Assessment of peripheral dose as a function of distance and depth from cobalt-60 beam in water phantom using TLD-100.

BACKGROUND: Innovations in cancer treatment have contributed to the improved survival rate of cancer patients. The cancer survival rates have been growing and nearly two third of those survivors have been exposed to clinical radiation during their treatment. The study of long-term radiation effects, especially secondary cancer induction, has become increasingly important. An accurate assessment of out-of-field/peripheral dose (PDs) is necessary to estimate the risk of second cancer after radiotherapy and the damage to the organs at risk surrounding the planning target volume. This study was designed to measure the PDs as a function of dose, distances, and depths from Telecobalt-60 (Co-60) beam in water phantom using thermoluminescent dosimeter-100 (TLD-100). METHODS: The PDs were measured for Co-60 beam at specified depths of 0 cm (surface), 5 cm, 10 cm, and 15 cm outside the radiation beam at distances of 5, 10, and 13 cm away from the radiation field edge using TLD-100 (G1 cards) as detectors. These calibrated cards were placed on the acrylic disc in circular tracks. The radiation dose of 2000 mGy of Co-60 beam was applied inside 10 × 10 cm2 field size at constant source to surface distance (SSD) of 80 cm. RESULTS: The results showed maximum and minimum PDs at surface and 5 cm depth respectively at all distances from the radiation field edge. Dose distributions out of the field edge with respect to distance were isotropic. The decrease in PDs at 5 cm depth was due to dominant forward scattering of Co-60 gamma rays. The increase in PDs beyond 5 cm depth was due to increase in the irradiated volume, increase in penumbra, increase in source to axis distance (SAD), and increase in field size due to inverse square factor. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that the PDs depends upon depth and distance from the radiation field edge. All the measurements show PDs in the homogenous medium (water); therefore, it estimates absorbed dose to the organ at risk (OAR) adjacent to cancer tissues/planning target volume (PTV). It is suggested that PDs can be minimized by using the SAD technique, as this technique controls sources of scattered radiation like inverse square factor and effect of penumbra up-to some extent.

Continuous Real-Time Detection of Serotonin Using an Aptamer-Based Electrochemical Biosensor.

Serotonin (5-HT) is a critical neurotransmitter involved in many neuronal functions, and 5-HT depletion has been linked to several mental diseases. The fast release and clearance of serotonin in the extracellular space, low analyte concentrations, and a multitude of interfering species make the detection of serotonin challenging. This work presents an electrochemical aptamer-based biosensing platform that can monitor 5-HT continuously with high sensitivity and selectivity. Our electrochemical sensor showed a response time of approximately 1 min to a step change in the serotonin concentration in continuous monitoring using a single-frequency EIS (electrochemical impedance spectroscopy) technique. The developed sensing platform was able to detect 5-HT in the range of 25-150 nM in the continuous sample fluid flow with a detection limit (LOD) of 5.6 nM. The electrochemical sensor showed promising selectivity against other species with similar chemical structures and redox potentials, including dopamine (DA), norepinephrine (NE), L-tryptophan (L-TP), 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), and 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP). The proposed sensing platform is able to achieve high selectivity in the nanomolar range continuously in real-time, demonstrating the potential for monitoring serotonin from neurons in organ-on-a-chip or brain-on-a-chip-based platforms.

Toward Rapid and Automated Immunoassays: Using a Localized Electrochemical pH Modulation Platform to Perform a Single-Step Immunoassay.

An electrochemical platform for generating and controlling a localized pH microenvironment on demand is proposed by employing a closed-loop control algorithm based on an iridium oxide pH sensor input. We use a combination of solution-borne quinones and galvanostatic excitation on a prepatterned indium tin oxide (ITO) working electrode to modulate pH within a very well confined, small volume of solution close to the electrode surface. We demonstrate that the rate of pH change can be controlled at up to 2 pH s-1 with an excellent repeatability (±0.004). The desired pH microenvironment can be stably maintained for longer than 2 h within ±0.0012 pH. As a high-impact application of the platform technology, we propose a single-step immunoassay and demonstrate its utility in measuring C-reactive protein (CRP), a critical inflammatory marker in various conditions such as myocardial infarction and even SARS-Cov-2. Utilizing pH modulation technology along with pH-sensitive fluorescence dye simplifies the immunoassay process into a single-step, where a mixture of all of the reagents is incubated only for 1 h without any washing steps or the need to change solution. This simplified immunoassay process minimizes the hands-on time of the end-user and thus decreases technician-driven errors. Moreover, the absence of complicated liquid-handling hardware makes it more suitable and attractive for an ultracompact platform to ultimately be used in a point-of-care diagnostic assay.

Contrasting maternal and paternal genetic histories among five ethnic groups from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.

Northwest Pakistan has served as a point of entry to South Asia for different populations since ancient times. However, relatively little is known about the population genetic history of the people residing within this region. To better understand human dispersal in the region within the broader history of the subcontinent, we analyzed mtDNA diversity in 659 and Y-chromosome diversity in 678 individuals, respectively, from five ethnic groups (Gujars, Jadoons, Syeds, Tanolis and Yousafzais), from Swabi and Buner Districts, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Pakistan. The mtDNAs of all individuals were subject to control region sequencing and SNP genotyping, while Y-chromosomes were analyzed using 54 SNPs and 19 STR loci. The majority of the mtDNAs belonged to West Eurasian haplogroups, with the rest belonging to either South or East Asian lineages. Four of the five Pakistani populations (Gujars, Jadoons, Syeds, Yousafzais) possessed strong maternal genetic affinities with other Pakistani and Central Asian populations, whereas one (Tanolis) did not. Four haplogroups (R1a, R1b, O3, L) among the 11 Y-chromosome lineages observed among these five ethnic groups contributed substantially to their paternal genetic makeup. Gujars, Syeds and Yousafzais showed strong paternal genetic affinities with other Pakistani and Central Asian populations, whereas Jadoons and Tanolis had close affinities with Turkmen populations from Central Asia and ethnic groups from northeast India. We evaluate these genetic data in the context of historical and archeological evidence to test different hypotheses concerning their origins and biological relationships.

Outcome of low-dose prednisolone use for the induction of remission in lupus nephritis patients.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to compare the efficacy of low-dose prednisolone with conventional high-dose regimen in proliferative lupus nephritis (LN) for remission. METHODS: This open-label randomized clinical trial was conducted in the Department of Rheumatology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka, Bangladesh. A total of 32 LN patients were randomized into low-dose (experimental) and high-dose (control) groups. All subjects received standard dose of intravenous (I/V) methylprednisolone and pulse I/V cyclophosphamide. Oral prednisolone, 0.5 mg/kg/d and 1 mg/kg/d were given to experimental and control groups respectively for initially 4 weeks then tapered. The patients were followed for 24 weeks. The rates of renal remission (complete and partial) were assessed at 24 weeks. The disease activity, biochemical markers, and quality of life were evaluated at baseline and at 24 weeks. RESULTS: Complete renal remission was achieved by 66.7% of patients in each group (P = .99). Renal remission (partial/complete) was achieved by 86.7% and 83.3% of patients in the prednisolone low-dose group and high-dose group respectively (P = .99). In between groups, no significant difference was observed in the improvement of active urinary sediments, serum creatinine level, anti-double-stranded DNA level, complements level, disease activity and Short Form-12 score. The prednisolone dose-related adverse events like cushingoid facies, abdominal stria, infections and serious adverse events like death occurred more in the high-dose prednisolone group. CONCLUSIONS: It has been observed that low-dose prednisolone regimen may be effective in LN. Steroid dose-related side effects and rate of infections were lower in this group.

Substantial P-Type Conductivity of AlN Achieved via Beryllium Doping.

Beryllium has long been predicted by first principle theory as the best p-type dopant for GaN and AlN. But experimental validation of these theories has not, until now, borne out the original predictions. A key challenge is the dopant-induced strain leading to Be rejection from substitutional sites in favor of interstitial sites, leading to self-compensation. More flexible growth methods like metal modulated epitaxy (MME) that can operate at substantially lower temperatures than traditional approaches, can more effectively place Be into the proper substitutional lattice sites. MME grown Be-doped AlN shows substantial p-type conductivity with hole concentrations in the range of 2.3 × 1015 -3.1 × 1018  cm-3  at room temperature. While others have achieved sizable carrier concentrations near surfaces via carbon doping or Si implantation, this is the only known demonstration of substantial bulk p-type doping in AlN and is a nearly 1000 times higher carrier concentration than the best previously demonstrated bulk electron concentrations in AlN. The acceptor activation energy is found to be ≈37 meV, ≈8 times lower than predicted in literature but on par with similar results for MME p-type GaN. Preliminary results suggest that the films are highly compensated. A p-AlN:Be/i-GaN:Be/n-GaN:Ge pin diode is demonstrated with substantial rectification.

Thermal conductivity measurements of sub-surface buried substrates by steady-state thermoreflectance.

Measuring the thermal conductivity of sub-surface buried substrates is of significant practical interests. However, this remains challenging with traditional pump-probe spectroscopies due to their limited thermal penetration depths. Here, we experimentally and numerically investigate the TPD of the recently developed optical pump-probe technique steady-state thermoreflectance (SSTR) and explore its capability for measuring the thermal properties of buried substrates. The conventional definition of the TPD (i.e., the depth at which temperature drops to 1/e value of the maximum surface temperature) does not truly represent the upper limit of how far beneath the surface SSTR can probe. For estimating the uncertainty of SSTR measurements of a buried substrate a priori, sensitivity calculations provide the best means. Thus, detailed sensitivity calculations are provided to guide future measurements. Due to the steady-state nature of SSTR, it can measure the thermal conductivity of buried substrates that are traditionally challenging by transient pump-probe techniques, exemplified by measuring three control samples. We also discuss the required criteria for SSTR to isolate the thermal properties of a buried film. Our study establishes SSTR as a suitable technique for thermal characterizations of sub-surface buried substrates in typical device geometries.

Bio-conversion of CO2 into biofuels and other value-added chemicals via metabolic engineering.

Carbon dioxide (CO2) occurs naturally in the atmosphere as a trace gas, which is produced naturally as well as by anthropogenic activities. CO2 is a readily available source of carbon that in principle can be used as a raw material for the synthesis of valuable products. The autotrophic organisms are naturally equipped to convert CO2 into biomass by obtaining energy from sunlight or inorganic electron donors. This autotrophic CO2 fixation has been exploited in biotechnology, and microbial cell factories have been metabolically engineered to convert CO2 into biofuels and other value-added bio-based chemicals. A variety of metabolic engineering efforts for CO2 fixation ranging from basic copy, paste, and fine-tuning approaches to engineering and testing of novel synthetic CO2 fixing pathways have been demonstrated. In this paper, we review the current advances and innovations in metabolic engineering for bio-conversion of CO2 into bio biofuels and other value-added bio-based chemicals.

Stimuli-Responsive Templated Polymer as a Target Receptor for a Conformation-based Electrochemical Sensing Platform.

The use of highly crosslinked molecularly imprinted polymers as a synthetic target receptor has the limitations of restricted accessibility to the binding sites resulting in slow response time. Moreover, such artificial receptors often require additional transduction mechanisms to translate target binding events into measurable signals. Here, we propose the development of a single-chain stimuli-responsive templated polymer, without using any covalent interchain crosslinkers, as a target recognition element. The synthesized polymer chain exhibits preferential binding with the target molecule with which the polymer is templated. Moreover, upon specific target recognition, the polymer undergoes conformation change induced by its particular stimuli responsiveness, namely the target binding event. Such templated single-chain polymers can be attached to the electrode surface to implement a label-free electrochemical sensing platform. A target analyte, 4-nitrophenol (4-NP), was used as a template to synthesize a poly-N-isopropylacrylamide (PNIPAM)-based copolymer chain which was anchored to the electrode to be used as a selective receptor for 4-NP. The electrode surface chemistry analysis and the electrochemical impedance study reveal that the polymer concentration, the interchain interactions, and the Hofmeister effect play a major role in influencing the rate of polymer grafting as well as the morphology of the polymers grafted to the electrode. We also show that the specific binding between 4-NP and the copolymer results in a substantial change in the charge transfer kinetics at the electrode signifying the polymer conformation change.

Attitude toward personal genomics: A nation-wide survey of public and professionals in Pakistan.

With the emergence of modern genetic testing and profiling techniques, it has become imperative to assess the general public awareness and attitudes toward such developments. The public's perspective and possible responses are necessary for planning commercial, legal, medical, or healthcare initiatives. The purpose of this study was to assess the perception of the general public and professionals about the personal genome testing and genetic profiling. A questionnaire-based survey was conducted to investigate the attitudes of 2954 adults (56.4% male and 43.6% female) from more than 120 different educational, research, and professional organizations of Pakistan. The aim of the study was to assess interest in genomic testing. The findings of this survey will feed into the larger Genome Projects in Pakistan and will be helpful for the national bioethical committee, healthcare agencies, diagnostic companies, and other institutions for making policy decisions.

Analyses of mitogenomic markers shed light on the divergence, population dynamics, and demographic history of Pakistani chickens.

Pakistan is one of a few sites, associated with the earliest known independent domestication event in the evolutionary history of chicken, which is socio-economically and historically the most important poultry bird in the country. However, the divergence, past population dynamics, and demographic history of Pakistani chickens have not been addressed so far. Therefore, we herein investigated the indigenous Pakistani chickens using mitogenomic markers. We first prepared individual DNA samples from the chicken feathers, and generated nucleotide sequence data, which was then subjected to various population genetics analyses. In molecular phylogenetic analysis, the Pakistani chickens were clustered under nine different clades. Among the wild fowls, the Indian red jungle fowl (IRJF) shared very close affinities to Pakistani chickens. The Bayesian skyline plot showed an increase in the effective population size of Pakistani chickens during the last 50 years. Finally, a time-calibrated phylogeny inferred molecular divergence of the Pakistani chickens. A molecular rate of 3.6 × 10-6 mutations/site/year (95% HPD interval: 2.28 × 10-8 to 9.32 × 10-6) was estimated for the data set. In a rooted tree with root-age of 12058 years (95% HPD interval: 1161-38411), the Pakistani chicken haplotypes showed divergence from IRJF haplotypes around 6987 years (95% HPD interval: 1132-20746) ago, and they shared their most recent common ancestor with Gallus gallus spadiceus, and G. g. jabouillei at the root of the tree. Overall, these results suggest that Pakistani chicken haplotypes share their ancestral gene pool with the IRJF as compared to other red jungle fowl subspecies.

Taming the pandemic? The importance of homemade plant-based foods and beverages as community responses to COVID-19.

Household responses to COVID-19 in different corners of the world represent the primary health care that communities have relied on for preventing and mitigating symptoms. During a very complex and confusing time, in which public health services in multiple countries have been completely overwhelmed, and in some cases even collapsed, these first-line household responses have been quintessential for building physical, mental, and social resilience, and for improving individual and community health. This editorial discusses the outcomes of a rapid-response preliminary survey during the first phase of the pandemic among social and community contacts in five metropolises heavily affected by the COVID-19 health crisis (Wuhan, Milan, Madrid, New York, and Rio de Janeiro), and in twelve rural areas or countries initially less affected by the pandemic (Appalachia, Jamaica, Bolivia, Romania, Belarus, Lithuania, Poland, Georgia, Turkey, Pakistan, Cambodia, and South Africa). We summarized our perspectives as 17 case studies, observing that people have relied primarily on teas and spices ("food-medicines") and that there exist clear international plant favorites, popularized by various new media. Urban diasporas and rural households seem to have repurposed homemade plant-based remedies that they use in normal times for treating the flu and other respiratory symptoms or that they simply consider healthy foods. The most remarkable shift in many areas has been the increased consumption of ginger and garlic, followed by onion, turmeric, and lemon. Our preliminary inventory of food medicines serves as a baseline for future systematic ethnobotanical studies and aims to inspire in-depth research on how use patterns of plant-based foods and beverages, both "traditional" and "new", are changing during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Our reflections in this editorial call attention to the importance of ethnobiology, ethnomedicine, and ethnogastronomy research into domestic health care strategies for improving community health.

Apathetic Thyroid Storm with Cardiorespiratory Failure, Pulmonary Embolism, and Coagulopathy in a Young Male with Graves' Disease and Myopathy.

A 38-year-old gentleman presented with thyroid storm with multiorgan involvement in the form of heart failure (thyrotoxic cardiomyopathy), respiratory failure (respiratory muscle fatigue), hepatic dysfunction, fast atrial fibrillation, pulmonary embolism, and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). His Graves' disease (GD) remained undiagnosed for nearly 8 months because apart from weight loss, he has not had any other symptoms of thyrotoxicosis. The presentation of thyroid storm was atypical (apathetic thyroid storm) with features of depression and extreme lethargy without any fever, anxiety, agitation, or seizure. There were no identifiable triggers for the thyroid storm. Apart from mechanical ventilation and continuous veno-venous renal replacement therapy in the intensive care unit, he received propylthiouracil (PTU), esmolol, and corticosteroids, which were later switched to carbimazole and propranolol with steroids being tapered down. He was diagnosed with thyrotoxic myopathy which, like GD, remained undiagnosed for long (fatigability). A high index of suspicion and a multidisciplinary care are essential for good outcome in these patients.

Comprehensive Analysis of Metal Modulated Epitaxial GaN.

While metal modulated epitaxy (MME) has been shown useful for hyperdoping, where hole concentrations 40 times higher than other techniques have been demonstrated, and the ability to control phase separation in immiscible III-nitrides, the complexity of the dynamically changing surface conditions during the cyclic growth is poorly understood. While MME is capable of superb crystal quality, performing MME in an improper growth regime can result in defective material. These complications have made the transfer of MME knowledge challenging. This work provides a comprehensive study of the conditions necessary for achieving the benefits of MME while avoiding undesirable defects. The effects of growth temperature, Ga/N ratio, and excess Ga dose per MME growth cycle on the morphological, structural, electronic, and optical properties of unintentionally doped (UID) MME grown gallium nitride (GaN) have been investigated. Optimal structural and electrical quality were achieved for GaN films grown at ∼650 °C, at pre-bilayer Ga coverage and at the moderate droplet regime. However, high defect concentrations were observed at the lowest growth temperatures, and counter to traditional MBE, as the excess Ga dose transitioned from bilayer coverage to the low droplet regime. Optoelectronic properties were optimal for films grown at intermediate growth temperatures, an excess Ga dose condition just before the droplet formation, and, at a III/V ratio of 1.3. Optimization of growth temperatures, Ga/N ratios, and excess Ga dose results in a range of growth conditions achieving smooth surfaces, step-flow surface morphology, and high crystalline quality films with low threading dislocation densities, allowing researchers to utilize the extensive advantages of MME.

Mitochondrial DNA diversity in the Khattak and Kheshgi of the Peshawar Valley, Pakistan.

The strategic location of Pakistan and its presence at the crossroads of Asia has resulted in it playing a central role in both prehistoric and historic human migratory events, thereby linking and facilitating contacts between the inhabitants of the Middle East, Central Asia, China and South Asia. Despite the importance of this region and its inhabitants for our understanding of modern human origins and population dispersals, the nature of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variation among members of the myriad populations of this area has largely been unexplored. Here, we report mtDNA control region sequences in 58 individuals from the Khattak and the Kheshgi, two major Pakhtun tribes residing within the Peshawar Valley of northwestern Pakistan. The results reveal that these ethnic groups are genetically heterogeneous, having 55.7% West Eurasian, 33.9% South Asian and 10.2% East Asian haplogroups. The genetic diversity observed for the Kheshgi was somewhat higher than that of the Khattak. A multidimensional scaling plot based on haplogroup frequencies for the Khattak, Kheshgi and neighboring populations indicates that the Khattak have close affinities with Baluch, Uzbek and Kazak populations but are only distantly related to the Kheshgi and other Pakistani populations. By contrast, the Kheshgi cluster closely with other Pakhtun or Pathan populations of Pakistan, suggesting a possible common maternal gene pool shared amongst them. These mtDNA data allow us to begin reconstructing the origins of the Khattak and Kheshgi and describe their complex interactions with populations from the surrounding regions.

A Whole Genome Re-Sequencing Based GWA Analysis Reveals Candidate Genes Associated with Ivermectin Resistance in Haemonchus contortus.

The most important and broad-spectrum drug used to control the parasitic worms to date is ivermectin (IVM). Resistance against IVM has emerged in parasites, and preserving its efficacy is now becoming a serious issue. The parasitic nematode Haemonchus contortus (Rudolphi, 1803) is economically an important parasite of small ruminants across the globe, which has a successful track record in IVM resistance. There are growing evidences regarding the multigenic nature of IVM resistance, and although some genes have been proposed as candidates of IVM resistance using lower magnification of genome, the genetic basis of IVM resistance still remains poorly resolved. Using the full magnification of genome, we herein applied a population genomics approach to characterize genome-wide signatures of selection among pooled worms from two susceptible and six ivermectin-resistant isolates of H. contortus, and revealed candidate genes under selection in relation to IVM resistance. These candidates also included a previously known IVM-resistance-associated candidate gene HCON_00148840, glc-3. Finally, an RNA-interference-based functional validation assay revealed the HCON_00143950 as IVM-tolerance-associated gene in H. contortus. The possible role of this gene in IVM resistance could be detoxification of xenobiotic in phase I of xenobiotic metabolism. The results of this study further enhance our understanding on the IVM resistance and continue to provide further evidence in favor of multigenic nature of IVM resistance.

Origin, Potential Therapeutic Targets and Treatment for Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19).

The ongoing episode of coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) has imposed a serious threat to global health and the world economy. The disease has rapidly acquired a pandemic status affecting almost all populated areas of the planet. The causative agent of COVID-19 is a novel coronavirus known as SARS-CoV-2. The virus has an approximate 30 kb single-stranded positive-sense RNA genome, which is 74.5% to 99% identical to that of SARS-CoV, CoV-pangolin, and the coronavirus the from horseshoe bat. According to available information, SARS-CoV-2 is inferred to be a recombinant virus that originated from bats and was transmitted to humans, possibly using the pangolin as the intermediate host. The interaction of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein with the human ACE2 (angiotensin-converting enzyme 2) receptor, and its subsequent cleavage by serine protease and fusion, are the main events in the pathophysiology. The serine protease inhibitors, spike protein-based vaccines, or ACE2 blockers may have therapeutic potential in the near future. At present, no vaccine is available against COVID-19. The disease is being treated with antiviral, antimalarial, anti-inflammatory, herbal medicines, and active plasma antibodies. In this context, the present review article provides a cumulative account of the recent information regarding the viral characteristics, potential therapeutic targets, treatment options, and prospective research questions.

Identification of common genetic markers of paroxysmal neurological disorders using a network analysis approach.

Emerging data have established links between paroxysmal neurological disorders or psychiatric disorder, such as migraine, ataxia, movement disorders and epilepsy. Common gene signatures such as expression, protein interaction and the associated signalling pathways link genes in these associated disorders, with the object to predict unknown disease or risk genes. In this study, we used gene interaction networks to investigate common gene signatures associated with the above phenotypes. In total, 19 candidate genes were used for making an interaction network which further revealed 39 associated genes (including KCNA1, SCN2A, CACNA1A, KCNM4, KCNO3, SCN1B and CACNB4) implicated in paroxysmal neurological disorders development and progression. The meta-regression analysis showed the strongest association of SCN2A with genes involved in schizophrenia and neurodevelopmental disorders. Importantly, our analysis showed KCNMA1 as a common gene signature with a link to epilepsy, movement disorders and wide paroxysmal neurological presentations-with the greatest potential risk of being a disease gene in a paroxysmal or psychiatric disorder. Further gene interaction analysis is required to identify unidentified gene interactions which may be targets for future drugs development.

The knowledge level of rheumatoid arthritis patients about their disease in a developing country. A study in 168 Bangladeshi RA patients.

OBJECTIVES: To assess disease-related knowledge of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients PATIENTS AND METHODS: Consecutive RA patients were invited from the rheumatology departments of BSMM University, Dhaka, Bangladesh. The Bangla version of the Patient Knowledge Questionnaire (B-PKQ) was used. Correlations between the B-PKQ scores and clinical-demographic data were measured using Pearson's correlation coefficient. Impact of independent variables on the level of knowledge about RA was analyzed through multiple regression analysis. Possible explanatory variables included the following: age, disease duration, formal education level, and Bangla Health Assessment Questionnaire (B-HAQ) score. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to test the difference between demographical, clinical, and socioeconomic variables. For statistical analysis, SPSS statistics version 20 was used. RESULTS: A total of 168 RA patients could be included. The mean B-PKQ score was 9.84 (range 1-20) from a possible maximum of 30. The mean time for answering the questionnaire was 24.3 min (range 15-34). Low scores were observed in all domains but the lowest were in medications and joint protection/energy conservation. Knowledge level was higher (15.5) in 6 patients who had RA education before enrollment. B-PKQ showed positive correlation with education level (r = 0.338) and negative correlation with HAQ (r = -0.169). The B-PKQ showed no correlation with age, disease duration, having first degree family member with RA, education from other sources (neighbor, RA patient, nurses), or information from mass media. CONCLUSIONS: Disease-related knowledge of Bangladeshi RA patients was poor in all domains. Using these findings, improved education and knowledge will result in better disease control.Key Points• Little is known about the knowledge of RA patients regarding their disease and its treatment in Bangladesh and in developing countries in general.• We found that the knowledge of Bangladeshi RA patients regarding their disease was poor in all domains; it correlated positive with education level and negative with function (HAQ), but showed no correlation with age or disease duration.• The findings of this study can be used for improving current patient education programs by health professionals and through mass media.• Better disease control of RA may be achieved by improving patient knowledge in a developing country like Bangladesh, but also in other parts of the world.