The evaluation between vitamin D level and pelvic organ prolapse in post-menopausal women

Background: Vitamin D is important for skeletal integrity and optimal muscle function. The high incidence and prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and pelvic organ prolapse have been found in postmenopausal women, raising the question of whether the entities are related. The aim of the study was to evaluation between vitamin D level and pelvic organ prolapse in post-menopausal women. Methods: This case control study has been designed and conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, BSMMU to investigate the level of vitamin D in patients with and without pelvic organ prolapse to explore the association of vitamin D with pelvic organ prolapse. After taking informed written consent the serum vitamin D level of all participants was measured by CMIA technology with flexible assay protocols at Biochemistry and Molecular Biology department of the same institute. Statistical analysis of the results was obtained by using window-based computer software devised with Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS-24). Results: The study population was divided into two groups, a case group (n=74) consisting of patients with pelvic organ prolapse and a control group (n=74) comprising of women without pelvic organ prolapse. A total 148 participants of 52 years or older attending the out or inpatient department were enrolled in the study. Mean±SD level of Vitamin D in the case group was 13.96±5.18 ng/ml and in the control, group was 21.08±5.77 ng/ml respectively. The difference was statistically significant (p<0.05). Moreover, the vitamin D levels were inversely proportionate with the severity of pelvic organ prolapse. Conclusions: Vitamin D deficiency may be an important systemic factor associated with pelvic organ prolapse. Measuring vitamin D levels in postmenopausal women and replenishing deficiencies may also be important for the pelvic floor

Substantial and sustained reduction in under-5 mortality, diarrhea, and pneumonia in Oshikhandass, Pakistan : Evidence from two longitudinal cohort studies 15 years apart

Funding Information: Study 1 was funded through the Applied Diarrheal Disease Research Program at Harvard Institute for International Development with a grant from USAID (Project 936–5952, Cooperative Agreement # DPE-5952-A-00-5073-00), and the Aga Khan Health Service, Northern Areas and Chitral, Pakistan. Study 2 was funded by the Pakistan US S&T Cooperative Agreement between the Pakistan Higher Education Commission (HEC) (No.4–421/PAK-US/HEC/2010/955, grant to the Karakoram International University) and US National Academies of Science (Grant Number PGA-P211012 from NAS to the Fogarty International Center). The funding bodies had no role in the design of the study, data collection, analysis, interpretation, or writing of the manuscript. Publisher Copyright: © 2020 The Author(s).Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Association of Serum Uric Acid with Preeclampsia: A Case Control Study

Background: Preeclampsia (PE) is still one of the important causes of maternal and fetal mortality in Bangladesh. Many researches have been done to identify a unique screening test that would predict the risk of developing PE before the classic symptoms appear. One of the most accessible and easiest screening tests is serum uric acid measurement. Numerous studies have demonstrated a relation between elevated maternal serum uric acid levels and adverse maternal and fetal outcome. Among several pathophysiologic factors the most commonly accepted explanation for hyperuricemia in PE is increased reabsorption and decreased excretion of uric acid.Objective: The aim of the present study was to assess the association of serum uric acid with preeclampsia.Materials and method: A case control study was conducted in the department of Biochemistry, Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka from July 2010 to June 2011. A total number of 100 pregnant women in third trimester of pregnancy attending in Obstetrics and Gynaecology department of Dhaka Medical College Hospital were selected purposively as study subjects. Among them 50 pregnant women with preeclampsia were selected as cases and 50 normal healthy pregnant women as controls.Results: Most of the study subjects were within 21 – 30 years of age group and mean age in case and control was 24.06±3.71 and 24.66±3.22 years respectively, which was not statistically different. Mean gestational age in case and control was 33.50±2.55 weeks and 33.60±2.95 weeks respectively, which was also not statistically different. Among the study subjects majority was primi in both groups (case 76%, contol 58%) showing no statistical significance. Majority of the subjects in both groups were irregular in their antenatal checkup (case 52%, contol 40%). Uric acid concentration was measured in all the study subjects. The mean serum uric acid concentration in cases and controls were 7.01±1.90 mg/dl and 4.55±1.63 mg/dl respectively. This difference was highly significant in statistical point of view.Conclusion: Hyperuricemia is associated with preeclampsia

Interaction effect of phosphorus and boron on yield and quality of lettuce

Proper nutrition is essential for satisfactory crop growth and production. A field experiment was conducted at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, to evaluate yield and quality of Grand Rapids lettuce using various levels of phosphorus and boron. Treatment combination of 120 kg ha-1 of phosphorus and 2 kg ha-1 of boron has significantly increased plant height, leaf number, leaf length, plant canopy, capsules plant-1, seeds capsule-1, seeds number plant-1, seed yield ha-1, germination (%), planting value (%), moisture (%), purity (%), dry matter (%) and 1000 seed weight. Most of the treatment combinations performed better than control treatments in all parameter. The finding could be helpful to determine the precise levels of phosphorus and boron to improve the yield and quality of lettuce

Modification of Expansive Soil Using Recycled Plastic Bottle Chips

Due to rapid growth in population and urbanization, consumption of plastic is increasing day by day. Expansive soil a type of problematic soil is risky that has high compressibility, low shear strength and high permeability. In this research, expansive soil was stabilized using recycled plastic chips.  Used plastic bottles were collected and altered into plastic chips and then mixed up with expansive soil 5%, 10% and 15%. After that laboratory tests such as specific gravity and direct shear test were performed. It was seen that specific gravity was increased gradually after mixing plastic chips and shear strength was increased effectively for 15% plastic chips addition

Polymorphism in ADAM33 gene associated with asthmatics in West Bengal, India - An investigation by in-silico analysis

Introduction: Asthma is one of the common chronic polygenic inflammatory diseases. Genome wide association studies have identified ADAM33 as an asthma candidate gene. The present study investigated possible association of rs2280090 (T1), rs2280091 (T2) and rs3918396 (S1) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of ADAM33 with aeroallergen induced asthma in West Bengal population, India. In addition, in-silico analysis was performed to find out changes in protein function. Methods: Forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1)/Forced vital capacity (FVC), peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) were assessed using spirometry in 1039 participants. Allergic sensitivity of 619 spirometry positive asthma patients was assessed by skin prick test (SPT) against 22 aeroallergens. For genotyping of T1, T2, and S1 SNPs in 540 allergic asthma patient and 420 control subjects, polymerase chain reaction-based restriction fragment length polymorphism was performed. Total Immunoglobulin-E (IgE) level was measured in both patients and controls. ADAM333 haplotype blocks were constructed using Haploview software v.4.2. Structural model of transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains of ADAM33 was generated using RaptorX. Protein-protein interaction was analysed using the STRING server. Results: Highest number of patient sensitivity was observed towards Cocos nusifera (n = 215) and Dermatophagoides farinae (n = 229). Significant difference in sensitivity was observed between child and late adult (P = 0.03), child and early adult (P = 0.02), adolescent and late adult (P = 0.02) and adolescent and early adult (P = 0.01). Genotypic frequencies differed significantly between patients and controls (P < 0.05). rs2280090 GG, rs2280091GG and AG genotype, and rs3918396 AA carried significant risk for asthma (P = 0.02, P = 0.008, P = 0.04, P = 0.01 respectively). ADAM33 T1, T2, and S1 polymorphisms were in high Linkage Disequilibrium (D = 0.98). Haplotype consisting of rs2280090G, rs2280091G and rs3918396A alleles were found significantly higher in patient population in comparison with controls (OR = 2.03). IgE level differed significantly among different genotypes for T1, T2, and S1 SNPs analysed in pair (P < 0.0001). FEV1/FVC ratio differed significantly among different genotypes for T1, T2 and S1 SNPs analysed in pair (P < 0.0001). Significant difference of FEV1/FVC was also found between GGA and AAG haplotype (P < 0.0001). In-silico analysis revealed T1 and T2 polymorphisms are located in cytoplasmic domain of ADAM33 may cause bronchial smooth muscle cell mobility and cellular hyperplasia as well as cytoskeletal remodelling by altered interaction with different cytoplasmic proteins found by string analysis. Conclusion: Present study showed significant association of T1, T2, and S1 polymorphisms of ADAM33 with aeroallergen-induced asthma in West Bengal, India. These polymorphisms may be used as prognostic markers and possible targets for therapeutics in future