Pb, against recommended benchmark doses of observable effects, indicated levels 2 to 6 times higher than the recommended safety thresholds. The cumulative totals of target hazard quotients across multiple specimens exceeded 2 and, in some cases, reached up to 7, surpassing the safety cutoff of 1. The risk of cancer from Ni and Pb was calculated to be 1 in 10,000 on average for each, classifying it as a moderate risk. Quantitative analysis revealed that heavy metal concentrations of Pb, Ni, Cd, and Zn in most fish samples exceeded reference safety values.Simultaneously, hazard analysis identified critical concerns regarding Pb content in one sample, and cumulative toxin loads in almost every sample were deemed unsafe for regular consumption. In addition to quantitative assessments, a qualitative survey employed observation techniques, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews to investigate consumption behaviors and viewpoints on fish contamination. The results revealed that consumers generally held an enthusiastic attitude towards consuming these fish and were largely unaware of the associated health hazards

Prevalence and predictors of binge eating disorder symptoms among a sample of university students in Bangladesh: A cross‐sectional survey

Abstract Background and Aims There is a dearth of information about binge eating disorder (BED) among Bangladeshi university students, who may be more susceptible to BED due to the rise in unhealthy lifestyles and food habits. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence and associated factors of BED symptoms among Bangladeshi university students. Methods Students (N = 525) from three public universities in Bangladesh participated in this cross‐sectional study between November 2022 and March 2023. Face‐to‐face interviews were conducted using a structured paper‐based questionnaire that included two validated survey tools; the binge eating disorder screener and the patient health questionnaire‐9. To identify the factors associated with BED symptoms, multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted, with sociodemographic and behavioral information (e.g., age, sex, smoking status, etc.) considered as covariates. Results The prevalence of BED symptoms among participants (mean age 21.28 years, 50.3% male and 49.7% female) was 20.6%. Male students had a 2.28 times higher likelihood of having BED symptoms compared to female counterparts (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.28; 95% CI: 1.33−3.89). Older students (AOR = 3.56, 95% CI: 1.80−7.05), students who were overweight or obese (AOR = 3.32, 95% CI: 1.87−5.89), and students reporting higher depressive symptoms (AOR = 2.69, 95% CI: 1.66−4.35) were at greater risk for developing BED compared to their respective counterparts. Conclusions This study provides new insights into the prevalence of BED symptoms and its contributing factors among Bangladeshi students. Approximately 1‐in‐5 university students reported having BED symptoms. University students who are older, overweight, or obese, and who report depressive symptoms may be at greatest risk. Future longitudinal studies are needed to determine the causal factors underlying BED. Findings from this study can assist policymakers and public health professionals in developing effective and targeted strategies to mitigate the risks associated with BED among Bangladeshi university students