Prevalence of hypertension and its risk factors among school teachers in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Background: School teachers in urban area are experiencing sedentary life style behaviors. This study was aimed to determine the prevalence and risk factors of hypertension (HTN) among school teachers in Dhaka city.Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out from May to October of 2017. Total 323 school teachers in Dhaka city aged between 25-59 years were enrolled using cluster random sampling technique. Data on socio-demographic profile, different risk factors, co-morbidities, family history and blood pressure (BP) were recorded. HTN was recorded according to pre-defined criteria. Factors associated with HTN analyzed by Chi-square test (χ2).Results: The prevalence of HTN among school teachers was 52%. The mean ± SD age was 46.5±7.8 years. Majority teachers (52%) were earning between 20,000 and 50,000 Bangladeshi Taka per month and about 61.6% had service duration >15 years. Development of HTN was significantly associated with age, monthly family income and service duration (p=0.001). Majority participants were female (65.6%) and female to male ratio was 1.9:1. Female teachers were more hypertensive compared to male (68% vs 32%). Taking extra salt (OR 1.977, 95% CI 1.269-3.079), low intake of fresh vegetables (OR 2.048, 95% CI 1.228-3.416), higher waist circumference (OR 1.990, 95% CI 1.006-3.933) and mental distress (OR 1.724, 95% CI 1.045-2.844) were found to be significantly associated with HTN.Conclusions:The prevalence of HTN was higher among the study participants. Building awareness by promoting healthy life style and behaviors for prevention and control of HTN should be given importance among teachers. 

A Cross Sectional Study on Knowledge and Attitude among Diabetic Patients about Diabetes and Its ComplicationsA Cross Sectional Study on Knowledge and Attitude among Diabetic Patients about Diabetes and Its Complications

Abstract: Backgroun

Disordered eating attitude among male Somali students in Bangladesh: A cross-sectional study

Introduction: More information on disordered eating must be accessible among male students. This study explored the disordered eating attitudes and behaviors among Somali male students who came to Bangladesh for further education. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in January–May 2017 among conveniently selected 356 Somali male students living in different regions of Bangladesh. A three-part self-administered questionnaire included a validated version of the Eating Attitude Test-26 (EAT-26). For descriptive analysis, frequencies and mean (±SD) were calculated. Chi-square tests were performed on categorical data to find the relationships between variables, and Student's t-test was made for comparison. Statistical tests were considered significant at a p-value of ≤0.05. Results: The study included 356 male, unmarried Somali students aged 19–29 years old {mean (±SD), 24.23 (±2.58) years} who had a mean BMI [kg/m2, 22.52 (±2.89)]. About 35% and 8% were overweight and obese, respectively. The total score of EAT-26, and the subscales scores were {mean (±SD), 24.38 (±9.4), 13.86 (±6.14), 3.91 (±2.45), and 6.62 (±4.21)} respectively. Most (70%) respondents were at risk of disordered eating. No statistical differences in mean income and BMI of the groups (at risk of disordered eating attitudes vs. not at risk of disordered eating attitudes) were evident. However, the male students who were at risk of disordered eating attitudes were significantly more prone to the subscales of dieting (16.11 ± 5.35 vs. 8.64 ± 4.46, p = 0.0001), bulimia and food preoccupation (4.14 ± 2.36 vs. 3.33 ± 2.59, p = 0.004), and oral control (8.46 ± 3.34 vs. 2.33 ± 2.56, p = 0.0001) than those students who were not at risk of disordered eating attitudes. Age, abnormal weight loss, overeating, and BMI were significantly (p ≤ 0.05) associated with developing disordered eating attitudes. Conclusions: The present study findings show that Somali male students who came to Bangladesh for higher education are at a greater risk of disordered eating attitudes. A further large study is essential among international students

Fabrication and synergistically enhanced photocatalytic activity of ternary kaolinite, TiO2, and Al2O3 (K65T30A5) nanocomposite for visible-light-induced degradation of methylene blue and remazol red dye

The ternary photocatalyst ((Al2Si2O5 (OH)4/TiO2/Al2O3) composites (where w/w = 65, 30, and 5 wt%) denoted K65T30A5 were successfully synthesized and examined for their efficiency in removing cationic (Methylene Blue, MB) and anionic (Remazol Red, RR) dye from aqueous medium under visible-light irradiation. A series of nanocomposites with varied wt% of kaolinite, TiO2, and Al2O3 were prepared through sonication followed by calcination at 600 °C. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed the crystallinity of the synthesized materials and established their average crystal size to be 83.87 nm. The morphological structure, composite molecule, and surface properties of the resulting K65T30A5 were characterized using FTIR, FE-SEM, and EDS analyses to confirm the successful fabrication of the nanocomposite. FTIR and EDS elemental mapping analyses confirmed the presence of Al, Si, Ti, and O elements in the nanocomposites. The composites exhibited photocatalytic behaviour across the UV–visible spectra, with values varying from the ultraviolet to the visible region with a sharp increase in reflectance at 510 nm. Near-complete degradation of MB (97.66 %) was achieved within 90 min at pH 9 and a 10 mg/L dye concentration, while RR removal reached 90.66 % within 120 min at pH 3.5 and the same dye concentration under visible light irradiation. The catalyst exhibited robust stability, retaining its efficiency by removing 85.09 % of MB and 80.21 % of RR dye after three reuse cycles. The composite catalyst discussed in this study emerges as a promising material for straightforward fabrication techniques, featuring a high percentage of kaolinite and proving to be a cost-effective solution for large-scale water and wastewater treatment processes

Fabrication of Novel Nanohybrid Material for the Removal of Azo Dyes from Wastewater

This study attempted to harness the dual benefit of adsorption and photocatalytic degradation for efficiently removing a model anionic azo dye, Orange G, from an aqueous solution. For this purpose, a series of bifunctional nanohybrids containing different proportions of naturally occurring biopolymer chitosan and ternary photocatalyst made of kaolinite, TiO2, and ZnO were prepared through the dissolution of chitosan in acid and subsequent deposition on ternary photocatalyst. The characterization through Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and energy dispersive X-ray spectrum (EDS) have confirmed the successful fabrication of nanohybrids from TiO2 and chitosan. The adsorptive separation of Orange G from the aqueous solution and subsequent degradation under solar irradiation was thoroughly studied by recording the λmax value of dye in the ultraviolet–visible (UV-Vis) spectrophotometer at various operating conditions of pH, dye concentration, contact time, and compositional variation. The nanohybrid (TP0.75CS0.25) fabricated from 75% ternary photocatalyst (w/w) and 25% chitosan (w/w) removed 97.4% Orange G within 110 min at pH 2.5 and 10 mg/L dye concentration. The relative contribution of chitosan and ternary composite on dye removal was understood by comparing the experimental results in the dark and sunlight. Recyclability experiments showed the suitability of the nanohybrid for long-term repeated applications. Equilibrium experimental data showed a better correlation with the Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The rapid and nearly complete removal capacity, long-term reusability, and simple fabrication technique make this novel nanohybrid a promising advanced material for removing hazardous azo dyes from industrial effluents