High resolution melting curve analysis enables rapid and reliable detection of G6PD variants in heterozygous females.

BACKGROUND: Like glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficient hemizygous males and homozygous females, heterozygous females could also manifest hemolytic crisis, neonatal hyperbilirubinemia or kernicterus upon exposure to oxidative stress induced by certain foods such as fava beans, drugs or infections. Although hemizygous males and homozygous females are easily detected by conventional G6PD enzyme assay method, the heterozygous state could be missed by the conventional methods as the mosaic population of both normal and deficient RBCs circulates in the blood. Thus the present study aimed to apply high resolution melting (HRM) curve analysis approach to see whether HRM could be used as a supplemental approach to increase the chance of detection of G6PD heterozygosity. RESULTS: Sixty-three clinically suspected females were evaluated for G6PD status using both enzyme assay and HRM analysis. Four out of sixty-three participants came out as G6PD deficient by the enzyme assay method, whereas HRM approach could identify nine participants with G6PD variants, one homozygous and eight heterozygous. Although only three out of eight heterozygous samples had G6PD enzyme deficiency, the HRM-based heterozygous G6PD variants detection for the rest of the samples with normal G6PD enzyme activities could have significance because their newborns might fall victim to serious consequences under certain oxidative stress. CONCLUSIONS: In addition to the G6PD enzyme assay, HRM curve analysis could be useful as a supplemental approach for detection of G6PD heterozygosity.

Prevalence of silver resistance determinants and extended-spectrum ß-lactamases in bacterial species causing wound infection: First report from Bangladesh.

Background: The use of silver is rapidly rising in wound care and silver-containing dressings are widely used along with other antibiotics, particularly ß-lactams. Consequently, concerns are being raised regarding the emergence of silver-resistance and cross-resistance to ß-lactams. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the phenotypic and genotypic profiles of silver-resistance and extended-spectrum ß-lactamases in isolates from chronic wounds. Methods: 317 wound swab specimens were collected from tertiary hospitals of Dhaka city and analysed for the microbial identification. The antibiotic resistance/susceptibility profiles were determined and phenotypes of silver resistant isolates were examined. The presence of silver-resistance (sil) genes (silE, silP, and silS) and extended-spectrum ß-lactamases (ESBL) (CTX-M-1, NDM-1, KPC, OXA-48, and VIM-1) were explored in isolated microorganisms. Results: A total of 501 strains were isolated with Staphylococcus aureus (24%) as the predominant organism. In 29% of the samples, polymicrobial infections were observed. A large proportion of Enterobacterales (59%) was resistant to carbapenems and a significantly high multiple antibiotic-resistance indexes (>0.2) were seen for 53% of organisms (P < 0.001). According to molecular analysis, the most prevalent types of ESBL and sil gene were CTX-M-1 (47%) and silE (42%), respectively. Furthermore, phenotypic silver-nitrate susceptibility testing showed significant minimum-inhibitory-concentration patterns between sil-negative and sil-positive isolates. We further observed co-occurrence of silver-resistance determinants and ESBLs (65%). Conclusions: Notably, this is the first-time detection of silver-resistance along with its co-detection with ESBLs in Bangladesh. This research highlights the need for selecting appropriate treatment strategies and developing new alternative therapies to minimize microbial infection in wounds.

Changes in prevalence and risk factors of hypertension among adults in Bangladesh: An analysis of two waves of nationally representative surveys.

INTRODUCTION: Bangladesh is one of the countries where the prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as hypertension is rising due to rising living standards, sedentary lifestyles, and epidemiological transition. Among the NCDs, hypertension is a major risk factor for CVD, accounting for half of all coronary heart disease worldwide. However, detailed research in this area has been limited in Bangladesh. The objective of the study was to estimate changes in the prevalence and risk factors of hypertension among Bangladeshi adult population. The study also sought to identify socioeconomic status-related inequality of hypertension prevalence in Bangladesh. METHODS: Cross-sectional analysis was conducted using nationally representative two waves of the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS) in 2011 and 2017-18. Survey participants were adults 18 years or older- which included detailed biomarker and anthropometric measurements of 23539 participants. The change in prevalence of hypertension was estimated, and adjusted odds ratios were obtained using multivariable survey logistic regression models. Further, Wagstaff decomposition method was also used to analyze the relative contributions of factors to hypertension. RESULTS: From 2011 to 2018, the hypertension prevalence among adults aged ≥35 years increased from 25.84% to 39.40% (p<0.001), with the largest relative increase (97%) among obese individuals. The prevalence among women remained higher than men whereas the relative increase among men and women were 75% and 39%, respectively. Regression analysis identified age and BMI as the independent risk factors of hypertension. Other risk factors of hypertension were sex, marital status, education, geographic region, wealth index, and diabetes status in both survey years. Female adults had significantly higher hypertension risk in both survey years in the overall analysis in, however, in the subgroup analysis, the gender difference in hypertension risk was not significant in rural 2011 and urban 2018 samples. Decomposition analysis revealed that the contributions of socio-economic status related inequality of hypertension in 2011 were46.58% and 20.85% for wealth index and BMI, respectively. However, the contributions of wealth index and BMI have shifted to 12.60% and 55.29%, respectively in 2018. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of hypertension among Bangladeshi adults has increased significantly, and there is no subgroup where it is decreasing. Population-level approaches directed at high-risk groups (overweight, obese) should be implemented thoroughly. We underscore prevention strategies by following strong collaboration with stakeholders in the health system of the country to adopt healthy lifestyle choices.