Simultaneous determination of anti-diabetic drugs

A novel reverse phase, isocratic HPLC method is described to separate five anti-diabetic drugs i.e., glimepiride, metformin, sitagliptin, rosiglitazone and pioglitazone. Nucleosil C18 analytical column was used as stationary phase, while mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile:phosphate buffer: methanol (40/40/20, v/v) pH 2.0. Effluent was monitored at a flow rate 1 mL/min and detected at wavelength of 240 nm. This research produced excellent chromatography over a wide concentration range of 25‑10000 ng/mL. Sepprated and well resolved quantifiable peaks were obtained and test results were linear in this range. Correlation coefficient of more than 0.9990 was witnessed as well as Low %RSD values i.e., maximum 2.0% documented excellent precision of the method. Good recoveries from pharmaecutical (99-101%), urine and plasma samples (>96%) in a range of concentrtion granted very good linearity, accuracy and precision. The projected method has satisfactory applications in quality control of these molecules as well as quantification of these molecules in urine and plasma samples

Effect of Organic Manures and Inorganic Fertilizers on Fruit Yield of Tomato

Treatments with organic manure, inorganic fertilizers and their combinations showed significant differences for fruit yield and yield attributing traits. Among the treatments, application of 20 t FYM/ha along with full dose of recommended NPK i.e. 150:60:60 kg NPK / ha recorded the highest fruit yield of 428.32 and 530.55 q/ha during the year 2002 and 2003, respectively with grand mean fruit yield of 479.43 q/ha. This treatment was on par with 40 tonnes FYM + 1/2 dose of recommended NPK during 2002 and 2003, which recorded mean fruit yield of 456.17 q/ ha. Both these treatments were significantly superior to recommended inorganic NPK fertilizer treatment (435.57 q/ha) as well as to application of different doses of organic manure alone such as FYM and green manure, indicating that integration of both organic manures and inorganic fertilizers are important for obtaining higher fruit yield in tomato. Addition of organic manure besides having favourable effect on crop yield was also found to be better in maintaining soil health and growth of succeeding crop

Analysis of cervical smears in a muslim population

Background: Screening for cancer of the cervix remains a neglected health care issue in Pakistan. To provide baseline data for future efforts to improve screening, we conducted a retrospective analysis of cervical smears taken in the obstetrics and gynaecological clinics of the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.Method: We collected data on cervical smear cytology for cervical smears taken from January 1, 1990 to December 31,1996. We assessed risk factors for dysplasia, including age, age at first marriage, and number of pregnancies.Results: The overall prevalence of abnormal smears in our study was 0.5%. Of 20,995 cervical smears, 12,451 (59.3%) smears showed non-specific inflammation, 7302 (34.8%) were reported as normal, 809 (3.85%) showed monillial infection, 148 (0.71%) showed atypia, 105 (0.5%) had dysplastic cytology, and 52 (0.25%) samples were inadequate. The highest incidence of dysplastic smears was seen in the age group 35 to 44 years. Of 105 patients with dysplasia, 12 were pregnant, and all were asymptomatic, while in 93 non-pregnant women, 33 were symptomatic.Conclusion: The low prevalence of abnormal smears, compared with data from Western populations, could be due to the inherent bias of health awareness in the women who attended our hospital. The results of this study may serve as a baseline for future comparisons. A larger community-based study may establish the exact prevalence of malignant and premalignant lesions so as to plan for future screening

Dentin degradonomics ? The potential role of salivary MMP-8 in dentin caries

Dentin caries involves dissolution of minerals which eventually leads to degradation of organic matrix. This degradation which was thought to be by bacterial proteases is now considered to be orchestrated by endogenous collagenases such as Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMPs). This paper aims to estimate the salivary levels of MMP-8 in dental caries and also to asses the various risk factors that contribute to the formation of dental caries. A random sample of 75 adults aged 18-35 were included and categorized based on the number of caries lesions (MCL). Standard clinical examinations were performed, and stimulated saliva was collected and analyzed for concentrations of MMP-8 using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Caries risk factors were assessed using a chair-side kit. Correlation of MMP-8 in varying MCL using Spearman?s correlation was done. Multiple linear regression analysis was done to asses the relationship between various caries risk factors with MMP-8 and MCL as dependent variable. The study results showed a statistically significant higher concentration of MMP-8 in carious group (MCL 1-2) and MCL ?3 compared to non-carious group. On correlating, the levels of MMP-8 were seen to be higher in MCL ?3 than in MCL = 0 and MCL 1-2. The mean MMP-8 of controls, MCL 1-2, and MCL ?3 were 131.34ng/ml, 230.14ng/ml, and 391.91ng/ml respectively. Multiple linear regression analysis with MMP-8 as the dependent variable revealed caries, buffer capacity and S. mutans count as significant variables. Using MCL as the dependent variable the only significant variable was MMP-8 levels. The study suggests that subjects with caries have elevated MMP-8 levels compared with subjects with no carious lesions. There is also a positive correlation between the number of carious lesions and MMP-8 levels suggesting that MMP-8 plays an important role in the degradation of dentin and causes progression of caries

Behavioral and psychosocial predictors of depression in Bangladeshi medical students: a cross-sectional study [version 1; peer review: 2 approved]

Background: Depression, stress, and anxiety were found in a large number of medical undergraduate students, indicating a neglected aspect of their psychology that required immediate attention. The goal of this study was to find out the prevalence of depression among medical students, as well as potential psychosocial and behavioral predictors for depression.  Methods:   This cross-sectional study was conducted from July to November 2021 among 840 randomly selected medical students from four medical colleges using stratified random sampling. Data were collected using a semi-structured, self-administered questionnaire and were analyzed through the SPSS v.23 software. Multiple regression was performed to assess the effect of several behavioral and psychosocial factors on depression.   Results: Among the 840 study participants, 55.7% (n= 468) were female and 44.3% (n= 372) were male. According to the data, the prevalence of depression, anxiety, perceived stress among medical students was found to be 28.8%, 65% and 85% respectively. A strong link was found between depression and anxiety, stress, poor sleep quality, poor academic performance, and a negative social and romantic relationship status.   Conclusions: A significant number of medical students are depressed. In order to prevent and treat depression, medical students should be screened for depression and its associated factors

A Study on the Performance of Private Non-Life Insurance Companies in Bangladesh

Insurance becomes an essential part of every economic system. In Bangladesh, insurance industry plays an important role in economic progress. This study aims at determining the performance of private non-life insurance industry in Bangladesh. For the analysis, researchers selected five private non-life insurance companies and used the financial statements of the companies for the year 2012-2014 as a secondary source of data. Seven variables were selected to analyze the performances which were total asset, investment, net premium, profit after tax, total insurance policy, earnings per share (EPS) and return on asset (ROA). Growth rate, trend equations and square of correlation coefficient (r2) were tested in respect of these variables. All the companies had a positive trend equations and the r2 of the variables were above 0.50. The result indicates that the non-life insurance industry has a great prospect in Bangladesh

Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis: clinical and demographic characteristics

Objective: To determine the clinical and demographic characteristics of children diagnosed with Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE). Study Design: Case series. Place and Duration of Study: The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from January 2000 to June 2012. Methodology: A retrospective analysis was done, regarding medical charts of 43 children under the age of 16 years with a discharge diagnosis of SSPE. Demographic and clinical characteristics were recorded. Results were expressed as percentages. Results: Most of the 43 patients were male (72%). The average age at presentation was 8.7 years with average duration of symptoms being 100.6 days. History of measles was present in 17 patients (39.5%). All children had seizures at presentation and 65% had cognitive impairment. Most patients required poly therapy for control of seizures. Sodium valproate was the most commonly used anti-epileptic agent; Isoprinosine was tried in 22 (51%) patients. CSF for antimeasles antibodies was positive in approximately 86% of the 40 (93%) children. EEG showed burst suppression pattern in 36 (83.7%) cases. Forty-two patients (97.6%) were discharged home in a vegetative state. Conclusion: SSPE is progressive neurodegenerative disorder. It can be prevented by timely immunization against measles. Measles antibody in the CSF is diagnostic for SSPE and is helpful in early diagnosis. Most patients experience a gradual but progressive decline in motor and cognitive functions

Pregabalin and Tranexamic Acid Evaluation by Two Simple and Sensitive Spectrophotometric Methods

This paper demonstrates colorimetric visible spectrophotometric quantification methods for amino acid, namely, tranexamic acid and pregabalin. Both drugs contain the amino group, and when they are reacted with 2,4-dinitrophenol and 2,4,6-trinitrophenol, they give rise to yellow colored complexes showing absorption maximum at 418 nm and 425 nm, respectively, based on the Lewis acid base reaction. Detailed optimization process and stoichiometric studies were conducted along with investigation of thermodynamic features, that is, association constant and standard free energy changes. The method was linear over the concentration range of 0.02-200 gmL −1 with correlation coefficient of more than 0.9990 in all of the cases. Limit of detection was in range from 0.0041 to 0.0094 gmL −1 and limit of quantification was in the range from 0.0137 to 0.0302 gmL −1 . Excellent recovery in Placebo spiked samples indicated that there is no interference from common excipients. The analytical methods under proposal were successfully applied to determine tranexamic acid and pregabalin in commercial products. -test and ratio were evaluated without noticeable difference between the proposed and reference methods

Ocular manifestations of dengue fever in Bangladesh during its out break

Dengue fever, borne by Aedes aegypti mosquito, is one of the most common and most prevalent forms of flavivirus infections in humans, endemic in tropics and warm temperate regions of the world. We report a spectrum of ocular manifestations of dengue fever along with its associated laboratory findings. To study the ocular manifestations associated with dengue fever. This study was conducted in 600 patients hospitalized with diagnosis of dengue fever over a period of 3 months from March 2019 to May 2019. All patients underwent complete evaluation with respect to systemic and ophthalmic examination in different institutions of Bangladesh. A total of 600 patients were diagnosed with dengue fever; of which, 375 (62.5%) were men and 225 (37.5%) were women. Mean age was 32 years (20–60 years). Only 195 patients (32.7%) had complaints of retrobulbar pain in the eyes. 10 patients (1.67%) had blurring of vision. Ocular findings were present in 340 patients (56.7%). Most common anterior segment findings were subconjunctival haemorrhage in 275 patients (45.8%). Posterior segment findings were present in 80 patients (13.3%); of which, 70 (87.5%) had retinal haemorrhages. Ocular changes had resolved in all the cases, which came for follow-up in 8–10 weeks. It was mostly attributed to the improving platelet count. The incidence of ocular complications in dengue fever is increasing, hence all patients with dengue should be referred to an ophthalmologist to prevent any sight-threatening BSMMU J 2022; 15(1): 16-1