The correlation between total antioxidant capacity and nitric oxide concentration in seminal plasma with sperm DNA damage

Sperm DNA quality is important in male fertility. Oxidative stress increases sperm DNA damages. Antioxidants decrease production of free radicals and scavenge them. Nitric oxide (NO) is a free radical which is produced by most cells and has a dual role on cells. Low concentrations of NO is essential in biology and physiology of systems but high level of NO has a detrimental effect on cells. The aim of this study was to determine the role of the nitric oxide concentration and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in seminal plasma with sperm DNA damage. Semen samples from 45 infertile men and 70 normozospermic men were examined for DNA damage, nitric oxide concentration and TAC. DNA damage was measured by comet assay and nitric oxide concentration was evaluated by Griess assay. TAC was measured in seminal plasma based on the generation of peroxyl radicals from 2,2-azinobis (2-amidino propane) dihydrochlorid (AAPH). Our results show that the means of DNA damage and nitric oxide concentration in infertile men was higher than fertile men. TAC level in infertile men was significantly lower than fertile men. DNA damage was significantly correlated with nitric oxide concentration in infertile men (p = 0.001, r = +0.598) and TAC (p = 0.04, r = - 0.3) in infertile men. In conclusion, sperm DNA damage in infertile men may be induced by nitric oxide-mediated oxidative stress and low levels of TAC.Keywords: Nitric oxide, male infertility, total antioxidant capacity, DNA damageAfrican Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 9(35), pp. 5739-5745, 30 August, 201

Women’s Perception of Air Pollution and Associated Health Hazard Aspects – A Study in Low-Income Urban Space in Bangladesh

This paper explores women s perception of air pollution and associated health hazards they experience in the low-income urban community of Bangladesh Following the qualitative methodology the research employs primary and secondary data to scrutinize the linkage betweenair pollution and women s health Data analysis in both percentages and an interpretive thematic approach was supported by two focus group discussions and 15 in-depth interviews conducted in the Mridhabari area in Matuail one of the environmentally vulnerable areas in urban Bangladesh The findings show that poor women s comprehension of emissions of greenhouse gases and air pollutants is unsound and erroneous Though women suffer from multiple physical psychological and reproductive health sicknesses due to their stay in a place with poor air quality their apathetic outlook on health reinforced by socially accepted gender norms ignorance misconception and blind faith contributes to avoiding seeking any medical treatment while getting sic

Relationship between Estradiol and Antioxidant Enzymes Activity of Ischemic Stroke

Some evidence suggests the neuroprotection of estrogen provided by the antioxidant activity of this compound. The main objective of this study was to determine the level of estradiol and its correlation with the activity of antioxidant enzymes, total antioxidant status and ferritin from ischemic stroke subjects. The study population consisted of 30 patients with acute ischemic stroke and 30 controls. There was no significant difference between estradiol in stroke and control group. The activity of superoxide dismutase and level of ferritin was higher in stroke compared with control group (P < .05, P < .001, resp.). There was no significant correlation between estradiol and glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, catalase, total antioxidant status, and ferritin in stroke and control groups. We observed inverse correlation between estradiol with superoxide dismutase in males of stroke patients (r = −0.54, P = .029). Our results supported that endogenous estradiol of elderly men and women of stroke or control group has no antioxidant activity

One year surveillance of antimicrobial sensitivity pattern of different antibiotics on clinical isolates of Escherichia coli with comparison of resistance against different antibiotics in four major cities in Bangladesh

Background: The aim of study was to provide supportive implications for proper treatment of E. coli induced infections and related complications regarding antibiotic resistance. Methods: Total 600 isolates of E. coli from four major cities of Bangladesh were included in studies which were isolated from clinical diagnostic facilities in Dhaka, Chittagong, Rajshahi and Khulna. The antimicrobial sensitivity test of each E. coli isolate to 16 antimicrobial agents was carried out by the Kirby-Bauser disc diffusion method.Results: In the present investigation, the most effective antimicrobial against E. coli was found to be antibiotics of Carbapenem group; Doripenem 98.67% sensitive in Dhaka and Chittagong, 100% sensitive at Rajshahi and Khulna, Meropenem 89.33, 92.67, 95.33 and 97.33%, Imipenem 84.00, 86.00, 95.33 and 97.33 in Dhaka, Chittagong, Rajshahi and Khulna respectively. Apart from these third generation antibiotics like Cefixime 80.00% (D), 78.67% (C),78.00% (R), 82.00% (K) and Ceftriaxone 78.00% (D), 76.67(C), 65.33(R), 66.67(K) were shown satisfactory amount of sensitivity against E. Coli. Our research reveals that in Bangladesh commonly used conventional older, common, cheaper antibiotics used against E. coli were shown alarming rate of resistance to E. coli strains. Among them Amoxicillin, Tetracycline, Cloxacillin and Nalidixic Acid showed more than 80% resistance in most of the areas. Most widely used antibiotic Ciprofloxacin has become 39.99 to 49.99% resistant. Conclusion: These findings suggest urgent need for creating greater public awareness about antibiotic. It is also important that healthcare providers effectively communicate with their patients, to improve treatment compliance and health outcomes

Characteristics of Pulsatile Blood Flow Through 3-D Geometry of Arterial Stenosis

AbstractA numerical simulation is carried out to demonstrate the significant changes of flow behaviour for two different severities of arterial stenosis. Two stenosis levels of 65% and 85% are considered by area. The blood is considered as flowing fluid and assumed to be incompressible, homogeneous and Newtonian, while artery is assumed to be a rigid wall. The transient analysis is performed using ANSYS-14.5. The flow pattern, wall shear stress (WSS), pressure contours, and Centre-line velocity distribution are observed at early-systole, peak-systole and diastole for better understanding of arterial disease. Wall Share Stress distribution shows that as severity increases, sharing of flow also increases for all cases. Thus maximum stress is exerted in throat region at peak systole. The pressure distribution demonstrates that at all cases 85% stenotic artery creates more force than 65% stenotic artery at their pre-stenotic region. Interestingly, a recirculation region is visible at the post stenotic region in 85% stenotic artery for all cases and recirculation region increases with the decrease of the inlet flow velocity. Analysis indicates that the significant flow changes happen in the post stenotic region

Examining the Role of Religious Identity in the Preservation of Cultural Heritage among Youth in Isfahan, Iran

Introduction   Many social studies confirm that religion has an influential role in forming attitudes, trends and the meaning of social behaviors. However, so far little attention has been paid to examining the relationship between religious integrity and architectural space. Regarding to the fact that in many parts of the world cultural heritage places such as mosques, shrines, squares, temples and streets are alive and the public can use them actively, the present study intends to examine the relationship between religious identity and cultural heritage conservation. Based on the importance of youth's values, socialization and demographic characteristics of the Iranian population, youth were selected as this research's subjects. Material s and Methods   According to research goals, to assess the role of religion in social life and focusing on active preservation of cultural heritage, three indicators of belief, emotion and outcome were selected to measure religious identity. In this study, religious identity is reflected in the role of a person in reproducing religious institutions and the importance of religious behaviors in lifestyle and interactions.   There are two approaches to preserve cultural heritage: passive and active. While the first one aims at preventing any damage to cultural heritage, in the active approach, cultural heritage is more than buildings and structures. It includes values and history of a society thus preservation requires social engagement and development of social bonds between people and places. If people do not understand the hidden values of buildings, their protection loses its importance. For active preservation, three indicators of emotion, cognition and function were distinguished.   Data were gathered by survey, using multistage cluster sampling. A total of 343 people were questioned in 6 Isfahan urban districts as sample size. To test the assumptions, structural equation modeling was used in AMOS software. Discussion of R esults and C onclusion s   In terms of religious identity, the scores of indicators were 4.12, 3.43 and 2.61 for belief, emotion and outcome, respectively which indicates that the youth's believes are considerably stronger than religious behaviors. In cultural heritage preservation, indicators were 4.11, 2.63 and 2.36 for emotional, cognitive and functional dimensions, respectively. It shows that the youth are considerably engaged with cultural heritage emotionally, but they have little knowledge about them and behave poorly to support and preserve them.   Findings indicate that the relationship between religious identity and emotional, cognitive and functional indicators of preservation are statistically significant. With 95 percent confidence it could be asserted that religious identity is positively correlated with cultural heritage preservation. The religious identity can explain 0.15 of the preservationâs variance. Among socio-demographic variables such as age, gender, education and marital status, only respondentsâ education had a significant positive effect on the conservation of cultural heritage. Model fit indices show that the model has an acceptable fit.   Based on the results, strengthening the religious identity will increase the desire to preserve the cultural heritage. In other words, people with stronger social bonds have greater potential to collaborate with governmental and non-governmental organizations, in order to preserve the monuments.   Regarding the role of religious leaders to prepare lifestyle-based information to the public, and guide them, confident religious people can play an important role in the preservation of cultural heritage. Understanding the effect of religious identity on heritage conservation will promote and develop functions of religion and heritage Deep understanding of religious identity and related values embedded in cultural monuments, gives authorities and researchers a new insight about the relationship between the integrity of users and the preservation of a place. From this viewpoint, cultural heritage will be a source of identity, power and social responsibility.    

Protective Roles of Some Leafy and Non-leafy Vegetables against the Severity of Arsenic-induced Skin Lesions among Women Living in Rural Bangladesh: A Case Control Study

Arsenicosis is common among villagers as they drink more contaminatedwater since the arsenic-crisis in Bangladesh. Supplementation of vitamins and micronutrients in counteracting arsenic toxicity has been proved for arsenic treatment. This study was intended to assess protective and beneficial roles of some commonly eaten vegetables on the development and severity of arsenicinduced skin lesions. A case-control study among (N=122) adult rural-women (62 cases had various forms of arsenical skin-lesions e.g. melanosis/keratosis/ mixed-lesions and 60 sex-age-matched healthy-controls) was conducted in Shaharstee Upazilla of Chandpur district, Bangladesh. Socio-demographic data recorded in a pre-tested-questionnaire, ‘per-day vegetables ingestion’ of cases and controls were measured qualitative and quantitatively (24-hour recall-methods, food-frequency/week and food history-record/week). Multiple logistic regression/MLR analyses were performed to find out protective roles of some dietary leafy-vegetables/LVs and non-leafy vegetables/NLVs on arsenicosis and their influences on the degree of severity of arsenicosis also determined. Abstinence from taking some LVs/NLVs among cases than controls is associated with increased risk for arsenicosis (P<0.05). Amongst all most-frequently eaten vegetables (n=17) per day Momordica diocia has the highest skin protective role on arsenicosis [Adjusted odds ratio/AOR 8.2, 95% CI (2.11-31.9), P=<0.01], followed by Ipomoea acquatica (AOR:7.3), Basella alba (AOR:6.2), Solanum tuberosum (AOR:4.0), Vigna unguiculata sesquipedalis (AOR:3.2), Trichosanthes anguina (AOR:1.2) and Abelmoschus esculentus (AOR:1.2). Moreover, severe skin lesion was observed as compared to non-severe cases (mild/moderate) for less intake frequencies of vegetables. This study outlined that commonly eaten vegetables have protective and beneficial roles on arsenic-induced skin lesions. Large samples longitudinal study of this important field of therapeutic-intervention is warrante

Farmer's behavior in pesticide use : insights study from smallholder and intensive agricultural farms in Bangladesh

Funding was provided fully by USAID-sponsored Partnerships for Enhanced Engagement in Research (PEER) Program's Cycle 6 project, entitled “Ecosystem services in a changing climate; assessing critical services in Bangladesh rice production landscapes.” PEER is implemented by U.S. National Academy of Sciences (NAS) via USAID and NAS Prime Agreement No. AID-OAA-A-11-00012. D.L. (US partner on the PEER grant) acknowledges support from the National Science Foundation Long-term Ecological Research Program (DEB 1832042) at the Kellogg Biological Station, Michigan State University South Asia Partnership and MSU AgBioResearch.Since independence and over the years, pesticides have become a dominant feature of Bangladesh agriculture. To protect farmers' health, environment and to improve sustainability of chemical pest control quantitative understanding of farmers' behavior in pesticide use is critical. However, study on the levels of knowledge and awareness of farmers and the practices of pesticide use are often limited. We conducted a broad analysis on the effects of knowledge and awareness of farmers as well as the influence of the different associated stakeholders such as pesticide retailers and the government, on farmers' behavior in pesticide use from a detailed survey of 917 agricultural households in different regions of Bangladesh. Within eight protective behaviors (PBs) or PPEs were largely influenced by the crops growers and regions. Never discarding empty pesticide containers in the field, never applying pesticides more than prescribed by DAE or the instruction manual, selecting new types of pesticides recommended by DAE and purchasing low toxicity pesticides were the most adopted practices. Most farmers from the South-East region were adopting the PB of wearing mask, gloves and long sleeved clothes when spraying and farmers from South trusted the recommendations of pesticides by village leaders and neighbors. Majority of vegetables growers were well informed that pesticides were very harmful to the quality of agricultural products, the environment, and human health but not rice or mixed crops growers. Generally, PBs were positively affected by the perception of the consequences of farmers' behavior and knowledge of pesticide use but negatively influenced by action of governments and trust of retailers. It is important to recognize the differences that exist among different crops growers and locations. Attempt needs to bridge the gap among crop growers, locations and different stakeholder such as government agencies and retailers to develop policy.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Willingness to pay for improved safe drinking water in a coastal urban area in Bangladesh

Discontentment with a piped supply system of drinking water has become a significant concern in Bangladesh's urban areas in recent years, necessitating the improvement of different aspects of the system in question. Therefore, by conducting a discrete choice experiment on 115 households out of a systematically selected 161 households, this study aims to estimate the willingness to pay (WTP) for an improved safe drinking water supply by considering the trade-offs made by urban dwellers for the proposed improvements to an existing water supply system in the Khulna City Corporation (KCC) area of Bangladesh. The primary results show that the total WTP of households is estimated at BDT 243.6 (≈US$ 2.87) per month, implying that respondents are ready to pay for improvements to the water supply attributes of water quality, regularity of supply, water pressure in taps, and filtering. A revenue stream for an improved water supply system is also being developed, suggesting that investment in improving the system would be a ‘no-regret’ decision and economically sustainable

Analyzing Predictors of Control Measures and Psychosocial Problems Associated with COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence from Eight Countries

COVID-19 has harshly impacted communities globally. This study provides relevant information for creating equitable policy interventions to combat the spread of COVID-19. This study aims to predict the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of the COVID-19 pandemic at a global level to determine control measures and psychosocial problems. A cross-sectional survey was conducted from July to October 2020 using an online questionnaire. Questionnaires were initially distributed to academicians worldwide. These participants distributed the survey among their social, professional, and personal groups. Responses were collected and analyzed from 67 countries, with a sample size of 3031. Finally, based on the number of respondents, eight countries, including Bangladesh, China, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Pakistan, the United States, and Zambia were rigorously analyzed. Specifically, questionnaire responses related to COVID-19 accessibility, behavior, knowledge, opinion, psychological health, and susceptibility were collected and analyzed. As per our analysis, age groups were found to be a primary determinant of behavior, knowledge, opinion, psychological health, and susceptibility scores. Gender was the second most influential determinant for all metrics except information about COVID-19 accessibility, for which education was the second most important determinant. Respondent profession was the third most important metric for all scores. Our findings suggest that health authorities must promote health educations, implement related policies to disseminate COVID-19-awareness that can prevent and control the spread of COVID-19 infection