Plant-assisted green preparation of silver nanoparticles using leaf extract of Dalbergia sissoo and their antioxidant, antibacterial and catalytic applications.

Plant-mediated preparation of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) is thought to be a more economical and environmentally benign process in comparison to physical and chemical synthesis methods. In the present study, the aqueous leaf extract of Dalbergia sissoo was prepared and utilized to reduce silver ion (Ag+) during the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (DL-AgNPs). The formation of DL-AgNPs was verified using UV-Vis spectra, exhibiting the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) band at around 450 nm. FT-IR analysis revealed the kinds of phytochemicals that serve as reducing and capping agents while DL-AgNPs are being synthesized. Analysis of scanning electron microscope (SEM) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) images verified the development of spherical and oval-shaped DL-AgNPs, with sizes ranging from 10 to 25 nm. The stability and particle size distribution of synthesized DL-AgNPs were ensured by zeta potential and DLS (dynamic light scattering) investigations. Additionally, X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed the crystalline nature of DL-AgNPs. In antioxidant experiments, DL-AgNPs demonstrated significant scavenging capacities of DPPH and ABTS radicals with EC50 values of 51.32 and 33.32 µg/mL, respectively. The antibacterial activity of DL-AgNPs was shown to be significant against harmful bacteria, with a maximum zone of inhibition (21.5 ± 0.86 mm) against Staphylococcus aureus. Furthermore, DL-AgNPs exhibited effective catalytic activity to degrade environment-polluting dyes (methylene blue, methyl orange, and Congo red) and toxic chemicals (p-nitrophenol). The results of all these studies suggested that DL-AgNPs made from the leaf extract of Dalbergia sissoo have merit for application in the environmental and biomedical fields.

In Silico and In Vitro Study of Isoquercitrin against Kidney Cancer and Inflammation by Triggering Potential Gene Targets.

Kidney cancer has emerged as a major medical problem in recent times. Multiple compounds are used to treat kidney cancer by triggering cancer-causing gene targets. For instance, isoquercitrin (quercetin-3-O-ß-d-glucopyranoside) is frequently present in fruits, vegetables, medicinal herbs, and foods and drinks made from plants. Our previous study predicted using protein-protein interaction (PPI) and molecular docking analysis that the isoquercitrin compound can control kidney cancer and inflammation by triggering potential gene targets of IGF1R, PIK3CA, IL6, and PTGS2. So, the present study is about further in silico and in vitro validation. We performed molecular dynamic (MD) simulation, gene ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis, cytotoxicity assay, and RT-PCR and qRT-PCR validation. According to the MD simulation (250 ns), we found that IGF1R, PIK3CA, and PTGS2, except for IL6 gene targets, show stable binding energy with a stable complex with isoquercitrin. We also performed gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses of the final targets to determine their regulatory functions and signaling pathways. Furthermore, we checked the cytotoxicity effect of isoquercitrin (IQ) and found that 5 µg/mL and 10 µg/mL doses showed higher cell viability in a normal kidney cell line (HEK 293) and also inversely showed an inhibition of cell growth at 35% and 45%, respectively, in the kidney cancer cell line (A498). Lastly, the RT-PCR and qRT-PCR findings showed a significant decrease in PTGS2, PIK3CA, and IGF1R gene expression, except for IL6 expression, following dose-dependent treatments with IQ. Thus, we can conclude that isoquercitrin inhibits the expression of PTGS2, PIK3CA, and IGF1R gene targets, which in turn controls kidney cancer and inflammation.

Butyrate's (a short-chain fatty acid) microbial synthesis, absorption, and preventive roles against colorectal and lung cancer.

Butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) produced by bacterial fermentation of fiber in the colon, is a source of energy for colonocytes. Butyrate is essential for improving gastrointestinal (GI) health since it helps colonocyte function, reduces inflammation, preserves the gut barrier, and fosters a balanced microbiome. Human colonic butyrate producers are Gram-positive firmicutes, which are phylogenetically varied. The two most prevalent subgroups are associated with Eubacterium rectale/Roseburia spp. and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii. Now, the mechanism for the production of butyrate from microbes is a very vital topic to know. In the present study, we discuss the genes encoding the core of the butyrate synthesis pathway and also discuss the butyryl-CoA:acetate CoA-transferase, instead of butyrate kinase, which usually appears to be the enzyme that completes the process. Recently, butyrate-producing microbes have been genetically modified by researchers to increase butyrate synthesis from microbes. The activity of butyrate as a histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi) has led to several clinical trials to assess its effectiveness as a potential cancer treatment. Among various significant roles, butyrate is the main energy source for intestinal epithelial cells, which helps maintain colonic homeostasis. Moreover, people with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have distinct gut microbiota from healthy adults and frequently have dysbiosis of the butyrate-producing bacteria in their guts. So, with an emphasis on colon and lung cancer, this review also discusses how the microbiome is crucial in preventing the progression of certain cancers through butyrate production. Further studies should be performed to investigate the underlying mechanisms of how these specific butyrate-producing bacteria can control both colon and lung cancer progression and prognosis.

Potential of Gut Microbial Metabolites in Treating Osteoporosis and Obesity: A Network Pharmacology and Bioinformatics Approach.

BACKGROUND The gut microbial metabolites demonstrate significant activity against metabolic diseases including osteoporosis (OP) and obesity, but active compounds, targets, and mechanisms have not been fully identified. Hence, the current investigation explored the mechanisms of active metabolites and targets against OP and obesity by using network pharmacology approaches. MATERIAL AND METHODS The gutMGene database was used to collect gut microbial targets-associated metabolites; DisGeNET and OMIM databases were used to identify targets relevant to OP and obesity. A total of 63 and 89 overlapped targets were considered the final OP and obesity targets after creating a Venn diagram of metabolites-related targets and disease-related targets. Furthermore, the top 20% of degrees, betweenness, and closeness were used to form the sub-network of protein-protein interaction of these targets. Finally, the biotransformation-increased receptors and biological mechanisms were identified and validated using ADMET properties analysis, molecular docking, and molecular dynamic simulation. RESULTS GO, KEGG pathway analysis, and protein-protein interactions were performed to establish metabolites and target networks. According to the enrichment analysis, OP and obesity are highly linked to the lipid and atherosclerosis pathways. Moreover, ADMET analysis depicts that the major metabolites have drug-likeliness activity and no or less toxicity. Following that, the molecular docking studies showed that compound K and TP53 target have a remarkable negative affinity (-8.0 kcal/mol) among all metabolites and targets for both diseases. Finally, the conformity of compound K against the targeted protein TP53 was validated by 250ns MD simulation. CONCLUSIONS Therefore, we summarized that compound K can regulate TP53 and could be developed as a therapy option for OP and obesity.

Bioconversion, Pharmacokinetics, and Therapeutic Mechanisms of Ginsenoside Compound K and Its Analogues for Treating Metabolic Diseases.

Rare ginsenoside compound K (CK) is an intestinal microbial metabolite with a low natural abundance that is primarily produced by physicochemical processing, side chain modification, or metabolic transformation in the gut. Moreover, CK exhibits potent biological activity compared to primary ginsenosides, which has raised concerns in the field of ginseng research and development, as well as ginsenoside-related dietary supplements and natural products. Ginsenosides Rb1, Rb2, and Rc are generally used as a substrate to generate CK via several bioconversion processes. Current research shows that CK has a wide range of pharmacological actions, including boosting osteogenesis, lipid and glucose metabolism, lipid oxidation, insulin resistance, and anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptosis properties. Further research on the bioavailability and toxicology of CK can advance its medicinal application. The purpose of this review is to lay the groundwork for future clinical studies and the development of CK as a therapy for metabolic disorders. Furthermore, the toxicology and pharmacology of CK are investigated as well in this review. The findings indicate that CK primarily modulates signaling pathways associated with AMPK, SIRT1, PPARs, WNTs, and NF-kB. It also demonstrates a positive therapeutic effect of CK on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), obesity, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, and its complications, as well as osteoporosis. Additionally, the analogues of CK showed more bioavailability, less toxicity, and more efficacy against disease states. Enhancing bioavailability and regulating hazardous variables are crucial for its use in clinical trials.

Extreme weather events and Spatio-temporal characterization of climate change variables in Bangladesh during 1975-2019.

Bangladesh is susceptible to climate change, thus a detailed study, including the analyses of trends, sub-trends, extreme events and indices was conducted to obtain a complete picture of the climate change pattern in Bangladesh utilizing daily rainfall, maximum, minimum and average temperature data of 26 stations from 1975 to 2019 using R 4.0.2 software. For the trend analysis Mann Kendal (MK), modified Mann Kendall (mMK), Innovative Trend Analysis (ITA) and Sen's slope methods were used. Sub-trend analysis was conducted using ITA. Standard Anomaly Index (SAI) has been used to identify the frequency and severity of extreme events. ClimPACT2 software was used to check the homogeneity and calculate the extremes of temperature and rainfall data. Our analysis showed that during the last four decades, climate variables changed their patterns and trend heterogeneously over Bangladesh. Most stations showed decremental rainfall trend when central part of the country showed a substantial decrease. The northern and central parts of the country showed significant growth of trend for annual average temperature. The temperature in the monsoon season increased, whereas those in dry season decreased. The rainfall and maximum temperature were inversely related during monsoon whereas during dry season both of them decrease. The pre-monsoon and post-monsoonal rainfall also showed decreasing trends, indicating prevailing drought conditions especially in northern and central parts of the country. The SAI analysis showed alternating drought and wet years in almost all the stations. In the past 20 years, the country's western region experienced more drought years than before whereas the coastal region experienced more wet years. The analysis of climate extreme indices suggests that, Consecutive Dry Days (CDD), Hot Days (TX90P) and Hot Nights (TN90P) show significant increasing trend throughout the country. The agricultural productivity, water resource management and food security are anticipated to benefit from this study.

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.

Atopic dermatitis: Pathophysiology, microbiota, and metabolome - A comprehensive review.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a prevalent inflammatory skin condition that commonly occurs in children. Genetics, environment, and defects in the skin barrier are only a few of the factors that influence how the disease develops. As human microbiota research has advanced, more scientific evidence has shown the critical involvement of the gut and skin bacteria in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis. Microbiome dysbiosis, defined by changed diversity and composition, as well as the development of pathobionts, has been identified as a potential cause for recurring episodes of atopic dermatitis. Gut dysbiosis causes "leaky gut syndrome" by disrupting the epithelial lining of the gut, which allows bacteria and other endotoxins to enter the bloodstream and cause inflammation. The same is true for the disruption of cutaneous homeostasis caused by skin dysbiosis, which enables bacteria and other pathogens to reach deeper skin layers or even systemic circulation, resulting in inflammation. Furthermore, it is now recognized that the gut and skin microbiota releases both beneficial and toxic metabolites. Here, this review covers a range of topics related to AD, including its pathophysiology, the microbiota-AD connection, commonly used treatments, and the significance of metabolomics in AD prevention, treatment, and management, recognizing its potential in providing valuable insights into the disease.

A Network Pharmacology and Molecular-Docking-Based Approach to Identify the Probable Targets of Short-Chain Fatty-Acid-Producing Microbial Metabolites against Kidney Cancer and Inflammation.

(1) Background: A large and diverse microbial population exists in the human intestinal tract, which supports gut homeostasis and the health of the host. Short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-secreting microbes also generate several metabolites with favorable regulatory effects on various malignancies and immunological inflammations. The involvement of intestinal SCFAs in kidney diseases, such as various kidney malignancies and inflammations, has emerged as a fascinating area of study in recent years. However, the mechanisms of SCFAs and other metabolites produced by SCFA-producing bacteria against kidney cancer and inflammation have not yet been investigated. (2) Methods: We considered 177 different SCFA-producing microbial species and 114 metabolites from the gutMgene database. Further, we used different online-based database platforms to predict 1890 gene targets associated with metabolites. Moreover, DisGeNET, OMIM, and Genecard databases were used to consider 13,104 disease-related gene targets. We used a Venn diagram and various protein-protein interactions (PPIs), KEGG pathways, and GO analyses for the functional analysis of gene targets. Moreover, the subnetwork of protein-protein interactions (through string and cytoscape platforms) was used to select the top 20% of gene targets through degree centrality, betweenness centrality, and closeness centrality. To screen the possible candidate compounds, we performed an analysis of the ADMET (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity) properties of metabolites and then found the best binding affinity using molecular docking simulation. (3) Results: Finally, we found the key gene targets that interact with suitable compounds and function against kidney cancer and inflammation, such as MTOR (with glycocholic acid), PIK3CA (with 11-methoxycurvularin, glycocholic acid, and isoquercitrin), IL6 (with isoquercitrin), PTGS2 (with isoquercitrin), and IGF1R (with 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b] pyridine, isoquercitrin), showed a lower binding affinity. (4) Conclusions: This study provides evidence to support the positive effects of SCFA-producing microbial metabolites that function against kidney cancer and inflammation and makes integrative research proposals that may be used to guide future studies.

Factors affecting depression among married adults: a gender-based household cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Depression is a common mental health problem all over the world including Bangladesh. World Health Organization included it in the Mental Health Gap Action Programme as one of its priority conditions. Research on this issue is scanty in Bangladesh. Therefore, we designed to a gender-based household study on associated factors of depression among married adults in Rajshahi City of Bangladesh. METHODS: We conducted this household cross-sectional study from August 01 to October 31, 2019. A total of 708 married adults currently living together in Rajshahi City were recruited for this study. We applied a multi-stage random sampling technique for selecting samples and used a semi-structured questionnaire to collect necessary information from them. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 was used for measuring depression and frequency distribution and binary logistic regression model were used for data analysis. RESULTS: The prevalence of depression (moderate to severe) was 14.4% (95% CI: 11.9-16.9) among married adults, and females (21.2%, 95% CI: 17.2-25.4) suffered more than males (7.6%, 95% CI: 4.8-10.5). A multiple binary logistic regression model established four main factors of depression among married females: (i) multiple marriage [AOR = 19.982; 95% CI: 10.081-39.610; p < 0.01]; (ii) poor relationship with spouse [AOR = 2.175; 95%CI: 1.068-4.428; p < 0.05]; (iii) chronic medical comorbidity [AOR = 1.876; 95%CI: 1.009-2.626; p < 0.05]; and (iv) 7-12 years duration of conjugal life [AOR = 2.091, 1.009-4.334; p < 0.05]. Two main factors of depression among married males were (i) multiple marriage [AOR = 24.605; 95% CI: 20.228-40.402; p < 0.01] and hard work [AOR = 4.358; 95%CI: 1.109-7.132; p < 0.05]. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of depression was significantly high among the study population, and females were the most vulnerable group. The concerned authorities and stakeholders should take appropriate measures to manage the problem with special focus on the risk factors and the vulnerable groups.

The occurrence and molecular detection of mcr-1 and mcr-5 genes in Enterobacteriaceae isolated from poultry and poultry meats in Malaysia.

The advent of antimicrobials-resistant (AMR), including colistin-resistant bacteria, poses a significant challenge to animal and human health, food safety, socio-economic growth, and the global environment. This study aimed to ascertain the colistin resistance prevalence and molecular mechanisms of colistin resistance in Enterobacteriaceae. The colistin resistance was determined using broth microdilution assay, PCR; and Sanger sequencing of mcr genes responsible for colistin resistance in Enterobacteriaceae (n = 627), including Escherichia coli (436), Salmonella spp. (n = 140), and Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 51), obtained from chicken and chicken meats. Out of 627 Enterobacteriaceae, 8.6% of isolates exhibited colistin resistance phenotypically. Among these colistin resistant isolates, 9.3% (n = 37) were isolated from chicken meat, 7.2% (n = 11) from the cloacal swab of chicken and 7.9% (n = 6) from the litter samples. Overall, 12.96% of colistin-resistant isolates were positive with mcr genes, in which mcr-1 and mcr-5 genes were determined in 11.11% and 1.85% of colistin-resistant isolates, respectively. The E. coli isolates obtained from chicken meats, cloacal swabs and litter samples were found positive for mcr-1, and Salmonella spp. originated from the chicken meat sample was observed with mcr-5, whereas no mcr genes were observed in K. pneumoniae strains isolated from any of the collected samples. The other colistin resistance genes, including mcr-2, mcr-3, mcr-4, mcr-6, mcr-7, mcr-8, mcr-9, and mcr-10 were not detected in the studied samples. The mcr-1 and mcr-5 genes were sequenced and found to be 100% identical to the mcr-1 and mcr-5 gene sequences available in the NCBI database. This is the first report of colistin resistance mcr-5 gene in Malaysia which could portend the emergence of mcr-5 harboring bacterial strains for infection. Further studies are needed to characterize the mr-5 harbouring bacteria for the determination of plasmid associated with mcr-5 gene.

Explainable AI for Bioinformatics: Methods, Tools and Applications.

Artificial intelligence (AI) systems utilizing deep neural networks and machine learning (ML) algorithms are widely used for solving critical problems in bioinformatics, biomedical informatics and precision medicine. However, complex ML models that are often perceived as opaque and black-box methods make it difficult to understand the reasoning behind their decisions. This lack of transparency can be a challenge for both end-users and decision-makers, as well as AI developers. In sensitive areas such as healthcare, explainability and accountability are not only desirable properties but also legally required for AI systems that can have a significant impact on human lives. Fairness is another growing concern, as algorithmic decisions should not show bias or discrimination towards certain groups or individuals based on sensitive attributes. Explainable AI (XAI) aims to overcome the opaqueness of black-box models and to provide transparency in how AI systems make decisions. Interpretable ML models can explain how they make predictions and identify factors that influence their outcomes. However, the majority of the state-of-the-art interpretable ML methods are domain-agnostic and have evolved from fields such as computer vision, automated reasoning or statistics, making direct application to bioinformatics problems challenging without customization and domain adaptation. In this paper, we discuss the importance of explainability and algorithmic transparency in the context of bioinformatics. We provide an overview of model-specific and model-agnostic interpretable ML methods and tools and outline their potential limitations. We discuss how existing interpretable ML methods can be customized and fit to bioinformatics research problems. Further, through case studies in bioimaging, cancer genomics and text mining, we demonstrate how XAI methods can improve transparency and decision fairness. Our review aims at providing valuable insights and serving as a starting point for researchers wanting to enhance explainability and decision transparency while solving bioinformatics problems. GitHub: https://github.com/rezacsedu/XAI-for-bioinformatics.

Antimicrobial Resistance Profiles and Co-Existence of Multiple Antimicrobial Resistance Genes in mcr-Harbouring Colistin-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae Isolates Recovered from Poultry and Poultry Meats in Malaysia.

The co-existence of the colistin resistance (mcr) gene with multiple drug-resistance genes has raised concerns about the possibility of the development of pan-drug-resistant bacteria that will complicate treatment. This study aimed to investigate the antibiotic resistance profiles and co-existence of antibiotic resistance genes among the colistin-resistant Enterobacteriaceae isolates recovered from poultry and poultry meats. The antibiotic susceptibility to various classes of antibiotics was performed using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method and selected antimicrobial resistance genes were detected using PCR in a total of 54 colistin-resistant Enterobacteriaceae isolates including Escherichia coli (E. coli) (n = 32), Salmonella spp. (n = 16) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) (n = 6) isolates. Most of the isolates had multi-drug resistance (MDR), with antibiotic resistance against up to seven classes of antibiotics. All mcr-harbouring, colistin-resistant Enterobacteriaceae isolates showed this MDR (100%) phenotype. The mcr-1 harbouring E. coli isolates were co-harbouring multiple antibiotic resistance genes. The seven most commonly identified resistance genes (blaTEM, tetA, floR, aac-3-IV, aadA1, fosA, aac(6_)-lb) were detected in an mcr-1-harbouring E. coli isolate recovered from a cloacal swab. The mcr-5 harbouring Salmonella spp. isolate recovered from poultry meats was positive for blaTEM, tetA, floR, aac-3-IV, fosA and aac(6_)-lb genes. In conclusion, the colistin-resistant Enterobacteriaceae with mcr genes co-existing multiple clinically important antimicrobial resistance genes in poultry and poultry meats may cause potential future threats to infection treatment choices in humans and animals.

Multidrug-resistant non-typhoidal Salmonella of public health significance recovered from migratory birds in Bangladesh.

Non-typhoidal Salmonella provides an exemplar for the One Health approach as it encompasses public and animal health, food safety, and environmental considerations. The contribution of environmental aspects is currently less well-defined. The purpose of this study was to determine the carriage occurrence of non-typhoidal Salmonella in migratory birds in Bangladesh and assess the potential significance to public and animal health. Cloacal swabs (N = 453) were collected in the years 2018-2020 from Tanguar and Hakaluki Haors, important wetland ecosystems in Northeastern Bangladesh. The prevalence of Salmonella was 13.5% (61 positive swabs). Classical serotyping identified six serovars: Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovars Perth, Kentucky, Albany, Infantis, Weltevreden, and Brancaster. Resistance towards 14 antimicrobials was assessed by broth microdilution minimum inhibitory concentration determination and the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genotype established by whole-genome sequencing. S. Perth and S. Weltevreden isolates were susceptible and harbored no acquired AMR genes. Isolates from the remaining serovars were multidrug resistant, commonly possessing resistance to tetracycline, ampicillin, chloramphenicol, sulfamethoxazole, trimethoprim, and ciprofloxacin. Salmonella resistant to ciprofloxacin meets WHO criteria for priority pathogens. There was excellent concordance between resistance phenotype and the presence of corresponding AMR genes, many of which reside on Salmonella Genomic Islands. High-level ciprofloxacin resistance correlated with the presence of mutations in the chromosomal gyrB and/or parC genes. The S. Kentucky isolates were ST198, a widely distributed multidrug-resistant lineage reported in humans and animals, and constituting an ongoing risk to public health worldwide. We have demonstrated that multidrug-resistant non-typhoidal Salmonella of public health significance can be recovered from migratory birds. A potential for risk can manifest through direct interaction, transmission to food-producing livestock on farms, and dissemination via the long range migratory movements of birds. Risks can be mitigated by measures including continued surveillance and implementation of good farm biosecurity practices.

Determinants of Antenatal Care Visits in Bangladesh: A Quantile Regression Analysis.

Background: Maternal and infant mortality is a major problem in a developing country like Bangladesh and these deaths are mostly related to incomplete antenatal care (ANC) visits. Adequate ANC visits for women are crucial in controlling maternal and infant mortality. Aims: To investigate factors associated with ANC visits among women of reproductive age (15-49) in Bangladesh using the Bangladesh Demographic Health Survey 2017-2018 (BDHS) data. Methods: This study included 5012 respondents, of whom 2414 women (48.2%) were complete ANC visits and 2598 women (51.8%) were incomplete ANC visits. Quantile regression was used for analysis indicating that the effects of different covariates functioned differently across the utilization of antenatal care visits. The results revealed the women's educational level, birth order number, sex of household head, and wealth index were highly significant on the lower, middle, and higher quantiles of the number of incomplete ANC visits. Besides, in the higher quantiles (for example, 75% quantile), the place of residence was highly significant. For division variables, Rajshahi, Rangpur, and Khulna were highly significant in lower and middle quantiles, while Dhaka, Khulna, Mymensingh, and Rajshahi were insignificant in higher quantiles. Conclusions: This study observed that education, wealth index, birth order of children, and place of residence are associated with utilization of ANC visits and significantly influence maternal mortality. These determinations can help healthcare programmers and policymakers to take appropriate policies and programs for complete antennal care visits among pregnant women in Bangladesh. In order to increase the number of ANC visits among women, it is necessary to establish a mutually coordinated and trusting relationship between the government, non-governmental organizations and NGOs.

Clinically proven natural products, vitamins and mineral in boosting up immunity: A comprehensive review.

Background: and Purposes: The terminology "immune boost-up" was the talk of the topic in this Covid-19 pandemic. A significant number of the people took initiative to increase the body's defense capacity through boosting up immunity worldwide. Considering this, the study was designed to explain the natural products, vitamins and mineral that were proved by clinical trail as immunity enhancer. Methods: Information was retrieved from SciVerse Scopus ® (Elsevier Properties S. A, USA), Web of Science® (Thomson Reuters, USA), and PubMed based on immunity, nutrients, natural products in boosting up immunity, minerals and vitamins in boosting up immunity, and immune booster agents. Result: A well-defined immune cells response provide a-well functioning defense system for the human physiological system. Cells of the immune system must require adequate stimulation so that these cells can prepare themselves competent enough to fight against any unintended onslaught. Several pharmacologically active medicinal plants and plants derived probiotics or micronutrients have played a pivotal role in enhancing the immune boost-up process. Their role has been well established from the previous study. Immune stimulating cells, especially cells of acquired immunity are closely associated with the immune-boosting up process because all the immunological reactions and mechanisms are mediated through these cells. Conclusion: This article highlighted the mechanism of action of different natural products, vitamins and mineral in boosting up the immunity of the human body and strengthening the body's defense system. Therefore, it is recommended that until the specific immune-boosting drugs are available in pharma markets, anyone can consider the mentioned products as dietary supplements to boost up the immunity.

Effect of sizes of vinyl modified narrow-dispersed silica cross-linker on the mechanical properties of acrylamide based hydrogel.

Polymeric hydrogel with the incorporation of nano to submicro-meter sized materials forms an exhilarating new generation of composite hydrogels. Most of the applications of hydrogels are in aqueous environments in which they swell to a very high degree. This emanates from low density of the polymer chains, making them highly inferior in terms of physical strength and their prospective applications. In order to address the weak mechanical properties, hydrogels have successfully prepared with high tensile strength and toughness by reinforcing the acrylamide (AAm) network with 3-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (MPTS) modified silica particles (MSiO2) as chemical cross-linker. The MSiO2 cross-linkers are prepared from narrow-dispersed silica particles (SiO2) of 100 nm, 200 nm, and 300 nm diameters to investigate the effect of cross-linker sizes on the mechanical strengths of hydrogels. The presence of MSiO2 remarkably increases the stretching ability and toughness of hydrogels compared to conventional hydrogels. The tensile strength, toughness, and Young's modulus of the hydrogel decrease from 30 to 11 kPa, 409 to 231 kJ/m3, and 0.16 to 0.11 kPa, respectively, while the SiO2 particle size increase from 100 to 300 nm and the concentration of AAm and MSiO2 (%) are kept constant. The compressive strength and toughness of the hydrogel decrease from 34 to 18 kPa and 6 to 4 kJ/m3, respectively, but the Young's modulus increases from 0.11 to 0.19 kPa. This work is excellent proof of regulating mechanical strength of hydrogel by adjusting the particle size of MSiO2 cross-linkers.

Low-cost informational intervention reduced drinking water arsenic exposure in Bangladesh.

Thirty million Bangladeshis continue to drink water with unacceptable levels of arsenic (>10 µg/L), resulting in a large public health burden. The vast majority of the Bangladeshi population relies on private wells, and less than 12% use piped water, increasing the complexity of mitigation efforts. While mass testing and informational campaigns were successful in the early 2,000 s, they have received little attention in recent years, even though the number of wells in the country has likely more than doubled. We investigated the effect of a low-cost (

Abundance, characteristics, and ecological risks of microplastics in the riverbed sediments around Dhaka city.

Microplastic (MP) pollution has become an escalating problem in Bangladesh due to its rapid urbanization, economic growth, and excessive use of plastics; however, data on MP pollution from fresh water resources in this country are limited. This study investigated microplastics pollution in riverbed sediments in the peripheral rivers of Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. Twenty-eight sediment samples were collected from the selected stations of the Buriganga, Turag, and Balu Rivers. Density separation and wet-peroxidation methods were employed to extract MP particles. Attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was used to identify the polymers. The results indicated a medium-level abundance of MPs in riverbed sediment in comparison with the findings of other studies in freshwater sediments worldwide. Film shape, white and transparent color, and large-size (1-5 mm) MPs were dominant in the riverbed sediment. The most abundant polymers were polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Pollution load index (PLI) values greater than 1 were observed, indicating that all sampling sites were polluted with MPs. An assessment of ecological risks, using the abundance, polymer types, and toxicity of MPs in the sediment samples, suggested a medium to very high ecological risk of MP pollution of the rivers. The increased abundance of MPs and the presence of highly hazardous polymers, namely; polyurethane, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polyvinyl chloride, epoxy resin, and polyphenylene sulfide, were associated with higher ecological risks. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis indicated that the MPs were subjected to weathering actions, reducing the size of MPs, which caused additional potential ecological hazards in these river ecosystems. This investigation provides baseline information on MP pollution in riverine freshwater ecosystems for further in-depth studies of risk assessment and developing strategies for controlling MP pollution in Bangladesh.

A review on Impact of dietary interventions, drugs, and traditional herbal supplements on the gut microbiome.

The gut microbiome is the community of healthy, and infectious organisms in the gut and its interaction in the host gut intestine (GI) environment. The balance of microbial richness with beneficial microbes is very important to perform healthy body functions like digesting food, controlling metabolism, and precise immune function. Alternately, this microbial dysbiosis occurs due to changes in the physiochemical condition, substrate avidity, and drugs. Moreover, various categories of diet such as "plant-based", "animal-based", "western", "mediterranean", and various drugs (antibiotic and common drugs) also contribute to maintaining microbial flora inside the gut. The imbalance (dysbiosis) in the microbiota of the GI tract can cause several disorders (such as diabetes, obesity, cancer, inflammation, and so on). Recently, the major interest is to use prebiotic, probiotic, postbiotic, and herbal supplements to balance such microbial community in the GI tract. But, there has still a large gap in understanding the microbiome function, and its relation to the host diet, drugs, and herbal supplements to maintain the healthy life of the host. So, the present review is about the updates on the microbiome concerns related to diet, drug, and herbal supplements, and also gives research evidence to improve our daily habits regarding diet, drugs, and herbal supplements. Because our regular dietary plan and traditional herbal supplements can improve our health by balancing the bacteria in our gut.