Aging, care and dependency in multimorbidity: how relationships affect elderly women’s homecare and health service use

Relationships are multidimensional, and we know little about the facets of relationships in the way elderly patients’ with multimorbidity utilise homecare and health services. Gerontology literatures emphasize the importance of place of care, inequalities, availability of health services and affordability. However, the diversity of relationships and associated dependency in elderly care remain underassessed. A qualitative study involving a demographic survey and interviews was conducted to explore relationship experiences of elderly women with multimorbidity in homecare and health services utilization. Civil Surgeon of Sylhet District in Bangladesh was contacted to recruit participants for the study, and this resulted in 33 interviews [11 staff and 22 elderly women with multimorbidity]. Three domains of Axel Honneth’s Theory of Recognition and Misrecognition [i.e. intimate, community and legal relationships] were used to underpin the study findings. Data was analysed using critical thematic discourse method. Four themes were emerged: nature of caregiving involved; intimate affairs [marital marginalization, and parent-children-in law dynamics]; alienation in peer-relationships and neighbourhood [siblings’ overlook, neighbourhood challenges, and gender inequality in interactions]; and legal connections [ignorance of rights, and missed communication]. A marginalization in family relationships, together with poor peer supports and a misrecognition from service providers, resulted in a lack of care for elderly women with multimorbidity. Understanding the complexities of elderly women’s relationships may assist in policy making with better attention to their health and well-being support needs. Staff training on building relationships, and counselling services for family and relatives are essential to improve the quality of care for the women. &nbsp

The role of warmed intravenous fluid on intraoperative hypothermia and postoperative shivering during prolonged oral and maxillofacial surgery

Background: Under general anaesthesia, the core temperature may drop up to 6°C. Patients undergoing prolonged maxillofacial surgery frequently experience unintentional hypothermia that causes postanaesthetic shivering which is a common complication of anaesthesia that should be prevented. This study aimed to evaluate the role of warmed intravenous fluid in preventing intraoperative hypothermia and postoperative shivering. Methods: Between January 2022 and December 2022, 322 patients with American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I, II and the age group of 18 to 45 years old scheduled for elective major oral and maxillofacial surgery were evaluated under the Department of Anaesthesiology in Dhaka Dental College and Hospital. The patients were grouped into Room Temperature Group and Warmed Fluid Group. Results: 162 patients received warmed fluid, whereas 160 patients received fluid at room temperature. In Room Temperature Group, there were 89 male and 71 female patients, whereas Warmed Fluid group had 88 male and 74 female patients. At the end of the procedure, the basal core temperature was 36.7±0.2°C in the group receiving warmed fluid versus 35.9±0.2°C in the group receiving fluid at room temperature. The incidence of hypothermia (<36 °C) was much lower in Warmed Fluid Group (n=28, 17.28%) than Room Temperature Group (n=86, 53.75%). Shivering was more common in Room Temperature Group (n = 67, 41.86%) than in Warmed Fluid Group (n = 19, 11.73%) in the postanaesthetic care unit (PACU). Conclusions: The results of this study suggested that intraoperative hypothermia and postoperative shivering are less common when warmed fluid is infused.  

Multiband Patch Antenna for Femtocell Application

A microstrip patch antenna for multiple LTE (long term evaluation) frequency bands for femtocell application is proposed in this paper. Distributed antenna solution (DAS) has been introduced in cellular network to achieve homogenous indoor coverage. Femtocell is the latest extension to these solutions. It is a smart solution to both coverage and capacity scales. Femtocell operation in LTE band is occupied by higher frequency bands. For multiband femtocell application, miniature antenna design is quite essential. The antenna proposed here is composed of basic monopole structure with two parasitic elements at both sides of the active element. A rectangular slot is introduced at the ground plane of the proposed antenna. The antenna is designed using ElnoS HK light CCL substrate material of relative permittivity of 9.4, dielectric loss-tangent of 0.003 and thickness of 3 mm. The S11 response of the antenna is shown to have a bandwidth of 1.01 GHz starting from 1.79 GHz to 2.8 GHz. The characteristics of the antenna are analysed using Ansoft HFSS software

Evaluation of mucin histochemistry in relation to p63 expression in nodular hyperplasia and adenocarcinoma of prostate

Background: Prostate cancer is a leading cause of death in men. Nodular hyperplasia and adenocarcinoma are common causes of prostatic enlargement. Diagnosis of these lesions on routine biopsies can be difficult for pathologists. Immunohistochemical stain p63 can help, but it is costly and not widely available. The present study aimed to evaluate the usefulness of mucin histochemistry in relation to p63 expression in differentiating nodular hyperplasia and adenocarcinoma of prostate. Methods: This study was conducted in the department of pathology at Dhaka medical college from July 2018 to June 2020. 50 cases of prostatic lesions (25 NHP and 25 adenocarcinoma) were examined using histomorphology. The sections were stained with periodic acid Schiff (PAS) to identify neutral mucins and Alcian blue (2.5 pH) to identify acidic mucins. Additionally, p63 antibody was used in immunohistochemistry. Results: NHP showed positivity for neutral mucin (96% with PAS stain) but not for acidic mucin (Alcian blue stain), while prostatic carcinoma showed positivity for both neutral mucin (28%) and acidic mucin (44%). The grade group 1 tumors of prostatic carcinoma showed 100% positivity for acid mucin, with a decrease in Alcian blue staining as the grade increased. P63 was positive in 100% of NHP cases and negative in 100% of prostatic carcinoma cases. Conclusions: Positivity for acidic mucins with Alcian blue stain can be a helpful diagnostic tool to differentiate well differentiated adenocarcinomas from benign lesions where facility for p63 immuno-stain is not available and poor people who cannot afford the cost of immunohistochemistry

Survey of trace metals in drinking water supply options in coastal areas of Bangladesh

To ascertain the water quality for human consumption, chemical parameters such as pH, conductivity and the concentrations of calcium, magnesium, iron, manganese, copper, zinc, lead, chromium, cadmium, nickel and arsenic were evaluated in the drinking water supply options employed in the southwest coastal areas of Bangladesh. The mean iron and manganese concentrations for pond and pond sand filter (PSF) water were much higher than harvested rainwater. The iron concentrations for 41% of the pond water samples were higher than the Bangladesh guideline value. However, iron and manganese removal by PSFs were found 74% and 51%, respectively. Furthermore, scarcity of calcium and magnesium were found in harvested rainwater. One pond water sample showed arsenic concentration above the 10 μg/l WHO drinking water guideline. The presence of an elevated iron and manganese and low calcium and magnesium concentrations in the drinking water could be a matter of public health concern

Sustainable Antibiotic-Free Broiler Meat Production: Current Trends, Challenges, and Possibilities in a Developing Country Perspective

Antibiotic-free broiler meat production is becoming increasingly popular worldwide due to consumer perception that it is superior to conventional broiler meat. Globally, broiler farming impacts the income generation of low-income households, helping to alleviate poverty and secure food in the countryside and in semi-municipal societies. For decades, antibiotics have been utilized in the poultry industry to prevent and treat diseases and promote growth. This practice contributes to the development of drug-resistant bacteria in livestock, including poultry, and humans through the food chain, posing a global public health threat. Additionally, consumer demand for antibiotic-free broiler meat is increasing. However, there are many challenges that need to be overcome by adopting suitable strategies to produce antibiotic-free broiler meat with regards to food safety and chicken welfare issues. Herein, we focus on the importance and current scenario of antibiotic use, prospects, and challenges in the production of sustainable antibiotic-free broiler meat, emphasizing broiler farming in the context of Bangladesh. Moreover, we also discuss the need for and challenges of antibiotic alternatives and provide a future outlook for antibiotic-free broiler meat production

Comparison of vitamin D (25OHD) status between fertile and infertile men

Background: Vitamin D (25OHD) deficiency has become a modern-day epidemic, being the most common nutritional deficiency worldwide. Many infertile men are experiencing low total sperm count or different semen abnormalities. The aim of this study was to compare serum vitamin D (25OHD) status among fertile and infertile men.Methods: This was an observational (cross sectional comparative) study and was conducted in the Department of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, BSMMU, Dhaka, Bangladesh during the period from April 2019 to March 2020. The sample size was 112 men where 56 participants were in fertile men group and 56 participants were infertile men group. Statistical analyses were carried out by using Windows based Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS, version 23.0).Results: The predictability of vitamin D insufficiency was significant. Holding the effects of vitamin D deficiency constant, males with vitamin D insufficiency were 3.28 times more likely to be infertile than males with vitamin D sufficiency. Subgroup analysis of infertile men was done regarding semen parameters in different vitamin D status categories. There was statistically significant difference in semen volume and sperm concentration between infertile men of different vitamin D status but no significant difference in case of motility and morphology.Conclusions: There was no significant different of serum vitamin D (25OHD) between fertile and infertile men. Men with vitamin D insufficiency (≥20 ng/ml to <30 ng/ml) are more likely to be infertile than men with vitamin D sufficiency.