Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Undergraduate Medical Students of Bangladesh Regarding COVID-19 and its Vaccination.

Medical students are one of the socially active, reliable, and persuading population of information, prevention and control, and incentive of vaccination to stop the current pandemic situation. Consequently, knowing the status of medical students' knowledge, about symptoms, and transmission of disease, prevention of COVID-19 and their attitudes towards a vaccine is important. This multi-center cross-sectional descriptive study was one of the first ones in Bangladesh among the undergraduate medical students who completed pathology, microbiology, and pharmacology. The study was conducted from March to April 2021, using a convenience sampling method in twelve government and non-government medical colleges. Among 1132 who completed the questionnaire, and 15 students from different centers were excluded from the pre-testing and face validation. The age of the 1117 respondents were 22 to 23 years, of which the majority of the respondents were female 749 (67.0%), and 368 (33.0%) were male. Almost all participants had correct knowledge (84.1%) about the symptoms of COVID-19. But 59.2% had wrong knowledge about transmission of disease by an afebrile person. Above 60.0 % of the participants have worn a facial mask when contacting people, refrained from shaking hands, washed hands, avoided people with signs and symptoms suggestive of COVID-19, and avoided crowded places as a practice of prevention. 37.6% of medical students showed positive attitudes about the participation of management of a COVID-19 patient. Most of the participants' decided to have a vaccine depending on its availability. But 31.5% had trust in natural immunity rather than vaccination. Most undergraduate Medical college students understood the basic information, possessed a positive attitude, and presented good practice towards the COVID-19 and vaccination. They play a crucial role in motivation and acceptance of vaccines among the general citizen to fight back against the pandemic in the country with limited resources.

Binocular Visual Discomfort after First Eye Cataract Surgery: An Inattentive Burning Issue.

Cataract surgery is the most frequent surgical procedure performed among the elderly. Aniseikonia and anisometropia increased after the first eye cataract surgery. The study was performed to evaluate unwanted visual status after first eye cataract surgery. It was an observational and cross-sectional study performed among the cataract surgery patients attending in out patient department (OPD) of Dr K Zaman BNSB Eye Hospital, Mymensingh from July 2018 to September 2018 for post-operative follow up. Five hundred patients were selected randomly. Patients with gross corneal diseases were excluded from the study. Three hundred forty one patients (68.2%) were with first eye cataract surgery, among them 319 patients (63.8%) had different degree of cataract in other eye. One hundred forty three patients (44.7%) had good presenting vision (≥6/18) in operated eye and much reduced vision in other eye due to cataract, experienced binocular visual discomfort when opened two eyes, which was not experienced by the patients who had reduced vision in both eyes or good vision in both eyes. Cataractous eye interfered with visual function of the pseudophakic eye. So, cataract Surgery for both eyes in separate events is the appropriate treatment for the patients with bilateral cataract to eliminate visual disability and to achieve comfortable visual outcome.

Antibiotic Resistance: New Challenge in the Management of Bacterial Eye Infections.

Ophthalmologists are still facing difficulties in managing bacterial eye infections. The study was designed for the isolation and identification of bacteria from infected eyes and observation of the sensitivity and resistant pattern. This cross sectional study was performed among 160 patients of suspected bacterial eye infection at Dr. K. Zaman BNSB Eye Hospital, Mymensingh and Department of Microbiology and Hygiene, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh from March, 2010 to June, 2014. After collection of the samples from suspected infected eyes, it was nourished into nutrient broth in shaking incubator for three hours and then cultured into nutrient agar media followed by Mannitol salt agar, MacConkey's agar and blood agar. Bacteria were categorized by colony characteristics and Gram staining. Antibiogram was performed by disc diffusion method on Mueller Hinton agar media. McFarland Equivalence Turbidity Standard was maintained. The efficacy of the drug was evaluated by measuring the diameter of the zone of inhibition surrounding the disc. Ten percent Staphylococcus species isolates was resistant to Gatifloxacin, Gentamicin, Tobramycin and Cloxacillin, 26.0% to Ciprofloxacin, 40.0% to Azythromycin and Moxifloxacin, 58.0% to Cefixime and 64.0% to Cephalexin. Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus was 62.8%. About 24.0% Streptococcus species isolates was resistant to Gatifloxacin, 33.3% to Azythromycin, Ciprofloxacin, Gentamycin, Moxifloxacin and Tobramycin, 52.4% to Cefixime and 71.4% to Cephalexin. About 9.0% of Pseudomonas species was resistant to Gatifloxacin and Tobramycin, 14.7% to Ciprofloxacin, 26.5% to Cefixime, 29.4% to Gentamicin and Moxifloxacin, 44.1% to Azythromycin and 82.3% to Cephalexin and Cloxacillin. Rational use of antibiotics and proper attentions of concerned authorities are necessary to overcome the emergent ocular situation leaded by antibiotic resistant.

Management of Infective Corneal Ulcer: Epidemiology Needs To Be Evaluated As Priority Basis.

Because of known and unknown etiology, management of ocular devastating situation like corneal ulcer is still a challenge for the Ophthalmologists. The cross sectional study was designed for detection of predisposing factor and identification of causal agent. To serve the above purpose, a cross sectional study was performed among 140 patients of the corneal ulcer at Dr K Zaman BNSB Eye Hospital, Mymensingh and Department of Microbiology and Hygiene, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh. Detail history of patient was taken and recorded in a pretest questionnaire sheet. Two pieces of sample were collected from each corneal ulcer patient. One sample was examined in KOH wet mount for fungus. Other sample was nourished into nutrient broth and for further culture and identification. Bacterial corneal ulcer was higher among the patient of age group ≥46 years (61.9%) followed by 31-45 years (21.5%). P value is 0.261. Males were found predominant (58.5%). P value is 0.13. Agricultural related work was identified as most risky occupation in 83.1% of the total bacteria positive samples. P value is 0.01. Trauma was noted as most predominant influencing factor (56.9%). P value is <0.05. Bacteria were identified in 65(46.4%) and fungus in 40(28.6%) samples. Pseudomonas species were predominant (52.3%) followed by Staphylococcus species (26, 2%) and Streptococcus species (21.5%). No mixed infection was identified. For easier and earlier diagnosis of corneal ulcer, information about epidemiology is very essential. History should be taken meticulously followed by the laboratory procedures.

Effect of nutrition education on exclusive breastfeeding for nutritional outcome of low birth weight babies.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Low birth weight (LBW), defined as the body weight at birth of less than 2500 g, is a major public health problem in Bangladesh, where 37% of the babies are born with LBW. The objective of this study is to see the impact of nutrition education on growth of LBW babies with early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding compared to control group. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A total of 184 LBW babies and their mothers who attended the Maternal Care and Health Training Institute and Dhaka Medical College Hospital were randomly allocated to either intervention or control group. Enrollment of the study population started in May 2008 and was completed in October 2008. Nutrition education was given to mothers twice weekly for 2 months, on initiation of breastfeeding within 1 h, exclusive breastfeeding and increasing their dietary intake. Nutritional status of LBW babies was assessed for length and weight every 2 weeks. Data were analyzed using SPSS/Window's version 12. Comparison of mean of data was done using standard Student's t-test. RESULTS: Mean initial body weight and length of LBW babies were similar in both groups (2261±198 g vs 2241±244 g, P=0.535 and 43.0±1.3 cm vs 43.0±1.7 cm, P=0.77). Body weight and length of the LBW babies after 2 months increased significantly (3620±229 g vs 3315±301 g, P<0.001 and 50.2±1.3 cm vs 48.7±1.6 cm, P<0.001). It was found that the intervention group suffered less from respiratory illness compared with the control group (39% vs 66%, P<0.001). The rate of early initiation of breastfeeding was also significantly higher with nutrition intervention (59.8% vs 37.2%, P<0.001). Exclusive breastfeeding rate was significantly higher in intervention group (59.8% vs 37%, P=0.003). CONCLUSIONS: The present study showed that weight and length gain of LBW babies significantly increased by breastfeeding and nutrition education. Therefore, nutrition education on breastfeeding proves to be a strong tool to reduce the high risk of malnutrition and mortality of the LBW babies.

Subtypes of dissociative (conversion) disorder in two tertiary hospitals in Bangladesh.

Dissociative (conversion) disorders are common among the patients attending in and out patients of Psychiatry Department of tertiary hospitals in Bangladesh. This study was done to see the subtypes of dissociative (conversion) disorder according to International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10). This is a descriptive, cross sectional study done on 100 consecutive patients from the Departments of Psychiatry, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka and Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH). Study period was July 2005 to June 2006. Among the patients of dissociative (conversion) disorder, mixed dissociative (conversion) disorder was found highest 34%, followed by dissociative convulsion 33%, dissociative motor disorders 19%, dissociative anaesthesia and sensory loss 5%, dissociative amnesia 4%, dissociative fugue 3%. However, the researcher did not find any multiple personality disorder which is relatively common in North America. This finding reflected that there are differences in prevalence of sub types of dissociative disorders in Bangladesh and Western countries.

High-resolution mapping of two rice brown planthopper resistance genes, Bph20(t) and Bph21(t), originating from Oryza minuta.

Brown planthopper (BPH) is one of the most destructive insect pests of rice. Wild species of rice are a valuable source of resistance genes for developing resistant cultivars. A molecular marker-based genetic analysis of BPH resistance was conducted using an F(2) population derived from a cross between an introgression line, 'IR71033-121-15', from Oryza minuta (Accession number 101141) and a susceptible Korean japonica variety, 'Junambyeo'. Resistance to BPH (biotype 1) was evaluated using 190 F(3) families. Two major quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and two significant digenic epistatic interactions between marker intervals were identified for BPH resistance. One QTL was mapped to 193.4-kb region located on the short arm of chromosome 4, and the other QTL was mapped to a 194.0-kb region on the long arm of chromosome 12. The two QTLs additively increased the resistance to BPH. Markers co-segregating with the two resistance QTLs were developed at each locus. Comparing the physical map positions of the two QTLs with previously reported BPH resistance genes, we conclude that these major QTLs are new BPH resistance loci and have designated them as Bph20(t) on chromosome 4 and Bph21(t) on chromosome 12. This is the first report of BPH resistance genes from the wild species O. minuta. These two new genes and markers reported here will be useful to rice breeding programs interested in new sources of BPH resistance.

Critical flicker frequency of mentally retarded and normal persons.

Critical flicker frequency (CFF) of 40 men, 20 mentally retarded whose mean age was 22.0 yr. and 20 normal whose mean age was 21.5 yr., was measured under binocular viewing using the Lafayette Visual Perception Control with a display unit. Subjects had been previously tested for visual acuity and color blindness. Analysis showed a significant difference in CFF between mentally retarded persons and normal individuals, the former having lower CFF than the latter. This finding suggests lower perceptual sensitivity of the mentally retarded persons. Further research with provision for EEG recordings is suggested.

Depression in deliberate self harm patients.

One hundred consecutively admitted deliberate self-harm patients were studied. By using DSM III-R criteria for Major Depressive Episode (MDE) 38 were found to have major depressive disorder. Among them 27 were severe, 9 were moderate and only 2 were mild according to HRSD score which were entirely consistent with severity grading recorded by DSM III-R. Another 48 showed evidence of depressive symptoms which may be due to extreme subjective distress. All the depressed self-harm patients had depressed mood and almost all of them expressive somatization. Only 5 depressed self-harm patients were getting psychiatric treatment which indicate lack of awareness about the existence of depression among deliberate self-harm patients and poor referral service in the hospitals.

Pattern of depressive disorder among the permanent sterilized women.

A prospective study was done on 100 permanent sterilized women (age 21 to 40 years) attending two model family planning clinics of Dhaka. By using DSM III-R criteria for major depressive episode, 19 were found to have depressive disorder. Among them 3 were severe, 8 were moderate and rest 8 were mild according to HRSD score. The average number of children in postligated depressive group was 5 in number. Almost all the depressives had considerable life events one year before ligation and relationship problem was the most frequent event. The time of occurrence of depressive disorder was within 2-3 months after ligation in 42.11% of the depressives. Only 2 cases of the depressives were getting psychiatric treatment which indicates lack of awareness about the existence of depression among postligated women.

PIP: The study was carried out in the Family Planning Center of Sir Salimullah Medical College, Mitford Hospital and Family Planning Center of Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Dhaka. 100 sterilized women were selected randomly within 6 months of sterilization during the period of July 1991 to December 1991. They were interviewed by a questionnaire collecting information on sociodemographic parameters, sterilization, and life events. Depressive disorder was assessed by applying the DSM III-R criteria for Major Depressive Episode (MDE). Then the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD) was applied. 19 were suffering from depressive disorder (MDE). Of these, 3 were severe, 8 were moderate, and 8 were mild. Their ages ranged from 21 to 38 years. 42.11% of the depressive cases were in the 26-30 age group. 84% of both groups were either illiterate or had primary education, and 86% were housewives. 78% were urban and 22% were rural residents, respectively. 52% were in the low and 41% were in the middle income category. 35.8% of the nondepressive group had 4 children at the time of operation, while 36.93% of the depressive group had 6 children (p 0.05). Abdominal pain occurred in 23 instances, while only 2% had pain, swelling, and fever. 46 (56.79%) of the nondepressive group had experienced no momentous life events 1 year prior to the interview. In contrast, only 2 (10.54%) of the depressive group had not experienced such life events. Relationship problems in both the nondepressive and depressive groups featured with 24 (29.63%) and 12 (63.16%) cases, respectively, (p 0.05). 3 (15.79%) of the depressive group had past history of anxiety disorder and 2 (10.5%) had previous history of depressive disorder. On the basis of DSM III-R, 18 (94.74%) of the depressive group had mood disorders as the main symptom. 16 each had insomnia and fatigability. 12 (63.16%) of the depressives were retarded and 10 subjects contemplated suicide. HRSD further revealed that all depressive patients had anxiety, and only 2 were receiving antidepressants. Among all patients there were 5 cases of family history of schizophrenia, 2 cases of depressive disorders, and 1 case of bipolar mood disorder in first degree relatives.