SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHY, SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND OFFENCE AMONG INMATES WITH PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS IN FEMALE JUVENILE CENTRE, BANGLADESH

Inmates of Juvenile Developmental Centers are generally vulnerable to psychiatric illness. Females are more prone to that. The objective of the study was to determine the socio-demographic correlates, prevalence of substance abuse and offence among female inmates with psychiatric disorders in Juvenile Development Center. This was a cross sectional and descriptive study conducted in Juvenile Developmental Center (Girls’), Bangladesh. All female inmates of 9 to 18 years of age were enrolled in the study. Total respondents were 43. One stage-structured assessment of psycho-pathology was carried out by using a structured and valid Bangla version of The Development and Well-Being Assessment (DAWBA). Information regarding socio-demography, substance abuse and offence was collected through face-to-face interview with a semi-structured questionnaire and case-notes. Data analysis was done by SPSS for windows 15 version. The result revealed that overall prevalence of psychiatric disorder was 93% in inmates of Juvenile Developmental Center. Among the respondents with psychiatric disorders, 10% had history of substance abuse and 30% had history of offence. It can be concluded that considerable rate of substance abuse and offence was there among the female juvenile with psychiatric disorders in the development centre. Considering limitations, careful conclusion should be drawn.&nbsp

Sustainable Irrigation Management for Higher Yield

Sustainable irrigation is sensible application of watering to plants in agriculture, landscapes that aids in meeting current survival and welfare needs. Sustainable irrigation management can help with climate change adaptation, labor, energy savings, and the production of higher-value and yield of crops to achieve zero hunger in water-scarce world. To ensure equal access to water and environmental sustainability, investments in expanded and enhanced irrigation must be matched by improvements in water governance. Sustainable irrigation must be able to cope with water scarcity, and be resilient to other resource scarcities throughout time in context of energy and finance. The themes and SDGs related to clean water, water resources sustainability, sustainable water usage, agricultural and rural development are all intertwined in the concept of “sustainable irrigation for higher yield.” Sustainable irrigation management refers to the capability of using water in optimum quantity and quality on a local, regional, national, and global scale to meet the needs of humans and agro-ecosystems at present and in the future to sustain life, protect humans and biodiversity from natural and human-caused disasters which threaten life to exist. Resultantly higher yields will ensure food security

Serum Copper and Plasma Protein Status in Normal Pregnancy

AbstractBackground: Gradual alteration of serum copper and some plasma protein levels may occur with advancement of pregnancy, which is associated with increased maternal and infant morbidity and mortality.Objective: To observe serum copper and plasma protein levels in normal pregnant women of different trimesters in order to find out their nutritional status.Methods: This cross sectional study was carried out in the Department of Physiology, Sir Salimullah Medical College (SSMC), Dhaka, between 1st January 2010 and December 2010. Ninety normal pregnant women of different trimesters with age 20-30 years were included in the study group. They were selected from Out Patient Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, SSMC. Age matched 30 non-pregnant women were taken as control. Serum copper level was measured by Spectrophotometric method, serum total protein and albumin levels were estimated by standard method. Statistical analysis was done by one way ANOVA, Bonferroni and Pearson’s correlation coefficient test as applicable.Results: Serum Cu levels were significantly higher in all trimesters of pregnant women compared to control. Again, this value was significantly higher in 3rd trimester than that of in 1st and 2nd trimester and also in 2nd trimester than that of in 1st trimester. In addition, mean serum total protein level was significantly lower in 3rd trimester than control but no statistically significant difference was observed among different trimesters. Again, mean serum albumin level was significantly lower in 2nd and 3rd trimester than 1st trimester and control. In addition, serum Cu concentration showed significant positive correlation with different trimesters of gestation.Conclusion: This study reveals that hypercupremia along with hypoproteinemia occur in pregnant women from 1st to 3rd trimester of gestation. This gradual alteration of micro and macronutrients become more profound with advancement of pregnancy

Effect of Peanut (Arachis Hypogaea L.) on Dyslipidemia in Young Adult

Background: Dyslipidemia is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Lipid lowering drugs are available in modern medicine but prolong use of these drugs may produce some side effects. Peanut due to some of its active component can improve lipid profile. Objective: To observe the effects of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) on dyslipidemia in young adults. Methods: This prospective interventional study was carried out in the Department of Physiology, Sir Salimullah Medical College (SSMC), Dhaka between 1st July 2013 and 30th June 2014. For this purpose 30 dyslipidemic young adults of both sexes with aged 30 to 40 years were included in this study and they were selected from Out Patient Department of Medicine of Sir Salimullah Medical College and Mitford Hospital, Dhaka. They were studied three times i,e before supplementation with peanut (BSP), after 4 weeks supplementation with peanut (4 wks AP) and after 8 weeks supplementation with peanut (8 wks AP). For assessing lipid profile TAG, LDL-C, TC and HDL-C of all subjects were estimated by enzymatic method. The statistical analysis was done by using paired sample‘t’ test as applicable. Results: In this study, the mean serum TAG, LDL-C and TC levels were significantly decreased after 8 weeks supplementation with peanut in comparison to those of after 4 weeks and before supplementation with peanut. However, these levels were also decreased after 4 weeks supplementation than those of before supplementation but it was significant only for TC (p<0.05) and LDL-C (p<0.001). Whereas, the mean serum HDL-C level was significantly (p<0.001) increased after 8 weeks supplementation when compared to those of after 4 weeks and before supplementation of peanut. Conclusion: The present study revealed that, peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) has effect on improvement of lipid profile by lowering serum TAG, LDL-C, TC levels and by increasing serum HDL-C level. This lipid lowering effects of peanut may be due to its high Mg+2 content and other active components of peanut

Violence against women and mental disorder: a qualitative study in Bangladesh

Abstract Background Violence affects 15–75% of women across the globe and has a significant impact on their health, well-being, and rights. While quantitative research links it to poor mental health, there is a lack of qualitative enquiry in how women experience it, and how it is related to the mental disorders in Bangladesh. This information is important in understanding the situation and structuring a locally appropriate and culturally sensitive program. Methods We adopted a phenomenological approach and conducted 16 in-depth interviews, three informal interviews, one focus group discussion, and one key informant interview. We also reviewed published reports and documents. We followed criterion sampling in selecting women with mental disorders who experienced violence. We explored their experiences and understanding of the issues and described the phenomenon. Results We found that Bangladesh society was largely controlled by men, and marriage was often forced on women. Women often were blamed for any mishap in the family and married women were under social and emotional pressure to keep the marital relationship going even when painful. We found all forms of violence (physical, emotional, sexual etc.) and most of the time found more than one type in women with mental disorders. Sexual violence is a reality for some women but rarely discussed. We found the society very tolerant with mental disorder patients and those who resorted to violence against them. We identified four theoretical understandings about the role of violence in mental disorders. Sometimes the violence predisposed the mental illness, sometimes it precipitated it, while other times it maintained and was a consequence of it. Sometimes the violence may be unrelated to the mental illness. The relationships were complex and depended on both the type of mental disorder and the nature and intensity of the violence. We found most of the time that more than one type of violence was involved and played more than one role, which varied across different types of mental disorders. Interestingly, not all violence that mentally disordered women faced was because they were women, but because of mental disorders, which brought violence to them as a consequence. Conclusions The findings of this first ever qualitative study into the experiences of violence by women with mental disorder in Bangladesh can be used in developing a culturally specific intervention to reduce both violence and mental disorders in women

Histological Evidence of Nephroprotective Effect of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) Root Extract against Gentamicin Induced Nephrotoxicity in Rats

Background: Kidney damage can occur due to exposure to nephrotoxic drugs, chemicals, toxins and infectious agents, ultimately leading to renal failure, management of which is a great challenge. So, efforts have been focused on traditional and herbal medicines for the treatment of renal failure. Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) may have free radical scavenging activity and can be used for the prevention and treatment of kidney damage. Objective: To observe the histological evidence of nephroprotective effect of Ashwagandha root against gentamicin induced nephrotoxicity in rats. Materials and Methods: This study was done in the department of Physiology, Sir Salimullah Medical College, Dhaka. A total number of 31 male Wistar albino rats were acclimatized for 14 days. Then, these were divided into two groups, control group consisted of 18 rats (Group A) and Ashwagandha pretreated and gentamicin-treated group consisted of 13 rats (Group B). Control group was again subdivided into baseline control and gentamicin-treated control groups (A1 and A2) ─ each group contained 9 rats. All the animals received basal diet for 22 consecutive days. In addition to this, animals of Group A2 received gentamicin subcutaneously (100 mg/kg body weight/day) from 15th to 22nd day and animals of Group B received Ashwagandha root extract (500 mg/kg body weight/day orally) for 22 consecutive days and gentamicin subcutaneously (100 mg/kg body weight/day) from 15th to 22nd day. All the animals were sacrificed on 23rd day. Then kidney samples were collected and histology was done by using standard laboratory procedure. Results: Histological examination of kidney revealed abnormal histological findings in 100% of gentamicin-treated rats. But 92.31% of rats in Ashwagandha pretreated and gentamicin-treated group showed almost normal structure and 7.69% showed mild histological changes. Conclusion: Ashwagandha root may have some nephroprotective effect against gentamicin induced nephrotoxicity

Pattern of Substance Use: Study in a De-addiction Clinic

Objectives: Substance use disorders have become a major public health problem in Bangladesh. We sought to assess the pattern of substance use and related factors among hospitalized patients. Methods: This was a descriptive study that included 105 patients. All patients who were admitted to a private drug de-addiction clinic in Dhaka, Bangladesh, between 1 July and 31 December 2013 and diagnosed with substance use disorder were enrolled in the study. Data was collected via face-to-face interviews using a semi-structured questionnaire and the information was complemented by the case-notes. Results: Almost all (90.5%) respondents were male and were poly-substance users (91.4%). The mean age of respondents was 28.8±8.0 years. Most (27.6%) respondents used three types of substances. Smoking or inhalation was the route used by most (90.5%) respondents. More than three-fourths (81.0%) of respondents used nicotine. Among the other substances, the majority (79.0%) used opioids, followed by cannabinoids (55.2%), and alcohol (41.0%). Curiosity, peer pressure, and for fun were identified as the common reasons for initiating substance use. Conclusions: A high proportion of poly-substance use was found in the study population. Our findings could help in the management and development of prevention strategies for substance use in Bangladesh