The outcome of third stage of labor using carbetocin following vaginal delivery

Background: Primary postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is a major cause of morbidity and the leading cause of direct maternal death worldwide. Carbetocin, a synthetic analog of oxytocin, has an elimination half-life of 40 minutes compared with 10 minutes for oxytocin, Methods: This cross-section observational study was conducted at the department of obstetrics and gynaecology, Shaheed Suhrawardy medical college hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh. The study period was from May 2016 to October 2016. 100 women undergoing normal vaginal delivery were the study subject. A convenient sampling technique was used in this study. Necessary data was collected in the data collection sheet. A standardized deliver mat (Quaiyum's mat) was used before placental removal for measuring blood loss. Carbetocin was an intervention in this study. Statistical analysis was carried out by using the statistical package for social sciences version 19.0 for Windows (SPSS Inc., Chicago, Illinois, USA). The mean values were calculated by frequencies and percentages. Result: In this study, the majority 54 (54.0%) of patients belonged to age 20-25 years, followed by 30, (30.0%) >25 years. Regarding the occupational status of the patients, it was observed that the majority of 92 (92.0%) patients were housewives. It was observed that the majority of 93 (93.0%) patients had regular menstrual history. Concerning the clinical indices, anaemia was found 69 (69.0%), jaundice 08 (8.0%) and edema 24 (24.0%). Primi para was found 59 (59.0%) and multipara was 41 (41.0%). Primigravida was found 08 (8.0%) and multigravida was 92 (92.0%). In this study, 76 (76.0%) patients had spontaneous delivery, 05 (5.0%) patients had massive blood loss, and 10 (10.0%) patients required further massage. Conclusions: Carbetocin appears to be an effective new drug in the active management of third-stage labor (AMTSL). A single dose (100 mg) of IV carbetocin is more effective for maintaining adequate uterine tone

Factors associated with relapse amongst substance abusers

Background: Relapse amongst substance abusers is common throughout the world, and Bangladesh is no exception to this. In Bangladesh, drug related problems are gradually becoming a burning issue in context of social, economical and medical perspective. The present study aimed to find out factors indicating relapse amongst substance abuser. Methods: This descriptive type of observational study was conducted in the combined military hospital and other government/private hospital/institute, especially the central drug addict treatment center, Dhaka. Informed consent was obtained prior to data collection. Collected data was classified, edited, coded, and entered into the computer for statistical analysis by using SPSS-23. The chi-Square test was used to analyze the categorical variables, and a p<0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: The study involved 100 patients who had a history of substance abuse. The most common substance abused was Yaba (27%), followed by cannabis (21%). The average duration of abuse for Yaba was 5.8 years, while the longest mean duration was for Alcohol (14.2 years). In the 2nd admission, the largest percentage of patients was aged 21-30 years and were male. The majority of patients were Muslim and were either unemployed or had a lower socioeconomic status. Patients age, occupation, socioeconomic status, peer pressure, and family problems all had a significant association (p<0.05) with relapse at different admissions. Peer pressure and family problems were also identified as factors affecting relapse, with 67.57% and 56.76% of patients experiencing them during their 2nd admission, respectively. Conclusions: The study found Yaba to be the most commonly used drug, followed by cannabis, phensedyl, heroin, etc. Alcohol was found to have the longest duration of abuse. Most patients were aged 21-30 and unemployed in multiple admissions. Peer pressure and unemployment were major factors in substance abuse, and psychiatric illness was a common factor in relapse. The results align with global findings and highlight the need for a comprehensive approach to addressing substance abuse, considering all relevant factors.

Exogenous Melatonin Improves Cold Tolerance of Strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) through Modulation of DREB/CBF-COR Pathway and Antioxidant Defense System

The strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) is an important fruit crop cultivated worldwide for its unique taste and nutritional properties. One of the major risks associated with strawberry production is cold damage. Recently, melatonin has emerged as a multifunctional signaling molecule that influences plant growth and development and reduces adverse consequences of cold stress. The present study was conducted to investigate the defensive role of melatonin and its potential interrelation with abscisic acid (ABA) in strawberry plants under cold stress. The results demonstrate that melatonin application conferred improved cold tolerance on strawberry seedlings by reducing malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide contents under cold stress. Conversely, pretreatment of strawberry plants with 100 μM melatonin increased soluble sugar contents and different antioxidant enzyme activities (ascorbate peroxidase, catalase, and peroxidase) and non-enzymatic antioxidant (ascorbate and glutathione) activities under cold stress. Furthermore, exogenous melatonin treatment stimulated the expression of the DREB/CBF—COR pathways’ downstream genes. Interestingly, ABA treatment did not change the expression of the DREB/CBF—COR pathway. These findings imply that the DREB/CBF-COR pathway confers cold tolerance on strawberry seedlings through exogenous melatonin application. Taken together, our results reveal that melatonin (100 μM) pretreatment protects strawberry plants from the damages induced by cold stress through enhanced antioxidant defense potential and modulating the DREB/CBF—COR pathway. View Full-Tex

Impacts of Plastic Filming on Growth Environment, Yield Parameters and Quality Attributes of Lettuce

The condition of soil and microclimate are prerequisite for proper growth and development of a plant. The environment may be mediated by artificial filming with different colored polyethylene. The mechanism of lettuce growing under colored plastic film remains largely unknown. Thus, to investigate the impact of different plastic film on the growth environment, yield parameters and phytochemical properties of lettuce, the present study was performed. Five different colored polyethylene films viz. black, white, blue, olive and silver were used as a treatment factor, in filed condition. The results demonstrated that the soil pH, temperature and overall performance of lettuce, as well as the phytochemical composition, varied within the use of different films. The maximum soil pH and temperature were found under black filming plots. Additionally, the black colored plastic film exhibited the best values for most of the yield parameters studied over other plastic films, whereas the field with non-plastic film condition showed the worst data in the experiment. Phytochemical concentrations and nutritive value of lettuce were also significantly affected by the colored plastic treatments. Furthermore, the chlorophyll, anthocyanin, phenols and carotenoids contents were increased in plants grown in soil covered with black polyethylene. Vitamin C content was of 2.5 fold higher in the plants grown in the black film compared to control conditions. The application of plastic film led to elevated concentrations of macro and micronutrients in lettuce because of the direct effect of modified radiation under the plastic film. Taken together, it can be concluded that plastic filming could be used to enhance the yield and nutritional status of lettuce in natural plant production facilities

Depression among the Non-Native International Undergraduate Students Studying Dentistry in Bangladesh.

BACKGROUND: Bangladesh has been attracting international students with interests in various subjects recently. Every year students from different parts of the world come to study undergraduate and postgraduate courses, mostly at private universities in Bangladesh. This study evaluates the depression status among international students who are studying dentistry in Bangladesh. METHODS: This cross-sectional survey was conducted among International undergraduate dental students who enrolled in the Bachelor of Dental Surgery program in nine public and private dental colleges in Bangladesh. Participants were selected using a convenience sampling method. A total of 206 students completed the survey where 78.5% of them were female students and 21.5% students were male, and a CES-D 10-item Likert scale questionnaire was used for data collection. The Cronbach alpha for the 10-item CES-D scale for this population is 0.812. RESULTS: The majority of the students (79.5%) are below 24 years of age with a mean age of 23.22 years and standard deviation of 2.3, and are students who cannot communicate well in Bengali (Bangla), about 60% of them have experienced depression. About 77.3% (p < 0.00) of the international students having financial difficulties exhibited depression. The international students who went through financial problems were two times more likely to suffer from depression (OR = 2.38; p-value < 0.01). CONCLUSION: This study tried to highlight the struggles faced by international students in Bangladesh studying dentistry. It is evident from the findings that several factors influence students' mental well-being during demanding dental education years

Treatment Options of Temporomandibular Joint Ankylosis at a Tertiary Level Hospital in Bangladesh: A Two-Year Retrospective Analysis

Introduction: The study compares the surgical treatment options utilized to treat temporomandibular joint ankylosis at a tertiary level hospital in Bangladesh from 2016 to 2017. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective analysis, 18 patients (28 joints) were studied. History, radiological and physical examinations, and mouth opening were all part of the preoperative and postoperative evaluation. Age, sex, underlying cause, affected joint (s), surgery modality, complications, and follow-up durations were all taken into consideration. The data was analyzed using the SPSS 22.0 statistical software. The degree of mouth opening before and after different surgical techniques in different patient categories was compared using a one-way ANOVA followed by Tuky's HSD test. Results: Temporomandibular joint ankylosis was found to be in several forms (fibrous, fibro-osseous, and osseous), with trauma (61.11%) being the most common cause. The patients ranged in age from 5 to 30 years old, with females accounting for 55.55% of the total. The mean mouth opening significantly increased from 3.11 mm pre-operatively to 31.17 mm in the first month following surgery (p = 0.00001). In 55.55% of the instances, temporary facial nerve paresis occurred. Conclusions: Temporomandibular joint ankylosis can be successfully managed with early excision of the ankylotic mass, restoration of the ramus height by bone grafting, interpositional arthroplasty, and intensive physiotherapy

COVID-19 Vaccination Intent and Willingness to Pay in Bangladesh: A Cross-Sectional Study.

This article reports the intent to receive a SARS-COV-2 vaccine, its predictors and willingness to pay in Bangladesh. We carried out an online cross-sectional survey of 697 adults from the general population of Bangladesh in January 2021. A structured questionnaire was used to assess vaccination intent. The questionnaire included sociodemographic variables and health belief model constructs which may predict vaccination intent. Among the participants, 26% demonstrated a definite intent, 43% probable intent, 24% probable negative, and 7% a definite negative intention. Multivariable logistic regression analyses suggest an association between definite intent and previous COVID-19 infection (OR: 2.86; 95% CI: 1.71-4.78), perceiving COVID-19 as serious (OR: 1.93; 1.04-3.59), the belief that vaccination would make them feel less worried about catching COVID-19 (OR: 4.42; 2.25-8.68), and concerns about vaccine affordability (OR: 1.51; 1.01-2.25). Individuals afraid of the side effects (OR: 0.34; 0.21-0.53) and those who would take the vaccine if the vaccine were taken by many others (OR: 0.44; 0.29-0.67) are less likely to have a definite intent. A definite negative intent is associated with the concern that the vaccine may not be halal (OR: 2.03; 1.04-3.96). Furthermore, 68.4% are willing to pay for the vaccine. The median amount that they are willing to pay is USD 7.08. The study findings reveal that the definite intent to receive the SARS-CoV-2 vaccination among the general population varies depending on their COVID-19-related health beliefs and no significant association was found with sociodemographic variables

Effectiveness of DOP Mobilizer on the Radiolysis of a Semi-Crystalline Ethylene-Propylene Copolymer

The role of dioctyl phthalate, DOP, added as a radiation stabilizer (mobilizer) to a commercial, medical grade polypropylene has been examined by FTIR and XPS analyses. It was found that the DOP degraded during γ-irradiation to a sterilization dose under vacuum at 298 K and that the degradation products, which included a variety of oxygenated and aromatic compounds, diffused to the polymer surface. Crown Copyrigh

Is Childhood Overweight/Obesity Perceived as a Health Problem by Mothers of Preschool Aged Children in Bangladesh? A Community Level Cross-Sectional Study

Childhood obesity is rapidly rising in many developing countries such as Bangladesh; however, the factors responsible for this increase are not well understood. Being the primary caregivers of children, particularly in developing countries, maternal perceptions and knowledge could be important factors influencing the weight status of children. This study aimed to assess maternal perceptions of childhood obesity and associated socio-demographic factors in Bangladesh. A cross-sectional study using stratified random sampling was conducted among 585 mothers whose children aged 4 to 7 years attended preschools in a district town. Body Mass Index of the children was calculated and weight status categorized according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) criteria. Maternal perceptions were assessed using a self- or interviewer-administered questionnaire. Multinomial logistic regression was used to obtain crude and adjusted odds ratios. Fourteen percent of children were overweight or obese and approximately 30% were underweight. Only 3.1% of children were perceived as overweight/obese by their mothers. Over one-third (35%) of mothers perceived that childhood overweight/obesity could be a health problem and over two-thirds (68.6%) were not aware of any health consequences of childhood obesity. Maternal perceptions were significantly associated with maternal education, family income, and weight status of the child but were not associated with the sex of the child. We have identified knowledge gaps regarding maternal perception of childhood obesity and its contributing factors in a developing country. These findings can be used to develop and test parent-focused educational interventions for preventing childhood obesity in Bangladesh

On the Structural Analysis of γ-Ray Induced Primary Free Radicals in UHMWPE and Vitamin E Stabilized UHMWPE by ESR Spectroscopy

Oriented allyl radicals are detected at room temperature in gamma irradiated UHMWPE. The effects of vitamin E and storage at room temperature on this oriented structure are also investigated during the study. While testing powder as well as compression-molded solids, with or without vitamin E, a typical ESR spectrum was recorded at room temperature following 100 kGy gamma dose and subsequent storage at −78.5°C for one year. The simulated results show that the relative abundance of 5% alkyl, 68% allyl, and 27% polyenyl produced a 98.7% best fit of experimental ones. Furthermore, the allyl radical signal gives approximately 20% of random orientations and 80% of oriented molecules. In oriented PE, measured at −196°C, Ohnishi et al. (1916) observed 25 lines within a total magnetic field width of approximately 133 G. Our spectra also show 25 lines spread over 136 G in UHMWPE powder samples and at room temperature after one year of storage