Post Thyroidectomy Assessment of Intact Parathyroid Hormone for Early Prediction of Hypocalcaemia

Background: As the half-life of intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) is very low, it reflects parathyroid insufficiency within minutes to hours after total thyroidectomy. Therefore, iPTH level assessment in the postoperative period can be used to predict the development of hypocalcaemia. The optimal time point to measure serum iPTH is important for the accurate prediction of hypocalcaemia. Aim: This paper aims to evaluate the ability of iPTH as an early predictive marker of hypocalcaemia and determine which time iPTH is more able to predict postoperative hypocalcaemia. Method: This prospective observational study was conducted in the Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, BSMMU, Dhaka, from July 2020 to December 2021, with 67 patients who underwent total thyroidectomy. iPTH levels were measured on the day before the operation and at 1 hour, 4 hours, and 24 hours after the operation. S.calcium levels were measured on the day before the operation and 1st postoperative day. All the data were compiled and sorted properly and were analyzed statistically. Results: Postoperative hypocalcaemia developed in 18 cases, with an incidence of 26.9%. Pearson correlation showed a significant correlation between postoperative iPTH at 1 hr, 4 h, and 24 hr with 1st postoperative calcium value. The Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was processed for the postoperative iPTH at 1 hr, 4 h, and 24 hr. The sensitivity, specificity, cut-off value, and mean AUC found 93.9%, 94.4%, ≤14.0, 0.988;95.9%, 94.4%, ≤09.5, 0.993 and 91.8%, 94.4%, ≤11.0, 0.993 respectively. Conclusion: iPTH can be used as an early predictor of post-thy-roidectomy hypocalcaemia. 4 hr iPTH showed more sensitivity and specificity for a cut-off value near the laboratory reference range.

Personal Hygiene Concept, Knowledge, and Awareness Regarding COVID-19 among Bangladeshi People

Aim: Novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has emerged as an unknown fallacy that forced into a global pandemic. Only a few vaccines are available for a limited number of people, and most of the population are not vaccinated yet. So, social distancing, proper personal hygiene, and sanitization concepts are the main factors to prevent the spread of this disease. For a densely populated country like Bangladesh, the concepts of social distancing are unpopular, and people are reluctant to follow community health guidelines. This study aimed to understand the personal hygiene concept, knowledge, and awareness of Bangladeshi people against COVID-19. Subject and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from March to June 2020 through an online Google survey. Those who answered all the questions were finally included for result calculation (n = 182). The chi-square test was applied to evaluate the correlations among the groups based on education, income level, and occupation. Results: The results showed that education level and occupational status play a vital role in awareness about the general symptoms of COVID-19. Students have a lower rate of washing hands for 20 sec than people of other occupations (p = 0.037). The rate of using masks while going outside is not common in the low-income group (p = 0.010). A significant variation was also observed in wearing a mask when income level, education, and occupation were considered to compare among the groups. There was a noteworthy distinction in handwashing frequency and duration of handwashing in different occupation groups of the participants (p = 0.044 and 0.008, respectively). On the other hand, graduates were found comparatively more concerned about maintaining home quarantine and isolation firmly than others. They know the differences and significance of these two interventions properly. Conclusion: More comprehensive education programs could be helpful to enhance the concept of personal hygiene, knowledge, and awareness level of the people for a country like Bangladesh.

Estimation of Vitamins B-Complex (B₂, B₃, B₅and B₆) of Some Leafy Vegetables Indigenous to Bangladesh by HPLC Method

The current experiment was conducted for the simultaneous determination of several water-soluble vitamins like ribo- flavin (vitamin B2), niacin (vitamin B3), pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) and pyridoxine (vitamin B6) in five highly con- sumed local leafy vegetables named as bottle gourd leaves (Lagenaria vulgaris) (local name Lau shak), green amaranth leaves (Amaranthus viridis) (local name Data shak), red amaranth leaves (Amaranthus gangeticuss) (local name Lal shak), Indian spinach (Basella alba) (local name Pui shak) and bitter gourd leaves (Momordica charantia) (local name Korola shak). The analyses were performed by HPLC using an analytical reversed phase C-18 (ODS column, 250 × 4.6 mm, 5 μm, Phenomenex, Inc.) column with the mobile phase consisting of a mixture of buffer (hexane sulphonic acid sodium, potassium dihydrogen phosphate and triethylamine, pH 3.0) and methanol in the ratio of 96:4 (v/v) at a flow rate of 1 mL/min with UV detection at 210 nm. The retention times for the vitamins were obtained as 3.61 min, 6.37 min, 9.51 min and 11.51 min for Vitamins B2, B3, B5 and B6, respectively. These obtained values of the vitamins were compared with the values available in published literatures of Deshio Khaddar Pustiman (DKPM), Indian food value (IFV) and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Physico-Chemical and Microbiological Quality Assessment of Supply Water around Dhaka City, Bangladesh

Dhaka is one of the most densely-populated megacities in the world. Water supply problem is acute in this city, but the quality of drinking water has tremendous importance as potability. This study was aimed at comparing various physicochemical and microbiological parameters which are very much relevant for the drinking water quality of Dhaka city of Bangladesh. A total of 80 samples from 11 collection point of different places were collected over ten months. After that, the samples were examined by a different measuring device for physicochemical parameter testing. Considering physicochemical parameters, all water samples were within the limit for pH. However, 53.75% water had unsatisfactory for chlorine level. Total Dissolve Solid (TDS), hardness, iron, and alkalinity based unsatisfactory were 28.75%, 15.0%, 8.75%, and 3.75% respectively. Five parameters had taken into consideration to measure the microbiological quality. The cultural and biochemical methods showed that 80 water samples have a different range of contamination. The total aerobic count was unsatisfactory for 53.75% samples. Sixty-one samples were found coliform contaminated that is 76.25% of the total samples and 58.75% sample was carried fecal substances. E. coli and Vibrio was unsatisfactory as 61.25% and13.75% respectively. This study revealed that how much safe is supplied water of a municipal water supplier.

Incidence, Risk Factors and Short Term Outcome of Acute Kidney Injury among Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome

Background: Cardio-renal syndrome is the leading cause of death globally. Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a major complication among patients admitted in Coronary Care Unit (CCU) with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). AKI in ACS patients is associated with higher morbidity, mortality and prolong hospital stay. Objective: To determine the incidence, risk factors and short term outcome of acute kidney injury (AKI) among the patients admitted in CCU with ACS. Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted at Department of Nephrology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka, Bangladesh from January 2013 to December 2013. Following selection criteria a total of two hundred (200) patients with ACS were studied. AKI was defined according to the KDIGO guideline and further categorized by RIFLE criteria. Data of patients with AKI and those without AKI were analyzed and compared by statistical tests. Results: Majority of the study patients were male (79.5%). AKI was developed in 40 of the 200 study patients (20.0%). The mean (±SD) age of the study patients was 60.1 ± 11.1 years in patients with AKI and 55.9 ± 10.1 years in patients without AKI. Our data analysis showed that older age (>65 years), diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia and smoking were significantly correlated to the development of AKI. Mortality was significantly high in AKI group (7.15%) compared to no AKI group (1.25%). Out of 27 patients who achieved renal recovery most (80.8%) belonged to risk class. Severity of AKI showed significant effect on renal recovery and final outcome. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that, incidence of AKI among patients with ACS was 20%. Elderly patients, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, and exposure to smoking were significantly associated with development of AKI in ACS.

<i>In-Vitro</i>Regeneration of <i>Citrus sinensis</i>(L.) Osbeck from Mature Seed Derived Embryogenic Callus on Different Solid Basal Media

In-vitro callus induction and regeneration method was developed using different plant growth regulators (PGRs), and basal media (Murashige and Skoog (MS), CHU (N6) and Gamborg (B5) media) of Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck. Observations of the effect of PGRs were carried out using different concentrations of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D),1-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) and combinations of 2,4-D and NAA using different basal media. This study found Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck exhibited a high frequency of callus induction on MS medium supplemented with 3 mg/L 2,4-D and callus induction frequency was 86.7% ± 3.4% whereas N6 and B5 showed lower callus induction frequency of 83.3% ± 8.8% and 82.2% ± 1.9% respectively compared to that of MS media with supplementation of the same hormone. Among the induced calli, the morphological analysis showed only 40% - 50% was embryogenic calli. Regeneration of plantlets from calli was done using different concentrations and combinations of auxin and cytokinin. The study showed that 3 mg/L 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) supplemented medium has the maximum potential to promote regeneration of Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck from embryogenic calli with the frequency of 89.3% ± 8.8% but no regeneration occurred from the non-embryogenic calli. The regenerated plantlets were rooted on MS medium with supplementation of 5 mg/l NAA. These observations in Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck regeneration will be helpful for genetic improvement with desired traits.