Nutritional status of children with cerebral palsy in a selected tertiary care hospital

Background: Nutritional status in children with chronic disease like cerebral palsy is crucial in growth and development. This study was conducted with the aim of assessing nutritional status of children with CP by using anthropometric indices and few associated factors.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in ICMH, Dhaka from July 2020 to June 2021. A total of 30 children underwent proper history taking and thorough anthropometric examinations. Twenty-four hours dietary recall method was used for estimating approximate calorie intake.Results: Out of 30 children two thirds age was under 60 months and mean盨D age was 59.2�.1 months. 60.0% children were male and majority (86.7%) of children were found calorie intake ?50 percent of adequate calorie intake. Most (83.3%) of studied children presented with spastic quadriplegia, in according to age, 2 group were created (<60 months & ?60 months). In children under 5 years age, 75.0% were severely wasted, 35.0% were severely stunted, 85.0% were severely underweight and 75.0% were severely malnourished. In ?5 years, 60.0% were severely stunted and 90.0% were underweight or thin. Wasting and\underweight had significant association with swallowing difficulty and inadequate calorie intake in under 5 years age group and stunting had significant association with those factors in ?5 years age group.Conclusions: This study shows that undernutrition affects a large number of children with CP in a selected tertiary care hospital. Risk of severe undernutrition increases with swallowing difficulty.

Frequency and pattern of congenital heart defects among admitted patient in a tertiary care hospital in Bangladesh

Background: Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the commonest of all congenital lesions accounting for nearly 28% of all congenital malformations that have significant impact on morbidity, mortality and heath care cost in children. The aim of study was to determine the pattern of distribution of CHD and the age at which initial diagnosis of CHD was made among children admitted under paediatric cardiology department, Bangladesh Shishu hospital and institute. Methods: This is a descriptive and prospective hospital-based study conducted in the pediatric cardiology department, Bangladesh Shishu hospital and institute. This study included all the patients admitted during January-June 2022 in pediatric cardiology department having confirmed diagnosis of CHD on basis of echocardiographic report. The collected data was entered and analyzed by using statistical package for social sciences v 24.0. Results: Out of 337 patient, 175 patient were male (51.9%) and 162 female (48.1%) with male female ratio of 1.08:1. Total 219 cases (64.9%) were acyanotic CHD and 118 (35.1%) were cyanotic congenital heart lesions. In acyanotic CHD ventricular septal defects (VSDs) constitute 38.8% followed by AV canal defect 6.7%, patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) 3.6%. In cyanotic CHD tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) was the commonest lesion accounted for 28 (8.3%) followed by d-transposition of great arteries 16 (4.7%), pulmonary atresia 15 (4.5%), total anomalous pulmonary venous circulation TAPVC 11 (3.3%), tricuspid atresia 9 (2.7%) and DORV, VSD, PS 10 (2.9%). The commonest combination was VSD with ASD in 15 cases (4.5%). Most of the patient was diagnosed in 1st year of age 280 (83.1%) Conclusions: CHD are very common in our setup and early detection of CHD is increasing. Overall burden of CHD is also increasing therefore a proper population-based study on a large scale is needed to estimate the prevalence accurately.

Reproductive health related complications of spinal cord injury among patients at a specialized center in Bangladesh

Background: Our objective was to find out the reproductive health related complications among spinal cord injury patients. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted at the Center for the Rehabilitation of the Paralyzed (CRP) in Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh from August 2017 to July 2018. A total of 289 patients, both indoor and outdoor, with spinal cord injury were randomly selected. The study aimed to examine reproductive health complications associated with spinal cord injury. Data was collected using a questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS version 20. Results: Among 220 (76.1%) were male and 69 (23.9%) were female. In 15-35 (68.1% and 91.2%), 47 (68.1%) participants had menstruation problem. 42.1% had autonomic dysreflexia and 57.9% had UTI as pregnancy related complications. In sexual activity 52% had difficulties having intercourse, 20% had difficulties to reach orgasm and 28% had dry sex. In male participants after SCI 70.5% had erection problem and 78.6% had ejaculation problem. Participants who had erection problem, most of their neurological level was thoracic level 84.51% and in case of ejaculation also their neurological level was thoracic level 81.50%. Conclusions: Awareness of sexuality and reproductive health after SCI has grown among healthcare professionals and individuals with spinal cord injuries. This recognition emphasizes the importance of open discussions, active listening, and education to enhance the quality of life for those affected by spinal cord injury.

Effects of Addition of Dried Sweet Potato Peels Powder on the Quality Characteristics of Cupcakes

The study was conducted to develop baked cakes using different pretreated sweet potato peels powders (such as fresh, boiled and citric acid) with various concentration (5%, 10% & 20%) and to evaluate the changes of quality characteristics. Sweet potato peel powder was investigated for the different nutritional and physiochemical properties were boiling and pretreatment effects also evaluated. Fresh peel, 0.5% citric acid treated and boiled sweet potato peel powder was utilized as sample powder for the studies. There were significant differences (p < 0.05) in fiber and ash content and Hunter color values between powders from fresh peeled, 0.5% citric acid treated and boiled sweet potato peels powders. However, fresh and boiled sweet potato peel powder had higher fiber content than treated. The highest amount of fiber content was found in cakes incorporated with 10% boiled treated sweet potato peels powders content highest fiber. Pretreated and boiled with citric acid samples were obtained overall acceptability in the hedonic rating test.

Microalbuminuria as a Predictor of Short-Term Mortality in Acute Ischemic Stroke.

Stroke is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality all over the world. Microalbuminuria is one of the predictors of mortality. Available published data has suggested that microalbuminuria is a potential new risk factor for ischemic stroke. This study was carried out in the Department of Biochemistry, Dhaka Medical College during the period from July 2009 to June 2010. In this study, we enrolled 120 patients of ischemic stroke. 60 of them were with microalbuminuria (MA) and 60 were without MA. Among the MA +ve group, 38 (63.3%) were males and 22 (36.7%) were females. On the other hand those belonging to MA -ve groups 52 (36.7%) were males and 8 (13.3%) were females. Age range of the subjects in MA +ve group was 45-70 years and in MA-ve group was 50-70 years. In patients with microalbuminuria mortality was 26.7% and in patients without MA mortality was 11.7% (p<0.05). The study showed significantly higher mortality in patients with microalbuminuria than that of the patients without microalbuminuria.

Cardiac Troponin-I And CK-MB for Risk Stratification in Acute Myocardial Infarction (First Attack): A Comparative Study.

Myocardial infarction is associated with release of two important enzymes. The enzymatic diagnosis is mainly based on the measurement of CK-MB and troponin-I. Cardiac troponin- I(cTnI) is known to have higher specificity and analytic sensitivity than CK-MB for detection of myocardial injury & risk stratification. These are used both as diagnostic and prognostic marker. This prospective observational study included 60 patients of 40-65 years age range, diagnosed as acute myocardial infarction. The mean ages were 50± 8 years and 53±8 years respectively. Male and female patients included were 86.7% and 13.3%; BMI was 25.3±1.5. The two important cardiac markers troponin-I and CK-MB were studied in 60 patients, admitted in the hospital with acute MI. Blood samples to estimate these markers were collected from the patients after admission at 6-9 hours, 9-24 hours and after 24 hours and their mean values with ±SD were calculated, evaluated and compared between the two groups of patients with low and high risk MI. The patients with low risk MI were those who recovered early and the high risk patients improved later in comparison to low risk group. Out of 60 patients, 37 had troponin-I level>1.5 ng /ml. Among them 29 developed high risk MI and 8 recovered earlier than high risk group. 23 patients had troponin-I <1.5 ng /ml, out of whom 10 were high and 13 were low risk. The difference of troponin-I levels between high and low risk groups of patients was statistically significant (p<0.01). On the other hand CK-MB level was >7 ng /ml in 33 patients. Out of them 22 patients developed high and 11 patients were low risk but 18 patients out of 27 who had CK-MB <7 ng /ml became high and 9 patients were low risk. The difference of outcome in respect to higher and lower values of CK-MB between the two groups was not statistically significant (p>0.05). Both troponin-I and CK-MB were estimated in all 60 patients on three occasions. The mean troponin-I levels were statistically significant between the high and the low risk groups on all occasions .On the contrary, the values of CK-MB were not statistically significant on two occasions but was significant (p < 0.01) on one occasion when it was estimated at 9 - 24 hour. Serum cTnI is better and more characteristic biomarker than CK-MB for risk prediction and prognosis evaluation in AMI patients.