Evaluation of bloom dynamics and seasonal abundance of cyanobacteria in eutrophic fish culture ponds at three different regions of Bangladesh

Seasonal cycle and bloom dynamics of cyanobacteria in relation to environmental parameters were studied in three areas- Godagari Upazila under Rajshahi district (GD ponds), Bogra city (BG ponds) and Singra upazila under Natore district (SG ponds) from September 2014 to August 2015. Standard methods were followed to analyze the water quality, sediment parameters and cyanobacterial cell density. Except temperature, mean values of all water quality parameters were found significantly different (P < 0.05) among the three study sites. 7 genera of cyanobacteria were identified whereas the highest density was recorded during September in all the studied ponds in order of BG ponds (130.36×106 cells/l) > SG ponds (84.93×106 cells/l) > GD ponds (58.74×106 cells/l). Gradual decrease in cell density was observed from November to January, whereas the lowest density (12.25×106 cells/l) was recorded at BG ponds in December, 2014. Higher values of soil organic matter, total nitrogen and pH were found to play significant role in determining higher cyanobacterial cell density at BG ponds compared to SG and GB ponds. The dominant species recorded in all the three studied regions was Microcystis sp

Zakat versus Taxation as Islamic Fiscal Policy Tool

Linking Islamic instrument like zakah with social responsibility and economic growth is an area which is often unspoken. As such, this research intends to find out the potential challenges zakah can face while it is used as fiscal policy tool which has link with Islamic socially responsible financing to economic growth to poverty alleviation mentioning few. Though many Muslim based countries using Tax as an alternative tool for government earning, zakah as a tool has broader spectrum from having impact on economic development to the role as an instrument for Islamic socially responsible finance. This research uses qualitative paradigm to analyze the literature. The research is based on a desk-based research. The findings of this research prove that there are challenges to establish zakah as prescribed in the revealed text which can be minimized through different actions. It is projected that properly executed plan to manage zakah could be used as an instrument of fiscal policy as well as an Islamic socially responsible financing instrument

Gender differences in serum leptin concentrations from umbilical cord blood of newborn infants born to nondiabetic, gestational diabetic and type-2 diabetic mothers

To investigate gender differences, if any, in leptin concentrations from umbilical cord blood of new born infants of mothers with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM), gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), and Non diabetic (ND) at delivery. Serum leptin concentrations were measured in 105 newborns (53 males and 52 females in the three groups). Blood was taken from the umbilical cord of the babies at delivery. Maternal anthropometric measurements were recorded within 48 hours after delivery. Pearson correlation coefficient was used to explore the relationship between serum leptin concentrations and anthropometric measures of the fetus and their mother. Both Serum leptin level and serum C-peptide was measured by chemiluminescence based ELISA. The median range of leptin concentration in cord blood was ND group: Male [13.91 (3.22 – 47.63)], Female [16.88 (2 – 43.65)]; GDM group: Male [32 (7 – 76.00)], Female [36.73 (4.80 – 81.20)]; DM group: Male [20.90 (2 –76.00)], Female [32 {2.58 – 80.67)]. Cord serum leptin levels correlated with birth weight(r=0.587, p=0.0001), ponderal index (PI) (r=.319, p=0.024)of the babies and body mass index (BMI) (r=−0.299, p=0.035) of their mothers but did not correlate with gestational age, cord serum C-peptide concentration or placental weight at delivery. Leptin concentrations were higher in the female fetus in comparison to the male fetus. Birth weight of the female fetuses were also higher than that of male fetus. We found that there are very strong associations between cord leptin concentrations at delivery and birth weight, ponderal index of the baby, body mass index of the mothers with Type 2 DM. We also found that high leptin levels could represent an important feedback modulator of substrate supply and subsequently for adipose tissue status during late gestation or adipose tissue is the major determinant of circulating leptin levels

TORSION OF THE GRAVID UTERUS Case Report

MRS. X was a 28 years old second gravida hailing from Dhaka. Her first child was delivered about 3.5 years back by lower uterine caesarian section (LUCS) at 40 weeks due to non-progress of labour. In her second pregnancy, she was under routine antenatal check up and pregnancy proceeded normally. At about 37 wks of gestation she developed pain in abdomen and back, which was very severe and intermittent in nature. There was scar tenderness and a history of previous LUCS which went for a decision to perform LUCS. It was performed by opening the abdomen with Pfannenstiel incision excising the previous scar. On entering the abdominal cavity, omental adhesion with the anterior abdominal wall was seen. The uterus was found totally levo-rotated to about 1800

Prevalence and perinatal outcomes in GDM and non-GDM in a rural pregnancy cohort of Bangladesh

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) or hyperglycemia in pregnancy is associated with adverse perinatal outcomes such as large for gestational age (LGA), excess fetal adiposity and cesarean delivery. This study addressed the prevalence of diabetes in pregnancy and to compare the perinatal outcomes between GDM and non-GDM in a rural pregnancy cohort of Bangladesh. Ten villages were purposively selected in a rural area about 100 km off Dhaka City. A population census was conducted. A randomized sample of married women of age 15-45y was drawn from the census data. These women having either regular menstruation (non-regnant) or cessation of menstruation for ³24weeks (pregnant) were considered eligible. Both the pregnant and non-pregnant women were invited to volunteer the study. Weight, height, waist- and hip-girth and blood pressure were taken. Fasting blood sample was collected for the estimation of plasma glucose (FPG), triglycerides (TG), cholesterol (chol), high-density lipoprotein (HDL). FPG >5.1 mmol/L was taken as cut-off for hyperglycemia in non-pregnant and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) for the pregnant women. The biophysical characteristics were compared between pregnant and non-pregnant; and then GDM and non-GDM. Only the pregnant women were taken as a pregnancy cohort. The cohort had follow-up from 24wks of pregnancy through 28 post-natal days. Results The census yielded 23545 (m / f=11896 / 11649) people of all ages. The married women of age 15-45y were 4526. Of them, 2100 were randomly selected for investigation and 1585 (75.5%) volunteered. The overall prevalence (95% CI) of hyperglycemia (FPG >5.1 mmol/L) was 18.5% (16.7 – 20.3). The prevalence of GDM was 8.9% (7.0 – 10.8) and non-GDM was 19.8% (18.8 – 20.8). The BMI and WHR were significantly higher in the pregnant than non-pregnant women; whereas, there was no significant difference between GDM and non-GDM group. The prevalence rates of abortions, stillbirths, hospital delivery, cesarean delivery, hospital stay ³7days, puerperal sepsis and neonatal death did not differ between GDM and non-GDM subjects significantly. The prevalence of GDM in rural Bangladesh is comparable with any other population with higher prevalence of GDM. The prevalence of hyperglycemia was found significantly higher in the non-pregnant than the pregnant women. The anthropometric measures did not differ significantly between GDM and non-GDM though FPG was found significantly higher in the former. Compared with the non-GDM the GDM subjects had no significantly higher fetomaternal morbidity and mortality possibly due to non-sedentary habit, non-obesity, non-dyslipidemia or may be due to inherent genetic makeup. A well designed study in a larger sample may explain our findings. Ibrahim Med. Coll. J. 2013; 7(2): 21-2