Population dynamics of spotted scat, Scatophagus argus (Linnaeus 1766) from the Sundarbans of Bangladesh.

In Bangladesh, the mangrove areas of the Sundarbans are a hotspot for the spotted scat (Scatophagus argus), as the estuarine tributeries are significant zones for fishing, local marketing and foreign trading. Due to the widespread capture of spotted scats in the wild for a variety of uses, parameters of population were estimated using length-frequency and body weight data gathered from various sites in the southwestern forest areas of the country to comprehend the stock's status. Between May 2022 and April 2023, 1280 S. argus individuals were sampled from Khulna, Bagerhat and Satkhira. To gain insight into the population dynamics of S. argus, estimations of the growth parameters, recruitment pattern, mortalities, and level of exploitation (E) were made. For S. argus, a bit of negetive allomentric growth (b = 2.95) was observed. Moreover, the growth performance index (φ'), the asymptotic length (TL∝) and the growth coefficient (K) were 2.83, 34.65, cm and 0.56 yr-1, respectively. Natural mortality (1.08 yr-1) was lower than fishing mortality (1.12 yr-1). In the wild, this species recruits throughout the year, reaching its peak between October and January. By fishing gear, 50 % of the S. argus were caught between 7.71 cm and 9.43 cm. Moreover, high fishing mortality was assumed in both the small group (11-15 cm) and the large group (29-33 cm) of S. argus by virtual population analysis (VPA). It was discovered that the E for S. argus was 0.51, over the maximum permissible limit (Emax = 0.48). In summary, it is discovered that the S. argus population is overexploited. Therefore, in order to preserve this popular fish species and avoid local extinction, spotted scat resources should be taken into account under appropriate fisheries management guidelines. These findings will guide policymakers to manage the species accordingly.

Mental health status among chronic disease patients in Bangladesh during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Findings from a cross-sectional study.

Context: The COVID-19 epidemic has had a substantial influence on the mental health of chronic disease patients. However, there is a scarcity of research on them in Bangladesh. Aims: This study aims to explore the prevalence of and identify the risk factors for depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic among people with chronic diseases in Bangladesh. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study involving face-to-face and telephone interviews was carried out among Bangladeshi people diagnosed with chronic diseases between September and November 2020. The total sample size was 878, and a convenient sampling technique was used. Logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate potential influencing factors for depression, anxiety, and stress. Results: The mean age of respondents was 50.10 years. Among them, 35.0%, 36.0%, and 29.0% suffered from depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms, respectively. In multivariable logistic regression, depression had a significant positive association with higher age (≥60 years), lower income, rural residency, and loss of close family members due to COVID-19. Anxiety had a significant positive association with higher age (≥40 years), lower education, lower income, rural residency, and loss of close family members due to COVID-19. Stress had a significant positive association with higher age (≥40 years), no income, rural residency, and loss of close family members due to COVID-19. Conclusion: It is urgent to consider the risk of developing mental health distress among chronic disease patients, especially aged people, by health service providers and generate effective programs for emergency situations.

The experimental significance of isorhamnetin as an effective therapeutic option for cancer: A comprehensive analysis.

Isorhamnetin (C16H12O7), a 3'-O-methylated derivative of quercetin from the class of flavonoids, is predominantly present in the leaves and fruits of several plants, many of which have traditionally been employed as remedies due to its diverse therapeutic activities. The objective of this in-depth analysis is to concentrate on Isorhamnetin by addressing its molecular insights as an effective anticancer compound and its synergistic activity with other anticancer drugs. The main contributors to Isorhamnetin's anti-malignant activities at the molecular level have been identified as alterations of a variety of signal transduction processes and transcriptional agents. These include ROS-mediated cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, inhibition of mTOR and P13K pathway, suppression of MEK1, PI3K, NF-κB, and Akt/ERK pathways, and inhibition of Hypoxia Inducible Factor (HIF)-1α expression. A significant number of in vitro and in vivo research studies have confirmed that it destroys cancerous cells by arresting cell cycle at the G2/M phase and S-phase, down-regulating COX-2 protein expression, PI3K, Akt, mTOR, MEK1, ERKs, and PI3K signaling pathways, and up-regulating apoptosis-induced genes (Casp3, Casp9, and Apaf1), Bax, Caspase-3, P53 gene expression and mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis pathway. Its ability to suppress malignant cells, evidence of synergistic effects, and design of drugs based on nanomedicine are also well supported to treat cancer patients effectively. Together, our findings establish a crucial foundation for understanding Isorhamnetin's underlying anti-cancer mechanism in cancer cells and reinforce the case for the requirement to assess more exact molecular signaling pathways relating to specific cancer and in vivo anti-cancer activities.

Chronic activation of ß-adrenergic receptors leads to tissue water and electrolyte retention.

Beta-adrenergic receptors (ß-AR) are expressed on the membranes of various cell types and their activation affects body water balance by modulating renal sodium and water excretion, cardiovascular function and metabolic processes. However, ß-AR-associated body fluid imbalance has not been well characterised. In the present study, we hypothesized that chronic ß-AR stimulation increases electrolyte and water content at the tissue level. We evaluated the effects of isoproterenol, a non-selective ß-AR agonist, on electrolyte and water balance at the tissue level. Continuous isoproterenol administration for 14 days induced cardiac hypertrophy, associated with sodium-driven water retention in the heart, increased the total body sodium, potassium and water contents at the tissue level, and increased the water intake and blood pressure of the mice. There was greater urine output in response to the isoproterenol-induced body water retention. These isoproterenol-induced changes were reduced by propranolol, a non-selective beta-receptor inhibitor. Isoproterenol-treated mice even without excessive water intake had higher total body electrolyte and water contents, and this tissue water retention was associated with lower dry body mass, suggesting that ß-AR stimulation in the absence of excess water intake induces catabolism and water retention. These findings suggest that ß-AR activation induces tissue sodium and potassium retention, leading to body fluid retention, with or without excess water intake. This characterisation of ß-AR-induced electrolyte and fluid abnormalities improves our understanding of the pharmacological effects of ß-AR inhibitors. Significance Statement We have shown that chronic ß-AR stimulation causes cardiac hypertrophy associated with sodium-driven water retention in the heart and increases the accumulation of body sodium, potassium and water at the tissue level. This characterisation of the ß-AR-induced abnormalities in electrolyte and water balance at the tissue level improves our understanding of the roles of ß-AR in physiology and pathophysiology and the pharmacological effects of ß-AR inhibitors.

Effects of school nurse-led health education to reduce malnutrition among primary school children in Bangladesh: Cluster nonrandomized controlled trial.

Background: Malnutrition is a major health concern among children especially in low and middle-income countries. However, there are limited studies on school health in Bangladesh. This study aimed to reduce malnutrition among primary school children in Bangladesh by increasing awareness and knowledge through school nurse-led health education. Methods and Materials: A prospective, open-label, parallel-group (1:1), cluster nonrandomized controlled trial on primary school children conducted in rural Bangladesh. The study lasted 13 months between September 2021 and September 2022. Four schools were selected and assigned to the intervention and control groups (CGs). Next, school nurses provided evidence-based health education to the children in the intervention group (IG) for 9 months to improve awareness and knowledge of malnutrition. Data were collected at baseline, midline, and endline. Results: Overall, 604 children were enrolled at the baseline; among them, 455 (CG, n = 220; IG, n = 235) completed the study. Changes in the malnutrition rate-the primary outcome-were not significant (P = 0.225). However, after adjusting the endline data with baseline and sociodemographic data, the children's body mass index improved significantly in the IG than in the CG (P < 0.05). Changes in eating behavior, and awareness and knowledge of malnutrition-the secondary outcomes-significantly differed between the groups (P < 0.001). Conclusion: The school nurse-led health education program significantly improved primary school children's awareness and knowledge of malnutrition. This study revealed the effectiveness of school nurses in reducing malnutrition among children, which may decrease future morbidity and mortality rates in children.

Combined Effects of the Mobile Health (mHealth) Psychoeducation and Benson Relaxation Technique in Reducing the Caregiving Burden of Cancer Patients in Bangladesh: A Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Chronic and noncommunicable diseases, including cancer, are a significant global public health concern. Family members or friends who serve as caregivers significantly contribute to supporting cancer patients without formal medical training. In most cases in Bangladesh, women perform caregiving activities with household responsibilities and lack adequate support from the family and healthcare systems; consequently, they face a significant burden as caregivers. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of combined mobile health (mHealth) psychoeducation and the Benson relaxation technique (BRT) on the caregiving burden among female informal caregivers of cancer patients in Bangladesh. METHODS: We shall conduct a prospective, open-label, two-arm (1:1), randomized controlled trial in a hospital, focusing on the burden of informal female caregivers of cancer patients in Bangladesh. The combined intervention will be delivered to the intervention group through mHealth starting April 2024 and will span six months. Participants' data will be collected through face-to-face interviews using the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI), the Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale, and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Bangla Short Instrument. Outcomes will be assessed at the baseline, midline, and endline. We shall employ descriptive statistics such as frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations. The t-test or Mann-Whitney U test will be used to compare continuous variables. Additionally, a two-way repeated-measures analysis of variance will be employed to evaluate the outcomes. RESULTS: Participant enrollment began in January 2024, and recruitment is ongoing. The results of this study will be disseminated through publications and conferences. No external professional writers were involved in writing this manuscript. CONCLUSION: This study addresses the gap in the assessment of combined interventions for caregiver burden in Bangladesh. These outcomes may provide valuable insights into caregivers' well-being, caregiving responsibilities, and the potential for integrated interventions to reduce the burden, especially among women. If effective, we recommend the national integration of psychoeducation and BRT using mHealth.

Awake brain mapping by direct cortical stimulation; technical note to get higher resection rate and low morbidity in low-grade glioma patients.

Introduction: Direct cortical stimulation has been used for brain mapping and localization of eloquent areas in awake patients. This simplified technique is to provide the positive areas, which can be preserved if the tumor or lesions are involved eloquent areas. Objective: The main objective of this study is to determine whether direct cortical stimulation in awake brain mapping for low-grade glioma patients increases the rate of resection or not. Method: The authors present a retrospective study between 2020 to 2022 that includes 35 cases in a single center, to get higher resection rate, and their consequences in awake craniotomy in low-grade glioma patients. Here, two neurosurgeons were involved and the minimum follow-up was 12 months. Results: The authors achieved 80% removal of tumors. To get higher resection rate we emphasized negative mapping with prior anatomical analysis to understand functional realignment. Stimulation-related complications will be thoroughly discussed with a potential future direction to minimize the issues. The authors used PROMIS score to measure patients physical and mental health status and kernofsky score to measure performance status before and after successful surgery. The authors found three cases of transient deficit in repetitive stimulation. Repeated stimulation to identify the eloquent areas with low voltage frequency is a good option. Numbness in the face related to stimulation may continue for 6 weeks. Conclusion: Functional realignment in shifted brain and edema can be seen while doing cortical and subcortical stimulation. Most of the stimulation from low to high for language mapping may vary from patient to patient. For safe removal of low-grade glioma a steep learning curve is needed to find out the negative areas, though the authors emphasize positive mapping of areas to secure the maximum eloquence.

Baseline knowledge about hypertension and sociodemographic factors related to salt intake behavior among hypertensive individuals in a rural community of Bangladesh: Substudy of a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Excess salt consumption increases blood pressure, and therefore, this substudy was designed among rural hypertensive individuals to assess the baseline knowledge about hypertension (HTN), and dietary salt intake behavior and identify the potential predictors for urinary salt excretion in Bangladesh. Material and Methods: A total of 420 participants were enrolled after meeting the eligibility criteria during the 12 months of the study period. The participants received behavior changes related to short message services (SMS) and face-to-face education from community health workers. Results: Our study results found that 80% of the participants had positive knowledge of HTN. This study showed that the mean value of overnight urinary sodium excretion was 10.65 ± 3.00 at the 1st-month follow-up and 10.24 ± 3.03 at the endline. We found that mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were significantly related to higher salt intake (P = 0.009, P = 0.011, and P = 0.005, respectively). However, participants had improved their MUAC, SBP, and DBP status in their 1st follow-up period, but still, significant associations were observed between them (P = 0.033, P = 0.011, and P = 0.002, respectively). Conclusion: This study's results found that sodium excretion among hypertensive participants was higher, and higher urinary sodium excretion was associated with overweight and BP in adults. Nonetheless, the real salt intake practice among the Bangladeshi population is still unknown, which demands further research.

Assessment of psychological distress and its associated factors among patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy in rural Bangladesh.

Background: Psychological distress may worsen during cancer treatment and affect well-being. Information on the prevalence of distress and its associated variables in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy in rural Bangladesh has not been thoroughly explored. To address this, we aimed to assess psychological distress and its associated factors in patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in rural Bangladesh. Only adult patients with cancer who were receiving chemotherapy were enrolled in this study. The validated Depression Anxiety Stress Scale was used to assess psychological distress. Frequency and percentages were used in descriptive analysis, and logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate potential associated factors for depression, anxiety, and stress. Results: Participants comprised 415 patients with a mean age of 46.3 years. The prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress was 61.5%, 55.4%, and 22.0%, respectively. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, patients with more than five family members and smokeless tobacco users had a significant association with depression, anxiety, and stress. In contrast, participants aged >60 years had a protective association with depression. Conclusions: Our findings show that patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy experience a high prevalence of depression and anxiety and that the use of smokeless tobacco and having six or more family members are associated with psychological distress. These findings will aid health professionals and policymakers in establishing and implementing improved care programs to ensure the greater mental health of cancer survivors, particularly in resource-limited settings.

Cognitive Testing and Piloting of the Bangla Version of the Washington Group Short Set Questionnaire on Functioning Among Adolescent Girls and Women With Disabilities in Selected Sub-districts of Bangladesh.

Introduction This study focuses on the cognitive testing and piloting of the Bangla version of the Washington Group Short Set Questionnaire on Functioning among adolescent girls and women with disabilities in selected sub-districts of Bangladesh. The Washington Group on Disability Statistics developed the questionnaire as a tool to assess the functioning and disability status of individuals. The adaptation of this questionnaire to Bangla is crucial for capturing accurate data on the experiences of adolescent girls and women with disabilities in Bangladesh. Materials and methods The research employs a two-phase approach, starting with cognitive testing to ensure the linguistic and cultural relevance of the translated questionnaire. This phase involves engaging with a sample of the target population to assess the comprehension, clarity, and appropriateness of the questions. Subsequently, a pilot study was conducted in selected sub-districts to evaluate the feasibility and validity of the Bangla version of the Washington Group Short Set Questionnaire on Functioning in real-world settings. Both of the tests were conducted in March 2023. Results There were different types of participants with different types of disabilities. Information processing, meaning, understanding the questions, thinking, and answering speed or time were different between groups, even though they were different from person to person. The initial assessments indicate strong consistency in responses. Participants demonstrated a favorable response rate, indicating potential effectiveness for broader implementation. Conclusion The current study aims to contribute to disability data collection methodologies, particularly in the context of adolescent girls and women in Bangladesh. The research seeks to empower policymakers, researchers, and advocacy groups with a robust instrument of disability screening. Researchers and clinicians may rely on our accurate and validated Washington Group Short Set Questionnaire on Functioning translation into Bangla when working with adolescent girls and women with disabilities.

The Impact of mHealth Education on Changing Menstrual Hygiene Management Knowledge and Practices Among School-Going Adolescent Girls in Rural Bangladesh: A Quasi-experimental Study Protocol.

BACKGROUND: Menstruation is a normal physiological process for women during their reproductive cycle, typically beginning during adolescence. During this stage, lack of knowledge, social taboos, and shyness act as barriers to proper menstrual hygiene management, rendering adolescent girls more vulnerable. This issue is highly prevalent in low- and middle-income countries. In rural areas of Bangladesh, there is a deficiency in menstrual hygiene management due to inadequate information and knowledge among adolescent girls. Therefore, this study aims to assess the effect of mHealth education on the knowledge and practices of menstrual hygiene management among school-going adolescent girls in rural Bangladesh. METHODS: This is a quasi-experimental study conducted from early June to December 2023 at a secondary high school in Chandpur, Bangladesh. Participants' data will be collected through face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire covering socioeconomics, knowledge of menstrual hygiene management, and practices. Pre-test data will be collected at baseline, followed by a 6-month mHealth education intervention. Afterward, post-test data will be collected using the same questionnaire. The data will be analyzed as frequency and percentage for descriptive statistics, and a paired t-test will be used to compare the pre-and post-test data. RESULTS: In the study, 172 participants were enrolled at baseline. Among them, 69.8% were aged 10-14 years. The outcome of this study will be published in a peer-reviewed journal. The findings will provide evidence-based information for the government, researchers, and policymakers on menstrual hygiene management using mobile health technology. CONCLUSION: mHealth education can be posited as a significant tool for increasing knowledge and practices related to menstrual hygiene management in rural regions of Bangladesh.

Ecotoxicological effects of cypermethrin on indigenous climbing perch (Anabas testudineus).

Pesticides including cypermethrin (10% EC) are commonly used pesticide in tea gardens of Bangladesh possess distinct harmful effects on an aquatic community. The experiment was carried out to assess the ecotoxicological effects of cypermethrin (10%) concentrate on indigenous Climbing Perch (Anabas testudineus). A total of 120 A. testudineus (mean length 16 ± 2.67 cm and mean weight 31.6 ± 3.56 g) were exposed to the acute toxicity test when the lethal concentration 50 value (LC50) for 96 h was maintained at 1.00 ppm. Three different sub-lethal concentrations of 0.05 ppm (5%), 0.10 ppm (10%), and 0.20 ppm (20%) were used respectively as three treatments and a control of 0 ppm with three replicates each. Restlessness, erratic movement, increased opercular activities, loss of equilibrium, and irregular response to feeding were observed in all the treatments compared to control one. Concerning histopathological alterations, all the analyzed organs showed highest changes in the T3 (cypermethrin conc. 20%) compared to other treatments while T0 (0 ppm) had normal structure. The major changes in the gill were epithelial cell hyperplasia, necrosis, severe lamellar fusion and epithelial lifting; while necrotic proximal tubules, glomerular shrinkage, disrupted renal corpuscle of the kidney and nuclear pyknosis, degenerated hepatic cells and vacuolation were observed in the liver. Severe melanomacrophage centre (MMC), haemosiderosis and vacuolation were found in spleen. The effect of cypermethrin on the hematological parameters of experimental fish was also studied. Red blood cells, hemoglobin and hematocrit were decreased in the experimental groups and lowest value was in T3 while values of white blood cells were increased in the experimental groups compared to control one. Hence, the present observation revealed that pesticides even at low concentrations can cause harmful effects on A. testudineus.

Microplastic pollution: a review of techniques to identify microplastics and their threats to the aquatic ecosystem.

Microplastics (MPs), small synthetic particles, have emerged as perilous chemical pollutants in aquatic habitats, causing grave concerns about their disruptive effects on ecosystems. The fauna and flora inhabiting these specific environments consume these MPs, unwittingly introducing them into the intricate web of the food chain. In this comprehensive evaluation, the current methods of identifying MPs are amalgamated and their profound impacts on marine and freshwater ecosystems are discussed. There are many potential risks associated with MPs, including the dangers of ingestion and entanglement, as well as internal injuries and digestive obstructions, both marine and freshwater organisms. In this review, the merits and limitations of diverse identification techniques are discussed, including spanning chemical analysis, thermal identification, and spectroscopic imaging such as Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy, and fluorescent microscopy. Additionally, it discusses the prevalence of MPs, the factors that affect their release into aquatic ecosystems, as well as their plausible impact on various aquatic ecosystems. Considering these disconcerting findings, it is imperative that appropriate measures should be taken to assess the potential risks of MP pollution, protect aquatic life and human health, and foster sustainable development.

Nutritional status and prevalence of helminthic infection among primary school children in Bangladesh: A cross-sectional study.

AIM: Malnutrition and infectious diseases, such as helminthic infections, are widespread among primary school children, especially in low- and middle-income countries. However, there are limited studies on school health in Bangladesh, particularly in rural settings. This study aimed to explore the nutritional status and prevalence of helminthic infections in relation to associated health behavior, awareness, and knowledge regarding malnutrition and helminthic infections which were evaluated by school nurses among primary school children in Bangladesh. METHODS: This was a descriptive, cross-sectional survey study with a total duration of 1 month, from September to October, 2021. This study formed part of a school nurse project as a cluster non-randomized clinical trial in Bangladesh. Selected variables from that clinical trial were analyzed and reported in the results section. The study participants were primary school children from four schools in rural Bangladesh. RESULTS: In total, 604 children participated in the baseline survey and health checkups. Among them, 163 (27.0%) children were classified as malnourished according to the World Health Organization growth reference standard 2007. The prevalence of helminthic infections was 53 (8.8%). Approximately >50% of the children responded that they never/rarely practiced hygiene-related behaviors and had no awareness and knowledge regarding malnutrition and helminthic infections. However, differences between the variables were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Children's nutritional status and prevalence of helminthic infections with related deprived health behaviors, and minimal awareness and knowledge, reinforce the importance of implementing educational interventions in the future.

Reliability and Validity of the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support Among Women and Adolescent Girls With Disabilities in Selected Sub-districts of Bangladesh.

Background Adequate community-based or societal collaboration and cooperation are considerably important for the overall welfare of women and adolescent girls with disabilities. "The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS)" has not been evaluated for reliability and validity amid women and adolescent girls with disabilities in the Bangladeshi context. Methods A Bangla-translated form of the MSPSS was constructed, and the survey was conducted among 152 women and adolescent girls with disabilities who were purposefully recruited from Bogura Sadar and Chapainawabganj Sadar sub-districts of Bangladesh. Results The Cronbach's alpha of the entire scale was 0.868, indicating high internal consistency. Cronbach's alpha for the family sub-scale was 0.763, the friends sub-scale was 0.820, and the significant others scale was 0.776. The composite reliability for the family sub-scale was 0.849677, the friends sub-scale was 0.881248, and the significant others sub-scale was 0.859668. Convergence reliability was established following sub-scale-wise scores. It affirms the consistency of measurements. The content validity score was >0.62, following the Lawshe approach. The three-factor model was adopted during confirmatory factor analysis when the three-factor model run in SPSS Amos (version 21) CFI (comparative fit index) was 0.919. Conclusions In Bangladesh, to the best of our knowledge, our study is initially to calculate the perceived societal assistance of women and adolescent girls with disabilities. We validated the Bangla-translated form of the MSPSS from the Bangladeshi perspective. Researchers and clinicians may rely on our accurate and validated MSPSS translation into Bangla when working with this group. Based on our findings, this study endorses implementing the MSPSS for assessing professed community-based collaboration using the three-factor model, especially among women and adolescent girls with disabilities.

Effects of the Involvement of Male Counterparts in the Menstrual Hygiene Management of Women and Adolescent Girls With Disabilities in Selected Sub-districts of Bangladesh: Protocol for a Quasi-experimental Study.

Background Women and adolescent girls with disabilities suffer the most difficulties during menstruation days in developing countries like Bangladesh. They deal with menstruation in a hazardous and unclean manner. In Bangladesh, men serve as the family's gatekeepers for health-seeking behavior. But they frequently have no idea how unpleasant and demanding menstruation can be. Menstrual hygiene care for women and adolescent girls with disabilities can be improved by involving male peers. In Bangladesh, no such intervention has been assessed. The purpose of the study is to assess the effects of male participation on menstrual hygiene management of women and adolescent girls with disabilities in Bangladesh. Methods This will be a quasi-experimental study with a sample size of 120 (60 - control, 60 - intervention). The study will be conducted in a sub-district of Bogura and Chapainawabganj in Bangladesh. Inclusion criteria for the study participants are women and adolescent girls with disabilities (intervention and control groups) and male counterparts (intervention group). The exclusion criteria for this study are women and adolescent girls with mental and intellectual disabilities. Engaging male peers in menstrual hygiene management is the key intervention in the study. No blinding or randomization will be applied. The expected primary outcome in the intervention group will be an improvement in the menstrual hygiene management of women and adolescent girls with disabilities in the selected sub-districts of Bangladesh. Two times data will be collected from the intervention and control groups using the 'Menstrual Practice Needs Scale-36', 'Perceived Stress Scale', and 'Multi-dimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support'. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) test will be applied to a two-point data series to assess statistical significance. Results The result of the study will be published in a scientific journal. The outcomes of the research will be disseminated to local policymakers and health planners. The health administrator will get evidence-based information on gender-inclusive menstrual hygiene management for women and adolescent girls with disabilities through study result dissemination events. Conclusion This protocol for a quasi-experimental study in Bangladesh highlights the potential advantages of involving male peers in the menstrual hygiene management of women and adolescent girls with disabilities. It may promote gender-inclusive behavior in selected subdistricts of Bangladesh.

4G mobile phone radiation alters some immunogenic and vascular gene expressions, and gross and microscopic and biochemical parameters in the chick embryo model.

BACKGROUND: The risks to human health have grown over the past 10 years due to the excessive use of mobile phones. OBJECTIVES: The study was designed to determine the harmful effects of 4G mobile phone radiation on the expression of immunogenic and vascular genes and gross, microscopic and biochemical alterations in the development of chicken embryos. METHODS: Sixty individuals in the exposure group were subjected to mobile phones with a specific absorption rate of 1.4 W/kg and a frequency of 2100 MHz positioned at a distance of 12 cm in the incubator for 60 min/night for 14 days. The histopathological examination involved hematoxylin and eosin staining, whereas cresyl violet staining was used to evaluate the condition and number of neurons in the brain. The biochemical parameters of amniotic fluid were analysed using the photometry method, and the expression of VEGF-A and immunity genes (AvBD9, IL6) was measured using the real-time PCR (qPCR) technique. RESULTS: Compared to the control, the exposure group's body weight and length significantly decreased (p < 0.05). Subcutaneous bleeding was seen in the exposure group. Urea, creatinine, alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase levels were all significantly higher than in the control group (p < 0.05). The exposed group showed pathological lesions in the liver and degenerated neurons with lightly stained nuclei in the cerebral cortex. Hyperchromatic neurons were significantly higher in the exposure group (58.8 ± 2.28) compared to the control (6.6 ± 0.44) (p < 0.05). 4G exposure reduced lymphocyte count in the caecal tonsil (86.8 ± 5.38) compared to the control (147.2 ± 9.06) (p < 0.05). Vascular gene mRNA expression was higher, but immune gene expression was lower in the exposed group. CONCLUSION: Exposure to mobile phone radiation may result in gross, microscopic and biochemical changes, as well as alterations in gene expression that could hinder embryonic development.