Extensive genetic diversity with novel mutations in spike glycoprotein of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, Bangladesh in late 2020.

In Bangladesh, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been highly prevalent during late 2020, with nearly 500 000 confirmed cases. In the present study, the spike (S) protein of severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) circulating in Bangladesh was genetically investigated to elucidate the diversity of mutations and their prevalence. The nucleotide sequence of the S protein gene was determined for 15 SARS-CoV-2 samples collected from eight divisions in Bangladesh, and analysed for mutations compared with the reference strain (hCoV-19/Wuhan/WIV04/2019). All the SARS-CoV-2 S genes were assigned to B.1 lineage in G clade, and individual S proteins had 1-25 mutations causing amino acid substitution/deletion. A total of 133 mutations were detected in 15 samples, with D614G being present in all the samples; 53 were novel mutations as of January 2021. On the receptor-binding domain, 21 substitutions including ten novel mutations were identified. Other novel mutations were located on the N-terminal domain (S1 subunit) and dispersed sites in the S2 subunit, including two substitutions that remove potential N-glycosylation sites. A P681R substitution adjacent to the furin cleavage site was detected in one sample. All the mutations detected were located on positions that are functionally linked to host transition, antigenic drift, host surface receptor binding or antibody recognition sites, and viral oligomerization interfaces, which presumably related to viral transmission and pathogenic capacity.

Observation of superior and inferior limit of lobes of the thyroid gland: a postmortem study.

The size of thyroid gland varies considerably with age, sex, physiologic state, race and geographical location. Diseases of thyroid may need surgical intervention. This study is to carry out the macroscopic architecture of thyroid gland of different age and sex groups in Bangladeshi people to establish a normal standard. This is a descriptive cross-sectional study with an analytic component and was carried out on 54 autopsied human thyroid glands aged 5 to 65 years were collected from unclaimed dead bodies autopsied in morgue of Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College, Sylhet. It was done in department of Anatomy, from 1st July 2006 to 30th June 2007. The collected specimens were divided into age Group A (10 years and below), Group B (11 to 20 years), Group C (21 to 30 years), Group D (31 to 40 years), Group E (41 to 50 years) and Group F (51 years and above). All specimens were examined morphologically by fine dissection method. It was observed that in most cases superior limit did not reach the midpoint of thyroid cartilage on either side. Inferior limit reached up to 6th tracheal ring on right side and 5th tracheal ring on left side in most cases.

Anthropometric measurements of the arm span and their correlation with the stature of bangladeshi adult muslim females.

Anthropometry is the science that deals with the measurement of size, weight and proportion of the human body. Stature is natural heights of a person in an upright position. This can be estimated from arm span length. In the last 50 years of the 20th century various mass disasters such as different powerful storm, flood, plane crash, train accident was increased. Very recently in Chittagong and southern Bangladesh many people were killed through land slides and Seder. As so many disasters were occurring it is possible to identify a missing person if a part of his or her body is available. The arm span lengths can be used as a basis for estimating age-related loss in stature and as an alternative measure to stature. The study was done for the estimation of stature from the arm span on one hundred and fifty Bangladeshi adult Muslim females. Subject was collected from Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka and some urban region of Dhaka, Bangladesh. The present study showed significant (p<0.001) positive correlation between the stature and the arm span.

Anthropometric measurements of the forearm and their correlation with the stature of Bengali adult Muslim females.

Stature or body height is one of the most important and useful anthropometric parameter that determine the physical identity of an individual. The study was done to estimate stature from the forearm length on one hundred and fifty Bengali adult Muslim females. This descriptive cross sectional study was done in the department of Anatomy, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh. One hundred and fifty Bengali adult Muslim female was collected from BSMMU & some urban region of Dhaka. Measurement of stature and forearm length of right and left side was taken with a standard anthropometer and a slide caliper respectively. The present study showed significant (p<0.001) positive correlation between the stature and forearm length.

A morphological and morphometric study of the right ventricular papillary muscles of autopsied heart of Bangladeshi people.

Fifty formalin-fixed hearts from thirty nine male and eleven female Bangladeshis aged 20 to 70 years and without any known cardiac disorder were used in the present study. In right ventricle, there was a single anterior papillary muscle in 92% cases. The posterior papillary muscle was double in 32% and single in 28% cases. The septal papillary muscle was single in 46% cases while in 30% cases it was absent. The different between males and females in the total number of papillary muscles was statistically non significant. In the right ventricle, the anterior papillary muscles were the longest and the septal papillary muscles were the shortest.

The impact of training traditional birth attendants in improving MCH care in rural Bangladesh.

This study evaluates the impact of training in changing the knowledge and practices of traditional birth attendants (TBAs) with regard to antenatal, intranatal and postnatal care of mothers and newborn babies. Training has improved the quality of their care. Most TBAs (71.2%) had traditional beliefs as to the cause of neonatal sickness, and training has led them to change their beliefs in favour of infection. Prior to training, a majority (58%) of the TBAs never used to make antenatal visits, while after training 72% of them began making such visits. They also have learned the importance of antiseptic measures during delivery. Training also has helped to eliminate harmful practices such as septic abortion.