Ecological and public health risk assessment of potentially toxic elements in the surface sediments of the Pasur river estuary, Bangladesh.

Potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in the surface sediments of the Pasur river estuary was investigated to assess its distribution, potential sources, and current dangers to ecological and public health. The Pasur River is a tidal, meandering, perennial river in south-western Bangladesh with a considerable number of fisheries and industrial activities. Sediment samples were collected from seven sampling points from January to December 2022 to assess the contamination level of six potentially toxic elements (Pb, Cr, Cd, As, Cu and Zn). Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer was utilized to detect the concentration of PTEs by following some sequential analytical procedure. Concentration of PTEs followed the reducing trend of Zn > Cr > Pb > As > Cu > Cd with the mean value of 61.04 > 49.15 > 26.58 > 10.28 > 6.28 > 1.59 mg/kg, respectively. The principle component and cluster analyses justified the anthropogenic source of the studied PTEs. The mean values of contamination factor (CF), geo-accumulation index (Igeo) and enrichment factor (EFc) showed that Pb and Cd were highly responsible for sediment (uncontaminated to moderate) contamination. Pollution load index (PLI) indicated higher pollution of sediments near the port areas. Potential ecological risk index (PERI) indicated low to moderate risks due to the contaminated sediment. However, the contamination of sediment was not associated with the non-carcinogenic (HQderm and HI < 1) and carcinogenic (CRderm < 10-6) risks due to the dermal contact. Although the risks were within the tolerable limit, regular monitoring is suggested to reduce the risk of PTEs contamination.

Whole genome sequence of denitrifying bacterium Stutzerimonas stutzeri strain NGHE31, collected from an eutrophic wetland in Sunamganj, Bangladesh, following the 2017 flash floods.

Here, we report the whole genome sequence of Stutzerimonas stutzeri strain NGHE31, isolated from Dekhar Haor, following the 2017 flash flood that resulted in mass die-offs of local wildlife. The predicted genome size is 4,434,670 bp, with 63.97% GC content, 4,035 coding sequences, 3 rRNAs, and 50 tRNAs.

Determinants of health care seeking behavior for childhood infectious diseases and malnutrition: A slum-based survey from Bangladesh.

This study aimed to explore the magnitude and determinants of health care seeking behaviors for common infectious disease and malnutrition among Bangladeshi under-five children living in slum areas. A cross-sectional study of 300 children-caregiver dyads was conducted in an urban slum of Bangladesh. Data were collected via a structured questionnaire with accompanying anthropometric assessments of children administered by research staff. Multiple logistic regression was employed to identify associated factors of health care seeking behaviors. Only 44.7% and 13.0% of respondents sought care for childhood infectious diseases and malnutrition, respectively. Being a male child, 2-5 years old, having ≤5 family members, monthly family income >125$, and living in close proximity to a health facility were found to be potential determinants of health care seeking behavior for childhood infectious diseases. Mother/caregivers with poor nutritional information knowledge and who had a child 2-5 years old reported engaging in less care seeking behaviors regarding their child's malnutrition compared to their counterparts. Caregivers of children under the age of 5 years old reported low participation in health care seeking behaviors in relation to childhood infectious disease and malnutrition. Families living in slums require additional support targeting health and nutritional educational programs.

The Protective Effect of Lasia spinosa (Linn.) Dissipates Chemical-Induced Cardiotoxicity in an Animal Model.

Lasia spinosa (L.) Thwaites is a medicinal plant of enormous traditional use with insufficient scientific evidence. This research screened the antioxidative effect of L. spinosa extracts by measuring the total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, DPPH free radical scavenging activity, ABTS scavenging activity, Iron-chelating activity, and Ferric reducing power followed by an evaluation of in vivo cardioprotective effect in doxorubicin-induced Wistar Albino rats. Phytochemical characterization was made by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopic analysis. L. spinosa showed an excellent antioxidative effect while methanol leaf extract (LSM) was found to be more potent than ethyl acetate leaf extract (LSE) in scavenging the free radicals. Intraperitoneal injection of doxorubicin caused a significant (P < 0.001) increase in lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase (CK-MB), C-reactive protein (CRP), and Cardiac troponin I. Pretreatment with orally administrated (LSM100 and LSM200 mg/kg b.w.) daily for 10 days showed a decrease in the cardiac markers, lipid profiles, especially triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and an increase of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) compared to the disease control group. LSM200 was found to significantly (P < 0.05) decrease the levels of CK-MB and LDH. It also restored TC, TG, and LDL levels compared to the doxorubicin-induced cardiac control group. The protective role of LSM was further confirmed by histopathological examination. This study thus demonstrates that L. spinosa methanol extract could be approached as an alternative supplement for cardiotoxicity, especially in the chemical-induced toxicity of cardiac tissues.

The scenario of knowledge, attitude and practice of the Bangladeshi population towards thalassemia prevention: A nationwide study.

Thalassemia is one of the most common life-threatening yet preventable congenital hemoglobin disorders especially in South Asian regions like Bangladesh. It has become a rising public health concern for Bangladesh as 6-12% of the population are carriers and many of them are unaware of it. The purpose of the study is to inspect the knowledge and attitude towards thalassemia among the general people of Bangladesh. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in eight administrative regions of Bangladesh between January and October of 2020. A structured questionnaire was designed to collect information about thalassemia and socio-demographic characteristics. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to identify factors associated with knowledge of thalassemia. A p-value <0.05 was considered significant. Of the 1,248 participants, only 47.4% had heard of thalassemia. Half of the participants who heard about the disease had no idea that thalassemia was not a transfusion transmitted disease. Only 49.8% of participant correctly identified consanguineous marriages as an important risk factor. Majority of them knew that marriage between two carriers can lead to a child with thalassemia major. About 72.5% knew that blood tests are a diagnosis method to determine thalassemia. Among the socio-demographic variables, the level of education of the respondents was identified as an independent predictor for knowledge (p<0.05) on thalassemia. For example, graduate (aOR: 24.88; 95% CI: 6.238-99.232) or post-graduate (aOR: 33.18; 95% CI: 7.864-140.001) participants were more aware of thalassemia than non-graduates. However, about 68.2% of the participants showed a positive attitude towards premarital screening of themselves or their family members and 85.3% were willing to donate blood to thalassemia patients. The study shows that there is a need to disseminate the information on thalassemia since the knowledge gap is huge among people. These findings will strengthen the implementation of thalassemia major awareness through educational programs, health counseling, premarital screening and campaigning.

Characterization and photodegradation pathway of the leachate of Matuail sanitary landfill site, Dhaka South City Corporation, Bangladesh.

This study was carried out to characterize the biogeochemical and physicochemical properties of landfill leachate from Matuail Sanitary landfill site, Dhaka, Bangladesh. In addition, the study also aimed to identify the photodegradation of landfill leachate under natural sunlight. The leachate pH was slightly alkaline (7.87-8.07) with a minimum level of dissolved oxygen, and low BOD5/COD ratio that are indicators of the matured methanogenic phase. Ca, Fe, Br, Rb, Cu was present in a considerable amount. A trace amount of Sr, Co, As, Pb, Cr was found in the leachate sample. Fourier Transform - infrared (FTIR) spectra of all three samples had five major peak regions notably at 3440-3450 cm-1 (O-H groups of water), 1638 cm-1 (C=O Amide I, carboxylates C=C, aromatic ring modes, or alkenes), 1385-1390 cm-1 (deformation of the C-H bond in CH2 and CH3, or the asymmetric stretching of COO¯), 1115 cm-1 (stretching of the C-O bond in phenol ethers and phenols) and 605 cm-1 (S-O bends of sulfates). In addition to the appearance of new peak, peak shifting on the 2nd-day and 5th-day phototreatment are in compliance with the 34% TOC reduction. From analyzing three-dimensional excitation/emission (3D-EEM) spectra of the raw sample pyrene-like or humic-like peak A (Ex 255/Em 465), soil fulvic-like peak Mp (Ex 315/Em 450), and humic-like peak C (Ex 370/Em 455) was found indicating more humified characteristics of the mature landfill site. From 1-hour to 6-hours phototreatment, all three substances slightly lost fluorescence intensity. From the 2nd day to the 5th day of photo-treatment, two unknown photo-product was identified within Ex 210/Em 457 and Ex 205/Em 408 at peak A region. Fluorescence intensity lost was 65% for peak A and 44% for peak C. Soil fulvic-like peak Mp was absent on the 5th day of photo-treatment.

Prevalence and determinants of eating disorder risk among Bangladeshi public university students: A cross-sectional study.

Eating disorders among university students have been increasing day by day in developing countries. However, there is a dearth of existing literature that assessed eating disorder risk among this population group in Bangladesh. Thus, this study aimed to assess the prevalence of eating disorder risk and its associated factors among university students. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 365 Bangladeshi public university students from October to December 2019. Data were collected by self-reported questionnaire on socio-demographic characteristics, risk of eating disorder, and nutritional status of study participants. The respondents' eating disorder risk and nutritional status were assessed using the validated eating attitudes test-26 (EAT-26) tool and anthropometric measurement, respectively. A cut-off score of ≥ 20 based on EAT-26 indicates the presence of an eating disorder risk. Finally, a binary logistic regression was employed to identify the determinants of an eating disorder. The prevalence of 'eating disorder risk' was 23.0% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 18.6 to 27.4). Being female (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.4, 95% CI: 1.4 to 4.2), aged between 17-21 years (AOR = 2.0, 95% CI: 1.2 to 3.6), overweight (AOR = 4.9; 95% CI: 1.6 to 14.9) and obese (AOR = 7.7, 95% CI: 1.9 to 31.4) showed a higher odds of having an eating disorder risk in the present study. The higher prevalence of eating disorders in the study indicates that psychological intervention and health awareness programs, particularly to younger age, female, and overweight and obese students at the university level, would effectively prevent the eating disorder risk.

Knowledge, awareness and preventive practices of dengue outbreak in Bangladesh: A countrywide study.

BACKGROUND: Dengue, the mosquito borne disease has become a growing public health threat in Bangladesh due to its gradual increasing morbidity and mortality since 2000. In 2019, the country witnessed the worst ever dengue outbreak. The present study was conducted to characterize the socio-economic factors and knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) status towards dengue among the people of Bangladesh. METHOD: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 1,010 randomly selected respondents from nine different administrative regions of Bangladesh between July and November 2019. A structured questionnaire was used covering socio-demographic characteristics of the participants including their knowledge, awareness, treatment and practices regarding dengue fever. Factors associated with the knowledge and awareness of dengue were investigated separately, using multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: Although majority (93.8%) of the respondents had heard about dengue, however, they had still misconceptions about Aedes breeding habitat. Around half of the study population (45.7%) had mistaken belief that Aedes can breed in dirty water and 43.1% knew that Aedes mosquito usually bites around sunrise and sunset. Fever indication was found in 36.6% of people which is the most common symptom of dengue. Among the socio-demographic variables, the level of education of the respondents was identified as an independent predictor for both knowledge (p<0.05) and awareness (p<0.05) of dengue. The preventive practice level was moderately less than the knowledge level though there was a significant association (p<0.05) existed between knowledge and preventive practices. Our study noted that TV/Radio is an effective predominant source of information about dengue fever. CONCLUSION: As dengue is emerging in Bangladesh, there is an urgent need to increase health promotion activities through campaigns for eliminating the misconception and considerable knowledge gaps about dengue.

Evaluation of knowledge, awareness and attitudes towards breast cancer risk factors and early detection among females in Bangladesh: A hospital based cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer (BCa) is a leading cause of mortality among women in Bangladesh. Many young women in Bangladesh have poor knowledge about breast cancer screening, including risk factors, warning signs/symptoms, diagnosis and early detection. We investigated awareness about breast cancer risk factors as a screening tool among women at the Sheikh Hasina Medical College (SHMC) of Tangail district in Bangladesh. METHODS: A cross sectional survey was conducted to collect data via a structured questionnaire from SHMC during the period of February to December 2019. A total of 1,007 participants (aged 33.47 (±12.37 years)) was considered for data analysis. RESULTS: Of the 1,007 women, about 50% were knowledgeable about the risk factors. Pain in the breast was identified as the most commonly warning sign/symptom of breast cancer. Only 32.2% of respondents knew at least one breast cancer screening method. The mean knowledge was scored 3.43 ± 2.25 out of a total possible score of 8. Awareness of BCa was associated with residence, family history of breast cancer, marital, literacy and socio-economic status (p <0.05). Only 14.7% of women who knew about BSE said they were conducting regular breast self-examination. Unmarried women (aOR: 2.971; 95% CI: 1.108-7.968) were more likely to have performed BSE compared to married women (p <0.05). CONCLUSION: Although most participants were aware of breast cancer; knowledge about risk factors, warning signs/symptoms, early diagnosis and detection was relatively poor. Knowledge about performing BSE was particularly low. This highlights the importance of increasing awareness about breast cancer risk factors and early detection among young women in Bangladesh.