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Objective: Since the underlying mechanisms of febrile seizure (FS) having multi-factorial aetiology yet remains unclear, we conducted this prospectively designed cross-sectional study to determine if there was any simultaneous change in zinc (Zn) concentration (conc.) in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) among the FS children in comparison to their matched non-seizure febrile (NSF) peers. Methods: Zn concentration (level) in both serum (intravenous blood) and CSF (lumber puncture: LP) of 50 children with FS and 30 NSF peers (serving as control) were measured employing graphite furnace atomic absorbance spectrophotometer. Data were analysed to compare Zn level between two groups using appropriate statistical tools employing SPSS/Windows 12.0. Results: Mean Zn conc. in both serum and CSF was less in FS children (464.60 ± 64.57 and 46.28 ± 7.46, respectively) than their matched NSF peers (749.33 ± 73.19 μg/L and 111.28 ± 19.11 μg/L, respectively) showing significant differences both in serum (p < 0.001) and CSF (p < 0.001). None of serum or CSF-Zn differed significantly with age, degree and duration of fever between FS and NSF peers. CSF-Zn among these children showed an upward trend in LP specimen taken beyond 12 h following FS episodes. Conclusion and recommendation: Serum and CSF-Zn simultaneously decreased in FS children in comparison to their matched NSF peers. Further prospectively designed multicentral studies are recommended to conduct in geographically diverse regions involving larger sample to confirm or refute our findings. It remains crucial in standardizing/strengthening national seizure prevention protocol with adequate Zn supplementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes findings from a recently completed study of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) exposure among city dwellers of Dhaka, Bangladesh. We measured PAH-DNA adducts in white blood cells (WBCs) as a marker of environmental and occupational PAH exposure in 46 rickshaw drivers (who pedal commercial unshielded three-wheelers for passenger transport) and 48 non-rickshaw drivers (comparison group) in Dhaka city. We performed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to quantify immunologically the WBC PAH-DNA adducts. Rickshaw drivers had a significantly higher WBC PAH-DNA adducts level than the non-rickshaw drivers. Among rickshaw drivers, adduct levels tended to be positively associated with the duration of residence in the city and cigarette smoking. No such trends were observed among non-rickshaw drivers. In conclusion, the results suggest that urban residents who are occupationally exposed to traffic pollution in Dhaka are at potentially higher risk of health effects from exposure to carcinogenic PAH compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined whether circulating levels of soluble receptor for advanced glycation end products (sRAGE) alter in prediabetes and correlate with insulin resistance (IR) and beta cell function in prediabetes and newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Subjects without previous history of diabetes were recruited and grouped as control, prediabetes, and newly diagnosed T2DM. The control subjects (n = 40) and people with prediabetes (n = 52) and diabetes (n = 66) were similar in terms of age, sex, BMI, systolic and diastolic BP, and fasting insulin level. HOMA-IR was found significantly higher in people with diabetes than control subjects (p < 0.001) and people with prediabetes (p = 0.005); and HOMA-%B was found significantly deteriorated in people with diabetes (p < 0.001) compared to control subjects and people with prediabetes. However, serum sRAGE levels did not show any significant alteration in people with prediabetes compared to control subjects. Moreover, univariate and multivariate analyses did not identify any significant correlation and statistical association of sRAGE with HOMA-IR and HOMA-%B in people with prediabetes and newly diagnosed T2DM. Our data suggest that serum sRAGE levels do not alter in people with prediabetes compared to control subjects and do not correlate or associate with IR and beta cell function during development of T2DM.

This was an observational study carried out in the Department of Biochemistry, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka; with the active co-operation of Coronary Care Unit (CCU) of BSMMU & National Institute of Cardiovascular Disease (NICVD), Dhaka. This study was carried out from March 2002 to January 2003. Total seventy (70) subjects were studied. Out of them 20 were of Acute MI, 20 were Chronic ischemic heart disease (CHD) and 30 were age and sex matched healthy controls. Hospitalized diagnosed patients were selected by taking history, clinical examination and several investigations like ECG. Echocardiogram, Angiogram and several enzymes assay. Several studies in many countries showed that serum homocysteine (Hcy) was elevated in IHD Patient. Cardiovascular disease is alarmingly increasing in Bangladesh. So our aim and objective of the study was to find out the association of serum Hcy with Acute MI and chronic ischemic heart disease (CHD) patients in our population. Mean Hcy level of Acute MI were 21.16 +/- 4.56 (micromol/l), 27.55 +/- 10.40 (micromol/l) and that of control was 13.03 +/- 10.51(micromol/l). Serum Hcy was significantly higher in both cases than control. But insignificant difference was found between AMI vs CHD (P> 0.05). Quantitative measurement of serum Hcy was measured by fluorescence polarization Immunoassay (FPIA) in IMX analyzer (Abbott-USA).

Myocardial Infarction (MI) is the most common form of heart disease and the single most important cause of premature death in the developed and developing world. Unfortunately the incidence of the condition is increasing rapidly in many developing countries like Bangladesh. Effort should therefore be taken to minimize the risk factors of MI. Large scale randomized clinical trials have shown that lowering high triglyceride concentration mainly by drugs reduces the risk of cardiac events like MI. So the present work has been designed to see the serum triglyceride levels in normal healthy subjects, to compare serum triglyceride levels in patients with MI and those of healthy subjects and to evaluate the association of serum triglyceride in Bangladeshi MI patients. The present study was carried out in the Department of Biochemistry, BSMMU in collaboration with Department of Cardiology, BSMMU and NICVD, Dhaka during the period of July 2001 to December 2002. A total of 50 subjects were selected, Group A (30 subjects of control ) and Group B (20 subjects of test ). The mean level of serum triglyceride in control subjects were 117.07 +/- 32.41 mg/d1 and in test subjects were 176.87 +/- 37.15 mg/d1. So the present study showed that serum triglyceride level is significantly higher in patients with MI. From the present study, it is difficult to draw any definite conclusion but suggested that high serum triglyceride concentration is a cause of the incidence of MI.