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Background: End-stage renal disease causes multiple pulmonary complications and lung functions are decreased in ESRD patients undergoing maintenance haemodialysis. Objectives: To observe FVC, FEV 1 , FEV 1 /FVC ratio and FEF 25-75% in ESRD patients undergoing maintenance haemodialysis to evaluate their lung functions status. Methods: This cross sectional study was carried out in the Department of Physiology, BSMMU, Dhaka, from July 2011 to June 2012. For this, 30 ESRD patients aged 25-55 years undergoing maintenance haemodialysis with less than 1 year duration were studied and 30 age, sex matched healthy subjects were taken as control. Patients were selected from the Nephrology department of BSMMU, Dhaka. FVC, FEV 1 , FEV 1 /FVC ratio and FEF 25-75% were measured by a Digital Spirometer. For statistical analysis Independent Sample‘t’ test and One way ANOVA test were performed as applicable. Results: The mean percentage of predicted values of FVC, FEV 1 and FEF 25-75% were significantly lower in patients except FEV 1 /FVC ratio which was almost similar to control. 63.33% patients had restrictive and 36.67% patients had both restrictive and obstructive (small airway obstruction) feature. Conclusion: This study concluded that some pulmonary functions were markedly reduced in ESRD patients undergoing maintenance haemodialysis. In addition most of the patients were suffering from restrictive and some of them were affected with both obstructive and restrictive type of pulmonary disorders. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jbsp.v8i1.16645 J Bangladesh Soc Physiol. 2013, June; 8(1): 33-36

Coeliac disease is an autoimmune disorder that occurs in genetically predisposed people of all ages from middle infancy to onwards. It is a disease in which the mucosal lining of the small intestine is damaged in response to ingestion of gluten and similar proteins, which are found in wheat, oats, rye, barley and other grains. Symptoms include chronic diarrhoea, failure to thrive and fatigue; however these may be absent and symptoms in other organ systems have been reported. In this case report, a 6 year-old girl presented with recurrent diarrhoea with growth failure and itchy skin rashes. Physical examination showed that the patient was moderately pale and had generalized oedema with discrete erythematous, papular lesions over different parts of the body. Serum for tissue transglutaminase (IgA) antibody was raised. Duodenal biopsy was obtained and histopathological diagnosis was compatible with coeliac disease. The patient was treated with supportive management and was advised for life long gluten free diet. The patient improved within short period after withdrawal of gluten from diet. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jssmc.v5i1.16254 J Shaheed Suhrawardy Med Coll, 2013;5(1):55-58

Self-medication is common in countries where prescription legislations are not strong enough and drugs are available over the counter. This study was conducted to assess the self-medication by antibiotics in Mymensingh Sadar Area population and determine the factors related to it. This descriptive study was conducted in Mymensingh Sadar Area between January 2010 and December 2010. Convenient sampling was used to select respondents from among those who came to the community pharmacies to purchase drugs for self-medication. Respondents were interviewed after they made their requests but before they were provided with information on the drugs they requested. Data were collected using structured questionnaire. Drug consumers consisted of all age categories of both genders; as well as different occupations of varying educational background levels. The most frequently reported illnesses that prompted self-medication of respondents were fever, dental pain, cough & common cold, dermatological and ENT problems. Over 42% of them made their requests by telling symptoms of illness and 32.3% obtained advice from traditional healers. The most common reasons reported for self-diagnosis and self-medication were cost of physician service and non-seriousness of the disease. More than 13 different types of antibiotics were requested, the most frequent category of antibiotics being ciprofloxacin/other FQS 21%, amoxicillin 16.5%, azithromycin/erythromycin 14% and cephalosporin 13.3%. Self-medication is widely practiced for a wide range of illnesses or symptoms of illnesses and for over-the-counter. The public as well as the health care providers have to be educated on the scopes of self-medication; i.e., the type of illnesses to be self-diagnosed and self-treated and the type of drug products to be used in order to promote responsible self-medication. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/cbmj.v2i1.14176 Community Based Medical Journal Vol.2(1) 2013 15-20

Declining crop yield due to weeds and their resistance to herbicides are major constraint for successful crop productions. Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) is common weed species in Australian cropping rotation. Allelopathic potentiality of milk thistle on different crops has been documented sporadically, but there is no literature on about ryegrass and canola. Therefore, a laboratory based allelopathic extracts bioassay was conducted. The hot water extracts was prepared from milk thistle plant parts added into water with ration of 1: 10 (plant sample: distilled water) where mixture was heated 10 minutes. After heat treatment samples was immediately sieved and centrifuged and the resulted solution was treated as 100% concentration. Separately, to get the fresh water extract plant sample was added into water (1:10) and kept 24 hours in room temperature. After 24 hours, the sample was sieved and centrifuged and collected samples result was treated 100% concentrations. To obtain 50% concentration, both hot and fresh samples were diluted with distilled water. Therefore the experiment was conducted with five different treatment concentrations (0, 50% hot water extracts, 50% fresh water extracts, 100% hot water extracts and 100% fresh water extracts). The experiment was comprised with RCBD design with three replications under control conditions. During experimental period the allelopathic effects of donor species on germination and seedling growth of ryegrass and canola was observed. Results shows, germination and seedling growth of both receiver species are inhibited by milk thistle extracts. Extracts from fresh water at 100% was more toxic to receiver species followed by 50% concentration of fresh and 100% from hot water extracts. This concentration reduced the root, shoot growth of ryegrass and canola 84.971%, 84.269% and 89.898%, 87.394%, respectively. The result also revealed that allelopathic pattern of hot water extracts was same however; it is less toxic to both receiver species. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/ijarit.v2i1.14007 Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. & Tech. 2 (1): 62-67, June, 2012

This paper concerns the development and application of the Hamiltonian function which is the sum of kinetic energy and potential energy of the system. Two dimensional water wave equations for irrotational, incompressible, inviscid fluid have been constructed in cartesian coordinates and also in cylindrical coordinates. Then Lagrangian function within a certain flow region is expanded under the assumption that the dispersion μ and the nonlinearity e satisfied . Using Hamilton’s principle for water wave evolution Hamiltonian formulation is derived. It is obvious that the motion of the system is conservative. Then Hamilton’s canonical equation of motion is also derived.

The genomic diversity of 99 T4-like coliphages was investigated by sequencing an equimolar mixture with Illumina technology and screening them against different databases for horizontal gene transfer and undesired genes. A 9-phage cocktail was given to 15 healthy adults from Bangladesh at a dose of 3×109 and 3×107 plaque-forming units and placebo respectively. Phages were detected in 64% of the stool samples when subjects were treated with higher titer phage, compared to 30% and 28% with lower-titer phage and placebo, respectively. No Escherichia coli was present in initial stool samples, and no amplification of phage was observed. One percent of the administered oral phage was recovered from the feces. No adverse events were observed by self-report, clinical examination, or from laboratory tests for liver, kidney, and hematology function. No impact of oral phage was seen on the fecal microbiota composition with respect to bacterial 16S rRNA from stool.

A T4-like coliphage cocktail was given with different oral doses to healthy Bangladeshi children in a placebo-controlled randomized phase I safety trial. Fecal phage detection was oral dose dependent suggesting passive gut transit of coliphages through the gut. No adverse effects of phage application were seen clinically and by clinical chemistry. Similar results were obtained for a commercial phage preparation (Coliproteus from Microgen/Russia). By 16S rRNA gene sequencing, only a low degree of fecal microbiota conservation was seen in healthy children from Bangladesh who were sampled over a time interval of 7 days suggesting a substantial temporal fluctuation of the fecal microbiota composition. Microbiota variability was not associated with the age of the children or the presence of phage in the stool. Stool microbiota composition of Bangladeshi children resembled that found in children of other regions of the world. Marked variability in fecal microbiota composition was also seen in 71 pediatric diarrhea patients receiving only oral rehydration therapy and in 38 patients receiving coliphage preparations or placebo when sampled 1.2 or 4 days apart respectively. Temporal stability of the gut microbiota should be assessed in case-control studies involving children before associating fecal microbiota composition with health or disease phenotypes.

Postinfection irritable bowel syndrome (PI-IBS) and functional dyspepsia (PI-FD), though reported from the temperate countries, have not been studied in the tropics; PI-malabsorption syndrome (MAS), which mimics PI-IBS, is reported from the tropics. No report till date on PI-IBS excluded PI-MAS. We studied: (i) the frequency of continuing bowel dysfunction after acute gastroenteritis (AG), (ii) its predictors, and (iii) PI-MAS among patients with PI-IBS. 345 consecutive subjects each, with AG and age- and gender-matched healthy controls were followed up 3-monthly for 12 months using a translated-validated questionnaire and functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) were diagnosed by Rome III criteria. Symptom duration >3 months but

Background Antibiotic resistance is rising in important bacterial pathogens. Phage therapy (PT), the use of bacterial viruses infecting the pathogen in a species-specific way, is a potential alternative. Method T4-like coliphages or a commercial Russian coliphage product or placebo was orally given over 4 days to Bangladeshi children hospitalized with acute bacterial diarrhea. Safety of oral phage was assessed clinically and by functional tests; coliphage and Escherichia coli titers and enteropathogens were determined in stool and quantitative diarrhea parameters (stool output, stool frequency) were measured. Stool microbiota was studied by 16S rRNA gene sequencing; the genomes of four fecal Streptococcus isolates were sequenced. Findings No adverse events attributable to oral phage application were observed (primary safety outcome). Fecal coliphage was increased in treated over control children, but the titers did not show substantial intestinal phage replication (secondary microbiology outcome). 60% of the children suffered from a microbiologically proven E. coli diarrhea; the most frequent diagnosis was ETEC infections. Bacterial co-pathogens were also detected. Half of the patients contained phage-susceptible E. coli colonies in the stool. E. coli represented less than 5% of fecal bacteria. Stool ETEC titers showed only a short-lived peak and were otherwise close to the replication threshold determined for T4 phage in vitro. An interim analysis after the enrollment of 120 patients showed no amelioration in quantitative diarrhea parameter by PT over standard care (tertiary clinical outcome). Stool microbiota was characterized by an overgrowth with Streptococcus belonging to the Streptococcus gallolyticus and Streptococcus salivarius species groups, their abundance correlated with quantitative diarrhea outcome, but genome sequencing did not identify virulence genes. Interpretation Oral coliphages showed a safe gut transit in children, but failed to achieve intestinal amplification and to improve diarrhea outcome, possibly due to insufficient phage coverage and too low E. coli pathogen titers requiring higher oral phage doses. More knowledge is needed on in vivo phage–bacterium interaction and the role of E. coli in childhood diarrhea for successful PT. Funding The study was supported by a grant from Nestlé Nutrition and Nestlé Health Science. The trial was registered with Identifier NCT00937274 at ClinicalTrials.gov., Highlights • Coliphages given orally to children with bacterial diarrhea appeared in the stool, but did not improve clinical outcome. • In microbiologically diagnosed E. coli diarrhea, pathogen titers were close to the replication threshold of coliphages. • Acute bacterial diarrhea displayed a marked dysbiosis with fecal streptococci that stabilized with recovery from diarrhea. Antibiotic resistance of bacterial infections reached alarming levels. Phage therapy is a potential alternative antimicrobial. We demonstrated that two different oral phage preparations did not improve acute bacterial diarrhea in children from Bangladesh. We observed fecal excretion of the oral phage, but no major phage amplification in the gut. E. coli pathogen levels were low and the fecal microbiota showed a transient overgrowth with streptococci. Future phage trials should first verify the titer and association of the targeted pathogen with the disease.

To prospectively investigate the effect of low tube voltage on radiation dose, contrast enhancement, image quality, and image noise at abdominal dynamic computed tomography (CT).The institutional review board approved this study. Prior informed consent was obtained from all patients. Forty patients (24 women, 16 men; mean age, 62 years) underwent initial abdominal CT at 120 kV with 100 mL of contrast material (protocol A). Then all patients were randomly assigned to one of two protocols (protocol B, CT at 90 kV with 100 mL contrast material; protocol C, CT at 90 kV with 80 mL contrast material). The CT numbers of their abdominal organs were assessed quantitatively and qualitatively. Statistical analysis was performed by using the two-tailed paired t test, Kruskal-Wallis test, and kappa test of interobserver agreement. The radiation dose was measured with a phantom that consisted of glass-rod dosimeters.Quantitative analysis revealed that protocols B and C yielded significantly better enhancement of the aorta, liver, pancreas, spleen, and kidney than did protocol A (P.05). With qualitative analysis, the difference among the three protocols in regard to image quality was not significant. At 90 kV versus 120 kV, the radiation dose reduction in the center of the phantom was 56.8% (6.3 vs 14.6 mGy); in the periphery, it was 46.2% (13.6 vs 25.3 mGy).By decreasing the tube voltage, the amount of contrast material can be reduced without image quality degradation. In scans obtained with a low tube voltage, the radiation dose can be reduced as much as 56.8%, and higher contrast material enhancement can be achieved.

To reduce radiation dose from abdominal computed tomography (CT) without degradation of low-contrast detectability by using a technique with low tube voltage (90 kV).The institutional review board approved the participation of the radiologists in the observer performance test, and informed consent was obtained from all participating radiologists. A phantom for measurement of the radiation dose and a phantom containing low-contrast objects were scanned with a 16-detector row CT scanner at 120 kV and 90 kV. For determination of the radiation dose at both 90 kV and 120 kV, the tube current-time product settings were 100-560 mAs, and the doses at the center and periphery of the phantom were measured. To assess low-contrast detectability, we used a 300-mAs setting at 120 kV and 250-560-mAs settings at 90 kV. Five observers participated in the receiver operating characteristic analysis. Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (A(z)) values were calculated in each observer. A(z) values obtained with each of the scanning techniques were recorded, and differences were examined for significance by using the Dunnet method.The mean A(z) value was 0.951 at 120 kV and 300 mAs. A(z) values were 0.927-0.973 at 90 kV and 450-560 mAs, and the differences between those values and values obtained at 120 kV and 300 mAs were not significant (P = .937-.952). A value of 100% was assigned to the radiation dose delivered to the center of the phantom at 120 kV and 300 mAs. The relative dose delivered at 90 kV ranged from 65% at 450 mAs to 79% at 560 mAs.A reduction from 120 kV to 90 kV led to as much as a 35% reduction in the radiation dose, without sacrifice of low-contrast detectability, at CT.

Background. Previous studies have shown that selected strains of lactobacilli that are administered orally result in a modest reduction of diarrhea duration. However, duration alone is not considered optimal for therapeutic evaluation of any agent in diarrhea. Objective. To examine the effect of a new probiotic, Lactobacillus paracasei strain ST11 (ST11), in acute childhood diarrhea by using evaluation criteria recommended by the World Health Organization. Methods. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, 230 male infants and young children, 4 to 24 months of age, presenting with diarrhea of Results. No effect of ST11 treatment on severe rotavirus diarrhea was observed. However, the probiotic treatment did significantly reduce cumulative stool output (225 ± 218 vs 381 ± 240 mL/kg), stool frequency (27.9 ± 17 vs 42.5 ± 26), and oral rehydration solution intake (180 ± 207 vs 331 ± 236 mL/kg) in children with less-severe nonrotavirus diarrhea compared with those receiving placebo treatment. A significantly higher proportion of nonrotavirus children receiving ST11 had their diarrhea resolve within 6 days of therapy (ST11 versus placebo: 76% vs 49%). Conclusions. ST11 has a clinically significant benefit in the management of children with nonrotavirus-induced diarrhea, but it is ineffective in those with rotavirus diarrhea.

Temperature and weed interference often occur simultaneously during the life cycle of wheat. Laboratory investigation was carried out to evaluate the combined effect of temperature and annual ryegrass seedlings interference on wheat seedlings at Agronomy laboratory, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2650, Australia, during 2013. Seedlings of both species were grown simultaneously under two different temperature cycles (i) light/dark for 12/12 h at 20°C/15°C and (ii) light/dark for 12/12 h at 25°C/15°C. To evaluate wheat interference, two wheat densities e.g. 10 and 20 seedlings/medium were used against 10 seedlings of ryegrass. The results demonstrate that the high temperature cycle increased the seedling growth of both wheat and ryegrass. The root growth and seedling biomass of ryegrass increased dramatically at high temperature even under high interference of wheat. These preliminary outcomes indicate that ryegrass has the ability to persist under both high temperature and crop interference conditions. Thereby, such growth profile of ryegrass will may lead to become widespread weed flora under future elevated temperature climatic condition.

Biomethylation is considered as the principal metabolic and detoxification pathway for inorganic arsenic in human. The end products of methylation are less toxic and more readily excreted through urine. Therefore, speciation of metabolites in urine is essential to a better understanding of arsenic metabolism, health effects and detoxification ability of individuals exposed to arsenic through drinking water, food and environmental materials. Speciation of inorganic and methylated arsenic in urine is an analytical challenge and often requires expensive instrumentation. We have applied a relatively inexpensive technique for the separation and analysis of various arsenic species, such as, arsenite, arsenate, monomethylarsonic acid (MMA) and dimethylarsinic acid (DMA) in human urine. The technique is based on ion exchange chromatographic separation followed by flow injection hydride generation atomic absorption spectroscopy (FI-HG-AAS). The detection limit varies from 1.0 to 2.0 microg/L for various species. The technique has been successfully applied to speciation of arsenic metabolite intermediates in urine samples collected from patients in Hajiganj, a serious arsenic affected area in Bangladesh. Arsenite (AsIII) was found to be the major component in the urine from these patients. Our findings from patients in Hajiganj, Bangladesh are presented in this paper. The technique permits us to carry out arsenic speciation in urine, essential for toxicological studies and possible nutritional intervention in combating arsenic poisoning in Bangladesh.

A solid phase microextraction (SPME) technique was applied for the sampling of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in ambient air polluted by two stroke autorickshaw engines and automobile exhausts in Dhaka city, Bangladesh. Analysis was carried out by capillary gas chromatography (GC) and GC-mass spectrometry (MS). The methodology was tested by insitu sampling of an aromatic hydrocarbon mixture gas standard with a precision of +/-5% and an average accuracy of 1-20%. The accuracy for total VOCs concentration measurement was about 7%. VOC's in ambient air were collected by exposing the SPME fiber at four locations in Dhaka city. The chromatograms showed signature similar to that of unburned gasoline (petrol) and weathered diesel containing more than 200 organic compounds; some of these compounds were positively identified. These are normal hydrocarbons pentane (n-C5H2) through nonacosane (n-C29H60), aromatic hydrocarbons: benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, n-propylbenzene, n-butylbenzene, 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene, xylenes, and 1-isocyanato-3-methoxybenzene. Two samples collected near an autorickshaw station contained 783000 and 1479000 microg/m3 of VOCs. In particular, the concentration of toluene was 50-100 times higher than the threshold limiting value of 2000 microg/m3. Two other samples collected on street median showed 135000 microg/m3 and 180000 microg/m3 of total VOCs. The method detection limit of the technique for most semi-volatile organic compounds was 1 microg/m3.

Epileptiform discharges often increase in most epilepsy types. This study sought to clarify the effects of sleep modification on cortical irritability in benign adult familial myoclonus epilepsy (BAFME). We retrospectively reviewed 31 conventional electroencephalographies (EEGs) of 12 BAFME patients and analyzed epileptiform discharges during the awake and sleep periods of 6 EEGs in 5 BAFME patients (5 women, mean age: 49.6 ± 20.3 years). Using conventional EEG analysis, EEG was classified into awake (66.6%) and light sleep stages (Stage I and II) (33.4%). Epileptiform discharges were significantly more frequent during the awake (1.3 ± 1.2/min) period than light sleep stages (0.02 ± 0.04/min) (P

Background & Aims Rotavirus infection is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children younger than 5 years of age. Current treatment options are limited. We assessed the efficacy of a llama-derived, heavy-chain antibody fragment called anti-rotavirus protein (ARP1), in modifying the severity and duration of diarrhea in male infants with rotavirus infection. Methods We performed a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 176 male infants (6−24 months old) with severe rotavirus-associated diarrhea at Dhaka Hospital, Bangladesh. The infants were randomly assigned to groups given oral ARP1 (15−30 mg/kg/day, n=88) or placebo (maltodextrin, n = 88) for a maximum of 5 days. The primary outcomes were severity (stool output) and duration of diarrhea and fecal excretion of rotavirus. Secondary outcomes were intake of oral rehydration salt solution, severity of vomiting, and serum levels of rotavirus-specific IgA. Results In infants with only rotavirus infection, total cumulative stool output was 305.47 g/kg body weight among those given placebo (n = 63) and 237.03 g/kg body weight among those given ARP1 (n = 61) (a difference of 68.44 g/kg body weight or 22.5%; 95% confidence interval: 18.27−118.59 g/kg body weight; P =.0079). There was a significant reduction in rate of stool output (g/kg/d) in the ARP1 group compared with the placebo group (61%; P = .002). ARP1 had no significant effect in infants with concomitant infections or on any other measured outcomes. No adverse events could be linked to ARP1. Conclusions In a placebo-controlled trial, ARP1 reduced stool output in male infants with severe rotavirus-associated diarrhea. Clinicaltrials.gov number: NCT01259765.

Background: Essential hypertension is associated with altered autonomic function. Essential hypertension is treated with drugs which modify the sympatho-parasympathetic balance. Losartan (angioteosin II receptor blocker) and atenolol (beta blocker) is commonly used antihypertensive drugs.Objective: To evaluate the effect of antihypertensive drugs on heart rate variability (HRV) in patients with essential hypertension.Methods: This prospective observational study was carried out in the Department of Physiology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Shahbag, Dhaka from July 2012 to June 2013 on 120 newly diagnosed hypertensive patients without any medication (group B, age 30-55 years). They were selected from the Out Patients Department (OPD) of cardiology, BSMMU, Dhaka. Age, sex and BMI matched 60 apparently healthy norrnotensive subjects were also studied as control (group A). Based on treatment, these study subjects were divided into two groups (BI and B2). Group B1a included 60 patients received Josartan 50 mg daily and B2a included 60 patients received atenolol 50mg daily. They were observed once before the treatment (B1a & B2a), after 3 months medication (B1b & B2b) and after 6 months medication (B1c & B2c). For assessing HRV, Mean heart rate, Mean R-R interval, Max/Min R-R interval, SDNN, RMSSD were recorded by a polyrite. Data were compared among before treatment, after 3 months treatment and after 6 months treatment. For statistical analysis ANOVA, independent sample't' test and paired sample 't' test were performed. Results: Mean resting pulse rate, mean heart rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure were significantly higher and mean R-R interval, Max/Min R-R interval, SDNN, RMSSD were significantly lower in newly diagnosed hypertensive patients in comparison with that of healthy normoten­sive subjects and after treatment. Jn both groups SDNN, RMS SD, mean R-R interval were found significantly higher after 6 months of treatment compared to their values after 3 months treatment. Again these values were found close to the values in normotensive subjects. In addition, mean heart rate was found significantly lower in atenolol treated patients than those of controls. Again in atenolol group these values were found significanLly higher than the corresponding values in losartan treated patients after 6 months treatment. Conclusion: Reduced cardiac vagal tone occurs in newly diagnosed hypertensive patients which is improved by both losartan and atenolol and in particular atenolol was found more effective.

Background The effect of Helicobacter pylori ( H. pylori) infection on gastric acid secretion (GAS) is poorly defined in children. Objective To determine whether H. pylori infection is associated with abnormal GAS in children. Methods We studied 30 H. pylori-infected children (identified by a positive urea breath test) and 30 noninfected children of both sexes, aged 2–5 years. Gastric pH and GAS were measured before and 8 weeks after the completion of a 2-week course of anti- H. pylori therapy (omeprazole, clarithromycin, and amoxicillin). Gastric acid output (GAO) was quantified during a 1-h basal period (GAO-B) (mmol/h) and a 1-hour stimulated period (GAO-S) (mmol/hour) following subcutaneous administration of pentagastrin (6 μg/kg). Results A significantly greater number of infected children had a high gastric pH (>4.0, p = 0.03) compared with the noninfected group. GAO-B and GAO-S in H. pylori-infected children were significantly lower, around 50%, compared with children without H. pylori infection. H. pylori-eradication therapy resulted in a rise of both the mean GAO-B (paired t-test before vs. after therapy; 0.28 ± 0.40 vs. 0.62 ± 1.0, p = 0.12) and GAO-S (before vs. after therapy; 2.0 ± 1.4 vs. 3.4 ± 2.5, p = 0.001), with values reaching equivalence to those in the H. pylori-negative children (0.71 ± 0.56 for BAO, 3.3 ± 2.0 for SAO, p = NS). Conclusion The results suggest that the gastric barrier is compromised in children with H. pylori infection in Bangladesh. Improvement of GAO following anti- H. pylori therapy suggests a causal link between H. pylori infection and depressed GAO in this population.

Barringtonia acutangula (L.) Gaertn. (Lecythidaceae) has been used in folk medicine in the treatment of arthralgia, chest pain, dysmenorrhea, inflammation, hemorrhoids, diarrhea, and also in psychological disorders.To investigate the antinociceptive, antidiarrheal, and neuropharmacological effect of the methanol extract of B. acutangula leaves and seeds in mice.The extracts (200 and 400 mg/kg; p.o.) were tested for antinociceptive activity by acetic acid-induced writhing, hot plate and tail immersion models; castor oil- and magnesium sulphate-induced diarrheal models were used to evaluate antidiarrheal activity whereas hole cross and open field models were employed for testing neuropharmacological activity.Both extracts exhibited significant antinociceptive effect (p0.001) in acetic acid and heat induced pain models in a dose-dependent manner. The extracts prolonged the latency period to the thermal stimuli in both hot plate and tail immersion test. The extracts also showed significant inhibition of defecation (p0.001, 0.01) in both diarrheal models. Again, the spontaneous motor activity was decreased (p0.001) by the extracts in both hole cross and open field test.The results of this study suggest that the methanol extracts of B. acutangula leaves and seeds possess good antinociceptive, antidiarrheal, and central nervous system (CNS) depressant activities. This study validates the use of this plant in traditional medicine.

This paper investigates the factors responsible for a high growth rate of labor productivity of the agricultural sector for the period 1976-93 for Taiwan. This investigation is carried out by a newly devised procedure which decomposes the growth rate of labor productivity into (1) the total substitution effect which consists of the effects due to factor price changes and biased technological change and (2) the TFP effect composed of the effects due to scale economies and technological progress. Based on empirical estimation of the translog cost function, it was found that the total substitution effect contributed to the growth of labor productivity much more than the TFP effect did for the period under question.

The Multi-fibre Arrangement (MFA) (Note 1) in global trade in apparels and textiles was phased out in December 2004. South Asian countries major concern was to prevent large-scale job losses due to liberalization and globalization. It was apprehended that the RMG sector of smaller countries especially Bangladesh will be adversely affected by losing a huge number of jobs, will face high competition from its low-cost competitor countries and will experience negative impact due to its high dependence on the United States and the European Union markets for its RMG products. Despite the concern and fear of negative impact on in the aftermath of quota removal of RMG sector in Bangladesh appears with positive trends along with the substantial increasing rate of export amount, the number of jobs and industries and GDP’s growth. In 2010, the sector keeps around 20 percent GDP growth of the country.

A key distribution procedure is an essential constituent of secured exchange of information between the participants. In this paper, a fast symmetric key distribution technique with additional security services is presented. The aim of the proposed technique is to improve the conventional Needham and Schroeder five-message protocol in four aspects. First aspect is to introduce an additional authentication level in originator's identity. Second aspect is to provide the integrity of the originator's message. Third aspect is to reduce the time needed to distribute session-key between pair of entities. And the fourth aspect is to develop the key freshness security issue. A comparative analysis between conventional and proposed technique is presented to visualize the improvements of the proposed one. C programming language is used to implement the technique and running time is measured by using the time function and it is found that proposed technique is faster than the conventional one. For the purpose of threat analysis, several attacks, such as altering the message information, are applied by force on the proposed technique to check whether it will provide the security services or not. And the result of threat analysis is that the proposed technique provides all the security services. Hence, the proposed technique will bring a new dimension in key distribution paradigm.

Non-water-soluble iron compounds have been reported to be less well absorbed than ferrous sulfate in young children, and concern has been raised about their usefulness as food fortificants.The objective was to evaluate the usefulness of ferrous fumarate and ferric pyrophosphate, compared with ferrous sulfate, in maintaining hemoglobin concentrations105 g/L in Bangladeshi children.Two hundred thirty-five children aged 7-24 mo (hemoglobin105 g/L) were randomly assigned in a double-blind study to receive an infant cereal fortified with ferrous fumarate, ferric pyrophosphate, or ferrous sulfate. One serving of cereal (9.3 mg Fe; molar ratio of ascorbic acid to iron of 3:1) was consumed per day, 6 d/wk, for 9 mo. Blood samples were drawn at 4.5 and 9 mo.Raw data were reformatted, and a "time to event" was calculated that corresponded to reaching the following thresholds: hemoglobin105 g/L, plasma ferritin12 microg/L, or plasma C-reactive protein10 mg/L at baseline, 4.5 mo, or 9 mo. Data were censored when children did not reach the threshold or were lost to follow-up. A Kaplan-Meier approach was used to compare the 3 groups. No statistically significant differences were observed for hemoglobin105 g/L (P = 0.943), plasma ferritin12 microg/L (P = 0.601), or plasma C-reactive protein10 mg/L (P = 0.508).Contrary to earlier concerns, these results do not indicate differences in usefulness between water-soluble and non-water-soluble iron compounds in maintaining hemoglobin concentrations and preventing iron deficiency. These data will be important in the development of food-fortification strategies to combat anemia and iron deficiency in highly vulnerable population groups.

To evaluate prospectively bolus tracking to time hepatic arterial phase (HAP) imaging of hypervascular hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) with a 40-detector computed tomographic (CT) scanner.This study received institutional review board approval; informed consent was obtained. The study included 192 patients (123 men, 69 women; mean age, 67.6 years) with known or suspected HCC who underwent dynamic CT, including HAP scanning; CT depicted 111 hypervascular HCCs in 72 patients. Scanning was performed with a 40-detector CT scanner, and bolus tracking was used to time the start of HAP imaging. Patients were randomly assigned to five protocols; HAP scanning was started at a specified interval after trigger threshold was reached: 9 seconds (protocol A), 12 seconds (protocol B), 15 seconds (protocol C), 18 seconds (protocol D), or 21 seconds (protocol E). Trigger threshold level was set at 100 HU above aortic baseline CT number. Enhancement values in the aorta and the tumor-liver contrast (TLC) were measured. Dunnett multiple comparisons were performed to compare enhancement values among the five protocols.Mean scanning time for the whole liver was 2.1 seconds. Mean enhancement value of the aorta in protocols A, B, C, D, and E were 284.3 HU +/- 54.7, 293.8 HU +/- 51.0, 308.7 HU +/- 55.9, 291.5 HU +/- 42.2, and 235.5 HU +/- 51.2, respectively. Aortic enhancement was significantly lower in protocol E than in protocol A (P.01); there was no significant difference between protocols A and B, A and C, and A and D. Mean TLCs in protocols A, B, C, D, and E were 23.4 HU +/- 7.6, 35.5 HU +/- 14.0, 36.2 HU +/- 6.8, 47.2 HU +/- 19.2, and 35.1 HU +/- 15.8, respectively. A significant difference was found only between protocols A and D (P.01).Peak TLC during the HAP occurred 18 seconds after triggering.

To compare enhancement of the aorta, portal vein, liver, and tumor with contrast medium of a higher iodine concentration to that with one of a standard iodine concentration for liver dynamic CT within the same patient with known liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Fifty-three patients with known cirrhosis and HCC underwent repeat computed tomographic (CT) examinations within three months, the first with either 300 (n=26) or 370 mgI/ml (n=27) of nonionic contrast material. In the second examination, only concentration was altered. In 28 patients, weight was equal to or more than 65 kg, and in 25 patients it was less than 65 kg. The CT numbers (HU) of the aorta, portal vein, liver, and tumor were obtained, and CT attenuation was compared between the two concentration studies. The degree of enhancement was scored qualitatively.Mean enhancement values of the aorta, liver, portal vein, and tumor were greater with the 370 mgI/ml injections than with the 300 mgI/ml injections throughout the study. In visual analysis, the difference in aortic, portal venous, liver, and tumor enhancement was not statistically significant between the two groups in patients weighing less than 65 kg. However, in patients weighing 65 kg or more, strong aortic and portal venous enhancement (rated as good or excellent) occurred more frequently with the 370 mgI/ml injections than with the 300 mgI/ml injections.Higher contrast enhancement was achieved in patients who received 370 mgI/ml of contrast material, resulting in better tissue contrast between liver parenchyma and HCCs. However, this difference was not visually significant in patients weighing less than 65 kg.

To assess the oxidative injuries caused by arsenic toxicity in rabbits and evaluate the detoxifying effects of exogenous antioxidants, we administered arsenic trioxide (3-5 mg/kg/day) in rabbits through a feeding tube for seven days. These rabbits were then treated with a recipe of vitamins, zinc, selenium (VZS) or a plant polyphenol or a placebo for the next seven days. Blood samples were collected from ear vein for spectrophotometric assay of reduced glutathione (GSH), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), and nitrite/nitrate (NOx; index of nitric oxide formation) before arsenic administration, seven days after arsenic administration, and seven days after antioxidant treatment. The total arsenic concentrations in hair and spot urine samples of rabbits before arsenic administration were 0.6 +/- 0.21 microg/g and 34.0 +/- 5.9 microg/L, respectively. Administration of arsenic trioxide significantly increased arsenic concentrations in hair and in urine to 2.8 +/- 0.40 microg/g (p

During The period of March-2003 to January-2006 a total of 100 patients with haemorrhoid admitted in Jhenaidah Sadar Hospital and in different private clinics of Jhenaidah and Faridpur town were taken in the study. This study compares the two most popular treatment options for haemorrhoids namely rubber band ligation (R.B.L) and excisional haemorrhoidectomy (E.H). Complete Remission of haemorrhoidal symptoms was better after haemorrhoidectomy than rubber band ligation. Fewer Patients required retreatment after haemorrhoidectomy but anal stenosis, postoperative haemorrhage and incontinence of flatus were more common with this operation. Haemorrhoidectomy produced better long term symptom control in patients with grade III Haemorrhoid but was associated with more postoperative complications than rubber band ligation. doi: 10.3329/taj.v20i2.3069 TAJ 2007; 20(2): 107-109

A prospective, placebo-controlled, triple blind clinical trial was carried out in Pakistan to determine the effect of Lactobacillus GG on the course of acute diarrhea in hospitalized children. Forty children (mean age, 13 months) were enrolled and after rehydration received either oral Lactobacillus GG (n = 21) or placebo (n = 19) twice daily for 2 days, in addition to the usual diet. The clinical course of diarrhea was followed during the treatment period. Features on admission into the study groups were similar and were characterized by severe diarrhea, malnutrition and inappropriate management before presentation. Response was evident on Day 2 when the frequency of both vomiting and diarrhea was less in the Lactobacillus group. In those who had presented with acute nonbloody diarrhea (n = 32), the percentage of children with persistent watery diarrhea at 48 hours was significantly less in the Lactobacillus group: 31% vs. 75% (P < 0.01). No significant difference was observed by 48 hours in those presenting with bloody diarrhea. The relevance of this finding to the management of diarrhea in the tropics is discussed.