Iron Deficiency and Iron Deficiency Anemia in Women with Bronchial Asthma.

This case control study was conducted in the out patient department (OPD), Enam Medical College & Hospital (EMCH), Dhaka, Bangladesh from 1st January 2017 to 31st December 2017. The aim of our study was to find the possible association between serum iron state and iron deficiency anemia with bronchial asthma in women. We investigated 40 diagnosed female cases of well controlled bronchial asthma and 20 healthy female as control. In both groups complete blood count (CBC) with peripheral smear was done, C-reactive protein (CRP), serum iron, serum ferritin, and serum total iron binding capacity (TIBC) was measured. We found asthma cases had lower hemoglobin than control (mean±SD 10.92±1.34 vs. 12.30±0.73, p value 0.013), serum iron and serum ferritin were significantly lower (p value 0.016 and 0.000 respectively) and TIBC was higher (p value 0.000) in asthmatic cases as compared to controls. Non anemic asthmatics showed significant lower serum ferritin compared with non-anemic healthy controls (p value 0.005). So we conclude that iron deficiency anemia is more prevalent in asthmatic women as compared to healthy controls.

Synergistic effect of polymer encapsulated silver nanoparticle doped WS2 sheets for plasmon enhanced 2D/3D heterojunction photodetectors.

Chemical doping and plasmonic enhanced photoresponsivity of two dimensional (2D) n-WS2/p-Si heterojunctions are demonstrated for the first time. Novel PVP coated Ag0 intercalation induced synthesis has led to the formation of impurity-free, chemically doped few-layer n-WS2 with reversed conductivity following the Maxwell-Wagner-Sillars interfacial effect. The resultant composite film exhibits excellent stability and tunable plasmonic absorption due to silver nanoparticles of different sizes. A sharp band-edge absorption of the hybrid material indicates the presence of spin-orbit coupled direct band gap transitions in WS2 layers, in addition to a broader plasmonic peak attributed to Ag nanoparticles. Stabilized Ag-nanoparticle (∼4-6 nm) embedded electron rich n-WS2 has been used to fabricate plasmon enhanced, silicon compatible heterojunction photodetectors. The detectors exhibited superior properties, possessing a photo-to-dark current ratio of ∼103, a very high responsivity (8.0 A W-1) and an EQE of 2000% under 10 V bias with a broad spectral photoresponse in the wavelength range of 400-1100 nm. The results provide a new paradigm for intercalant impurity-free metal nanoparticle assisted exfoliation of n-type few-layer WS2, with the nanoparticles playing a dual role towards the realization of 2D materials based broadband heterojunction optoelectronic devices by inducing chemical doping as well as tunable plasmon enhanced absorption.

Congenital sideroblastic anemia treated as thalassemia major.

Sideroblastic anemia is a rare cause of microcytic hypochromic anemia. In Bangladesh, most common causes of microcytic anemia are iron deficiency anemia, anemia of chronic diseases and thalassemia. Serum ferritin is usually done to differentiate them. If serum ferritin is low, the diagnosis of iron deficiency is entertained. When serum ferritin is raised but erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) are normal - anemia of chronic disease is excluded. The next investigation is Hb-electrophoresis. Normal Hb-electroporesis excludes thalassemia. Then bone marrow examination with iron stain is done for the diagnosis of sideroblastic anemia. Here we report a case of a 14 year old girl presenting with intermittent leg pain and anemia. Her blood flim showed microcytic hypochromic anemia with raised serum ferritin and normal Hb-electroporesis. Initially she was labeled as a case of unusual type of thalassemia and treated with blood transfusion. Finally bone marrow examination with iron stain was done and she was diagnosed as a case of congenital sideroblastic anemia. We reviewed the literature and discussed the management as well.

Multiple papilloma of the larynx in an adult--a case report.

Multiple papilloma of the larynx commonly affects the juvenile subjects. Only a few adult cases have been reported. Such a rare case in Bangladesh, is reported here. Twenty five years old one male patient was admitted into Sir Salimullah Medical College & Mitford Hospital with the complaints of hoarseness of voice & dysponea. He was diagnosed as papilloma clinically and histopathologically, and treated with tracheostomy & microlaryngoscopic excision of the masses. The patient was readmitted after 3 months with recurrence of papilloma at the same site and the growth was excised under anaesthesia. The past history of his illness revealed that he underwent to more surgeries for the same condition. The patient was lost to follow up.